The Serpent and the Rainbow

Another Wes Craven - this one is based on a true story. Terrifying. IMDb writes, "An anthropologist goes to Haiti after hearing rumors about a drug used by black magic practitioners to turn people into zombies." Pullman (Spaceballs) stars in this film. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - too close to things that happen or have happened.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

IMDb writes, "Dr. Caligari was a possibly legendary hypnotist of the eighteenth century whose identity has been assumed by modern psychiatrists whose work with madness has brought them close to the brink (or possibly, as they themselves claim, to true sanity).

It is understood that the original Caligari was a traveling performer in the provinces of pre-unification Italy, who brought with him a tall "Somnambulist" named Cesare who would enter a trance and predict the future. Evidently deaths in connection with these predictions led to the burning of Caligari as a witch.

In interwar Germany the director of a Sanitarium who was familiar with the Caligari story imitated his act, making use of the chaos of the early Weimar Republic to cover his use of his Cesare to commit murders, and occasionally bringing those who got too close to the truth to his asylum as patients, where psycho-active drugs disconnected them from reality and made their stories appear mad to all who heard them."

This is scary because the man in the trance commits murder on a set designed by Dali. It is based on a true story, so it is creepy. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Rosemary's Baby

Again, I've never been too keen on devil worshiping. This was made by Polanski - ironically it has a kind of rape scene in it. IMDb writes, "A young couple move into a new apartment, only to be surrounded by peculiar neighbors and occurrences. When the wife becomes mysteriously pregnant, paranoia over the safety of her unborn child begins controlling her life." She is carrying satan's child. It is creepy an I don't like it. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Mist

Another Stephen King...this one is just plain tragic.

IMDb writes, "A freak storm unleashes a species of bloodthirsty creatures on a small town, where a small band of citizens hole up in a supermarket and fight for their lives." Jane (Thursday) is a father and family man who will do anything to save his family. The ending will just kill you. All in all, I say: SKIP IT & read the book.

Misery

Caan (The Godfather) is an author who becomes injured. Bates (Titanic) is his biggest fan - and not in a good way. Based on a Stephen King novel, so you know it ain't gonna be pretty. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Event Horizon

Oh, space horror - scary because there is no place to run in space.

IMDb writes, "A rescue crew investigates a spaceship that disappeared into a black hole and has now returned...with someone or something new on-board." Fishburne (Matrix), Neill (The Piano), and Quinlan (Apollo 13) star. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I don't want to say  more of plot.

The Birds

Hitchcock at his best - my mom hates this movie or because of this movie hates birds - can't remember the order. IMDb writes, "A wealthy San Francisco socialite pursues a potential boyfriend to a small Northern California town that slowly takes a turn for the bizarre when birds of all kinds suddenly begin to attack people there in increasing numbers and with increasing viciousness." All in all, I say: SEE IT

Night of the Comet

This movie is awesome. It is one of my all time favorites. Only people that were behind steel were safe when I comet came close to the Earth. Everyone else was turned to dust, so when the survivors come out they see clothes blowing in the wind with some red dust - eerie. Some unlucky were partial exposed and they are going crazy and trying to eat people. All in all, I say: SEE IT - oh, just thinking about it makes me want to go back in time to the 80s and see it again for the first time. Love, love!

The Frighteners

The special effects in this were super cool for 1996. This film is more funny than scary. Fox () can see ghosts and they help him extort people for money. Then he comes across something that can kill ghosts - he has to help his dead friends and not become a target himself. IMDb writes, "After a tragic car accident that killed his wife, a man discovers he can communicate with the dead to con people but when a demonic spirit appears, he may be the only one who can stop it from killing the living and the dead." All in all, I say: SEE IT - it didn't do well at box office but it was fun.

