Eric Butler's Blog, page 18

So you like to read ...

First up is an extreme horror collection that will make you cringe and gasp as you turn the pages looking for more. I'm excited and honored to have a story in this collection. You can tell the book is put together by someone who loves the genre.

The Lineup:

“Woodshed” by Ronald Kelly

“The Fixer Upper” by Eric Butler

“Sometimes the Bear” by Brian Rosenberger and John Boden

“Blut Und Ton” by Damascus Mincemeyer

“A Night at the Movies” by J.F. Capps

“Sebastian and the Jungle of Misery” by Scott Harper

“Glutton of the Sea” by Simon McHardy

“Painted Nails” by C.M. Saunders

“The Hate Box in her Heart” by Thomas R. Clark

“The Verdict” by A.M. Bacon

Order it on Amazon or Godless.

All the books I've published under Naked Cat Press are now available on Kindle Unlimited. The only one you can read there for free is Donn, TX 1952 - but you can read it here for free.

The Shadow Within - ,ebook / ,paperback / ,audiobook

The Pope Lick Massacre - ,ebook / paperback / ,audiobook

The Sins of the Past - ebook / paperback / audiobook - coming soon

Donn, TX 1969 - ,ebook / paperback - coming soon / ,audiobook

Donn, TX 1865 - ebook / paperback - coming soon / audiobook -coming soon

[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]

I've also got stories in a number of the Black Hair Press 500-word collections (click ,here) and the H is for Hell in Red Cape Publishing's A-Z of Horror anthology series (click ,here).

1984 - I remember it well

We are getting to the point where I remember going to the theater to see many of the hot movies of 1984. As I've stated in earlier posts, my father had a dislike for horror so I didn't start seeing many of these in the theater just yet. However we are still in the time when many movies got a PG rating and slipped through the cracks. It wouldn't be until June of this year that the PG-13 rating would be introduced to try and balance out movies that were closer to R-rated but not quite there.

I'd say 1984 was a big year for horror if only the top 2 movies on my list were produced. After a moment of thought, I realized there was no option but to have A Nightmare on Elm Street first. This movie is unique, introduces a new horror icon, and is a well put together horror spectacular. It checks all the boxes of a great horror film.

While this is Johnny Depp's film debut and that's a big deal, it's the introduction of Freddy Krueger that really rocks the horror world. It is rare for a horror movie villain to take on a life larger than the movie in which he stars. Robert Englund made Freddy his own and gave horror fan's a bad guy to love and love to hate. A Nightmare on Elm Street became a franchise that keep New Line Cinema in business for years.

Blurb - The monstrous spirit of a slain child murderer seeks revenge by invading the dreams of teenagers whose parents were responsible for his untimely death.

https://youtu.be/dCVh4lBfW-c

Many think Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is the best in the series. I think Part 6 might have an argument, but either way part 4 is an important movie to both the franchise and the genre.

Released on April the 13th, a Friday of course, and on a budget of just under $2 million, Part 4 raked in $32.6 million before closing. It was made to be the final picture of the Jason saga and it is the last movie where Jason is "human" in nature. Part 4 was directed by Joseph Zito, who gave us the Prowler in 1981, and included Crispin Glover and Corey Feldman. It was at the time the bloodiest of the Friday's and included the most nudity - a growing staple in the slasher genre. Ebert called it "an immoral and reprehensible piece of trash." That said, it has what many claim to be the best Jason - Ted White - and is one of the best of a franchise that spans over 10 pictures.

Blurb - After being announced dead and taken to a morgue, Jason Voorhees spontaneously revives, escapes from the hospital, and stalks a group of friends renting a house in the countryside near Crystal Lake.

https://youtu.be/OpWpe8REbag

A lot of talent came together to give us Gremlins. Coming of his success with Producing Poltergeist, Speilberg returns with a Chris Columbus (Harry Potter 1 & 2) script and Joe Dante (The Howling) directing. Add a terrific mix of established and up-and-coming actors and you have a really fun and scary Christmas horror film.

This movie and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom led to the rating board to invent a new rating, PG-13. This is an important development as many studios thought they could pull in more teens with this rating and many horror movies had to decide if they wanted the hard R rating or the newer PG-13 in an attempt to drive up the box office numbers.

Blurb - A young man inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.

https://youtu.be/XBEVwaJEgaA

Speaking of getting a PG-13 rating, let's go ahead and talk about Dreamscape. This is the 2nd movie to get the PG-13 rating - 1st one was Red Dawn. This movie has a tremendous cast fronted by Dennis Quaid, who's about to go on a run of hit movies and cement himself as one of the top leading men of the 80s & 90s. Stream it on tubi.

Blurb - A young psychic on the run from himself is recruited by a government agency experimenting with the use of the dream-sharing technology and is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of the U.S. president.

https://youtu.be/4ybHzYtF3ZM

2 more Stephen King based movies came out in 1984. First up is Children of the Corn. Linda Hamilton had 3 movies come out in 1984, 2 were important - this one and The Terminator. It has spawned the most sequels of any of the "King" movies. Stream on Prime, Hulu, tubi, and Shudder.

Blurb - A young couple is trapped in a remote town where a dangerous religious cult of children believes that everyone over age 18 must be killed.

https://youtu.be/dClKllEv5MU

The movie taken from John Carpenter because of the poor showing of the Thing in 1982 was Firestarter. Instead Mark Lester got to direct the 2nd King movie of 1984. He would go on to direct 2 of my favorite movies of the 80s - Commando and Armed and Dangerous. Drew Barrymore, fresh off of ET, drew the part of the main character Charlie McGee and got to star with some huge names in Hollywood. Stream on HBOMax.

Blurb - A couple who participated in a potent medical experiment gain telepathic ability and then have a child who is pyrokinetic.

https://youtu.be/HfLZDbviNwg

Low-Budget: Check

Excessive violence: Check

Located in New Jersey: Check

Before Marvel was dominating the superhero genre, Troma Entertainment gave us The Toxic Avenger. I'm not sure if it's the budget or the writing that makes this a true horror picture. It's one of those cult classics that has to be seen to be believed. This one is a rent/buy to stream.

Blurb - Tromaville has a monstrous new hero. The Toxic Avenger is born when meek mop boy Melvin falls into a vat of toxic waste. Now evildoers will have a lot to lose.

https://youtu.be/27E4Qfj7iEY

The werewolf picture of 1984 was The Company of Wolves. Directed and written by Neil Jordan in only his 2nd film, this movie is filmed in what he called "a Chinese box" format - meaning it contains stories within a story. Stream it on tubi.

Blurb - A teenage girl in a country manor falls asleep while reading a magazine, and has a disturbing dream involving wolves prowling the woods below her bedroom window.

https://youtu.be/ARC93pDUGbQ

In an updated take on The Omega Man or The Last Man on Earth, we got a teenage girl's version in Night of the Comet. Starring Catherine Mary Stewart who also appears in 1984's The Last Starfighter, this movie is a taste of what's to come with many of the PG-13 style of horror movies. You can stream on PlutoTv.

Blurb - A comet wipes out most of life on Earth, leaving two Valley Girls fighting against cannibal zombies and a sinister group of scientists.

https://youtu.be/fPlk7z0ZXTo

Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers, or C.H.U.D., was the film debut of both Jay Thomas and Kim Greist and one of John Goodman's earliest film roles. Stream it on Tubi and Prime.

Blurb - A bizarre series of sudden disappearances on the streets of New York City seems to point toward something unsavory living in the sewers.

https://youtu.be/BJckCjZ8Tdw

Finishing up our movie list is the controversial Silent Night, Deadly Night. It opened the same weekend as A Nightmare on Elm Street, but was pulled from many theaters after just a few weeks because of all the protests. Many parents were upset with the marketing approach that centered around a homicidal Santa Claus.

Gene Siskel read out all the companies that had a piece of Tri-Star Pictures and said "You people have nothing to be proud of."

Blurb - Little Billy witness his parents getting killed by Santa after being warned by his senile grandpa that Santa punishes those who are naughty. Now Billy is 18, and out of the orphanage, and he has just become Santa, himself.

https://youtu.be/hNBJfv5pIdY

Now to be honest there's enough non-horror movies to showcase in another post but there's just too much going on this week for me to do that. So I've highlighted a few, ignoring the mega-blockbusters as they are implied.

I mean all of these are great movies, and should be seen.

