warsystem04 Reviews

Heatseeker (1995)

Man triumphs over machine... or something....

[5/10 · 14 August 2015]

"Heatseeker" is an entertaining little cyborg kickboxing flick from cyborg kickboxing master Albert Pyun. Utilizing the tried and true trope of a worldwide freestyle fighting tournament, the movie stays in familiar territory while adding it's own fairly unique details. The cyber-enchanced competitors are varied and skilled enough in martial arts to keep things fun, and things move along quickly without much unnecessary hold up. I say "much" because of the completely out of left field and sudden molestation of the main character's fiancé by the main villain, and an extended nude male romp through a city.

Aforementioned villain, Mr. Tung, is actually excellent, completely nailing the slightly deranged, business douchebag, money grubbing schemer character. Keith Cooke (David Schwimmer lookalike main character) does a good job of remaining sympathetic, somehow overcoming the odds and remaining human, literally and figuratively. The end is somewhat sudden, and leaves me wondering how the relationship between Chance and Jo would be after she was basically enslaved, shock-raped, exploited and forced to "love" another man mere hours before their quick reunion. Probably gonna have some issues there.

Overall this film was entertaining from start to finish. Nothing had me absolutely engaged or particularly wowed, but there was not much that had me shaking my head in frustration either. Fans of late 80s/early 90s kickboxing movies would do well to at least give this one a shot.

Ator, the Fighting Eagle (1982)

"Ator, The Running Eagle" would be a more appropriate title

[3/10 · 13 August 2015]

"Ator, The Fighting Eagle" is an early Conan ripoff from the prolific and usually enjoyable Italian schlock director Joe D'Amato. While the basics are in place here (swords, sorcery, and that's about it), the execution entirely misses the mark. It's hard to describe what exactly it is that is so off-putting about this film, probably because there is not a whole lot going on IN the film. The titular character is portrayed as weak, and not in the sense that it is part of his personality or backstory. He avoids most combat by simply running away, which is absurd (no D'Amato pun intended) considering what makes these types of flicks so enjoyable are the battles. The villain is about as threatening as the stupid skunk-striped bear cub that runs and grunts it's way through the movie by Ator's side, dying almost immediately upon being confronted and showing almost none of the tyrannical traits his cult is supposed to exhibit.

Sabrina Siani is hot as Roon, if that's any consolation, but it only brings me to my next point: This film is basically FAMILY FRIENDLY. There is no gore, no nudity, and basically nothing else that makes films of this caliber a treat. The dialog, weapons, scenery and characters are cookie cutter and mostly formulaic, which is the biggest shame. Even the giant spider is a disappointment and is disposed of with little effort in one of the only actual battles of the whole movie. There is no tension, no dramatic build toward the climax and no real reason to care about any of the characters. Foremost, don't even get me started on the awkward and blatant incest sub-plot.

I want to like this movie. I really do. But, unfortunately, I just don't.

Girls Gone Dead (2012)

Somewhere between Slumber Party Massacre and Club Dread... WITH BEETLEJUICE!

[5/10 · 19 January 2013]

I'll admit that I originally decided to watch "Girls Gone Dead" because Sal and Beetlejuice of The Howard Stern Show fame are in it, and I've been BIG FAN of the show and especially Beet since adolescence. For what it is, this movie is actually pretty well done, and of course, entertaining. The cast is outrageous, and in addition to the Stern favorites mentioned above, professional wrestler Jerry Lawler and the legendary Ron Jeremey are both in it as well.

A group of girls get together to spend spring break at one of their parents' summer home, and proceed to get wasted, meet a group of guys, run into a stalker ex, and get killed off one by one. The gore is plentiful, with the slayings at the mansion where the massive spring break filming party is taking place being among the best. The movie is also propelled along by the massive amount of eye candy, with almost every scene featuring girls in swimwear or topless. The reveal of the killer, the motive, and the overall blatant anti-religious message is pretty humorous as well.

Of course, this is no masterpiece of cinema, but it isn't trying to be. I like that while never taking itself seriously, it still comes off as a watchable homage to the golden age of slasher flicks. Throw this one on with a group of friends, it's a lot of fun.

