Month: May 2012

It's a Horror to Know You: Craftypants Carol of Craftypants Carol's Fancy Crafty World!

1. What is the first film that ever scared you?

I did a Name That Trauma (HERE) about the very first thing on TV that scared the crap out of me. It was a Movie of the Week commercial for some movie with a dude with a tall, Jack the Ripper-esque hat who was walking through the cobble-stoned streets of some town and scared me so bad I started to cry hysterically. My trauma wasn't "officially" named, but, as a result of all the great guesses, I watched I, MONSTER, which really has some major similarities with what I remembered – and is really good! After that, the movie that scared me beyond reason, that I know the name of, is ENCOUNTER WITH THE UNKNOWN. I included the creepy lady from that movie in a traumafession-style list (HERE) a while back.

2. What is the last film that scared you?

I'd have to say DEAD SILENCE. That lady is just too creepy for someone with a creepy lady phobia.

3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.

I'm not exactly sure which movies are underrated, mostly cause everyone seems to have their own opinion and I never really know if there is some debate going on about them in the greater horror community or what the deal is. But occasionally I read things that surprise me. So…

1. Dead Silence – I'm pretty sure this is a movie a lot of people think is lame, maybe cause of the really idiotic CGI at the end, but I think it has some majorly genuine creepiness throughout.

2. A Tale of Two Sisters – Again, I don't know if this movie is underrated or not – but I don't really see too many people talking about it. To me it is genuinely creepy.

3. Death Proof – I have this feeling that there may be some sort of, not necessarily anti, but not very pro, Quentin Tarrentino thing amongst some horror folk – but maybe I'm wrong. I don't know. In any event – I have seen this movie at the very least 10 times – and love it more every time I see it. And I always yell "Deathproof Nacho!" during the nacho scene. It is entirely possible that the nacho scene is the reason I love this movie so much.

Honorable Mention: Bloodrage (1979) – I swear I'm gonna do a traumafession about this one soon. I swear!

4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.

1. Nurse Sherri

2. The Legacy (1978)

3. Black Candles (1982) It's not even remotely scary or very good – but I dig the softcore action and that the main chick's name is Carol and they say it like 100 times throughout the movie.

There are also many 70s movies on youtube I could put in both these categories simultaneously.

5. Send us to five places on the Internet!

Dwrayger Dungeon.

Magic Carpet Burn.

Made for TV Mayhem.

Funky Frolic.

Retrospace.

It's a Horror to Know You: Jason S.!

1. What is the first film that ever scared you?

Tourist Trap (the scene when the girl is smothered in plaster haunted me for years), This House Possessed (fuck PSYCHO, the shower scene in this traumatized me), and The Day After (the film takes place where I grew up so it just made it all the more real).

2. What is the last film that scared you?

Not really scared me but left a huge impression on me:

The Strangers–grim and unrelenting.

Eden Lake–see above.

Cold Fish–based on a true crime story that rocked Japan.

Kidnapped–house invasion flick from Spain.

Snowtown–another true crime film, this one from Australia.

3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.

The Haunting of Julia— beautiful performance from Mia Farrow. Needs to be seen in widescreen.

Through the Looking Glass— dismissed as just a porn film, this is one of the most horrific things I have ever seen.

Naked Vengeance— basically a remake of I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, everything is taken up a notch from the rape to the revenge. Actress Deborah Tranelli is phenomenal (and even sings on the soundtrack!)

4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.

Mother of Tears–Not the final "Mothers" film we wanted but damn I love this one

Murder Rock–Fuci's dance/slasher film. Not a lot of love for this one but I enjoy it a lot

Witchery–Linda Blair gets possessed again.

5. Send us to five places on the Internet!

Phantom of Pulp (one of my favorite blogs, he has turned me to so many great films)

Video Junkie (a trash movie lover's paradise)

The Big Bust Out Blog ( for fans of the WIP genre and beyond)

Bullets Over Chinatown (for fans of Hong Kong's CAT III films)

The Gentleman's Blog to Midnight Cinema (great place for reviews, interviews and for fans of exploitation/horror flicks)

It's a Horror to Know You: Chris Moore (writer/director/star of PERVERSION.)

1. What is the first film that ever scared you?

THE WITCHES was certainly the most traumatic. THE WIZARD OF OZ was kinda scary, too, but I think THE WITCHES easily takes the cake. Even now, that film puts me on edge.

