Horrorfest 2022 Presents: Aenigma (1988, Lucio Fulci)


The really weirdly titled Aenigma was Lucio Fulci once again trying to craft something different than his other movies, although this one was a bit too campy for me at times. It was sort of channeling Carrie, although I was also reminded of Phenomena as well, and those are better movies than this one. Still if you want to see a Fulci movie about a coma patient who gets revenge for the prank pulled on her, this is the movie for you. Lara Lambert is great and sinister looking as Eva, the instrument of Milijana Zirojevic’s Kathy, and Ulli Reinthaler is good as Jenny, who I think you were supposed to root for even though she was involved in the prank. Jared Martin is the doctor who is treating Kathy, yet still fails to make any connection between her and the strange deaths. I can’t tell if that is the plot requiring him to be that oblivious, or if it’s just him being blinded by the two ladies who are in love with him. I’ll go with both here. Both is good.

The snails death is actually pretty nasty even for a Fulci movie, and is probably one of the most memorable from a master of memorable disgusting and gruesome moments. There is also several other decent kills, and the last act is suspenseful enough, particularly since Eva literally becomes an unstoppable killing machine. Does the movie offer tangible answers to what happened, why any of this was possible, and if it could happen again? Hah ha, no, of course not. That’s the Italian horror movie way, and I’m fine with it. Also the end credits shot is very The Shining, in a way, and that’s how I like it.

Dead People Aren’t Much Fun: Horrorfest 2022


Still hilarious

Whew it took me a few months after October but I finished all the reviews. I’m not doing this many movies next year haha or this many months either. Thanks for reading, see you all next year for Horrorfest 2023!

I’ve run out of title ideas. That or I’m just tired these days. Yet I press on to another Horrorfest even though at some point I’ve got to be getting too old for this sort of thing. Anyways on with the show!

July (Monsters Oh My!):

Those folks rock.
  1. Creature with the Atom Brain (1955, Edward L. Cahn), Arrow Films Video Blu-ray Creature Feature
  2. The Werewolf (1956, Fred F. Sears), Arrow Films Video Blu-ray Creature Feature
  3. Zombies of Mora Tau (1957, Edward L. Cahn), Arrow Films Video Blu-ray Creature Feature
  4. The Giant Claw (1957, Fred F. Sears), Arrow Films Video Blu-ray Creature Feature
  5. Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary (1975, Juan López Moctezuma), Shudder Vampire
  6. Who Saw Her Die? (1972, Aldo Lado), Shudder Giallo
  7. Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion (1970, Luciano Ercoli), Shudder Giallo
  8. Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972, Amando de Ossorio), Shudder Undead Knights Templar
  9. Eat Brains Love (2019, Rodman Flender), Shudder Zombies
  10. Mosquito (1994, Gary Jones), Shudder Creature Feature
  11. Without Warning (1980, Greydon Clark), Shudder Aliens
  12. Invaders From Mars (1986, Tobe Hooper), Shudder Aliens
  13. Dark Angel/I Come In Peace (1990, Craig R. Baxley), Shudder Aliens
  14. Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge (1989, Richard Friedman), Shudder Slasher

August (Things Aren’t What They Seem):

Gordy’s home!
  1. (15) Nope (2022, Jordan Peele), Theater Viewing Aliens
  2. (16) The Stepfather II (1989, Jeff Burr), Crackle Family Psycho Man
  3. (17) Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957, Roger Corman), Crackle Creature Feature
  4. (18) Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959, Bernard L. Kowalski), Crackle Creature Feature
  5. (19) AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004, Paul W. S. Anderson), Hulu Aliens
  6. (20) Needful Things (1993, Fraser C. Heston), Shudder Devil
  7. (21) Head of the Family (1996, Charles Band), Shudder Mutants
  8. (22) Uncle Sam (1996, William Lustig), Shudder Undead Soldier
  9. (23) The Wolfman (2010, Joe Johnston), Tubi Werewolf
  10. (24) The Toolbox Murders (1978, Dennis Donnelly), Shudder Slasher
  11. (25) Son of Dracula (1943, Robert Siodmak), Tubi Dracula
  12. (26) Bloodsuckers from Outer Space (1984, Glen Coburn), Tubi Vampire Zombies
  13. (27) Color Me Blood Red (1965, Herschell Gordon Lewis), Tubi Slasher
  14. (28) La Semana del asesino aka The Cannibal Man (1972, Eloy de la Iglesia), Shudder Crazy People
  15. (29) The Predator (2018, Shane Black), Public Library Blu-ray Aliens

September (Murder, and Lots of It):

