Your Home for Horror
The Daily Dig
Join us as we take you on a journey of discovery to find buried video treasures from the 40s through recent decades. Together, we’ll explore the wonderfully weird, sleazy, and cheesy, gloriously fun genre gems you may have missed. The timeline will be updated daily as new titles are covered.
An absolute classic horror film that uses subtle techniques, lighting, and sound to make for a very effective early terror ride. A Serbian woman …continue reading The Daily Dig: Cat People (1942)
A true-crime tale that actually softens reality, directed by one of the most influential and groundbreaking Women in cinema history. Two men pick up …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
A beautiful transfer and brilliant sets make this familiar feeling, fifties horror a must-watch for fans of the history of the genre. A scientist …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood of the Vampire (1958)
A story about vanity and its consequences made during the height of the cold war and imaginative, future science and its capabilities. After a …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Head (1959)
A perfect classic horror tale with almost no flaws, “City of the Dead” doesn’t go by the book… it WROTE the book of horror! …continue reading The Daily Dig: The City of the Dead (1960)
This wonderfully shot and poignant film was denounced in its time, but it touches on abuses that still plague society as a whole. A …continue reading Daily Dig: Never Take Candy From A Stranger (1960)
The first film from legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, “Dementia 13” wasn’t a sign of things to come, but it was slick and gory. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dementia 13 (1963)
A story of a man driven mad by a ghost, this film is driven by the one and only Vincent Price and some excellent …continue reading The Daily Dig: Diary of A Madman (1963)
A Shakespearean story with vivid gothic imagery, even in black and white, capped off with an impressive and practical destructive finale. An ancient Witches …continue reading The Daily Dig: Witchcraft (1964)
One of William Castle’s lesser-known films, “The Night Walker” relies on a strong score and makeup by Bud Westmore for its scares. A widow …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Night Walker (1964)
A mediocre gothic tale that features the brilliant Barbara Steele as the bringer of plague and revenge for all women; misogynists beware! A matriarch …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Long Hair of Death (1964)
Classic themes and absolutely beautiful visuals make this an enjoyable watch with a strong cast consisting of a lost generation of actors. A young …continue reading The Daily Dig: Two on a Guillotine (1965)
A mess of editing can’t ruin an endearing gothic flick that holds some Sid Haig trivia, as well as reflections of classic horror films. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood Bath (1966)
With zombie make-up that looks like it was done by a high school student, this early Al Adamson film still brings charm. A soldier …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood of Ghastly Horror (1967)
A cult gem almost lost to time and carelessness, “Spider Baby” was luckily revived and restored for our viewing pleasure. Three genetically diseased heirs …continue reading The Daily Dig: Spider Baby (1967)
One of many examples of the slaughter of Poe’s integrity, this poorly constructed film holds nothing more than cool sets to boast about. In …continue reading The Daily Dig: Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism (1967)
“The Sorcerers” offers an interesting story featuring an icon of horror in the lead role as an elderly professor bent on being young again. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Sorcerers (1967)
The first Horror film released in Soviet Russia is worth watching for the benchmark it sets, as well as the off-the-wall ending. A priest …continue reading The Daily Dig: Viy (1967)
This unique circus terror tale features a great cast with old school performances that up the drama in between vicious kills. A killer is …continue reading The Daily Dig: Berserk! (1967)
This black and white Japanese tale of snakes and witches is rooted in the evils of humankind rather than the supernatural. A young orphan …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch (1968)
If a Scooby-Doo episode was turned into live-action and mixed with some 3M blood, you’d have “The Haunted House of Horror”. A group of …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Haunted House of Horror (1969)
With a title like “Blood Mania” you would expect more than nine minutes of the promised fluid, though there is plenty of hormonal excretion. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood Mania (1970)
Considered to be one of the most accurate portrayals of the Lovecraft mythos, “The Dunwich Horror” is a multi-dimensional acid trip with little plot. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Dunwich Horror (1970)
A good premise that is a little rough around the edges, “Dream No Evil” utilizes a “Psycho”-Esque twist to make its razor-sharp point. An …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dream No Evil (1970)
“Ritual of Evil” is a slow, methodical, action-free, made-for-TV horror film that fell short of its goal to become a TV series. A psychiatrist …continue reading The Daily Dig: Ritual of Evil (1970)
“And Soon the Darkness” is a methodical mind game that capitalizes on the dreadful isolation of being alone in a foreign country with a …continue reading The Daily Dig: And Soon the Darkness (1970)
Short on a story, but with some practical gore, this DIY film from a skin flick director ditches dialogue for ominous tones and folk …continue reading The Daily Dig: Carnival of Blood (1970)
A stop motion classic, “Equinox” feels like a monster movie plucked from the 1950s but has inspired genre paragons like “The Evil Dead”. Told …continue reading The Daily Dig: Equinox (1970)
Great sets, strong performances, beautiful twins, witches, and vampires make this period piece film from Hammer an enjoyable watch. Two recently orphaned twins come …continue reading The Daily Dig: Twins of Evil (1971)
You can’t borrow your cousin’s Netflix password anymore, but just imagine Dirty Harry as a DJ being chased by Lucille Bluth with a knife. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Play Misty For Me (1971)
Completists might suffer through this to earn their stripes and ironic contrarians may call it a cheesy masterpiece, but it’s pure garbage. A mad …continue reading The Daily Dig: Zaat (1971)
Bogged down with too much symbolism and allegory, this is not what I expected when I was pitched a marriage between Marlon Brando and …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Nightcomers (1971)
A loose adaptation of a Bram Stoker story by Hammer Films, it has the right vibe and a great starlet going for it… but …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb (1971)
Not adventurous enough to be an art film and not cohesive enough to be a cult hit, this revenge horror reeks of misogyny. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Headless Eyes (1971)
A subtle vampiric story replete with psychological horror, “Let’s Scare Jessica to Death” is lauded by critics and fans — for good reason. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971)
Beautifully shot with stunning realistic locations, this historically-inspired horror delivers tension and sexuality with a side of blood. A newly married couple, alone in …continue reading The Daily Dig: Daughters of Darkness (1971)
A couth tale of selling your soul to indulge impulses and immortality, “The Mephisto Waltz” is a mystery/thriller with a giallo sensibility. A dying …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Mephisto Waltz (1971)
“Frogs” is an early Eco-Horror that will make your skin crawl if you hold creature phobias. Come for the animals, stay for young Sam …continue reading The Daily Dig: Frogs (1972)
Debauchery, taboo, betrayals, nudity, and of course, beautiful Italians abound in this pseudo-Giallo packed with twists and turns. A widower does his best to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Smile Before Death (1972)
Though filled with grief and depravity, there is an undeniable heartbeat to “Whoever Slew Auntie Roo” that harmonizes well with the holidays. A bereaved …continue reading The Daily Dig: Whoever Slew Auntie Roo (1972)
Great scenery and production design gild this mess of a story inhabited by the most beautiful people you can put on celluloid. Unrelated groups …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Murder Mansion (1972)
A daring commentary on gender roles, sexuality, and equal rights wrapped with an appealing gothic horror tale and even more appealing actors. A newlywed …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Blood Spattered Bride (1972)
You can stuff this turkey under the “so bad it’s fun” folder, pour a drink, sit back, and laugh until Mom says dinner’s ready. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood Freak (1972)
A good mystery, stellar cinematography, and heavy drama make for an upper-echelon installment to the Giallo sub-genre. The death of a private investigator leads …continue reading The Daily Dig: My Dear Killer (1972)
Deep messages are glossed over as bovine blood flows like a river in this seedy foray into the mind of a nascent serial killer. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Cannibal Man (1972)
A heavy dose of black humor strikes a nice balance with the macabre plot in “Burke and Hare”; it’s 70’s sexploitation flare with a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Burke and Hare (1972)
Unparalleled locations, a rich historical plot, high production values, and a Riz Ortolani score make this a unique and entertaining giallo. An Italian Archaeologist …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Dead Are Alive! (1972)
A pleasant surprise, this pseudo-crime thriller features two titans of the genre, Donald Pleasence and Sir Christopher Lee. When people start disappearing in the …continue reading The Daily Dig: Death Line (1972)
A slick looking period piece from the Hammer-adjacent Amicus Productions, this is an easy and enjoyable watch about demonic insemination. Newly married and moved …continue reading The Daily Dig: And Now the Screaming Starts! (1973)
A boring anthology based on seventies horror comics that saved its only redeemable tale for last and featured heavy-handed symbolism. Five men find themselves …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Vault of Horror (1973)
A brilliant film with an incredible atmosphere and eerie dream-like sequences, “Messiah of Evil” is a true hidden gem amongst the rubble. Arletty heads …continue reading The Daily Dig: Messiah of Evil (1973)
This serviceable 70’s exploitation film has a wealth of horrific source material to build from, but it only scratches the surface. Not every vacation …continue reading The Daily Dig: Horror Hospital (1973)
A hard-to-find British film that has more alternative titles than interesting scenes, the production is carried on the allure of its star. Valerie witnesses …continue reading The Daily Dig: The House That Vanished (1973)
This theater of the absurd, overtly sexual, bloody, and over-the-top film fits snuggly under the “Andy Warhol Presents…” title. Baron Frankenstein uses his scientific …continue reading The Daily Dig: Flesh for Frankenstein (1973)
A slow and plodding character study, it makes little attempt at cohesion or storytelling and simply hopes some blood will do the trick. Patients …continue reading The Daily Dig: Don’t Look in the Basement (1973)
“Dr. Tarr’s Torture Dungeon” is a rather accurate adaptation of a short story by Poe with just the right bit of Terry Gilliam-like madness. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dr. Tarr’s Torture Dungeon (1973)
Playing with non-linear storytelling and perception, this chaotic human study works thanks to a strong, believable performance by Liz Taylor. A Woman with an …continue reading The Daily Dig: Identikit (1974)
A slow thriller with a mischievous plot, “No One Heard the Scream” has more promise in your imagination than what plays out on screen. …continue reading The Daily Dig: No One Heard the Scream (1974)