I don't know why, but something about the chemistry of the actors and the tragic nature of Amadeus has always fascinated me. Starman is a non-horror John Carpenter movie. Cloak and Dagger is writes by horror master Tom Holland. Streets of Fire might be one of the greatest original soundtracks ever for a movie. Before he was a Highlander, Christopher Lambert was my Tarzan. Tom Selleck in a science fiction movie. Ice Pirate's is hilarious fun. Red Dawn fed off the fears that we were fed daily in the early 80s about the Soviet Union. The last 5 are comedy masterpieces.

[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]

A deep dive into 1982 cinema or the movies that helped shape a young mind

As I've done the weekly post on "This year in Horror Films", I've tried to highlight other movies that people may not know about or that had an impact on me - i.e. all my weirdness and love of strange things. When I hit the year 1982, I was shocked to see just how many of my favorite movies premiered during that year. Many of these I saw in the theaters, but a few were seen later on VHS or TMC or cable.

If I'm thankful for one thing from my father - it's his complete lack of censorship in my developmental years. Of course, I'm joking. If something questionable came on he told me to cover my eyes. This stopped a good 15 to 25% of the visuals from getting in.

It did however allow 100% of the audio in so I'm not sure how effective it was in the end.

Okay, so of course many of the highest-grossing films played an important part in helping warp - I mean develop - my personality and love of cinema. While some I didn't get or like in the 80s, I can appreciate them for what they are today - I'm looking at you #2 & 3. And when I was 8ish, I thought Whorehouse was more like horror-house, so you can guess my level of confusion whenever I caught bits and pieces on TMC. That said, you know these films and most likely the others I'm about to share, but maybe not and you just might find a new favorite or a hidden gem in my list of nonsense.

Presented in no specific order - Here we go ...

So take off you hoser, eh. This was my introduction to Canada and its unique outlook on life. A fun mix of SCTV sketch comedy and filled with pop culture references before that was a thing, Strange Brew follows the misadventures of 2 brothers. If you love hockey, beer, or Canadians, eh ... this is the movie for you. It's a rent/buy to stream but I've seen it from time to time on Prime.

Blurb - Canada's most famous hosers, Bob and Doug McKenzie, get jobs at the Elsinore Brewery, only to learn that something is rotten with the state of it.

https://youtu.be/oMI23JJUpGE

Airplane II: The Sequel takes a tried and true recipe for success and pummels it into submission. Yes, it's more of the same as Airplane, but it still has some good laughs. Stream it on Starz.

Blurb - A faulty computer causes a passenger space shuttle to head straight for the Sun. Can Ted Striker save the day and get the shuttle back on track - again?

https://youtu.be/HZokeJ_n-0c

Night Shift offers a lot of firsts. It's Ron Howard's first studio picture. It's Michael Keaton's first starring vehicle after doing some TV work. It's the first time I realized Fonzie wasn't always the Fonz. It's even Shannon Doherty's debut.

You can't tell from the preview, but it's a very funny movie. I think TMC played this every day for years. I seem to remember it as a staple in the background. You can stream it on Starz.

Blurb - A morgue attendant is talked into running a brothel at his workplace after a deceased pimp is sent there. However, the pimp's killers don't look too kindly on this new 'business', nor does the morgue's owner.

https://youtu.be/Hq6E7x-0YQY

2 lessons can be learned from early 80s Hollywood. First, the world is full of prostitutes with hearts of Gold - see Night Shift. And maybe people should have seen the Harvey Weinstein stuff coming. Movies, especially teen to early adult comedies, were awfully "rapey" back then.

Zapped! has Porky's to blame for this as that movie's success made the producers go back and add even more sex and nudity to get the coveted "R" rating. It stars Scott Baio and Willie Aames before they went on to do Charles in Charge on TV and introduced Heather Thomas before she got a co-starring role on The Fall Guy. It would have been interesting to see what the movie was before they added everything to bump the rating up. Not sure where you can see this one, but I've seen it from time to time on Prime.

Blurb - A high school science nerd gains telekinetic powers after a laboratory accident and uses them for revenge upon bullies.

https://youtu.be/6gPJQWFGJO0

Sure Grease had John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, but it didn't have one of my earliest crushes - Michelle Pfeiffer - so obviously Grease 2 is better. You want to talk about a movie played on a loop, TMC made sure you had a number of chances to watch it every week. I haven't seen it in years, and I just cringed so hard watching the trailer I may need to go see a chiropractor, but when I was 7-10 I watched this movie way too much.

This was my generation's High School Musical if HSM was full of guys trying to score with every ounce of their being. This is funny because after this flopped at the box office, Disney held off plans for the next one until they released it ... as High School Musical. Stream it on Starz and AMC+

Side note - I saw a production of Grease, years later, and Adrian Zmed (Nogerelli) was playing Travolta's role. He was great and I had to rethink my stance on which was a better film.

Blurb - A British student at a 1960s American high school must prove himself to the leader of a girls' gang whose members can only date greasers.

https://youtu.be/WQTUEj-TqLo

Deathtrap wasn't the kind of movie I would have normally been drawn towards at age 7 or 8. It feels a little too stuffy to catch my attention. But then again, seeing this movie might be the reason I watched such a wide variety of films growing up. This film was another that TMC liked to shove down your throat, and I don't know if that's why I saw it or if my father sat down with me to watch it.

Based on the play by Ira Levin - the writer of Rosemary's Baby, this movie may have given me a love for the "who done it" mystery. It's filled with a series of twists and turns that lead the audience through several trails as they criss-cross over one another. Caine and Reeves are spectacular in the film. Another one you have to rent/buy to watch.

Blurb - A Broadway playwright puts murder in his plan to take credit for a student's play.

https://youtu.be/CrhvnkNjyjg[image error][image error][image error]

Next up I'm combining the 3 amazing animated films that came out in 1982. I'm a big fan of Disney, but they have a reputation for producing feel-good cookie-cutter animated films. Of course, there are exceptions but movies like these 3 are what made me love animation as a story-telling device. Add in Ralph Bakshi and we've got another post altogether ...

If you were a kid in the 80s, you saw these movies ... a lot. I'm not sure about later generations unless you were my kid or a friend of my kid - because he saw them and shared them.

I have a memory of seeing a poster in German for the Secret of Nimh and asking my mother about it. Like she always did when I showed curiosity or interest, she went out and got me the book. Then when the movie was available we saw it in the theater. I just remember how amazing the colors were, how real the characters felt as I watched their struggle, and how terrifying the villains were when they finally revealed themselves. While the story is for children, and it was packaged in a "cartoon", this movie is so much more.

Don Bluth thought so highly of the project, he left Disney animation when they refused to take on the project. They felt it was too dark and mature a subject for commercial success. They may have been right. The rating board gave the film a "G" rating which the creators felt hurt with the older viewers who might have been interested. However, the real issue was releasing the film while E.T. was dominating the Box Offices. While the movie did well in the theaters that carried it, many theaters simply couldn't find room to play it while they were raking in the dough. Remember this was before the big multiplex. Many theaters only played on a handful of screens.

Stream it on Prime.

Blurb - To save her ill son, a field mouse must seek the aid of a colony of rats, with whom she has a deeper link than she ever suspected.

https://youtu.be/cISmv0IGoQQ

Next up we have The Last Unicorn. This Rankin/Bass Company production is filled with stars before it was the norm to have big named actors' voice animation. Or perhaps they were just big named stars to me at the time because of the films and TV shows I enjoyed watching. Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Christopher Lee, Angela Lansbury, Alan Arkin, Robert Klein, and Rene Auberjonois all offered amazing performances that bring this fantasy world alive.

If you love fantasy stories with knights, magic, and mystical creatures and you haven't seen this movie ... you're doing yourself a disservice. Stream it on tubi and IMDBTV - Amazon's free service. Oh, and make sure you get the PG-13 version. The G version available now has been edited to remove stuff they got away with in 1982.

Blurb - A beautiful unicorn sets out to learn if she truly is the last of her kind in this sparkling animated musical.

https://youtu.be/BpPy8TAGglA

Last up we have Plague Dogs, from the creative minds that brought us the 1978 Watership Down. Based on the book by Richard Adams (writer of both Plague Dogs and Watership Down), Martin Rosen's movie is considered another dark piece of animation. This is in part because the film was based on the original manuscript. A manuscript the powers that be convinced Adams to tone down at the end. The movie did not reflect those changes. It was the last movie in the US to get a rating of PG-13 or R until 1999's South Park. Side note - PG-13 didn't exist when the movie was released so it is one of the only films to go from PG to PG-13 when it did come into existence in 1985.

