Topic: Month-Long Horror/Halloween Marathon

[addicted2dvd]

Month-Long Horror/Halloween Marathon
It is that time a year once again... my favorite time of year... Halloween is right around the corner... and my annual horror/Halloween marathon is here! I have 2 goals for this month-long marathon. First is to watch at least 1 horror movie, horror TV Series Episode or Halloween episode of any TV Series per day for all 31 days of October. The second goal is to beat my record of horror movies I watched within one month. My record stands at 63 (from 2 years ago)... so I must watch at least 64 movies this October. OK... on to the good stuff!


October 1st

Title: Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave
Movie Count: 1
TV Ep Count: 0
Time Started: 4am
Plot:
A college student finds a canister in his uncle's attic that contains a drug more potent than Ecstasy. When word of the drug, nicknamed "Z" for its Zombie-like hallucinogenic effects, reaches unscrupulous college drug dealer Skeet, he hatches a plan to sell the drug to ravers attending the ultimate rave party. But when the drug's side effects start to kick in, the ultimate rave turns into the ultimate grave as party goers drop to their death...then rise again to feed!

My Thoughts:
This is the fifth movie in the Return of the Living Dead series... and unfortunately it shows it. Even though I did enjoy this movie... it is just not up to par with the other 4.  I was nervous when I bought the 4th one (Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis) but ended up enjoy that one very much.... so that ended up giving me a little false hope that it would continue to be so. But unfortunately for me... this is the movie where the series ultimately went down hill. I did enjoy it enough where if there ends up being another one I will give it a chance... but I won't be expecting much from it. The only extras on this disc is a collection of trailers.

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Tower of Terror
Movie Count: 2
TV Ep Count: 0
Time Started: 6:30am
Plot:
Big-screen stars Steve Guttenberg ('Three Men And A Little Lady') and Kirsten Dunst ('Drop Dead Gorgeous') encounter a host of haunts in this delightfully spooky mystery! Buzzy Crocker (Guttenberg) is a hard-luck photojournalist whose unexpected encounter with an old woman leads him to investigate an unexplained, decades-old disappearance. It seems that one Halloween night, many years ago, five partygoers vanished in the elevator of the Hollywood Tower Hotel...and ever since, their ghosts have remained trapped inside the dilapidated old building! In an action-filled story that delivers creepy fun for everyone, Buzzy ultimately teams with his niece (Dunst) to solve the mystery while managing to save their lives and capture the biggest story of the year!

My Thoughts:
Since my daughter, Brittany (11 years old) is home sick from school today... and her knowing I started my marathon early this morning... she asked me if we can watch one of her favorite horror/Halloween movies. That of course being Tower of Terror. How can I say no to a sick little girl? Anyway... this is a cute little light-horror spook-tacular from Disney that is made with the entire family in mind. If you want to have a fun family oriented Halloween movie to show your young ones at some time this month... you can do a lot worse then this entertaining little gem.

[addicted2dvd]

Title: The Monster Squad
Movie Count: 3
TV Ep Count: 0
Time Started: 8:30am
Plot:
You know who to call when you have ghosts, but who do you call about monsters? Whether it’s a bat in your belfry or a mummy in your microwave, THE MONSTER SQUAD ain’t afraid of no ghouls!
Count Dracula has until midnight to retrieve an ancient amulet that will give him final control over the delicate balance between good and evil in the world. To help him, the creepy count calls on some old friends: the weird Wolfman, grotesque Gill-Man, mildewed Mummy and freaky Frankenstein. As the ghoulish group gets closer to the amulet, it’s up to THE MONSTER SQUAD, headquartered in the local tree house, to pool its questionable resources and stop the monster mayhem!

My Thoughts:
Brittany enjoyed watching the last movie with me so much that she asked if she could watch another movie with me. So I thought I would take that opportunity to watch a show from my teen years I thought she would enjoy.  Of course another light-horror... actually a Comedy-Horror in my opinion... one I haven't seen in many years... so watching it today was like watching it again for the first time. And I must say.. this movie really held up well for me... I enjoyed every second of it. As did Brittany.

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Masters of Horror: We All Scream for Ice Cream
Movie Count: 3
TV Ep Count: 1
Time Started: 10:30am
Plot:
'William Forsythe' of THE DEVIL'S REJECTS stars as Buster The Clown, a mentally challenged man who sells ice cream from his Cherry Tyme truck untill a cruel prank by a bunch of neighborhood boys goes horrifically wrong. A generation later they are all grown men with families, but the crime of their past may now be trolling for their children: Buster and his truck has returned for sweet revenge, and every frozen treat will bring it's own taste of Hell. 'Lee Tergesen' (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING) co-stars in this tasty chiller adapted by 'spatterpunk' writer 'David J. Schow' (THE CROW) from the short story by best-selling author 'John Farris" (THE FURY).