An incomprehensible story is covered up by scenes of torture, fantastical blood, and, of course, an ample amount of nudity. A recently paroled woman …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Girl in Room 2A (1974)
Though it doesn’t have enough laughs to be comedy or enough horror to be frightening, this monster spoof is at least nice to look …continue reading The Daily Dig: Old Dracula (1974)
A less than riveting haunted house tale told at a snail’s pace, this British gothic horror does at least feature Sir Christopher Lee. When …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dark Places (1974)
“The Freakmaker” is a fun, turn your brain off type of film that pushes deep messages which feel too serious for the content. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Freakmaker (1974)
A low-budget kid slasher that features child star Leif Garrett in a sadistic and well-performed role as the leader of murderous children. Four children …continue reading The Daily Dig: Devil Times Five (1974)
An assemblage of macabre stories with a delightful connective theme, featuring horror heavyweights Donald Pleasence and Peter Cushing. An antique shop owner sells items …continue reading The Daily Dig: From Beyond the Grave (1974)
This natural horror flick, which is sometimes goofy and sometimes mean-spirited, doesn’t focus on the biggest fear stimulant it has: snakes! A lonely snake …continue reading The Daily Dig: Fangs (1974)
The most underrated and overlooked zombie flick of all time is worth watching, even if Robert Kirkman has made you hate zombies. Two travelers …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Living Dead at Manchester Morgue (1974)
A true cult horror, clever marketing gave this South American low-budget film proper legs to build up a legend around its final sequence. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Snuff (1975)
A giallo ghost story with an ample amount of gore and nudity fails to break the mold thanks to a wimpy ending. A morgue …continue reading The Daily Dig: Autopsy (1975)
A solid Giallo film that drops the ball a bit when the “whodunnit” is revealed, “Eyeball” is still a fun watch. A killer cuts …continue reading The Daily Dig: Eyeball (1975)
Beautiful filmmaking and a strong core message make the Malaysian-shot seventies horror exploitation “Black Magic” a timeless tale. Lovers and admirers consult a wicked …continue reading The Daily Dig: Black Magic (1975)
A clumsy story filled with horror lore and possibly the first appearance of Michael Myers, this is requisite viewing for its history alone. Traveling …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Devil’s Rain (1975)
An indigestible expression of art like an acid trip in a museum, “Black Moon” drops an intriguing plot for moments of psychosis. Fleeing a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Black Moon (1975)
Good atmosphere, a modest amount of decent practical effects and gore, and an attractive and talented cast don’t necessarily equal success. On their way …continue reading The Daily Dig: Satan’s Slave (1976)
A fun but clunky endeavor, “Drive-In Massacre” could have been a modern-day William Castle flick if it were better executed. A sword-swinging psycho is …continue reading The Daily Dig: Drive-In Massacre (1976)
Colorful characters munch up screen time in “Creature from Black Lake” — a monster movie that brings Bigfoot to the bayou. A couple of students …continue reading The Daily Dig: Creature from Black Lake (1976)
Riding the coattails of the sharpest jaws in the sea, this guilty pleasure of natural horror even recycled a shot of Bruce the shark. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Grizzly (1976)
Tobe Hooper follows up “Texas Chainsaw” with a wandering plot that is extremely stylized and filled with prophetic horror history. The owner of a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Eaten Alive (1976)
Slow pacing and insipidness dampen what begins with good tone and suspense; strong symbolism couldn’t make up for the lack of flare. An artist …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dark August (1976)
Not the typical camp you would expect from a Larry Cohen production, the horror here feels all too real in today’s America. When seemingly …continue reading The Daily Dig: God Told Me To (1976)
The #MeToo reckoning helped level the inequity of filmmaking, but this is a rare example of a film daring to display its guilt on …continue reading The Daily Dig: To The Devil a Daughter (1976)
A natural horror that steps across the line into the supernatural with the Yeti myth but fails to deliver much fur. A mysterious beast …continue reading The Daily Dig: Snowbeast (1977)
Eerily prophetic, “Demon Seed” is a tech-horror that will make you yearn for simpler times when we didn’t ask the pill-shaped voice about the …continue reading The Daily Dig: Demon Seed (1977)
“Rituals” isn’t exactly a picnic; prepare yourself for a low-rent version of “Deliverance” with a hint of “Wrong Turn”. Five doctors go on their …continue reading The Daily Dig: Rituals (1977)
The type of film that becomes a guilty pleasure, “The Car” features a killer car and was created by Hollywood vehicle legend George Barris. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Car (1977)
A snapshot of the zeitgeist of the late sixties that plays like a public service announcement for parents to keep their kids locked up. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hitch Hike to Hell (1977)
This disaster thriller seems like a made-for-TV flick but features a couple of bloody good practical effects and a Lalo Schifrin score. A deranged …continue reading The Daily Dig: Rollercoaster (1977)
An avant-garde art film that will leave you stunned it exists but thankful to have seen it, “Death Bed: The Bed That Eats” is …continue reading The Daily Dig: Death Bed (1977)
Christopher Lee was tricked into being in this film, and you’re going to be tricked into believing this is an early slasher film. It’s …continue reading The Daily Dig: Meat Cleaver Massacre (1977)
A natural horror with tons of depth and real-life fear, it leans more sci-fi than realistic effects but is rich with great wildlife footage. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Day of the Animals (1977)
An amateur production with an amateur cast “The Child” stands as a reminder of how spoiled we are by trained filmmakers. Alicianne has been …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Child (1977)
A contained sci-fi horror that focuses on characters instead of gags and effects but fails to make anyone likable; not much to chew on. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Alpha Incident (1978)
“The Redeemer” is an eccentric film with creepy enough elements to be interesting and an over-the-top performance worthy of the genre. Six people are …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Redeemer – Son of Satan! (1978)
This sleazy slapstick comedy horror centers around some navy boys in the Pacific getting their kicks hanging with vampiric hookers. A vampire runs a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Vampire Hookers (1978)
A half thought out script and poor pacing are only the beginning of the problems for this natural horror that has an abrupt ending. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Bees (1978)
The penultimate cult horror film utilizes public anxiety perfectly and gives us drug-induced killers with indelible appearances. Ten years after taking an experimental strain …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blue Sunshine (1978)
A box-office smash at the time, “Love at First Bite” capitalized on the era’s sense of humor and the mash-up of comedy and horror …continue reading The Daily Dig: Love at First Bite (1978)
A completely invasive score and sound design make up for the slowest of burns in this British horror based on a depression-era short story. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Shout (1978)
This middling tale of an evil family features brilliant locations and Hollywood’s most unheralded star couple, Sam Elliott and Katharine Ross. An American architect …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Legacy (1978)
The first adaptation of Peter Straub’s work is rich with meaning and tone and beautifully shot, though it’s short on the scares. A grieving …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Haunting of Julia (1978)
If you’re watching “The Manitou” and hoping for gut-wrenching body horror, you’re out of luck. “Hope is for saints and fools.” A malevolent spirit …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Manitou (1978)
An amazing feat in underwater filmography can not make up for unfocused storytelling and wild choices for dubbed voice-overs. A family voyage to …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Bermuda Triangle (1978)
An irredeemable exploitation film, it calls inspiration from serial murderer Ted Bundy but offers little more than gratuitous violence. A cop chases down a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Killer’s Delight (1978)
A textbook exploitation film, “Nurse Sherri” has that quintessential seventies luster, while delivering on action way beyond its means; a worthy watch. A Nurse …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nurse Sherri (1978)
A “vampire” flick unlike any I’ve ever seen, the fact that “Thirst” is not talked about as one of the greats in the sub-genre …continue reading The Daily Dig: Thirst (1979)
A terrible off-shoot of a classic horror story, this one needed no new transfer for posterity and was best left in the VHS dungeon. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dr. Jekyll’s Dungeon of Death (1979)
A fishing line budget didn’t stop “Savage Weekend” from bringing the blood, guts, and sex; an impressive effort with little to no resources. Wealthy …continue reading The Daily Dig: Savage Weekend (1979)
In the running for the most boring film of all time, even MST3K would have a hard time getting a laugh out of this …continue reading The Daily Dig: Bog (1979)
This seventies horror version of gaslighting has simple yet effective scares and does a good job building tension towards a twist ending. After intentionally …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dominique (1979)
Don’t let the promise of a plot fool you; this low-rent Norman Bates killer is less coherent than a “Fast and Furious” film. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Delirium (1979)
A Nunsploitation slasher with a mean streak and dizzying imagery, “The Killer Nun” flirts with poignancy but ultimately aims low. A Nun slips into …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Killer Nun (1979)
A unique look at the mechanics of genre film making poses deeper questions than the budget would lead you to expect. A low budget …continue reading The Daily Dig: Effects (1979)
A natural horror film that should have relied on camera tricks instead of special effects to make its killer creatures more scary than lame. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nightwing (1979)
“The Visitor” is a turkey of a film that boasts an all-time impressive cast but is too derivative to be great or to forge …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Visitor (1979)
“Stage Fright” is an uneventful slasher about a theater company and the murder of its actors by the least mysterious killer in cinema. An …continue reading The Daily Dig: Stage Fright (1980)
Reminiscent of some of the more popular holiday horror films films, “To All A Goodnight” is a commendable effort worth adding to the seasonal …continue reading The Daily Dig: To All A Goodnight (1980)
An atypical story about the most written about profession, “Deadline” has some heart and intellect — but mostly blood, lots of blood! A horror Writer …continue reading The Daily Dig: Deadline (1980)
A perfect example of no-budget, low-quality gold that inspired tons of great horror films and countless more terrible ones. The federal government resorts to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Toxic Zombies (1980)
“The Hearse” is a pleasing ghost story that makes all the right moves, including casting a very strong lead in Trish Van Devere. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Hearse (1980)
