The Second Five Of Ten Horror Movies To Enjoy This Halloween

An awesome holiday! One worth spending doing a movie marathon!

So we did the first five movies over at AwesomeBMovies.com, I hope that you will find something from that era that will work for you this Halloween... I mean there are a lot of great horror movies to have come out between the 1920s - 1960s!

Well now that we have done that run, it is time to show you some great horror films from the 1970s on up that could be great choices for this Halloween as well!

At number 1: Halloween (1978).  

Now this one is a little obvious, but the truth is, is John Carpenter's, 'Halloween' has in a lot of respects been one of the defining movies when it comes to horror movies to enjoy during Halloween, and is one that if you are looking for something to scare the hell out of you this Halloween, will do a great job!  

Number 2: Cannibal Holocaust (1980).

Cannibal Holocaust... This horror film from the 1980s is truly gruesomely fun, and could be said to be one of the more famous Cannibal movies of all time... If you do decide on this one though... Watch it with some one there... You won't regret it! 

Next up at number 3: Tales From The Crypt Presents: Demon Knight (1995).

Now this movie, (which was based on the classic horror anthology TV series/Comics, 'Tales From The Crypt Presents',) does have some fun thrills and chills, but what it looses in over the top chills, they make up in just having an absolutely bad-ass movie! 

And at number 4: 28 Days Later (2002).

This one is an awesome British Zombie movie, that is as much fun now as it was then... And I will say this, I suspect that the way this movie was filmed had some influence on at least how some of the earlier seasons of, 'The Walking Dead were filmed!' 

And finally at number 5 we have: Scream 4 (2011).

With this one, you might be asking yourself why I am doing a sequel movie instead of an original movie... Well the truth is, is the original for this movie would make for a great addition to this list, but I thought that I would mention, 'Scream 4', because let's be honest, this movie series was fantastic, and as long as the studio is smart and lets the movie series die, then it will have gone out with a bang! 

Please note that this list is not from best to worst, these are just some great horror films from the 1970s on up to the 2010s that we thought that you would enjoy! For the first five, check out the list I did over at AwesomeBMovies.com!

And if you like this list and would like to see some more of the great movies and other awesomeness, check out our sister site at: HellsDepot.com! 
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Five Contemporary Horror Movie Villains That Got There Start In Novels

For those of you who don't know this, there are a few horror movie villains that had a truly prolific run as horror movie villains, they actually got there start In Horror Novels!

A great example of this would be, 'Norman Bates'... Now this is Anthony Perkins, in his role as, 'Norman Bates' was truly an amazing job that still resounds today (and heck I would go on to say that Vince Vaughn did a pretty good job as well!)

But believe it or not there has been more then a few that have done a great job as well... And so I thought that I would let you guys know about 5 that I found that I really like!

At number 5: Norman Bates.

Anthony Perkins as, 'Norman Bates', the main character in Alfred Hitchcock's, 'Psycho' (1960)... A movie based on the novel of the same name by: Robert Bloch

As mentioned above, Norman Bates was definitely initially a novel that was written by Robert Bloch... A novel that was loosely based on the serial killer: Ed Gein.

At number 4: Jame Gumb.

 Jame Gumb (Played by: Ted Levine), in Silence Of The Lambs, an award winning movie based on the novel by Thomas Harris!

Now Jame Gumb, is the name of the main villain from, 'Silence Of The Lambs'... He is actually an amalgam of a bunch of serial killer cases that the FBI worked on over the years... Now as for the movie... Well this movie is actually a big screen adaption of the novel that was written by: Thomas Harris!

At number 3: Hannibal Lecter.

Brian Cox was the first person to play, 'Hannibal Lecter'... the lead villain from Thomas Harris's novels!

You might be wondering why I am doing this, I mean Hannibal Lecter is sort of the hidden evil throughout Thomas Harris's novels: 'Red Dragon,' 'Silence Of The Lambs' & 'Hannibal' as well as the movies and the TV series that is based on the novels... But the truth is, is that Hannibal Lecter maybe one of the most famous horror movie villains of all time, and probably the most famous horror movie villain that used to be exclusively based in the pages of novels!