Stream it on tubi and Pluto.

Blurb - Two dogs escape from a laboratory and are hunted as possible carriers of the bubonic plague.

https://youtu.be/-cVwnSvQNoU

Is Megaforce a terrible movie? Probably, but it's the right kind of terrible in my book. First, we have Barry Bostwick, Brad from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, as Ace Hunter. Second ... Ace Hunter, I mean come on, with a name like that how could they go wrong? Third, a lot of this movie was designed by the toy company Mattel. So you can see how that's a win. Fourth, did I mention the guy from Rocky Horror being Ace Hunter?

This movie is the kind of weird, outside-the-box cinema my father gave me a love for early on. I guess that's why it's on the list. That and Ace Hunter. I mean come on!

Fine if that's not enough. Matt Stone and Trey Parker are fans and used this movie as the basis for their puppet movie, Team America. If you can't watch it at their place, you're forced to rent/buy this baby to stream.

Blurb - Story about a rapid deployment defense unit that is called into action whenever freedom is threatened.

https://youtu.be/gJC6mblA9-Q

I'm a huge Jim Henson fan. So really all you need to do is slap his name on it and I'm gonna check it out. The bonus here is this movie is pretty amazing. Written by David Odell, who did The Muppet Show, Supergirl, and Masters of the Universe, and directed by Henson and Oz, Dark Crystal was a throwback to the dark and scary stories of the Grimm Brothers. Henson felt kids liked being scared and he wanted to embrace that philosophy with this movie.

While it did well in the US, many parents did find it too dark. That said it was the highest-grossing film in France and Japan in 1983. You can stream it on Starz.

Blurb - On another planet in the distant past, a Gelfling embarks on a quest to find the missing shard of a magical crystal, and to restore order to his world.

https://youtu.be/9PTjIWyRmls

So the final 3 movies had maybe the largest impact on my tiny little brain. First up is the Ridley Scott classic, Blade Runner. If you are interested now in seeing this movie, there are like 5 versions to choose from. Back in 1982, you got one and you were happy with that ... even though you had to listen to Harrison Ford's voice-over explanation at the beginning. One he didn't believe was necessary so he did a terrible job of it thinking there was no way they'd include it ... which of course, the powers-that-be did.

This was my first introduction to Rutger Hauer, even though he was in Nighthawks a year earlier. I wouldn't see that film for another year or two. All the replicants are amazing, the set designs are fantastic, and the film is just so beautifully shot. This was the movie I compared all science fiction movies against for years. If you don't own it, why not? It's a rent/buy to own to stream. Get the Blu-ray with all the versions. Do a deep dive.

Blurb - A blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space, and have returned to Earth to find their creator.

https://youtu.be/eogpIG53Cis

I think I've established I'm a sucker for a sword and sorcery movie, and Conan the Barbarian might be the best one ever made. Oliver Stone wrote the original script, John Milius - a tremendous writer himself, who rewrote much of Stone's work to get the cost down - directs it, and Arnold Schwarzenegger was made to play this part. Add in the amazing score, the top-notch sets / special effects, and the incredible actors they got to play throughout the movie and you have a must-see action/adventure movie. Stream it on Peacock.

Blurb - A young boy, Conan, becomes a slave after his parents are killed and tribe destroyed by a savage warlord and sorcerer, Thulsa Doom. When he grows up he becomes a fearless, invincible fighter. Set free, he plots revenge against Thulsa Doom.

https://youtu.be/Nok-jOYn6Dg

Another action movie star was starting a new franchise as Sylvester Stallone came out with First Blood. The world got a chance to meet Rambo in a different light than that of the novel released in the 70s. While the story is pretty much the same, Stallone made some changes to both his character and that of the sheriff. It made for a different ending and a chance to continue the character in future projects. You can stream it on amc+.

Author's note - This was one of my favorite movies to reenact as a kid with my G.I. Joes. Video games weren't very advanced at the time, and I was an only child so I spent hours playing and re-imagining action films like this one, Mad Max, and Commando with the help of a pretty large collection of G.I. Joe figures and vehicles. I still remember when I found an 18-wheeler in the same scale as my Joe's - hello Road Warrior.

Blurb - A veteran Green Beret is forced by a cruel Sheriff and his deputies to flee into the mountains and wage an escalating one-man war against his pursuers.

https://youtu.be/IAqLKlxY3Eo

Okay so enough about 1982. Time to look ahead, and see what horror movies dominated 1984 and beyond, am I right?

[image error][image error][image error]

So wait, did I say I was done? Guess not as I've found 3 more that didn't download to the site. So here we have an action film, a fantasy sword & sorcery movie, and a comedy noir mashup. All three equally great in their own way and all three in heavy rotation in young Eric's movie viewing.

1 - Firefox - A pilot is sent into the Soviet Union on a mission to steal a prototype jet fighter that can be partially controlled by a neuralink. Rent/buy to watch.

https://youtu.be/T5W4MiBuEnY

2 - The Beastmaster - A sword-and-sorcery fantasy about a young man's search for revenge. Armed with supernatural powers, the handsome hero and his animal allies wage war against marauding forces. You can watch this gem on Prime.

https://youtu.be/XYvILyXjSaY

3 - Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid - Film noir parody with a detective uncovering a sinister plot. Characters from real noirs appear as scenes from various films are intercut. Rent/buy to watch.

https://youtu.be/x2efDnLZjsk

Okay now I'm done ... really. I've given you enough here to go watch.

1983 - Top Heavy In Horror

After 2 packed years of important or genre-defining films, horror seems to have hit a bit of a speed bump in 1983. While there are a handful of standouts, there was a lot of filler and people trying to bandwagon onto the trends of the last 3 years or so. Let's get into it ...

We've been following Cronenberg's rise since 1975 as a director, and while Videodrone was a bomb at the box office I think it's one of his top 3 films. Now considered a cult classic, this movie is one of the best examples of both body horror and science fiction horror. While he's had a film almost every year I've covered, this is the beginning of his genius for me. You can stream for free on Peacock.

Blurb - A programmer at a TV station that specializes in adult entertainment searches for the producers of a dangerous and bizarre broadcast.

Note - Much of this trailer was done on a Commodore 64 computer.

https://youtu.be/UFHey3utk0I

Psycho II is an important film in my eyes because of the writer, Tom Holland. As we discussed in the 1982 post, his script from The Beast Within was used and it gave him the confidence to pursue more writing and fewer acting gigs. This lead to his writing Psycho 2. At first, the producers were looking to make a made-for-TV movie that wouldn't even bring back Anthony Perkins as Norman. However, Holland's script was so good Perkins jumped at the chance to portray the character he made famous 23 years earlier.

With Perkins on board and the producers happy with the script, the movie was green-lit for the big screen. It went on to do well at the box office and receive critical success which lead to Holland stepping away from acting and focusing on getting more writing gigs. Of course, he planned to use his success to springboard his career into the directing chair. We'll see more from him in 1985. Stream it on Peacock.

Blurb - After twenty-two years of psychiatric care, Norman Bates attempts to return to a life of solitude, but the specters of his crimes - and his mother - continue to haunt him.

https://youtu.be/LKprv08HI0s

Sleepaway Camp continued the slasher at camp sub-genre and came away as a surprise hit and cult classic. It contains a number of fun kills, and interesting characters that scream early-80s in appearance and actions. The shock ending may be the reason so many loved it, and man is it shocking when you see it for the first time.

Interesting note - in an industry that often hires people 18+ to play underage characters, Felissa Rose is only 13 in this picture. She's wasn't old enough to buy a ticket to see her acting debut. Stream on tubi, Peacock, IMDBTV, and Shudder.

https://youtu.be/vImv6yxkxJE

And just like that, Cronenberg is back. The Dead Zone came out at the end of the year to modest box office money but big critical acclaim. One of 3 movies based on Stephen King novels to come out in 1983. While it was the first to take place in the fictional town of Castle Rock in the books, the movie came out 2 months after Cujo. Cronenberg pulls back from the amazing special effects his previous movies employed and instead focuses on tight storytelling and amazing performances from a "before they were all-stars" cast. This movie

Walken is amazing as the central character and we get a taste of Martin Sheen as a politician years before he's President. The Dead Zone is another of the top-3 Cronenberg pictures. You can stream on Paramount+ or Amc+.

