10 Horror Movies For The Week (10/26/25)

Posted on October 26, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Halloween approaches! I’ll be posting another list of movies in a few days but here’s ten horror movie recommendations for between now and Wednesday!

Vampire Circus (1972) is a gloriously macabre film that I recommend to everyone. This British film takes place in a Serbian village that a vampire curses with his dying breath. Twenty years later, the village is ravaged by the plague and blockaded by other towns. With the inhabitants basically prisoners in their own home, they are easily tempted by the arrival of a circus. The circus, of course, is not what it seems. This is a stylish film, full of quirky characters, disturbing imagery, and a lot of blood. It’s perfect for Halloween. You can view it on Prime.

Speaking of vampires, Count Yorga, Vampire (1970) features Robert Quarry as a vampire in 1970s California. Apparently, the film was originally envisioned as being a soft-core film that would feature a few horror elements but Quarry insisted that the script be rewritten to emphasize the count’s vampirism. That was probably a good idea as Quarry turned Yorga into one of the most memorable movie vampires not named Dracula. Serious actor Michael Murphy appears in this film as well. It’s interesting to note that Murphy went from battling a vampire to working with Robert Altman and Woody Allen and appearing in some of the best films of the 70s. You can view Yorga here.

In Magic (1978), Anthony Hopkins plays a ventriloquist who is basically at the mercy of his foul-mouthed, foul-tempted, all together foul dummy. This is one of the best examples of a creepy ventriloquist dummy film. Hopkins’s neurotic performance is brilliant and actually far more interesting than his best-known work as Hannibal Lecter. Burgess Meredith and Ann-Margaret offer strong support. Hopefully, the dummy was used for kindling after this film was shot because seriously ….. agck! Magic is on Prime.

Prime also has some of Vincent Price’s classic collaborations with Roger Corman. The Fall of the House of Usher (1961), The Pit and The Pendulum (1961), and The Raven (1963) are available for your Halloween viewing and I recommend them all. It’s not really Halloween without a generous amount of Vince Price, is it? The Fall Of the House of Usher, The Pit and The Pendulum, and The Raven can all be found on Prime.

The Witchfinder General (1968) stars Vincent Price and was released as The Conqueror Worm in the United States but it should not be mistaken for one of Corman’s Poe adaptation. Instead, The Witchfinder General is a visually stunning and intense film that features Price is one of his best villainous roles. There’s very little camp or intentional humor to be found in this film. Instead, it’s just Price giving a genuinely frightening performance. Under its American Title of The Conqueror Worm, The Witchfinder General can be found on Prime.

Earlier, I mentioned that Robert Quarry’s Count Yorga was one of the most interesting not named Dracula. I should also mention that William Marshall made for an equally interesting vampire in 1972’s Blacula. The film may have been a bit campy but William Marshall gave a strong and dignified performance as Count Mamuwalde, who is transformed into a vampire by Dracula (who is not just a bloodsucker but a racist as well) and later finds himself in 1970s America. Blacula was followed by a sequel, 1973’s Scream, Blacula, Scream. The sequel is a mess but worth watching for the teaming of William Marshall and Pam Grier. Blacula and Scream, Blacula, Scream are both on Tubi.

Finally, I have to mention that Bruno Mattei’s 1984 masterpiece, Rats: Night of Terror can now be viewed on Tubi. The film may seem ludicrous but you’ll never get that final shot out of your head! It can be viewed on Tubi.

Click here for last week’s movie suggestions!

20 Films For The Week (10/19/25)

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

A Few Classics

The original The Omen (1976) can currently be viewed on Tubi. The Omen is still the best of all of the 1970s apocalypse movies. Whereas later Omen films would increasingly get bogged down with overly elaborate death scenes, the first Omen still holds up as a genuinely scary movie. The scene with David Warner and that plate of glass …. agck! Damien Thorne was never creepier than he was in The Omen, perhaps because little Harvey Stephens didn’t know that he was playing a villain. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that the sequels are available to stream for free. I have a soft spot for the mess that is Damien: Omen II. The Omen can be viewed here.

Of the many film that were inspired by The Omen, my favorite remains The Visitor (1979). John Huston — yes, the director — plays a Polish angel who lives on a plant far away. Huston is sent to Earth to rescue 8 year-old Katy, who has psychic powers and who has apparently been picked to mate with her half-brother and give birth to the Antichrist. Lance Henriksen plays a Satanist who also owns a basketball team. Mel Ferrer, Shelley Winters, Glenn Ford, and director Sam Peckinpah all have small roles. Franco Nero plays Jesus! This is a visually stunning and narratively berserk film. The Visitor is on Tubi.

The Changeling (1980) is an absolutely brilliant horror film that should definitely be seen by more people. After a family tragedy, widower George C. Scott moves into a mansion that turns out to be haunted. It all links back to potential scandal involving a U.S. Senator, played by Melvyn Douglas. Well-acted, this film has tons of atmosphere and one of the best seance scenes that I’ve ever seen. The Changeling is on Tubi.

If The Changeling is an unusually intelligent haunted house film, Burnt Offerings (1976) is perhaps the opposite. It’s a remarkably dumb film but thanks to the performances of Karen Black and Oliver Reed and the no-holds barred direction of Dan Curtis, it’s still a pretty scary movie. Poor Bette Davis is wasted in one of her final roles. You’ll cheer when the chimney collapses. Burnt Offerings is on Tubi.

John Saxon later said that making Cannibal Apocalypse (1980) was one of the most depressing experiences of his career, just because he wasn’t prepared for how gory the film would get and he wasn’t particularly happy about the idea of playing a veteran-turned-cannibal. That feeling certainly comes through in his performance, which ironically is so authentic that it elevates Cannibal Apocalypse above the typical Italian zombie/cannibal film. Giovanni Lombardo Radice and Tony King give excellent performances as Saxon’s fellow cannibals and the entire film is far more emotionally effective than it has any right to be. Cannibal Apocalypse can be viewed on Tubi.

The Black Cat (1981) never gets as much attention as it deserves but it’s probably one of Lucio Fulci’s more accessible films. An adaptation of the Edgar Allan Poe short story, it features David Warbeck at his most likable, Patrick Magee at his most demented, and a killer cat with more than 9 lives. The Black Cat can be viewed on Shudder.

I, Madman (1989) is a personal favorite of mine, largely because I relate to the main character played by Jenny Wright. Wright plays an aspiring actress and bookstore employee who becomes obsessed with the horror novels of an obscure pulp fiction writer named Malcolm Brand. Suddenly, murders start to occur that seem to match the murders in the books. Both Jenny Wright and Clayton Rohner give likable performances in this film and Randall William Cook’s disfigured surgeon is a wonderful villain. I, Madman can be viewed on Tubi.

Time After Time (1979) provides viewers with the rare chance to see Malcolm McDowell play a gentle soul. McDowell plays H.G. Wells, whose time machine is used by Jack the Ripper (David Warner) to escape into the modern age. Wells pursues him. Time After Time is as much a love story as it is a thriller. (McDowell married his co-star Mary Steenburgen.) McDowell, Warner, and Steenburgen all give excellent performances. Time after Time is on Tubi.

Malcolm McDowell is far more sinister in Paul Schrader’s 1982 film, Cat People. Cat People was made at a time when cocaine was very popular in Hollywood and the film has all the excessive hallmarks of a production that was under the influence. It’s about thirty minutes too long, the plot makes little sense, and Schrader sometimes seems to be struggling with determining what it is he’s trying to say. That said, it’s also an atmospheric and stylish film and it has a killer soundtrack. The sequence where Annette O’Toole is menaced while jogging and then swimming still creeps me out. Cat People can be viewed on Prime.

Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972) was the first and the most effective of several Spanish horror films to feature Templar zombies wrecking havoc on the countryside. This film is atmospheric and creepy and features some of the most convincing zombies to ever appear in a movie. This film also actually manages to effectively use slow motion. The Blind Dead are pure nightmare fuel. Tombs of the Blind Dead can be viewed on Tubi.