“Godsend” is a good, unsettling, psychological horror with great casting that never quite steps into the dark holes of fear it needed to. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Godsend (1980)
The type of film that inspires a generation of outcasts to wear ill-perceived clothing and feel comfortable with their introversion. Eric is obsessed with …continue reading The Daily Dig: Fade to Black (1980)
A strong and consistent character drives this inverted slasher as we journey the exploits of a fiery serial killer and his warped mind. Donny …continue reading The Daily Dig: Don’t Go in the House (1980)
This formulaic 80s slasher film has enough intriguing elements to entertain, but it will not satiate a horror fiend’s bloodlust. A Bride-to-be killer moves …continue reading The Daily Dig: He Knows You’re Alone (1980)
More soap-opera than slasher, this mystery thriller — which resembles the seventies — has a small bite and a quiet bark. A woman unhappy …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nightkill (1980)
A before its time twisted family slasher that isn’t quite good enough to be a cult classic but holds a credit roll of Hall …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Unseen (1980)
A strong cast and FX legend weren’t enough to make this 50s sci-fi throwback anything more than vanilla with an uninspired alien creature. Teens …continue reading The Daily Dig: Without Warning (1980)
A gorefest from the cannibal craze of the early eighties that escapes the jungle to chomp flesh from bone on the streets of America. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Cannibal Apocalypse (1980)
“Alligator” is a detective story packaged as a monster film; the cast is pleasing, and the Gator is impressive, even with tacky sets. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Alligator (1980)
If you’re afraid of crustaceans but addicted to being scared, this creepy, clawy, natural horror may be just the pinch for you. An experiment …continue reading The Daily Dig: Island Claws (1980)
This monster movie takes a stab at predicting the future evils of science and genetic tampering — and boy is it cheesy! An ex-cop investigates …continue reading The Daily Dig: Scared to Death (1980)
A grimy and gory sleaze-fest, “Nightmare” has more tricks up its sleeve than it’s given credit for — even if it leaves you needing a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nightmare (1981)
“Evilspeak” is worth a watch for the bloody ending alone, but don’t expect a coherent story or state-of-the-art effects. A bullied military academy cadet …continue reading The Daily Dig: Evilspeak (1981)
Horror that smells of antique leather and books. Pour your brandy, lift a pinky, and stiffen the back for a good ol’ fashioned “Ghost …continue reading The Daily Dig: Ghost Story (1981)
Heavy, horrorful implications and sequences are somewhat diminished by a low-budget production and acting but presage real-life massacres. Three children born during an eclipse …continue reading The Daily Dig: Bloody Birthday (1981)
The only “Night of Horror” you’ll have to worry about is the night you spend watching this talking head snooze fest. A man in …continue reading The Daily Dig: Night of Horror (1981)
If Bloody Mary were a hairy, barefooted, overall wearing, pitchfork wielding, murderous farmer in the woods, she’d be… Madman Marz! At a camp for …continue reading The Daily Dig: Madman (1981)
This is another film using a real-life threat as the source of terror, but a silly supernatural twist strips it of all effectiveness. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Jaws of Satan (1981)
Psychologically profound with a flair of romanticism you wouldn’t expect from a gruff truck driver, “Road Games” proves itself entertaining. An American truck driver …continue reading The Daily Dig: Road Games (1981)
A dopey early slasher that will look very familiar with its formula of young hikers, woods, and a machete-wielding maniac killer. A group of …continue reading The Daily Dig: Don’t Go in the Woods (1981)
A horror parody from a comedy writer with a highly impressive resume merely toys with tropes instead of beating them like a dead horse. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Student Bodies (1981)
Using the early 80’s slasher template “X-Ray” — also known as “Hospital Massacre” — fills the screen with plenty of blood and scares but no …continue reading The Daily Dig: X-Ray (1981)
A slow-paced slasher with memorable kills and a predictable but solid twist ending, “Night School” is not what it promises to be. A motorcycle …continue reading The Daily Dig: Night School (1981)
This Brady Bunch won’t be arguing over who gets the most attention; they’re just trying not to get stabbed in the back! A scientist’s …continue reading The Daily Dig: Strange Behavior (1981)
One of the few 80’s horror flicks that lives up to its cover art, “Happy Birthday to Me” delivers gore, violence, and even a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Happy Birthday to Me (1981)
Much of the potential is left on the table as the celluloid fills with boring drama instead of reaping, raptures, and the blood of …continue reading The Daily Dig: A Day of Judgement (1981)
Sheer brilliance seeps from this work of true art that will shake your balance of reality and make your stomach churn simultaneously. Returned from …continue reading The Daily Dig: Possession (1981)
A home invasion horror with a creature feature B-Story, this UK production is a better film than circumstances should have allowed for. Criminals plan …continue reading The Daily Dig: Venom (1981)
John Cassavetes does all he can to charm this film into mediocrity and cover for a ridiculous-looking monster and confused storytelling. Young women are …continue reading The Daily Dig: Incubus (1981)
“Hell Night” contains all the tropes, archetypes, and clichés you’d expect in an early 80’s slasher film, yet it still holds up. Forced to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hell Night (1981)
An underappreciated genre gem, “Dark Night of the Scarecrow” avoids the slasher traps and benefits from veteran actors who play evil well. A mentally …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981)
A host of uncomfortable topics and quality special effects make for a unique film with one of the best horror titles of the eighties. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981)
“Madhouse” is an Italian-American slasher film that is short on coherence and execution, but stylish enough to gain some interest. Two twins have drawn …continue reading The Daily Dig: Madhouse (1981)
A run-of-the-mill zombie flick, “Zombie Lakes” looks great, with a fresh scan and English dubbing, but underwhelms in makeup and FX. The corpses of …continue reading The Daily Dig: Zombie Lake (1981)
This slasher is shot well and features Savini’s makeup work, but they fumble what could have been a poignant and impactful story. A reporter …continue reading The Daily Dig: Eyes of a Stranger (1981)
An effective Australian film based on an ancient Celtic cult tale that finds the perfect tones of terror at exactly the right moments. On …continue reading The Daily Dig: Alison’s Birthday (1981)
Bound to impress your friends on trivia night, this Thanksgiving slasher will add to your already impressive repertoire of unwatchable films. A drugged up, …continue reading The Daily Dig: Home Sweet Home (1981)
A lack of focus made the early eighties slasher “Final Exam” a product better sold for parts rather than enjoyed as a whole. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Final Exam (1981)
A sub-genre template with all the requisite nudity and impalement, “Graduation Day” may be required viewing for slasher fiends of all types. After a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Graduation Day (1981)
This is a small study in fanaticism that would resonate like a gunshot for decades to come after the assassination of John Lennon. An …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Fan (1981)
This calculated ghost story had to abandon its script due to a lack of funds, leaving it heavy on atmosphere and thin on action. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Ghostkeeper (1981)
A nothing-new slasher with a whimsical killer costume, “Girls Nite Out” fails to hit that trademark eighties college comedy level. A killer in a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Girls Nite Out (1982)
Another quality early 80s Australian film, in what seems to have been the golden age of low budget high effort Ozploitation. Linda’s Mother has …continue reading The Daily Dig: Next of Kin (1982)
An early, lost slasher that benefited from being dubbed a video nasty, “Nightmare Island” plays with tropes that would permeate the genre. Plagued by …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nightmare Island (1982)
“Humongous” is an early slasher that didn’t set any high bar or standard for the gore and guts that would soon come, but it …continue reading The Daily Dig: Humongous (1982)
Apparently, the only thing Zombies covet more than brains is books, and you’d be better off reading one than watching this plodding film. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Curse of the Screaming Dead (1982)
Filled with lots of Halloween pranks but little substance, “Trick or Treats” forgot to have a “bad guy” until it was too late to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Trick or Treats (1982)
“The Sender” is a psychological, supernatural horror that has a strong religious undertone and is smarter than it’s given credit for. An amnesiac man …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Sender (1982)
“Blood Tide” is a decent ancient monster flick worth the time for the unique creature and a young and handsome James Earl Jones. Neil …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood Tide (1982)
A well-paced suspense film from the director of “Friday the 13th”, “A Stranger is Watching” is a solid pseudo-slasher with an evil Rip Torn. …continue reading The Daily Dig: A Stranger is Watching (1982)
A Fulci film feels nothing like a Fulci film, “Manhattan Baby” is slow and boring enough to be a baby’s lullaby. An amulet taken …continue reading The Daily Dig: Manhattan Baby (1982)
“The Slayer” is a pseudo-slasher film that employs a popular tactic from the VHS heyday: killer cover art but underwhelming content. Stranded on an …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Slayer (1982)
For fans and completists of the Pittsburgh horror vibe, with the always impressive practical effects from the master Tom Savini. Running away from a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Midnight (1982)
“One Dark Night” is a gothic horror flick with a squishy center and tons of eighties tropes — but an ending that delivers a …continue reading The Daily Dig: One Dark Night (1982)
The biggest talking point is the canine actors who brought the mutant rats “to life” — a fact which doesn’t bode well for quality. Steroid-contaminated …continue reading The Daily Dig: Deadly Eyes (1982)
Over-the-top gore and scares make up for a timeworn plot and poor execution in this Video Nasty, also released as “The Witch”. A Reverend …continue reading The Daily Dig: Superstition (1982)
A good slasher/thriller from the 80s, “Death Valley” features a noteworthy cast of old steady hands and a trigger happy new face. Billy goes …continue reading The Daily Dig: Death Valley (1982)
A stylized achievement of cinematography with a story that inspired genre films for decades, this hidden gem was saved by Troma. Aspiring filmmaker Vinny …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Last Horror Film (1982)
An uninspired zombie mutant story, it hoped to bank on tropes and the assumed connection to George A. Romero’s franchise of the undead. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Panic (1982)
A formulaic slasher with a big finale in a cemetery would be a must-watch for slasher completists but doesn’t feature anything unique. A group …continue reading The Daily Dig: Death Screams (1982)
Light and easy, and in no way meant to be taken too seriously, “Wacko” could be the exact kind of mindlessly fun popcorn flick …continue reading The Daily Dig: Wacko (1982)
