The 2013 Annual October Horror Movie Watching Thread!!!

October 1st

01. Night Gallery: The Cemetery


October 2nd

02. Night Gallery: Little Black Bag


October 3rd

03. Night Gallery: Finnegan's Flight


October 4th

04. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)


October 5th

05. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)


October 6th

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


October 7th

07. Night Gallery: Class of '99


October 8th

08. Night Gallery: The Return of the Sorcerer


October 9th

09. Night Gallery: Aunt Ada


October 10th

10. Night Gallery: A Question of Fear


October 11th

11. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)


October 12th

12. The Shining (1980)


October 13th

13. The Fog (1980)


October 14th

14. Christine (1983)


October 15th

15. They Live (1988)


October 16th

16. The Thing (1982)

 

October 16:



The Craving (2008): Really low budget story about 5 "college students" on their way to the Burning Man Festival who get lost in the desert. Of course there's a monster out there waiting for them and carnage, horrible acting, bad sfx, terrible endings, and some nudity ensue. Watchable, but barely.

Sheltered (2010): Four friends (and two hitchhikers they've picked up) are having a hurricane party but end up getting stranded in an evacuated town for the night. A nice guy bartender offers to put them up at his house and of course that's a bad idea. This one was at least trying to do a slasher differently. The killer was pretty entertaining and the plot while slightly convoluted, was at least interesting. Too bad most of the acting was atrocious and the ending reveal was a little lame. Still, I enjoyed this one a lot.

Hell's Highway (2002): The bad: terrible acting, really shoddy sfx, stupid twist ending, ultra cheap looking. The Good: Ron Jeremy gets his dick cut off and there's quite a bit of nudity.

 

October 16th
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31) Schizo: A British thriller that takes its inspiration from Italian Giallo's, but with less sex and violence. It has a number of really good, tense moments, but it has way more hammy ones. The film really suffers in the final act thanks to a useless subplot that heads nowhere and an obvious twist that you can see coming from a mile away. They did a good job building up the story and characters, but its shortcomings are apparent. (6/10)

32) House Of Whipcord: This is sort of a women in prison movie with a slight influence from Last House On The Left. It's funny to see what society of yesterday thought about sex and violence in film because the X rating it received by the British Ratings film board is almost laughable by today's standards. There is a better storyline here than in Schizo, but it's still underwhelming on most accounts, but the red herring the film throws out makes a bit of difference. There also seems to be some social commentary here about the ratings board, but a lot of it is bogged down by some of the eyerolling script choices by the film makers. It was ok for what is was worth but if failed to be anything ground breaking. (6/10)

33) Killer's Moon: One of the most idiotic slasher films I've ever seen. Way too many characters, stupid motivations, an elementary school understanding of Psychosis, and some really hammy acting. This film, which does its damnedest to pull together an interesting story, becomes so exhausting that by the finale I couldn't wait for it to be over. It also doesn't help that the score is truly bizarre and manages to remove any sort of tension that could have been built up. Avoid. (4/10)

34) Iron Rose: I finally took the plunge last year and watched my first two Jean Rollin films. One which was very good (Living Dead Girl) and the other which was pretty bad (Fascination), and this one manages to be another one in the good column. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary and character oriented, this is the film for you. A lot is left unsaid, so don't go looking for clear cut answers, but it's clear something disturbing is happening more than meets the eye. It is a bit on the slow side and we only have two characters to follow around during the majority of the run time, but this one is interesting to say the least. (7/10)

 

Oct 16 (#15): The Woman in Black (2012)


Well, I'm not sure. The settings and dressiness were Hammer-esque, but this was too somber. It didn't have the Hammer slyness. The story devolves into a screaming ghost but it gets the atmosphere right.

 

35. The Devil Rides Out
36. She Killed in Ecstacy
.

 

10.16.13
Autopsy (1975) DVD
Macabre (1980) DVD

 

October 16. Maniac (Remake). 4/5. Liked it better than the original. Found it riveting from the outset to the climax. Elijah Woods was great!!
Hell Night. 4.5/5. Great film, though beyond The Exorcist I never found Linda Blair to be a compelling actress.