Hack and Slash

Directed by Bill Rebane, Blood Harvest (1989) tells the story of a young woman who returns to her family home, just to discover that her parents are missing and the house has been vandalized. As the bodies are strung up in a nearby barn, viewers are left to try to figure out who the killer is. Is it the handsome and hunky Gary? Or is it his brother, Mervo? Mervo, who deals with stress by putting on clown makeup, is played by Tiny Tim, a notably eccentric singer. This is one of those odd films that everyone simply has to see once. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Directed by Joseph Zito, The Prowler (1981) is a notably gruesome but undeniably effective slasher film. The gore effects were provided by Tom Savini. Zito keeps the action moving, the cast is filled with actors who are likable enough to make up for the fact that none of the characters are written to have much depth, and the killer is truly frightening. The Prowler can be viewed on Tubi.

Terror Train (1980) is another classic slasher film that is perfect for Halloween viewing, as all of the victims are in costume and the killer is a master of disguise. The train makes for a wonderfully claustrophobic setting and the film owes as much to the Italian giallo genre as it does to the typical American slasher film. Jamie Lee Curtis, Hart Bochner, and Timothy Webber are amongst those being stalked. Ben Johnson is wonderful as a conductor. Even magician David Copperfield is put to good use. Terror Train can be viewed on Tubi.

Prom Night (1980) is another Canadian classic. This is film the mixes disco with slasher thrills. Jamie Lee Curtis rallies the school with her dance moves. Leslie Nielsen gives one of his final “serious” performances at the principal of the school. The kills are genuinely frightening and, given that most of the victims are either likable or determined to live, genuinely sad. The twist ending works a hundred times better than it should. Prom Night! Everything is alright! I love this movie. It can be viewed on Tubi.

The House on Sorority Row (1982) is a diabolically clever little slasher film about a prank gone wrong. One minute, you’re accidentally causing your house mother to have a heart attack after you pull a gun on her. The next minute, you’re getting tossed in a shallow grave. The main lesson here is don’t try anything like this when you’ve also got a big, end-of-the-year college bash to put together. Director Mark Rosman comes up with some truly inspired visuals. Eileen Davidson gives a great performance as the sorority sister who can’t believe how difficult it is to cover up a murder. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Finally, Mountaintop Motel Massacre (1983) is not as well-known as some of the other films that I’ve mentioned but it features a memorably isolated location and a few effective scares. It’s a good example of the rural slasher. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Odds and Ends

Zombie Nightmare (1987) features a long-haired zombie, an early performance from Tia Carrere, and an oddly serious performance from Adam West. The zombie is played a heavy metal musician named Jon-Mikl Thor. It’s a film so ludicrous that it becomes entertaining. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Ghost Story (1981) features a dead woman whose ghost returns, seeking vengeance on a group of elderly men who, decades before, covered up her death. Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Melvyn Douglas, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. play the four men. Alice Krige is the ghost. Patricia Neal is Astaire’s wife. Craig Wasson plays twins. It’s a bit of an uneven film but it still has its moments. It can be viewed on Prime.

Night Terror (1977), which is also known as Night Drive, features Valerie Harper as a woman trying to drive from Phoenix to Denver over the course of the night and finding herself pursued by a mute psycho played by Richard Romanus. Clocking in at 74 minutes, Night Terror is suspenseful and features good performances from both Harper and Romanus. It can be viewed on Prime.

Finally, The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane (1977) is a creepy little film starring Jodie Foster as a child who will stop at nothing to keep people from figuring out that she’s living on her own. The true monster in this film is played, quite memorably, by Martin Sheen. It can be viewed on Prime.

20 Horror Movies For The Weekend (10/10/25)

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

It’s time for another round of movie recommendations for the Halloween season!

Universal Horror On Prime

It’s the Halloween season and I am happy to say that Prime has a few classic, old school horror films. I know that they probably take some getting used to for modern audiences but I personally love the old horror movie.

Dracula (1931), for instance, has a reputation for being rather stagey and that reputation is actually justified. It was based less on Bram Stoker’s classic novel and more on the subsequent stage play. That said, years of bad imitations have not diminished the strength of Bela Lugosi’s performance as Dracula. Though this film is, understandably, dominated by Lugosi, I’ve always appreciated the performances of Dwight Frye and Edward Van Sloan as well. Dracula is on Prime.

Frankenstein (1932) also features Edward Van Sloan and Dwight Frye, along with Mae Clarke as Elizabeth, Colin Clive as Henry Frankenstein, and Boris Karloff as the Monster. Nowhere near as campy as its reputation would seem to suggest, Frankenstein is actually a thoughtful and rather sad horror film. Karloff’s performance as the Monster has never been equaled and the scene where he unknowingly tosses the little girl in the lake to see if she will float is a classic moment of Universal horror. Frankenstein is on Prime.

Needless to say, any viewing of Frankenstein should be immediately be followed by the second part of the story, Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Bride of Frankenstein opens with Elsa Lanchester (as Mary Shelley) revealing that there is more to her story than revealed in the first film. Lanchester returns towards the end of the film, playing the title character. Her reaction to being brought to life is heart-breaking. Boris Karloff is even better in this film than he was in the first one. Of the old Universal horror films, this is the best. It can be viewed on Prime.

The Invisible Man (1933) is often overlooked when it comes to discussing the classic Universal horror films but I’ve always enjoyed. The special effects are effective to this day and Claude Rains gives an excellent performance as the title character. The Invisible Man can be viewed on Prime.

Finally, I have to mention one of my personal favorites. Creature From The Black Lagoon (1953) may have come out 20 years after the first wave of Universal horror films but it’s still an undeniable classic. The scenes of the Creature and Julia Adams swimming underwater are like a surreal and beautiful ballet. The Creature itself remains one of the best of Universal’s monsters. It can be viewed on Prime. (We’ll be watching it tomorrow for #ScarySocial!)

British Horror Online

In the 1950s, Britain’s Hammer Studios made their own version of the classic horror tales. Hammer’s films were in color and featured a combination of blood and cleavage that made them very popular with audiences in both the U.K. and the U.S. Even more importantly, they featured actors like Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

Curse of Frankenstein (1957) featured Peter Cushing as the Baron and Christopher Lee as the monster. If the first Frankenstein presented the scientist as being misguided but ultimately well-intentioned, the Hammer version presents Baron von Frankenstein as being a man who is all-too eager to play God, mostly for the sake of his own ego. Lee is an effective Monster but the true monster here is Cushing’s mad scientist. Curse of Frankenstein can be viewed on Tubi.

Horror of Dracula (1958) was the first of many Hammer films to feature Christopher Lee as Dracula and Peter Cushing as Van Helsing. (Somewhat sweetly, the two actors were best friends off-screen.) Lee eventually grew bored with the Hammer Dracula films but, in the first one, he gives an intense and almost feral performance as the blood-thirsty vampire. I’ve always preferred Cushing’s kindly Van Helsing to his cruel Frankenstein. Horror of Dracula can be viewed on Tubi.

Hammer was not the only British studio creating memorable horror films. Amicus Productions was responsible for some classic films of their own. One of my favorites is Scream and Scream Again (1970), which manages to be a horror film, a science fiction film, and a conspiracy thriller all in one. Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing appear in small roles while Vincent Price plays the scientist at the heart of the thriller. The late Michael Gothard plays a killer who, when handcuffed to a car, simply rips off his hand in order to make his escape. Scream and Scream Again can be viewed on Tubi.

In Death Line (1972), Donald Pleasence gives one of his best performances as an alcoholic cop who is investigating a series of disappearances in London’s underground. Hugh Armstrong plays the rather pathetic cannibal who is only capable of saying, “Mind the gap….” Christopher Lee has a cameo. Death Line can be viewed on Prime.

Finally, I have to recommend something from the underrated director Pete Walker. The Flesh and Blood Show (1972) is a fun and macabre little horror story about actors rehearsing a play in an isolated theater. Needless to say, they aren’t alone. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Italian Horror Online

With this upcoming Monday being Columbus Day, here are some Italian horror recommendations.

Of course, any discussion Italian horror has to start with Mario Bava. Black Sabbath (1963) is one of Bava’s best films, an anthology film that features three classic tales. Boris Karloff appears in the second story, playing a patriarch who has been transformed into a vampire. All three of the stories are wonderfully scary and entertaining and they all reveal Bava as a true master of horror. Black Sabbath can be viewed on Tubi.

