Scream 4 (SCRE4M)

I am a huge fan of the original Scream trilogy. At the time of the first films release it perfectly captured the mood of the horror scene (which is ironic, because it's countless copycats would ruin horror for the next 10 years as we got buried under a deluge of 'I still know what urban legend you did at cherry falls') so I was keen to see what the original writer (albeit with 'tweeks' from the writer of the third, and poorest, entry) would do with horror c2011.

Vault of Horror

5 short stories based on EC comics tales (for those who don't know EC were the guys who put out horror comics in the 50s, including 'Tales From the Crypt', 'Vault of Horror' and 'Haunt of Fear').

As is typical with EC, the strikes are simple consisting of a setup, in which someone behaves badly, and a payoff, where they get their just deserts. I never understood why parents groups got upset with these comics; they are little morality plays where no bad deed goes unpunished.

A Cat In The Brain (external review)

My "Cat In The Brain" review over at VideoNastyAWeek, can be found HERE (no, the film wasnt on the Nasties list, that's explained over there too)

The Phantom of The Opera (1989)

Or to use it's full title 'The Phantom of the Opera: The Motion Picture'

I should mention that I have never read Phantom, and I'm not familiar with any of the film versions, or the Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical, so while I can attempt to judge this 1989 version as a movie / story in it's own right, I cannot comment on how it serves as a version of Phantom, which is a shame, as I am lead to understand that this version is far more faithful to the spirit (if not the text) of the book than most; apparently the book (like this version) is not as romanticised as most versions, with more emphasis on horror element.

Tales That Witness Madness

A 1973 anthology film, very simmilar to the Amicus productions (I actually thought it was one until I checked wiki)

Donald Pleasence  runs a mental health facility. He claims to have some 'special' patients who prove some new theory or other. He leads a colleague around the hospital, stopping at each of these 4 patients and telling their stories;  these of course, form the short stories which make up the film.

Mikey

NOTE: This is a cut-down version of my review from year-round protect VideoNastyAWeek.co.uk, Where it was this weeks movie (despite not being an official "Video Nasty - Explination over on that blog)

In the opening scenes, Mikey kills his adopted family, pretends a stranger did it, and is quickly re-alloated to a new couple who, for some reason, are not told that Mikey (supposedly) witnessed his last family being murdered - this sounds to me like the kind of information you might want to know about your kid, but hay-ho!

Hatchet 2

I never reviewed the 1st Hatchet (although I did see it), which makes jumping in with a 'part 2' review a little odd, luckily though, despite picking up right where the first movie left off, it works quite well as a stand-alone; as long as you except 'deformed killer on the loose in New Orleans swamp' as prior knowledge, nothing here goes unexplained - there's even an (expanded) retelling of Crowley's origin story.

Xtro

NOTE: This is a cut-down version of my review from year-round protect VideoNastyAWeek.co.uk, Where it was this weeks movie (despite not being an official "Video Nasty - Explination over on that blog)


When Sam is abducted by aliens In a flash of light, the only witness is his young son, Tony. Needless to say, no one believes Tony, and it is assumed that Sam has run out on his wife and kid.

3 years later (apparently - Tony doesn't seem to have aged in that time) Sam comes back, a new man... 

A Real Friend

A Real Friend is a Spanish made-for-TV movie about a girl, who lives with her mother (her father died some time ago), and who's only friend is her imaginary one.

Her imaginary friend keeps her company, hugs her when she's upset, accompanies her to class, and generally does all the things imaginary friends do...

Oh, and he's Leatherface (yes, the 'Texas Chainsaw' dude).

Rubber

And so, for the second time in as many days, I have to try and review a movie without saying too much about it. With yesterdays Pin it was because I didn't want to spoil it, with Rubber, it's because the movie almost defies explanation. 

The plot (such as it is) is simple enough; a discarded car tyre comes to life, realises it has telekinetic powers, and goes on a killing spree (!) but it's presentation is like nothing I've ever experienced in film or TV. 

Pin

Unlike my 'reviews' over at VideoNastyAWeek.co.uk, which are mostly meant more as 'discussions' with those who have seen the films, or are at least familiar with them, I try to keep my Shocktoberfest Reviews pretty spoiler-lite, so that they can serve as recommendations (where warranted) to people who have not seen the films.

Colin

Filmed on a camcorder, and with a reported budget of £45, It's hard to rag on what is essentially an amateur project that managed to get a commercial release. It's kind of like seeing that a 3 year old has written a four page story in complete sentences, then busting their chops for sloppy handwriting!

That said, there is no excuse for this amount of shaky-cam, especially when the movie is not of the found footage or mockumentary type... even consumer cameras have a decent anti-shake these days!