Donovan  Wild Witch Lady

Season of the Witch is a must  as well, but I’m gonna take for granted that all you cats know about that hot tune.  That said, Wild Witch Lady doesn’t get enough play and it should.  Throw that baby on for a haunting cool style that gets the motor running every fucking time.  

Wolfie’s Just Fine – A New Beginning 

A fairly recent addition to my Halloween playlist, A New Beginning pays homage to Jason Voorhees. It’s touches on how horror and awakening sexuality come together. It’s one that every horror fan will enjoy as it not only has some comedic elements, but also hits home emotionally.  Horror means a lot to a lot of fucking people – and I’m one of those cats.  So listen up peeps, and watch the vid when you have time too.  It’s splendid.

Cher – Dark Lady

The Hungarian Gypsy in me wants to suggest Gypsy, Tramps and Thieves and the Cherokee in me wants to crank up Half Breed, but on Halloween Cher’s Dark Lady hits home nicely and brings an aura of sensual mystery and some fun.

Uriah Heep – Lady in Black 

If you’re rocking a party in a dark room with a fog machine going and a good buzz in the air, grab someone close and dance the night away to this tune.  It’s sexy, it’s raw, it’s dark and it’s the type a tune a gypsy like me lives for.

Three Dog Night – Mama Told Me Not To Come

Now, this is a given!  If you’re not rocking to Three Dog Night at a Halloween party, it’s not a party, son.  Tell Mama to mind her business and get crazy, cuz if you’re not doing that tonight, you’re not living, baby!

Sam the Sham & The Pharoahs –  Little Red Riding Hood

Mmmmh! Sing it Sam the Sham.  This song is my jammity jam.  Imma listen to this all the fucking time.  It’s so fab sexy and silly. It’s gotta groove you can dance to and always brings a smile to my face.  So big bad wolves, put this on and grab Red for a night of fun!

Larry Juris – Deadtime Stories (Theme)

I admit this is more of a nostalgic pull, but hey it’s my list.  I grew up with Deadtime Stories. It’s still one of my favorite horror anthologies and this song is a big reason why. I love it. I love the sound. I love the lyrics. I love everything about it.  Jam with me, ladies and gents & I’ll make sure it’s a wild fun ride!

The Animals – We Gotta Get Out of This Place

The Animals are one of the best bands of all time.  Eric Burdon is one of the sexiest cats of all time and this song is brilliant. This belongs on every fucking playlist, but definitely has a cool hook for any Halloween party.  

The Doors – People Are Strange

If you need a reason to listen to The Doors, you’re reading the wrong cat.  This song is a staple for horror and Halloween.  Crank this motherfucker up and celebrate your strange.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – I Put a Spell on You

Last one, kiddies.  There’s so many more I could put up, but there’s always next year.  Still, there is no better way to end the night than with some Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.  

Happy Halloween Peeps!

The post Halloween Party Playlist appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

By Melissa Antoinette Garza

Admittedly, this aired in April and isn’t a Halloween special.  Nonetheless, it’s a fantastic way to bring in the the best holiday of the year.

The special begins with a restful sweet Steven (Alice Cooper) trapped in a surreal nightmare.  To kick off the fantasy, Dream Steven in a top hat, a gorgeous black and red suit and sexy eye and mouth make-up, sings WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE. Dancers in masks and costumes break out in a haunting little number that is freaky, insane and something I adored both in youth and as an adult today.

Steven then meets the dashing and eccentric Spirit of the Nightmare (Vincent Price), who dresses like a flamboyant dark angel that I’d party with any day of the week . The spirit introduces him to the nightmare. He’s entertaining, magical and absolutely fine. His maniacal laughter and eccentric captivating charisma is as incomparable as the songs that Alice sings throughout.

On the record, I could have watched Vincent Price leading Alice Cooper around on a collar and chain for hours rather than the few short moments we got. It’s delightfully sinful!

DEVIL’S FOOD and SOME FOLKS are the two tunes that immediately follow. WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE. Both give stunning visuals and an insane, psychedelically diabolical rock-n-roll feel that fits perfectly.