Blurb - A man awakens from a coma to discover he has a psychic ability.

https://youtu.be/P5zc6ZLNCek

The 2nd Stephen King book to take place in Castle Rock is Cujo. While it is a sequel of sorts to Dead Zone in the books, as it makes several references to the previous novel, the movies remove all these references since different studios produced the 2 films.

A couple of fun facts from the movie - there were 5 Saint Bernards used during filming. Many times they had to have their tails tied down because they were so happy during filming, their tails wagged. A rottweiler was brought on set to use for some of the more scary scenes as the Saint Bernards just didn't have it in them.

King thinks this is one of the more successful adaptations of his work, and he praises Dee Wallace's performance. Stream it on amc+.

Blurb - Cujo, a friendly St. Bernard, contracts rabies and conducts a reign of terror on a small American town.

https://youtu.be/v0k21yeVMbM

The 3rd Stephen King movie of 1983 is Christine. King was so big at the time, that the movie was purchased before the book was even written. This is the film Carpenter pivoted to after the flop of The Thing and being removed from Firestarter(another King adaptation). You can stream it on PlutoTv.

Blurb - A nerdish boy buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it.

https://youtu.be/0Xq75RR7otQ

Not every horror movie that came out in 1983 was rated R. One of the scariest is the PG masterpiece released by Disney, Something Wicked This Way Comes. Man, did this movie give me the creeps when I first saw it.

I think this movie always gave me a soft spot for Jason Robards. He was so perfect as the older father of a young boy. Of course, at the time you don't really get it, but looking back at it with the perspective of a father ... man he killed it. And on the other side of that coin of perfection is Jonathan Pryce as Mr. Dark. He is such a silver-tongued devil in this film. He shines in the role. So if you want to watch it, I have bad news. I can't find it on any service - including Disney+ - and you can't buy it on DVD or Blu-ray without paying collector prices. I just hope they get it on Disney+ sooner than later.

Blurb - In a small American town, a diabolical circus and its demonic proprietor prey on the townsfolk.

https://youtu.be/Gh1tMSnVWQo

Another PG scarefest based on the TV show, Twilight Zone the Movie used 4 directors - Steven Spielberg, George Miller, Joe Dante, and John Landis - to direct different segments of the movie. This movie was hit with scandal when a helicopter crashed and killed 3 people - Vic Morrow and 2 children. It led to new safety procedures in the film industry. While the critics were split on the film, it was a box office hit. Stream it on Starz.

Blurb - Four horror and science fiction segments, directed by four famous directors, each of them being a new version of a classic story from Rod Serling's landmark television series.

https://youtu.be/jDrjfDRM5rE

House of the Long Shadows brought together horror heavyweights: Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, and John Carradine. This would be the 24th time Cushing and Lee starred together and sadly, their last. A throwback to the days when horror was a bit campier and lighthearted. It's just cool to see them together and working at the craft they all so dearly loved. Looks like you can stream it on Youtube.

Blurb - An American author finds a dilapidated Welsh manor perfect for writing until the residents host a bizarre family reunion.

https://youtu.be/gUcaMJ5w5Y8

Before he became a director of action films, Tony Scott's first movie was a slick-looking vampire flick starring David Bowie and Susan Sarandon called The Hunger. You can stream it on HBOMax.

Blurb - A love triangle develops between a beautiful yet dangerous vampire, her cellist companion, and a gerontologist.

https://youtu.be/7a6YFwC2zKA

Are you ready for your WTF did I just watch moment? You'll find it here in Xtro. More HP Lovecraft than any other kind of extraterrestrial, Xtro pulls no punches. Good luck finding it, I'm going to guess Youtube.

Blurb - An alien creature impregnates a woman who gives birth to a man that was abducted by aliens three years ago. The man reconnects with his wife and son for a sinister purpose.

https://youtu.be/56pvjrZg5p8

The Keep is based on the F. Paul Wilson novel, this is Michael Mann's 2nd feature film before he goes on a run of making incredible Oscar-worthy films. Many hated the movie then and still do, and when you read Mann's original cut is over 3.5 hours long you can see what the issue might be. This is the first Hollywood film by Ian McKellen (Gandolf). It did not do well in the theater and Mann ran back to TV to create Miami Vice. It's a cult favorite now, but the studio is reluctant to release it on DVD until 2017. You have to rent/buy it if you want to stream.

Blurb - Nazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison.

https://youtu.be/yYs5hGJFY0k

Dennis Quaid was in this money grab. Jaws 3-D was Lea Thompson's film debut. I hate to say I remember seeing it in the theater and liking it but I was only 8 so don't hold it against me. Wow, it's on Netflix.

Blurb - It's Jaws but in 3-D or something ...

https://youtu.be/lt4g6xyZW10[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]

And we return to the gallery of movies that affected my childhood and my love of certain films, actors, or genres. 1983 had some amazing comedies, but I want to highlight 3 films.

The first 2 are the last pictured, Nate and Hayes and Wargames. These 2 movies are special because they remind me of one of the best days I spent with my father when I was 8. He had a friend in town and that day we went to see Wargames in the theater in town, have Pizza for dinner, and then see Nate and Hayes playing at the Army Base theater. It was the first and only time I remember doing something like this with the family and it stuck with me as something special. It took me years to figure out which movie had been the 2nd one. I just knew it was a pirate movie. When I did, I sat down to watch Nate and Hayes ... and it is terrible. That said the memory is still a happy one, lol.

The other movie I want you to see if you like animation or music. I watched Rock & Rule on a worn-out VHS tape for years. It could fall under horror as the main bad guy is trying to raise a monster from another dimension to destroy the world. You can buy it on Amazon or head over and we can watch it on Blu-Ray.

https://youtu.be/RISzXw3WsNY

The Donn, TX Collection continues ...

The third installment of Donn, TX is now available on Kindle Unlimited. This story takes us to a time before the city of Donn existed, but as always there is the corn.

1865

For Eli Larkin, the war is over. There is nothing left but to return home to his wife and children. As he draws nearer, he is pulled to the cornfield to discover a horrifying truth.

The carnage he witnessed in the war is nothing compared to the savage road of slaughter he soon will traverse; for Donn, TX needs its caretaker, and it requires it to be born in butchery.

Find it here : ,Donn, TX 1865

You can read the first installment for free on my site or pay a buck on Amazon -

Donn, TX 1952

You can read this installment for free with Kindle Unlimited or $1.50 on Amazon eBook. Or you can listen to it on Audiobook with the incredible Micah Cottingham narrating.

,Donn, TX 1969 Kindle

Donn, TX 1969 Audiobook

Some reviews for the first 2 installments are pouring in with everything from pedestrian and predictable to creepy and horrifying. You be the judge.

I'm still working on the non-horror list of movies for 1982. I'm thinking it will post next Wednesday unless I get it out on a random day between now and Monday's post on the horror movies of 1983.

Picture this ... the year was 1982

We are now entering a time where I remember actively seeing some of these movies on cable. Many were popular on TMC and showed up a ton. It's also as strong a year as 1981, possibly stronger as some truly amazing films that came out in 1982. First up is probably my favorite horror movie, or worst case 1B depending on my mood that day ...

I can't tell you how many times a movie I'm super excited about, comes out and bombs. The Thing would have been one of those movies. Blows my mind that this horror masterpiece was only able to scrape up $19.6 million (E.T. scored a high of $359+ million). What's weird is no one seemed to like this movie. The critics destroyed it; attacking the story, the actors, and the violence. While some had positive things to say about the special effects, they still were lumped in with the criticisms.

The movie found its audience after being released on VHS and soon was recognized as the masterpiece it is. That said the damage was done. The studio lost all faith in the movie after test screenings. They abandoned the original marketing plan and pivoted with new taglines and approaches that failed. John Carpenter lost his confidence and refused to talk about the movie for years before opening up on its failure. Universal decided they couldn't trust Carpenter to make the next picture of his 2-picture deal and instead paid him to go away - that movie was Firestarter.

This movie does such a good job of terrifying the audience on so many levels. The cast is spectacular and Kurt Russel shines in the role. I find the special effects to be some of the best done and superior to the CGI we were given in the prequel The Thing movie released in 2011. You can stream if you have Starz, but really everyone should own a copy of this movie.

Blurb - A research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

https://youtu.be/5ftmr17M-a4

My #2 movie from 1982 is Creepshow. Close friends, George Romero (Night of the Living Dead fame) and Stephen King (Duh) finally get the opportunity to work together. King wrote the script and starred in one of the shorts, while the King of Zombies directed. Warner Brothers was able to secure a number of incredible actors - both established and up-and-comers - to star in this movie.