A post-apocalyptic pseudo-Western starring a fresh-faced Demi Moore and slug-like hand puppets, this didn’t quite predict 1992 correctly. In the aftermath of atomic fallout, …continue reading The Daily Dig: Parasite (1982)
A folk horror ripe with supernatural terror like “Eyes of Fire” should have been enough for such a talented director to get more work. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Eyes of Fire (1983)
A ridiculous premise plays out in “The Lift” with sloppy storytelling—as if Jason became a series of cables, pulleys, and a metal box. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Lift (1983)
A journey into absurdity, with dialogue that often feels like a conversation within a Tibetan temple, “Blood Beat” is certainly an experience. A Woman …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood Beat (1983)
Have you ever asked yourself: What if King Kong were a snake? Well, now you don’t have to. Just watch “Spasms”. A cult, a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Spasms (1983)
An all-star cast isn’t quite enough to make “Nightmares” a cult classic, but there is value in the film’s simple storytelling. An anthology of …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nightmares (1983)
A menacing proto-slasher, “Mountaintop Motel Massacre” succeeds on many levels but falls short of what’s needed to become a cult classic. A former asylum …continue reading The Daily Dig: Moutaintop Motel Massacre (1983)
In “Sweet Sixteen”, too many pots to stir, and maladroit morals, dilute what could have been a solid enough early slasher film. Melissa is …continue reading The Daily Dig: Sweet Sixteen (1983)
A slow burn of realistic fear from the most infamous pest known to man: the rat! How can something so small make you go …continue reading The Daily Dig: Of Unknown Origin (1983)
A well-performed thriller that handles heavy material wrapped in a slasher film; for a film that lacks fireworks, it flies by quickly. A young …continue reading The Daily Dig: Olivia (1983)
An overlooked slasher likely found on most genre filmmakers’ list of influences, featuring great practical effects from John Carl Buechler. A group of camping …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Prey (1983)
This little-known slasher may be lost to history if not for the work of Shout Factory and their dedication to horror posterity. A mixed …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Final Terror (1983)
Ray Bradbury inspired so many horror legends with both this book and film that it is a must-watch for genre fans everywhere. An evil …continue reading The Daily Dig: Something Wicked this Way Comes (1983)
Thirty-seven years of waiting for a proper release of this fabled film wasn’t long enough to degrade our brains sufficiently to enjoy it. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Grizzly II (1983/2020)
Special effects and tone drive the engine of this paean to cold war era sci-fi films, which started an award-winning career. After his ex-wife …continue reading The Daily Dig: Strange Invaders (1983)
“Scalps” is an early slasher from Fred Olen Ray, who shoots like the guerilla version of Roger Corman. Style is king, execution be damned. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Scalps (1983)
A quintessential eighties supernatural slasher that cares little about making sense and only about boobs, blood, and screams. A horror film star dies of …continue reading The Daily Dig: Frightmare (1983)
“Mortuary” is a good film that loses itself with misdirection, but worth a watch for an early performance from “Wild” Bill Paxton. Christie’s father …continue reading The Daily Dig: Mortuary (1983)
First rate 80’s special effects make up from John Carl Buechler compensates for a tired tale that “borrows” elements from mainstream horror. An ancient …continue reading The Daily Dig: Mausoleum (1983)
Similar to some of Horror’s biggest franchises, “Silent Madness” uses many successful elements of the next two decades, with lower quality. A clerical error …continue reading The Daily Dig: Silent Madness (1984)
Short on story but rife with schlock, there isn’t much to bite your teeth into with “Blood Theatre” beyond slight gratuitous eighties gore. Ten …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood Theatre (1984)
Expertly using tension and uncertainty to portray real-life horror and destruction, “Threads” plays like a docudrama or a dire warning. The story of the …continue reading The Daily Dig: Threads (1984)
No worse than any other period slasher, “The Mutilator” could have found its way into a franchise if the killer was more of a …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Mutilator (1984)
Stunning sets and technical expertise resemble titans like De Palma and Argento but the storytelling lacks cohesion and falls flat. A failing Director exploits …continue reading The Daily Dig: Special Effects (1984)
Even with the original Shock Rocker Alice Cooper, “Monster Dog” is never able to fully exploit the close relationship of Horror and Metal. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Monster Dog (1984)
Clearly a Zombie film despite the title, “Mutant” is fun and sincere 80’s undead fest — with an action packed third act that really …continue reading The Daily Dig: Mutant (1984)
Tone and atmosphere are the only things worthy of falling in love with in this early eighties supernatural, pseudo-slasher. The lone survivor of a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Sole Survivor (1984)
Ripe with tone and the dread of isolation, this film becomes an all-out zombie gore-fest that satiates the bloodthirsty and fatalists alike. Hypnotized to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Death Warmed Up (1984)
Like an 80’s VHS Horror version of “The Expendables”, “The Dungeonmaster” gathered renowned, low budget cult filmmakers for a single effort. A man with …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Dungeonmaster (1984)
Christopher Young’s score and a bag full of genre tropes make the hidden 80s gem “The Power” a fun and easy, yet scattered, watch. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Power (1984)
Come for the promise of sleaze but stay for the cheap gore in “Carnage”—a ghost story from exploitation legend Andy Milligan. A newly married …continue reading The Daily Dig: Carnage (1984)
Not slapstick enough to be “Airplane!” and not clever enough to be Monty Python, this genre spoof takes time to get funny but redeems …continue reading The Daily Dig: Bloodbath at the House of Death (1984)
A director at the top of his game despite an average script, this Giallo film from the master Fulci is better than reported. An …continue reading The Daily Dig: Murder Rock (1984)
It’s exactly the film it claims to be and will satisfy any fans looking to expand their resume of eighties formulaic teen slashers. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Initiation (1984)
A close-to-pitch-black exposure actually utilizes some stylistic tricks that would be used in better-scripted genre films for decades after. A group of adventurers is …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Strangeness (1985)
Featuring Pierce Brosnan in his first starring role, “Nomads” is a confusing film — and not in a pretentious, artsy way. An anthropological professor passes …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nomads (1985)
“The Comic” has hints of the chaos of “Brazil”, the unruliness of “A Clockwork Orange”, and makes as much sense as “Fast and Furious”. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Comic (1985)
A gruesome collection of practical gore effects and great ghostly visuals make this exploitation / supernatural mashup well worth a watch. A vengeful ghost …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Oracle (1985)
“Hellhole” lacks substance but makes up for it with a ton of nudity and inmate intimacy, almost redeemed by one great performance. Susan witnesses …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hellhole (1985)
Using the age-old technique of keeping everything as dark as possible can’t hide this copycat Sci-Fi horror film’s deficiencies. A team is sent to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Creature (1985)
A retelling of the Burke and Hare murders that is very watchable thanks to a strong cast and great dialogue from iconic poet Dylan …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Doctor and the Devils (1985)
“Nothing Underneath” is a solid crime thriller with beautiful people, great camera work, and a score by Pino Donaggio. An American park ranger travels …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nothing Underneath (1985)
A sleazy slasher with a splash of Sci-Fi, “Evils of the Night” blends almost every 80’s horror stereotype together to create a rather vile …continue reading The Daily Dig: Evils of the Night (1985)
This “hidden for a reason” gem features some of the worst acting in the history of the genre and comes with a healthy dose …continue reading The Daily Dig: Breeders (1986)
Futuristic cars, aliens, Sherilynn Fenn, a killer soundtrack, and the young tiger blood of Charlie Sheen coalesce to form a sinfully underrated 80’s gem. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Wraith (1986)
“Red Dawn” without the political implications, “Cabin in the Woods” without the Zombies, and “Evil Dead” without the cursed book and demons. A group …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Zero Boys (1986)
A film out of time, “Las Vegas Serial Killer” is an exploitation flick that offers little beyond background content to play in a sleazy …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Las Vegas Serial Killer (1986)
Sex, gore, violence, and computer zombies make for an absurdly fun Troma-distributed film representing everything hyperbolic about 80s films. An experimental computer creates havoc …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nightmare Weekend (1986)
This dark comedy horror flirts with being Raimi-esque, a little-known slasher that will pour you a tall glass of nostalgia. A sorority hazing ritual …continue reading The Daily Dig: Killer Party (1986)
An independent production, “Girls School Screamers” was acquired and released by Troma, who spiced it up with some gory reshoots. A group of women …continue reading The Daily Dig: Girls School Screamers (1986)
A tale of the most interesting dinner party in genre history, Ken Russell delivers his distinct brand of trippy horror in this ode to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Gothic (1986)
“Blood Hook” is everything you would expect from a low budget fishing-based horror film from the 1980s. Let it reel you in, hook, line, …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood Hook (1986)
This ’80s slasher flick based on real-life murders in Florence, Italy, doesn’t have any tricks we haven’t seen time and time again. A criminology …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Killer is Still Among Us (1986)
Who doesn’t love an anthology of scary bedtime stories? Good cinematography and serviceable special effects bookend this fun flick. A babysitting Uncle tries to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Deadtime Stories (1986)
Australia’s version of “The Final Girl” is more badass than ours, but she’s still subject to the same tropes and traps. Game hunters and …continue reading The Daily Dig: Fair Game (1986)
A reported favorite of Quentin Tarantino, “Dead End Drive-In” boasts award-nominated production design and an 80s enthusiast’s dream aesthetic. In a dystopian future (1995) …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dead End Drive-In (1986)
A high concept mess, it’s like common era MTV threw up on a sound stage and everyone ran around on a neon drug trip …continue reading The Daily Dig: Vicious Lips (1986)
Outstanding sets and expert-level special effects costumes are a far cry from Hooper’s earlier DIY filmmaking and a ton of fun. It’s Martians versus …continue reading The Daily Dig: Invaders From Mars (1986)
This perfectly ’80s teen comedy may remind you of something like “Teen Wolf” — but with a horror bite and big, bloodsucking fangs. A teen …continue reading The Daily Dig: My Best Friend Is A Vampire (1987)