Next we slow down with the somber and sad ONLY WOMEN BLEED. It’s sung against a blood red backdrop, which is then beautifully contrasted with the white as snow set design of COLD ETHYL.

THE BLACK WIDOW and YEARS AGO follow with equally bizarre and trippy imagery and dance routines.

DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH is up next with a leather-clad Steven belting out this rebellious anthem like a dashing cult leader with unbelievably powerful allure.

YEARS AGO, STEVEN and THE AWAKENING all keep the party going and the tale flowing. They’re magical to view and amazing to hear.

Next is my favorite Alice Cooper song and considering he’s one of my favorite artists, it says a lot. BALLAD OF DWIGHT FRY is the anthem for all us weirdos and fun nutjobs. The song is a magnificent homage to the late great horror icon Dwight Frye. Who didn’t root for Renfield in DRACULA (1931) and Fritz in FRANKENSTEIN (1931)? I always did. On a side note, in elementary school, I’d often scare others kids by singing this song and wrapping my arms around me as if I were in the straight jacket Alice wore. Believe it or not, I didn’t have many friends. Their loss, I was fucking awesome!

ESCAPE comes up next where we see Alice run away from a chasing awesome Cyclops. I love that Cyclops! I saw him at one of the Alice Cooper concerts I went to and I was nearly as excited to see him as the death and resurrection of Cooper I knew was coming. It was at a Halloween show and if you ever have a chance to see him on that day, do it. My husband and I saw him twice on Halloween and again on a different day. All of the concerts were great, but the spectaculars he does for the holiday are mind-bending, electric and make for a lifetime of fond memories.

We end with a reprise of THE AWAKENING as the monsters, creatures, and the Spirit bid adieu.

Interwoven between the songs, we see the gleefully wicked interactions between The Spirit and Steven including one where they sit upon a see-saw together.  There is something absolutely awesome about the 70s. I live for that decade! As absolutely hypnotic and strange as the production is, it’s organic and unaffected. The music is sensational and the wraparound story is delightful.

I can’t recommend this enough.  Halloween or not, watch this.  It’s a necessity for anyone with good tastes and thankfully was given a wide release.

Scared Stiff Rating: 9/10

The post ALICE COOPER THE NIGHTMARE (1975) – TV SPECIAL REVIEW appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

In the last few years, one of the only highlights of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (1975) was a Halloween sketch about a haunted house and its strange host named David S. Pumpkins. This became so well-known that a cartoon special was created.

THE DAVID S PUMPKINS HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (2017) begins with a quick segment showing a live- action Hanks and his two dancing skeletons, (Bobby Moynihan and Mikey Day). It then shifts to animation where Kevin, a middle-aged man (Peter Dinklage) narrates a tale in a rhyming, Dr. Seuss, style. He talks about his childhood and meeting David S. Pumpkins.

When young Kevin (Joaquin Obradors) goes to a pumpkin patch with his little sister Dotty (Spencer Moss), she picks a gourd that releases Pumpkins and his skeletons. David breaks out into a song that explains nothing, but is hilarious.

Meanwhile, Kevin has a crush on Paige (Lexi Underwood) who is a girl from school. The bullies dress in the disguise of a ghost and steal candy from the neighborhood kids including Paige’s brother. Kevin wanting to impress Paige, enlists the help of David and the skeletons.

This is a kooky crazy parody of THE CAT IN THE HAT (1971). It’s entertaining and a perfect little 20 minutes special to throw on with the kids or at a party as all and any can find joy and amusement in it.

The animation is effective enough for the tale and the characters are reminiscent of those from the holiday specials of the 80s and 90s.  There’s something both new and edgy about this yet still it brings upon nostalgic feelings as it pays homage to the Dr. Seuss, in a far better and more amusing way, than some of the recent adaptations of Suess’s work.

Currently it’s streaming on HULU.  If you didn’t catch it last year, check it out; and if you did, watch it again.

Scared Stiff Rating:  6.5/10

Please enjoy the original sketch and a few more of my favorite SNL Halloween Moments: 

The post The David S Pumpkins Halloween Special (2017) – Halloween Cartoon Special Review & Some Classic SNL Halloween Sketches appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

I miss real Halloween Specials. They were a staple throughout the 70s and 80s. Character actors, big-named celebrities, funny sketches and killer songs were all thrown together for must-see holiday spectaculars.  Nowadays, with the exception of a couple failed attempts at bringing them back and an admittedly funny parody of one with Michael Bolton celebrating, Valentine’s Day, they have disappeared. Well, almost.