At number 2: Candyman.

Candyman (Played by: Tony Todd) was the main character in the movie series, 'Candyman'... Candyman started off as one of stories written by Clive Barker in the novel, 'The Books Of Blood'!

Now unfortunately it does seem as this series for the most part has not survived outside of it's second sequel, but Candyman... A movie that helped catapult, 'Tony Todd' (Final Destination), in to cult status, was a movie character that saw his start in a short story that was written by: Clive Barker called, 'The Forbidden'!

At number 1: Pinhead.

Pinhead (Played by: Doug Bradley) maybe a legendary horror movie villain, but he started off in the pages of books written by: Clive Barker!

There are a lot more out there then I am mentioning here, but the truth is, is that, 'Pinhead', a character that was portrayed on screen by horror movie legend, 'Doug Bradley', maybe the most famous of the lot to have made it from the pages of a book to the big screen that has ever come out... You see, Pinhead got his start in the pages of Clive Barker's novel, 'The Hellbound Heart'!

Again, there is a lot more out there as well, but these are some that I believe to be some of the most famous to have made it to the big screen!

Bring Back Buffy

Buffy The Vampire Slayer, the classic Horror/Drama that was made popular in the late 90s.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer... This show and the movie (despite what some people might think about it...) Was an important piece of Americana in the 1990s... I mean during a time when demonstrating what the life of a teenager was like on TV was filled primarily with shows like, 'Beverly Hills 90210' & 'Dawson's Creek'... We, the goth crowd had, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer'!

Now you might be wondering how a Vampire show could be a coming of age type of show... Well the truth is, is if you were like me, who was extremely disenfranchised with life in general as a kid, you found a show like, 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer', a show that told the story of a group of teenagers that during the day are normal kids, and at night fighting the forces of darkness, kind of showed the world as it was for some teens in the 90s, with a twist that made it fun!

So I say this, 'BRING BUFFY BACK!'

A blast from the past right?

Sorry for being so emphatic, but besides the more philosophical side of the show, Joss Whedon (The Avengers), did a truly amazing job in turning a box office flop in to a show that was not just a show but an institution!

I mean this show, which had it's own spinoff, as well as video games, and all sorts of amazing collectible merchandise, was just an awesome show that was completely relateable to not just the teenage crowds, but as an adult and out of my goth stage, I still found that I really enjoyed this series quite a bit!

Since this show has gone off the air, fans all over the world have been clamoring for it to come back in some form... Rather it be in another spinoff, or remake movie of some sort...

 Kristy Swanson (seen here with Paul Reubens) brought Buffy to life in the classic early 90s movie!

Although it is true that for the most part, the characters from BTVS and it's spin off, 'Angel', have continued to do alright as comics, it just isn't the same as seening Buffy kicking some one's ass on the big screen or on the small screen... And well, if they are planning on doing another spinoff, they better hurry, considering that both original casts are starting to get way to old... And at this point a remake may be in order!

Eitherway, 'BRING BUFFY BACK!'

Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (1993)

[caption id="attachment_322" align="alignright" width="258"] Official Score = 1 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Now I am not the kind of guy that generally speaking, advocates a formulaic Horror/Sci-Fi Movie, or just movie in general... I mean I am a huge fan of originality when it comes to the movies that I watch… But I have learned in the past 15 years or so, since I really started getting in to Horror and Science Fiction movies in the whole, that sometimes a little tradition in a movie is actually a good thing…

I learned this when I first started watching one of the Friday The 13th movies each year for Halloween, and realized that although that it is true that the heroes and heroines in these movies are  important... But that at least as far as the Friday The 13th franchise goes, that it really is Jason and Mrs. Voorhees and the hell they went through, and the bloody swath they cut across Camp Crystal Lake (Camp Blood) for decades!