2. What is the last film that scared you?

The last film to scare me (in theaters) was probably INSIDIOUS. I thought it was brilliantly done. If I can't stop thinking about a film for weeks after I've seen it, I usually think it's pretty darn scary. The French film, INSIDE, really scared me, too, as did MARTYRS. The French are beating us to a pulp when it comes to horror movies.

3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.

1. THE SENTINEL

2. HELL NIGHT

3. PHENOMENA a.k.a CREEPERS

4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.

1. SLAUGHTER HIGH

2. THE RAGE: CARRIE 2

3. THE SEDUCTION

5. Send us to five places on the Internet!

Bleeding Skull.

Hysteria Lives.

Retro Slashers.

Critical Condition.

The Terror Trap.

It's a Horror to Know You: Amanda By Night of Made For TV mayhem!

What is the first film that ever scared you?

That's tough, but I am pretty sure the first thing I saw that actually sent a chill up my spine was the opening credits of Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. I was about 5 or 6 and I'm not sure I even watched much past the credits the first time out. By the way, could I read that well back then, because I have a distinct memory of reading the title. I think maybe it was just the black cat that got me. Anyway, it freaked me out. Then I saw the whole movie and the end freaked me out. I couldn't win!

What is the last film that scared you?

Honestly, I know it's not an Unkle Lancifer fave, but I adored Paranormal Activity. I couldn't even go to sleep when it was over. It's got some fantastic ideas that are well played. Also, I saw the Woman in Black remake and enjoyed some of the scary stuff in that as well.

Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.

Isn't it Shocking? – That is a rare TV movie with Alan Alda that I'm sort of obsessed with. It would be considered a proto-slasher in some respects, I think, and overall, it mixes the horror and humor brilliantly. It also has characters you love and while you don't really know many of the victims, because they are all over 65 there is something really disturbing about their vulnerability that adds an edge to their deaths.

Nothing Underneath – This is an 80s giallo that seems to leave people a little cold, but I can't understand why. It's so lush and stylish and has a great premise. Also, I think the relationship between the lead actor and Donald Pleasance is divine. They have a really warm relationship that benefits the film greatly. Plus, that ending!

The Slayer – This film is a totally nightmarish and brutal supernatural slasher with lots of creepy imagery! I also like that the film is structured around adults. I'm surprised we don't see more slashers with people in their 20s or 30s. Anyway, The Slayer still eludes the world of DVD, but it's a film well worth discovering.

I have to do two honorable mentions here as well (since they just popped up in my head):

Killer Party – Killer Party is like three movies all rolled up into one. You've got teen sex comedy, slasher and possession stuff shoved into a fairly brisk little film, which drives some people nuts, but through it all you've also got a really consistent friendship amongst the three lead girls. It's natural and it gives the film a little boost during the insane last 15 minutes because you don't just care about one girl, you care about all of them. These are the best times of our lives, indeed!

Blood Diner – I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of my all time favorite films, although it's not scary and only broadly crosses over into horror because it's gory and was originally meant to be a sequel to Blood Feast. There are so many amazing things about this film, but mostly (and I could write forever about this so I'll make it short), my love of Blood Diner sent me on a journey where I've met or corresponded with most of the important players. One of the leads, Rick Burks, died in 1989, but I was actually able to meet his family a few years back. I guess this movie is the ultimate escapist film for me. It's so ultra 80s, I'm immediately transported back to my favorite era via a neon saturated time machine!

OK, just one more: This House Possessed. See it! OK, done!

Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.

The Mutilator – This is one of my all time favorite movies. I know it's flawed and a little hackneyed, but it's surprisingly brutal and the premise about a man seeking revenge for the death of his wife at the hands of their own son (albeit accidentally) is really interesting. There's a lot to work with and despite the fact that some of the film can seem a little silly (I'm looking at you Ralph!), you can tell it was a labor of love.

Moonstalker – I just recently discovered this late 80s low budget slasher. It's sort of all over the map, but it's also so much fun. One thing I've learned in life is that the effort can mean just as much as the outcome. If something is flawed but made with all the best intentions, I think it shows. Moonstalker is a movie where you can see the cast is having so much fun making the film that it triggers the same effect on the audience. Also, being a big soap opera nut, I love that the killer is played by Blake Gibbons who is now on General Hospital!

The Outing – I have seen this movie more times than I can recall. It was a regionally shot horror film made in Texas and my old boss actually worked on it, which impressed me immensely. It's about an angry djinn that goes all crazy nutso on this girl and her friends and family when she puts on a bracelet that connects the most spiteful genie in the world. I first saw this movie on USA's Saturday Nightmares and despite the fact that it was edited for television I found the whole affair brutal and somewhat scary. Plus, I love the guy who looks like he was an extra in Zapped.

