October 01
01. Challenge the Devil (1963)* (The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Collection) Blu-ray 4.5/10
Six young toughs invade an isolated castle inhabited by a broken old man (Lee) who says he made a deal with the Devil. The spooky stuff is bookended by a crime story which was added later by the producer. The castle has atmospheric rooms but everything goes on too long and some of the actors aren't good enough for what is needed. Chris Lee has very little screen time and when he's on doesn't have much to do. A little disappointing.
02. Trauma (1978)* (Forgotten Gialli Volume 1) Blu-ray 5.0/10
A writer goes to an isolated hotel to escape problems at home but a series of disappearances follow his arrival. Spanish giallo has no mystery, with only two suspects for the killer and only one shows any traces of being unstable. There is a bit of ambiguity at the very end and the film is well made if lacking any real tension. A good amount of nudity and bloody kills keep things entertaining.
03. Tourist Trap (1979) 6/10
Young folks on vacation run into trouble at a closed down roadside wax museum. Fun if predicable story with some creepy mannikin scenes, suspenseful kills, psychic powers, and a nice performance by Chuck Conners as the crusty proprietor.
04. The Possessed (1977)* (WB Archive Collection) 7/10
Above average TV movie (NBC) about mysterious fires in a girl's school. An ex-priest who was told in a near death experience to fight evil shows up to try to help. Very absorbing with a good cast and nice pacing. The climax is a bit of a let down and there are some annoying story gaps but those are explained by the basic premise of the story.

October 02
05. Amsterdamned (1988)* 6/10
A serial killer stalks the canals of Amsterdam. Well done with most of the horrific elements in the first half and the rest of the movie is, for the most part, typical cop action material although there is a nice gruesome twist at the end. The characters are standard, there is a car chase and a kind of improbable if exciting boat chase. I was happy to be wrong about the identity of the killer.
06. Police are Blundering in the Dark (1975)* (Forgotten Gialli Volume 1) Blu-ray 4/10
Models are disappearing but no one in this picture seems to care, although one of the characters is investigating but most of that isn't seen. Some giallo stories can be convoluted and confusing but this plot is best described as vague. There are a few bloody murders, some bare breasts, and a camera that can photograph thoughts. The cast is OK.
07. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1913)* (27 Min.) Streaming archive.org 6/10
I wanted to see the 1913 Universal Jekyll and Hyde and I thought it would be fun to fill out the time with some other silent horror shorts so I also watched: Satan s'amuse (1907) 10 Min., The Haunted Hotel (1907)* 6 min., Legend of a Ghost (1908)* 14 min., Frankenstein (1910) 13 min., Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1912)* 11 min., and Figures de cire aka The Man With Wax Faces (1913)* 11 min. All were quite enjoyable. In particular King Baggot does a great job as a deformed, gnome-like Hyde in the Universal version.
08. Don't Go to Sleep (1982)* (on Creature Features) Streaming YouTube 7.5/10
Another outstanding TV movie (ABC) about a little girl who starts seeing her dead sister after her family moves into a new house. Creepy at times and surprisingly downbeat with a smart script. All the performances are more than adequate.

October 03
09. The Uncanny (1977)* Blu-ray 7/10
Three stories illustrating the evil, supernatural nature of house cats. One of the better anthology movies I've seen. All three stories were good, although my favorite was the second one. Peter Cushing is great in the framing story as the seemingly paranoid author. Cast is full of familiar names and faces.
10. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)* Blu-ray 8/10
Excellent version of the story full of spectacle and evocative sets. Lon Chaney is great in the lead, always looking fierce and horrific yet display a wide range of emotions.
11. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939) VHS 5.5/10
This version has a whole different tone than the earlier one, more optimistic and less of an edge. The king here is benign and open minded while the king in 1923 was a tyrant. Laughton's Quasimodo is a big cuddly ugly doll compared to Chaney. There are also several key differences in the plot including an important one at the end. My memory was that this film was boring. It isn't, but it does pale in comparison with the previous version.

October 04
12. Silent Madness (1984)* Blu-ray 6/10
A psychotic killer is mistakenly released from an institution and returns to the girl's school where he committed his original murders. Pretty standard stuff but well done. No mask for this killer but Solly Marx inspires real fear with his blank expression and icy eyes. The coverup angle is well done and some of the stalkings and chases are quite suspenseful.
13. Rawhead Rex (1986)* Blu-ray 5/10
In Ireland, a farmer accidentally releases an ancient terror which goes on a rampage. This has elements I like such as a supernatural mystery, a monster, and some nice atmosphere but some of it just doesn't work. The mystery is kind of lame and the monster doesn't look that good and isn't very scary. Also the special effects in the big climax are too cheesy even for me. Still there is a lot of mayhem to keep things moving and the characters are interesting.
14. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)* Blu-ray 6.5/10
Lon Chaney is great both in terms of his makeup and his acting. There are spectacular sets both above and below ground and the rest of the cast does a good job. I thought that some things could have been explained better and that the atmosphere could have been creepier at times.

October 05
15. The Cat and the Canary (1927) (American Silent Horror Collection) 7/10
Heirs gather in a creepy mansion for the reading of a will. Fast paced, classic old dark house story with secret passages and a horrible looking villain. Just the right mix of comedy and mystery with some good camera tricks and directorial touches.
16. Blood Lake (1987)* 4/10
A killer stalks a lakeside recreation area. Edit somebody's vacation videos together with a few shots of a slow moving slasher and you've got this movie. And yet, I wasn't ever board; this was a pleasant watch. There's one unforgettable character, an incomprehensible ending, amateur acting, and waterskiing, lots of waterskiing. Not a good slasher movie but kind of fun.
17. [Rec] (1978) (The [REC] Collection) Blu-ray 9/10
Once the tension starts it just keeps ramping up. This time around the TV announcer got kind of annoying. There is one great big jump scare and a very creepy finish. Those images of the girl still get to me.
18. Amityville 1992: It's About Time (1992)* (Amityville The Cursed Collection) Blu-ray 6/10
An evil clock from the Amityville house causes problems when moved to a new home. Not much of a plot, just a whole lot of really weird stuff happens then is stopped. But the weird stuff is really cool weird stuff and sometimes gross so this movie is never less than entertaining. The end is a bit of a cheat but it could have been worse.

October 06
19. Blood Ceremony aka The Legend of Blood Castle (1973)* Blu-ray 6/10
In the early 1800's a noblewoman is convinced that bathing in the blood of virgins will restore her youth and beauty. Deliberately paced, well made period piece is more grounded than many films based on the Bathory legends. A good cast, interesting locations, nice period feel, and above average cinematography.
20. The Immortalizer (1989)* Blu-ray 5/10
A doctor develops a way to do quick healing brain transplants and uses it to help rich, old people stay young. OK mad scientist movie with a lot of standard trappings like monsters in the basement, a creepy assistant, and a hidden laboratory. Some stuff played for laughs balanced by bloody surgery scenes.
21. The Last Performance (1927)* (Extra on Criterion disc "Lonesome") Blu-ray 5.5/10
A stage magician becomes jealous of his new assistant. Conrad Veidt is imposing as Erik the Great in what is basically a crime story with some touches of horror. The wrongdoing is cleverly done.
22. April Fool's Day (1986)* Streaming Amazon 7/10
A group of college friends go to an isolated island to party at the vacation mansion of a rich friend. Good slasher with lots of suspense and some very tense stalking scenes but little blood. The resolution is clever and satisfying although somewhat improbable.

October 07
23. Virgin Witch (1972)* 4/10
Two mini-skirted sisters go to the countryside near London for a modeling gig where the older one challenges the high priestess of a witch's coven. LOTS of nudity and a couple of strange witch's ceremonies. Things seemed too easy for the protagonists who I didn't really care about. I didn't like this much but it's not really a bad film.
24. The Man Who Laughs (1928) (American Silent Horror Collection) 7/10
The young son of a disgraced lord is disfigured by royal order. When he grows up he becomes an entertainer but gets involved in a plot by the queen. Good adventure story marked by the grinning visage of the main character. Good cast and elaborate sets some of which are downright creepy.
25. Shadow: Dead Riot (2006)* (Beast in Heat Triple Feature) 6/10
This one is just a little insane. Take a women in prison movie, add a mad doctor, a killer baby, martial arts, and zombies. Yeah, zombies in a WIP movie - the mind boggles. Lots of blood and guts too. Bits of silly humor work well. Embarrassingly entertaining.

October 08
26. The Last Warning (1929)* 7/10
Frightening events occur in a theater reopened years after an unsolved murder took place there - could it be haunted? Solid mystery with strong horror elements and a few really creepy scenes. Good camera work and sets.
27. Crypt of the Vampire (1964)* (The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Collection) Blu-ray 6.5/10
Neat gothic horror film about an ancient family curse has an imposing old castle, a deserted and ruined village, and a hidden crypt. The finale is particularly impressive with the action split between the crypt and a wind swept run along the foothills. Lee has a good role.
28. The AGFA Horror Trailer Show (2021)* Blu-ray 6/10
Good trailer compilation of mostly somewhat obscure movies although quite a few have appeared on Vinegar Syndrome disks. Also includes over an hour of trailers for shot on video films as an extra.

October 09
29. The Loreley's Grasp (1973) DF Blu-ray 6/10
A hunter is hired to protect an isolated girl's school from a horrible beast that has been killing people in a nearby village. Well paced with bloody kills and a decent looking creature enhanced by the use of shadows. Always interesting especially the tie in with the legend of the Rhein gold.
30. The Happiness of the Katakuris (2001)* 7.5/10
A family trying to start a new rural resort inn has major problems with the first several guests. Fun, sometimes very strange, movie with claymation, musical numbers, and bizarre deaths, all very well done. I got several good laughs and found some of the tunes to be quite catchy.
31. Microwave Massacre (1979)* 4/10
Horror comedy about a regular guy who develops a taste for human flesh after getting fed up with his wife's cooking. Not very funny. I got a very few chuckles out of it and felt the better lines were clever rather than humorous. Jackie Vernon's deadpan delivery saves it from being too awful.
32. Corruption (1968)* Blu-ray 5/10
A surgeon becomes obsessed with finding a way to cure the burn scars on his girlfriend's face - he does but of course it isn't permanent. OK, mostly like a crime film with a few bloody murders but not a whole lot of action until the end when things pick up but then stop making much sense. Peter Cushing is decent as the surgeon but this isn't one of my favorite Cushing rolls.

October 10
33. Vault of Horror (1973) (on Creature Features) Streaming YouTube 6.5/10
Anthology film with five stories based on plots found in EC comics from the 1950s. None of the stories is a particular standout but all are good if sometimes predictable. Very strong cast.
34. The Creeping Flesh (1986) Streaming Amazon 5/10
In Victorian London a scientist returns from an expedition with a grotesque skeleton older than Neanderthal man but with a larger brain capacity and which may be the essence of evil. Some unsettling aspects of the skeleton go undeveloped while time is spent on the mental health of the scientist's daughter and competition with his half brother. When it finally arrives the payoff with the skeleton is disappointing. Rather ambiguous ending. Good cast and sets.
35. Dracula (1931) (Dracula Complete Legacy Collection) Blu-ray 8/10
Some of the sets are absolutely brilliant, especially Dracula's castle (and the trip there) and the crypts where the finale takes place.
36. Frankenstein (1931) (Frankenstein Complete Legacy Collection) Blu-ray 9/10
I used to like Dracula better but now I think this film has a better story and is a richer viewing experience. It was also interesting to compare the two villages in these movies and how they were used to set a mood.