Baron Blood (1972) deals with a mansion, a curse, and an ancient evil. The great Joseph Cotten stars. Remember that story about the hole in Russia from which you could supposedly hear the screams of the people in Hell? The “screams’ were even recorded. It was later determined that the screams in question had been lifted from this very film. Baron Blood can be viewed on Tubi.

Mario Bava’s Lisa and the Devil (1973) is a surreal mix of giallo mystery and demonic horror. Elke Sommer plays Lisa (hey!) who finds herself stranded in a mansion and experiencing what may or may not be a dream. Telly Savalas plays the mysterious Leandro, who may or may not be the other title character. The film can be viewed on Tubi.

Bava’s final film as a director was 1977’s Shock, a brilliant and frightening ghost story starring Daria Nicolodi and John Steiner. Nicolodi gives an intense and riveting performance as a mental fragile woman who may or may not be haunted by her ex-lover’s ghost. The hallway scene is horrifying. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Mario Bava’s son, Lamberto Bava, has gone on to have a directorial career of his own. He is perhaps best-known for directing the Dario Argento-produced Demons (1985), in which the audience of horror movie is transformed into a collection of blood-thirsty demons. It’s a wonderfully over-the-top horror film and it can be viewed on Tubi.

Lamberto Bava also directed A Blade In The Dark (1983), an excellent giallo about a film composer who is on a deadline but still finds time to get caught up in the brutal murders that all seem to be occurring around his duplex. This was one of the first giallo films that I ever saw and I was pretty much hooked from the beginning. The murder scene that takes place over the sink still freaks me out. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Finally, I have to recommend a few films from Lucio Fulci, the genius who was responsible for some of the most visually stunning (albeit narratively incoherent) Italian horror films of all time.

First off, any discussion of Fulci’s horror work has to start with Zombi 2 (1979). Though the film was sold as being a “sequel” to Dawn of the Dead, Zombi 2 is actually a separate story and a horror classic in its own right. As opposed to the gray-skinned members of the undead that populated Romero’s films, Fulci’s zombies truly do look as if they’ve spent the last decade buried underground and they attack with a disturbing relentlessness. One zombie battles a shark underwater. A conquistador zombie digs its way out of the ground, in a scene that is actually shown from the zombie’s point of view! The final scene is a classic and was apparently shot without bothering to get any permits ahead of time. Zombi 2 is on Tubi.

Finally, any discussion of Fulci has to include his masterwork, The Beyond trilogy. These three films, which are loosely-connected, are about as surreal and dream-like as they come, as narrative coherence is sacrificed for nightmarish visuals that truly do stick with the viewer.

In the first part of the trilogy, City of the Living Dead (1980), Christopher George and Catriona MacColl visit a small New England town where a priest’s suicide has opened a portal to Hell. The great Giovanni Lombardo Radice makes his film debut as Bob the Pervert, who has a bad experience with a drill to the head but who still returns to get a measure of revenge. City of the Living Dead can be viewed on Pluto TV.

The second part of the trilogy, The Beyond (1981), takes place in New Orleans. Catriona MacColl plays a different character here, a woman trying to reopen a hotel where, decades ago, a painter was lynched. The charming David Warbeck plays a doctor who has to deal with the dead coming back to life. Cinzia Monreale plays the beautiful, blind, and enigmatic Emily. The Beyond is about as close as the Italian horror industry ever got to capturing the feel of classic H.P. Lovecraft story. The ending will stick with you. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Finally, The House By The Cemetery (1981) features Catriona MacColl as yet another new character. This time, she and her husband and their son move into a house in New England, little realizing that the house’s previous inhabitant, Dr. Fruedstein, is still in the basement. This bloody film was apparently Fulci’s biggest hit in the States. Dr. Fruedstein is a terrifying creation and the film ends on a note of haunting ambiguity. This film can be viewed on Tubi.

That’s all I have room for in this entry but I imagine I’ll be writing about a lot more about Italian horror as the month progresses!

Click here for last week’s recommendations.

20 Horror Films For The Weekend (10/3/25)

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Welcome to Horrorthon! Here’s 20 films to help get you into that October mood!

The Dreams of Jean Rollin

I have been a fan of the French director Jean Rollin ever since I first watched Night of the Hunted on one rainy night. His dream-like film were often both frightening and, in their way, rather touching. At heart, Rollin was a poet and a romantic, along with being a cinematic rebel. This October is the perfect time to get caught up on Rollin.

The Nude Vampire (1970) opens at night, with a woman wearing an orange nightgown being chased down a street by three men wearing bird-like masks. The woman runs into a man named Pierre. Pierre watches as the woman is shot in the back and then carried into what appears to be a secret club. Pierre follows and soon finds himself in the middle of a surreal world featuring cults, vampires, and one of Rollin’s trademark trips to the beach. This was Rollin’s second film. It’s surreal trip into an undergouns world and it owes more than a little to the serials that Rollin enjoyed as a young man. The Nude Vampire can be viewed on Shudder.

The Shiver of the Vampires (1971) is Rollin’s tribute to the old Universal haunted house films. A newlywed couple visits a castle that was owned by the wife’s cousins. Upon arriving, they are told that the cousins are dead and the house is now occupied by two mysterious young women. Over the course of the night, the couple discovers that the castle is also home to vampire named Isolde. This atmospheric film is best-remembered the scene with Isolde emerges from a grandfather clock. It was an image that Rollin liked so much that he reused it in several later films. Shiver of the Vampires can be viewed on Tubi.

Requiem for a Vampire (1971) tells the story of two young girls who, having committed some sort of crime while wearing clown makeup, wander through the French countryside until they come across a castle that is occupied by a sickly vampire and his servants. Atmospheric, dream-like, and sexually-charged, Requiem for a Vampire is a mix of horror, crime, and melodrama. “Let’s go to the cemetery!” Requiem for a Vampire is available on Shudder.

Lips of Blood (1975) mixes two of Rollin’s favorite themes: vampires and memory. A man sees a picture of a ruined seaside castle and becomes convinced that he’s visited it in the past. His search for castle leads not just to vampires but also a meditation on the act of remembering and how people are always trying to recapture an idealized moment of time. A truly beautiful film, Lips of Blood can be found on Shudder.

The Living Dead Girl (1981) is one of Rollin’s best films. A toxic spill brings a young woman back to life. She has only vague memories of her past life but she also has an insatiable need for blood. When her childhood friend discovers that the woman has come back to life, she tries to keep her fed. It soon becomes clear that, even though the title character would rather be allowed to return to the peace of death, her friend is determined to keep her alive. This film is a bloody, gory, and ultimately very moving examination of love and friendship. How far would you go? The Living Dead Girl can be found on Tubi.

Hacking Away At October

Graduation Day (1981) is one of my favorite of the early 80s slasher, an entertainingly lowbrow film about a killer who is seeking revenge on the high school track and field team. Christopher George is the hard-pushing coach. Michael Pataki is the ineffective principal. Linnea Quigley, who was reportedly cast as the last minute after one of the actresses walked off the set, is the closest thing the film has to a likable character. Vanna White is a high school student. The music is incredible! Felony performs a 10-minute version of Gangsters of Rock. Graduation Day can be viewed on Tubi.

If you enjoyed Christopher George in Graduation Day, you’ll definitely want to follow up with Mortuary (1983), in which he plays the creepy owner of a funeral home. When he’s not embalming, he’s yelling at his socially awkward son (Bill Paxton). Someone is committing murder in the suburbs. Could it have something to do with the weird cult that occasionally meets in the mortuary’s back room? Christopher’s wife, Lynda Day George, plays the widow with a secret. Be sure to yell, “We can see you breathing!” during the later embalming scenes. Mortuary can be viewed on Tubi.

Christopher George and Lynda Day George also appear in Pieces (1982), one of the goriest slasher films ever made. The film’s tag line was “You don’t have to go to Texas for a chainsaw massacre” and this film proves it by setting the action in Boston. This film divides it’s time between genuinely disturbing gore and scenes that are so bizarre and misconceived that you can’t help but wonder if the director was trying to satirize the slasher genre. The random kung fu fight is an obvious example, as is the scene where the killer casually steps into an elevator while carrying his chainsaw. The film’s goriest scene is disturbing up until the moment that Lynda Day George starts screaming, “BASTARD!” at the sky. Pieces can be viewed on Tubi.

