Cobweb
– (2023) – A boy who’s coddled by his overbearing parents hears noises within his bedroom wall that opens the doors to mistrust and deceit. Begins with a credible mystery and somewhat fleshed out characters that maintain attention. Starts to lose its hold by the third act, and almost become laughable when reminding so much of “The Thing and I” segment from The Simpsons. Well made and delivers some gore, but never does anything to stand alone.
Bigfoot vs. Zombies
– (2016) – When zombies start to rise thanks to a spilled toxin, a yeti arrives to save the day. Movies don’t get much cheaper, as the production values equate the cost of air, but there is something of a plot and attempts at character growth. The main problem is that there aren’t enough zombies, the yeti, nor their combination. A better title might have been Boredom vs. Sleep.
The Blackening
– (2022) – A group of friend reunite at a cabin where they discover a board game that threatens their lives. The initial concept is pretty good until the game is jettisoned and standard slasher fare takes over. Has a few funny moments, but destroys its own uniqueness halfway through.
Children of Camp Blood
– (2020) – People tormented by visions of a killer clown visit his domain to overcome their fears. Not unlike any other Camp Blood cheapie that’s only forgiven by a short length that limits the amount of paltry acting and pathetic gore. Does attempt a plot, thin as it may be, and moves relatively quickly.
The Third Saturday in October Part V
– (2022) – An unkillable killer returns to off people during a football watching party. Has a few likeable characters and some nifty attempts at gore, but it’s too silly for its own good and gradually borders on obnoxious. Runs out of steam halfway through before giving off the sense that it’ll never end, but is never a total travesty.
your a-z guide to obscure & classic horror movies
– (2011) – A woman travels to a boarding school to disprove a ghost, but discovers the phantom is real. Looks like a cross between The Devil’s Backbone and The Others, but lacks the suspense and meaning of either. Moves too slow, does absolutely nothing new, and overemphasizes drama.
– (2000) – The trapped victim of a serial killer is pursued in the mind of the killer himself. The story angles don’t always mesh, but the premise does allow for some moderate tension and truly bizarre visuals. Unfortunately, the atmosphere weighs much heavier than the plot.
– (1988) – A Halloween party in a haunted house turns grim as the guests are possessed by demons. A perfect set-up, packed with humor and spooky atmosphere, leads to a sleazy, gory time. Some of the acting is terrible, and the pace drags to a halt in spots, but there are dozens of memorable lines and moments that keep this in classic territory.
Halloween II (2009)
– (2009) – Laurie Strode nears the brink of madness while coping with her previous and recent encounters with Michael Myers. A vast improvement over the remake thanks to sympathetic characters, a brisk pace, and an absolute killing machine in Myers. A nightmare constructed of brutal violence and surreal imagery. Not for the weak.
Coons!
– (2005) – Raccoons attack various forms of morons at a campground. Unbelievably stupid, but purposefully so and often a riot at that. Dirt cheap, but always amuses with high and low levels of comedy.
Revenge of the Living Zombies
– (1988) – Friends on a Halloween hay ride encounter zombies. Okay as its own junky zombie flick, but becomes completely worthless when ripping off Night of the Living Dead. Drab cheese with few highlights.
White Zombie
– (1932) – A couple travels to Haiti to become married, but an owner of undead slaves wants the woman for himself. Aside from expectedly lame dialog and unfortunate racism, this is a pretty creepy story that’s far ahead of its time. Dark, moody, and mostly effective.
It (2017)
– (2017) – A group of kids are haunted by a shape-shifting clown when not hounded by bullies. Works incredibly well by presenting personable characters amid horrifying situations (with too much CGI). Mostly leaves adults out of the mix, which is a bit distracting, but does allow us to focus on the camaraderie among the leads, which results in an emotionally satisfying outcome. Pennywise, in his few scenes, is highly effective.
Graduation Day
– (1981) – Someone in sweats is killing track team members as their high school graduation approaches. Pretty common and drab, but has a welcoming ’80s slasher feel and some absurdities to help fuel the cheese.