It

A mini-series everyone watched. We would talk about it at school. The scariest part was the fact that the evil took the form of a clown. Curry (The Hunt of Red October) played Pennywise. You will recognize a lot of the kids that go missing or not in the series. I remember I found it scarier and couldn't wait for the last show. And then...spoiler....it's a giant spider! What hell! All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Bram Stoker's Dracula

IMDb writes, "The vampire comes to England to seduce a visitor's fiancée and inflict havoc in the foreign land." I saw this at midnight before it premiered at the theatre where I worked. It was brilliant. The actors, the set decoration, the music, and the cinematography was amazing. Oldman (The Professional) was Dracula, Ryder (Black Swam) was Mina, Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs) was Van Helsing, and Reeves (Matrix) was Harker. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it's beautiful.

The Last House on the Left

Written and directed by Wes Craven. IMDb writes, "A pair of teenage girls are headed to a rock concert for one's birthday. While trying to score marijuana in the city, the girls are kidnapped by a gang of psychotic convicts." I did not like this film and spent most of the time with my eyes closed. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

Remade in 2009 I didn't see this until about a couple years ago. I forgot the original one - I think I forgot because I missed the first 15 minutes or so - the worst part of the film. Dillahunt (Looper) is the bad guy. Potter (Saw) and Goldwyn (Scandal) are the parents. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Wicker Man

IMDb writes, "A police sergeant is sent to a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl whom the townsfolk claim never existed. Stranger still are the rites that take place there." I don't like devil worship stuff. Also, I don't like when someone says they know someone exists and everyone thinks they are crazy - it drives me nuts. I hate movies like that. The ending of this is the only thing I found truly scary. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

IMDb writes, "A sheriff investigating the disappearance of a young girl from a small island discovers there's a larger mystery to solve among the island's secretive, neo-pagan community." Cage (Lord of War) is the investigator. This also stars: Burstyn (The Fountain) and Sobieski (Joy Ride). All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

Salem's Lot

IMDb writes, "Vampires are invading a small New England town. It's up to a novelist and a young horror fan to save it." I didn't see this when it first came out. I saw it on VHS later and it was poorly edited and a little hard to follow. At the time I'm sure it was terrifying, but I didn't find it so. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

House on Haunted Hill

It appears as though Hollywood is on a mission to remake every Price horror movie ever made - I hope people don't forget about him and these films. They are much better than the remakes. IMDb writes, "A millionaire offers ten thousand dollars to five people who agree to be locked in a large, spooky, rented house overnight with he and his wife." There is an interesting twist - it turns out the idea was simple murder to begin with. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Remake - and not very good. Rush (Lowdown) is the millionaire and Janssen (X2) is the wife. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

House of Wax

See what I mean - another creepy horror film with Price. IMDb writes, "An associate burns down a wax museum with the owner inside, but he survives only to become vengeful and murderous." The wax figures are not entirely made of wax - ewwww. All in all, I say: SEE IT - scary.

This remake is more of a sequel in my eyes. IMDb writes, "A group of unwitting teens are stranded near a strange wax museum and soon must fight to survive and keep from becoming the next exhibit." Cuthbert (Happy Endings) and Hilton are among the cast. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

The Fly

When I think of horror, well classic horror, I think Karlof and Price. This 1958 film starring Price (The House of Seven Gables) was so gross. This guy freaks me out in any movie he's in - he's almost always the bad guy too. IMDb writes, "A scientist has a horrific accident when he tries to use his newly invented teleportation device." All in all, I say: SEE IT

Remade with Goldblum (Jurassic Park) and his soon to be wife, Davis (Cutthroat Island). Same plot - and still just as nasty. All in all, I say: SEE IT - only after you see the original.

So, before Goldblum becomes a fly he has sex - gross I know - you can tell where this is going. His son played by Stoltz (Mask) is some nasty hybrid studies by scientist. IMDb writes, "The almost human son of "The Fly" searches for a cure to his mutated genes while being monitored by a nefarious corporation that wish to continue his father's experiments." Zuniga (Spaceballs) plays his girlfriend. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

Nosferatu (1922)

Look at him - I don't care if it's 1922 or 2013 - that is freaky!! This movie is silent and in black & white. It is so worth seeing. This film is amazing. The filming - the play with shadows - it's brilliant. It is based loosely on Dracula. All in all, I say: SEE IT - at night - with all the lights off.