Hell Night (1981) may not feature Christopher and Lynda Day George but it does feature Linda Blair, Vincent Van Patten, and the absolutely dreamy Peter Barton as part of a group of fraternity and sorority pledges who spend the night in a supposedly haunted house. Uh-oh — it turns out the house really is haunted! Though the plot features the usual slasher hijinks, Hell Night is a well-acted movie that makes good use of its location and which features a few moments of wit to go along with all the death and horror. It can be viewed on Prime.

Even by the standards of director Jim Wynorski, Sorority House Massacre 2 (1990) is a trashy film. Four sorority girls try to clean up their new house, which basically translates to taking showers, wearing lingerie, and playing with a Ouija board. Their creepy neighbor, Orville, tries to warn them that they’ve moved into the old Hockstader Place but he just keeps getting stabbed for his trouble. The film is pure exploitation but it’s also cheerfully self-aware. It’s so shameless and the story plays out with so much energy that it becomes entertaining in its own very stupid way. Gail Harris and Melissa Moore give surprisingly committed performances. Peter Spellos is the neighbor who wants to help but keeps freaking everyone out. The film’s ending is oddly effective. It can be viewed on YouTube.

Supernatural Creeps

Ulli Lommel’s The Boogeyman (1980) has an intriguing premise. What if a mirror stored the evil that it once reflected? It also has a lot of ominous country atmosphere and a good performance from Lommel’s then partner, Suzanna Love. There’s a disturbing dream sequence that still freaks me out whenever I see it. It’s also an often ludicrous film that doesn’t always make a lot of sense but it’s still the best of Lommel’s American films. John Carradine shows up as a psychiatrist. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Burial Ground: Nights of Terror (1981) is an Italian film about what happens when a bunch of decadent, sex-crazed rich people find themselves trapped in a villa by a bunch of zombie. The zombie effects are surprisingly effective. There’s a lot of gore and also a political subtext of sorts. (The dead peasants rise from the dead and use the tools of their life — like scythes — to attack the rich.) That said, most people remember this film for Peter Bark’s bizarre performance of Michael, who is supposed to be a young teenager and who has a taboo scene with his mother (played by Mariangela Giordano) that seems to come out of nowhere. There’s some debate over whether or not Bark was an actual teenager or an elderly little person. I still have to cover my eyes during the finale. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Zombie 5: Killing Birds (1988) is another Italian zombie film. Ignore the “Five” in the title, this film isn’t an actual sequel to anything. A group of college students head to down to steamy bayous and find themselves besieged by the living dread. Birds may or may not be involved. Robert Vaughn hams it up as a blind man. There’s a genuinely frightening nightmare sequence. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Shock Waves (1977) also features zombies. In this case, they’re living underwater, off the coast of Florida for some reason. Shock Waves is a truly scary film. The zombies are relentless and brutal and the scene where they emerge from the water is a 100 times more frightening than it has any right to be. Brooke Adams plays the tourist who screams a lot. Peter Cushing is a mad scientist. John Carradine is a crusty old boat captain. Shock Waves can be viewed on Tubi.

Count Dracula (1970) stars Christopher Lee in a version of the Dracula story that sticks closer to the original Bram Stoker novel than any of the Hammer films. This version was directed by Jess Franco and features none other than Klaus Kinski as Renfield. Lee’s refined, aristocratic Dracula is quite a contrast to the feral version of the character that he often played for Hammer. Lee always cited this as the only Dracula film that he took pride in. It can be viewed on Tubi.

They’re Coming To Get You

Chopping Mall (1986) features the latest in mall security. Instead of security guards, the mall will now be patrolled by security robots. It’s all good and well until the robots malfunction and start chasing down the hot young employees who foolishly decided to spend the night in their store. Directed by Jim Wynorski and featuring Kelli Maroney, Russell Todd, Gerrit Graham, Barbara Crampton, and Dick Miller, Chopping Mall is a lot of fun. I don’t know if Wynorski has ever topped the exploding head scene. The film can be viewed on Tubi.

Hellmaster (1992) features John Saxon as a crazed and apparently immortal professor-turned-cult-leader who injects his followers with drugs that turn them into mindless zombies. David Emge, who was in Dawn of the Dead, plays the reporter who is haunted by Saxon’s crimes. Saxon is certainly intent on turning people into zombies but the film never really explains why. Still, the film has an intensity to it that I appreciate. John Saxon makes for a strong villain. The film can be viewed on Tubi.

Something Weird (1967) tells the story of Mitch. He gets electrocuted, which leaves him both psychic and disfigured. While his best friend wants to Mitch’s psychic abilities to defeat the communists, Mitch instead accepts a deal with a witch. She takes away his disfigurement and soon, Mitch is a celebrity. However, the witch doesn’t do anything for free. Eventually, Mitch takes LSD to try to strengthen his powers. Director Herschell Gordon Lewis was better-known for his gore films but Something Weird lives up to its title. With its mix of witches, ESP, and LSD, it’s a true horror time capsule. The film can be viewed on Tubi.

Terror At London Bridge (1985) features Jack The Ripper time traveling to Arizona. Can David Hasselhoff stop him!? Watch the film on Tubi to find out. The film will probably be best appreciated by David Hasselhoff fans but hey, who isn’t a fan of the Hoff?

Track of the Moon Beast (1976) is a film that is so much a product of the 70s that it deserves to be put in a museum. Come for the story of an innocent man transformed into a monster by a moon rock and stay for the lengthy performance of California Lady. Watch the film on YouTube!

Check out my previous week’s movies by clicking here!

10 Films For The Week (9/22/25)

Posted on September 22, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

With the passing of Robert Redford last week, I want to start things off by recommending one of his last films, 2013’s All Is Lost. Redford gives a great performance as a nameless man trying to survive on a damaged boat. The film opens with a brief Redford voice over and then, towards the end of the film, Redford utters one other line. Even without dialogue, Redford dominates the screen and shows why he was one of great movie stars. All Is Lost is streaming on Tubi.

Also streaming on Tubi is 1972’s Jeremiah Johnson, starring Redford as a mountain man who is trying to escape from civilization. Jeremiah Johnson is today probably best-known for giving the world the nodding Redford meme but it’s also a strong film in its own right and it features Redford at his best. Jeremiah Johnson can be viewed here.

I was very happy to recently see that one of my favorite films, 1982’s Split Image, is now streaming on Tubi. Split Image is one of those films that I am always recommending to anyone who hasn’t seen it. Michael O’Keefe plays a college athlete who is brainwashed into joining a cult led by Peter Fonda. O’Keefe’s father (Brian Dennehy) hires a sleazy cult deprogammer (James Woods) to rescue his son. This is an intelligent and well-acted film. It was also shot in my part of the world. If you watch it, pay attention to the scene in which O’Keefe is abducted from a college campus. The scene was shot at Richland Community College. It’s a lovely campus that still looks the same in 2025 as it did in 1982. Split Image is on Tubi.

James Woods and Brian Dennehy also teamed up in 1987’s Best Seller, a smart thriller that was written by Larry Cohen and directed by Rolling Thunder’s John Flynn. Dennehy plays a cop-turned-writer. Woods plays the hitman who has decided that he wants Dennehy to write his life story. Best Seller can be viewed here.

2013’s The Spectacular Now is listed as “leaving soon” over on Tubi so now is as good a time as any for you to watch this well-written and surprisingly poignant coming-of-age story. Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley both give strong performance as teen lovers. Kyle Chandler steals the film as Teller’s alcoholic father. The Spectacular Now is streaming here.

In a world where politics is becoming increasingly violent, 2008’s The Baader Meinhof Complex feels as relevant as ever. This film takes a look at the group of middle and upper-class activists who decided to play at being revolutionaries and how their actions spiraled out of-control. This film is a powerful portrait of a group of people who some proclaimed to be heroes and who some (correctly) portrayed to be political LARPers. It can be viewed on Prime.

