ericritter-01765 Reviews

Child's Play 2 (1990)

Strong, Well Paced Sequel

[9/10 · 20 April 2023]

Child's Play 2 has a quicker pace and more style than the previous film and it barely gives you time to contemplate just how ludicrous this concept really is. It has equally strong performances as the original with Christine Elise and Alex Vincent bringing lots of life to their tormented foster kids on the run from Chucky, the murderous doll who wants to transfer his soul into a child's body.

It doesn't have a lot of time for character drama, but it makes an effort in trying to create interesting and believable characters who make rational choices instead of following every strange noise they hear in the middle of the night. Plus, there's an excellent sense of dark humor throughout that keeps things fun.

Child's Play (1988)

Excellent Performances Ground A Silly Story

[8/10 · 20 April 2023]

An unrealistic story of a serial killer possessing the doll of a young boy is grounded by a strong script, stellar direction by Tom Holland, and great performances from Catherine Hicks and Chris Sarandon.

Hicks plays a struggling single mother who finds a doll her son wants for his birthday for a good bargain. Unfortunately, the doll comes with a few side effects. Namely, it loves to kill ever since the soul of a serial killer was transferred into its body and, now, it's going around killing everyone and blaming Hicks' young son for it.

Sarandon is equally impressive as the cop on the case who has a hard time believing Hicks and her son at first.

Sweet, Sweet Lonely Girl (2016)

Mostly Mood and Little Else

[5/10 · 29 March 2021]

Lonely Adele moves in with her agoraphobic aunt to take care of her and get some money for her family and meets a free-spirited peer who leads her down a dark path.

Those uninterested in slow paced character studies would be wise to swipe Sweet, Sweet Lonely Girl off their watch list immediately. Even those who enjoy such films might find parts of the journey interesting even when the destination isn't much to write home about. Performances are mostly decent to fairly good and the film is beautifully shot, evoking a 70's/early 80's mood right from the start. There are moments when the film could sit comfortably alongside the likes of Let's Scare Jessica To Death, The Nesting, or even the more recent House of the Devil. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to know how to end in a satisfying fashion and all that great mood and build up feels like it was all for naught.

The Other (1972)

Creepy Evil Kid Movie

[7/10 · 3 November 2020]

Two twins cause mayhem in their small community after their father's passing, but only one of them is truly evil.

The Other has that great slow burn pacing that was so popular at the time. It's also darker and bleaker than just about any other horror film I can think of from that era. Children, elderly people, and even infants are put into harm's way more than the usual teenagers or twenty-somethings in these kinds of movies. Chris and Martin Udvarnoky are both excellent child actors who make each of their characters unique and well defined. It's also nice to see stage legend Uta Hagen in a rare and very powerful film role. It's a shame she never did more on film, because she's wonderful here and the heart of the film.

Insidious (I) (2010)

Terrifying

[9/10 · 10 October 2020]

A family finds out that their son is haunted by terrifying spirits and demons and, no matter where they go, they'll always find them.

Insidious playfully dodges a lot of typical haunted house cliches by borrowing some elements from the Poltergeist sequels where the lead child is what's drawing the spirits to the family, not just one house where something bad happened. There an overabundance of jump scares, but most of them work incredibly well and the filmmakers' vision of the astral plane is like something out of a childhood nightmare.

Get Out (I) (2017)

Unsettling Social Horror

[8/10 · 10 October 2020]

A young black man travels home with his girlfriend to meet her parents and starts realizing that their extreme friendliness is a guise for much more sinister intentions.

Get Out is one of those social horror films that doesn't forget to entertain first. It's lead, Chris, is a relatable and likable guy who the audience can root for which makes everything that happens to him push us closer to the edge of our seat. Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener are great at balancing warm politeness with cold creepiness. The story at its base level is similar to something like The Stepford Wives, but the extra twists turn it into something unique and interesting on its own.

Kolobos (1999)

Ahead of Its Time?

[7/10 · 10 October 2020]

A group of reality show contestants stay in a tripped out mansion full of booby traps that could kill them at any second.