The Ring

A Japanese horror movie that came out in the 80s. America - as we often do - took the idea and remade the movie American style in 2002. I never saw the Japanese version.

IMDb writes, "A young journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone in a week of viewing it." Watts (King Kong) and Cox (Troy) are in the film. The video tape is kind of scary - the girl walks out of the tv. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

Evil Dead series

IMDb writes, "Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons." Campbell () is the main character in this - in that he kind of survives. This is a cult classic. Ash's story continues throughout all the other films - which I have not scene because this film was horrible edited and I found it difficult to follow. "Ashley 'Ash' J. Williams is a man of action -and idiocy. While in college he, his girlfriend Linda, his best friend Scott, Scott's girlfriend Shelly and his sister Cheryl, head to a cabin in the woods of Tennessee for some good times. Only everything goes wrong.

Once at the cabin the woods come alive and attack Cheryl, the bridge goes out trapping the students, and one by one Ash's companions and family succumb to the will of the Deadites -ancient Kandarian demons-that were unleashed by the cabin's former occupants. As dawn breaks over the Tennessee woods Ash manages to set the evil Necronomicon on fire, apparently defeating his nemesis. As he steps out into the cool morning air to relish his new lease on life... He is snatched up and propelled through the air and dropped into the woods where he begins to transform into one of the Deadites.

As his transformation begins to take hold he is saved by the sun's pure rays and the evil is banished from his flesh. As he awakens he returns to the cabin- forced to seek refuge from the coming night. He faces down his own evil hand (infected by Linda's nefarious bite), angry hillbillies, suspicious boyfriends, and an Archeology student (who is also the daughter of the cabin's original tenants) whom he also annihilates.

As he finally seems to be on the verge of triumphing over the evil Deadites once and for all, he is sucked into a vortex and hurled into the past. Spewed out in England in the 1300s he must once again battle the Deadites. This time a castle full of innocent people is at risk. Setting out to claim the Necronomicon Ex Mortis (the Book of the Dead) wherein its blood inked pages can be found an incantation to banish the Deadites and return him to his own time. He (inevitably) screws up and instead unleashes an angry Army of Darkness, led by his own evil half.

Once again our moronic, cowardly, but ever our (last ditch) hero wins the day and the beautiful Sheila. Returning to his own time and his job at S-Mart with Sheila, he regales his audience with tales of his exploits. Only to face the evil Deadites once again. (In an alternate ending Ash inadvertently takes one drop too many of a potion meant to make him sleep through time without aging. He awakes in a postapocalyptic London and shrieks that he slept too long before the credits roll)."

All in all, I say: SKIP IT - I was never a fan of the series.

Child's Play

IMDb writes, "A single mother gives her son a beloved doll for his birthday, only to discover that it is possessed with the soul of a serial killer." The doll coming to life is super freaky, and when this came out it sacred Beth and I to death. I would say, "Friends to the end" while making a face and she would freak out! This is the beginning of Chucky there have been four or five additional movies in the series, but this is the only one I have seen. Hicks (7th Heaven) is the mom, Sarandon (Princess Bride) is the cop, and Dourif (Dune) is the voice of Chucky. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - it is creepy and will give you nightmares, and you will never want to dolls ever again.

George A. Romero zombie series

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

My number one all time favorite horror and zombie horror movie. MUST be seen first before seeing any of the other ones, and it MUST be seen in white and black. A group of people from different backgrounds all end up at a remote farmhouse boarding themselves up to survive against zombies. These zombies are the dead that have become reanimated and they are slow moving because they were once decomposing corpses. This film has been the topic of several documentaries - it is a metaphor for life in the 60s and the civil right movement. The main character, Ben, is an African-American. All in all, I say: SEE IT in fact - come on over and we'll watch it together.