Believe it or not, I discovered this when I watched a Friday The 13th movie that didn’t have Jason in it, and realized that it was nowhere near as good as any of the movies in this series that came before or after it… This movie of course being, Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (1993):

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="255"] Not one of the better movies in this series![/caption]

Written by: Jay Huguely (Magnum P.I.) and Adam Marcus (Who also directed the movie). Starring: John D. LeMay (Friday The 13th: The TV Series), Kari Keegan (Mind Games), Kane Hodder (Jason X), Steven Williams (21 Jump Street), Steven Culp (Thirteen Days), Erin Gray (Silver Spoons), Rusty Schwimmer (Twister), Leslie Jordan (The Help) and Kipp Marcus (Aisle Six).

Now believe it or not, one of the truly great things about this movie, is that it has John D. LeMay in it… The reason that I mention him is the fact that LeMay had been in Friday The 13th: The TV Series, (A series in the late 80s that had been created by Frank Mancuso Jr. (Who helped create the original Friday The 13th movie), and was actually A great TV series that did not have Jason Voorhees in it!)

The movie it self is a descent enough Saturday Midnight Monster Shock Fest for TV, that tells the story of how after being murdered by an FBI sting operation, Jason Voorhees decides to come back to life by willing the coroner of the local morgue to eat Jason’s original heart… (which of course he does so!)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Jason finally meeting his maker... or is he?[/caption]

After this is done though, Jason ends up cutting a bloody swath through the whole of Crystal Lake as he tries to make it to his half sister (It is never fully explained, but I suspect that this half sister is Jason’s father’s daughter, but not Mrs. Voorhee’s daughter.) Now he does this because he has to impregnate her (Don’t worry, it is strange, but it is not necessarily some strange sex act).

You see the way it works is through a Voorhees Jason was born, and if he dies, through another Voorhees will he be re-born…

But when is half-sister dies, her daughter and grand daughter are in town and it will be up to the daughter (Keegan) and her ex-boyfriend Steven (LeMay) to protect Jason’s sister’s daughter and grand-daughter from Jason’s attempt to impregnate one of them and being reborn as the evil incarnate that he is!

[caption id="false" align="aligncenter" width="386"] Jason, fresh faced, meets with his half sister...[/caption]

In the end, this entry I hate to say, because I love this series, has a bland and somewhat weird story line, and is definitely not a good entry in to the series, but unless you’re a fan of the whole series, then I don’t recommend watching this movie… It just isn’t very good!

http://youtu.be/Eikhwtqvhbo

 

Dead Season (2012) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_390" align="alignright" width="178"] Official Score = 1 Devil[/caption]

Believe it or not, it is very rare that I see in what my opinion would be considered a bad Zombie movie...

The truth is, is that because of that fact that some might say that I am biased in favor of those types of horror movies, well the truth is, is that as far as the super natural monster movie goes, Zombie movies generally do tend to be my favorite... That said, I am not biased... The reason being is that I have seen bad Zombie movies!

Being such a fan of Zombie movies like myself, I am saddened to say it, but it is true, I mean, I have seen some Zombie movies that made it almost impossible to suspend my disbelief, I have seen Zombie movies where the acting was utterly disgustingly bad, I have seen some with stories that were so bad that the writers of the movie should be ashamed of themselves... I have seen some where the the special effects were so bad that me being a B movie fan (a type of movie that the mainstream would consider to have bad special effects,) still thought the special effects were horrible!

I have seen some that have all of those elements, and I have seen some that have some of those elements as well... And I hate to say it, but Dead Season (2012) just happens to be one of those movies that have the majority of them in some capacity...

Written by: Joshua Klausner (Psycho Sleepover), Loren Semmens (Resurgent) and Directed by: Adam Deyoe (Yeti: A Love Story). Starring: Scott Peat (Transformers), Marissa Merrill (Photographic), Corsica Wilson (Veer!) & James C. Burns (Coldwater).

Dead Season tells the story of how after a viral outbreak around the world brings the dead back to life, and ends civilization on planet Earth, 2 survivors by the name of, 'Elvis' (Peat) and, 'Tweeter' (Merrill) along with a boy (who doesn't make it) head down to Miami together to pick up a boat that Elvis had chartered while traveling from Pittsburgh...