 

** = first time viewing
10/01 - Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) 5/10
10/02 - Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989) 6/10
10/03 - The Awful Dr. Orlof (1962) 4/10 **
10/04 - Black Sunday (1960) **
10/05 - World War Z [Unrated] (2013) 6/10 **
10/05 - Stripperland (2011) 4/10 **
10/06 - A Bay of Blood (1971) 8/10 **
10/07 - Female Vampire (1973) 1/10 **
10/08 - Student Bodies (1981) 5/10 **
10/09 - Return to Horror High (1987) 6/10 **
10/10 - Kill Baby, Kill (1966) **
10/11 - Lisa and the Devil (1973) **
10/11 - The Hitchhiker: A Whole New You (1991) 1/10 **
10/12 - The Hitchhiker: True Believer (1986) 4/10 **
10/12 - The Hitchhiker: W.G.O.D. (1985) 5/10 **
10/12 – Doctor Jekyll vs. The Wolfman (1972) 6/10 **
10/13 - Crimson (The Man with the Severed Head) (1973) 1/10 **
10/13 – Berserker: The Nordic Curse (Berserker) (1987) 4/10 **
10/14 – Victims! (1985) 4/10 **





Berserker: The Nordic Curse (Berserker) (1987) 4/10 ** – VHS
Six young adults in the woods run afoul of a berserker, a viking warrior who dons the fur and snout of a bear, and are slain in turn by him.

What a huge disappointment. The film starts strong with a bad-ass Viking killer and the shocking murder of a sweet elderly couple. The introduction of the film’s sheep is well handled as they pack up their beer, pot and honeys for a week of debauchery in the woods. There’s a mysterious sheriff and a creepy campground owner thrown in the mix and fantastic fireside ghost story. Unfortunately it falls apart once the killing starts. The kills lack punch, the body count is low and too much time is spent wandering around the same patch of woods. Some decent T&A.





Victims! (1985) 4/10 **
Four young girls on a camping trip in the woods are stalked by a pair of crazed serial killers.

Mean spirited, grimy, bloody and packed full of nudity. VICTIMS plays like a 70’s roughie but has an early 80’s look. There is no skill in the way the film was produced but like most roughie’s I’ve seen, its oddly compelling. I’m shocked films like these were produced and surprised that films like these ran in theaters.

 

10.16.13 (21)



Isolation (2005) (Blu-ray)

Mutated gen-parasites born from infected cows wreak bloody havoc on a lonely farm in Ireland. CGI-free gory gross-fest with impressive practical f/x, tight plot and claustrophobic setting. Recommended if you dig Carpenter's The Thing.

 

10/2/13

The Walking Dead “The Suicide King” (2013)
The Walking Dead “Home” (2013)
The Walking Dead “I Ain’t A Judas” (2013)

10/4/13

The Walking Dead "Clear" (2013)
The Walking Dead "Arrow on the Doorpost" (2013)
The Walking Dead "Prey" (2013)

10/5/13

The Walking Dead "This Sorrowful Life" (2013)
The Walking Dead "Welcome to the Tombs" (2013)
The Fog (1980)
Prince of Darkness (1987)

10/6/13

Psycho II (1983)
Psycho III (1986)

10/7/13

Baron Blood (1972)
Lisa and the Devil (1974)

10/9/13

American Horror Story: Asylum "Welcome To Briarcliff" (2012)
American Horror Story: Asylum "Tricks & Treats" (2012)

10/11/13

Dracula (1958)
The Vampire Lovers (1970)
Twins of Evil (1971)

10/12/13

Asylum (1972)

10/13/13

American Horror Story: Asylum “Nor’easter” (2012)
American Horror Story: Asylum “I Am Anne Frank Part 1” (2012)
American Horror Story: Asylum “I Am Anne Frank Part 2” (2012)
American Horror Story: Asylum “The Origins of Monstrosity” (2012)

10/14/13

Race With the Devil (1975)

10/16/13

American Horror Story: Asylum “Dark Cousin” (2012)
American Horror Story: Asylum “Unholy Night” (2012)

 

October 15th and 16th

31. Joy Ride (2001) (DVD)
Good performance by the leads helped make this a enjoyable take on Duel.

32. Waxwork (1988) (DVD)
First time viewing. Perfect combination of horror and comedy, a love letter to the horror movies of old. Shame we don't get films like this anymore.

33. Virgin witch (1972) (blu ray)
First time Viewing. Not much of a plot , looked liked the film makers only remit was how can we get to a point where we need to take Ann Michelle's clothes off again . Last 15 minutes were crazy and it was like a hammer film on L.S.D.

34. Grapes of Death (1978) (blu ray)
First time viewing. first Jean Rollin film I have seen and I enjoyed it. Really just a wander through the beautiful French countryside avoiding some crazy villagers type of film. Although no real tension and the film seemed to flow at a leisurely pace it was still very compelling to me. Will need to check out more of his films.

 

There's a blu-ray for this movie!!!???? I'd guess it's French? Man I'd love to have this on blu!

 

October 12th-

Saw (2004)
Saw II (2005)
Saw III (2006)

October 13th-

Saw IV (2007)
Saw V (2008)
Saw VI (2009)
Saw 3D: The Final Chapter (2010)

October 14th-

Swamp Devil (2008)
Swamp Thing (1982)
Man-Thing (2005)

October 15th-

The Dead Pit (1989)
Dead Men Walking (2005)
Shadow: Dead Riot (2006)

October 16th-

Midnight (1982)

Last weekend I decided to watch the complete Saw series. I'd on;y seen the first three a few years ago.