A highlight reel of 80s gore, this knife wielding twin slasher will make you eyeball the cranberry sauce with reservation this Thanksgiving. Ten years …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood Rage (1987)
A creepy and vicious slasher, “The Stepfather” will make you think twice about the family members sitting across from you this Thanksgiving. An austere …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Stepfather (1987)
A plot-less, eighties, derivative romp that has some decent and memorable kills but little else to offer beyond blood and glowing eyes. A man …continue reading The Daily Dig: Retribution (1987)
A simple teen slasher that hardly pierces the skin and relies on breasts and kills to keep you entertained rather than enlightened. A group …continue reading The Daily Dig: Shallow Grave (1987)
More than just a monster movie, “Dark Age” is a great example of horror with intention and heart. Come for the Croc, stay for …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dark Age (1987)
A well-executed pseudo-slasher with a great tone, deep symbolism, and a solid cast, this overlooked 80s flick is worth a watch. An audiophile and …continue reading The Daily Dig: White of the Eye (1987)
“The Outing” is slow to start and never fully delivers, but it has an odd charm that seemed to coat many of the most …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Outing (1987)
“Phantom of Death” almost works: the acting is strong, the director has style, it looks good; the story was just told from the wrong …continue reading The Daily Dig: Phantom of Death (1987)
A DIY black comedy with no shame and no studio restrictions flexes its creative muscle to reach cult status, with a heavy cheese topping. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Deathrow Gameshow (1987)
Give high-end prop-making technicians to Roger Corman, and you get “Munchies” — a riotous horror-comedy filled with puns and practical FX. Little alien terrors …continue reading The Daily Dig: Munchies (1987)
“American Gothic” is exactly the type of hidden gem this column was built for. World class acting meets freaks and gore. Join the family. …continue reading The Daily Dig: American Gothic (1987)
David got a football scholarship, and he’s having a celebration party—one no one should RSVP to, including the audience of “Night Screams”. David throws …continue reading The Daily Dig: Night Screams (1987)
They breed, they hatch, they Kill! If you’re into monster movies in the vein of 50’s creature features, you’re in for a thrill with …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blue Monkey (1987)
Boasting one of the best VHS covers ever, “Bloody New Year” doesn’t deliver on its promise until too late, and then only barely. On …continue reading The Daily Dig: Bloody New Year (1987)
In another lackluster Lovecraft adaptation, we’re left only with the beauty of Wil Wheaton to satiate the appetite of the elder gods. A meteorite …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Curse (1987)
A true art film, “Born of Fire” is rife with symbolism and opulent visuals in the vein of Jodorowsky, by way of Turkey and …continue reading The Daily Dig: Born of Fire (1987)
A classic example of the cover art being the best part of the movie, this “ghost story” lacks both horror and ghosts! A band …continue reading The Daily Dig: Ghost Riders (1987)
A typical 80’s ooze-fest, there is nothing outstanding about the film besides the fact that it makes you feel the era. After the death …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Kindred (1987)
A true “Hidden” gem, this cop thriller with a sci-fi/horror lean has an impressive cast and a ton of action throughout. A Cop and …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Hidden (1987)
In “Aenigma”, the Italian gore master tries his hand at a tired teen slasher trope with minimal success beyond his gross-out gags. An “ugly” …continue reading The Daily Dig: Aenigma (1987)
A prototypical schlock horror film, “Killing Spree” packs gore from floor to ceiling with plenty left over to bury in the backyard. A jealous …continue reading The Daily Dig: Killing Spree (1987)
With strong writing and skillful acting, this remake of a 1945 film-noir is a suspenseful snowstorm thriller with little let down. Katie McGovern is …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dead of Winter (1987)
Decent practical effects and makeup, plus an interesting story of how the film was saved from obscurity, make this one fun but nothing more. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Scared Stiff (1987)
A half-hearted effort using a common premise is short on gags, lacking acting chops, and forgettable — but features rad cover art. When her …continue reading The Daily Dig: Rest In Pieces (1987)
A typical eighties slasher that is heavy on forcible violation tries to set itself apart with eccentric performer Tiny Tim as a clown. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood Harvest (1987)
Great eighties’ practical gross-out effects are sure to please gore hounds, and you should expect nothing less from Roger Corman’s studio. Biologically altered, killer …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Nest (1987)
Gore-a-plenty, Toni Basil, and an Alcatraz setting make the late 1980s supernatural horror “Slaughterhouse Rock” fun, despite its flaws. A group of friends breaks …continue reading The Daily Dig: Slaughterhouse Rock (1987)
Glorified fan fiction somehow made it to the small screen in this “Psycho” spin-off that shows only a glimpse of a Norman Bates impostor. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Bates Motel (1987)
“The Believers” is a solid, under-the-radar thriller with an unbelievably strong cast and a script from “Twin Peaks” creator Mark Frost. A recently widowed …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Believers (1987)
Harrowing topics are dealt with passively, focusing on erstwhile horror tactics rather than addressing trauma with poignant action and thoughtful allegory. After the passing …continue reading The Daily Dig: Grandmother’s House (1988)
It may not be the Thanksgiving hostage movie we wanted, but “Hostile Takeover” is the grueling-to-endure hostage movie 2020 deserves. For no good reason …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hostile Takeover (1988)
“Dream Demon” is a well-executed fever dream that would give anyone cold feet about taking the plunge, with some great gore and stunts. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dream Demon (1988)
Set up the projector, fill the cooler, invite your friends, and put out snacks; you don’t want to be on the menu of “Flesh …continue reading The Daily Dig: Flesh Eating Mothers (1988)
Well shot with a killer soundtrack, “Bad Dreams” is a great example of a ‘better than most’ genre film that slipped through the cracks. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Bad Dreams (1988)
If National Lampoon had gotten into the slasher business in the eighties, “The American Scream” would have been their prototype film. A family vacationing …continue reading The Daily Dig: The American Scream (1988)
A quirky, sadistic, hard to find film that grew a cult fan base through bootlegs and finally emerged proper in the age of Blu-ray. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Undertaker (1988)
Heavy on atmosphere, this endearing late eighties gem will give you all the nostalgia feels you can handle. The story of a town’s deep …continue reading The Daily Dig: Lady in White (1988)
The goofiest VHS horrors seem to always be occupational-based: “The Dentist”, “The Ice Cream Man”, and now, “The Carpenter”. A formerly institutionalized woman moves …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Carpenter (1988)
A plot with potential is wasted by plodding drama in “Faceless”, but it is at least accented by some heavy blood and gore. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Faceless (1988)
A made-for-TV thriller with an impressive cast and a solid teen slasher premise that was limited by the constraints of cable censors. Two teen …continue reading The Daily Dig: I Saw What You Did (1988)
Before Art but after Killer Klowns, there was Bobo, the clowned-mask slasher of the hyper-sexualized 80s film “Out of the Dark”. A killer stalks …continue reading The Daily Dig: Out of the Dark (1988)
“Ghost Town” is slick looking with decent effects, but that can’t make up for a languishing story that feels unfinished and unfocused. A deputy …continue reading The Daily Dig: Ghost Town (1988)
Brilliant SFX makeup and some true horror moments make this otherwise mediocre film stick out among the late ’80s direct-to-video crowd. Fleeing with a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Scarecrows (1988)
For a textbook example of one of the most boring slasher films in cinema history, please inquire within. “Party Line” feels like dead air. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Party Line (1988)
A flat film based on true events akin to “Burke and Hare” — it might need as many adaptations as that story to get …continue reading The Daily Dig: Apprentice to Murder (1988)
This Christmas horror doesn’t actually bother with the fat man in red; we get a cave-dwelling killer mutant instead. Escaped convicts hide out in …continue reading The Daily Dig: Trapped Alive (1988)
Filming in Mexico with English dialogue and using tropes from successful horror franchises must equal success, no? Gifted a Ouija board for his birthday, …continue reading The Daily Dig: Don’t Panic (1988)
A comedy with a horror edge from the same mind that brought you the criminally overlooked Werewolf fantasy “The Company of Wolves”. When the …continue reading The Daily Dig: High Spirits (1988)
A prime example of a video store boobie trap, “Headhunter” sucks you in with a half decent cover before delivering its deathblow of boredom. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Headhunter (1988)
A gore noir from a member of the famous Coppola family, “Dracula’s Widow” fulfills eighties horror fans with a fix of bloody fangs. Count …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dracula’s Widow (1988)
An eighties cheesy delight, “The Brain” spends its time on whimsical practical effects instead of its underlying message of cultish trends. A mad scientist …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Brain (1988)
If you blended “Night of the Living Dead” with lots of 80’s gore and schlock, and added too much water, you’d end up with …continue reading The Daily Dig: FleshEater (1988)
An emotional and quirky story of childhood existentialism and escapism, this British, fantastical horror haunted me when I was young. A young girl struggling …continue reading The Daily Dig: Paperhouse (1988)
A made-for-TV slasher set at a serene lake house, “The People Across the Lake” features an all-star cast of early nineties sitcom stars. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: The People Across the Lake (1988)
A fun film with a great premise, “Black Roses” is executed well enough and will definitely fulfill your 80s retro thirst. A group of …continue reading The Daily Dig: Black Roses (1988)
If you enjoy over-the-top performances from actors in heavy makeup, “Curse of the Blue Lights” is the flick for you. A crypt filled with …continue reading The Daily Dig: Curse of the Blue Lights (1988)
Infamous for “the bathtub scene”, this cliché-ridden romp with Scream Queen royalty is best watched with friends; depraved friends. The sisters at 943 Sorority …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nightmare Sisters (1988)
“Witchery” is an absolute mess of a film that holds very little redeeming qualities beyond witchy torture scenes and an idyllic setting. Two groups …continue reading The Daily Dig: Witchery (1988)
A tired ghost story that doesn’t even respect its own details, it’s hard to recommend a watch even for the Italian horror completest. Young …continue reading The Daily Dig: Ghosthouse (1988)
A killer cast and strong performances make an otherwise cookie-cutter religious horror enjoyable, despite the lack of big scares. A priest in New Orleans …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Unholy (1988)
A plot-less mess of a film, the only redeeming parts are the expertly fabricated creatures and a New Wave/Rockabilly Punk soundtrack. Hobgoblins escape from …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hobgoblins (1988)