The movie is broken up into 5 tales and does a great job of weaving the horror and the funny. This movie came out in November of the year and is the only Romero movie to open #1 in the box office. It is 1 of 3 horror movies in 1982 to have Adrienne Barbeau - "The Crate" segment of Creepshow, The Swamp Thing, and uncredited voice of the computer in The Thing. You can stream on AMC+.

Blurb - An anthology which tells five terrifying tales inspired by the E.C. horror comic books of the 1950s.

https://youtu.be/owdnnaNs2RI

Paramount continues to push the Friday series with Friday the 13th Part 3 in 3D. This movie provides Jason with his iconic hockey mask look. The 3-D was thrown in because the studio felt the Jason movie needed a gimmick since they kept repeating the same formula for the scripts. Director Steve Miner returned after his debut directing Part 2.

The movie takes place immediately after Part 2, and while the original plan was to have Ginny from Part 2 be in the movie which would bring Jason to the hospital she was being kept after the ordeal. Sounds a lot like Halloween 2 and would have produced a much different picture than what we got with the Part 3 they released.

Blurb - Having revived from his wounds, Jason Voorhees takes refuge at a cabin near Crystal Lake. As a group of co-eds arrive for their vacation, Jason continues his killing spree.

https://youtu.be/SDdBhDJ7wdA

Keeping pace with Paramount, Universal released the 3rd Halloween movie: Halloween III: Season of the Witch. This is the only Halloween movie without Michael Myers. John Carpenter never expected them to star Myers, instead wanting to put out an anthology of films that gave the audience a completely different experience each time. This might have worked if they did this with 2, but waiting until the 3rd picture backfired for Universal.

With Myers appearing in the first 2 pictures, the audience was upset to discover him missing in part 3 - even though Carpenter went out of his way to kill off the central characters to stop them from rearing back up. If they had sold it as a stand-alone film, it might have fared better. It's one of my favorites of the franchise. You can stream it on amc+.

Blurb - Kids all over America want Silver Shamrock masks for Halloween. Doctor Daniel Challis seeks to uncover a plot by Silver Shamrock owner Conal Cochran.

https://youtu.be/9MnaYzBhx0A

From the name and the poster, you really are led to believe The Slumber Party Massacre is your typical slasher skin flick. Add in that Roger Corman is the producer and demanded all the sleazy elements that the audience expected from his movies, and there's no reason to think there's anything unique about this film. Except the script was done written by Rita Brown as a parody of the sub-genre. Add in that the movie was handed to a woman to direct, and you get a much funnier and more self-aware movie.

Corman loved the script but demanded Amy Holden Jones to direct it straight which she embraced. She had a checklist of musts and she filmed them quickly and by-the-book, so she could get to the parts she was interested in directing. It's a fun and smart movie addition to the slasher genre. Stream it on tubi, VUDUfree, and Shudder.

Blurb - A female high school student's slumber party turns into a bloodbath, as a newly escaped psychotic serial killer wielding a power drill prowls her neighborhood.

https://youtu.be/-vrSx--k0_k

Okay, so if we were going by box office numbers(8th highest box office in the US) and critical acclaim this movie should be higher ... like in the 1st spot. Yet I don't know if I see it as entertaining or influential as the films above. I'm sure many will argue with me but since it's my list, I get to order these however I want. Of course, I haven't seen this in years so maybe I should revisit the movie to see if it moves up the list.

It does have a lot going for it. It's got Spielberg during his rise as producer and Tobe Hooper of TX Chainsaw Massacre to direct. Interesting note - Spielberg offered him E.T. but he turned it down accepting the ghost story instead. Spielberg worked on both movies and had them filmed close together. You can watch it on HBOmax.

Blurb - A family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.

https://youtu.be/9eZgEKjYJqA

This is a weird one. I would have loved to have been at the pitch for Q, The Winged Serpent. While Bruce Willis wanted the role of Detective Shepard, the director didn't know who he was and instead went with David Carradine. The movie is a fun look of early 80s New York as it combines a police procedural, a serial killer film, and a monster movie. When I was younger (before CGI made it easier) I had a rule - if a movie has a decapitation, it instantly gets a spot on these lists. Guess what's in this movie ... You can stream on Pluto TV.

Blurb - NYPD detectives Shepard and Powell are working on a bizarre case of a ritualistic Aztec murder. Meanwhile, something big is attacking people of New York and only greedy small time crook Jimmy Quinn knows where its lair is.

https://youtu.be/nCE3xpqBNdM

I must have watched Swamp Thing a hundred times in the 80s. It was one of my favorite comic book movies until they started making actual comic book movies. Written and directed by Wes Craven as he waited for his next big project, this movie is a weird mashup of "Beauty & the Beast" and science fiction/horror from the 1950s. This is also the 3rd movie to feature Adrienne Barbeau in 1982 - and possibly the only reason to watch it now. You have to rent/buy it if you want to watch it.

Blurb - After a violent incident with a special chemical, a research scientist is turned into a swamp plant monster.

https://youtu.be/aIiZFa4xw5w

Dario Argento continues to wow audiences with his unique eye for direction in this classic. Tenebre means darkness or shadows and this movie is bathed in just that. The film is still banned in Germany. You can stream on amc+ and Shudder.

Blurb - An American writer in Rome is stalked and harassed by a serial killer who is murdering everyone associated with his work on his latest book.

https://youtu.be/OkUpGi2N8wo

An almost instant Cult Classic, Basket Case is the perfect example of a low-budget horror movie success. Writer / Director Frank Henenlotter made the movie in part because he didn't think anyone would actually see it. This belief gave emboldened him to make a pretty intense film. Much to his horror it built a strong underground following and to this day is still celebrated for its original story and fun brand of gore. Stream it on amc+, tubi, and Shudder.

Blurb - A young man carrying a big basket that contains his extremely deformed, formerly conjoined twin brother seeks vengeance on the doctors who separated them against their will.

https://youtu.be/9tpZwV3ia30

Cat People was a TMC favorite when it came to cable. I'm not sure I've seen this one all the way through, but I've seen enough of it in pieces to get the idea of the film. The director of American Gigolo brings the same sensibilities to this film, forcing the sexuality of the main character onto center stage. Instead of werewolves, which we've seen growing in popularity the last few years, he has his characters turn into panthers. It does have Malcolm McDowell in it and he's always fun to watch in these types of films. You can stream it on peacock.

Blurb - A young woman's sexual awakening brings horror when she discovers her urges transform her into a monstrous black leopard.

https://youtu.be/qEsVPDEZ00I

Roger Corman strikes again with Forbidden Planet. What was originally pitched as a Lawrence of Arabia in space, soon became a rather obvious ripoff of Alien. Known for limiting budgets, and turning a profit, Corman gave the director the set used for Galaxy of Terror and film footage from his 1980 science fiction film, Battle Beyond the Stars. This one has all the makings of an 80's Corman film - boobs, blood, and monsters. You can stream on tubi, PlutoTv, and IMDB.

Blurb - In the distant future, a federation marshal arrives at a research lab on a remote planet where a genetic experiment has gotten loose and begins feeding on the dwindling scientific group.

FYI: This is a Not Safe For Work Preview - there is a flash of nudity.

https://youtu.be/-sDWjXk335s

There are 2 reasons The Beast Within should make any best-of list. It is one of the movies to advance special effects - esp. the air bladder tricks - for films. The second reason may be more important ... it is Tom Holland's first studio script bought and produced. Tom Holland was an actor who eventually turned his talents to writing and directing, and I think cutting his teeth on this movie helped him understand how to strengthen his future projects(Fright Night, Child's Play). You can stream it on Paramount+.

Blurb - A young woman gets raped by a mysterious man-creature, and years later her son begins a horrific transformation into a similar beast.

https://youtu.be/VxHR_1PVo8A

Amityville 2: The Possession continued the Amityville franchise to so-so results. Its only real importance is Tommy Lee Wallace, the writer of Halloween 3, also wrote this film. You can stream on AMC+.

Blurb - A dysfunctional family moves into a new house, which proves to be satanic, resulting in the demonic possession of their teenage son.

https://youtu.be/lwIgPbOXKI0

Filmed in 1981, Madman made its debut in early 1982. Looking to capture some of the slasher popularity, the creatives were planning to base their movie around the Cropsy Killer legend but The Burning beat them to it. So they made some slight adjustments and gave us Madman Marz. It's a straight-forward slasher, but it's done well and makes a fine addition to the sub-genre. Stream on tubi and Roku.