Send us to five places on the Internet!

Go Retro: Great place to go back in time! I'm a big fan of this blog!

Cinema Du Meep: The Meepster covers all genres and knows his stuff!

House of Self Indulgence : Talk about dripping in neon. This blog is smart, well written, fascinating and totally 80s!

Movies About Girls : This is totally not safe for work, but it's a must if you like B movies and pretty ladies. I sometimes do a podcast with Ken and his insane crew, and they are hysterical. There is lots of fun to be had!

Christmas TV Companion : Joanna is sure to keep you cool in the summer with this awesome retrospective on Christmas television…

It's a Horror to Know You: Ben S.!

1. What is the first film that ever scared you?

The first film that really scared me was Flowers in the Attic (Jeffery Bloom, 1987). I was probably 6 or 7 and asked my mom to rent it for me on video after seeing a TV spot (inappropriate, mom! But I forgive.) The concept that a GRANDMOTHER could be abusive was truly more than my mind could take, and I turned off the movie as soon as Louise Fletcher picked up little Carrie by her hair and kicked little Corey across the floor. Also, there was just something about Louise Fletcher's face in that movie. For what I think might actually have been years after seeing Flowers, I had to avoid the "F" section of the Horror and Drama sections of video stores around town because I was afraid of seeing the movie's cover (I lived in fear whenever I browsed, because I never knew what genre they were going to place it in). Of course after that I became obsessed with it, and asked every adult and teenager I knew what happened after I turned it off. I needed to hear as many different angles as possible. I devoured the book in third grade (it got taken away from me and I immediately ran out to get a new copy, because I had to finish it!) Aah, trauma: Needing to know more, but being afraid to know more. It would be 4 or 5 years until I could actually watch the film, and even then it was a struggle for me to get through it because I brought so much baggage to the experience. After that I watched it 100 times and de-sensitized myself, and now I love it. I know not everybody thinks that it's a great betrayal of V.C. Andrew's novel, and I get that–but I think that it captures the novel's tone. I'm sure that Jeffery Bloom would be happy to know that the film disturbed somebody.

Runner up: Flipping the channel from an original airing of The Golden Girls (or something similar) to come across the "laser in the mouth" scene from Halloween III: Season of the Witch. I immediately changed the channel, but ran it over in my head hundreds of times. When I finally saw the movie I was, like so many, disappointed. Now, like so many, I think it's a great masterpiece.

2. What is the last film that scared you?

The Strangers (2008, Bryan Bertino). My partner and I rented it half-expecting to laugh at Liv Tyler being terrorized (even though I love her), and it scared the hell out of us both. I generally don't do home invasion movies–they hit too close to my deepest fears. I thought Liv was great, by the way. House of 1,000 Corpses also scared me more than I ever would have expected. That also sort of goes under "most underrated," for me. I love it unconditionally and don't understand why so many people don't–even though that's their right!

3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.

Dead Silence (2007, James Wan): This movie got a lot of shade when it came out, and I don't agree with it at all. I thought that the visuals were fabulously kindertraumatic, reminiscent of The Fog and Something Wicked This Way Comes and a lot of other movies that I love but not in an overly derivative way. The story was engaging, and the scary old woman gave me the creeps (possibly because she looked a lot like Hildegard Knef in Witchery, triggering an innate trauma response. See my previous traumafession!) It is one of the most fun horror movies I can remember seeing in the theater over the last 10 years or so, and it's surprisingly old fashioned coming from the Saw people.

Haunts (1977, Herb Freed): I stumbled upon this in The Chilling Classics 50 Movie Pack and it, for me, exemplifies why I love those box sets. I know nothing about it, I know not where it came from–but it's a really engaging, slightly-boring-in-a-good-way character study about a woman dealing with her past traumas, which may or may not be manifesting themselves supernaturally. There's also a killer on the loose, and Cameron Mitchell and Aldo Ray. It is pretty reminiscent of "psychologically disturbed women" horror films like Repulsion, Let's Scare Jessica to Death, Images, Perfume of the Lady in Black, and Black Swan. I never get sick of additions to this subgenre. In addition, the mysterious lack of any background info available on Haunts makes it even more, well…haunting for me. The movie's also a little more ragged and unhinged and less polished than those other films, which makes its depiction of mental duress, on one level, more convincing and unsettling. Plus, I was struck by the amount of amazing footage of '70s kitchens. See also: The Witch's Mountain.