The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972)

Atmospheric and chilling one-of-a-kind docu-drama

[7/10 · 29 December 2012]

"The Legend Of Boggy Creek" is a very unique and interesting film. It was marketed as a documentary about the bigfoot of Fouke, Arkansas, and was filmed on location. While it is comprised of scripted scenes and actors, some of the characters are played by themselves, and recount their own experiences with the creature in real life. This adds a very personal touch to the film and makes it all the better.

The entire production is very low budget and grainy, and you can almost feel, smell and touch the scenery. Everything has a foggy, damp coat to it, and all the characters are extremely realistic and relatable (of course, some are simply recounting anecdotes and are not acting at all). I can not stress how much atmosphere the lo-fi production gives this film, it seriously feels like you are trekking through the woods yourself looking for the monster. To touch on something I read in a lot of other reviews, the folk songs do not detract from the movie for me, they add another touch of the locale. As much as this is an examination of the creature and the landscape, it is likewise a look into the lives of lower class, backwoods people of Arkansas in the 1970s.

Many aspects are touched upon in this movie, and the narrator shows the assumed progression of the creature from solitary careful beast to reckless predator once attacked by humans. By not ever showing a clear or full on shot of the Fouke monster, it adds even more of an air of mystery. Parts are very tense all things considered, and it is a very well done horror film besides it's documentary overtones.

"The Legend Of Boggy Creek" truly is unique, and I would encourage any real film buff to take a look at this one. You'll never look at a walk through the woods the same again.

Without Warning (1980)

Proto-Predator alien slasher

[6/10 · 27 December 2012]

"Without Warning" is certainly an interesting film to have come out in 1980. Combining the burgeoning post-"Halloween" violent slasher craze with a familiar 1950s creature feature style plot, it is quite nearly one of a kind. There are of course similarities to "Predator", which was released years later. I'm certain this flick was an influence.

Multiple people are killed by strange blood-sucking flying discs in a forest, after which four teens show up to the area to go camping. After two of the group disappear, the remaining duo seek help from the nearby townspeople. While some of them prove to be helpful, one is an alien crazed ex-military sergeant who believes the kids are now the aliens in disguise. There are some pretty gory and graphic scenes involving the discs, but the alien is not shown until the last few minutes. Interestingly enough, the movie even utilizes the final girl formula, standard in most slashers.

The film is not without faults however, as it drags in places and some of the acting is not so good. Palance and Landau of course steal the show, and whenever they are on screen things go much more smoothly. The two main teens are not very likable or in depth, and are barely more than puppets to continue the story along. A couple of interesting twists and scenes, especially the discovery of the alien's motive and the shack are particularly cool.

"Without Warning" is definitely entertaining, and a modern slasher movie done with an alien in this way could be interesting. While this is no "Alien" (A proto-slasher/sci-fi masterpiece in my opinion) of course, it fills a teen scream alien niche all it's own.

Just Before Dawn (1981)

Dark and gritty backwoods slasher madness

[7/10 · 27 December 2012]

"Just Before Dawn" truly captures the feeling of the Oregon woods, that is, if it were inhabited by a family of inbred maniacs. Having been there myself a couple times, the movie magnificently showcases the beautiful scenery of the area, as well as being an awesome slasher.

Five teens go exploring on new land that one of them acquired, much to the dissuasion of multiple people. Through many tense sequences, they are stalked by a pair of twin inbred giants, as well as trying to navigate and survive the dense foliage and natural pitfalls of the land. The twins remind one of Michael Myers, unrelenting, brutal monsters with an urge to kill. In one memorable scene, not even a tree can stop them, which after being climbed by one girl, a twin proceeds to methodically cut it down, just to reach his victim.

The atmosphere is outstanding, with the low lighting of the overall film making it even more gritty and dense. Something about being lost in the woods is just extremely frightening in and of itself to imagine. There are some very interesting and unique nuances that take place, such as the five campers interacting with the local family multiple times, and the ranger being around throughout. The last twenty minutes or so are probably the best, as the film just builds and builds. It also includes one of the best "final girl" scenes ever committed to film.

"Just Before Dawn" is an outstanding example of what atmosphere and simplicity can do to power a movie. Location can create fear and horror just as much as the "demons" that hide within it.

Killer Workout (1987)

GREAT if you like spandex and sweaty babes, not the greatest if you like horror (or good movies)

[5/10 · 24 December 2012]

"Killer Workout" is one of those movies where I just can't figure out if it was made as a spoof or not. It's just that bizarre.