Blurb - A legendary psychopathic murderer stalks a summer camp.

https://youtu.be/aVuBy_F_oiA

I don't know much about this movie. Alone in the Dark has a killer cast, and is directed by Jack Sholder who will go on to direct Nightmare on Elm Street 2 and one of my favorite science fiction movies, The Hidden. I honestly don't know if I've ever seen this one, but I do know if I saw this artwork on a VHS tape in the '80s, I would have snatched it up. It appears to be a standard slasher, but its real importance is the fact it is New Line Cinema's first produced movie. I can't find it anywhere to stream, but once I do, I'll let you know.

Blurb - A quartet of murderous psychopaths break out of a mental hospital during a power blackout and lay siege to their doctor's house.

Warning - Red Band Trailer - I guess the early '80s didn't shy away from nudity.

https://youtu.be/b4VtV83RKh4

There were so many non-horror films from 1982 that I've decided to focus on them similarly for Wednesday's post. See you then.

Carver Pike's new book is out. It's a part of a series. Here's what you need to know ...

Click here to get to the book - ,The Maddening

1981 - An Explosion of Horror Part 2

Since starting this project of visiting horror films released every year of my life, there has been a steady trickle of horror films that seems to erupt in 1981. My initial list has 34 films - that's just the horror list. I found another 20 honorable mention films that played a part in my life one way or another; while ignoring at least another 15 films that are such no-brainers that I simply passed over them. So I'm using both posts this week to cover all the movie magic from 1981. Here are the rest of the movies ...

While we saw from Monday's post that 1981 was dominated by the slasher sub-genre, there was an uptick in werewolf pictures as well. In the group of movies I selected to highlight in Monday's post, a werewolf movie was #1 - An American Werewolf in London. This trend will continue in today's post.

Joe Dante continues to build his impressive resume with The Howling. Coming off of 1978's Piranha and an uncredited directing credit from Rock 'N Roll High School, Dante started work on the film adaptation of Gary Brandner's book of the same name. He wasn't a fan of the original work so the movie is quite different, giving fans 2 different ways to enjoy the material. Dee Wallace stands out and shows why she was considered one of the top scream queens of the time. You can stream on amc+ or rent/buy on Amazon. It's only $4.99 right now.

Blurb - After a bizarre and near deadly encounter with a serial killer, a television newswoman is sent to a remote mountain resort whose residents may not be what they seem.

https://youtu.be/pZARVBpjC1I

Another film with wolves as the "creatures", Wolfen is the lesser of the three but still a very good movie. Other than Albert Finney, who the director wanted to work with so badly that he refused Dustin Hoffman's request to play the title character, the cast is filled with no names and talent from Broadway. This is Gregory Hines's 2nd movie only because History of the World Part 1 came out a month earlier.

This is the only film the director, Michael Wadleigh, did that wasn't about Woodstock and may be the reason that another director was brought in for reshoots and dialog stuff. You can't stream it with any service for free, but it is available on all the major rent/own streaming services.

Blurb - A New York cop investigates a series of brutal deaths that resemble animal attacks.

https://youtu.be/w1BH0uPIruQ

The next movie up was a popular one on the Saturday USA Channel horror marathons in the 80s. I must have seen bits and pieces of The Hand every 3-4 weeks. Even though this was one of his "paycheck movies", Michael Caine is his usual amazing self, hamming it up in the old horror movie style made famous by Hammer and Vincent Price. This is also Oliver Stone's 2nd full-length feature and the last movie before he started his impressive run in the mid-to-late 80s.

Another picture you have to rent/buy to watch on the streaming services.

Blurb - A comic book artist loses his hand, which in turn takes on a murderous life of its own.

https://youtu.be/wUA0ncaHT40

Roger Corman's New World Pictures saw how much $ Alien made and decided they should make an alien horror movie. Thus Galaxy of Terror was born. I could write an entire post just on this movie, and the amazing talent the movie had on-screen and behind the scenes.

Not only did the movie have Erin Moran (Joanie Cunningham from Happy Days), a pre-Freddy Robert Englund & Sid Haug on screen, but James Cameron was the Art Director and he hired Bill Paxton to be the set director. Because of this Paxton was a mainstay in all of Cameron's earlier movies.

Luckily, you can stream this one for free with tubi, IMDBtv(Amazon's free with ads streamer), and Roku

[image error][image error][image error][image error]

Blurb - Science fiction suspense thriller, in which a rescue space ship crew meets up with horrors projected by their own imaginations.

https://youtu.be/mTVKNW5s5js

The producers of Galaxy of Terror were so impressed with Cameron and his quick thinking during the production, they gave him Piranha 2: The Spawning to direct. This turned out to be a ruse for to take over after a few days of shooting and become the director. Most of the movie is footage Cameron shot and there was a director's cut released that allowed people to see the movie he was trying to make, but most of the time you see Assonitis' vision - which is vastly different. However, the thing that ties them both together is the idea of piranha that can fly.

Looks like it's only on google and youtube to rent/buy.

Blurb - A scuba diving instructor, her biochemist boyfriend, and her police chief ex-husband try to link a series of bizarre deaths to a mutant strain of piranha fish whose lair is a sunken freighter ship off a Caribbean island resort.

https://youtu.be/m4vFqbZSwEk

Coincidentally, Ovidio G. Assonitis had to replace another director in a film that came out the same year. Here he got the director, co-writer, and co-producer credits of Madhouse. This one is more cohesive and tells a better story than what he tried to force on Piranha 2. Funny side note - the cast and crew had to be silent and still anytime the rottweilers were brought out. You can stream on tubi or rent it for only $.99 on Amazon.

Blurb - A woman is pursued by her murderous, psychopathic twin sister in the days leading up to their birthday.

https://youtu.be/0Lh15ib5EE8

This made-for-TV movie premiered on CBS in 1981. Dark Night of the Scarecrow had an all star cast of familiar TV faces and showcased Larry Drake(Darkman, Dr. Giggles, LA Law) as a simple-minded man who is wrongly executed by a group of vigilantes. You can watch it on tubi or Roku.

Blurb - In a small Southern town, four vigilantes wrongfully execute a mentally-challenged man, but after the court sets them free mysterious "accidents" begin to kill them off one by one.

https://youtu.be/OWCt9QKWtLU

1981 was a good year for Sam Neill as he had several projects come to the big screen, 2 of them horror. The first one was the 3rd part of the Omen: The Final Conflict. Neill was cast as grown-up Damien and was supposed to tie up the Omen story. Of course, 10 years later a 4th one came out.

Blurb - The now adult Antichrist plots to eliminate his future divine opponent while a cabal of monks plot to stop him.

https://youtu.be/WoiZD_KxLvk

To be honest, I haven't seen this film and after watching the preview I don't know if I reach the level of art-house pompousness needed to enjoy it. Maybe the director was bet they couldn't out-Cronenberg David Cronenberg, and this might be the most interesting thing to come out of 1981. I doubt it. If you've seen it and think otherwise, let me know.

Blurb - A woman starts exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior after asking her husband for a divorce. Suspicions of infidelity soon give way to something much more sinister.

https://youtu.be/uDpFpzbwfiw

Dan O'Bannon is an important person to me. He is the writer behind one of the best horror science fiction films ever, Alien. He is the director of one of the best/funniest zombie movies, Return of the Living Dead. He is the co-writer of this film, Dead & Buried. But the reason he is important to me is he suffered from Crohn's - before they even knew what it was and had a name for it. He's one of the people I've shown to my son as an example of overcoming the disease and following his dreams. Even with a crippling illness, there are times when you can rise and do the things you find joy in. Dan's was making movies. I'm excited to see what my son conquers as he faces off with his Crohn's.

Blurb - A suspense horror film set in a small coastal town where, after a series of gory murders committed by mobs of townspeople against visiting tourists, the corpses begin to come back to life.

https://youtu.be/i36o9z4EnG8

We'll end 1981 with more movies that I think are important. Of course, there were some super big hits and yes, you should see Raiders of the Lost Ark, but some of these may have slipped past you.