The first one is just okay.The second film is my favorite one, for many of same reasons Chunkblower mentioned. The third film is my 2nd favorite. Four was fair, my least favorite. Five was good, I like the group dynamic. I really liked six. the carousal scene was brutal as far as moral choices go. Saw 3D was a pretty good wrap up. Overall I dug most of it.

I didn't expect to enjoy the Saw films as much as I did. I'm glad I gave them a chance,

 

October 1st

01. Night Gallery: The Cemetery


October 2nd

02. Night Gallery: Little Black Bag


October 3rd

03. Night Gallery: Finnegan's Flight


October 4th

04. Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)


October 5th

05. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985)


October 6th

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


October 7th

07. Night Gallery: Class of '99


October 8th

08. Night Gallery: The Return of the Sorcerer


October 9th

09. Night Gallery: Aunt Ada


October 10th

10. Night Gallery: A Question of Fear


October 11th

11. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)


October 12th

12. The Shining (1980)


October 13th

13. The Fog (1980)


October 14th

14. Christine (1983)


October 15th

15. They Live (1988)


October 16th

16. The Thing (1982)


October 17th

17. Prince of Darkness (1987)

 

SPAWNINGBLUE'S 2013 OCTOBER HORROR MOVIE WATCHING​

Bold = first time viewing. Rating out of 10.

October
1
The Fog (1980) 9/10
This Is the End (2013) 7.5/10
2
The Boogens (1981) 7/10
3
V/H/S 2 (2013) 7/10
Frankenstein's Army (2013) 6/10
4
The Lords of Salem (2013) 4.5/10
5
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! S:1 - What a Night for a Knight (1969) 6.5/10
The American Scream (2012) 7/10
Campfire Tales (1991) 5.5/10
6
The Real Ghostbusters S:1 - Mrs. Rogers Neighbourhood (1986) 6/10
The Simpsons S:24 – Treehouse of Horror XXIII (2012) 4/10
The Simpsons S:25 – Treehouse of Horror XXIV (2013) 5/10
Bob’s Burgers S:4 – Fort Night (2013) 6/10
Halloween Wars S:3 – Zombie Prom (2013) 6.5/10
7
The Nest (1988) 6.5/10
Ticks (1993) 7/10
8
Planet of the Vampires (1965) 7/10
9
Crystal Lake Memories (2013) 8/10

​

The Real Ghostbusters S:1 - Mrs. Rogers Neighbourhood (1986) - I picked up the complete collection of this series last year on DVD but had only tackled a couple episodes. I enjoyed what I'd seen so far though and thought what better time to get back into watching some of these. This episode wasn't one of the better ones, although I did like the idea of the house being a trap for the Ghostbusters, and the innocent old lady behind it all. There was something about it that just didn't work for me, especially when everything was happening at the house, it was hard to tell what was going on at times. Either way it was still a decent way to waste 20 min.

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The Simpsons S:24 – Treehouse of Horror XXIII (2012) - I stopped watching these when they became more parodies of whatever movie was popular that year instead of parodies of horror stories. Since I've heard that these episodes are their most watched episodes every year, I've always wondered why they didn't do two a year, one parodying whatever movies were popular that year and in turn keeping the Treehouse of Horror episodes to actually be horror related stories. Anyways, after watching this episode my interest was not the last peaked to check out any of the other episodes I have missed over the past 10 years. The opening about mayans prophesying the end of the world, the Paranormal Activity parody, and the Back to the Future parody were all pretty bad. The first story about Lisa trying to contain a black hole was kind of fun, but again not very Halloween / horror related.

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The Simpsons S:25 – Treehouse of Horror XXIV (2013) - I watched the Guillermo Del Toro opening online before the episode aired and was blown away by it. It had so many homages to past Treehouse of Horror episodes as well as horror movies in general including the Universal Monsters, all the Phantoms over the years, as well as various references to his films. It was a blast and probably the best thing the Treehouse of Horror has offered in a long time. With this in mind, I was hoping the creators would step up their game and deliver something to at the least equal the opening. Unfortunately, they weren't up to the task. I found the Freaks parody and the story where Barts head is transplanted on Lisa to both be pretty lacking. The first story, a take on Dr. Seuss done horror movie style was pretty fun, but again overall a huge disappointment. What the hell happened to these specials!? They used to be the best Halloween specials out there!