Set in a fitness club, there are multiple EXTENDED scenes of insanely sexy girls in spandex working out and practically revealing it all. The cameraman should be awarded for somehow immediately zooming in on the bustiest girl in the room in every one of these softcore aerobic fetish scenes. These are basically the highlight of the film, and you'd probably be better off watching exercise regiment infomercials than this. HOWEVER, I can not say I don't recommend it, because I absolutely do.

The body count is extremely high, though nothing is particularly gory at all. The killer uses a giant safety pin for some unexplained reason to kill the victims, having to stab each of them in the neck like ten times. Why none of the poor girls didn't try to simply use their arm to get poked instead of their jugular vein, I'll never know. I'll also never know why there are also multiple martial arts showdowns lasting an obscene amount of time between ripped bodybuilders, but I digress. The last twenty minutes of this one are an absolute glorious mess, with one of the most ridiculous plot elements in slasher history, and an incredibly long and dull chase scene.

While it may sound like I just tore this movie spandex limb from spandex limb, it is a must see on sheer absurdity value alone.

Don't Open Till Christmas (1984)

Outlandish and sleazy Santa slasher

[5/10 · 24 December 2012]

There are quite a few Christmas themed slasher flicks, among which such genre classics as Silent Night, Deadly Night and the legendary Black Christmas hold top tier rankings. While not on the same level as those, "Don't Open Till Christmas" still has it's place. Directed by and starring the Dean from the awesome splatterfest "Pieces", this film also has the same producers.

Sleaze is the name of the game here, and lots of gratuitous nudity and general exploitation are found throughout the film. The style of the killings and the settings such as the peep show and London Dungeon make me think of "The New York Ripper", which I can't help but wonder if it was an influence. The entire premise is pretty wild, as a murderer is targeting people dressed as Santa, and kills at least ten of them. While not heavy on the gore, the few more explicit scenes are actually pretty well done, especially the sliding eyeball.

The movie is however pretty disjointed at times, with one major character basically just disappearing with at least a half hour left with no real explanation. There aren't any characters to be particularly invested in, and all fall pretty flat. I will say that the final girl was not who I expected it to be, and the very ending was a cool little treat.

"Don't Open Till Christmas" has it's faults, but in the wee hours of this Christmas Eve morning, I definitely more than enjoyed it and would certainly watch it again. 'Tis the season.

Alligator (1980)

A GREAT looking alligator in an entertaining, simple movie

[6/10 · 21 December 2012]

"Alligator", an American eco-horror effort from 1980 is pretty far from the exploitative nature of a lot of earlier flicks in the genre. A simple but effective story provides basis for some nasty kills, mild suspense and some characters that you love to hate.

Taking a lot from "Jaws" (Of course), the movie primarily follows the efforts of a homicide detective trying to convince the town that a giant alligator is killing people in the sewers. He joins up with a sexy redheaded reptile expert and they form a sort of Scully and Mulder partnership to track the beast down. Multiple children are eaten, and all of the most reprehensible characters get their just desserts by the teeth of the gator. The subplot involving the pharmaceutical company and the pet store owner is also pretty unique, as well as adding some shock value.

I must say, the animatronic alligator in this movie is particularly well done, moving and looking pretty much just like the real deal. Also, who doesn't love seeing an angry alligator destroy a wedding banquet and eating pets? All in all "Alligator" is honestly nothing too special, but it definitely had me entertained from start to finish

Slugs (1988)

Cheap thrills, gore, and horrible acting abound in this eco-horror diamond in the rough

[5/10 · 20 December 2012]

"Slugs", directed by the same man who brought the world the classic slasher flick "Pieces", as well as memorable MST3K fodder "The Pod People" falls somewhere in between both. Surprisingly gory and even a little sleazy, this movie definitely doesn't lack in entertainment value.

The age old tale of radiation mutating a species, in this case, slugs is the name of the game here. The film pulls no punches and slugs start eating the flesh off people from the get go, with TONS of blood sprays throughout. The acting is some of the worst I've seen in a while, especially the sheriff (and I've seen some TERRIBLE sheriffs), although the unintentionally brilliant and hilarious one liners more than make up for it. The scene in the restaurant is anticipated highly and is probably my favorite, as you know exactly what is going to happen at least 20 minutes before. It does not disappoint, and really, neither does much of the movie. The Halloween party sub plot though is utterly useless, especially the weak attempted rape, and detracts from the otherwise pretty linear plot.