The Velvet Vampire (1972, Stephanie Rothman): I have to give a shout out to my favorite feminist '70s exploitation filmmaker, Stephanie Rothman. Her masterpiece, to me, is 1970's The Student Nurses. But Velvet Vampire is chock full of catnip: a bisexual vampire riding a doonbuggy, said vampire seducing Michael "Lance Rock" Blodgett by eating a piece of raw liver while wearing a frilly pink bathrobe and mourning her dead lover while lying on his coffin, a chic L.A. art gallery, Ingmar Bergman inspired dream sequences about sexual conflict. It depicts life as it is.

4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.

It's hard to answer this in an original way in a world where there's an entire website devoted to reclaiming Poltergeist III (love the website, love the film!) Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985, Danny Steinmann): I know everybody hates it because it breaks the rules and isn't very scary, but I've always had a soft spot for this film. I like the character development. Also, thanks to this movie, I always half expect Jason to pop up behind me while I'm looking in the mirror. I don't mind!

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master (1988, Renny Harlin): I feel like people complain a lot that Freddy was too funny, and that it's too dated and trendy and Renny Harlin-ized. I love it for all of these reasons (I don't really need Freddy to be funny–but I love that it's like a string of commercials, sitcoms, and MTV music videos thrown in a blender with '80s-'50s chic and The Long Kiss Goodnight!) But also I find Alice's journey truly poetic and profound. What can I say? I also feel this way about the song "The Greatest Love of All." Anyway, I find myself watching this entry in the series all the time.

The House of Exorcism (1975, Alfredo Leone/Mario Bava): I sort of love this batshit crazy bastardization of Mario Bava's lyrical masterpiece Lisa and the Devil. I love that they thought that, by adding bizarre exorcism scenes, they would make Lisa and the Devil more palatable for American audiences. Instead the film is even less comprehensible–but to me it is oddly comprehensible on an intuitive level. I love that this movie used to be on TV on networks in the middle of the night. That it used to enter unexpectedly into people's homes. The House of Exorcism is, as my friend once said of I Know Who Killed Me, an act of cultural terrorism. In Annie Hall there is a shot of a theater showing a double feature of The House of Exorcism and Messiah of Evil. It is used to demonstrate everything that is wrong with Los Angeles, and instead demonstrates everything about Los Angeles that is right. If ever there was a double feature of dreams…

5. Send us to five places on the Internet!

Cinema Treasures: A database of movie theaters where people share their memories of going to see films there. I like to google things like "THE VISITOR" AND "CINEMA TREASURES" to see what comes up. This is how I learned that Kim Basinger went to see EYES OF LAURA MARS in a theater in Santa Barbara eight times when it came out! I need to know why!

Cinema Du Meep: I found this from Kindertrauma. I will use this opportunity to thank its administrator for being a kindred spirit, appreciating Goldie Hawn, and endlessly helping me find films to watch.

The Complete V.C. Andrews: In honor of the first movie that ever scared me. You can read Wes Craven's original screenplay for Flowers in the Attic here and weep for the missed opportunities. They also have scans of those amazing dual layer covers that I imagine many of us remember fondly.

BADMOVIEART: The writer of BADMOVIEART is a friend, and also one of the most insightful and hilarious film critics you will ever read. Only on this website will you find a retrospective of films made by Hollywood Pictures. If it's sphynx, it stinks.

Eddie Ray Breaks That shit Down. When Eddie Ray says he is going to break that shit down he is not lying. He's a genius.

It's a Horror to Know You: Taylor!

1. What is the first film that ever scared you?

Looking way way way back in my subconscious, I think that my earliest memory of being scared by something on TV was the opening live-action portion of The Water Babies. My most memorable childhood movie/TV scares are all Stephen King-related, I'm realizing now: The "Gramma" episode of The Twilight Zone, The Shining, and the funeral scene from Silver Bullet all spring to mind.

2. What is the last film that scared you?

Lake Mungo gave me a chill like I hadn't experienced since I was little.

3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.

1.Messiah of Evil.

2.Let's Scare Jessica to Death.

3.Race with the Devil.

Honorable mentions go to Alone in the Dark, and Jeff Lieberman's entire catalogue.

4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.

I watch The Creature from Black Lake once every couple of years…I can't even blame childhood nostalgia, since I first saw it only about 10 years ago.

Dead Silence. Everyone tells me it sucks, so I must be the crazy one.

Prophecy (the Robert Foxworth/Talia Shire one). Another biennial one for me. Maybe it's the scenery?