It could be said that Kolobos was pretty ahead of its time with its Saw-esque booby traps and satire on reality TV before it took over the airwaves in a big way. It doesn't always work with it's silly twist ending being one of the biggest drawbacks, but it's hard not to get put under it's spell when those Argento-esque colored lights flick on.

Skinner (1993)

Bizarre But Entertaining

[5/10 · 10 October 2020]

A serial killer rents a room with a nice young couple and continues his killing spree as one of his surviving victims tracks him down to kill him once and for all.

Skinner has enough style to pull you through some rough patches, but with a cast as game and diverse as Ted Raimi, Ricki Lake, and Traci Lords, it's hard to not have a good time with it. I'd expected it to be gorier than it actually was, but the sheer bizarre quality of the story and some of the performances were enough to keep my interest.

Demons 2 (1986)

Same Old, Same Old

[5/10 · 10 October 2020]

A TV broadcast of the same film the theater patrons were watching in the first film turns the residents of an apartment high rise into bloodthirsty demons.

Demons 2 is too episodic to get invested in anyone's plight and it repeats all the same plot beats as the original to a slavish degree which can wear on the nerves after awhile. It's all been done before except it had more style and gore the last time.

Amityville Dollhouse (1996 Video)

Entertaining At Least

[5/10 · 10 October 2020]

A family moves into a new home and finds an antique dollhouse in the shed out back. It's restored and presenting to their daughter for a birthday gift and that's when all the weird stuff starts happening.

Amityville: Dollhouse does have some imagination every now and then even if it can't sustain tension for very long. There's some fun, icky vibes between the mother and her teenage stepson that could have gone further if they really wanted to disturb the viewer.

Amityville: A New Generation (1993 Video)

You Can Skip It

[4/10 · 10 October 2020]

An L.A. photographer gets an antique mirror from a homeless man which triggers memories of his mysterious past and also allows a demons to rampage the lofts where he lives and terrorize the residents.

Amityville: A New Generation has a few memorable moments, but a lot of the horror scenes read more goofy than scary, especially any time the demon manifests. It does function as a fascinating 90's time capsule, though, and the cast is much more staked than other entries in the franchise with several horror regulars showing up for supporting roles.

Night of the Dark Full Moon (1972)

Very Moody

[7/10 · 9 October 2020]

It's Christmas time and someone in the old Butler home has an axe to grind with the people in town. Anyone who gets close to the house will find themselves hacked to bits. But why? And who could this mysterious killer be?

Silent Night, Bloody Night will be one of those movies that'll only be appreciated by those with an appreciation for extremely low budget films. This movie isn't pretty and it's not polished at all. Some of the cuts are jarring, many of the performances aren't award worthy, and the script could have probably used another pass or two, but there's an undeniable power and a creepy mood that seeps out from the screen that's irresistible to a certain kind of horror fan. The murders aren't the most elaborate, but they're vicious, bloody, and unexpected most of the time.

Blood Games (1990)

Great Exploitation Flick

[7/10 · 5 October 2020]

A group of softball players are attacked by the angry male members of the team they just beat and, when things escalate to include murder, they have to make a run for it and survive in the woods.

Blood Games wasn't a film I'd even heard about until Vinegar Syndrome put it out on Blu-Ray, but it's a film I'm glad is getting a new lease on life. It takes a tried and true exploitation film premise and runs with it, adding a few surprises along the way and some interesting camerawork. Even more surprising is that this was directed by a woman, Tanya Rosenberg. There's a welcome focus on female friendships in this that's nice and refreshing.

The Company of Wolves (1984)

Imaginative Werewolf/Fairy Tale

[9/10 · 5 October 2020]

In this interesting retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, a young girl on the verge of becoming a woman is warned by her grandmother than men aren't what they always appear to be and that they might be monsters on the inside.

Filled with atmosphere, lush photography, a beautiful music score, and tons of wild practical effects, The Company of Wolves is one of the more interesting werewolf films of the 80's. On one hand, it's a well told version of a classic fairy tale, but it also seems interested in deconstructing the story for a modern viewer and telling us a little bit about what happens to women when they have their first sexual awakening.