October 11
37. The Girl in Room 2A (1978) (Forgotten Gialli Volume 1) Blu-ray 6/10
A young woman, just out of prison, goes to a half-way house where bizarre things things happen to her. She soon gets involved with a man whose sister lived in the same room and is said to have committed suicide. Good, not overly complicated, mystery full of suspense and with a red and black masked killer/torturer.
38. Dracula Spanish Version (1931) (Universal Classic Monsters Collection) 7.5/10
Comparing this with the Lugosi version, this runs almost half an hour longer and the acting is more lively and more natural. Carlos Villarias as Dracula doesn't have Lugosi's presence or creepiness but still does a fine job. The sets are the same but there is more atmosphere in the Lugosi film. Still this is almost as good.
39. Shallow Ground (2004)* 5.5/10
A sheriff thinks that a naked boy covered with blood found wandering in the woods could be a clue to the disappearance of his girlfriend a year ago but as the police try to id the boy things get stranger and more dangerous. An interesting and different take that didn't totally work for me. The mystery is very absorbing but when the phenomena moves to a wider stage the resolution offered isn't satisfying, especially given the last scene. Was a sequel planned? Good blood effects.
40. Retribution (2006)* 7/10
A police detective investigating a murder finds clues that suggest he might have been involved which seems to be confirmed when the victim's ghost starts haunting him. And then things get really complicated. Very well done with a couple of excellent plot twists and an insanely creepy section that really got to me. This film didn't go where I expected at all. A great ride even if I didn't quite get all of the end.

October 12
41. Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) (Universal The Bela Lugosi Collection) 6/10
A disgraced scientist wants to prove the theory of evolution by "mixing" the blood of an ape with a human - yeah, we know what that means. Lugosi is good here and there are some evocative Parisian sets but I've always hated that they used a live chimp for closeups of Erik the Ape. I think Charles Gemora's ape suit would have worked just as well and been more frightening.
42. The Old Dark House (1932) 7/10
Several travelers, stranded by a ferocious storm, must take shelter in a creepy old house tenanted by odd and frightening people. I appreciated some of the dark humor much more this time around. All of the cast do a great job and shadows are used to great effect in the indoor shots. The storm effects are also outstanding but I still think the end is a little weak.
43. Nocturne (2020)* Streaming Amazon 4.5/10
A student at an art high school uses supernatural means to be a better pianist than her more outgoing twin sister. Pretty tepid stuff with too much teen angst and not enough brimstone. There's almost no suspense or tension and no frights at all.
44. [Rec]2 (2009) (The [REC] Collection) Blu-ray 7/10
Picking up right where the original ended, a SWAT type team (with body cams) and another doctor go into the quarantined building for a recon and search mission. Not as intense as [REC] but still totally absorbing and action packed with a few twists and some small scares. More information about what is going on is revealed.

October 13
45. The Comeback (1978)* (The Pete Walker Collection) Blu-ray 6/10
A former teen idol who has been out of the spotlight rents a huge manor house outside of London to work on a new album unaware that some of his former associates are being murdered. Good giallo-like movie with a couple of bloody murders and a few bizarre red herrings and a satisfying solution. Fast paced with a good cast.
46. The Mummy (1932) (1932) (The Mummy Complete Legacy Collection) Blu-ray 8/10
The mummy of a powerful Egyptian priest is accidentally brought to life and it tries to reincarnate the princess it has loved for thousands of years. Karloff is excellent as the supernatural force from the past as is Edward Van Sloan as the occult expert. Some great Egyptian sets especially at the start and in a flashback. I got a real sense of an ancient terror on the loose during this viewing.
47. Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)* (Paranormal Activity 6 Movie Collection) Blu-ray 6/10
Good entry in the series full of creepy stuff with your attention always focussed on watching the videos to catch what might be important later. The end was kind of iffy for me but I get that it provides more background for the series. Still, the whole concept is an unsettling one - just what does go on in your house when you're asleep?

October 14
48. Murders in the Zoo (1932) (Universal Cult Horror Collection) 5.5/10
A jealous and suave but brutal big game hunter murders men who get too fond of his wife. Pretty horrific start and finale. The best part is Lionel Atwill as the hunter. The worst part is the comedy by the cowardly and alcoholic publicity agent (who gets top billing in the cast).
49. Ghost Train (2006)* 5/10
Strange happenings on commuter trains in Japan. Starts out kind of silly with a cursed rail pass but gets pretty interesting but not particularly scary. There's a bit of a twist near the end moving the story beyond a typical ghost story but the resolution is a bit of a muddle although gruesome at times.
50. The Invisible Man (1933) (The Invisible Man Complete Legacy Collection) Blu-ray 6/10
One of my least favorite of the major Universal monster films due in no small part to the ear piercing shrieks of Una O'Connor which mercifully don't take up as much of the story as I recalled. Claude Rains is good as the insane scientist and I liked the almost world wide menace he represented and the ways the authorities came up with to trap him, like something from one of the early SF mags. The rest of the cast is fine but I still think invisibility is overrated.

October 15
51. The Castle of the Living Dead (1964)* (The Eurocrypt of Christopher Lee Collection) Blu-ray 6/10
A count who is really into taxidermy hires a troop of wandering actors to perform in his castle. Things start out a bit slow but the last third of the film is full of suspense due to some nifty chases through the atmospheric castle. There is also a wonderful outdoor location with large, bizarre statues which is used to good effect and a well played creepy henchman. Lee is great as the obsessed count.
52. My Dear Killer (1972)* (Forgotten Gialli Volume 1) Blu-ray 6.5/10
A police detective discovers that the recent murder of a former insurance investigator may be linked to a child's kidnapping several years ago. Interesting if sometimes complicated mystery, several bloody murders, killer cam, and a stylish production make for an above average giallo. Subtitles for important dialog sometimes disappeared too fast for me so some backtracking was required. Movie starts with a severed head.
53. The Black Cat (1934) (Universal The Bela Lugosi Collection) 9/10
A doctor goes to confront the man who stole his wife and betrayed his side during the war with a newlywed couple caught in the middle. Universal's darkest and most twisted horror film of the era. This is Lugosi's best role and Karloff was never more menacing. The modernistic sets are atmospheric but different from the norm and there is a sense of lurking threat throughout the film.
54. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) (Frankenstein Complete Legacy Collection) Blu-ray 5.5/10
An even madder scientist gets Dr. Frankenstein back in the monster making business. I know many think highly of this movie but it doesn't work for me. Karloff is still good as the monster but the creature shouldn't have learned to talk. Una O'Connor is annoying and appears far too often. I never cared for the hermit scene and now all I can think about is Young Frankenstein when I watch it. The scenes with the Shelley's and Lord Byron are pointless as are Dr. Pretorius's miniatures although I like his character. The creation scene is well done but the end is too abrupt.

October 16
55. Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory (1961) Blu-ray 5/10
The inmates of a low security girl's reform school are threatened by a deadly beast. Could it be the new teacher? Slow moving in spots and spends too much time on a philandering philanthropist. The "scientific" take on lycanthropy is a little different and there are some good scenes in a creepy forest. The attacks are well done.
56. Prey (1977)* 5/10
A fox-like alien comes to Earth on a not so mysterious mission and disrupts the lives of a lesbian couple living in an isolated manor house. As much about an obsessive relationship as the alien aspect it wraps up nicely in a bloody conclusion. The scene in the lake doesn't make any sense at all though and it seems like the alien could have accomplished his mission much sooner than he did. Well acted.
57. The House of the Dead (1978)* 4.5/10
OK anthology film with four stories and a fifth as part of the wrap around. I liked the first story the best with a very creepy end. The second and fourth stories seemed incomplete while the third was predictable but clever at times. The host character explained what was going on, never a good sign, so the fifth story would work.
58. There's Nothing Out There (1991)* 5/10
A big horror movie fan joins a bunch of his friends at an isolated house for a vacation break and gosh darn it a monster from space shows up. Pretty good horror comedy with some laughs and lots of action and horror movie cliches. It's kind of a one joke show, the lead is annoying at times, and I think it runs a little long. Still even when the comedy runs low it is entertaining. The creature looks good if low budget.
59. When a Stranger Calls (2006)* Streaming Amazon 7/10
A babysitter is harassed by mysterious phone calls that become more and more frightening. Very good movie, full of tension that keeps on increasing. Literally edge of your seat stuff. Camilla Belle does a great job as the terrified teen.

October 17
60. Deathdream aka Dead of Night (1974) (on Creature Features) Streaming YouTube 6/10
The day after his family receives news of his death a soldier returns home from Vietnam but he is changed. Mostly low key at first with slowing increasing gruesomeness the soundtrack often helps provide a dreamlike feeling. The acting is somewhat variable but it is well made.
61. Axeman at Cutters Creek (2020)* Streaming Amazon 3/10
Young folks at a plush, remote vacation home are stalked by a legendary killer. Slow moving and very dull most of the time with lots of pointless interpersonal drama. The more you get to know the characters the harder you pray for the killer (who only uses an axe once or twice) to show up for one of his unimaginative and drawn out slayings.
62. We Are Still Here (2015)* Streaming Amazon 5/10
A couple who recently lost their teenaged son move into a long abandoned house to start a new life. OK haunted house movie with a few neat twists and a decent cast. The weird stuff starts almost immediately and its a little lacking in atmosphere but the bloody finale is good and pretty much makes sense.

October 18
63. Torture Chamber (2013)* Streaming Amazon 4/10
A super powered child escapes from somewhere and goes on a rampage. This kid has teleportation, pyrokinesis, extraordinary strength, and mind control among other things. He uses an "old abandoned castle" (in New Jersey) equipped with a complete medieval torture room in the basement. The characters are all fairly ridiculous and stupid with the police being particular dense. There are some good effects and I got several unintentional laughs out of this.
64. The Manor (2021)* Streaming Amazon 7/10
A 70 year old former ballet dancer voluntarily enters an assisted living home but soon begins to feel that something is very wrong at the facility. Several levels of fear here. First there are several eerie scenes from the basic story. Then there is the unsettling idea of possibly loosing mental abilities through some kind of dementia. Finally there is the idea of being trapped in an institution where the staff has total control and no one believes what you say.
65. Paganini Horror (1988)* Blu-ray 5/10
Looking for a new hit, a rock band uses the music that Paganini supposedly used to summon Satan. It works. There isn't much to the story, it's mostly about what strange and horrible stuff will happen next and even in that context things don't always make sense. Still, it's all watchable and the end is kind of interesting.
66. Werewolf of London (1935) (The Wolf Man Complete Legacy Collection) Blu-ray 6/10
A botanist is bitten while in Tibet searching for a unique plant that only blooms under moonlight. Good movie with a few atmospheric scenes in particular the ones in Tibet at the beginning and a very nice foggy street during a stalking scene. Also a pretty cool lab for a botanist. The makeup and transformations are OK.