5. Send us to five places on the Internet!

Bleeding Skull.

The Terror Trap.

Blood Good Horror.

Corpse Collective.

Prairie Ghosts.

It's a Horror to Know You: Eshbaal of Horrible Horror!

1. What is the first film that ever scared you?

I actually have a hard time remembering this. It took a long time before I really watched fully blown horror films, and I was mostly a pretty tough kid (or just left the room if I had reason to believe something would be too scary for me). One of the earliest moments I remember freaking out was at the age of 7 or 8 when I saw the heart-ripping scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. For a horror film… I think it may have been Wes Craven's New Nightmare, during the funeral dream sequence. I feel like there's something I'm missing here, though.

2. What is the last film that scared you?

Not so much 'scared' as 'disgusted', but "The Dentist", despite being a kind of bad film overall, freaked me right the hell out at the dental torture scenes. For a more straight "scare" it's been a while, but I'd say "Insidious", which I watched last Halloween. I didn't expect it to suck me in as fully and completely as it did, that's for goddamn sure.

3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.

This isn't so much "underrated by horror fans", but more movies I believe should have higher status overall than they do. I realize all three of these choices are actually quite popular in these "nerdier" circles.

1. Paperhouse – It can be debated exactly how far this reaches into the horror territory, but when it's frightening, it's FRIGHTENING. The image of the "dad" with hammer in hand standing on that hill, and just the unnatural feeling that the house invokes… it's great!

2. Castle Freak – I LOVE Stuart Gordon's work, and yet it's rare to hear anyone mention Castle Freak – but EVERY time it IS mentioned, it is pretty much always positive, and for good reason. It is genuinely unsettling through the whole damn thing and is probably the most wonderful homage to the gothic horror tradition to exist. While I tend to think "killing the pet" can be a cheap move (note the "can"), the image of the cat being dragged under the doorframe is etched in my mind. I've really yet to dislike a Stuart Gordon film. "Dolls", "Dagon" and "From Beyond" deserve mention too.

3. Clownhouse – By God, this thing. If you can look past the kinda gross history with Victor Salva, there's a fine little suspense piece to be found – the intro scene with the clown poster actually managed to freak me right the hell out on the spot. But what I love about it for real is that it's one of VERY few films to get the killer clown thing right – having the clown look like a NORMAL CLOWN. I tire of the monster clowns, as this mises the point of why a clown would be frightening in the first place. These three guys are so out of place that it becomes terrifying. Plus, it's proof of one my claims that simplicity can be key. The movie is basically just "Three kids home alone with maniacs" and uses this to scare rather than try too hard to come up with the most original setup on the planet.

4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.

I am in general in the "love stuff that's so bad it's good" camp, so this is a fun one.

1. Night of the Demon (1980) – ANYONE who's seen this knows why. It is a damn near incomprehensible mess comprised entirely of an endless cycle of "walking scene – kill scene". The acting is awful, the effects atrocious, the story nonexistant, the image quality terrible, the directing mind-boggingly bad… but it's one of the funniest things I've ever seen through the whole dman movie, and I'd watch it again in a heartbeat.

2. Stepfather III – I LOVE the original Stepfather. And I thought part 2 was really damn fun as well. By all accounts, Terry O' Quinn is to thank for the fantastic feel to these two movies – and everything about part III screams that any fan of the series should hate it. Actor scrapped? Check. Somehow 15 minutes longer than the other films? Check. TV movie? Check. But it is so completely off its rocker that I cant' help but love it – particularly the beginning, where our still bandaged killer takes the most menacing sip of a juicebox I ever saw. I love it!

3. Leprechaun in Space / Jason X – Another case of the film just being so completely batshit insane that I can't help but enjoy it. The "In Space" aspect is often mocked, and rightfully so, but both of these films seem to have SUCH a freaking laugh with it. Particularly Leprechaun in Space makes NO sense whatsoever, but it is absolutely hilarious throughout and you can't claim it isn't at least somewhat creative.

5. Send us to five places on the Internet!

I'm afraid I can only think of three…

1. Horror Movie A Day – Despite finding myself disagreeing often and finding the guy to occasionally being a bit snobby, this is a great way to get some time to pass.

2. The Bodycount Continues Forums – I don't post there as much as I should, but it is a very fun slasher-based forum where everyone knows their stuff… so much so it can almost be discouraging! It is a pretty tight little community, though.

3. Hysteria- Lives – Reviews can be lengthy, and the time between updates is lengthy and frustrating, but you gotta love the bodycount lists and generally amusing reviews!