Horrorfest 2017 Presents: Final Destination 2 (2003, David R. Ellis)

Everyone went nuts over Final Destination, yet I was not one of those people. I thought it was a decent flick with some good kills that did have a nifty premise. I actually prefer Final Destination 2, which I think works better as a movie while still having wicked death scenes and also better characters. The first one did have the better cast, as the second installment is anchored by the return of Ali Larter and has A.J. Cook as the person this time who sees the horrible demises of everyone. Besides I find the car crash scene in the second flick to be way more horrifying and memorable, as people keep on referencing it to this day anytime they drive on the interstate. These movies are just slasher films with Death as the killer, and you don’t really watch them for the thin plots anyways-you view them to see awful things happen to nice people. Which is ghoulish and may describe most horror movies anyways. Maybe there’s something wrong with us horror fans? Nah….um…no…possibly…wink wink.

Sure there is a gruesome crushing death in this movie that’s probably the best part of the film, however I found the elevator death scene to be tragic and haunting the most. That poor lady died hoping someone would save her. Other death scenes are way more inventive and resulted in the people dying in ways that lead to cruel jokes about how one little thing can cause a massive chain reaction that ends with a horrifyingly memorable demise. I mean there is a car accident later in the movie that results in the deaths of several folks in a moment that can best described as awfully darkly comedic. Death sure has a lot of time on their hands if these movies are to be believed. Oh and I’m totally viewing the rest of the series. I’m also amused that Tony Todd is literally the mascot of these films, which is pretty cool.

Horrorfest 2020 Presents: Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995, Bill Condon)

Woof that title is a mouthful. I loved the 1992 Candyman and so I decided to check out the sequel before it expired on Tubi. While the sequel is not as good as the first classic flick, Tony Todd remains creepy and menacing as ever in the title role. Also the New Orleans’ location is a nice eerie setting for the film’s events. Does Todd utter poetic lines full of death and despair still? Yep. Is the main female lead destined to watch loved ones get slaughtered right in front of her? Absolutely. Roll film.

Annie (Kelly Rowan) ends up investigating the Candyman legend because of her brother and her deceased father. Trying to uncover the truth she of course ends up summoning Candyman because no one in these movies believes he exists until it’s too late. Cue more gore and bees showing up. We even get a historical flashback thrown in for good measure. I’m a sucker for those.

I’m not sure if I care to watch the third film, however I am excited about the upcoming remake, which could breathe new life into the franchise. These movies are very 1990s which is both a good and a bad thing. Oh and I liked seeing veterans Veronica Cartwright and Bill Nunn popping up in the movie. One thing I’ve learned and which this move leans heavily on is that kids are always creepy no matter what in a horror movie. Even if they are on your side.

Knife In The Back: Horrorfest 2020

Well it is that time of the year again. I think a bit more Tubi than Shudder will be used this time. Perhaps even a dash of Netflix. Also all reviews will be actually linked in the titles since I figured out that looks better. Gonna try to keep up this time with the reviews for a change.

This concludes Horrorfest 2020. I think it went insanely well all things considered despite wifi issues and a pandemic, and I may have overdone it a bit. On to next year!

August:

1. Lady Frankenstein (1971, Female this time!), Tubi

2. Let Me In (2010, Vampires), Tubi

3. Slaughter High (1986, Slasher), Tubi

4. Mausoleum (1983, Demonic), Shudder

5. The Devil’s Rain (1975, Ernest Borgnine Satanic Revenge!), Tubi

6. Sweet Sixteen (1983, Dead Kids), Tubi

7. Dracula: Pages from a Virgin’s Diary (2002, Duh), Tubi

8. Bad Channels (1992, Horny Killer Alien), Tubi

9. The Pit & the Pendulum (1991, THE SPANISH INQUISITION!), Tubi

10. Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995, Tony Todd with a hook), Tubi

September:

11. Intruder (1989, Retail is Murder!), Tubi

12. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992, Him again?), Shudder

13. Maniac Cop (1988. Cop Slasher), Shudder

14. Subspecies (1991, THE BLOODSTONE!), Tubi

15. The House That Dripped Blood (1971, Spooky Tales), Tubi

16. Trick or Treats (1982, Never babysit on Halloween), Tubi

17. The Car (1977, Demon on wheels), Netflix Instant Viewing

18. Fade To Black (1980, Movies Make People Crazy), Shudder

19. American Gothic (1988, Psycho Family), Public Library Blu-ray

20. Squrim (1976, Killer Worms!), Shudder/Tubi

21. Jack’s Back (1988, The Ripper!), Tubi

22. The Amityville Horror (1979, GET OUT!), Public Library Blu-ray

23. The Invisible Man (2020, Never marry a mad scientist), Public Library Blu-ray

24. The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (1971, Giallo!), Shudder

October:

25. Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966, Giant Lobster!), Criterion Blu-ray

26. Son of Godzilla (1967, Godzilla’s Kid), Criterion Blu-ray

27. The Living Dead Girl (1982, Hungry for Blood!), Tubi

28. Moon of the Wolf (1972, Werewolf!), Tubi

29. Deadly Blessing (1981, INCUBUS!), Public Library DVD

30. Ghosthouse (1988, EVIL DOLL), Tubi

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31. The Sadist (1963, Archie Hall is nuts), Tubi

32. The Masque of the Red Death (1964, Plague!), Shudder

33. The Tomb of Ligeia (1965, That Darn Cat), Shudder

34. Doctor Sleep (2019, Shine On), Public Library

35. Scare Me (2020, Storytellers!), Shudder

36. The College Girl Murders (1967, Acid to the Face), Tubi

37. Baron Blood (1972, Undead evil Baron guy), Tubi

38. Don’t Breathe (2016, Be careful who you rob), Public Library

39. Bell, Book and Candle (1958, Love spells), Pluto TV

40. Waxwork (1988, Creepy Wax People), Tubi TV

41. Blood Diner (1987, Sheetar!), Hulu

42. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1978, Tomato or Tomatoe?), Tubi

43. Fear (1996, Marky Mark is cray crazy), Public Library DVD

44. Hack-O-Lantern (1988, The blood is the power), Shudder

45. Victor Crowley (2017, Big angry hillbilly), Shudder

46. Firestarter (1984, psychic powers!), Public Library

47. Creature (1985, Alien Monster!), Tubi

48. Haunt (2019, Haunted House Evil), Shudder

49. Blood Tide (1982, Sea Monster!), Arrow Video Blu-ray

50. Edge of the Axe (1988, Brutal), Arrow Video Blu-ray

51. Ringu (1998, Seven Days), Shudder

52. Ju-On (2002, Creepy Dead Kids), Tubi

Horrorfest 2014 Presents: Candyman (1992, Bernard Rose)

Filmed in the poorer parts of Chicago where the events of Candyman take place, Bernard Rose’s film is a unique and great 1990s horror movie that is creepy due to how quiet many of it’s scenes are. Virginia Madsen is a young grad student who decides to write about the infamous urban legend of Candyman, only to discover too late that the monster is very real. Thus begins a spiral into madness and despair as she loses most of what she cares about. Xander Berkeley does a nice turn as her scumbag husband who betrays her as she finds herself in a walking nightmare.

Unlike other slasher films this one is well shot and directed. Like many horror films Candyman benefits from a great eerie score that helps set the mood. Tony Todd is perfect in the title role, operating as a demonic spirit. Although this film doesn’t touch heavily enough on social and political elements that it could have further explored it is still a wonderful addition to the horror genre. I loved the Hitchcock references midway through and the asylum scenes were freaky. Of course this film has sequels and it can’t resist a darkly funny spot of revenge near the end. I’ve never said Candyman five times in front of a mirror and I’m in no rush to do so. In this world sometimes one doesn’t tempt fate.

Horrorfest 2014 Presents: Wishmaster (1997, Robert Kurtzman)

Even though Robert Kurtzman directed this nasty and entertaining piece of work much of this film has the look and feel of a Wes Craven movie. Which makes sense considering that the master of horror produced this film, the first in a series of movies about a sinister djinn that is released into the world, creating havoc and plaguing the living. As the insane and gory opening reveals, this foul creature requires three wishes so that it may be free to walk the earth, something that no one should ever want. This monster is portrayed in human form with wonderful sneering menace by Andrew Divoff, who is given plenty of horribly funny one liners. This film may be a reflection of other films such as the cult Leprechaun series, and yet it stands apart from those because its really creepy with only small bits of humor involved. Plus you have Robert Englund, Ted Raimi, Tony Todd, Kane Hodder, Reggie Bannister and other famous horror movie actors who have been in numerous classics over the years involved in this movie, which makes their cameos (save for Englund, who has a big part) fun to notice.

It also helps this movie that the female lead is pretty great-Alexandra, played by Tammy Lauren, who quickly realizes she is in over her head. The scenes where the dijnn plagues her, then later on tempts her with wishes are both freaky and engaging. And of course this film has multiple horrible things happening to people who actually make wishes, bringing to mind the idea that one should not only be careful what they wish for, but also that one should be really specific. Or just not make any wishes at all, considering that’s what the diabolical dijnn wants you to do. I also liked how the film concluded, as it was a bit of a fun surprise, and this movie has plenty of nasty elements to keep viewers who hunger for such things entertained. I’m not sure if I want to view the sequels although I’m reminded of The Prophecy, although 90s horror film series with mythical beings (depending on your point of view and beliefs) that turned out to be fun and enjoyable, so perhaps I’ll give the Wishmaster series a shot as well.