October 19
67. [Rec]3 (2012)* (The [REC] Collection) Blu-ray 6.5/10
A wedding reception turns horrific when zombies attack. Fairly standard but above average zombie film with just a touch of the demonic and without the claustrophobic feel of the first two movies. Both bride and groom are well played and turn out to be pretty kick ass. This seems to be happening simultaneously with the first two movies.
68. Don't Look Now (1973) Blu-ray 7/10
A couple who lost a young daughter are working in Venice where a psychic they meet warns them that the husband is in danger. Creatively made movie with a good script and an excellent cast makes good use of Venice locations and has a growing feeling of uneasiness. There are several eerie shots and the end is shocking, even though I remembered it from the original theatrical release.
69. The Raven (1935) (Universal The Bela Lugosi Collection) 6.5/10
Bela plays a Poe obsessed retired surgeon who agrees to perform a delicate brain operation on a young woman who he then becomes obsessed with. Karloff is a murderer forced to do Bela's bidding. Good pulpy story with some stuff out of a movie serial done with the Universal touch. Bela's mad rants may be a bit over the top but he does them so well.
70. Whispers (1990)* 5/10
A women kills a man who attacks her in her apartment and several days later the man attacks her again. Solid mystery with a classic solution but overall fairly average fare. The creep factor gets cranked up as the end approaches for a satisfying conclusion.

October 20
71. Night of the Creeps (1986) 7/10
Fast moving giant slug type creatures that breed in brains invade a college town. Often silly but a whole lot of fun. The humor isn't laugh out loud funny but it is amusing and the creatures look pretty good. Nice gore effects as well. You don't often see someone in a tuxedo wielding a flams thrower. Tom Atkins does a nice job in a roll that could have turned out just plain stupid.
72. Nightmare (1981)* 5/10
A man, having problems with violent and bloody nightmares, is treated with an experimental process and then released. The doctors soon lose track of him and fear he may go on a rampage. Low budget, bloody, but most of all very sleazy.
Has a dreamlike detachment at times but doses manage to generate some tension at times. The twist at the end doesn't entirely make sense.
73. Dracula's Daughter (1936) (Universal Classic Monsters Complete 30-Film Collection) 6/10
A female vampire with ties to Dracula terrorizes London but tries to stop. Picks up right after Dracula ended and deals with what happens to vampire slayers when the police find all those staked bodies. It's unclear whether the vampire here is just one of Drac's victims or an actual offspring. A few atmospheric scenes and a good pace.
74. Viy (1967)* Blu-ray 7/10
A seminary student gets involved with a witch and eventually has to face the dreaded Viy. A fun movie has almost a fairy tale feel with folk tale and myth logic throughout. The scenery and indoor sets are striking and the finale is wonderful. A fine score.

October 21
75. Slither (2006) Blu-ray 6/10
A different kind of alien slug invades Earth turning people into zombies and other kinds of creatures. Very good effects, better than Night of the Creeps, but not as much fun as that film. There are some good, funny lines here but the overall tone is just a tad more serious. An above average creature feature that feels a little bloated at times.
76. What Have You Done to Solange (1972)* Blu-ray 7/10
Students at an all girls high school are being murdered in a particularly nasty way. A professor at the school tries to discover who the killer is. Good mystery with a logical solution that gets rather sordid as the story unfolds. Well developed characters and nicely filmed.

Select 10 actors:
--- Jenny Agutter -
--- Arielle Brachfield -
--- Clancy Brown -
-X- Chuck Connors - Tourist Trap
-X- Peter Cushing - Corruption
--- Brad Dourif -
-X- Elissa Dowling - Axeman at Cutters Creek
-X- Deborah Foreman - April Fool's Day
--- Stephen Geoffreys -
-X- Boris Karloff - The Old Dark House
--- Udo Kier -
-X- Christopher Lee - Castle of the Living Dead
-X- Bela Lugosi - Murders in the Rue Morgue
-X- Lynn Lowry - Torture Chamber
--- Virginia Madsen -
--- Julian Sands -
--- Scout Taylor-Compton -
--- Tiffany Shepis -
--- P.J. Soles -
-X- Tony Todd - Shadow: Dead Riot
-X- Recently Deceased (insert actor) - Paganini Horror (Daria Nicolodi)

Select 5 directors:
-X- Freddie Francis - The Creeping Flesh
--- Jesús "Jess" Franco -
--- William Grefé -
-X- Amando de Ossorio - The Loreley's Grasp
-X- Takashi Miike - The Happiness of the Katakuris
--- Steve Miner -
--- Jean Rollin -
-X- Pete Walker - The Comeback
--- James Wan -
-X- Watch a Movie Directed By a Female Director, 2, 3 - The House of the Dead (Sharron Miller)
--- Recently Deceased (insert director) -

Select 2 film composers:
-X- Pino Donaggio - Don't Look Now
-X- Alan Howarth - Halloween III
--- Claudio Simonetti -
--- Christopher Young -

Select 2 makeup effects artists:
--- Rick Baker -
-X- Joe Blasco - Whispers
--- KNB EFX Group -
--- Mathew Mungle -
-X- Dick Smith - The Alligator People
--- Recently Deceased (insert makeup effects artist) -

Select 2 producers:
--- Lawrence Bender -
-X- Jason Blum - The Manor
-X- Herman Cohen - Black Zoo
--- Dino De Laurentiis -

Select 2 writers:
-X- Christopher Landon - Paranormal Activity 3
--- Dardano Sacchetti -
-X- Curt Siodmak - Black Friday
-X- Kiyoshi Kurosawa - Retribution

Select 30 of the following sub-genres / types:
-X- *3-D Film - Silent Madness
-X- Anthology Film - Vault of Horror
-X- Appears on They Shoot Zombies, Don't They - The 1,000 Greatest Horror Films - The Man Who Laughs
--- Based on a True Story -
-X- Based on a Novel - The Phantom of the Opera
--- Candy Cinema, 2 -
--- Cannibalism -
--- Cinema Inspired By: Richard Matheson -
--- Cinematic Titanic / Horror Host / MST3K / RiffTrax -
-X- Comedy / Spoof - Microwave Massacre
--- Criterion / Masters of Cinema Version Film -
--- Cryptid Cinema -
-X- Death by: Electrocution - The Last Warning
--- Director or Writer Cameo in Own Film / Film Adaptation, 2
-X- Distributor / Studio: Kino Lorber - Rawhead Rex
--- Documentary -
-X- Dream Horror - Deathdream
--- Drunk Horror -
-X- Euro Horror - Werewolf in a Girl's Dormitory
--- Enzo Sciotti Art -
-X- Extraterrestrial / Takes Place in Space - There's Nothing Out There
--- Fan Film -
--- Film From Someone Else's 'Best of' List -
--- Film From TCM October 2021 Schedule -
--- Firearms -
-X- Flashback - Challenge the Devil
--- Fog, 2 -
-X- Folk Horror - Virgin Witch
--- From a Basil Gogos Painting -
--- Found Footage -
-X- Frankenstein - Son of Frankenstein
-X- Ghost / Haunting - We Are Still Here
-X- Giallo - What Have You Done to Solange
-X- J-Horror - Ghost Train
--- Kaiju / Giant Monster -
-X- Killer / Evil Animal - The Uncanny
-X- Killer / Evil Child - Demon Witch Child
--- Killer / Evil Doll -
--- Luchador -
-X- Made-for-TV Movie - The Possessed
-X- Mad Scientist - The Immortalizer
-X- Mummy - Tha Mummy (1932)
--- Musical / Rock ‘n Roll Horror
-X- Name In Title - Frankenstein
-X- Nation of Origin: Russia, 2 - Viy
--- Ouija Board -
-X- Phobias - The Black Cat (1934) - Ailurophobia (fear of cats)
-X- Psychological - Symptoms
--- Quarantine -
--- Rape / Revenge -
--- Shot in Bronson Canyon -
--- Shudder Original / Exclusive -
-X- Slasher / Psycho / Homicidal Maniac - Amsterdamned
--- Slow Motion -
--- Split Personality -
--- Suicide -
-X- Takes Place in a Crypt - Crypt of the Vampire
--- Takes Place in a High School -
--- Takes Place in a Library -
--- Takes Place on a Mountain -
--- Takes Place on a Holiday -
--- Takes Place on or Under the Sea -
-X- Three Installments in a Franchise - [REC], [REC]2, [REC]3
-X- Title Spoken By Character, 2 - The Bride of Frankenstein
-X- Trailer Compilation - The AGFA Horror Trailer Show
--- Travelogue -
-X- Vampire - Dracula
--- Voyeurism -
-X- Werewolf - Werewolf of London
-X- Witchcraft / Satanic / Religious - Inquisition
--- Wilhelm Scream -
--- With Commentary -
-X- With Two or More Horror Legends - The Invisible Ray (Karloff and Lugosi)
--- Zombie -

Select 1 from the "Chronological Horror Years Faceoff":
--- 1921 (100th) -
--- 1946 (75th) -
--- 1971 (50th) -
-X- 1996 (25th) – The Frighteners

Select 1 from the following anniversaries:
--- 40th Anniversary of Elvira's Movie Macabre -
-X- 40th Anniversary of Notable Horror Films - Scanners (1981)
--- 40th Anniversary of MTV, 2 -
--- 50th Anniversary of Monster Cereals, 2, 3 -
--- 100th Anniversary of Overlook Hotel's July 4th Ball, 2-

Select 3 from the following horror film tropes:
-X- Killed during sex - Prey
-X- New House, New Problems, 2 - Don't Go to Sleep
-X- No cell phone service - When a Stranger Calls
--- Making dumb decisions -
--- The creepy gas station attendant -
--- The evil doll that comes to life -
--- The mirror scare -
--- The suddenly unpredictable vehicle -

Select 4 ratings:
-X- G - The Bermuda Triangle
-X- PG - Pandemonium
-X- PG-13 - The Visit
-X- R - Beware My Brethren
--- NC-17 -
--- X -
--- Unrated -
--- M -
--- GP -

​Select 6 decades of film history:
-X- Pre-1930 - The Last Performance (1927)
-X- 1930 - Murder in the Zoo (1932)
-X- 1940 - The Invisible Man Returns (1940)
-X- 1950 - The Bat (1959)
--- 1960 -
-X- 1970 - The Blood Rose (1970)
-X- 1980 - Absurd (1981)
-X- 1990 - Medousa (1998)
--- 2000 -
-X- 2010 - [REC]4 (2014)
--- 2020 -

Watch 1 film with a recently deceased personality:
-X- Recently deceased list - René Cardona III (Cementerio del terror)

Watch a film shot on 1 of the following:
-X- Video ,2 - Blood Lake
--- 8mm (Super 8) -
--- 16mm -

Watch 1 of your OHMC "favorites":
--- Boardinghouse (1982) -
--- Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981) -
--- The Carrier (1988) -
-X- Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977) -
--- Frankenhooker (1990) -
--- Hobgoblins (1988) -
--- The House by the Cemetery (1981) -
--- Killer Condom (1996) -
--- The Killer Tongue (1996) -
--- Octaman (1971) -
--- Microwave Massacre (1983) -
--- Shakma (1990) -
--- Spookies (1986) -

Watch a movie and its remake back to back on the same day:
-X- Original - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)
-X- Remake - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

Watch films in at least three formats:
-X- First format, VHS, It Conquered the World.
-X- Second format, DVD, Dr. Cyclops.
-X- Third format, Streaming, Bingo Hell.

