It's a Horror to Know You: Hud of Vegan Voorhees!
1. What is the first film that ever scared you?
Poltergiest. I saw about ten minutes of it on TV when I was about 8 or 9 and had a nightmare I can still remember 25 years later. Ghost films are (usually) the only films that still creep me out.
2. What is the last film that scared you?
I'd lean towards Insidious as I went in blind and some parts of it just made my entire skeleton shiver, although I watched The Sleeper the other week, by myself, after midnight, and I had to watch an episode of Friends afterwards because I didn't want to go to bed and think about someone lurking in the corner brandishing a hammer.
3. Name three Horror movies that you believe are underrated.
Urban Legend: It just has everything I want in a slasher movie – ludicrous premise, completely unconvincing killer with apparent psychic abilities, enough bitchy dialogue to make the cast of Mean Girls blush, and Alicia Witt.
Children of the Corn: I can't explain what I like about this movie, as not that much happens but something draws me back to it repeatedly. I once knew someone who looked the spit of evil child preacher Isaac – maybe that gives it an extra boost of eerieness. And Malichai rocks too.
Jaws 2: For a while, I preferred this to the original due to a bizarre fascination with the waterskiing scene, but it's still way better than almost every other killer fish film around. All those gorky teenagers on boats, the 'sympathy death' of the girl who saves Sean Brody, and a Phantom of the Opera shark.
4. Name three horror movies that you enjoy against your better judgment.
The Hills Have Eyes Part II (1983): Even Wes Craven hates this one, but for reasons to be explored with my psychotherapist in a future session, it's like disco fabness. And a dog has a flashback. And Kevin Blair is in it. And the final girl is blind and 'senses' things. And Sherry Palmer from 24 rocks a headband in it.
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: We all know it's the gayest film ever, but that doesn't mean much of this film is anything but awesome 80s nutrition. The bus nightmare IS creepy and Kim Myers' Tiffany-meets-Meryl Streep schtick only cranks the camp-o-meter even more. More films should embrace their inner diva.
The Car: is it wrong to like this one? That opening scene is incredibly good and the film had the balls to off the nominal heroine halfway through.
5. Send us to five places on the Internet!
Anchorwoman in Peril – when Ross writes, 'tis poetry. About horror.
A Slash Above… – a place to learn about all the slasher movies you've never heard of.
A Nightmare on Samityville Street – nightmares from Oz.
Sticky Red – this guy has seen everything.
Hysteria Lives! – where would we all be without Hysteria?
Man – the phone ringing in The Sleeper trailer is creepy.
Thanks Hud!
I've gotta thing for Urban Legend too and I was very prepared to hate it. I thought Alicia Witt made a great lead and the campus environment & campy ending gives it a bit of a "Happy Birthday to me" feel which is always good.
And NOES 2 is truly underrated! I agree on the creepy effectiveness of those bus scenes. I like how far they go with the tortured soul aspect of the Jesse character too. It seems a bit over the top now but I remember getting really into that one at the time. Plus how can you beat Clu Gulager and hope Lange as ma and pa Walsh? Delicious as a box of FU MAN CHEWS cereal if ya ask me.
I just got Hills Have Eyes 2 on dvd and am looking forward to watching it with fresh eyes. I have not seen it since I caught it on cable back in the day and was left shellshocked and grateful that Craven didn't direct NOES 2! After all these years I think I am finally prepared to accept the concept of doggie flashbacks with open arms.
Yay!
Thank YOU Unkle Lancifer – you and Urban Legend are both UL's – creepy.
I should point out that I grew up in a very religious house and we weren't allowed horror movies, which explains why I was such a scared pansy when I saw Poltergiest and why I think The Hills Have Eyes Part II is good!
Obviously Jaws 2 is pretty pale when compared to the classic original, but I've always considered it the very best of the the Jaws ripoffs (of which there are A LOT). It does succeed in achieving at least some of the atmosphere of the first one, and allllllmost manages not to be *completely* ridiculous…until the shark eats a helicopter. It's also a rare example of "the hot girl" giving one of the best supporting performances in the movie…Tina's panic when Eddie's being attacked and her cowering fear when the Brodys find her later always rang very real to me.