It

Falling into the "so bad it's good" category, this is one of the better films adapted from a Stephen King novel (yeah, they're usually terrible). The sassy, deceptive clown Pennywise is in your drains, kids!! And despite what he says about floating if you join him in his lair (whatever the hell that means), you won't, you'll just die. He's a tricky man, using ballons and other sorts of circus entertainment as deadly bait to lure down children to their death. Especially stupid kids like Georgie. He was defeated, I swear he was defeated, by the most annoying group of pre-teen children I've ever seen in a movie. But was he really defeated? Of course not. The group reunites years later to find themselves facing Sir Pennywise one again, only this time he has shed his goody-goody clown look and is now a giant spider. That's no joke. (** out of ****)

Frailty

Another great, overlooked horror film. Bill Paxton directed and also stars in this Hitchcockian mind teaser about murder, betrayal and faith (sounds juicy, doesn't it?). Paxton plays "Dad", nameless Dad, who believes to have gotten commands from God to destroy "demons", and must enlist the help of his sons. Sounds fun, but the demons appear to be regular people you'd see walking down the street. The youngest son, Adam, is all game, but older, non-believing son Fenton sees the demon destruction as murder. Those teens and their rebelious stages! Very well shot, acted and a very nice scene of Matthew McConaughey (you'll know when you see it) makes the film a must see. Watch to the end for big twist. (**** out of ****)

Alice, Sweet Alice

Brooke Sheilds made her film debut in this cheesy film about a girl so jealous of her younger sister that she resorts to murder to get back the limelight. A disturbing story that could have made for some fun entertainment, but instead should be thrown into the soon to be forgotten bin. The only creepy part is the obese pedophile who lives downstairs and eats cat food. Also known as "Communion"(* out of ****)

Motel Hell

"Meat's meat and man's gotta eat!" Never have words so eloquently flowed in a horror screenplay. This gory horror comedy (I've been reviewing alot of those lately) stars western god Rory Calhoun as Farmer Vincent, a kindly old farmer making a killing, well many killings, selling his famous smoked sausages to unsuspecting customers. His special ingredient is, as you probably guessed, human flesh. He actually keeps his victims lined up in rows like heads of cabage, it's wild!! Grotesque, macabre, and hysterically funny horror story is definately not one for the squemish, but definately worth watching for those who like lots of blood with their laughs. Look for the DVD two pack with Deranged. (**** out of ****)

Dead Alive

There are many different words to describe this New Zealand cult classic- Funny, bloody and ridiculous just to name a few. But there's not that one special word to sum it all up. It's reputation as being the goriest film of all time is definately something not many can contridict. It's make-up effects are some of the best you can see. Director Peter Jackson uses heavy tounge-in-cheek techniques to play down the over-the-top gore, which make for some hysterical scenes (Remember the photobook.). While there are of course some pretty silly, and somtimes stupid, moments, this is overall loads of fun. (***1/2 out of ****)

Jeepers Creepers

Awful film about a supernatural creature with a really bad make-up job. That's all I have to say. (* out of ****)

Evil Dead

With the reference to this film in my "Hills Have Eyes" review, I've decided to pay homage to one my favorite horror films of all time. *deep breath* Let us begin.....

A group of friends travel deep into the woods to spend a weekend at a ramshackle cabin. Things are fine until Ash's (Bruce Campbell) girlfriend is.......don't read if you're easily disturbed, but do if you like a laugh........raped by the woods. Yes raped by the woods. What these crazy kids didn't know about the cabin is the evil spirts lurking within. Great film with tounge-in-cheek horror, terrific make-up effects and Bruce Campbell to top it all off!! A true classic (****out of ****)

Deranged

This ultra-low budget film showcasing Ed Gein's downward spiral and ultimate fall to the dark side is eerily depicted in this creepy cult film. Roberts Blossom (remember Marley from Home Alone?), plays Ezra Cobb, the ficticious character inspired by Gein, in a chilling performance. Living with his overbearing and controling mother has given him a distorted view on the world, women in particular. You know the story, but probably haven't seen the movie. Although I did find the news reporter who narrated the story to be somewhat unnatural. Other than that, it's a very unappreciated horror film.

I haven't seen it anywhere available for to rent, but you can find it on double feature DVD with "Motel Hell" (another classic!!) for around $10. Buy it, you won't be dispointed. Except if you don't like it. Excuse me for sounding cliché, but great for a rainy Friday night. (*** out of ****)

The Hills Have Eyes (1977)

I am stunned, absolutely stunned from this film. Not in a good way like after a viewing of Sam Rami's low-budget masterpiece "Evil Dead", but on the contrary of the that unbridled ecstasy. How a movie this bad, this cheesy, this unscary, and this incomprihensibly terrible could be one of the genre's most praised works, is a mystery wrapped inside an enigma.

A family of city folk set off for a car trip through the rocky desert and crash their car off the road, making their car unusable (wow, that could have been better written). They run into a family of mountain freaks who seem to have gotten their clothes from the "Land of the Lost" prop department. And with this comes the usual mix of gunshots, stabbings and burnings at the stakes. Not a single scare in the 89 minute muck. The tagline is "The lucky ones died first". No, the lucky ones just don't see this movie. (* out of ****)