Watch films in at least three languages:
-X- First language, Italian, The Killer Must Kill Again.
-X- Second language, Spanish, Trauma.
-X- Third language, German, The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism.

Watch 2 films with similar plots:
-X- Film #1 - Night of the Creeps
-X- Film #2 - Slither

Watch 3 films that you've never seen before that:
-X- Stars a Julie - Julie Strain / Julie Anne Prescott / Julie Benz / Julie Harris / Julie Adams - Nocturne (Julie Benz)
--- Features a character waking up from a nightmare -
--- Was made in the 1990s -
--- Features a LGBT character -
--- Was written by Charles B. Griffith -
-X- Features a severed head - My Dear Killer
--- Has a scene in a nightclub -
--- Was shot in Mexico -
-X- Is listed in Suburban Grindhouse - Nightmare
--- Takes place at a national park -
--- Features a funeral scene -
--- Title includes Return of / Curse of / Bride of / Son of -

Attend a live or virtual event (convention, play, haunted house, ghost tour, etc.):
--- (insert event). OPTIONAL

--- Listen to a horror movie soundtrack - OPTIONAL

Venture Into the Literary World:
--- Read a Horror Novel or Novella (insert title). OPTIONAL
--- Read a Horror Comic Book or Graphic Novel (insert title). OPTIONAL
--- Read a Horror Magazine (insert title). OPTIONAL

--- 1900 - sss
--- 1910 - ssss
--- 1920 - 111151
--- 1930 - 1111511115111151
--- 1940 - 111
--- 1950 - 1111
--- 1960 - 11115111
--- 1970 - 1111511115111151111511115111
--- 1980 - 11115111151111511115
--- 1990 - 11115111
--- 2000 - 11115111
--- 2010 - 11115111151
--- 2020 - 11115

elect 10 actors:
-X- Jenny Agutter - Child's Play 2 (1990)
--- Arielle Brachfield -
-X- Clancy Brown - A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
--- Chuck Connors -
--- Peter Cushing -
-X- Brad Dourif - Child's Play (1988)
--- Elissa Dowling -
--- Deborah Foreman -
--- Stephen Geoffreys -
--- Boris Karloff -
-X- Udo Kier - Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
--- Christopher Lee -
--- Bela Lugosi -
--- Lynn Lowry -
--- Virginia Madsen -
--- Julian Sands -
--- Scout Taylor-Compton -
--- Tiffany Shepis -
-X- P.J. Soles - Carrie (1976)
--- Tony Todd -
-X- Recently Deceased (Julie Strain) - Repossessed (1990)

Select 5 directors:
--- Freddie Francis -
--- Jesús "Jess" Franco -
--- William Grefé -
--- Amando de Ossorio -
--- Takashi Miike -
--- Steve Miner -
--- Jean Rollin -
--- Pete Walker -
--- James Wan -
-X- Watch a Movie Directed By a Female Director - Pet Sematary Two (1992)
--- Recently Deceased (insert director) -

Select 2 film composers:
-X- Pino Donaggio - Carrie (1976)
--- Alan Howarth -
--- Claudio Simonetti -
--- Christopher Young -

Select 2 makeup effects artists:
-X- Rick Baker - The Funhouse (1981)
--- Joe Blasco -
-X- KNB EFX Group - The Mist (2007)
--- Mathew Mungle -
--- Dick Smith -
--- Recently Deceased (insert makeup effects artist) -

Select 2 producers:
--- Lawrence Bender -
-X- Jason Blum - Happy Death Day (2017)
--- Herman Cohen -
-X- Dino De Laurentiis - The Dead Zone (1983)

Select 2 writers:
-X- Christopher Landon - Happy Death Day (2017)
--- Dardano Sacchetti -
--- Curt Siodmak -
--- Kiyoshi Kurosawa -

Select 30 of the following sub-genres / types:
--- *3-D Film -
--- Anthology Film -
-X- Appears on They Shoot Zombies, Don't They - The 1,000 Greatest Horror Films - The Shining (1980)
-X- Based on a True Story - Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
-X- Based on a Novel - Children of the Corn (2009)
-X- Candy Cinema, 2 - Child's Play 2 (1990)
--- Cannibalism -
--- Cinema Inspired By: Richard Matheson -
--- Cinematic Titanic / Horror Host / MST3K / RiffTrax -
-X- Comedy / Spoof - Idle Hands (1999)
--- Criterion / Masters of Cinema Version Film -
--- Cryptid Cinema -
-X- Death by: Electrocution - Carrie (2002)
-X- Director or Writer Cameo in Own Film / Film Adaptation - Stephen King in Thinner (1996)
--- Distributor / Studio: Kino Lorber -
-X- Documentary - Spine Tingler!: The William Castle Story (2007)
-X- Dream Horror - Bad Dreams (1988)
--- Drunk Horror -
--- Euro Horror -
-X- Enzo Sciotti Art - Bloody Birthday (1981)
--- Extraterrestrial / Takes Place in Space -
--- Fan Film -
--- Film From Someone Else's 'Best of' List -
--- Film From TCM October 2021 Schedule -
-X- Firearms - The Dead Zone (1983)
-X- Flashback - Carrie (2002)
-X- Fog - The Mist (2007)
--- Folk Horror -
--- From a Basil Gogos Painting -
--- Found Footage -
--- Frankenstein -
--- Ghost / Haunting -
--- Giallo -
--- J-Horror -
-X- Kaiju / Giant Monster - The Mist (2007)
-X- Killer / Evil Animal - Pet Sematary (1989)
-X- Killer / Evil Child - Children of the Corn (1984)
-X- Killer / Evil Doll - Child's Play (1988)
--- Luchador -
-X- Made-for-TV Movie - Carrie (2002)
-X- Mad Scientist - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
--- Mummy -
-X- Musical / Rock ‘n Roll Horror - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
-X- Name In Title - Carrie (2002)
--- Nation of Origin: Russia, 2
--- Ouija Board -
-X- Phobias - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - Fear of Sleep
--- Psychological -
--- Quarantine -
-X- Rape / Revenge - The Last House on the Left (1972)
--- Shot in Bronson Canyon -
--- Shudder Original / Exclusive -
-X- Slasher / Psycho / Homicidal Maniac - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
-X- Slow Motion - The Shining (1980)
--- Split Personality -
-X- Suicide - The Mist (2007)
--- Takes Place in a Crypt -
-X- Takes Place in a High School - Carrie (2002)
--- Takes Place in a Library -
--- Takes Place on a Mountain -
-X- Takes Place on a Holiday - Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)
--- Takes Place on or Under the Sea -
-X- Three Installments in a Franchise - Child's Play (1988), Child's Play 2 (1990) & Bride of Chucky (1998)
-X- Title Spoken By Character - The Shining (1980)
--- Trailer Compilation -
--- Travelogue -
-X- Vampire - Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
--- Voyeurism -
--- Werewolf -
--- Witchcraft / Satanic / Religious -
-X- Wilhelm Scream - The Mist (2007)
-X- With Commentary - Pet Sematary Two (1992)
-X- With Two or More Horror Legends - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)Wes Craven & Robert Englund
--- Zombie -

Select 1 from the "Chronological Horror Years Faceoff":
--- 1921 (100th) -
--- 1946 (75th) -
--- 1971 (50th) -
-X- 1996 (25th) – Thinner (1996)

Select 1 from the following anniversaries:
--- 40th Anniversary of Elvira's Movie Macabre -
--- 40th Anniversary of Notable Horror Films -
-X- 40th Anniversary of MTV, 2 - Pet Sematary (1989)
--- 50th Anniversary of Monster Cereals, 2, 3 -
-X- 100th Anniversary of Overlook Hotel's July 4th Ball, 2- Idle Hands (1999)

Select 3 from the following horror film tropes:
-X- Killed during sex - Idle Hands (1999)
--- New House, New Problems, 2 -
-X- No cell phone service - Centigrade (2020)
-X- Making dumb decisions - Pet Sematary (1989)
--- The creepy gas station attendant -
--- The evil doll that comes to life -
--- The mirror scare -
--- The suddenly unpredictable vehicle -

Select 4 ratings:
--- G -
-X- PG - The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
-X- PG-13 - Happy Death Day (2017)
-X- R - Bad Dreams (1988)
--- NC-17 -
--- X -
-X- Unrated - Children of the Corn (2009)
--- M -
--- GP -

​Select 6 decades of film history:
--- Pre-1930 -
--- 1930 -
-X- 1940 - Rope (1948)
--- 1950 -
-X- 1960 - Spider Baby (1967)
-X- 1970 - Alice, Sweet Alice (1976)
-X- 1980 - Bad Dreams (1988)
-X- 1990 - Thinner (1996)
-X- 2000 - Children of the Corn (2009)
-X- 2010 - Happy Death Day (2017)
-X- 2020 - Centigrade (2020)

Watch 1 film with a recently deceased personality:
-X- Recently deceased list - Robert Green Hall - Halloween (2018)

Watch a film shot on 1 of the following:
--- Video ,2 -
--- 8mm (Super 8) -
--- 16mm -

Watch 1 of your OHMC "favorites":
--- Boardinghouse (1982) -
--- Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981) -
--- The Carrier (1988) -
--- Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977) -
--- Frankenhooker (1990) -
--- Hobgoblins (1988) -
--- The House by the Cemetery (1981) -
--- Killer Condom (1996) -
--- The Killer Tongue (1996) -
--- Octaman (1971) -
--- Microwave Massacre (1983) -
--- Shakma (1990) -
--- Spookies (1986) -

Watch a movie and its remake back to back on the same day:
-X- Original - Children of the Corn (1984)
-X- Remake - Children of the Corn (2009)

Watch films in at least three formats:
-X- First format - Blu-ray - Bad Dreams (1988)
-X- Second format - 4K - The Shining (1980)
-X- Third format - DVD - Thinner (1996)

Watch films in at least three languages:
--- First language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Second language, (insert language), (insert title).
--- Third language, (insert language), (insert title).

