TODAY I WATCHED... (Movies, TV) 2018

Hell House LLC 2: The Abaddon Hotel (2018)




A documentary film crew sneeks into an abandoned hotel with a history of hauntings, deaths and disappearances. Needless to say, it doesn't bode well for the crew. I thought this film was actually not too bad but what brought it down ,at least for me, is that it's afound footage movie, which just drives me crazy.






See No Evil 2 (2014)






Glenn "Kane" Jacobs returns as Jacob Goodnight still on the rampage, this time around in the county morgue and it's employees and (naturally) a group of people that show up for the main character's birthday. This thing must have been written by someone who had watched a Friday the 13th movie one too many times. You could easily replace Jacob with Jason and no one would be the wiser. A rather forgettable film actually.

That's a shame because I actually like See No Evil 1.  Yeah it doesn't have an original bone in its cinematic body but I thought Kane was cool as the evil Jacob Goodnight and some of the kills were fairly inventive.

And I agree with you, the whole "found footage" thing has SOOOOO run its course.

Schlock-tober entry #8:
"Satan's School For Girls" (1973)

When her sister dies under mysterious circumstances, a woman poses as a new student at the exclusive girls' academy she attended to find out what happened to her. Eventally she discovers Satanic cult activity going on behind the scenes. Yikes!
This irresisistibly titled, semi-classic slice of 70s made for TV horror cheez was produced by the legendary Aaron Spelling and stars two of his future "Charlie's Angels" (Kate Jackson and Cheryl Ladd). Enjoyably silly junk.

I couldn't even make it through the "trailer" (which isn't actually a fair name for a clip that runs more than 3 minutes).  I was bored out of my mind.  And knowing it was a made for TV flick?  A hard pass here. 

Especially since I just watched the episode of "Gotham" which featured Jeffrey ("Re-Animator") Combs as the "manager" of a facility where Dr. "Dollmaker" is piecing together body parts in his experiments. I probably saw more gore in those two episodes of Gotham than you saw in that entire made for TV film.  My how times have changed when it comes to TV.

Quote :

I couldn't even make it through the "trailer" (which isn't actually a fair name for a clip that runs more than 3 minutes).  I was bored out of my mind.  And knowing it was a made for TV flick?  A hard pass here.

"Satan's School..." was my wife's pick (she's a Charlie's Angels fan...) I didn't mind it, it was dumb as hell but it definitely qualified for Schlock-tober status.

Some of those old 70s/80s "scary" made for TV movies are a hoot though. Ever seen "Dark Night of the Scarecrow" with Charles Durning, or "The Horror at 37,000 Feet" with William Shatner? Awesome cheese!

Schlock-tober entry #9:
"The Slayer" (1982)

Two annoying, bickering yuppie couples take a vacation trip to a secluded private island. They're supposed to be the only people there... but eventually someone or something starts picking them off one by one.
For a movie called "The Slayer," not a lot of actual slaying goes on here. With only four characters, it takes for-ever for this slow-moving flick to finally get into body-count gear; there are lots of long stretches where nothing much happens. To add insult to injury, it ends on a was-it-all-a-dream-or-was-it-real copout.
Avoid!

Schlock-tober entry #10:
"The Evil" (1978)

Richard Crenna is a doctor who buys a palatial old estate, hoping to turn it into a drug rehab facility. However, when the Doc and a group of associates begin work on renovating the place, a series of weird fatal "accidents" begin that appear to have supernatural origins. Can they figure out how to stop The Evil before it claims them all?
I had low expectations for this one but it turned out to be a surprisingly cool slice of late '70s haunted-house cheese ala "The Legend of Hell House," "Amityville" or "The Changeling," slightly above average thanks to the decent cast and a surprise final-reel appearance by Satan (!) himself!

I just watched the new episode of Family Guy.

The Walking Dead

Some early footage of a documentary my bud Jerry W is doing on the underground Texas metal scene of the early to mid 80's. VHS source is a pain to work with, but his heart in it 100%.

The Collector (2009)



A desperate thief breaks into a wealthy family's home to steal a rare gem. He soon learns that he picked the wrong night to carry out his plans, for a masked madman has gotten there first, imprisoned the family, and lined the mansion with deadly traps. This movie falls under the torture porn entry was rather serviceable, despite my general dislike for the genre. The only issue I really had with it is how in the world was the Collector able to rig the house with all these traps in a matter of mere hours.

Army Of Darkness (1992)



Bruce Campbell returns as Deadite slayer Ash Williams in this third installment of the Evil Dead series. This one is much more humorous and light on gore compared to the film's in the series. Slapstick, accompanied by the occasional Three Stooges sound effects, is quite prevalent here and I love this movie. It Never gets old.

^^ "Groovy!"

007 wrote:

Army Of Darkness (1992)



Bruce Campbell returns as Deadite slayer Ash Williams in this third installment of the Evil Dead series. This one is much more humorous and light on gore compared to the film's in the series. Slapstick, accompanied by the occasional Three Stooges sound effects, is quite prevalent here and I love this movie. It Never gets old.

I haven't seen that movie in years but I absolutely hated it when I did see it. Probably for the stuff you mentioned; I was expecting another Evil Dead movie but we essentially got Three Stooges with zombies. And since I HATE slapstick comedy I've never revisited this flick to see if I'd change my opinion because every review I read sounds like yours "...Three Stooges...", "...slapstick...", "...humorous..."...

Yeah...pass.

Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer

Ant Man and The Wasp (2018)



Paul Rudd returns as the titular hero who unknowingly holds the key to rescuing the original Wasp, Janet Van Dyne, from the quantum realm. He ends up teaming with the second Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) in a plan to get Van Dune back. However, the have to deal with a black market technology dealer and a villainess known as the Ghost who both want the tech for themselves. Lots of action and great visual effects in this one. Good movie.

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Supernatural

Finished "Gotham" Season 1 today. On to Season 2.

Gearing up for what is supposed to be the final season starting after the new year.

Really well done.

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)


The final movie in the original series that deals with Michael Myers stalking a girl who currently lives in the Myers' original home. Coming to her aid is Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasance, in his final roll) and The now adult Tommy Doyle (Paul Rudd in his film debut). This one is a mish mash of crazy ideas including an explanation on how Michael is indestructible and a secret cult dedicated to him. This film has it's problems, including re shoots. What a disappointment.

They Live (1988)



Rowdy Toddy Piper as an out of work drifter who accidentally stumbles upon a secret alien invasion. Plenty of action and tongue in cheek humor make this an enjoyable film. I saw it in the theater when it first came out and catch it whenever I can. It never gets old.

"Batman: Gotham By Gaslight" (2018)

The infamous serial killer Jack The Ripper is carving up prostitutes in Victorian-era Gotham City and the only man who can stop the murder spree is the steampunk Dark Knight, with a little help from his lady love Selina Kyle and some street urchins named Dick, Jason and Tim. A cool "alternate universe" Batman tale set in the late 1800s, with lots of twists and turns and gory animated ultra-violence, so it is definitely not a cartoon for the kiddies.

Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)




A Halloween tradition for us, this classic movie has the comedic duo caught up in a plan by Count Dracula (Bela Lugosi, in only his second screen appearance as Drac) to put Costello's brain in the Frankenstein Monster (Glenn Strange). Coming to their aid is Larry Talbot, the Wolfman (Lon Chaney). Predictable hijinks ensue. I've loved this movie ever since I saw it as an impressionable 8 year old.