Girls Nite Out (1982)

Watchable

[6/10 · 5 October 2020]

A group of college kids are killed by someone wearing their school's bear mascot costume during a scavenger hunt go amok.

Girls Nite Out has a lot going for it, but the episodic story structure and ensemble cast end up hurting it more than making it stand out from its contemporaries. There are still some inspired moments and the killer's getup complete with pre-Freddy Krueger razor claws is inspired. The murders are usually scored with a string of hateful, deranged, and sexist phrases coming out of the killer's mouth which gives the film a sleazy and gross flair. The ending, while off the wall, is definitely not one you'll soon forget either.

Madman (1981)

Alright Camp Slasher

[5/10 · 29 September 2020]

Your average campfire tale comes to life when an axe wielding man who murdered his family close to a campsite many years ago is summoned by a loud mouth camper and he wreaks havoc and bloodshed on the entire camp.

Madman has all the ingredients for a memorable slasher movie, except possibly interesting characters. Everything else is accounted for - blood, moody lighting, an intimidating killer, and a spooky synth score. Sadly, there seems to be something missing which keeps it from joining its more memorable brethren like The Burning, Friday the 13th, and Sleepaway Camp at the cool kids table.

Maniac (1980)

Very Disturbing and Creepy

[7/10 · 11 September 2020]

Exceedingly grim and disturbing slice of sleazy 80's NYC where a mommy obsessed, mannequin hoarding serial killer stalks, murders, and scalps prostitutes, models, nurses, and any other unfortunate woman unlucky enough to get in his way.

Maniac is a powerful film, no doubt, but it's also not a very fun movie to watch, so the odds of it being a perennial, rewatchable favorite are slim. The special effects by Tom Savini are inventive and fittingly grotesque and the actors are nowhere near as bad as you'd expect with Joe Spinell turning in a great performance as the title character. For his performance and Savini's effects alone, Maniac is a worthwhile investment of your time.

Wolf Creek (2005)

Outback Terror

[7/10 · 11 September 2020]

A nasty, disturbing film that you'll never want to pull out for a movie party anytime soon, but it does its job and really rattles you to the core. There's something so scary about truly being in the middle of nowhere with no sign of civilization for miles and Wolf Creek conjures up this feeling better than just about anything I've seen.

The set up can be a bit patience testing and many viewers might check out before the horror even begins, but once the terror starts, it's pretty intense and unforgettable. John Jarratt might be one of the most frightening movie villains of all time, perhaps due to his normal, every day looks and almost jaunty demeanor as he kills. To him, it's just another day and he commits the most heinous crimes imaginable with a smile on his face and all the effort of taking out the garbage or moping the floor.

Don't Breathe (2016)

Intense

[8/10 · 11 August 2020]

Most of the characters in here are awful people, but at least they give us a reason why we should still want to watch them and root for them as things get more intense. Once this movie goes to crazy town, it doesn't let up and you'll be on the edge of your seat.

All Through the House (2015)

Not Good or Bad

[5/10 · 17 June 2020]

I'm not going to lie and say that All Through the House is a good movie or some sort of overlooked treasure buried by other low budget horror movies on Amazon Prime, but it does feel a lot like one of those lo-fi, no-budget slasher knockoffs that littered video stores in the 80's. You know the type - stuff like Offerings or To All A Goodnight. These were movies that didn't have much personality or reason to exist besides cashing in on the growing slasher trend. Even despite their obvious, cynical intentions, it was possible to enjoy a few of these movies and All Through the House feels in line with those.

You won't turn it off remembering any interesting characters or come away with a new perspective on life, but it's not a complete waste of time either.

The Funhouse Massacre (2015)

Fun

[5/10 · 17 June 2020]

Perfectly decent and acceptable slasher movie with a few laughs and some good practical effects. It's also very well shot for a low budget horror film. Cameos by Robert Englund and Clint Howard are always welcome as well, but sometimes the twists don't feel earned or built up to. There's one involving a minor supporting character and one of the killers that comes out of nowhere at the end and suddenly thrusts this throwaway character into center stage. It might have made more sense to give this storyline to a better defined character.