"Slugs" is somewhat of a hidden gem, and anyone into extreme gore, anthropods, nudity, or a combination of all three will find it to be fun from start to finish.

Night of the Demon (1980)

Outrageously violent and tasteless BIGFOOT-SPLOITATION slasher

[7/10 · 15 December 2012]

I am having trouble trying to decide where even to begin with a review of this movie, but I will say the title of this review is meant in the best possible way. "Night Of The Demon" is an absolute mess of a film in nearly every aspect, but it still works so well I can't bring myself to rate it any lower, let alone not want to rewatch it immediately already.

Trying to summarize it neatly is also nearly impossible, because for such a low budget movie the creators tried to stuff as much content as possible into it, creating a plot that is far too complex for what they realized it as. A teacher takes his anthropology class on a trip into the local forest where people have been disappearing and found dead. He believes it is the work of a bigfoot. The entire thing is one long flashback from the professor's point of view, except for the first few and last few minutes in the present. To make things even more convoluted, multiple death scenes are a flashback within that flashback, as is another crucial part of the movie.

While I may have made this film sound like a disaster above, all of that just adds to it's charm. This film is probably one of the most violent and gory I have ever seen, and the deaths are truly noteworthy and over the top. The bigfoot rips off limbs (including a penis), stabs victims, makes victims stab each other, decapitates, and most notably swings a guy in a sleeping bag multiple times over his head before throwing him and impaling him on a tree branch. The movie also contains what has to be the only bigfoot on human rape scene in celluloid history, which is actually very unsettling, especially the outcome. The whole thing is very grim and includes infanticide, parricide and a final few minutes which is an absolutely brutal bloodbath.

I don't want to spoil all of the little treats this gem has to offer in my review, and believe me, I couldn't list them all if I tried. "Night Of The Demon" is VERY ahead of it's time for 1980 in my opinion, and is one flick that absolutely has to be seen to be believed. The gore is pretty believable, the acting abysmal (which makes it almost feel like a weird documentary), and the lowbrow sleaze found within almost surreal in it's execution. Do yourself a favor and see this at all costs.

Girls Nite Out (1982)

HIGHLY underrated and overlooked slasher

[7/10 · 12 December 2012]

I've seen nothing but poor reviews for this movie all over the internet, and after finally watching it I have absolutely no clue why. "Girls Nite Out" not only contains every element of a good slasher flick, but most of the elements and nuances of a GREAT slasher flick. After popping in the original VHS of the film that I recently acquired, the grainy, dark atmosphere was immediate.

A college is having it's annual sorority scavenger hunt on campus, but someone is picking the girls off one by one. There are multiple events leading up to the scavenger hunt that create quite a wide range of suspects, and I absolutely did not guess the killer, something that is rare for me after having seen so many movies in the genre. Once the bear suit was donned by the murderer and the knife hand was made (so perfect, bravo), I truly knew I was dealing with something out of the norm. The bear suit is comical, but is at the same time very twisted, lulling the victims into security and having "that look" to it.

While the plot itself is not too out of the ordinary, character relationships, legitimate suspenseful moments and a dark atmosphere work for this film. The ending is also highly noteworthy and creepy, although it does borrow from "Psycho" quite a bit (what doesn't?). There is no nudity, and no gore aside from lots of blood, but not even this bothered me. The bear grabbing the victims and whispering misogynistic rants is quite perfect enough. The tie in to the history mentioned throughout the movie of the other crime is fully realized, and I was not bored even though there are multiple extended scenes of partying, dialog and walking.

"Girls Nite Out" might just be THE most criminally underrated slasher film I've seen so far. Most of the harder to find and obscure titles in the genre are buried deep for a reason, but "Girls Nite Out" is a shining example of what atmosphere, creativity, character development and a great ending can do for an otherwise basic film. Don't let IMDb or some horror blog fool you, this one is crucial.

Orca (1977)

Much more emotional, bleak and heavy than it "should be"

[6/10 · 9 December 2012]

I went into "Orca" expecting a "Jaws" inspired eco-horror flick, and left feeling bummed and jaded. Not bummed because the film was bad, bummed because it is VERY intense and grim. Sort of like Moby Dick in reverse, a captain accidentally kills a whale he is trying to capture's mate, who he then finds out was pregnant. I won't spoil it, but the "discovering she was pregnant" scene definitely caught me off guard and made me a little uneasy. The father whale, who is hyper intelligent and heartbroken then decides to take any measures he needs to kill the man responsible.