Once the three make it on to the boat and set sail though for the Island that is supposed to be their salvation, they learn that there is a Zombie on the board that ends up poisoning the kid before either Tweeter or Elvis can kill the Zombie (which means that Elvis ends up killing both the boy and the Zombie).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Tweeter (Marissa Merrill) & Elvis (Scott Peat) as they escape from the their boat in the hopes of finding salvation![/caption]

Once Tweeter and Elvis make it to the island though, they are met with a group of para-military survivors who immediately welcome them in to their community...

Of course though Tweeter already takes an immediate dislike to the inhabitants of the community, while Elvis seems to fit right in... So as the two friends begin to take different paths in regards to their new lives on the supposedly, 'bombed out' Island, of course it will be up to the Zombies to bring them closer together and to help motivate them to make it to safety!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Tweeter is not exactly happy with her new neighbors![/caption]

The things that I did like about this movie are as follows:

1. I thought the special effects (i,e. The Zombies attacks and what not) were pretty on the ball.

2. For the most part I liked most of the acting in this movie as well.

3. I also wanted to say that I found the concept that the humans on this Island's food source was the un-infected humans that they killed... (I know it is morbid to mention, especially considering that cannibalism is just weird and wrong, but it is a purely original take that I have seen in Zombie Apocalypse movies!)

4. Lastly I thought that in some ways this movie was a nice homage to George A. Romero's zombie movies...

Now the bad part is that I didn't like:

1. Marissa Merrill in this movie (her look screamed that she seemed to either hate or be disgusted with just about everything and everyone in the movie).

2. Also the Island that they were supposed to have swam to that has the new human civilization on it is supposed to have been a gunnery range that was used by the United States Navy (before the end of the world), and supposedly was a bombed out crater that had the Navy having shot all sorts of missiles, bombs, (including nuclear weapons on it)... the problem is, is that you can't make an Island become a bombed out crater, if it has tons of apparently well maintained buildings on it, and a few pieces of trash on it...

3. Now I mentioned above that I thought that this in some extent was a good homage to George A. Romero's zombie movies, and I did for the reasons above, but the truth is, is that I don't mind a fresh take brought to an old idea, but I don't like people who just try to re-dress old movies to make them look like new... Which is what this one did and here is what I am talking about.

A: The new civilization collapses after the main stars show up (i,e... 28 Days Later)

B: The new civilization mostly comprises of lazy military survivors, to the point where some of them almost seem to dress up like some of the military officers from, Day Of The Dead (1985).

4. The next thing that I wanted to mention here is the fact that I did kind of consider that this movie was a little to art house for my tastes, and with all of the scenes where it was just quiet music with the cast doing something after awhile got kind of annoying.

5. The last thing that I wanted to mention was the introduction of worthless characters in the new civilization whose only value in the whole movie is that they get eaten at the end of the movie.

In the end, this movie is not a great one, it has it's moments, but it is definitely not one that I would consider putting in my collection!

http://youtu.be/d3zClfnTJqE

Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_557" align="alignright" width="300"] Official Score = 3 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Bruce Campbell... What can I say about this guy? I mean he is my favorite actor! Most of what I have seen him in is horror movies, but I have also seen him in such comedies such as, McHale's Navy (1997) as well and thought that movie was great as well!

Why is Bruce Campbell a great actor...

Well besides the fact that rather he is doing a comedy, a Science fiction movie, or even a horror movie, he makes the role his own, he can make and does frequently make it funny, but besides the humor of it all, he can also make the role very serious, to the point where in most of the more serious roles I have seen him in, I tend to root for him!

And in Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) you get both!

Now speaking of Bubba Ho-Tep, besides Mr. Campbell, there are two other people that I wanted to make specific mention of are Ossie Davis and Don Coscarelli!

The first of those two that I thought that I would mention is Ossie Davis...

Now this guy has been old for as long as I have seen him in movies! (Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to see him in to many movies, as a matter of fact, besides Bubba Ho-Tep, the only other movie that I have seen Ossie Davis in is, The Stand (1994)!)

In all of the movies that I have seen Ossie in, he has always played a man who at his core, is a brave man old man, that is not one of those old men to always let the younger go first when facing danger!