The Owl and the Pussycat (1970)

Part Grating, Part Charming

[6/10 · 17 June 2020]

The Owl and the Pussycat seems stuck between two worlds - the stage and the screen. While the screenplay has done wonders to make the story feel less cramped and claustrophobic, the performances haven't always been modulated to better fit the screen with Streisand coming across as a bit too shrill, loud, and grating for most of the film's first half.

When the film finally settles into its groove, it can be quite charming and funny, but you just have to get past that initial hump. There are a few pacing issues even with its relatively short 96 minute runtime, but the charm of Streisand and Segal make up for any major shortcomings.

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)

Hope You Brought A Book

[5/10 · 23 April 2020]

Halloween 5 is the completely unnecessary sequel to the surprisingly solid Halloween 4 which, despite not having the atmospheric scope photography for the first three films in the franchise, did take the series into a somewhat interesting and suspenseful direction. In that film, Michael escapes during a transfer to another hospital and returns to Haddonfield to try and kill his niece, Jamie. Jamie survives, but it seems that she's inherited her uncle's blood thirst after she stabs her adoptive mother with a pair of scissors.

This shock ending seemed like a great new place to go for a sequel, but Halloween 5 all but abandons this and goes for a more generic slasher route. Jamie still has some sort of psychic link with her homicidal uncle and can tell where and who he'll kill next, but she no longer has a desire to kill anyone herself. She's been rendered mute and it takes her half the film to finally speak. Danielle Harris is excellent in the role and turns in another insanely brilliant child performance as Jamie, but Ellie Cornell is wasted as Rachel and disappears from the film rather suddenly leaving us with a bunch of shrill teen characters for Michael to rip through with reckless abandon.

Halloween 5 is a nicely shot film and there are moments of atmosphere here and there, but the plotting is too silly to take seriously.

Torso (1973)

Worth It For the Finale

[6/10 · 25 January 2020]

As a giallo, Torso is a bit disappointing. There's not a very compelling mystery at its heart, the characters are as bland as a rice cake, and it's not the most stylish of the 70's giallo films, but something wonderful happens about an hour into the film. The film is dispensed with just about every major character and we're left with one sole survivor (Suzy Kendall of The Bird With The Crystal Plumage fame) as she begins to realize all her friends are dead and she's trapped in a huge mansion with a sprained angle and a killer. I wouldn't be surprised if High Tension took a page out of this set up, because it's incredibly effective and the film finally comes to life when it starts using suspense as a trick in its arsenal.

For this reason alone, I'd recommend Torso even if it means having to get through a bland, colorless, and suspense-free first hour. There's still one somewhat memorable scene early on where the killer chases a victim in a fog shrouded, blue-lit forest/swamp that's beautifully photographed, so that might keep your attention for a bit while you wait for the big finale.

Fear No Evil (1981)

Messy, but Memorable

[5/10 · 5 January 2020]

Fear No Evil is a hard movie to review, because there are 3 completely different movies fighting for the spotlight for a little over 90 minutes. Some aspects of each work by themselves, but they never come together in any cohesive way. We have your typical Omen-esque/ "Oh, no! My son is the devil!" movie mixed with a talky, exposition-heavy subplot about the archangel Michael who has been reincarnated in the body of an old woman, and it's all topped off with some early 80's high school hijinx.

The movie might be confused, the pacing might be almost non-existent at times and feel like you're channel surfing through three different movies, but there are some images here that, once seen, you'll never forget. There's the bizarre, homoerotic gym shower scene, a deadly game of dodgeball, a christening that turns into a blood bath, a woman-hating school bully growing breasts, zombies emerging from the grave and terrorizing attendees of a passion play, and a reenactment of Jesus' crucifixion that turns a little too realistic. There's so much to love and remember about this movie that it keeps it from being a total waste of time.

With a few more drafts of the script, perhaps Fear No Evil could have really been one of the better Omen/Carrie rip offs. The writer/director went on to do the wonderful, thoughtful Lady in White, so I think it was a case of typical first film issues.