This film goes into a lot of depth on the intelligence of animals, and the role we as humans play in our co-existence. The male orca is highly characterized, and it is extremely difficult to decide who to "root" for. To make things even more depressing, we learn that the captain's own family was killed by a drunk driver, so he feels he did the same to this whale. The score by Maestro Morricone fits well, and adds to the somber and atmospheric tone. The whole film is foggy and icy, and the characters are surprisingly in depth and accessible.

While "Orca" is not without faults, it is actually quite a powerful watch that I'm still thinking about. Obviously, the whole story is pretty far fetched, but while watching it this didn't bother me. The final minutes once reaching the polar region are especially memorable, and although this is a BOLD statement (from a big fan at that), this movie has moments that rival "Jaws". Highly recommended viewing.

Graduation Day (1981)

Thoroughly entertaining Golden Age slasher fare

[6/10 · 9 December 2012]

I'm pretty surprised at the low rating this flick has gotten on IMDb, as this is one seriously enjoyable slasher. "Graduation Day", distributed by the notorious "Troma Team" sub-label is fairly standard in plot, but the delivery is awesome.

A girl collapses while running track and dies, sending her sister home from the military to try and find out more as she suspects foul play. There are a TON of red herrings here, most of them being more outrageous than the next. The gore is plentiful, and the kills inventive and numerous. I mean seriously, who doesn't like seeing someone get impaled by a fencing foil?

This film is loaded with cheese, whether it be the extended musical scenes, or the over the top acting of just about everyone. The flash cuts/edits are actually pretty unique and add a bit of flair, and as I briefly mentioned above, the gore is actually pretty good, with blood spilling out of many, many mouths through the slayings. There is seriously not much to complain about here, and anyone who is a slasher junkie will eat this one up like it's Oxycodone

Bloody Moon (1981)

The king of sleaze makes a slasher

[5/10 · 5 December 2012]

Jess Franco is well known for his over the top, extremely sleazy and sexualized women in prison and exploitation flicks, but here he makes an American style slasher. Influenced by the stuff that was coming out in the states at the time, this one follows the same general formula and takes a lot from Friday The 13th and the like.

The main upsides to this one are definitely the female cast members, who are all top notch EuroBabes, most of whom get naked. I wish I was the character Antonio... The kills are also particularly brutal, the stone mill watersaw scene being the most memorable. The gore however is pretty laughable, so don't expect a Tom Savini style job here. The plot is neither groundbreaking nor terrible, and figuring out the identity of the killer(s) shouldn't be too tough.

The incest subplot is probably the most "Franco" touch to the whole thing, it's pretty clear he has to implement his filthy flair whenever possible. The film is extremely silly at times, and overall is not incredibly engaging. It is no doubt an entertaining watch though, and any Franco or slasher fan needs to see it at least once. The real hero in "Bloody Moon" though is Miguel's leather jacket... Just WHAT is painted on the back of that thing?!

The Grim Reaper (1980)

Outrageous "Video Nasty" shot in a beautiful setting

[6/10 · 4 December 2012]

"Anthropophagus", in my opinion is a misunderstood flick. I've mostly seen reviews in which a couple of particular scenes are mentioned and not much else, those being the fetus scene and the killer's death. While these scenes are the highlights, I believe it offers more.

The setting of the film is absolutely beautiful, with the island location being showcased almost as much as the characters themselves. While I can not argue that it is slow at times, the film focuses on atmosphere, and a mid section that is almost "gothic", at night during a storm in the abandoned mansion. The film pulls no punches, as pregnant and blind women are disembodied and disemboweled without any remorse. The scene where the killer is seen inside the locked room after the door closes and all is thought to be safe is particularly effective.

While none of the stranded tourists are particularly memorable, the cast is diverse enough to keep the story going, and their relationships and troubles with one another add to the mayhem. The movie is almost post-apocalyptic and hopeless in tone, since the island is all but deserted and the group is trapped without modern fixings.

"Anthropophagus" is a gruesome shocker, and also basically a slasher, but has more mood and setting than people often give it credit for.