[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error] Condorman - Spy/superhero movie that Disney put out before they ruled the world. Underrated and funny. You have to rent/buy to see. Fingers crossed it makes its way to Disney+ soon Time Bandits is a must-see movie. This is Terry Gilliam's 2nd movie after Monty Python and he stuffs it with an incredible cast. The film is everything right with movies and Gilliam's direction is perfection. It's on HBOmax. Dragonslayer is another movie that embraces magic and the unknown. Presented as a traditional quest movie, we get to join Peter MacNichol as he goes to do the impossible - kill a dragon. Find it on Prime & Paramount+. Heavy Metal - There was a time when this movie was just a word-of-mouth experience as those who were lucky enough to see it in the theater would tell people about it. It was impossible to find this animated experience of science fiction, fantasy, and hard rock music. Now you just need Starz. American Pop is an amazing experience of music and animation as Ralph Bakshi shows the story of four generations of a Russian Jewish immigrant family of musicians whose careers parallel the history of American popular music in the 20th century. You can find it on fubo. Road Warrior - Sign says Mad Max 2, but I'll always know this as The Road Warrior. This movie heralded the return of the action movie. It showed Hollywood there was a hunger for big action & stunts, and fewer monologues - which dominated films in the 70s. Stream it on HBOmax. Nighthawks is a Stallone movie where he plays a streetwise cop going head to head with an international terrorist. The cast is great, the movie screams late 70s/early 80s NY City, and the tension is real. One of my favorite Stallone movies. Stream it on Starz. Excalibur is an amazing feat in cinema; a worthy King Arthur film. Rent/Buy only. Clash of the Titans is a Ray Harryhausen production which means amazing creatures and action sequences. The cast is amazing and Medusa is awesome in this film. HBOMax. Caveman is a weird one. It's about some cavemen just trying to survive - very tongue in cheek and very funny. Starring Ringo Starr, Dennis Quaid, and Shelly Long. Find it on Prime & Paramount+. History of the World Part I is one of Mel Brooks' funniest movies. Rent/buy only. Zorro the Gay Blade is a movie I'm not sure gets made today, but it's pretty funny. Zorro passes on his persona to his son, but when he gets injured the only one left to step in and save the people is his twin brother - who happens to be gay. No idea where you can watch it but if you see it streaming you should stop down and check it out.

1981 - An Explosion of Horror Part 1

Since starting this project of visiting horror films released every year of my life, there has been a steady trickle of horror films that seems to erupt in 1981. My initial list has 34 films - that's just the horror list. I found another 20 honorable mention films that played a part in my life one way or another; while ignoring at least another 15 films that are such no-brainers that I simply passed over them. So I'm using both posts this week to cover all the movie magic from 1981.

This was a difficult choice to make. There are at least 10 movies that could kick off a greatest of horror lists on any other year but 1981. To me the choice was really between 2 films and An American Werewolf in London wins the top spot.

Written and directed by the man who brought us Kentucky Fried Movie, Animal House, and The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf is John Landis's personal favorite of his films. After directing 2 huge hits, he was finally given the money to tackle his dream project.

It took around 8 years to get the funding, and the special effects genius he pegged to do the transformation was already working on another werewolf picture because he got tired of waiting. After an angry phone call, Rick Baker left that project and returned to An American Werewolf where he won the very first Oscar for Best Makeup (partly because of a truly amazing transformation scene - eat your heart out CGI.)

A side note, Landis selected the star after seeing him in a Dr. Pepper commercial. You can stream it on Peacock and amc+.

Blurb - Two American college students on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists.

https://youtu.be/Tfz9AhPnM8c

The 1b to this list is The Evil Dead. Directed by Sam Raimi - the guy who conquered Spider-Man - and staring one of the greatest chin in Hollywood, Bruce Campbell, The Evil Dead is a low-budget horror fan's dream come true. They were working with so tight a budget, the "star" ended up putting his parents' house for collateral so they could get enough cash to finish the movie. But even with that hurdle, they still created an amazingly bloody mess that's a thrill to watch.

I think of this as one of the granddaddy films of the extreme horror sub-genre that is very popular within the horror community. It was banned in Germany a few weeks after its release date until 2016. It's a must-see movie which you can if you have HBOMax.

Blurb - Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.

https://youtu.be/NL6mioAlpJk

Spoiler Alert - Friday the 13th Part II is important and maybe should be #1 because it introduces us to grownup Jason. While his mother was the killer in the first film, and many believed the chance for any sequels ended with her death, Paramount could smell a cash cow in the little horror movie who could. Enter the beginning of a horror franchise.

This movie is also important as it is the debut of director Steve Miner who will be a big player in the genre for years to come. While a lot of the original footage had to be left on the cutting room floor, I still find this to be a fun slasher film. Add in the fact, I caught the ending of this when I was very young on cable and it may be the reason I gravitated towards horror. Catch it on Peacock.

Blurb - Mrs. Voorhees is dead, and Camp Crystal Lake is shut down, but a camp next to the infamous place is stalked by an unknown assailant.

https://youtu.be/3mNnJuOoI80

Set directly after the first Halloween movie, Halloween II follows the survivor of part 1 as she is rushed to the hospital and the sheriff begins to look for Michael Myers. Carpenter didn't want to do another Myers film, feeling he got everything he needed from the first film. Rick Rosenthal was handed the directing duties, but in the end, Carpenter couldn't take it and jumped into the editor's chair to try and fix a movie he felt didn't understand the "slasher" movement in horror at the time. He even filmed a few more shots to try and add more blood and nudity to the film.

You can stream it with amc+ or spend a few $ and get it at Amazon or VUDU.

Blurb - While Sheriff Brackett and Dr. Loomis hunt for Michael Myers, a traumatized Laurie is rushed to hospital, and the serial killer is not far behind her.

https://youtu.be/vzOdUKVD8Ac

Speaking of the growing "slasher" sub-genre, 1981 gave us The Burning. While it is a stand-alone film, it has all the familiar parts of your typical campers getting slaughtered in the woods film. This movie is important to the genre as it is the movie horror special effect icon Tom Savini decided to work on after refusing to join the crew for Friday the 13th Part 2. He continues to hone his craft with this picture, and it has some fun and gruesome kills.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be available anywhere to stream but you can get a Collector's Edition Blu-Ray that has several extras to fill your head with useless The Burning trivia. Also note this is Jason Alexander's first movie - playing one of the cool kids.

Blurb - A former summer camp caretaker, horribly burned from a prank gone wrong, lurks around an upstate New York summer camp bent on killing the teenagers responsible for his disfigurement.

https://youtu.be/KTvr0SJQ_WM

Just Before Dawn continues the "slasher" movement out in the woods. Even though they aren't campers or councilors, they are four people lost deep in the woods. The director of Squirn(1976) returns to give us this Deliverance-inspired tale of terror. This movie has a solid up-and-coming cast, a great location, and a fun twist. You can find it on Hoopla or Flix Fling - whatever that is.

Blurb - Five young people venture into the backwoods of Oregon to claim a property, and find themselves being stalked by a hulking, machete-wielding psychopath.

https://youtu.be/iiC-boBcZQY

Paramount figured out the formula - Slasher-type killer and a holiday = box office $. Such was the case with My Bloody Valentine. I think I've only seen bits and pieces of this one, but there's a chance I've consumed the whole thing. I may sit down and revisit it to see if it pulls up any memories. You can catch it on HULU & Paramount+.

Blurb - A decades-old folk tale surrounding a deranged murderer killing those who celebrate Valentine's Day turns out to be true to legend when a group defies the killer's order and people start turning up dead.

https://youtu.be/OWvLgL5tdkc

As you can tell, the slasher genre dominated the year, and The Prowler stands out from the crowd. This is partly because it was able to secure Tom Savini to help with the special effects/kills. He was advancing what could be done in special effects, and he considers this to be his finest work. You can watch it on tubi & VUDUfree.

Blurb - An unknown killer, clad in World War II U.S. Army fatigues, stalks a small New Jersey town bent on reliving a 35 year-old double murder b focusing on a group of college kids holding an annual graduation dance.

https://youtu.be/yiaDGxv0DHw

Coming off the made-for-TV mini-series Salem's Lot, Tobe Hooper directed The Funhouse. It was his first major studio picture since Eaten Alive & Texas Chainsaw Massacre and launched his run of horror projects throughout the 80s. Interesting side note - Spielberg wanted Hooper to direct E.T. but he passed as he was tied up with this project. Makes you wonder how different that movie may have been. Stream it on Peacock.