Follow up The Baader Meinhof Complex with 1988’s Patty Hearst, Paul Schrader’s film about the kidnapping and subsequent brainwashing of heiress Patty Hearst. The film’s first half is especially harrowing. By the end of the film, Patty has almost become a powerless bystander as she watches her own story unfold in front of her. Patty Hearst can be viewed on Tubi.

1974’s Big Bad Mama is a Roger Corman-produced Depression epic, in which Angie Dickinson and her daughters rob banks and shoot guns. This one is worth watching not just for Dickinson’s performance but also for the supporting turns of two very different actors, William Shater and Tom Skerritt. It can be viewed on Prime.

William Shatner is also present in The Kidnapping of the President (1980), a Canadian-made and -set film in which President Hal Holbrook is taken hostage while visiting Toronto. William Shatner is the Secret Service agent negotiating for the President’s release. Van Johnson is the Vice President and Ava Gardner is his wife. Maury Chaykin appears as one of the kidnappers. With a cast like that, you can be assured that there’s not a piece of unchewed scenery to be found in this slight but entertaining thriller. It is streaming on Tubi.

Finally, it doesn’t get more 70s than 1973’s The Harrad Experiment, in which a group of students enroll at Harrad College, a progressive school where everyone is encouraged to lose their clothes, hug trees, and have open relationships. James Whitmore and Tippi Hedren play the unlikely founders of the college. Don Johnson, Laurie Walters, and Bruno Kirby are students. Fred Willard has a brief cameo as himself. It’s not necessarily a good film but it’s such a product of its time that it’s interesting from a historical perspective. It’s streaming on Prime.

Click here for last week’s films!

10 Films For The Week (9/14/25)

Posted on September 14, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Welcome To The Dark Side Of Life

Ted K (2021) is a film about Ted Kaczynski, the overeducated loser who moved into a Montana cabin and who sent people bombs because of …. reasons, I guess? I know that Ted had a big manifesto and that there are people who claim to have found some sort of genius in his ramblings but truth be told, Ted was a second-rate philosopher who has been embraced by third-rate people. This film features Sharlto Copley at Ted and it takes an honest and unbiased look at him, his beliefs, and his crimes. If you’re wondering how we got to where we are, this is one of the films to watch. The film is on Tubi.

River’s Edge (1987) features Keanu Reeves, Crispin Glover, and Ione Skye as teenagers who learn that one of their friends (Daniel Roebuck) has murdered his girlfriend and who …. do nothing. Eventually, one of them does go to the police and finds himself being targeted by his former friends. Meanwhile, Roebuck hides out with a one-legged biker (Dennis Hopper). This is a disturbing and well-acted true crime film. We’ve all seen a lot of examples of bystander syndrome over the past few years. This week, I’ve wondered why so many people, on that North Carolina bus, just walked away after Iryna was stabbed. This is film examines an early example of that tendency. It’s on Tubi.

Blue Caprice (2013) was a film made about the DC snipers. It didn’t really get the attention that it deserved when it was initially released, largely due to the fact that 1) it starred Isaiah Washington and 2) it was such a disturbing movie that I imagine a lot of people had a hard time recommending it. But if you want to see a film about how a madman can find ways to justify his amoral behavior, this film provides a lot of insight. It’s on Tubi.

The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015) tells the true story of an infamous social experiment from the early 70s. It examines just how quickly people will lose themselves in a situation. While the students playing the prisoners feel as if they are literally fighting for their lives, the students playing the guards enjoy their power trip and never seem to consider that things are going too far. This film features a great performance from Michael Angarano, as the most enthusiastic of the guards. It’s on Tubi.

Finally, Christine (2016) tells the story of Christine Chubbuck, the Florida news anchor whose on-air suicide partially inspired the film, Network. Christine is not a happy film but it does feature a great performance from Rebecca Hall. It’s on Tubi.

Welcome To The Ligher Side Of The Life

Good news! Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) exists! This film, one of the funniest ever made and definitely one of my go-to comforts, is currently streaming on Tubi!

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) remains the ultimate teen fantasy. Actually, it’s also probably the ultimate adult fantasy. Everyone deserves a day off. Ferris Bueller skips school and manages to fit a month’s worth of events into just 9 hours. We should all be so lucky. I love this film. Alan Ruck deserved all the Oscars in the world. The film is currently streaming on Netflix.

Burn After Reading (2008) never seems to get the respect that it deserves. The Coen Brothers followed up the award-winning No Country For Old Men with an absurdist CIA comedy in which no one learned anything and nothing was accomplished. It’s hilarious, as both a film and a concept. John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, J.K. Simmons, David Rasche, and George Clooney are all wonderfully used. Burn After Reading is currently on Prime.

Odds and Ends

12 Angry Men (1957) is a true rarity, a classic that everyone agrees is a classic. Not only are all 12 of the angry men perfectly cast (Henry Fonda, Jack Warden, Ed Begley, Martin Balsam, Lee J. Cobb, E.G. Marhsall, Robert Webber, and all the rest …. I could go on for paragraphs about how brilliantly cast this film is) but it’s also still a thought-provoking look at the justice system. Personally, I think the kid was guilty. And I think that the men all deciding that the woman was too vain to admit that she wore glasses is a perfect example of why women should serve on juries. Henry Fonda talked them into letting a murderer loose! It’s still a great film though. It’s streaming on Tubi.

The Philadelphia Story (1940) features James Stewart, Cary Grant, and Katharine Hepburn. It also features a lot of great lines, a lot of funny moments, and — most importantly — Jimmy Stewart singing Somewhere Over The Rainbow! What more could you ask for? It’s streaming on Tubi.

20 Films For The Weekend (9/5/25)

Posted on September 5, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Guilty Pleasure Weekend

Last night, while my sister and my boyfriend were watching the Cowboys lose to the Eagles, I took refuge from it all by watching Big Brother (Go Ava!) and then an episode of the Dark Side of Comedy. The Dark Side of Comedy episode was about Dustin Diamond, the actor who will forever be known for playing Screech Powers on Saved By The Bell.

Watching the episode on Diamond reminded me of the fact that, in 2015, Lifetime turned his terrible, lie-filled memoir into a made-for-TV movie. They didn’t actually credit Behind the Bell as being the source material for 2014’s the Unauthorized Saved By The Bell Story but it was pretty clear that it was. That said, The Unauthorized Saved By The Bell Story was entertainingly daft. The actor who played Dustin Diamond bore a surprising resemblance to him. The rest of the cast was not quite as well-selected. Still, if you like cheesy and over-the-top behind-the-scene docudramas about mediocre TV shows, The Unauthorized Saved By The Bell Story is the gold standard. It can be viewed on Prime.

The Unauthorized Saved By The Bell Story was such a hit that, in 2015, Lifetime gave us The Unauthorized Beverly Hills 90210 Story, which featured a nice nod to continuity by casting the same actress as Tiffani-Amber Thiessen who played the role in the Saved By The Bell film. Thanks to the Vanessa Parise’s direction, The 90210 film was surprisingly good and it also featured an excellent performance from Degrassi’s Samantha Munro as Shannen Doherty. The film portrays Doherty as being a bit of a diva but it also makes a compelling argument that Doherty, as a veteran of the industry, understood that, in Hollywood, you could either fight for respect or you could be a victim. It can be viewed on Prime.

Lifetime followed up their 90210 film with The Unauthorized Melrose Place Story, which was a bit of a disappointment when compared to the other two films. (The main theme seems to be that everyone got along.) It’s a film that I recommend only because I’m a completist. It can be viewed on Prime.

Usually, I only recommend films that are streaming for free but, since we’re talking about the Lifetime Unauthorized series, I will mention that 2015’s The Unauthorized Full House Story is available for rent on Prime. Unfortunately, most of the really interesting stories involving the cast of Full House (like Aunt Becky going to prison for a nothing crime) occurred after this film aired. The most interesting thing about this film is how little any of the actors resemble their real-life counterparts. Still, if you’re a completist and you don’t mind paying for it, it’s on Prime.