Recycle the plot of the classic “The Mummy” and sprinkle in some gutter punks and blood, and you’ve got yourself an 80s cult classic. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Twice Dead (1988)
It is so unbelievable that this film exists that you have to watch it — just to set your lowest bar or expectation. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Uninvited (1988)
You can smell the leather and lead paint in this punk rock horror comedy, which is heavy on the makeup and doesn’t take itself …continue reading The Daily Dig: Doom Asylum (1988)
Brutal murders, tons of blood, and practical effects highlight this superb J-Horror, which draws comparisons to some heavy hitters. A TV reporter is sent …continue reading The Daily Dig: Evil Dead Trap (1988)
“Hack-O-Lantern” is a Halloween horror featuring an evil cult, some questionable acting, ample nudity, and tons of 80s entertainment. A cult leader tries to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hack-O-Lantern (1988)
Flat directing and execution pull down on a solid creature makeup and performance and some playful chemistry between young actors. A group of teens …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Unnamable (1988)
“PIN” is a different kind of eighties horror with a strong, visceral story that is amplified by a creepy, talking anatomy doll. A troubled …continue reading The Daily Dig: Pin (1988)
This one is for those who have a soft spot in their black hearts for cheesy eighties sci-fi horror that borders between spoof and …continue reading The Daily Dig: Transformations (1988)
The Halloween Bash third act is one of the most satisfyingly consumable 80s horror moments imaginable, with the soundtrack you deserve. While trying to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Primal Rage (1988)
“The Shadowed Mind” trumps the girl in peril trope by dishing out a gender-neutral slasher who kills with impartiality. A woman checks into a …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Shadowed Mind (1988)
An MTV generation horror film built on an opulent setting that had the tools to be great…but was inevitably doomed by prodigal habits. Siblings …continue reading The Daily Dig: Spellcaster (1988)
A coincidentally relevant tale thirty years before it would make sense, and set thirty years before that, “The Carrier” is prophetic and extra cheesy. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Carrier (1988)
A horde of monsters, mad men, historical figures, and voodoo coalesce to form an awesome 80’s gore fest in the underrated genre gem “Waxwork”. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Waxwork (1988)
A shamelessly derivative monster can’t pull down the fun in Fred Olen Ray’s “Deep Space” which brings an alien threat down to earth. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Deep Space (1988)
A worthy late 80s slasher with a plot that saw a handful of replicas, Lyle Alzado drives the intimidating threat, in peak shape. An …continue reading The Daily Dig: Destroyer (1988)
This is everything you want in an eighties film: innuendo, horror, Satan, blood, poodles, terrible sports cars, and Shannon Tweed. A Satanic cult is …continue reading The Daily Dig: Night Visitor (1989)
The story has promise when you mix aliens, horror, and the wild west of the badlands, but it does not deliver much of anything …continue reading The Daily Dig: High Desert Kill (1989)
World class sets, props, effects, and creatures — plus strong performances from a well-known cast — turn a cliché premise into an enjoyable genre gem. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Leviathan (1989)
A cheese-fest with a socially important backbone, relevant no matter what decade you happened to fall upon this direct-to-video thriller. Two killer brothers, locked …continue reading The Daily Dig: Curfew (1989)
You can skip this installment of the Amityville series unless drab cinematography and someone playing with light switches scares you. A lamp from the …continue reading Daily Dig: Amityville The Evil Escapes (1989)
An exercise in absurdity and silent film era expressionism, transplanted into 1980’s Manhattan, “Vampire’s Kiss” is a must watch. Peter Loew, a New York …continue reading The Daily Dig: Vampire’s Kiss (1989)
A contemporary attempt at a classic, with a goth punk vibe, it features a strong performance from Anthony Perkins and great visuals. Dr. Jekyll, …continue reading The Daily Dig: Edge of Sanity (1989)
Top-notch effects by KNB, stellar acting from Lance Henriksen, and a great villain in Brion James make up for a banal plot. The serial …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Horror Show (1989)
The music. The pastels. The neon lights. The leotards. Any 1980’s nostalgia enthusiast should find tranquility in the warm glow of “Death Spa”. Michael …continue reading The Daily Dig: Death Spa (1989)
It’s a crime that “Hider in the House” wasn’t released in theaters. It stands up to any early 90s thriller that launched a few …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hider in the House (1989)
Directionless and vapid, “Hellgate” fails to fulfill even its own laid out clichés as it rode direct to video with a pitifully literal cover. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hellgate (1989)
Either I’m under the spell of Sir Christopher Lee, the late great character actor, or this movie was actually pretty enjoyable. An aspiring writer …continue reading The Daily Dig: Murder Story (1989)
With no lack of star power and a dearth of seriousness, “Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat” is a horror comedy with a Western twang; …continue reading The Daily Dig: Sundown (1989)
One of the earliest found footage horror films, “The McPherson Tape” has toured the UFO conventions and evaded a proper debunking for 30 years. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The McPherson Tape (1989)
Corny one-liners and an overall lack of threat take the bite out of Terry O’Quinn’s original “Stepfather” character. Jerry Blake survived his last family …continue reading The Daily Dig: Stepfather 2 (1989)
The gore in “Beyond Dream’s Door” is plentiful as latex monsters from the dream world rip actors to shreds and 3M blood covers the …continue reading The Daily Dig: Beyond Dream’s Door (1989)
This truly hidden, solid thriller with a very strong cast and some experimental plot elements makes for a surprisingly enjoyable dig. A quack medium …continue reading The Daily Dig: Black Rainbow (1989)
A traditional ghost story motivated by revenge, “Grave Secrets” focuses on floating home goods and rural tropes rather than real scares. The owner of …continue reading The Daily Dig: Grave Secrets (1989)
Antithetical to the usual Roger Corman productions, emo vampire flicks like “Dance of the Damned” don’t seem to be his strongest output. A vampire …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dance of the Damned (1989)
This film is proof that you can butcher source material as long as you throw in some comedy (Pauly Shore) and a horror legend …continue reading The Daily Dig: Phantom of the Mall (1989)
Add some “Animal House”, “Scream”, “Porky’s”, “PCU”, and throw in some Chainsaw and Dave, and you get “Rush Week”—plus a pretty good time. College …continue reading The Daily Dig: Rush Week (1989)
An exercise in excessive 80’s gore, “The Dead Next Door” is as camp as it gets, but at least you get to hear Bruce …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Dead Next Door (1989)
Trying to capture the dark secrets that hide behind a Norman Rockwell painting requires more guts and definitely more blood. A young boy has …continue reading The Daily Dig: Parents (1989)
“Hell High” is a film that doesn’t know what kind of killer it wants to be and tries its hand at being a teen …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hell High (1989)
Close to unwatchable, this is the type of straight-to-video film that could find an audience only with the excessively ironic viewer. A new camp …continue reading The Daily Dig: Memorial Valley Massacre (1989)
“Nightwish” proves no matter how boring a film can be, it’s always worth watching when you’ve got the talents of KNB EFX slinging silicone. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nightwish (1989)
You’ll come for the young Brad Pitt. And, let’s face it, you’ll stay for the young Brad Pitt, with a bit of blood, in …continue reading The Daily Dig: Cutting Class (1989)
A strong candidate for the ‘so bad, it’s good’ category, but “Slash Dance” leaves you wanting in too many categories to be enjoyable. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Slash Dance (1989)
Over-the-top scenes of nudity threatened to make this laughable, but the plot of “Arabella” attracted me enough to keep it interesting. A writer uses …continue reading The Daily Dig: Arabella Black Angel (1989)
You’d be better off watching Jim Carrey’s “Once Bitten” or the comedy “Summer School” with horror elements than wasting time on “Teen Vamp”. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Teen Vamp (1989)
Don’t hold “The Immortalizer” to some highfalutin standard. With a lack of focus and questionable acting, it’s pure cheese. It’s also pure entertainment. Running …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Immortalizer (1989)
If you crave a taste of 80s flavor, look no further than “Nightmare Beach”; the clothes, the music, the cars, even the bad acting…it’s …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nightmare Beach (1989)
It’s punk rock versus heavy metal in “Blue Vengeance”, a fast-paced crime thriller shot guerilla-style in New York City. A disgraced police officer chases …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blue Vengeance (1989)
A rare directorial effort from Roger Corman, “Frankenstein Unbound” boasts a heavyweight cast tackling Mary Shelley’s seminal horror story. A scientist in the year …continue reading The Daily Dig: Frankenstein Unbound (1990)
A unique angle at the Vampire sub-genre featuring an underrated eighties punk band and a decent amount of blood and nudity. A Vampire comes …continue reading The Daily Dig: Pale Blood (1990)
An original and creepy premise “The Ambulance” brings more humor than expected; one of Larry Cohen’s best and most creative films. Josh, a comic …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Ambulance (1990)
Enjoyable enough, with a strong performance from Lou Diamond Phillips, this supernatural crime thriller fits the mold of early 90s films. An LA detective …continue reading The Daily Dig: The First Power (1990)
“Deadly Manor”, our first dig into the 90s, feels totally 80s with much room for growth, but damn, it feels good to watch horror …continue reading The Daily Dig: Deadly Manor (1990)
Few genre films sit so securely in your psyche with such a specific color palette as this subversive play of fear and imagination. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Reflecting Skin (1990)
Proof that Tobe Hooper wasn’t a one-trick pony, but unfortunately studio and producer meddling muddied the potential of this film. A young professor learns …continue reading The Daily Dig: Spontaneous Combustion (1990)
An impossibly long eighties horror that wasn’t released until the nineties, this low-budget cult hit brings a true grassroots vibe. A group of students …continue reading The Daily Dig: Fatal Exam (1990)
With acting so bad it has to be seen to be believed, the low-rent rape fantasy “Night Killer” isn’t worth the time A rapist …continue reading The Daily Dig: Night Killer (1990)
This low-rent Sci-Fi horror can’t hang with its sub-genre brethren, but it does have some decent gore and an intriguing premise. In the year …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Dark Side of the Moon (1990)
“Baby Blood” is a deep and unnerving supernatural horror that lives up to its name with gallons of blood and brutal murder scenes. An …continue reading The Daily Dig: Baby Blood (1990)
“Strays” is a neatly written natural monster horror film with a solid cast that does its best within the bounds of made-for-TV restrictions. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Strays (1990)
“Child in the Night” is an enjoyable made-for-TV slasher with a recognizable cast whose strong performances make it all worthwhile. A young boy witnesses …continue reading The Daily Dig: Child in the Night (1990)