Watch 2 films with similar plots:
-X- Film #1 - Bad Dreams (1988)
-X- Film #2 - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Watch 3 films that you've never seen before that:
-X- Stars a Julie - Julie Strain / Julie Anne Prescott / Julie Benz / Julie Harris / Julie Adams - Julie Strain Repossessed (1990)
-X- Features a character waking up from a nightmare - Bad Dreams (1988)
--- Was made in the 1990s -
-X- Features a LGBT character - Halloween Kills (2021)
--- Was written by Charles B. Griffith -
--- Features a severed head -
--- Has a scene in a nightclub -
--- Was shot in Mexico -
--- Is listed in Suburban Grindhouse -
--- Takes place at a national park -
--- Features a funeral scene
--- Title includes Return of / Curse of / Bride of / Son of -

Select 10 actors:
--- Jenny Agutter -
--- Arielle Brachfield -
--- Clancy Brown -
--- Chuck Connors -
--- Peter Cushing -
--- Brad Dourif -
--- Elissa Dowling -
--- Deborah Foreman -
--- Stephen Geoffreys -
--- Boris Karloff -
--- Udo Kier -
--- Christopher Lee -
--- Bela Lugosi -
--- Lynn Lowry -
--- Virginia Madsen -
--- Julian Sands - Warlock (1989)
--- Scout Taylor-Compton -
--- Tiffany Shepis -
--- P.J. Soles -
--- Tony Todd - Wishmaster (1997)
--- Recently Deceased - Ed Asner - Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)

Select 5 directors:
--- Freddie Francis -
--- Jesús "Jess" Franco -
--- William Grefé -
--- Amando de Ossorio -
--- Takashi Miike -
--- Steve Miner - Warlock (1989)
--- Jean Rollin -
--- Pete Walker -
--- James Wan -
--- Watch a Movie Directed By a Female Director, 2, 3 - She Dies Tomorrow (2020)
--- Recently Deceased (insert director) -

Select 2 film composers:
--- Pino Donaggio -
--- Alan Howarth -
--- Claudio Simonetti -
--- Christopher Young -

Select 2 makeup effects artists:
--- Rick Baker -
--- Joe Blasco -
--- KNB EFX Group - Wishmaster (1997)
--- Mathew Mungle -
--- Dick Smith -
--- Recently Deceased (insert makeup effects artist) -

Select 2 producers:
--- Lawrence Bender -
--- Jason Blum -
--- Herman Cohen -
--- Dino De Laurentiis -

Select 2 writers:
--- Christopher Landon -
--- Dardano Sacchetti -
--- Curt Siodmak -
--- Kiyoshi Kurosawa -

Select 30 of the following sub-genres / types:
--- *3-D Film -
--- Anthology Film - V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- Appears on They Shoot Zombies, Don't They - The 1,000 Greatest Horror Films -
--- Based on a True Story -
--- Based on a Novel - Nightbooks (2021)
--- Candy Cinema, 2 -
--- Cannibalism - Warlock (1989)
--- Cinema Inspired By: Richard Matheson -
--- Cinematic Titanic / Horror Host / MST3K / RiffTrax -
--- Comedy / Spoof - Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
--- Criterion / Masters of Cinema Version Film -
--- Cryptid Cinema - V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- Death by: Electrocution
--- Director or Writer Cameo in Own Film / Film Adaptation, 2 - Wishmaster (1997)
--- Distributor / Studio: Kino Lorber -
--- Documentary -
--- Dream Horror - Possum (2018)
--- Drunk Horror -
--- Euro Horror -
--- Enzo Sciotti Art -
--- Extraterrestrial / Takes Place in Space -
--- Fan Film -
--- Film From Someone Else's 'Best of' List -
--- Film From TCM October 2021 Schedule -
--- Firearms - V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- Flashback -
--- Fog, 2 -
--- Folk Horror -
--- From a Basil Gogos Painting -
--- Found Footage - V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- Frankenstein -
--- Ghost / Haunting - Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021)
--- Giallo -
--- J-Horror -
--- Kaiju / Giant Monster -
--- Killer / Evil Animal -
--- Killer / Evil Child - His House (2020)
--- Killer / Evil Doll -
--- Luchador -
--- Made-for-TV Movie -
--- Mad Scientist - V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- Mummy -
--- Musical / Rock ‘n Roll Horror
--- Name In Title -
--- Nation of Origin: Russia, 2
--- Ouija Board -
--- Phobias -
--- Psychological - She Dies Tomorrow (2020)
--- Quarantine -
--- Rape / Revenge -
--- Shot in Bronson Canyon -
--- Shudder Original / Exclusive - V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- Slasher / Psycho / Homicidal Maniac -
--- Slow Motion -
--- Split Personality -
--- Suicide - The Dark and the Wicked (2020)
--- Takes Place in a Crypt -
--- Takes Place in a High School -
--- Takes Place in a Library -
--- Takes Place on a Mountain -
--- Takes Place on a Holiday -
--- Takes Place on or Under the Sea -
--- Three Installments in a Franchise -
--- Title Spoken By Character, 2 - Warlock (1989), Nightbooks (2021)
--- Trailer Compilation -
--- Travelogue -
--- Vampire - Midnight Mass (2021)
--- Voyeurism -
--- Werewolf -
--- Witchcraft / Satanic / Religious - Midnight Mass (2021)
--- Wilhelm Scream -
--- With Commentary -
--- With Two or More Horror Legends - Wishmaster (1997)
--- Zombie - V/H/S/94 (2021)

Select 1 from the "Chronological Horror Years Faceoff":
--- 1921 (100th) -
--- 1946 (75th) -
--- 1971 (50th) -
--- 1996 (25th) –

Select 1 from the following anniversaries:
--- 40th Anniversary of Elvira's Movie Macabre -
--- 40th Anniversary of Notable Horror Films -
--- 40th Anniversary of MTV, 2 -
--- 50th Anniversary of Monster Cereals, 2, 3 -
--- 100th Anniversary of Overlook Hotel's July 4th Ball, 2-

Select 3 from the following horror film tropes:
--- Killed during sex -
--- New House, New Problems, 2 - His House (2020)
--- No cell phone service -
--- Making dumb decisions - V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- The creepy gas station attendant -
--- The evil doll that comes to life -
--- The mirror scare -
--- The suddenly unpredictable vehicle -

Select 4 ratings:
--- G -
--- PG -
--- PG-13 - Ghost (1990)
--- R - V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- NC-17 -
--- X -
--- Unrated - Possum (2018)
--- M -
--- GP -

​Select 6 decades of film history:
--- Pre-1930 -
--- 1930 -
--- 1940 -
--- 1950 -
--- 1960 -
--- 1970 -
--- 1980 - Warlock (1989)
--- 1990 - Wishmaster (1997)
--- 2000 -
--- 2010 - Possum (2018)
--- 2020 - V/H/S/94 (2021)

Watch 1 film with a recently deceased personality:
--- Recently deceased list -

Watch a film shot on 1 of the following:
--- Video ,2 - V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- 8mm (Super 8) -
--- 16mm -

Watch 1 of your OHMC "favorites":
--- Boardinghouse (1982) -
--- Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981) -
--- The Carrier (1988) -
--- Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977) -
--- Frankenhooker (1990) -
--- Hobgoblins (1988) -
--- The House by the Cemetery (1981) -
--- Killer Condom (1996) -
--- The Killer Tongue (1996) -
--- Octaman (1971) -
--- Microwave Massacre (1983) -
--- Shakma (1990) -
--- Spookies (1986) -

Watch a movie and its remake back to back on the same day:
--- Original -
--- Remake -

Watch films in at least three formats:
--- First format, (insert format), (insert title).
--- Second format, (insert format), (insert title).
--- Third format, (insert format), (insert title).

Watch films in at least three languages:
--- First language, English, V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- Second language, Indonesian, V/H/S/94 (2021)
--- Third language, (insert language), (insert title).

Watch 2 films with similar plots:
--- Film #1 -
--- Film #2 -

Watch 3 films that you've never seen before that:
--- Stars a Julie - Julie Strain / Julie Anne Prescott / Julie Benz / Julie Harris / Julie Adams -
--- Features a character waking up from a nightmare - Wishmaster (1997)
--- Was made in the 1990s - Wishmaster (1997)
--- Features a LGBT character -
--- Was written by Charles B. Griffith -
--- Features a severed head - V/H/S 1994 (2021)
--- Has a scene in a nightclub -
--- Was shot in Mexico -
--- Is listed in Suburban Grindhouse -
--- Takes place at a national park -
--- Features a funeral scene -
--- Title includes Return of / Curse of / Bride of / Son of -

Attend a live or virtual event (convention, play, haunted house, ghost tour, etc.):
--- Frightmare Farms Haunted Scream Park (Oswego County, NY)

--- Listen to a horror movie soundtrack - OPTIONAL

Venture Into the Literary World:
--- Read a Horror Novel or Novella (insert title). OPTIONAL
--- Read a Horror Comic Book or Graphic Novel (insert title). OPTIONAL
--- Read a Horror Magazine (insert title). OPTIONAL

Select 10 actors:
--- Jenny Agutter -
--- Arielle Brachfield -
--- Clancy Brown -
--- Chuck Connors -
--- Peter Cushing - Frankenstein must be destroyed
--- Brad Dourif - Dune
--- Elissa Dowling -
--- Deborah Foreman -
--- Stephen Geoffreys -
--- Boris Karloff - Frankenstein
--- Udo Kier - Blood for Dracula
--- Christopher Lee - Taste the blood of Dracula
--- Bela Lugosi - Corpse Vanishes
--- Lynn Lowry - Shivers
--- Virginia Madsen - Dune
--- Julian Sands -
--- Scout Taylor-Compton -
--- Tiffany Shepis -
--- P.J. Soles - Halloween
--- Tony Todd -
--- Recently Deceased (insert actor) -

Select 5 directors:
--- Freddie Francis -
--- Jesús "Jess" Franco -
--- William Grefé -
--- Amando de Ossorio -
--- Takashi Miike -
--- Steve Miner -
--- Jean Rollin -
--- Pete Walker -
--- James Wan - Malignant
--- Watch a Movie Directed By a Female Director, 2, 3 -
--- Recently Deceased (insert director) -

Select 2 film composers:
--- Pino Donaggio - Blow Out
--- Alan Howarth -
--- Claudio Simonetti - Demons
--- Christopher Young -

Select 2 makeup effects artists:
--- Rick Baker - The Fury
--- Joe Blasco - Shivers
--- KNB EFX Group -
--- Mathew Mungle -
--- Dick Smith -
--- Recently Deceased (insert makeup effects artist) -

Select 2 producers:
--- Lawrence Bender -
--- Jason Blum - Halloween Kills
--- Herman Cohen -
--- Dino De Laurentiis - Dune

Select 2 writers:
--- Christopher Landon -
--- Dardano Sacchetti -
--- Curt Siodmak -
--- Kiyoshi Kurosawa -