While I was rummaging around on Prime, I discovered that From Justin To Kelly (2003) is currently streaming! I can’t help it. As bad as this film is, I just love it. Some of it is because Kelly and I are both from Texas. (From what I understand, Kelly doesn’t like this movie. While it is clear that neither she nor Justin Guarini were trained actors, they were both very liable.) Some of it is because it’s just so unbelievably bad that it becomes oddly charming. Justin and Kelly are cute together, even though they have zero romantic chemistry. Apparently, American Idol was envisioned as including an annual film as well but they abandoned that idea after the commercial failure of From Justin To Kelly. We were robbed of a Taylor Hicks/Katharine McPhee romantic comedy! From Justin To Kelly is on Prime.

Remember Buford Pusser?

Two weeks ago, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation held a press conference about the legendary Sheriff Buford Pusser, whose life and death in the early 70s inspired the Walking Tall films. A huge part of Pusser’s legend is that his wife was killed by the Dixie Mafia. The TBI, however, is now of the opinion that Pusser murdered his wife, shot himself, and then made up a story about having been ambushed …. which, when you think about it, actually makes a lot more sense than anything portrayed in the Walking Tall films.

That said, the saying goes that you should always print the legend. The original 1974 Walking Tall, starring Joe Don Baker, is streaming for free on one location. Unfortunately, it’s a pretty suspect site and I’m not really comfortable linking to it. However, the sequels — 1975’s Walking Tall Part 2 and 1977’s Walking Tall: Final Chapter — are both on YouTube. Part 2 actually opens with Buford getting plastic surgery that makes him look like Bo Svenson. (I don’t care how much plastic surgery someone gets, there’s no way someone could go from looking like Joe Don Baker to looking like Bo Svenson). Part 2 features Buford going after the Dixie Mafia. The Final Chapter is more of a family drama, with Buford losing reelection but discovering that Hollywood wants to make a movie about his life. Part 2 and Final Chapter are both on YouTube.

Finally, 1978’s A Real American Hero is a made-for-TV movie that features Brian Dennehy as Buford Pusser. Needless to say, it’s not easy to watch Brian Dennehy play a redneck sheriff without immediately assuming that he’s going to arrest John Rambo for wanting to get a cup of coffee. A Real American Hero is on a lot of sites, including YouTube.

Speaking of Sylvester Stallone….

All of the Rocky films are currently available to stream on Prime. I used to be very critical of the Rocky films but I’ve actually come to appreciate them over the past few years. (A lot of that is due to Sylvester Stallone’s performance in Creed.)

For instance, I still occasionally roll my eyes at the first Rocky (1976) but I’ve come to appreciate Talia Shire’s performance as Adrian and Burt Young’s performance as Paulie. The raw sincerity of Stallone’s performance eventually won me over (even if I do think Stallone was better in First Blood) and I actually now better appreciate the fact that Rocky lost the big fight but was still a winner. Rocky II (1979) is a bit too slow for me. One got the feeling that Stallone was trying too hard as both an actor and a director with this one. But, on the plus side, at least Carl Weathers got his own redemption arc as Apollo.

Rocky III (1982) is where things really start to work for me. With Rocky III, Stallone fully embraces the melodrama, stops worrying about the Academy, and he truly gives us a wonderfully over-the-top film that one can’t help but enjoy. Mr. T’s Clubber Lang is a great villain. For fans of Burt Young, the film features Paulie at his slovenly best. And I dare anyone not to cheer as Rocky and Apollo jump up and down in the ocean. Rocky IV (1985) features Rocky defeating the Russians and delivering a heart-felt plea for world peace. Again, how can you not love that? Apollo Creed died to teach us all to appreciate our nation. Remember that during the 250th birthday celebrations next year.

Rocky V (1990) was supposed to be the final Rocky film and it featured Stallone giving a performance that was so bizarre that it simply has to be seen in all of its glory. Everyone realized that Rocky V really wasn’t the ending that the franchise deserved and, many years later, Stallone tried again with Rocky Balboa (2006), an undeniably touching film about a 70 year-old risking his life in a boxing ring. Somehow, Paulie outlived Adrian.

Finally, the first two Creed films are also available to stream on Prime. Creed (2015) featured perhaps Sylvester Stallone’s best performance as Rocky Balboa. Creed II (2018) allowed Rocky to forgive himself for Apollo’s death and, to its credit, also gave Drago a hint of redemption. Creed III (2023) does not feature Rocky, which I was actually kind of happy about, if just because it indicated that maybe Rocky had finally found some sort of life outside of the ring. Creed III does, however, feature excellent work from Michael B. Jordan and (yes, I’m going to say it) Johnathan Majors. Creed and Creed II are available to stream on Prime. Creed III, you’ll have to rent.

Odds and Ends

In The People Next Door (1970), Eli Wallach and Julie Harris play a suburban couple who discover that their kids have gotten involved with hippies and drugs! This is the type of over-the-top melodrama that I love. It can be viewed on Tubi.

If you really want to depress yourself, follow up The People Next Door with The Death of Richie (1977), a true story about a suburban father (Ben Gazzara) and his teenage son (Robby Benson). Benson gives a surprisingly good performance as the out-of-control Richie. Gazzara brings his trademark intensity to the role of the Dad. Don’t watch this movie unless you’re ready to cry. It can be viewed on a lot of streaming sites, including Tubi.

Finally, since James Nguyen’s celebrate a birthday earlier this week, I will just mention that his best film, Replica (2005) is currently available on YouTube. Some films defy description and that’s certainly the case here. Find it on YouTube.

Click here for my previous weekend film recommendations!

20 Films For The Weekend (8/2/25)

Posted on August 2, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here’s twenty films for this weekend! It’s the start of a new month and that means there’s some new movies to chose from on your favorite streaming services.

10 New(-ish) Arrivals

Let’s start with a few Scorsese films.

Over the course of his long career, Martin Scorsese has only received one Oscar for Best Director and that was for directing The Departed (2006). The Departed is also the only Scorsese film to win an Oscar for Best Picture. For the longest time, I was kind of annoyed by that fact because Scorsese has definitely made better films than The Departed. That said, The Departed has grown on me with subsequent viewings and I now appreciate it a lot more than I did originally. Jack Nicholson’s performance — his final performance that can really be called great — is a devilish delight. Matt Damon is wonderfully amoral. Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance seemed shrill the first time I watched the film but I’ve come to better appreciate it as a portrait of growing instability and paranoia. Mark Wahlberg brings some subtle humor to his profane cop. Even Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin are better than usual! The Departed is now on Netflix.

Raging Bull (1980) tells the story of boxer Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro), a brute of a man who is only capable of communicating through his fists. Raging Bull is not one of my favorite Scorsese films, just because LaMotta himself is such an abusive jerk that I find it hard to really care about him, regardless of how good of a performance Robert De Niro gives in the role. To me, the film is far more interesting when it concentrates on Cathy Moriarty as LaMotta’s abused wife and Joe Pesci as LaMotta’s brother. That said, the film’s black-and-white cinematography is gorgeous, the fight scenes are brutal, and the final scenes of LaMotta as an overweight night club comic have a certain karmic justice to them. It’s a testament to Scorsese’s talent that he can make even a film about someone like Jake LaMotta compelling. Raging Bull is on Prime.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) is one of my favorite Scorsese films. It’s a long and chaotic film but it totally draws you into its world and it features not only Leonardo DiCaprio’s best performance but also excellent work from Margot Robbie, Kyle Chandler, Matthew McConaughey, and Jonah Hill. I know that some critics have complained that the film doesn’t explicitly tell the viewer what to think of DiCaprio’s Jordan Belfort but I think they miss the point. Scorsese trusts the viewer to be able to come to their own conclusions about Jordan Belfort. If Belfort’s lifestyle wasn’t fun, he wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble to preserve it. As well, Belfort may be a crook but he’s absolutely right when he calls out Kyle Chandler’s SEC agent for just being a frustrated broker. The Wolf of Wall Street is now on Tubi.

Last week was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s birthday. Conan The Barbarian (1982) features a perfectly-cast Schwarzenegger as Robert E. Howard’s famous barbarian. John Milius was the perfect director to bring this character and his world to life and, even if you’re not a fan of Arnie’s, it’s hard to resist a film that features James Earl Jones as the leader of a snake cult. Conan is now on Prime.