With practical effects from wall to wall, you can forget about quality acting and just place your bets on who survives the night! A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Demon Wind (1990)
With brilliant special effects from legendary artists, this 80s splatter holdover survived post-production hell to find its berth in 1990. The Devil’s squeeze, Lilith, …continue reading The Daily Dig: Night Angel (1990)
The harsh reception of one of Fulci’s last films is unjust; there’s an enjoyable evil throughout, even if it lacks his common brilliance. The …continue reading The Daily Dig: Demonia (1990)
They say you can’t polish a turd, but they should also say you can’t rename a turd “Amityville” and expect it to be gold. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Amityville Curse (1990)
A comedy with blood and guts, this has all the right ingredients to be a cult classic and the quirkiness to thrive in grindhouse …continue reading The Daily Dig: I Bought A Vampire Motorcycle (1990)
If “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” had turned the schlock level up to eleven and dumped the chainsaw, you would have “Skinned Alive”. A murderous …continue reading The Daily Dig: Skinned Alive (1990)
Venture into the woods with “Dead Girls” — an all-women death metal band from the late eighties who forgot to bring a plot along …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dead Girls (1990)
Birthed from the literal gutter, this 80s holdover has no qualms handling a heavy subject like feticide — then letting it commit homicide. A woman …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Suckling (1990)
Filled with the stereotypical frat house shenanigans, this supernatural slasher features music from Metal Gods Anthrax and some great kills. Pledges are subjected to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Pledge Night (1990)
What happens when you combine a killer monkey with LARPing and the dude from “The Blue Lagoon”? A lot of squealing and eaten faces! …continue reading The Daily Dig: Shakma (1990)
“Buried Alive” is a decent film that relies on strong direction and a simple plot — since blood, guts, and nudity weren’t an option. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Buried Alive (1990)
This adaptation of Poe’s “Morella” relies heavily on tropes and lends credence to stereotypes that have hampered genre filmmaking. A witch is executed thanks …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Haunting of Morella (1990)
“The Unborn” is an expertly made body horror that will have you squirming in your seat and rethinking whether you want to procreate. Out …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Unborn (1991)
Amazing creature design makes this must-watch a shoo-in for all the “Best of the Worst” lists from the 80s and 90s direct-to-video horror. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Boneyard (1991)
You will swoon over the sets, throwback masks, and Halloween costumes in “Scary Movie”, but the story is a bit of a snooze. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Scary Movie (1991)
A unique and quirky noir detective story with surprising gore and effects, “Cast A Deadly Spell” is an overlooked gem. A private detective is …continue reading The Daily Dig: Cast A Deadly Spell (1991)
Often called the “worst movie ever made”, there is plenty of evidence to support that claim but it still has to be seen to …continue reading The Daily Dig: Wicked World (1991)
Chucky’s evil sister, in spirit, does her part to look as creepy as intended but lacks the bite of good ol’ Charles Lee Ray. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dolly Dearest (1991)
Constantly stepping over the line from schlock to spoof, there is no dearth of laughs, gags, or gore for this riotous slasher. A couple …continue reading The Daily Dig: Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh (1991)
“Mom” banks on the absurdity of an elderly werewolf, but the gimmick becomes long in the tooth and good makeup can’t cover up a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Mom (1991)
Criminally underrated with a clear plot and expert practical effects from Steve Johnson, “Highway to Hell” is worth the price of admission. On the …continue reading The Daily Dig: Highway to Hell (1991)
A tumultuous production, confusing scenes, recasting, and early change in director duties does not make this eighties holdover any less fun. A Horrorthon is …continue reading The Daily Dig: Popcorn (1991)
One of the better adaptations of Lovecraft, “The Resurrected” has plenty of effects to please gorehounds as well as some story depth. A private …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Resurrected (1991)
Don’t let the sequel curse fool you; “Curse III” is only a sequel in name and boasts a strong, supernatural story with rich African …continue reading The Daily Dig: Curse III Blood Sacrifice (1991)
It’s a little bit “Men in Black” and a little bit “Body Snatchers”, with the visceral direction of “Henry” director John McNaughton. An alien …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Borrower (1991)
An exercise in endurance, there should be a patch awarded to anyone that can sit through this film in its entirety. Zombie nudists come …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nudist Colony of the Dead (1991)
A tired and derivative story may not detract from the fun space terror of “Dead Space” brought to you by schlock master Roger Corman. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dead Space (1991)
Living comfortably in the “so bad it’s good” wheelhouse, this 80s hold over falls in line with other Metal monster mayhem films of the …continue reading The Daily Dig: Shock ‘Em Dead (1991)
A done-to-death premise, this iteration isn’t unique enough to be noteworthy but does feature some creepy moments and bloody kills. On Hell Night, a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Happy Hell Night (1992)
“Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies” is the “Fried Green Tomatoes” of horror and has every bit of blood, boobs, and Berryman a horror head could …continue reading The Daily Dig: Auntie Lee’s Meat Pies (1992)
Filled with brilliant imagery, dark symbolism, and a Kubrick-like detail, this is Richard Stanley’s most beautifully realized film. A Woman escaping an abusive marriage …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dust Devil (1992)
The most wretched thing to come out of Massachusetts since the Salem “Witch” massacre, this deserves rotting fruit thrown at the screen. An indigenous …continue reading The Daily Dig: Winterbeast (1992)
Don’t be fooled by the name; there is no Lovecraft in “Cthulhu Mansion” — only subpar acting and poor storytelling lie behind these walls. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Cthulhu Mansion (1992)
A Charles Band production that draws heavily on the voodoo culture of Louisiana, “Netherworld” never takes any solid shape. Cody inherits his father’s Louisiana …continue reading The Daily Dig: Netherworld (1992)
A must-watch film at the forefront of the found footage phenomenon, the cast and crew of BBC’s “Ghostwatch” did it better than everyone. It’s …continue reading The Daily Dig: Ghostwatch (1992)
A sophomoric plot, if you can even call it such, does its best to drag down a beautifully shot film in 1992’s “Mad at …continue reading The Daily Dig: Mad at the Moon (1992)
Bill Paxton’s performance in “The Vagrant” is criminally overlooked; a solid horror-comedy with a great antagonist in Marshall Bell. A man buys a new …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Vagrant (1992)
“Star Time” is a film that speaks to the television generation, the latchkey kids who didn’t have an in-the-flesh babysitter. After his favorite TV …continue reading The Daily Dig: Star Time (1992)
The name Bava comes with an expectation of quality not met in this early 90s throwback filled with much behind-the-scenes tumult. Severed body parts …continue reading The Daily Dig: Body Puzzle (1992)
It feels like a made-for-TV movie but features a host of familiar faces from 80s and 90s cinema and has some clever writing moments. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Mikey (1992)
If 90s Skinemax and softcore are your thing, you’re in for a treat of bare skin but a dearth of storytelling with “Dance with …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dance with Death (1992)
Controversial Italian filmmaker Ruggero Deodato delivers a sexy, erotic crime thriller with a lush score and plenty of eye candy. A police inspector investigates …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Washing Machine (1993)
A strong cast and an avant-garde director make “Body Snatchers” — a remake of a remake — different than most of the regurgitated swill. Alien clones …continue reading The Daily Dig: Body Snatchers (1993)
A guilty pleasure starring two fan-favorite actors and an equally impressive dog performance written and directed by the writer of “Child’s Play”. A dog …continue reading The Daily Dig: Man’s Best Friend (1993)
The first of three productions from Fangoria Films, “Mindwarp” is an against-the-grain desolation horror with great special effects work. The year is 2037 and …continue reading The Daily Dig: Mindwarp (1993)
Dark, brilliant themes explore the morbid underbelly of Christianity in this atmospheric orgy focused more on suggestion than blatant story. A woman uncovers the …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dark Waters (1993)
Featuring effects from gore legends KNB EFX, “Skinner” jumps the shark once it stops being serious and embraces the cheesier side of horror. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Skinner (1993)
“Doppelganger” showed promise until it tripped over the dialogue and script, but it does feature unique effects from legends KNB EFX. A writer takes …continue reading The Daily Dig: Doppelganger (1993)
This creature feature that doesn’t bother itself with science and stars a nineteen-year-old Seth Green was destined to be a quirky cult hit. Teens …continue reading The Daily Dig: Ticks (1993)
It’s a shame that “Hear No Evil” didn’t have a better story to accompany its very strong cast and some compelling character depth. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hear No Evil (1993)
Brilliant acting brings a dark side of humanity to an ingestible snack in this little-known New Zealand art horror flick. Siblings separated when they …continue reading The Daily Dig: Jack Be Nimble (1993)
“Witch Hunt” is proof that no matter how talented your cast, producers, writer, and director are, a good film is never a guarantee. Private …continue reading The Daily Dig: Witch Hunt (1994)
“Lurking Fear” is a very liberal adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft short story that features some notable genre actors and a weak script. Fresh …continue reading The Daily Dig: Lurking Fear (1994)
“Voices From Beyond” is a worthy finale to the career of Italian horror master Lucio Fulci, ripe with rank corpses and tense nightmares. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Voices from Beyond (1994)
A raw and unrelenting depiction of a real-life murder that helped spark the nationwide Satanic Panic in the 80s; Jim Van Bebber is singular. …continue reading The Daily Dig: My Sweet Satan (1994)
Gory, gross-out horror at its best, this Australian flick is a rare and eccentric gem that belongs in the collection of “Braindead” fans. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Body Melt (1994)
A spin-off of Cronenberg’s “Scanners”, this cop thriller takes a different approach and has that early 90s straight-to-video charm. When Cops start to die …continue reading The Daily Dig: Scanner Cop (1994)
Pure fun and folly, “Funny Man” is all gore and laughs with no plot, yet impossible to hate thanks to the performance of Tim …continue reading The Daily Dig: Funny Man (1994)
“Death Machine” has all the workings to be a cult sci-fi horror film, ripe for rediscovery and a proper US release finally. A weapons …continue reading The Daily Dig: Death Machine (1994)
Nostalgia rules in “Brainscan” — a high-tech horror that banked on a breakout child star and a really strong movie monster. A high school …continue reading The Daily Dig: Brainscan (1994)