Select 30 of the following sub-genres / types:
--- *3-D Film -
--- Anthology Film - Twilight Zone the Movie
--- Appears on They Shoot Zombies, Don't They - The 1,000 Greatest Horror Films - Psycho
--- Based on a True Story -
--- Based on a Novel - Christine
--- Candy Cinema, 2 -
--- Cannibalism - Motel Hell
--- Cinema Inspired By: Richard Matheson -
--- Cinematic Titanic / Horror Host / MST3K / RiffTrax -
--- Comedy / Spoof - Carry on Screaming
--- Criterion / Masters of Cinema Version Film - Der Golem
--- Cryptid Cinema - the gorgon
--- Death by: Electrocution
--- Director or Writer Cameo in Own Film / Film Adaptation, 2 Dune
--- Distributor / Studio: Kino Lorber - Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 1920
--- Documentary - Terror in the Aisles
--- Dream Horror -
--- Drunk Horror - halloween 3
--- Euro Horror - Der Golem
--- Enzo Sciotti Art - demons
--- Extraterrestrial / Takes Place in Space - A Quiet Place/Dune
--- Fan Film -
--- Film From Someone Else's 'Best of' List -
--- Film From TCM October 2021 Schedule - Taste the Blood of Dracula
--- Firearms - angel
--- Flashback - Halloween Kills
--- Fog, 2 -
--- Folk Horror - Der Golem
--- From a Basil Gogos Painting - Frankenstein
--- Found Footage - One Cut of the Dead
--- Frankenstein - Frankenstein
--- Ghost / Haunting -
--- Giallo -
--- J-Horror - One Cut of the Dead
--- Kaiju / Giant Monster - Dune
--- Killer / Evil Animal - Shivers
--- Killer / Evil Child -
--- Killer / Evil Doll -
--- Luchador -
--- Made-for-TV Movie - What we do in the shadows
--- Mad Scientist - Frankenstein must be destroyed
--- Mummy -
--- Musical / Rock ‘n Roll Horror
--- Name In Title - Christine
--- Nation of Origin: Russia, 2
--- Ouija Board -
--- Phobias -
--- Psychological - Strait-Jacket
--- Quarantine - Shivers
--- Rape / Revenge - Angel/Invisible Man
--- Shot in Bronson Canyon -
--- Shudder Original / Exclusive - One Cut of the Dead/Open 24 hours
--- Slasher / Psycho / Homicidal Maniac - Halloween
--- Slow Motion -
--- Split Personality - Malignant
--- Suicide - a Quiet Place
--- Takes Place in a Crypt - demons
--- Takes Place in a High School - Angel
--- Takes Place in a Library - What we do in the shadows
--- Takes Place on a Mountain -
--- Takes Place on a Holiday - Halloween
--- Takes Place on or Under the Sea -
--- Three Installments in a Franchise - Halloween, Halloween Kills, Halloween 3
--- Title Spoken By Character, 2 - Christine/Gorgon
--- Trailer Compilation -
--- Travelogue -
--- Vampire - Blood for Dracula
--- Voyeurism - Blow out
--- Werewolf -
--- Witchcraft / Satanic / Religious - The Witches
--- Wilhelm Scream -
--- With Commentary - Dune
--- With Two or More Horror Legends - Gorgon with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee
--- Zombie - One Cut of the Dead

Select 1 from the "Chronological Horror Years Faceoff":
--- 1921 (100th) -
--- 1946 (75th) -
--- 1971 (50th) -
--- 1996 (25th) –

Select 1 from the following anniversaries:
--- 40th Anniversary of Elvira's Movie Macabre - Messiah of Evil
--- 40th Anniversary of Notable Horror Films - Evil Dead
--- 40th Anniversary of MTV, 2 -
--- 50th Anniversary of Monster Cereals, 2, 3 -
--- 100th Anniversary of Overlook Hotel's July 4th Ball, 2-

Select 3 from the following horror film tropes:
--- Killed during sex - Terror Train
--- New House, New Problems, 2 -
--- No cell phone service -
--- Making dumb decisions -
--- The creepy gas station attendant -
--- The evil doll that comes to life -
--- The mirror scare -
--- The suddenly unpredictable vehicle -

Select 4 ratings:
--- G -
--- PG -
--- PG-13 -
--- R -
--- NC-17 -
--- X -
--- Unrated -
--- M - Psycho
--- GP -

​Select 6 decades of film history:
--- Pre-1930 - Golem
--- 1930 - Frankenstein
--- 1940 - Corpse Vanishes
--- 1950 - Blood of the Vampire
--- 1960 - Carry on Screaming
--- 1970 - The Fury
--- 1980 - Motel Hell
--- 1990 - Pinky and the Brain Halloween
--- 2000 -
--- 2010 - Halloween
--- 2020 - Halloween Kills

Watch 1 film with a recently deceased personality:
--- Recently deceased list -

Watch a film shot on 1 of the following:
--- Video ,2 -
--- 8mm (Super 8) -
--- 16mm - Evil Dead

Watch 1 of your OHMC "favorites":
--- Boardinghouse (1982) -
--- Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror (1981) -
--- The Carrier (1988) -
--- Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (1977) -
--- Frankenhooker (1990) -
--- Hobgoblins (1988) -
--- The House by the Cemetery (1981) -
--- Killer Condom (1996) -
--- The Killer Tongue (1996) -
--- Octaman (1971) -
--- Microwave Massacre (1983) -
--- Shakma (1990) -
--- Spookies (1986) -

Watch a movie and its remake back to back on the same day:
--- Original -
--- Remake -

Watch films in at least three formats:
--- First format, (insert format), (insert title). Streaming various
--- Second format, (insert format), (insert title). Blu various
--- Third format, (insert format), (insert title). Theatrical/Halloween Kills

Watch films in at least three languages:
--- First language, (insert language), (insert title). Japanese One Cut of the Dead
--- Second language, (insert language), (insert title). German Der Golem (silent but with German Intertitles and English subtitles)
--- Third language, (insert language), (insert title). English

Watch 2 films with similar plots:
--- Film #1 - Dune 2020
--- Film #2 - Dune 1984

Watch 3 films that you've never seen before that:
--- Stars a Julie - Julie Strain / Julie Anne Prescott / Julie Benz / Julie Harris / Julie Adams -
--- Features a character waking up from a nightmare -
--- Was made in the 1990s -
--- Features a LGBT character -
--- Was written by Charles B. Griffith -
--- Features a severed head -
--- Has a scene in a nightclub -
--- Was shot in Mexico -
--- Is listed in Suburban Grindhouse -
--- Takes place at a national park -
--- Features a funeral scene -
--- Title includes Return of / Curse of / Bride of / Son of -

Attend a live or virtual event (convention, play, haunted house, ghost tour, etc.):
--- (insert event). OPTIONAL

--- Listen to a horror movie soundtrack - OPTIONAL

Venture Into the Literary World:
--- Read a Horror Novel or Novella (insert title). OPTIONAL
--- Read a Horror Comic Book or Graphic Novel (insert title). OPTIONAL
--- Read a Horror Magazine (insert title). OPTIONAL

September 30th (Dusk)
1. ☼ Wildling (2018): A good little coming-of-age werewolf movie, although I think the general theme was done better in Ginger Snaps. Haven't seen much of Liv Tyler recently, and Brad Dourif is always fun to watch. ***1/2

2. ☼ Malignant (2021): Well that was a whacked out crazy movie! Went in knowing very little (besides it was a new horror movie from James Wan). I was expecting some kind of slow burn ghost story ... and got something else entirely. It was so silly I was almost expecting some kind of super-meta twist (that what I was seeing couldn't be "real" in the context of the movie's story, like One Cut of the Dead). I can't say I wasn't entertained though. ****

3. ☼ Road Games (1981): Not sure how I never managed to see this. Although I really don't think it's a horror movie (it's pretty much Rear Window with a trucker in Australia). Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis were great, and I liked the light-hearted tone. Director Richard Franklin has some cool arty touches, and I can see how this was his ticket to Hollywood (following this movie up with Psycho II). ****

October 1st
4. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006): I was feeling in the mood for a rewatch. The first hour (where it's a mockumentary) is so fantastic that it manages to outweigh the relatively disappointment last 30 minutes (where it just becomes a straight up slasher). One really funny scene I remembered must've been a "deleted scenes" extra, where Leslie demonstrates his technique for catching up to running victims when he's just walking (he just hauls ass when no one is looking, before going back to the casual walk ). ****

5. ☼ The Amusement Park (1975): An interesting curio that's certainly worth watching for any Romero fan. Well-intentioned and effective, but a very unpleasant watch (and it felt like it was pushing the limit of the running time even at 50 minutes). ***

6. ☼ Ever After (2018): Not sure what to make of this. I've had my fill of post-apocalyptic zombie movies, but this had some new things going for. Rather light on actual zombie horror, it felt more like a twisted fairy tale (with a couple of girls trekking through Germany's Black Forest between the last two zombie-free cities ... going from an oppressive city to one that they heard had a much better way of life). There's some kind of ecological messaging in there too, with human/zombie/plant hybrids which may be the direction in which all humanity is going. ***

7. ☼ Porno (2019): This sounded really fun from the synopsis: an 80's set horror comedy about a group of dorky teens working in a movie theater run by an evangelical Christian, who accidentally release a sex demon by playing a mysterious movie reel they find. While not horrible, it was nowhere near as good as I was hoping (and I've seen a number of more recent Satanic-themed horror comedies that were better like We Summon the Darkness and Satanic Panic). Not to mention being way to focused on mutilated male genitalia for my tastes. **1/2

October 2nd
8. ☼ Why Don't You Just Die! (2018): I figure an ultra-gory splatter black comedy certainly qualifies as a wildcard. There's certainly a Tarantino influence here with the general tone, style, and story structure. A fun easy watch for those who are game for this sort of thing. **** Wildcard #1

9. ☼ Silent Madness (1984): I was on the fence about even bothering with this since I wasn't watching it in it 3D (no way I was blind buying the $30 Blu-Ray). Should've gone with my first instinct, since I thought this was pretty bad. I can usually find something to enjoy in any slasher, but this just seemed completely amateurish, unoriginal, and stupid. *1/2

10. ☼ The Power (2021): An interestingly creepy setting (night shift at an old hospital in London in 1974 during a blackout) and good production values helped out weight a rather familiar ghost/horror story. ***1/2

11. ☼ Lucky (2020): This seemed to have an intriguing set-up, but my interest waned when it became clear the movie wasn't attempting to tell a story but was instead a giant social issue metaphor. **1/2

12. ☼ Jeruzalem (2015): The story had potential to be great: a biblical apocalyptic horror/fantasy set in Jerusalem over Yom Kippur (with God's judgement not being a positive one). The city makes a great setting and the movie has one of the more logical reasons to be shot in the "found footage" style (with the main character forced to wear augmented glasses/camera when her normal glasses are stolen). The winged demons/angels/zombies are interesting looking, as are the occasional shots of a Cloverfield sized monster trampling around. Sadly, it can't help but fall into the annoying habit of a lot of found footage horror: the climax of the movie being almost unwatchable due to shaking, darkness, and video error artifacts. ***

October 3rd
13. ☼ The Djinn (2021): Well shot and acted. But dammit guys ... how about having enough things actually happen to fill a feature-length running time?!? One boy (who's the only character, so you know he's not getting killed) playing hide-and-seek from an evil djinn in a single apartment just isn't enough to keep my interest for 75 minutes. Not to mention the idea of an evil djinn has been done to death (and in much more interesting ways than this movie). **

14. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1122-1125.

15. ☼ The Boy Behind the Door (2020): Noticed this is by the same directors as The Djinn. Fortunately I like this more, even though it's a similar movie in that it has a boy in peril being chased around an enclosed location. But the scenario here felt more suspenseful, and the story had a little more meat to it. I have to laugh at some IMDb reviewers getting butt-hurt because the villain had a MAGA bumper sticker ***

16. ☼ Boys from County Hell (2020): A fun Irish horror/comedy that presents a fresh take on a vampire movie, not just with the setting but with the "rules" of these vampires worked. ***1/2

17. ☼ Slaxx (2020): I had a lot of fun with this one ... certain more fun than the more "arty" other recent movie about killed clothing In Fabric. ****

October 4th
18. A Bay of Blood (1971): I prefer Bava's gothic movies, but still enjoy what this brings to the table. Sure, all of the characters are horrible people and there's not much to the story (besides everyone killing each other for the Bay property). But Bava's style still shines (despite being so low budget that he had to shoot tracking shots by putting the camera on a child's wagon). The murder set-pieces are memorable, and hugely influential. And despite the body count and gore there's a darkly humorous tone (especially in that ending scene). ***1/2

19. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1126-1129.