My Thoughts:
This is one of the episodes in my collection I have never seen before. Now that I watched it I would have to say it was not what I would consider a great episode. I would say it is decent at best.  Going by the preview of this episode I was hoping for more then what it actually was. It wasn't really that it was all bad... and I can see myself eventually watching it again... just won't be that high up on my Masters of Horror list. As always... it has a good amount of extras included with this disc.

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Darkwolf
Movie Count: 4
TV Ep Count: 1
Time Started: 1:30pm
Plot:
A new breed of horror roams the streets of Los Angeles. It's the Darkwolf, a vicious werewolf with a thirst for blood - and lust for Josie, a sexy, unsuspecting woman with a mysterious power she is only beginning to understand. Once the Darkwolf catches Josie's scent, nothing can stop his insatiable hunger to mate with her...and he'll kill anyone who gets in his way!

My Thoughts:
Darkwolf was a blind buy I bought earlier this month at Wal-Mart for only $5. Over all I would say that this one is a decent werewolf movie... but is far from the best I have seen.  There is some pretty cool werewolf attacks in the movie... but the special effects leaves much to be desired... especially the transformations from human to werewolf... where they literally... and on a couple most obviously was pure CGI work... and not very good CGI at that. The couple that was most obvious literally showed the transformation with a computer animation! Yes... it literally looked like a cartoon done with the computers. What is with that!?! A word of warning for those of you that don't care for it in the movies. This movie is pretty much loaded with nudity. I know that some on at least 1 yahoo group I will be sending this to will want to know that ahead of time. Lets say... if you are curious about this movie... grab it now at walmart while you can still get it for only $5.00... because if I would have spent any more then that I would have really been disappointed.

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Scary Movie 4
Movie Count: 5
TV Ep Count: 1
Time Started: 6pm
Plot:
The 'Scary Movie' gang is back for their funniest, most fearless installment yet, featuring an avalanche of hysterical celebrity cameos, including Carmen Electra, Charlie Sheen, Dr. Phil, Shaquille O'Neal, and Lil' John, plus many more fun surprises! This time, the lovable, dim-witted Cindy (Anna Faris) and her overheated pal Brenda (Regina Hall) return to help clueless hero Tom (Craig Bierko) save the world from a ruthless alien invasion. In true 'Scary Movie' tradition, the story weaves through a series of hilarious and twisted parodies of movies like 'War of the Worlds', 'The Grudge', 'The Village', and 'Saw'. In 'Scary Movie 4', nothing - and we mean NOTHING - is off limits!

My Thoughts:
Another one that was a complete blind buy. But wasn't too concerned since I liked the other 3 in the series. This horror spoof was much more of what you got with the last installment... I personally really enjoyed it. I thought it was cool how they weaved the main the movies together... spoofing War of the Worlds, The Grudge and Saw. It really was just plain fun to me.

[addicted2dvd]

Title: The Wolf Man
Movie Count: 6
TV Ep Count: 1
Time Started: 7:45am
Plot:
The original horror classic that introduced one of the screen's most infamous monsters! Lon Chaney, Jr. portrays Larry Talbot, who returns to his father's (Claude Rains) castle in Wales and meets a beautiful woman (Evelyn Ankers). One fateful night, Talbot escorts her to a local carnival where Jenny's fate is revealed by a mysterious gypsy fortune teller. The dreamlike atmospheres and elaborate settings combined with a chilling musical score make 'The Wolf Man' a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time!

My Thoughts:
This one has to be my favorite of the Classic Universal Monster Movies. (Actually probably a tie between this one and Dracula). I have watched this movie countless times since first discovering it.  This is the movie that made me a fan of Lon Chaney, Jr. Since my daughter, Brittany is still home sick from school I let her watch it with me. I am proud to say she has never been against a movie just because it is old... or in black and white. That is one of my mistakes I made sure she learned from. This DVD is from within the Universal's Classic Monster Boxset which contained 8 of the classic monster movies including The Wolf Man, The Mummy, Phantom of the Opera, Invisible Man, Frankenstein, Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein and The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Each one with a nice collection of extras.

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Hell Asylum
Movie Count: 7
TV Ep Count: 1
Time Started: 10:30am
Plot:
A desperate producer faced with unemployment has the ultimate reality television program ready to roll. "Chill Challenge" sends five sexy models into a haunted old building where years earlier an eccentric millionaire had kidnapped a handful of unsuspecting women in an effort to force them to be his brides. The idea is simple: Spend a night without leaving and walk away with a cool million bucks! But what these sultry gals don't realize is, as they reveal their deepest, darkest fears to the probing eye of the camera, someone or something is using those fears against them! They are sent into the house alone, one at a time, to confront their nightmares...and an abomination that will kill them all!

My Thoughts:
Hell Asylum is 1 of 4 low budget horror movies in the boxset "Haunted by the Past".  And I mean this is LOW BUDGET! I didn't think much of this one... besides the low budget effects and amateurish acting look and feel to the whole movie... the storyline... even though thought had potential wasn't followed through upon. So Move Away... Nothing to see here!