Conan the Destroyer (1984) is a sequel that was not directed by John Milius. Instead, it was directed by Richard Fleischer, who is almost Milius’s exact opposite when it comes to filmmaking. Milius had a vision. Fleischer directs like a man on a deadline. Whereas the first Conan was a grim and serious barbarian epic, Conan the Destroyer features Conan punching a camel and getting spun around in a circle by a lizard monster. That said, Conan the Destroyer is campy but enjoyably silly. It’s best to think of it is a stand-alone film and not a continuation of Milius’s epic. Conan The Destroyer is on Prime.

With all of the back-to-school sales starting, this might be a good time to revisit Shermer, Ohio. The directorial debut of John Hughes, Sixteen Candles (1984) is a film that, today, tends to be dismissed as being problematic. In many ways, it definitely is but you know what? I can forgive the film its less-than-tasteful moments because Sixteen Candles captures something that feels very real. I defy anyone to watch this film and not relate to Samantha Becker (Molly Ringwald). If your heart doesn’t melt a little when Jake Ryan says he’s looking for true love, you don’t have a heart. Sixteen Candles is definitely a product of its time. Today, parents have a thousand apps available to them to make sure they never forget a birthday. That said, the film still captures the timeless feeling of being young, annoyed, and in love. Sixteen Candles is on Prime.

Fast Times At Ridgemont High (1982) is one of the greatest high school films ever made, one that may be dated but which still captures the universal experiences of being young and confused with an empathy and an honesty that few films have ever been able to match. It’s a comedy but it’s also a drama, much like high school itself. Jennifer Jason Leigh gives one of her best performances. Judge Reinhold’s life goes downhill. Sean Penn is so hilarious that it’s odd to consider how serious almost all of later work would be. Forest Whitaker, Nicolas Cage and Eric Stoltz make their film debuts. Robert Romanus’s Mike Damone is the wannabe bad boy who, had I been in highs school in 1982, I probably would have crushed on to my eternal regret. How could you abandon Stacy like that, Damone!? Fast Times At Ridgemont High is on Netflix.

From director Catherine Hardwicke, Thirteen (2003) is a harrowing coming of age story, one that I always kind of cringe at while watching just because of how much I relate to it. I was a handful when I was thirteen. Every time I watch this movie, I wish my mom was still here so I could apologize to her. That said, Thirteen is a good film that features excellent performances from Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter. Thirteen is on Netflix.

I’ve always wanted to like Clueless (1995) more than I actually do but it’s still a likable and influential high school film. (When I first saw it, I assumed that, when I started high school, it would be just like the one in Clueless. Was I ever depressed to discover that my family didn’t live in Beverly Hills!) Director Amy Heckerling brings the same empathy to her characters that she previously brought to Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Seen today, Alicia Silverstone’s tendency to oversell every moment gets on my nerves but the performances of Paul Rudd and Brittany Murphy hold up well. Young Lisa has a massive crush on Breckin Meyer. Stop laughing. Clueless is on Netflix.

10 Things I Hate About You (1999) is the perfect high school romance. Heath Ledger singing in the stands, Julia Stiles reciting her poem, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Larisa Oleynik having their own little love story, this is a film that makes me smile and cry every time I watch it. This is an adaptation of Shakespeare that’s worthy of the association. It’s now on Hulu.

10 Odds and Ends

Today is Dinosaur Day. While some people might observe this day by rewatching one of the Jurassic Park films, I’m going to recommend a charmingly low-budget film called Planet of Dinosaurs (1977). In the far future, a group of human crash land on a planet that has a lot in common with Earth. They soon find themselves being preyed upon by dinosaurs! The stop-motion dinosaurs are really charming in their own way. This silly but enjoyable film can be viewed on Tubi.

Yesterday was Spider-Man Day. In the late 70s, there was a Spider-Man television series, starring Nicholas Hammond as the man who could climb any wall. This led to three Spider-Man made-for-television movies, Spider-Man (1977), Spider-Man Strikes Back (1978), and Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge (1981). The movies are a bit uneven but I like Nicholas Hammond’s performance as Spider-Man and the first film featured an enjoyably villainous turn from character actor Thayer David. These three movies are very much a product of their time and it’s interesting to compare them to what’s coming out of Disney and Marvel today. Spider-Man, Spider-Man Strikes Back, and Spider-Man: The Dragon’s Challenge can all be viewed on YouTube.

Robert Altman’s Fool For Love (1985) is an adaptation of a Sam Shepard play, one that stars Shepard himself. Kim Basinger, Randy Quaid, and Harry Dean Stanton also appear in this southwestern love story. The film can’t quite escape its theatrical origins but Shepard, Quaid, and Stanton all give excellent performances. (Basinger is good but doesn’t quite have as much romantic chemistry with Shepard as one would hope.) This film was a part of Cannon’s ultimately unsuccessful effort to escape its reputation for producing violent schlock. Personally, I like it. Shepard was both a great writer and a great actor and this film proves it. It can be viewed on Tubi.

The Cutting Edge (1992) is a personal favorite of mine. A hockey player learns how to become an Olympic figure skater. An Olympic figure skater learns how to loosen up and enjoy life. Moira Kelly and D.B. Sweeney are so adorable together that you can’t help but smile when Kelly realizes that she’d rather be with Sweeney than with her boyfriend, Stuffy Q. McBorington. Not many films make me cheer but this one does. Go for the gold, USA! The Cutting Edge is on Tubi.

Bring It On (2000) is another favorite of mine and my sister’s. Erin was a cheerleader at our high school. I was asked but I turned down the opportunity because I was trying to do the whole emo thing. It’s probably for the best. Erin was the greatest cheerleader ever but I’m a natural-born klutz. As for the film, it’s great. Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, and Gabrielle Union all bring a lot unexpected depth to their roles. Spirit fingers! Bring It On is on Tubi.

Over the Edge (1979) is a far darker portrait of being a teenager. In a desolate Colorado “planned’ community, a group of directionless teens finally rebel while their parents are all at a meeting about what to do about their children. Young Matt Dillon is incredibly charismatic as a doomed teen. Harry Northup plays Doberman, the cop of everyone’s nightmares. The climax is violent, disturbing, and — considering how terrible the grown-ups are in this movie — totally understandable. This a powerful and ultimately sad movie. Oh, Child, things are going to get easier…. Over the Edge is on Tubi.

Lovers of conspiracy theories should be happy to know that Peter Hyams’s deliriously paranoid and enjoyably absurd Capricorn One (1977) is on Tubi! Hal Holbrook fakes a mission to Mars. Astronauts James Brolin, Sam Waterston, and OJ Simpson are considered to be expendable. OJ eats a snake! Elliott Gould investigates the case! Karen Black and Telly Savalas have bizarre cameos. Peter Hyams is a filmmaker who deserves more attention than he gets. This film is a hundred times more effective than it has any right to be and it’s on Tubi.

Finally, Gotti (2018) has a terrible reputation but I find it oddly compelling. Whether it was the director’s intention or not, the film does force us to consider how someone like John Gotti could go from being a brutal gangster to becoming an almost beloved cultural institution. (Remember Growing Up Gotti?) So, sure …. I’ll defend Gotti. It’s less a film about John Gotti and more a film about those of us watching and our fascination with gangsters. It’s most intriguing moments may be accidental but so be it. The fact that John Travolta’s Gotti gets visibly older through the film while his son always remains in his mid-20s is your first clue not to take the film literally. Gotti can be viewed on Tubi.

Click here to check out last week’s movies!

10 Films For The Weekend (7/25/25)

Posted on July 25, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Leaving Soon

With the end of July approaching, I decided to take a look at what would soon be leaving Tubi. I should mention that just because these films are leaving Tubi, that doesn’t mean they’re not going to start streaming somewhere else. In fact, I imagine the reason that they’re leaving is because they’re going to start streaming somewhere else. Here’s a few worthwhile films that are currently listed as “leaving soon” on Tubi.

Sweet Smell of Success (1957) stars Burt Lancaster as a viscous columnist and Tony Curtis as his henchmen. When Lancaster discovers that his sister is dating a jazz musician, Lancaster decides to destroy the man’s life. One can view this film as a satire on the tabloids, a metaphor for McCarthyism, or a commentary on cancel culture. All those interpretations are legitimate. Then again, it can also be viewed as just being a tremendously enjoyable and endlessly quotable pulp masterpiece, a noir where the damage isn’t done by bullets but instead by words. Here’s the link on Tubi.