And as for Don Coscarelli... Believe it or not, I also haven't seen many movies that have the stamp of this epic movie director... But what I have seen, I do like! So far I like his work because he seems like he stretches out the suspense enough to really keep you on the edge of your seat!

Now speaking of, Bubba Ho-Tep (2002)...

Written and Directed by: Don Coscarelli (Phantasm), Starring: Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead), Ossie Davis (The Stand), Ella Joyce (Stranger Inside), and Bob Ivy (Near Dark).

Something is rotten at a relatively obscure long term care retirement home in East Texas that seems to be housing some famous people in it!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Bruce Campbell as, 'Elvis Presley' in, 'Bubba Ho-Tep' (2002)[/caption]

Included in the roster is, 'Elvis Presley' (Campbell), who supposedly had changed identities with an Elvis impersonator before his old life destroyed him... (The only problem is that when Elvis wanted to switch back, his contract was blown up!).

The other one is, JFK... Who supposedly didn't die in the 60s, and is now an aging Black Man in the retirement home!

And now there is another famous person that is setting up residence in the retirement home as well.... That is an old mummy that has started speeding these old people's march toward death!

Now it will be up to Elvis and JFK to saddle up and go to war with this Ancient Egyptian evil, before the residents of this retirement facility has their slow march to the end of their lives become a quick run!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Elvis Presley and JFK are going to war in, 'Bubba Ho-Tep' (2002)![/caption]

What I like about this movie myself ultimately, is that besides the acting and directing. I just found this story (which was based on the short story by Joe R. Lansdale), to have been really well crafted... What with some great hilarious moments, fun character development, appropriate moments to root for Elvis and JFK, etc...

All in all, definitely a fun time at the movies!

http://youtu.be/X7Qo74_L3vo

Absentia (2011) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_322" align="alignright" width="258"] Official Score = 1 1/2 Devils[/caption]

Written And Directed by: Mike Flanagan (Still Life). Starring: Katie Parker (Cut), Courtney Bell (Mad Men), Dave Levine (Asylum), Morgan Peter Brown (Piggies), and Justin Gordon (We Were Soldiers).

The truth is, is that movies in which someone disappears due to supernatural causes are usually quite enjoyable... In all of these types of movies.... Absentia (2011) is definitely one of them...

Absentia tells the story of a woman by the name of, Tricia (Bell). Now this woman is pregnant and is about to attempt to move on with her life after her husband disappears without a trace seven years previous!

For her to be able to do so, her sister, 'Callie' (Parker) shows up in town to help her sister get the papers in order for her sister to have her husband declared legally, 'Dead In Absentia', Callie is also there to help get Tricia moved out of her apartment and in to a newer and better location!

During the first evening though Tricia begins to see her missing husband as a demonic entity, and during the next morning, while Callie is out jogging, she comes upon a man who looks like he is probably beaten up pretty bad!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Tricia's husband has just come home to say hello![/caption]

Later on that evening, thinking that this guy was probably homeless, Callie comes back to the tunnel where she saw the guy she thought was homeless. When she gets there though, she decides to leave the food that she had prepared for him in the tupperware on the ground.

As time goes on and more and more strange things happen to both Callie and Tricia, and after the mysterious re-appearance of Tricia's husband, 'Daniel', these two sisters are going to discover something that is going to change both of their lives forever!

Now the truth is, is that the special effects are pretty descent, cinematography is definitely reminiscent of Traffic (2000), but done in a right way. Also I thought the dynamic between Courtney Bell and Katie Parker was really cool, also I thought that Katie Bell and Justin Gordon in the whole did a great job in this movie... That's the plus side!

The minus side of all this is that, the character development for and amongst everyone else was pretty sub par, to the point where outside of the connection between Courtney Bell and Katie Parker, and the screen time that Katie Parker and Justin Gordon shared, I really didn't think that anyone else related to each other very well. I also didn't think the acting was very good by almost anyone.

Also this story is so disjointed on rather or not there is a super natural force that is looking to terrorize the people in this neighborhood or, if it is bland and normal...

So in the end, this movie is alright, but not great...

http://youtu.be/xLAJyimGgPo