20. The Frighteners (1996): This was a bit of a disappointment in it's time, and pales in comparison to the Peter Jackson movies he made right before (Dead Alive, Heavenly Creatures) and right after (Lord of the Rings trilogy). But it's a fun movie on it's own terms. While it has some of Jackson's touch, you can also feel the influence of producer Robert Zemeckis. ***1/2

21. ☼ The Dark and the Wicked (2020): This was well-made. But damn if it isn't bleak, grim, and nihilistic (not to mention there's no actual story payoff). Maybe it's me getting older, but I'm finding less tolerance for movies that make me feel like crap (regardless of how well done they may be). And I really need to start avoiding those movies. **1/2

22. ☼ Bloodthirsty (2020): It's a small movie that more indie musical drama than werewolf horror (which will probably disappoint some viewers). I suppose you also need a pretty strong tolerance for indie piano pop. I'm fine with both of those things, so I enjoyed it for it was. ***

October 5th
23. Witchfinder General (1968): This is one of those movies that I didn't like so much as a kid, but grew on me a lot more when rewatching as an adult. Probably because selling it as a horror movie is misleading (especially an Edgar Allen Poe horror movie). Though the brutal tone makes it certainly qualify as a horror movie to me, and can be argued to be Price's most "horrific" movie. ****

24. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1130-1133.

25. ☼ Censor (2021): It's an interesting idea, to set a psychological horror movie against the backdrop of the "Video Nasties" craze in England in the 1980s (with the main character being a censor for the Board). Thank god that seems to be a thing of the past. Censorship (at least to get a certain rating) really did the horror genre a lot of harm once the slasher genre took off and self-righteous assholes felt the need to butt in. ***1/2

26. ☼ Benny Loves You (2019): It's a 1-joke movie, but it's a pretty good joke (imagine Ted if the bear was a slasher killer). I wish the lead character wasn't so much of a man-child, which made it hard for me to root for him. Although somehow beautiful women throw themselves at him (which I'm sure has nothing to do with the fact that the actor also wrote and directed the movie). ***

October 6th
27. ☼ Cutting Class (1989): If not for the cast (including a young Brad Pitt) this would be completely forgettable. The MPAA really neutered slashers by the late 80s, and this movie really demonstrates that. One thing that really intimidated me when I was watching movies in grade and middle school was how old high schoolers looking. Sure there were a few with actors who looked the right age (like Anthony Michael Hall). But most had a cast that was in their mid 20s, and had me thinking I was going to look like some kind of stunted freak when starting high school. **1/2

28. ☼ Witchtrap (1989): Duh ... I really thought I was going to watch the movie Witchboard (which is by the same director, and which I haven't seen either). Night of the Demons was reasonably competent, so it puzzles me how this could be so absolutely awful. I guess the bad dialog and wooden acting could be seen as being so awful that it almost loops around to being good (like The Room). But for every funny line there are stretches of just dullness to get through. I knew I was in trouble right from the beginning when the opening credits were just white text on black background going on for several dull minutes (how hard would it be to have them over something?) *

October 7th
29. ☼ Caveat (2020): Good premise and atmosphere (though I'd need a hell of a lot more than $1000 to spend 5 days chained up in a creepy old house with insane crossbow-wielding girl). The story had potential, but it just didn't come together for me (despite some effective moments). **1/2

30. ☼ Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula (2020): It's no Train to Busan, and you have to be willing to give a lot of leeway to physics-defying stunts, cartoonish characters, and shameless emotional manipulation. But ... I liked it I thought it was better than Army of the Dead, which has a similar set-up (a group going into a zombie quarantine to extract treasure). Maybe after so many slow burn movies it was a fresh change of pace to get a balls-to-the-wall action movie. I thought the big Mad Max truck chase was a fun set-piece. How nice of everyone in the city to abandon their cars in the zombie apocalypse so that roads are open ***1/2

31. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1134-1137.

October 8th
32. ☼ Slumber Party Massacre II (1987): I didn't think the first one was anything special (despite its reputation as some kind of "cult classic"). This one is worse. The girls are awfully cute though (and it's fun to see a pre-Wings Crystal Bernard). But the movie is suspense-less having the whole movie be one "it's all a dream" sequence after another. If it was going for comedy, there were too many laugh-less stretches. Sure, the image of a rockabilly killer wielding a drill-guitar weapon is something different ... not to mention him taking the time out from stalking and killing for a musical number ... let's buzzzz!!!!! And it was mercifully short. **

33. ☼ The Queen of Black Magic (1981): This was a lot of goofy fun. The filmmakers clearly didn't have much money, but they made the most of what they to come up with some gory and gruesome effects. ***1/2

34. ☼ The Queen of Black Magic (2019): Talk about going in a very different direction for a remake (although they both share the general plot of a witch named Murni using black magic to take vengeance against those who wronged her). At first I thought this was going for the slow burn with minimal things happening approach (that so many low-budget horror movies seem to be taking these days). And then it went nuts. Not the silly, goofy nuts of the older movie but some really intense and nasty stuff. Though not a movie where it makes you feel depressed ... more of a really rough roller-coaster that gets your heart going, and you're glad you rode it when you get off. ****

35. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1138-1140; ☼ Escape the Undertaker (2021)

October 9th
36. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1141-1144.

37. ☼ Grave Robbers (1989): I've got a feeling I may have seen this before ... the jail cell scene seemed familiar. Anyway, this didn't reinvent the wheel but was an entertaining movie. Certainly a lot better than mainstream horror made in the USA at the same time. ***

38. ☼ The Oak Room (2020): Despite being listed as one as the first genre on IMDb, this isn't remotely a horror movie. It is a good little mystery/thriller, that manages to remain interesting despite the majority of the movie being stories told by people (and sometimes stories within stories). The layering of story and gradual reveal of the truth was well done. ***1/2

39. ☼ Willy's Wonderland (2021): How can you go wrong with Nic Cage vs evil satanic animatronic robots? There's a lot you can question. If Cage can beat the robots so easily, why can't the town handle them? If the kids knew how dangerous the robots were, why did they act like such dumb-asses (like split off to have sex in the satanic ritual room)? Why have Nic Cage in a movie and not have him speak? What's the deal with the soda? Why is the movie shot in ugly shades of brown and orange? Despite that, I had enough fun with it to give it a slightly positive rating. ***

October 10th
40. ☼ The Black Room (1935): Not really a horror movie, but a really good vehicle for Karloff who gets to show off some acting chops playing twins ... one good, and one evil! Isn't that always the case with twins? ***1/2

41. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1145-1148.

42. ☼ The Man They Could Not Hang (1939): It's fascinating how the "mad science" in this movie is now common medical practice: using machinery to keep a heart "alive" while surgery is performed that would otherwise be fatal. It's also infuriating how dangerously ignorant everyone is, needless causing the death of Karloff's assistant by stopping him in the middle of the first big test of the technology. I couldn't help but think of today's world when Karloff's character is lecturing at his trial at how modern medicine is coming up with wonders to save lives, and so many people ignorantly reject it (causing many to die). Of course, maybe Karloff takes it a bit too far by starting a murder spree of everyone at the trial who opposed him. But I certainly sympathize. ****

43. Battle Royal (2000): This movie may hold the record for the "dips" I've done of it. First a crappy VHS from a dubious source. Then a VCD (remember those?) from an equally dubious source. Then a R3 bare-bones DVD. Then a nice "official" DVD with special features. Then the 4-disc Blu Ray set. I don't have a 4K set, but I'm sure that one is coming too. ****1/2

October 11th
44. Prom Night (1980): Despite it's reputation as a slasher "classic", this is mostly a pretty dull movie. I've seen it before, but remembered pretty much nothing except the reveal of the killer. Things do pick up in the last 30 minutes, and I liked the disco showdown at the end. And I'm a general sucker for movies from this time period. I wish at his age I had a fraction of the game that "Slick" had with the ladies ***

45. ☼ Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987): I'm thinking that cheap stupid/campy horror of this period (late 80s) isn't my thing. It certainly was just past the age when I was watching these movies regularly. The makers of this are clearly fans of horror ... but being a fan and being able to make your own good movies aren't the same thing. The movie is oddly stingy with gore. Almost to the point where it felt like I was being trolled. Think a decapitation by a paper cutter would be cool? Nah, let's just tease it and have a simple hanging. Want to see a priest stabbed to death with a crucifix? Time for a quick cut! **

46. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1149-1152.

October 12th
47. ☼ What We Do in the Shadows (2021): S3, 1-4.

48. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1153-1157.

October 13th
49. ☼ The Vigil (2019): I can appreciate the use of Jewish culture and mysticism to bring something new to a horror movie. Though when you get down to it, this ends up really similar to a slew of other low budget, slow-burn horror I've seen with minimal characters and setting. I just needed more than what this movie brought to keep my attention for 90 minutes. **1/2

50. Burn Witch Burn (1962): You really need to watch the American version, because that's the only one that has an Orson Welles sound-alike casting a spell to protect you (the viewer)! Pity the poor fools who watch the Night of the Eagle version, without this protection. Like the main character, I'm a college professor ... and thank god my work environment isn't anything like his. In my department, most don't even want to be Chair (let alone be willing to cast black magic to stop someone else from being it). ****

October 14th
51. ☼ Before I Hang (1940): If not as good as the other hanged mad scientist movie in this set (The Man They Could Not Hang), it's still an enjoyable Karloff vehicle. I had to laugh at the opening scene. Karloff's character is a kindly doctor who was on trial for euthanizing one of his patients ... an old man who was terminally ill and suffering greatly. While handing down his sentence the judge lectures at him, saying only God has the power and authority to take a man's life. And the sentence? Death by hanging! ***

52. ☼ The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942): I'm not at all a fan of this style of old screwball comedy. Although Karloff and Lorre are great fun to watch, and made the movie overall worth the time for me. ***

53. ☼ Hunter Hunter (2020): Well damn ... that ended going in an awfully bleak and horrible place. Certainly a movie that's best seen knowing little about (except to have patience with the first half, before the movie reveals all the cards its playing). ***1/2

54. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1158-1161.

October 15th
55. ☼ Gaia (2021): This ended up seeming like a kind of prequel to The Last of Us, with how the fungal apocalypse could have its origins in the remote jungle. The filmmakers had to played the game since they pretty much nailed the look and sound of the "clickers". Fungus horror really creeps me out. I watched Attack of the Mushroom People as a kid, and haven't eaten mushrooms since. ***

56. ☼ Jakob's Wife (2021): I had a lot of fun with this one. Barbara Crampton and Larry Fessenden are wonderful, especially the former (who still looks great into her 60s). IMDb doesn't list it as one, but I think there were so many funny moments that I'd consider this a horror comedy. Right wingers will undoubtedly get their feathers ruffled from the feminist message. Though I thought framing a horror story around a story about a middle-aged woman struggling with her sense of worth and identity to be a fresh take on the familiar vampire story. I didn't even recognize wrestler CM Punk in there (his mustache and the tattoos being covered up through me). ****

57. ☼ I Blame Society (2020): In the vein of things like Man Bites Dog and Behind the Mask (since it's a pseudo-documentary following around an unassuming serial killer). So not a new idea and I can see how if the personality of the main character was unbearable then this would be unwatchable. But it worked for me. Knowing that this is an indie-project labor-of-love, with many "on-screen" characters essentially playing satiric versions of themselves, was something I could appreciate. And I'm a sucker for movies about movie making, which this essentially is (but instead of being told from the glamorous top it's from people struggling at the bottom). ***1/2

58. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1162-1165.