Always bring a flashlight in case you lose your phone
  1. (30) Nadie oyó gritar aka No One Heard the Scream (1973, Eloy de la Iglesia), Shudder Giallo
  2. (31) Watch Me When I Kill (1977, Antonio Bido), Shudder Giallo
  3. (32) Meatcleaver Massacre (1977, Evan Lee), Shudder Demonic
  4. (33) The Wizard of Gore (1970, Herschell Gordon Lewis), Tubi Murder Wizard
  5. (34) Mansion of the Doomed (1976, Michael Pataki), Shudder Mad Doctor
  6. (35) The Oracle (1985, Roberta Findlay), Shudder Possession
  7. (36) The Fall of the House of Usher (1928, Jean Epstein), YouTube Edgar Allen Poe
  8. (37) Storm of the Century (1999, Craig R. Baxley), Hulu Stephen King
  9. (38) Barbarian (2022, Zach Cregger), Theater Viewing Don’t Go In The House
  10. (39) Day Shift (2022, J. J. Perry), Netflix Instant Viewing Vampires
  11. (40) Blood Hook (1986, Jim Mallon), Tubi Killer Fisherman
  12. (41) Pearl (2022, Ti West), Movie Theater Viewing Crazy People Prequel
  13. (42) Blades (1989, Thomas R. Rondinella), Peacock/Tubi Killer Lawnmower
  14. (43) Blood Beach (1981, Jeffrey Bloom), YouTube Killer Beach Monster
  15. (44) Cementerio del terror aka Cemetery of Terror (1985, Rubén Galindo Jr.), Shudder Undead Satanic Serial Killer
  16. (44) Abby (1974, William Girdler), YouTube Demonic Blaxploitation
  17. (45) Grave Robbers (1989, Rubén Galindo Jr.), Shudder Demonic
  18. (46) Fright Night Part 2 (1988, Tommy Lee Wallace), YouTube Vampire

October (Forever Haunted):

Please remain seated until the plane has finished crashing.
  1. (47) Sole Survivor (1984, Thom Eberhardt), Shudder Watches The Dead
  2. (48) Lady In White (1988, Frank LaLoggia), Shudder Ghosts
  3. (49) Lust for a Vampire (1971, Jimmy Sangster), Tubi Karnsteins
  4. (50) The Vampire Bat (1933, Frank R. Strayer), Tubi Old School
  5. (51) Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986, Brian Gibson), Tubi The Beast
  6. (52) Poltergeist III (1988, Gary Sherman), Tubi Supernatural Skyscraper
  7. (53) Shaun of the Dead (2004, Edgar Wright), Movie Theater Viewing Zombie RomCom!
  8. (54) Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965, Freddie Francis), Tubi Amicus Anthology
  9. (55) Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990, Jeff Burr), Tubi The Saw is Family
  10. (56) I Like Bats (1986, Grzegorz Warchoł), Shudder Polish Vampire
  11. (57) The Munsters (2022, Rob Zombie), Netflix Instant Viewing Family Fun
  12. (58) The Ritual (2017, David Bruckner), Netflix Instant Viewing Creature Feature
  13. (59) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003, Marcus Nispel), Tubi Remake
  14. (60) The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! (1972, Andy Milligan), Shudder Werewolf Family
  15. (61) Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022, David Blue Garcia), Netflix Instant Viewing Requel
  16. (62) Werewolf by Night (2022, Michael Giacchino), Disney+ Werewolf? There, wolf!
  17. (63) Prey (2022, Dan Trachtenberg), Hulu Comanche vs Predator
  18. (64) A Blade in the Dark (1983, Lamberto Bava), Shudder Giallo
  19. (65) Oculus (2013, Mike Flanagan), Hulu Killer Mirror
  20. (66) Fangs (1974, Art Names), Shudder Killer Snakes
  21. (67) Godzilla vs Spacegodzilla (1994, Kensho Yamashita), Hulu Monster Fight
  22. (68) Trick ‘r Treat (2007, Michael Dougherty), Movie Theater Viewing Halloween Anthology
  23. (69) Watcher (2022, Chloe Okuno), Shudder Paranoia
  24. (70) Roadgames (1981, Richard Franklin), Tubi Trucker Blues
  25. (71) The House of Seven Corpses (1973, Paul Harrison), Tubi Undead Manor
  26. (72) Elvira’s Haunted Hills (2001, Sam Irvin), Shudder Elvira Fun
  27. (73) Manhattan Baby (1982, Lucio Fulci), Shudder Egyptian Evil
  28. (74) Aenigma (1988, Lucio Fulci), Shudder Psychic Revenge
  29. (75) The Raven (1963, Roger Corman), Tubi Sorcery
  30. (76) The Flesh Eaters (1964, Jack Curtis), Tubi Creature Feature
  31. (77) Deathdream (1974, Bob Clark), Tubi Undead Soldier
  32. (78) Häxan (1922, Benjamin Christensen), Criterion Blu-ray Witchcraft Through The Ages
  33. (79) Onibaba (1964, Kaneto Shindo), Criterion Blu-ray Demon Hag
  34. (80) The Cremator (1969, Juraj Herz), Criterion Blu-ray Evil Incarnate

Coda (Can’t Stop Won’t Stop):

  1. 81 Halloween Ends (2022, David Gordon Green), Movie Theater Corey Kill Em All
  2. (82) The Devil’s Backbone (2001, Guillermo del Toro), Criterion Blu-ray Spanish Ghosts

Top 10:

1. The Cremator (1969)
2. Nope (2022)
3. The Devil’s Backbone (2001)
4. Häxan (1922)
5. Barbarian (2022)
6. Sole Survivor (1984)
7. The Raven (1963)
8. Pearl (2022)
9. Onibaba (1964)
10. Storm of the Century (1999)

HM: The Fall of the House of Usher (1928)

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