An all-out, black comedy that hides difficult subject matter with absurdity, exaggeration, and zombies — and pulls no punches with violence. Three teens are …continue reading The Daily Dig: Shrunken Heads (1994)
Like a mythological creature as elusive as The Missing Link, this type of absurdity must be seen to be believed. A mad scientist implants …continue reading The Daily Dig: Tammy and the T-Rex (1994)
A short that fills its walls with more blood than some features, this chop-em-up gore-fest fits right alongside “Texas Chainsaw” or “Henry”. A man …continue reading The Daily Dig: “Roadkill: The Last Days of John Martin”
A cheesy and boring love story wrapped in gimmicky hellish tropes and nudity that makes your spine tingle from the poor acting. A demon …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dark Angel – The Ascent (1994)
A slasher film disguised as a monster film, “Mosquito” is fun and filled with blood and bug guts, plus a maskless role from Gunnar …continue reading The Daily Dig: Mosquito (1995)
“The Day of the Beast” is a brilliant ‘end of the world’ horror with the perfect mix of terror and comedy to not take …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Day of the Beast (1995)
Missed opportunities and too many story strings to pull detract from this little-known cut with great effects and a killer 90’s soundtrack. A college …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Fear (1995)
This prototypical, straight-to-video 90s horror goes heavy on the cheese but skimps on substance beyond Clint Howard’s campy performance. A young boy who witnesses …continue reading The Daily Dig: Ice Cream Man (1995)
“Sorceress” is an unwatchable slog made during the late night ‘Skinemax’ era of low-budget, direct-to-video horror. A Witch’s magic is used to influence her …continue reading The Daily Dig: Sorceress (1995)
An example of how far nepotism and coat tails can take you; we end up with unwatchable, derivative horror, with nonsensical dialogue. A pseudo-Frankenstein …continue reading The Daily Dig: Mind Ripper (1995)
A messy and unnecessarily layered story, that throws a dart to pick a protagonist, ends up somehow being enjoyable beyond expectations. A wealthy developer …continue reading The Daily Dig: Last Gasp (1995)
An unknown Heaven vs. Hell story with bad CGI featured soon-to-be household name Alicia Silverstone and jazz personified, Jeff Goldblum. A man who had …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hideaway (1995)
The Japanese remake of “The Evil Dead” splashes gore from wall to wall in this contained, grainy ghost story. A bodybuilder heads to a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell (1995)
Far more psychological horror than ghost story, “Haunted” is a period film that is high on human drama but scant with scares. A professor, …continue reading The Daily Dig: Haunted (1995)
I’ll say this with no reservations: Corbin Bernsen is a pretty damn good villain, and no one should let him perform a root canal. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Dentist (1996)
This is America; where real patriots kill you to make sure you bleed true, red, white, and blue — and “Uncle Sam” is leading the …continue reading The Daily Dig: Uncle Sam (1996)
With structure thrown to the wind, Festa uses his music video experience to make the pseudo giallo “Fatal Frames” look as slick as possible. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Fatal Frames (1996)
From the cover, you might think this is a typical nineties action film, but what’s inside is something weird and twisted and unique. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Freeway (1996)
“Shattered Mind” explores mental illness with creative cinematography, but could have been more impactful with more money for production. A woman with Dissociative Identity …continue reading The Daily Dig: Shattered Mind (1996)
A crime thriller without the cops, the Welsh thriller “Darklands” relies on little blood and gags to get its point across. A reporter investigates …continue reading The Daily Dig: Darklands (1996)
“Bad Moon” really highlights the beauty of the PNW, and a strong performance along with Steve Johnson’s makeup FX make this a hidden treat. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Bad Moon (1996)
This “Predator” and “Alien” knock-off is the Michael Bay of low-budget horror, with lots of explosions and no focus on substance. A scientist resurrects …continue reading The Daily Dig: DNA (1996)
A dark and violent exercise in gratuitous pomposity that captures the current zeitgeist of obsession with true crime and serial killers. Brothers who slaughtered …continue reading The Daily Dig: Killers (1996)
A timid children’s horror in the vein of “Goosebumps”, “My Teacher Ate My Homework” lacks the creepy brilliance of R.L. Stine. A young boy …continue reading The Daily Dig: My Teacher Ate My Homework (1997)
“Campfire Tales” is a forgotten 90s horror anthology that serves as a throwback to the types of stories you’d find in dusty paperbacks. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Campfire Tales (1997)
A mind-blowing cast and well-respected visionary writer were hampered by studio meddling, which results in a sub-par end product. A young student gets a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Nightwatch (1997)
An exercise in absurdity, it’s hard to hate what you see — and not sure it’s possible to love it — but “The Creeps” is …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Creeps (1997)
A dark retelling of the “Snow White” tale that leans heavily towards the Grimm and avoids almost all of the Disney. A young princess …continue reading The Daily Dig: Snow White – A Tale of Terror (1997)
With a script that seems to have come from a sleep-deprived night of heavy drug use, there’s no time for anything but the absurd. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Modern Vampires (1998)
A first-time director and writer struck out hard with a pair of recognizable action stars and what could have been an interesting story. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Rough Draft (1998)
Laughable CGI and a tired plot do the best they can to pull down this film, despite the acting prowess of Michael Rooker, who …continue reading The Daily Dig: Shadow Builder (1998)
There are hints of “Rear Window”, but they do not pan out in this direct-to-video thriller that has an impressive cast but lacks originality. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The 4th Floor (1999)
A mess of a film that got rightfully lost in the mix of late 90s teen slashers, at least “Lovers Lane” did feature a …continue reading The Daily Dig: Lovers Lane (1999)
Absurdity abounds in “Blood Dolls” — a typical Full Moon film that looks like “Puppet Master” through a twisted John Waters filter. An eccentric …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blood Dolls (1999)
The artsy opening of “Kolobos” devolves into a gore fest with unbridled direction, with a plot that loses its focus but never its guts. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Kolobos (1999)
The cheesiest, campiest, most shameless retro Sci-Fi Horror flick you’ll find and be able to sit through got a facelift for streaming. A meteorite …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Atomic Space Bug (1999)
A star-studded cast is ruined by dreadful dialogue, but effects masters Steve Johnson and Eric Allard save the day with great gore and fx. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Virus (1999)
You will not survive this film! That is not a threat, but a warning. Use the eighty-five minutes more productively. You’ve been forewarned! A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Blackwood Evil (2000)
Gory, deranged, and brutal, it has no chainsaws but the fan dubbed “Japanese Chainsaw Massacre” brings every bit of horror it could muster. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Living Hell (2000)
A “Frankenstein” adaptation featuring a young Ryan Reynolds in full goth garb, plus the endearing Matthew Lawrence. A teenage science nerd brings a fellow …continue reading The Daily Dig: Boltneck (2000)
If you ever wanted to see Lamberto Bava’s “Demons” remade for the rave generation and set in an abandoned religious institution, here you go. …continue reading The Daily Dig: The Convent (2000)
It could have been a heartbreaking and terrifying story of parent-child power dynamics, but “Skeletons in the Closet” ends up toothless. After his mother …continue reading The Daily Dig: Skeletons in the Closet (2001)
This early 2000s flick about how tech can be used to infiltrate privacy and personal safety doesn’t seem far-fetched anymore. A disabled woman finds …continue reading The Daily Dig: .Com for Murder (2001)
When people go on diatribes about remakes and Hollywood’s lack of originality, “Down” is exactly what they’re talking about. An elevator mechanic gets pulled …continue reading The Daily Dig: Down (2001)
This formulaic, early aughts slasher has little substance and a laughable mask, but it boasts an impressive cast of recognizable faces. Rejected, ridiculed, and …continue reading The Daily Dig: Valentine (2001)
In the vein of eighties teen horror, it’s as campy as you’d want and expect, and all the tropes and stereotypical gags are present. …continue reading The Daily Dig: Shredder (2001)
The maestro of adapting Lovecraft, Stuart Gordon, brings us “Dagon” — a well-done production based on two stories. Two young people end up stranded …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dagon (2001)
This Taiwanese production pays homage to an earlier era of filmmaking; a detective thriller with a supernatural twist. An FBI specialist and a Taiwan …continue reading The Daily Dig: Double Vision (2002)
Neil Marshall can make a damn good action film, and he spiced up “Dog Soldiers” with some massive, well-done, brutal werewolves. A military exercise …continue reading The Daily Dig: Dog Soldiers (2002)
Strong storytelling and a solid, if not tired, premise make this feature-length film interesting, but it would play better as a short. Four inmates …continue reading The Daily Dig: Malefique (2002)
A gorefest Ozploitation film relying on literal cheap tricks to pull off the entire production, from digital special effects to reusing sets. Meteorites turn …continue reading The Daily Dig: Undead (2003)
A low-budget rendering of fear has the bones of something bigger and better, but “Fear of the Dark” lacks the bite of our best …continue reading The Daily Dig: Fear of the Dark (2003)
“Calvaire” is a quirky French film that teases with a few sub-genres but settles on downright discomfort as its thematic tool for horror. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: Calvaire (2004)
It’s the best non-Cronenberg body horror, with riveting performances by actors who are fully committed to the material. A Gulf War veteran brings his …continue reading The Daily Dig: Bug (2006)
This natural horror film had no intention of ever being projected in a theater, and it doesn’t even have absurd moments to make it …continue reading The Daily Dig: Kaw (2007)
No-budget horror is not supposed to look and be this good, but The Lab of Madness horror team can make a cake out of …continue reading The Daily Dig: Murder Party (2007)
Tense, dark, and simple, “Hush” puts a young couple in the wrong place at the wrong time—taking a bad night and making it increasingly …continue reading The Daily Dig: Hush (2008)
This supernatural horror film pushes a pretense of depth with great potential but ultimately struggles to float above boring. In search of a hidden …continue reading The Daily Dig: Livid (2011)
“In Their Skin” is a slow and unoriginal home invasion horror that boasts a very talented cast, given sadly little to chew on. A …continue reading The Daily Dig: In Their Skin (2012)
This highly derivative horror film stays bloody and accomplishes what it set out to do, even if it doesn’t quite know what to call …continue reading The Daily Dig: A Classic Horror Story (2021)
A creepy tale with deep, rich Mexican mythology and some true gore is capped by one of my favorite monsters in the past decade. …continue reading The Daily Dig: No One Gets Out Alive (2021)
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