October 16th
59. ☼ Witchboard (1986): Now for the Kevin Tenney movie I intended to watch earlier in the month. Not bad, and Tawny Kitaen makes an appealing female lead. I didn't even recognize James Quinn, who was the male lead in Witchtrap. He has the "annoying douche" character down pat, and thankfully his "Lloyd" character here is the first to die. Lloyd not only wears sunglasses all the time, even at night and indoors. But he has them so low on his face that they would never block the sun from his eyes anyway. Glad he died. **1/2

60. ☼ Fear Street: Part I - 1994 (2021): I was too old for the books when they came out (although I was reading adult-level horror as long as I can remember, so even if I was a teen in the 90s I probably wouldn't have been reading these). Clearly this movie isn't aiming for the young audience, since the gore-level is quite high (although the characters are teens). I enjoyed it, and I'll probably be watching the other two in the series soon. ***1/2

61. ☼ The Empty Man (2020): Thankfully this doesn't turn out to be the routine "urban legend" horror that it seems like it will be. Instead it veers off into a much more interesting cosmic horror story. I just wish it wasn't so long (it didn't need to be over 2 hours). ***1/2

62. ☼ Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018): A solid enough movie, although nothing I haven't seen done before (and I think Grave Encounters did pretty much the exact story a bit better). ***

63. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1166-1169.

October 17th
64. ☼ Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021): Ep 1-2.

65. ☼ Fear Street: Part Two - 1978 (2021): Another strong entry in this trilogy. And it actually does the one thing no Friday the 13th movie dared to do ... brutally murder campers. This just needs to hit the landing in the next/last movie. ****

66. Fiend Without a Face (1958): The last 20 minutes of this is what really makes it memorable ... those horrifying brain monsters! It would've been really easy for a movie of this era to wuss out, but instead they went all out. Not just the nastiness of the monsters, but how they would explode with gore when shot (this has to be right up there for the most gruesome movie of its time). The concept of the monsters is pretty scary too ... they'd literally suck the brains right out of you! As a kid that one scene with the victim who must have gotten away freaked me out ... how he stumbles into a meeting just moaning (with presumably his brains partially eaten). ***1/2

67. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1170-1173.

October 18th
68-70. ☼ In Search of Darkness (2019): This was a nice watch spread out over a few days during times where I didn't have to concentrate on the tv too much (like while eating or exercising). Not much I didn't know before, though I was glad I had seen most of the movies they discussed (since massive spoilers were dropped throughout). Some of the talking heads were better than others, but for the most part they were good. Overall it was a fun trip down memory lane for my primary horror viewing years. ***1/2

October 19th
71. ☼ Fear Street: Part Three - 1666 (2021): I found this a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy (and you really need to watch all three in order). The 1666 flashback was awkward, with all the familiar faces from other roles I suppose playing ancestors of the later characters (with shaky English accents). But the finale (back in 1994) was very exciting. ****

72. ☼ Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021): Ep 3-4.

73. ☼ Dark Shadows (1970): Ep 1174-1178.

October 20th
74. Daughters of Darkness (1971): It's been a while since I've seen this one. Like a lot of Euro-horror of the era, it's style over substance. But what great style it has! Some wonderfully composed shots, edits, and use of color. As a horror movie, it certainly drags at times and doesn't make a whole lot of sense (again, not an uncommon thing for these kinds of movies). Beautiful women ... and having gone through Dark Shadows recently, it's fun to see John Karlen (and his character has luck with the ladies, unlike the show ... although it doesn't work out for him by the end of this). ***1/2

75. ☼ Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021): Ep 5-6.

October 21st
76. ☼ Dogs Don't Wear Pants (2019): I guess this needs to be a wildcard, since even though it was on Shudder it's clearly not a horror movie. Like a lot of movies I'm running into this month, here's another one that's critically acclaimed but mostly bored me. I at least thought the kinky S&M themes would have kept my attention. And while I don't consider myself squeamish (at least when it comes to movies) I just had no desire to see really drawn out scenes of fingernails being peeled off and teeth ripped out with pliers. ** Wildcard #2

77. ☼ V/H/S/94 (2021): As with many anthologies with different directors, the segments are uneven. But the best of them (IMO Timo Tjahjanto's, who also has by far the best previous track record for making good movies) makes it worth the view. Maybe my rating would be bumped a little if this didn't make the unfortunate decision to have the weakest segment last. ***

78. ☼ Dark Shadows (1971): Ep 1179-1183.

October 22nd
79. ☼ Schizoid (1980): I don't think I've seen this before. But the movie is rather forgettable, so I may have. The killer has a cool look (all in black, with a hat, and scissors) and there's fun casting with Klaus Kinski and an early film role of Christopher Lloyd (playing a creepy handyman). There are red herrings out the wazoo about who the killer is. Yet much of it is dully executed. **1/2

80. Psychomania (1973): The greatest British Biker Zombie movie ever made? I think it just may be! By no means a good movie, I saw this one as a kid (probably some either the late late movie show or Saturday afternoon horror in the 70s) and it stuck with me. The biker gang would've gotten laughed off the streets of an American town, but I guess for England in the early 70s they were intimidating. The music is cool, and there are effective scenes (like the bike resurrection of the ground scene). In retrospect, there isn't really anyone to root for in the movie. Abby is supposed to be the heroic "final girl", but she gleefully goes along with all the gang's shit (and just backs out because she doesn't want to kill herself). It's off-putting to see George Sanders' final role in a movie with so much suicide knowing that he killed himself before the movie's release. ***1/2

81. Hell Night (1981): One of the earlier slashers, it's pretty tame compared to most of the genre. It's probably most notable for starring Linda Blair and Vincent Van Patten (who I now associate with tv poker commentary). There's not much to the story, and this could use 15 minutes trimmed off. But it has some decent jump scares and suspense sequences. ***

82. ☼ Dark Shadows (1971): Ep 1184-1187.

October 23rd
83. ☼ What We Do in the Shadows (2021): S3, 5-8.

84. ☼ The Unseen (1980): Probably worth a watch for the interesting cast (Barbara Bach, Stephen Furst, and character actor Sydney Lassick ... one of those where the name may not mean anything to you, but as soon as you see him you'll recognize him). But beyond that ... not so much. Dull and uninspired up until the reveal of the title "monster". And then it becomes unintentionally hilarious. **

85. ☼ New Year's Evil (1980): I've seen this cover so many times in the video stores but never checked it out. More of a thriller than a horror movie ... I like the gimmick of the killer timing his kills to each countdown of the New Year (one for each US time zone). The New Wave music scene is fun ... sure it dates the movie, but it dates it in a fun way. As a horror movie, it's a bit on the dull side. **1/2

86. ☼ Suddenly in the Dark (1981): I don't think I've seen a Korean horror movie from this period before. It's pretty good too. The colors and camera work seem inspired by 70s Italian gialli (though they overdo the kaleidoscope effect). The story is one of those subtle ones straddling the line between the supernatural and madness (and even by the end it's not clear which way it went). ***1/2

87. ☼ Dark Shadows (1971): Ep 1188-1191.

October 24th
88. ☼ Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021): Ep 7-8. I thought it was consistently watchable and interesting, but I felt a bit underwhelmed at the end. Maybe partly because I didn't feel like I had any character to root for. Lisa Nova was supposed to be the heroine, but she seemed extremely unlikable to me. I felt myself siding with Lou Burke more ... sure, he acted scuzzy to Lisa but he had a likable charisma about him. And the punishment dished out to him seemed way out of proportion to his crime. Eric Lange really impressed me. He's one of those actors I've seen in a number of things, but he never really stuck with me until this role. And Catherine Keener was a lot of fun. ***

89-91. ☼ In Search of Darkness: Part II (2020): Very similar to the first part (just different movies). A stroll down memory lane through some good (and not so good) horror movies of the 80s. Again, it made nice background viewing (I don't think I could've handled sitting through it in one shot). ***1/2

92. ☼ Dark Shadows (1971): Ep 1192-1195.

October 26th
93. ☼ Dark Shadows (1971): Ep 1196-1199.

October 27th
94. Little Shop of Horrors (1986): Something about this movie makes me love it. It just hits all the right notes for me: wonderful cast, catchy songs, big laughs, great look, and it's a movie that just flies by for me. The original ending (where everyone dies and Audrey II takes over the world) is something to see, although it's really clear why they had to change it. *****

October 28th
95-97. ☼ Midnight Mass (2021): Ep 1-4.

98. The Blob (1958): It's been a while since I've seen this. It was talkier than I remember, although the blob scenes are still really good. Just such a disturbing concept for a monster, just absorbing and devouring people (which seemed like an incredibly painful and horrible way to die), getting bigger and bigger (and redder). Despite the goofy Burt Bacharach song in the opening credits, the movie takes itself pretty seriously. ***1/2

99. ☼ Dark Shadows (1971): Ep 1200-1203.

October 29th
100. Rosemary's Baby (1968): I like to hit "100" with style! Ira Levin writes his novels like screenplays ... so it's not surprising Polanski made one of the most faithful adaptations ever. Too bad Dark Shadows never tried to a spin on this. It would've fit in perfectly, the popularity of the book and movie coincided exactly with the show, and they've already gone through just about every gothic story you can think of. *****

101. ☼ Dark Shadows (1971): Ep 1204-1207.

October 30th
102. ☼ Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941): A+ Hollywood production in front of and behind the camera. It looks great and the cast does a fine job, and it's an interesting change from the earlier versions to have the transformation be more psychological than physical (though you'd think someone would recognize Hyde as the good doctor). Still, it felt overly long and familiar to me. It copies the story of the 1931 version very closely, while lacking the pre-code intensity. ***1/2

103. ☼ Come True (2020): I'm not sure I understood everything at the end, but I loved the creepy cold Cronenberg-esque style of this (and I don't think it's a coincidence that one of the characters, playing the head scientist, looks like Cronenberg). ****

104. Razorback (1984): Jaws in the Outback! Russell Mulcahy's first movie (after directing so many fantastic New Wave music videos) looks fantastic, and raises this above being just another "monster on the loose" story. And while a killer pig (boar) sounds silly, it looks and sounds pretty ferocious. ***1/2

105. ☼ Dark Shadows (1971): Ep 1208-1212.

Halloween
106. The Changling (1980): I haven't seen this in a while. It was just as good as I remembered ... just a classy and classic ghost story (not to mention an intriguing mystery involved as well). ****1/2

107. ☼ Halloween Kills (2021): A big disappointment for me. More in line with the crap entries starting in the late 80s. Some cool moments, but a lot of stupid stuff. And overall feels pretty pointless (and has me wishing they just ended things with the 2018 movie). **

108-109. ☼ Midnight Mass (2021): Ep 5-7.

110. ☼ Dark Shadows (1971): Ep 1213-1216.