The Funhouse (1981)

An atmospheric, claustrophobic, and terrifying slasher film from Tobe Hooper

[7/10 · 4 December 2012]

Tobe Hooper, most infamous for directing the horror masterpiece "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" delivers here with this magnificent golden age slasher. 1981, arguably the "best" year for the slasher genre was filled with excellent entries, this one surely ranking high among them.

Hooper uses the already off-kilter setting of a traveling carnival to set the tone for the entire film. The sets are magnificent, and everything is moving. By this, I mean that as opposed to your typical quiet, lurking killer and group of teens trying to remain in the shadows, the funhouse is constantly moving, with lights, the tram car, and the machines in constant motion. The whole thing is chaotic and hysterical (and I don't mean funny), with the four kids in constant panic as soon as they are discovered. Amy, the final girl is particularly great, and she truly shows terror and hopelessness through her acting.

The inclusion of a "monster" made the film even more unique, and the viewer faces a moral dilemma, almost feeling bad for the deformed son and his protective, but deranged father. The creature is still human, paying for sex since he is sexually deprived, and exhibiting emotion over his father's death and when he is scolded. Another interesting aspect of the plot is that there are not only relatively few deaths, but most take place within the final half, and even final quarter of the movie. It takes it's time building up to the last half hour of utmost tension, and it is never boring.

"The Funhouse" is exactly what a solid horror film should be, and then some. The atmosphere is outstanding, and even a seasoned veteran like myself got involved, invested, and chilled. An excellent movie.

The Great Alligator (1979)

A completely fine entry into the "eco-horror" pantheon

[5/10 · 3 December 2012]

It should be painfully obvious that nothing can beat "Jaws" at it's own game, but there were quite a few movies that tried to cash in on it's formula. "The Great Alligator" is no exception, although this one stands it's own just fine. Directed by Sergio Martino, it does lead one to have higher hopes however, as his gialli "Torso", "Your Vice..." and "Strange Vice..." are influential masterpieces of the genre.

An angry god of a native tribe materializes himself as a giant alligator and starts picking off tourists that have angered him on his island. Simple, but effective. Martino does a good job of showcasing the locale, and with certain cuts and effects creates the hazy, slightly surreal and jovial tone that one would feel while vacationing in such an oasis. Barbara Bach is a welcome addition to feast the eyes on, but sadly does not get naked. Of course, you have your typical two faced character protecting his money, but he reaches a just demise. The scene with the natives on shore and the alligator in the water is awesome as the tourists are caught in between, many of them being killed (and I do mean MANY).

I won't spoil the ending, but I will say it also takes quite a bit from "Jaws". Some people on here have mentioned how "cheesy" the gator looks, but if you are watching this you can't be expecting much, can you? I think he looks just fine, and the scenes where it shows just his eyeball are legitimately a little chilling. Overall, "The Great Alligator" is a fun watch, boasting a high body count, beautiful scenery and entertaining minor characters.

The Prowler (1981)

One of the most atmospheric and grim slasher flicks out there

[8/10 · 14 November 2012]

What can be said that already hasn't been said about "The Prowler"? Highly praised and widely regarded as one of the better slasher films of the 1980's, this movie has everything a fan of the genre could crave, and more. Focusing more on suspense and tense, dark atmosphere than "scares", "The Prowler" almost has the feel of a giallo at times, but never strays from the tried and true American slasher formula. The kills are especially gory, creative and outstanding, which is no surprise since Tom Savini is behind the effects in them. The team of Joseph Zito and Savini would of course soon after work together on Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter, in my opinion the best in the series.

Although often rightfully compared plot wise to "My Bloody Valentine" (another magnificent slasher), this film provides a lot more backstory and "flavor" to the killer. Little humor is present in this one, as the stalking of the victims and the uncovering of the mysterious killer are the main focus. This is not for fans of over the top cheese or "torture porn" garbage, this is for someone who can appreciate suspense and story.

I can not stress enough the dark atmosphere that "The Prowler" creates. To me, this movie embodies "stalk and slash", in a way that is without pretension and without any try hard tactics. This is horror at it's finest. In my book this one is a must see, the pool scene alone will make any slasher junkie want to burst out in applause.

Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)

The last watchable movie of the franchise: Jason at his most brutal, but also his most comedic

[5/10 · 7 November 2012]

Surely anyone spending the time to read this has probably already seen this movie, or at least others in this famed series. This particular installment is surely better than Part V (not a big accomplishment), but marks the last of the series that I can stomach to watch. Parts I-IV are absolutely classic and crucial slasher/horror films, but after that things get a bit hazy.

