Don’t Look in the Basement 2
– (2015) – Doctors at an infamous mental facility deal with patients and their visions of a dark past. On the positive side, the is relatively well-made and the acting isn’t terrible. As for the rest? This is a blood and suspense free slog of one dragging scene after another. What it lacks in horror it makes up for with characters endlessly yelling at one another.
Things II
– (1998) – An author tells an aspiring writer two stories about a creature involved in a robbery and a creature involved in the disappearance of a model. A zero budget outing that will never win points for drama, but some of the acting is above average while the scant plots move quickly. Could have used more gore, but that would only have added to an already bleak budget.
Poor Things
– (2023) – A woman with a child’s brain tries to come to terms with her own body before coming to terms with the world at large. A humorous and well-written fantasy about rare second chances at life and how mankind always veers toward personal domination. The atmosphere is as unique as the plot, and never feels artsy on purpose. Instead, this is a superior looking film to coincide with superior human performances.
Night Swim
– (2024) – An injured baseball player moves his family into a house whose pool harbors an evil secret. It’s hard to say which is worse, the morose characters, the languid attempts at horror, or the by-the-books investigation into a weak mystery. An insanely dull and humorless venture that pits a force we know nothing about against characters we care nothing about.
Undying Love
– (1991) – A suicidal misanthrope hooks up with a vampire who grants him eternal life. If you’ve seen any other vampire movie you’ll know what to expect from this one. Does absolutely nothing new, but does it rather competently despite the meager budget. Takes itself a bit too seriously, but some unintended humor and a quick pace help cast aside some of the negatives.
your a-z guide to obscure & classic horror movies
Evil Breed: The Legend of Samhain
– (2003) – A group of friends vacate to an area where they’re picked off by a hillbilly serial killer. Gets better toward the end when dialog is scant, since nearly every line rips off Scream. Not great, but has a few violent and smutty highlights.
Nightwing
– (1979) – Vampire bats terrorize an isolated Indian commune, despite the help of a bat expert. The only trace of story focuses on godly crud, while the horror aspects are too infrequent and lackluster. Badly lit and free of suspense.
Zombiegeddon
– (2003) – Troubled police and casual civilians contend with Satan’s zombie plague. Presents itself as an awful waste (and it mostly is) but the cameos, zany violence, and sporadic nudity lead to an okay time. Has no idea what “conclusion” means, but getting to the credits isn’t too much of a chore.
Voodoo Dawn
– (1990) – Two guys on a weekend away from Manhattan end up trapped in a locale of black magic. A scene or two of voodoo horror remind of what could have been, since most of the plot is dull and lacks worthy elements. Short, but hollow.
Dead Clowns
– (2004) – Drowned clowns rise during a storm to seek revenge on town locals. The story and atmosphere shoot for a vibe ala The Fog, but completely miss the mark. A couple of creepy moments arise, but they’re all rendered meaningless by shoddy characters and slow pacing. A quiet, gory bore.
Class of Nuke ‘Em High
– (1986) – A high school beside a faulty nuclear facility experiences wacky ongoings of the holocaust variety. A fast paced and colorful outing that never falls short of giddy aspirations. Cheesy and awkward, but it’s the sort of dumb fun only the ’80s could supply.