Romero sold his rights to his franchise to special effects wiz - Tom Savini - who remade the original around the time I worked at the movie theatre. I got to watch this a dozen times; it is in color, but the same time period as the original. This one is more about human nature and less political I love it, but not as much as the original. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

The second in the dead series. This one was a fan favorite at the time because it took place somewhere that had become all the rage - malls. This one is also political; it looks at American culture and the culture of the mall. It was made 10 years after the original. IMDb writes, "Following an ever-growing epidemic of zombies that have risen from the dead, two Philadelphia SWAT team members, a traffic reporter, and his television-executive girlfriend seek refuge in a secluded shopping mall." All in all, I say: SEE IT and then see the remake. Please, see the dead series in order.

Again, the remake is not about politics, but human nature. This is my second favorite zombie movie. Only one problem - fast zombies in this - I don't usually like the fast variety. Snyder (300) directs this, so the editing and cinematography are good.  Savini has a cameo in this. Polley (Go) is a nurse, Rhames (Pulp Fiction) is a cop, Phifer (8 Mile) is a man whose wife is about to give birth,  Burrell (Modern Family) is a rich snob, Weber (U-571) is a man who has lost everyone. They are at mall until circumstances drive them to head for a boat marina.All in all, I say: SEE IT.

Next decade, so we went 60s, 70s, and now we are in the 80s. Military! Again, there is apolitical message that speaks to the climate at the time. IMDb writes, "A small group of military officers and scientists dwell in an underground bunker as the world above is overrun by zombies." This one has more gore than the others. It is not one of my favorites. When I rewatch these, I usually skip this one. All in all, I say: SKIP IT.

IMDb writes, "When a small Colorado town is overrun by the flesh hungry dead a small group of survivors try to escape in a last ditch effort to stay alive." I admit I have only seen the remake once and it didn't match up at all to the original, so I have never seen it since. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

This didn't come out till 2005 (yes, he skipped the 90s - I guess because the remakes were so popular). In the 21st century we are isolated. This movie speaks to that isolation. IMDb writes, "The living dead have taken over the world, and the last humans live in a walled city to protect themselves as they come to grips with the situation." Leguizamo (Ice Age), Argento (XXX), and Baker (The Mentalist) star in this. Also, the zombies are getting smarter and adapting. Spoiler - they don't need to breath, so water is not an obstacle. All in all, I say: SKIP IT. I had high hopes, but it fell short. No remake on this one.

IMDb writes, "A group of young film students run into real-life zombies while filming a horror movie of their own." Sprang (Reign) comes in at the end and this leads to the next chapter. This one made me dizzy with all the hand held camera stuff. The characters weren't very interesting either. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The last in the series is Survival of the Dead and I already reviewed that.

Pet Sematary

Stephen King wrote something scary - ok more than one scary thing. This one though had me and my sister screaming.

The family cat dies and a father worries about his kids, so he buries it in a nearby Pet Sematary that has the ability to bring family pets back - only they don't exact come back with their original personality.  This event leads the little boy to walk into traffic and die. The dad naturally buries him in the pet sematary to bring him back. Only his now even creepier son kills his wife. You get the picture right - it reminds me of a short story. You don't want to wish anything back from the dead - it is not going to be a pretty picture. The coolest thing about this was the appearance of Gwynne (Munsters). All in all, I say: SEE IT. oh, and skip part two.