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Bob’s Burgers S:4 – Fort Night (2013) - I don't know too much about this show but happened to come upon it last year during their Halloween episode "Full Bars". It was a lot of fun and a nostalgic trip back to what Halloween meant to me as a child. Because of how great that episode was, I was a little disappointed by the lack of Halloween in this episode. It starts out well enough, and the stuff with the parents creating the costume and going trick or treating was a lot of fun. Unfortunately most of the episode is spent with the kids trapped in a box fort, so they miss out on Halloween. It wasn't necessarily a bad episode, but it didn't click with me the way last seasons Halloween episode did.

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Halloween Wars S:3 – Zombie Prom (2013) - My girlfriend and I found out about this show last year and really enjoyed it. I'm not usually into shows of this type, but with Tom Savini judging among other horror guest judges, and the insane creations they make out of food, it was something to look forward to every week. It's also one of the few things I can watch with my girlfriend in October since she isn't the biggest fan of the genre haha. Unfortunately Savini didn't return this season, instead being replaced by Brian Kinney the special effects designer for Insidious and Dark Skies among others, which to me was a huge loss. Thankfully they make up for it this season with a lot of great guest judges. On this episode they had Danielle Harris, and once again the sculptures were pretty cool, if not a little lacking compared to previous episodes. I'm sure as the show goes on and the competition becomes more heated they will step it up.

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The Nest (1988) - I really enjoyed this movie. It was a little slow paced at times and it gets complete ridiculous at the end, but the characters were so cheesy and the special effects so grotesquely gory I can't complain too much. Bug / Animals run amok films aren't the easiest to pull off, so the fact that I came away enjoying this one is a huge plus. Not to mention there were several scenes with the cockroaches that really made my skin crawl. Why the hell do such small creatures make us feel so queazy?

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Ticks (1993) - I am not a huge fan of most of the horror input in the 90s. There are obviously some real gems from that decade, but they are very few and far between. Most are jsut so bland, with bad acting and terrible cinematography. With all that said, I really enjoyed this bug flick, more so even then the 80s The Nest above. Seth Green stars in this one along with Carlton from Fresh Prince. The effects are good and the story moved at a nice pace, keeping me entertained throughout. The characters are very cliche, but in a film like this it's not too bothersome, and I loved Carlton trying to be a badass gangsta.

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Planet of the Vampires (1965) - I watched this film the night before but kept falling asleep throughout, not because it was boring or bad, just because I was so tired. I refuse to judge a movie on its merits in those circumstances so I gave this one another viewing and came away quite happy. It's not one of Bavas best, although it is far from his worst and could definitely sit up there proudly with his finer offerings. If you know Bava, you know what to expect. Lots of colourful set pieces and amazing cinematography. I also love the costume design on the astronauts, the leather outfits reminded of the suits they wear in the X-Men films. Not very practical or realistic, but a film of this type it doesn't really matter and they look great on camera. I also loved that it had that paranoid feeling throughout, which I am always a fan of, and a nice twist ending to top it all off.

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Crystal Lake Memories (2013) - This doc. was a lot of fun and delivered everything I expected from such a lengthy film. It wasn't quite as interesting as the Nightmare on Elm St. doc., but considering all the info it fit into its 7+ hours and the fact that I was never bored, I would say it was very successful. So many interesting stories and facts thrown throughout, that if you have any interest in the franchise this is a must! I was also very surprised to see how great a lot of the women looked for their age! I haven't had a chance to dive into the website exclusive bonus disc yet, but I'm sure I will enjoy it.

 

I'm new to Rollin as well and had the same experience with DEMONAICS and SHIVER OF THE VAMPIRES. Very relaxing and beautiful to watch.

 

October 17

Killer Workout (1987)

 

October 17th
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35) Jack & Diane: More of a drama about a teen girl's sexual awakening rather than a horror film. There is suggestion towards one, if not both, of the girls being a werewolf. This is peppered in throughout the film, but is never really addressed, but we can assume this is most likely metaphorical instead of literal. It is an engaging film, but if you're looking for a gory, scare-a-minute werewolf film than you'll be disappointed. (7/10)

36) Kiss Of The Damned: There has been a growing trend of modern genre directors attempting to recapture the look and feel of horror films of yesterday (Ti West, Jason Eisner, Helen Cattet & Bruno Forzani, etc.), all with various degrees of success. This film from Xan Cassavetes happens to be one of the more successful films. It does have the feeling of a Hammer Horror or Jean Rollin film of the 60's/early 70's, but with a bit more polish. Filled with plenty of sex and violence to please your appetite, a great story, and a good sense of acting and directing. Considering how over staurated vampires have become in recent memory thanks to Twilight and True Blood, it's good to see a vampire film that recaptures the charm and sensibility of its roots in Gothic horror. A must view for any horror fan. (8/10)

 

October 17th:

The Dead Next Door
The Return of the Living Dead
Dead Alive
Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead

 

October 17. The Howling. 4/5.
Haunting in Connecticut. 3/5.