On the bright side, "Jason Lives" features Jason at his absolute most brutal and ruthless, throwing girls through windows and tearing off body parts left and right. The reincarnated/zombie back-story is more than just a bit over the top, but the part is well played and Jason is somehow even less human than before. There is blood just about everywhere in this one, and the body count is very high. I love the couple in the beginning trying to scare the killer off when he stops their car. Hint: IT DOESN'T WORK!

The downside however is the ABSOLUTE OVERUSE of comedy relief. Even Mr. Voorhees himself gestures and behaves comically a couple times and that I just can't bear to watch. Tommy Jarvis seems to be based somewhat on Ash from the Evil Dead flicks in this movie with his attitude and one liners, but Megan is nigh-unwatchable due to her horrible overacting and poorly executed intentional childish attitude.

I almost would say this movie should be avoided due to it's constant terrible humor, but it does have some great kills, and every fan of the series is mainly into those anyway. Again, as stated earlier, DO NOT venture past "Jason Lives", or you will regret it.

The Collector (I) (2009)

Gritty and engaging, "The Collector" is a winner

[6/10 · 5 November 2012]

I should probably preface this review by mentioning that I saw this movie in the theater when it came out but did not remember it AT ALL since I was with friends and wasn't paying much attention. I decided to give it another shot on my own again recently when I heard the sequel was coming out soon.

"The Collector" supplies a very interesting twist on a classic and well tread plot: Killer is in the house, the other people can't leave the house. The "hero" is more so an anti-hero, as he himself enters the house with the intent of doing wrong. He gets outdone though, and must not only save himself, but the rest of the family inside. Where this film succeeds most of all however is it's use of VERY gritty and tense sequences, reminding me of the original "Toolbox Murders" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" at times. Edge of your seat, gruesome, suspenseful scenes from one to the next with dim lighting and an overall grimy feel.

I must admit that I'm surprised that the team behind some of the "Saw" films worked on this, because I don't particularly like the series, or the "torture porn" craze in general. While this flick contains traps and I suppose some of the gore reminiscent of the "Saw" movies, it never seems contrived or frivolous, rather it just builds mood and adds that interesting twist I mentioned earlier. I saw a review another user wrote in which they described the use of traps as "an R rated Home Alone" and I completely agree.

The viewer is also connected to the characters, particularly Arkin as he stalks around the house trying to save the family from danger. The film avoids the overuse of dialog, and I see this as a good point, as it creates even more of the dark atmosphere and tension through visuals rather than wasted talk. I should also mention that I really like the idea behind The Collector character himself, and a very smart, yet still brutal "Horror Icon" is a welcome addition to the pantheon.

The film was left WIDE open at the end for a sequel, which of course is due to be released in a couple of weeks. I'm very interested to see what direction the new one takes, and hope it is at least on par with the first.

Shredder (2001)

"I'm not gay, I'm just horny!"

[6/10 · 5 November 2012]

I typically try to stray away from horror films (or any films for that matter) that came out after the year 2000, but out of boredom and a newfound need to watch every slasher I can get my hands on I picked this one up on the cheap in the used section. It actually exceeded my expectations by a lot.

"Shredder" is a throwback to the classic slasher formula of the 1980's. The kills are inventive and the gore plentiful, and the characters, particularly Cole, have plenty of one liners to go around. I've realized a lot of post-00's movies of all genres incorporate "bro humor" (see Dane Cook) as a way to reach the mind numbed masses that are watching them. In a roundabout, twisted way this actually is funnier to me than well thought out humor, if only because it tries so hard... Or maybe I'm actually just a "bro"...

"Shredder" doesn't have the most convoluted of plots, but the fast pacing and entertaining characters make up for it. Although, if you too have seen way too many slasher films, it should be easy for you to pinpoint the killer pretty quickly before the final revealing. The last ten minutes or so are excellent, albeit extremely over the top.

I must say though, I would have substituted more nudity, particularly of the MAIN ACTRESS for some of the gore if need be. I mean, what is a slasher flick with only one set of knockers anyway?! Not enough if you ask me...

All in all, "Shredder" is a very entertaining way to spend 90 minutes, and I would recommend it to anyone into the golden age of slashers. This is a very fine throwback that never takes itself too seriously, but still delivers the death and stalker elements I so crave.