Jacob's Ladder

By far one of the biggest mind f#$%s ever. You won't know which way is up after seeing this. You will wonder if you are awake or if you are dreaming. If you are alive or if you are dead. If you are in a coma or being tortured or if you are living in the present. IMDb writes, "Mourning his dead child, a haunted Vietnam vet attempts to discover his past while suffering from a severe case of disassociation. To do so, he must decipher reality and life from his own dreams, delusion, and perception of death." Robbins (Dead Man Walking) is the vet. Pena (Lone Star) is his wife. Aiello (Do the Right Thing), Craven (White House Down), Alexander (Seinfeld), La Salle (ER), and Rhames (Mission Impossible) do a good job in this, too. All in all, I say: SEE IT - but see it with someone. If you don't know Jacob's ladder is the ladder into Heaven - ohhh deep.

Dog Soldiers

Pertwee (Event Horizon), McKidd (Rome),  Cunningham (Safe House) stars in this creature horror. A group of soldiers in a wooded area are hunted by a group of wolves - who aren't really wolves. It has some gore. I liked that is was an English creature horror film. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like creature features, otherwise, SKIP IT.

The Mummy (1932)

A year after appearing as the monster in Frankenstein horror fans flocked to theatres to see Karloff again, but this time in The Mummy.

Another favorite among directors and screenplay writers. Imhotep is revived and he stalks a woman he believes to be the reincarnation of his lover. This is kind of based on the myth that disturbing a mummy's tomb will bring a curse upon the person who disturbed it. This one is a cult classic and was terrifying at the time. It hold a special place in my heart because it was Karloff - the remake was not as scary. All in all, I say: SEE IT and compare it to the modern day remake.

Frankenstein

As wikipedia writes so well, "Shelley had travelled in the region of Geneva, where much of the story takes place, and the topics of galvanism and other similar occult ideas were themes of conversation among her companions, particularly her future husband, Percy Shelley. The storyline emerged from a dream. Mary, Percy, Lord Bryon, and John Polidori decided to have a competition to see who could write the best horror story. After thinking for weeks about what her possible storyline could be, Shelley dreamt about a scientist who created life and was horrified by what he had made. She then wrote Frankenstein.." I think Shelley won. There was a movie made about this meeting and contest which was also interesting. There have been a ton of films, tv shows, and plays based on her book, but the all time best is the film from 1931. Karloff (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) plays the monster. You will find that people who haven't seen the movie or read the book mistake the monster for Frankenstein - Frankenstein is the scientist, not the monster. The book is more terrifying than the movie, but the movie is a classic in my eyes. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

The Amityville Horror

IMDb writes, "Newlyweds move into a house where a murder was committed, and experience strange manifestations which drive them away." Sounds simple and not too scary compared to some stuff this day in age. But read this taken from the official website. "On November 13, 1974, police discovered six members of the DeFeo family -- father, mother and four of their five children -- shot and killed execution style at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York. By 1977, the DeFeo home would be the center of a haunted house story that experts labeled a hoax." This movie is based on a real story. Brolin (Hotel) and Kidder (Superman) are the couple and they have three kids. Four Catholic priests get involved. This is the first of 10 films on the murders. They are according to Wikipedia:

• The Amityville Horror (1979)
• Amityville II: The Possession (1982)
• Amityville 3-D (1983) (made in 3-D, and has also been released as Amityville III: The Demon)
• Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes (1989)
• The Amityville Curse (1990)
• Amityville: It's About Time (1992)
• Amityville: A New Generation (1993)
• Amityville Dollhouse (1996)
• The Amityville Horror (2005 remake)
• The Amityville Haunting (2011)
• The Amityville Asylum (2013)

All in all, I say: if you are interested in hauntings and supernatural events, especially those tied to real life tragedies – then see it. Otherwise, SKIP IT. I got bored with both versions. There are other “boo” films that are better if you want a scare. This is however a cult classic, so if you like horror or you want to be informed then, SEE IT.