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Witchouse 3: Demon Fire
Movie Count: 8
TV Ep Count: 1
Time Started: 12pm
Plot:
Annie is a timid young woman in an abusive relationship. After a particularly nasty incident, she flees to the safety of the beach house occupied by her two old friends, Steve and Rose -- who happen to be in the middle of shooting a documentary on witchcraft. When the three girls decide to stage a fake séance for the project, they accidentally unleash something sinister. Soon the girls are haunted by visions of a demonic witch with mysterious intentions...or maybe Annie's abusive boyfriend is just seeking his own personal revenge? What begins as a creepy game of cat-and-mouse soon turns fatal as dead bodies begin to pile up...and one of them will reveal a grim secret that unlocks the mystery behind the resurrection of the witch known as Lilith!

My Thoughts:
Also a part of the "Haunted by the Past" boxset. This movie is actually the reason I bought this boxset. I have... and enjoyed the first 2 Witchouse movies.... but never seen the 3rd one. so When I spotted this set of 4 movies for only $5.99 I figured even if I only like the one movie... it will be worth the price. After watching it.... I have to say it is my least favorite of the Witchouse movies... but It was good enough that I am not sorry that I bought the set. I would have been disappointed if I paid more for it. but at the cheap price I got it for... no problems. Though if you watch these movies... I would suggest stopping at part 2... unless you get part 3 very cheap.

[addicted2dvd]

Title: The Relic
Movie Count: 9
TV Ep Count: 1
Time Started: 3:30pm
Plot:
Come in - if you dare. The opening-night gala for a new exhibit at Chicago's natural history museum is under way, but be advised: something terrifying wants to make sure no one ever leaves.

Penelope Ann Miller, Tom Sizemore, Linda Hunt and James Whitmore star in this effects-packed shocker that gives haunted-house movies a terrific new setting. And the non-human star (brought to head-ripping life by 'Jurassic Park' Oscar® winner Stan Winston) is something no creature fan can let slip by.

"The creature can hold its own with the 'Alien'," writes 'Chicago Tribune' critic Gene Siskel. "When the last reel begins... the special effect is truly awesome." Let the panic begin.

My Thoughts:
This is another movie I got at Walmart during their $5 sale. This is a good... not great... but definitely a good monster movie. I have seem this one before... but it has been many years since I saw it... so it was like watching it again for the very first time. The DVD only has the Theatrical Trailer as an extra... but it is well worth grabbing.. especially if you can get it before the Walmart sale is over.

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Cube: Signature Series
Movie Count: 10
TV Ep Count: 1
Time Started: 10:30am
Plot:
 Six ordinary strangers awaken to find themselves in a seemingly endless maze of interlocking cubical chambers armed with lethal booby traps. Without food or water, they have only a few days to live. None of them knows how or why they've been imprisoned, but soon discover that each possesses a skill that could contribute to their escape. As they work together to extricate themselves from their claustrophobic cell, one thing becomes painfully clear -- unless they learn to cooperate to solve the secrets of this deadly trap, none of them has very long to live.

My Thoughts:
This is a movie I originally saw on the Sci-Fi Channel a long time ago. It quickly became one of my favorites.  When I found it on DVD I was quick to order it. This was before the Signature Series came out... and for some strange reason... this one... I was never able to part with the original release. This movie definitely has it's share of gore in it... but it has much more then that... shows what people are capable of in the name of survival. And you better believe... some of it is not pretty.

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Maximum Overdrive
Movie Count: 11
TV Ep Count: 1
Time Started: 7am
Plot:
 When a mysterious comet passes close to Earth, machines everywhere suddenly take on murderous minds of their own. Soon, video games, cash machines, drawbridges, and steamrollers all go on a psychotic killing spree of global rebellion. But when the Dixie Boy Truck Stop is held hostage by a mob of homicidal 18-wheelers, human vengeance goes into overdrive. Who made who? And who will survive the final showdown of man vs. bloodthirsty machine?

My Thoughts:
This is one of my favorites from the '80s. Also a Stephen King movie which of course I love. There is a lot of inventive kills and injuries conflicted on people in this movie. There is a small under-tone of comedy in some of the scenes as well. Definitely worth checking out if you haven't already.

[Najemikon]

Oh no you didn't. Pete, what are you doing? Maximum Overdrive? A favourite of the 80s? 

Easily one of the very worst films I have ever seen. It is the one where the trucks trap the people in the petrol station? Half the film was the trucks driving around and around and around and ar...  you get what I mean. Oh my word!

Are you saving the good stuff for the latter half of the month? Duel should be vehicular horror of choice. 

[addicted2dvd]

LOL... I don't know... I always enjoyed it. But to be honest... I never seen Duel... so couldn't compare them.

But as I have said many times before (not sure if I have here or not) I seem to be more forgiving on horror movies then most people... as I tend to enjoy a LOT of horror films that most people don't care for at all.

[Najemikon]

Never? Seen? Duel?  Well, when you do (not "if", "when"!) I reckon you will drop to your knees and beg forgiveness before trying to set fire to your Maximum Overdrive DVD.

Tch. You'll be saying you've never seen Jaws next...