‘Killer Klowns from Outer Space’: ‘The Blob’, but with Clowns

Mike (Grant Cramer) and Debbie (Suzanne Snyder) are two young people in love. Their evening at a make-out spot is interrupted by, as the title suggests, killer clowns from outer space. The clowns’ game is kidnapping people, wrapping them in cotton candy cocoons, and drinking their essence with a silly straw. Har dee har har.Continue reading “‘Killer Klowns from Outer Space’: ‘The Blob’, but with Clowns”

‘Jeepers Creepers’: Eerie, Yet Ludicrous

Darry (Justin Long) and his sister Trish (Gina Philips) are driving home from college when they’re menaced by a guy driving a big truck. They later see the same guy dump what looks to be a body in a drainpipe. Darry has the brilliant idea of looking to see what’s down there. He finds aContinue reading “‘Jeepers Creepers’: Eerie, Yet Ludicrous”

‘Jacob’s Ladder’: Rich in Biblical Goodness (and Creepy AF)

Jacob (Tim Robbins) is a friendly postal worker who is also a Vietnam veteran. His fairly comfortable life with his girlfriend Jezzie (the wonderful, late Elizabeth Peña) is disrupted by sudden hallucinations: he has war flashbacks and also horrible visions of monsters. One night he wakes up in bed with his ex-wife Sarah (Patricia Kalember),Continue reading “‘Jacob’s Ladder’: Rich in Biblical Goodness (and Creepy AF)”

‘J-Horror Anthology: Underworld’–Gore on a Limited Financial Plan

Japanese movie, organized into six segments. “Chain Mail” shows three snobby teens getting their comeuppance from a girl they accidentally killed; “Left Behind in the Mountain” features a cruel prankster being taught a lesson; “Tattoo” is about a prostitute with a supernatural ink job; “Lost in Memory” concerns three young men and their ethereal friend;Continue reading “‘J-Horror Anthology: Underworld’–Gore on a Limited Financial Plan”

‘J-Horror Anthology: Legends’–Scares and Campy Fun

Japanese movie, AKA Inagawa Junji no shinjitsu no horror. It consists of six short films. “Peony Lamp” concerns a young samurai and his ghostly paramour; “She Bear” shows two girls and their run-in with a monster; “Yamamba” is about two reporters looking for a legendary creature; “Nurarihyon” deals with a friendly ghost and the family heContinue reading “‘J-Horror Anthology: Legends’–Scares and Campy Fun”

James Wan’s ‘Insidious’: Effective Jump Scares and Eerie Sights

Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne) are a loving couple with three kids who were clearly named by an Australian scriptwriter: baby Cali and older sons Dalton (Ty Simpkins) and Foster (Andrew Astor). Dalton suddenly goes into a coma-like state that doctors can’t explain. The person who can explain it is family friend EliseContinue reading “James Wan’s ‘Insidious’: Effective Jump Scares and Eerie Sights”

John Carpenter’s ‘In the Mouth of Madness’ is Deliciously Twisted

John (Sam Neill) is an insurance investigator with a dim view of humanity. He’s hired by a publishing company to track down its star writer Sutter Cane (Jürgen Prochnow), who has disappeared with the last half of his new book, In the Mouth of Madness. John and editor Styles (Julie Carmen) take off for small-townContinue reading “John Carpenter’s ‘In the Mouth of Madness’ is Deliciously Twisted”

‘Igor’: My Kind of (Re)Animation Movie

Malaria is a simple country, where the people are poor and sell evil inventions to support themselves. It’s populated mainly by mad scientists and their assistants, called Igors, who are second-class citizens. One particular Igor (John Cusack) is our protagonist. When his master Dr. Glickenstein (John Cleese) dies unexpectedly, he sees his chance to pursueContinue reading “‘Igor’: My Kind of (Re)Animation Movie”

1993’s ‘Hocus Pocus’: Witchy Hijinx and Nostalgia!

Salem, Massachusetts, 1693: Winnie (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) are three evil but not-so-bright witches who tend to eat children’s souls to become immortal. Angry villagers hang them, but 300 years later young protagonist Max (Omri Katz), while trying to impress love interest Allison (Vinessa Shaw), brings the ladies backContinue reading “1993’s ‘Hocus Pocus’: Witchy Hijinx and Nostalgia!”

‘Hellbound: Hellraiser II’: Think Outside the Box with Kirsty!

The film takes place a few hours after the first movie left off (despite being released four years later). Kirsty is trapped in a mental hospital because she won’t stop raving about burning the mattress Julia died on. The evil head psychiatrist there, Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham), is making obsessive puzzle-solver Tiffany (Imogen Boorman) openContinue reading “‘Hellbound: Hellraiser II’: Think Outside the Box with Kirsty!”