Scream 1,2,3,4

Wes Craven, another of my favorite horror directors. Scream was ingenious. It was so clever - the whole movie the main characters are going through the keys to surviving a horror movie. For example, when you hear a noise; don't go see what it is especially not alone! The killers are unexpected - unless you have already heard because it was released in 1996. Campbell (The Craft) did an excellent job. Cox (Friends) and Arquette (Never Been Kissed) added some of the comic relief. Barrymore (Never Been Kissed) has a cameo which really set up the movie well. It was an original beginning - the audience is stuck to their seats from the first second. Ulrich (The Craft) was popular at the time, as was Lillard (She's All That). McGowan (Charmed) has a small part in this, too. All in all, I say: SEE IT - my goodness but you are behind the times when it comes to horror.

IMDB writes, "Two years after the events of the first film, a new psychopath dons the "Ghost face" costume and a new string of murders begin." Our main character is still being tormented. Schreiber (Salt), Graham (Twin Peaks), and Smith (Tales From the Crypt), and Epps (Juice) join the caste. But will they last? Who will live by the end of this slasher? Characters run through the rules that apply to sequels. Mainly, there are few rules. All in all, I say: SEE IT 0 it was just as good as the first, although, no longer as original. Also, filmed partly in Georgia!

So, the murder from Scream has been made into a movie based on the reporter's book. Now none of our main characters are safe and they are all targets because they are famous. IMDb writes, "Ghostface pays Sidney and her friends a third visit while they visit the set of "Stab 3", the third movie based upon the Woodsboro murders." Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy), Foley (Scandal), and Henriksen (Alien) join the cast. Who will survive - a main character has to go - right? All in all, I say: SEE IT if you liked the second. If not, then just stop. The first can stand alone just fine.

The main characters are getting better and better at surviving and fighting. They aren't as scared as they use to be because they realize things like this are going to keep happened. IMDb writes, "Ten years have passed, and Sidney Prescott, who has put herself back together thanks in part to her writing, is visited by the Ghostface Killer." Paquin (True Blood), Bell (Veronica Mars), Roberts (Nancy Drew), and Panettiere (Heroes) are added to the cast. There have to be some people to kill, right? All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you feel like the circle isn't complete until you finish a series.

They Live

I love, love John Carpenter movies! This movie is based on a short story and Carpenter helped write the screenplay. Canadian actor, Piper (WWF Raw), is a drifter who comes across some unusual sunglasses. When he puts them on not everyone appears human. Some people show up as skeleton looking creatures. David (Crash) shows up to help. Once this down on his luck and sick of the authority discovers that the wealthy and privileged are aliens he gets his hand on a gun. Will he escape the aliens? Will they kill him? Will anyone believe him? This is not gross and not especially violent for this day in time. It was such an original idea at the time. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Internship

Yet again, another movie where the funny parts are all on the previews. Another big problem, Vaughn (Swingers) helped write this and he always takes things too far. He just isn't my kind of humor. His inspirational speech was horrible and uninspiring. IMDB writes, "Two salesmen whose careers have been torpedoed by the digital age find their way into a coveted internship at Google, where they must compete with a group of young, tech-savvy geniuses for a shot at employment." Also, Wilson (Midnight in Paris) was supposed to have some sort of Texas accent or southern accent anyways, and he hardly ever used it. Byrne (Bridesmaids) was just a prop and not really an important character. There were some cameos that weren't even really worth it: Mandvi (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart), Riggle (SNL), Novak (The Office), and Ferrell (Elf). O'Brien (Teen Wolf) did ok, but it was like his best parts must have been edited out to make the old guys look funnier even though I am sure O'Brien has much more talent. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Heat

IMDb writes, "An uptight FBI Special Agent is paired with a foul-mouthed Boston cop to take down a ruthless drug lord." You all saw the previews - you know those were the only funny scenes in the movie - and since you saw the preview so many times; they aren't funny in the film. Bullock (Speed) has done a version of this character before so snooze. McCarthy (Gilmore Girls) has done a version of this character before so - not as much snooze as Bullock, because she's funnier. This lacks in so many areas. All in all, I say: SKIP IT