Terence Malick’s Song to Song (2017) is an intriguing Texas-set film. It’s a Malick film and, in many ways, it’s Malick at his most self-indulgent. There are times when the film, with its languorous shots and its multiple narrators, almost becomes a self-parody. But there are also images that are so strikingly beautiful that they stick with you. A talented cast — Michael Fassbender, Ryan Gosling, Natalie Portman, Val Kilmer, and others — wanders through the film and offers up tantalizing hints of what’s going on underneath the surface of their ennui-drenched lives. It’s left to the viewer to decide what it all means. It’s a Malick film and, because of that, worth taking a chance on. Here’s the link on Tubi.

Based on a novel by Don DeLillo and directed by David Cronenberg, Cosmopolis (2012) is a surreal film that follows a businessman (Robert Pattinson) as he is driven around New York. This is one of those films that people seem to either love or hate. I loved it and I thought this was the first film that showed Pattinson was capable of doing more than just Twilight. In a key supporting role, Paul Giamatti gives a notably disturbing performance. Here’s the link on Tubi.

What would you do if you had the chance to live the last day of your life over and over again? That’s the question asked by one of my favorite films of the past ten years, Before I Fall (2017). This is a film that brough back memories of me and my friends in high school and left me wondering if I needed to apologize to anyone. Here’s the link on Tubi.

I’m still annoyed (if not necessarily surprised) that Nightcrawler (2014) was thoroughly ignored by the Academy. Jake Gyllenhaal definitely deserved, at the very least, a nomination for his performance as a sociopath who finds a successful career in crime journalism. Bill Paxton and Rene Russo give excellent supporting performances. This may be a mainstream film but its heart belongs to the grindhouse. Here’s the link on Tubi.

Finally, what can I say about Chinatown (1974) that hasn’t already been said by a hundred other critics? It’s one of the best noirs ever made and it’s debatable whether or not Jack Nicholson has ever been better than he was here. Along with an intriguing mystery, the film features one of the most loathsome villains of all time, John Huston’s Noah Cross. Faye Dunaway is excellent as the femme fatale with a devastating secret. Here’s the link on Tubi.

Odds and Ends

After watching Chinatown, why not check out Francis Ford Coppola’s The Conversation (1974)? I have to admit that I envy those who were alive in 1974 and who got to see the second Godfather, Chinatown, and The Conversation when they were all first released. What’s it like to live during a cinematic golden age? The Conversation is a brilliant thriller, featuring Gene Hackman at his best. This is a true masterpiece of paranoia and it can be viewed on Prime.

If you’re in the mood for something completely different, the dramedy Class (1983) features Andrew McCarthy as a nerdy student who has an affair with the mother (Jacqueline Bisset) of his roommate (Rob Lowe). It’s a very 80s film and definitely a guilty pleasure. It can be viewed on Prime.

Speaking of Rob Lowe, he plays a bad guy in the enjoyably melodramatic Bad Influence (1990). James Spader plays the good guy for once, an adorably nerdy guy who discovers that his new best friend doesn’t exactly have his best interests at heart. Directed by Curtis Hanson, Bad Influence is sordid fun. It can be viewed on Prime.

Finally, I should mention that I bought a copy of Gianni Russo’s autobiography this week. Russo is the entertainer who played Carlo Rizzi in The Godfather and who appeared in a handful of other films, usually playing a gangster. I’m disappointed to say that Russo did not write about the experience of co-starring in the gloriously absurd, totally 70s sci-fi flick, Laserblast (1978). Fortunately, you can watch the film for yourself. Russo’s role is actually pretty small but the Claymation aliens are just adorable! This is also probably the only film ever made to feature Eddie Deezen as a bully. Laserblast is on Prime.

You can check out last week’s films but clicking here!

10 Movies For The Week (7/20/25)

Posted on July 20, 2025 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Here Comes Shark Week

This upcoming week is Shark Week. At the risk of making the most obvious recommendation ever, Jaws (1975) is currently on Netflix. I doubt that I need to sell anyone on the film. Jaws is one of those films that everyone accepts is a classic. I’ll just say that every time that I watch Jaws, I’m surprised at how well it has held up over the years. I watched it a few weeks ago while flying to Hawaii and, even when viewed in less than ideal conditions, it still held my attention and made me jump a little. To be honest, I sometimes miss the Spielberg who directed Jaws. It’s such a fun and scary movie, all the more so because it was made by a director who clearly lived for film. Jaws is currently streaming on Netflix.

Jaws 2 (1978) does not get the same respect as the first Jaws, nor does it deserve it. That said, I can’t help but kind of like Jaws 2. If the first Jaws has a timeless quality to it, Jaws 2 is proudly a product of the 1970s. Jaws 2 has some pacing issues but it also features Roy Scheider going totally crazy at the end of the film. After giving a fairly subdued performance in the first Jaws, Scheider went all out for Jaws 2. Just listen to him yell at that shark! Jaws 2 is also on Netflix.

Jaws 3 (1983) is a bit of a guilty pleasure, largely because it was originally filmed in 3-D and the special effects are charmingly bad. Roy Scheider does not return for this one but Dennis Quaid shows up as Chief Brody’s son. This film was shot at SeaWorld Orlando but the main message seems to be, “Stay away from Seaworld!” For the record, I relate to Lea Thompson’s character. It can be viewed on Netflix!

The makers of Jaws: The Revenge (1987) decided to see what would happen if they made a Jaws film that centered on the least interesting character from the first film. With Chief Brody having died of a heart attack and one of her sons having been eaten by a shark, Mrs. Brody heads down to the Caribbean and is apparently followed by a shark. Its dumb but Michael Caine is charming and I’m a completist at heart. If you’re going to watch one this week, you might as well watch all four! Jaws: The Revenge is on Netflix.

Great White (1981) is an Italian film that was also released under the title The Last Shark. Directed by Enzo G. Castelleri, Great White was so similar to Jaws that Universal actually sued the filmmakers in an attempt to keep the film from being released in the States. To me, that’s always seemed like an overreaction. There were hundreds of Jaws rip-offs released after 1975. Great White is actually a pretty entertaining film. James Franciscus and Vic Morrow team up to take on a giant shark. The shark eats a helicopter. This film can currently be viewed on YouTube.

In Praise of Joseph Sargent

Jaws: The Revenge was directed by Joseph Sargent. Sargent would have been a hundred years old on July 22nd. Sargent was a classic, no-nonsense director who could handle many different genres. Here’s a few Sargent films that are not Jaws: The Revenge.

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) is probably Sargent’s best film. Four criminals hijack a subway train. The police spend their time negotiating, arguing, and searching. It’s certainly my favorite example of the “New Yorkers Will be Rude To Anyone” genre. Featuring great performances from Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Jerry Stiller, and Martin Balsam, this is one of the great New York heist films. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Maybe I’ll Come Home In The Spring (1972) is a personal favorite of mine, a made-for-television film featuring a young Sally Field as a hippie who returns home and David Carradine as her controlling boyfriend. This is a lowkey but effective look at life in the suburbs and it features an excellent performance from Sally Field. It can be viewed on Tubi.

Tribes (1970) features Jan-Michael Vincent as a peace-loving hippie who is drafted and Darren McGavin as the drill sergeant who tries to turn him into a soldier. Jan-Michael Vincent is absolutely gorgeous in this film. It can be viewed on YouTube.

Odds and Ends

Paul Verhoeven celebrated a birthday a few days ago. The original (and still the best) Robocop (1987) is available on Tubi. Much like Jaws, it’s a film that has stood the test of time and survived countless imitations.

Finally, with the sequel due to be released on the 25th, this week is a great time to amuse yourself with the original Happy Gilmore (1996)! I love this film and I make no apologies for it. Bob Barker beating up Adam Sandler? Seriously, how can you not love this film? Personally, I’ve always felt bad for Shooter McGavin. Making him hit that ball off of Richard Kiel’s foot? Totally unfair! Happy Gilmore is streaming on Netflix.

Click here for last week’s movies!