Blurb - Four teenagers visit a local carnival for a night of innocent amusement. They soon discover, however, that there is nothing innocent or amusing there at all.

https://youtu.be/teb0r_wdLyc

With the popularity of horror films rising, and the success of spoof comedies like Kentucky Fried Movie & Airplane, the combination of the 2 was bound to happen. Student Bodies is that movie. Filled with tongue-in-cheek puns & gags, this movie is heavy on letting you in on the joke while pilling them on top of you. FYI - they had to put in a scene where the guy simply drops an F-bomb just to secure the R rating they knew they needed to pull in fans of the genre. You can watch for free with Pluto TV otherwise you will need to rent/buy.

I watched this at a very young age, not realizing what it was or that I wasn't supposed to. I found that out when my dad was telling one of his friends about the movie on a car ride and I piped up from the backseat to fill in some of the blanks. He was none-too-pleased but his friend thought it was funny.

Blurb - A serial killer with his signature heavy breathing proceeds to systematically kill the students and teachers of Lamab high school.

https://youtu.be/_iyZOSPeXTQ

We will continue 1981 on Wednesday and throw in some non-horror films that made an impression or are some of my favorites. We are getting to the time period when I actually remember seeing some of these for the first time in the theater.

Did you know ... ?

If you have Kindle Unlimited you can read all 5 of my releases for free. If you don't have Kindle Unlimited, you can read/listen to Donn, TX 1952 for free on my site and read/listen to the rest at a reasonable price.

Donn, TX 1969 continues to add to the mythology of Donn, TX. You can read it as an eBook or listen to it on Audibles for only $6.95.

eBook

Audiobook

The Shadow Within is an extreme horror novel in the vein of Richard Laymon. You can order a paperback, eBook, or audiobook.

Paperback

EBook

Audiobook

If you like audiobooks, I think you will love the narrator of my US-based books. Micah Cottingham is amazing and pulls you into these books. Take Donn, TX 1952 for a spin on here to hear her amazing narration.

This extreme horror creature feature is waiting for you to take a trip to Pope Lick, Kentucky. Available in paperback. eBook, and audiobook.

Paperback

eBook

Audiobook

The Sins of the Past is a more subdued horror story. It is a Victorian supernatural mystery with the action and adventure of classic tales from times long ago. Available now in paperback and eBook, and soon available on audiobook.

Paperback

eBook

If you have read/listened to any of these, please take a moment and leave a review on Amazon, Audibles, or Goodreads.

You can find my author page for Goodreads here: ,Eric Butler Goodreads.

If you are interested in learning more about me, you will find an in-depth interview over at the yearly Halloween Extravaganza that blogger Meghan Hyden does every year. She has an amazing set up with articles, interviews, and showcases of many established and up-and-coming indie horror authors. It's a fun site, and one I highly recommend to people interested in the people creating horror content. Click here for my interview.

The Horror Movies of 1980

To me, this top spot is between 2 movies. One is directed by a master filmmaker and considered the first "epic" horror film released and the other was thrown together by a guy who took out an ad in Variety to sell the movie before the script was even completed. He was sure the name alone would bring in investors. Both movies have their strengths and weaknesses, and both are very high in my list of overall favorite movies, but I'm giving the edge to the one which birthed a franchise and a hockey mask-wearing killing machine.

Not sure what to say about Friday the 13th. It's close to perfect when you factor in the time and money constraints the cast and crew were under. This is kind of impressive when you learn this was a cash grab that was using the popularity of Halloween to score big. Just watch it. Plus you can use it in the 6 degrees to Kevin Bacon game - if people still play that. You can stream on Peacock.

Blurb - A group of camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp which was the site of a child's drowning and a grisly double murder years before.

https://youtu.be/Xqqej9T2gqI

Just missing out on the top spot is Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. I love Kubrick, the man is a film-making genius. His movies are beautifully shot and filled with symbolism and tiny important details. The fact he chose this story to take on the horror genre speaks to the source material, but of course, Kubrick simply used that as a springboard to tell his own story. King hates this interpretation of his book, but that's because once Kubrick got a hold of it, he turned it into his own creation.

He nearly drove his leading lady insane with the way he mistreated her throughout the filming process, and he made it clear no one other than Jack Nicholson would be his leading man. The cast is incredible and Kubrick's embracing of the steady cam allowed for some truly amazing and beautiful shots. If you are interested in the movie, there are several articles and even a documentary(Room 237) that does a deep dive into all the hidden meanings you can find in The Shining.

Stream it on HBO and AMC+

Blurb - A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where a sinister presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from both past and future.

https://youtu.be/S014oGZiSdI

Next up is Humanoids From the Deep. While it is a Roger Corman film (a clear indication you can expect boobs and blood) that wasn't the case for this film. One of the first horror pictures directed by a woman, it also had no nudity and limited violence. Peeters wasn't looking to direct a typical Corman film. She planned on making an intelligent suspenseful science-fiction story with a basis in fact. More importantly, she planned on there being no sex or nudity in this movie.

Corman believed B-horror movies needed that to succeed so he hired another director to do a few scenes that incorporated nudity and violence into the film. All he needed to do was edit them in and he was able to completely change the tone and direction of the film. That said, this movie is a fun and exciting creature feature. Catch it on tubi and amc+.

Blurb - Humanoid sea creatures start killing a fishing town's residents, and raping their women. It's up to the townsfolk and a visiting biologist to fight back and fend them off.

https://youtu.be/agKmgOf_HMQ

Continuing the theme of things coming from the water is John Carpenter's The Fog. One of the masters of the genre continues to put his stamp on horror with this classic. Jamie Lee Curtis continues to make a name for herself as a scream queen in this film. You can stream on Prime and tubi.

Blurb - An unearthly fog rolls into a small coastal town exactly 100 years after a ship mysteriously sank in its waters.

https://youtu.be/nOZwnivtLbc

Altered States is a science fiction horror mashup staring a young William Hurt and directed by maverick Ken Russell. I don't know much about this one, but it looks interesting. Check it out on Cinemax.

Blurb - A psycho-physiologist experiments with drugs and a sensory-deprivation tank and has visions he believes are genetic memories.

https://youtu.be/0XNVQ4ILPBA

Next up is The Changeling. George C Scott tackles the traditional haunted house story with his usual intensity. I love him and he makes this film a must-watch. Stream it on tubi, amc+, and shudder.

Blurb - After the death of his wife and daughter in a car crash, a music professor staying at a long-vacant Seattle mansion is dragged into a decades-old mystery by an inexplicable presence in the mansion's attic.

https://youtu.be/UwUI7d5TgGA

There was a time when Disney didn't own the entertainment world and they focused on putting out animated features and live-action movies for kids of all ages. Every once in a while they put out something unique and completely un-Disney. The Watcher in the Woods is one of those times.

I can't find any place listed where you can watch the original movie, but I did see someone put it on YouTube. This was one of those movies that could be accused as a horror gateway "drug" used to get young children addicted to the thrills of scary movies.

Blurb - When a family moves to a country home, the young girls experience strange happenings that have a link to an occult event years past.

https://youtu.be/3DFacqQp8uw

No list is complete if Dario Argento is ignore, so of course, his movie Inferno must be included. The film he completed after Suspiria, Inferno continues to display his unique brand of direction - always beautifully shot but not always making sense. Stream it on VUDUfree and tubi.

Blurb - An American college student in Rome and his sister in New York investigate a series of killings in both locations where their resident addresses are the domain of two covens of witches.

https://youtu.be/qbKgG_TC_To

Honorable mentions to the next 6 films. We can see the slasher genre is gaining steam and I Spit On Your Grave peeks through in Mother's Day.

I guess I should highlight Cannibal Holocaust but the most interesting note from this movie is the Director was arrest and accused of murdering several of the actors. He had them sign a contract that had them "disappear" for a year after the film was released so it would appear they had actually died. Whoops.

The Awakening is a loose remake of Hammer's Blood From the Mummy's Tomb starring Charlton Heston. If you must watch one, I'd say find the Hammer version.

I have a feeling most of these are on tubi or shudder ...

[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]

As always I've added a few movies that also came out in 1980, excluding the most obvious ones, that helped shape my tastes over the years. Return of the King returns to the animation house that did The Hobbit to finish us the 4 book story of the Lord of the Rings. Flash Gordon is a classic example of late 70s and early 80s film making, and should be watched by all fans of cinema. The bottom 3 are all comedy classics and showcased some major comedic talent coming up at the time and from the previous generation.

[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]