Thankfully, most have been made available for purchase. Such is the case, with THE PAUL LYNDE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL, which aired, only once, on October 29, 1976.  That was before I was born. I didn’t see this until it was released on DVD back in 2006.  Always a Paul Lynde fan, the thought of seeing him ham it up on Halloween was a guaranteed treat; and Lynde doesn’t disappoint.

For those who don’t know Paul Lynde was a flamboyantly fun and catty gent.  Whether on BEWITCHED (1964), in BYE BYE BIRDIE (1958) or as a constant on the game show HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (1966), Lynde’s humor and sarcastic winks to the camera made him one of the most memorable comedians of that generation.

It’s important to note that Lynde became famous in the late 50s. He was a gay man, who lived during a time when PSAs were put on television condemning homosexuality in the most vitriolic and slanderous of manners. There was zero support for celebrities, who came out of the closet back then. Still, like a goddamn rebel rock star, he made sure that those watching knew what was going on. Remaining closeted became a gimmick that worked, and he expertly used mannerisms, tone and some daringly funny comments to convey what the powers-that-be didn’t want anyone to hear. His comedy helped the homophobic traditionalists put aside their bigotry to laugh with him. What I’m trying to say is that I love Paul Lynde, and if you don’t, you’re probably a jerk.

The Halloween special begins with Lynde dressed like Santa when his housekeeper (Margaret Hamilton) informs him it’s not Christmas, so he does the only logical thing. He goes thru all the holidays, until the true day is revealed.

When one watches his opening monologue, it’s important to see the differences between his style of comedy and what they try to pass for humor today. This special aired right before an election. He mentions it, but he doesn’t focus on the who, what or why of it.  It’s just a short, quick mention, and that’s important.  None of the comedy is dated.  It’s still resonates, is quirky and because of his genius, it’s timely.

His mostly positive, but Halloween take on the BYE BYE BIRDIE song WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH KIDS TODAY is hilarious. The line “there’s too much Alice Cooper and not enough Alice Faye,” is such a brilliant and fitting line for his character.

Then,brother and sister, Donny and Marie Osmond show up dressed in costume. Donny and Marie were the quintessential, good-two-shoes, of the 70s. They were constantly made-fun of because of their purity and religion, but in the 70s, all was cool. The Osmonds were the cool conservatives, who could hang and trash themselves with a self-deprecating joke or two. It’s just so playful and fun! We really need playful and fun, now!

Hamilton, plays double duty, reprising her role as The Wicked Witch. When Lynde comes across the witch and her sister Witchiepoo (Billie Hayes), there’s more comedy gold. Then, he meets the third witch, Miss Halloween who is portrayed by the exquisite, comedy icon, Betty White.  Once again, the jokes land marvelously and everyone brings their A game.

Next ,we see Paul Lynde as a trucker in a white, studded , leather suit fully accessorized with a hat and gloves. In this delightful ensemble that creates a vision of the anti-Rob Halford, he talks over a CB radio about his female fiance.  Well, the other trucker is engaged to the same woman, who is, no other than 70s glam girl, HAPPY DAYS, Pinky Tuscadero (Roz Kelly).  This is another silly and crazy skit. I love that Lynde wore the most elaborate outfit in the bit where he’s fighting another man for the hand of a lady.  I just like to think that was a big ‘Fuck You’ to all those who had tried to change him. Lynde was famous for being Lynde.  Despite all the pressure, he let America know who he was, and we loved him for it and he will always be remembered and revered because of it.

KISS is rocking with a killer performance of GET UP GET DOWN. Gene Simmons irritates the hell out me, but Paul Stanley, Ace Frehely and Peter Criss are still rock Gods, in my opinion. Even Simmons has presence. I just think he’s a gross douche, and you know someone sucks if they’re a guy in make-up and I’m not taken in. On a positive note, I do adore the music. KISS and Halloween go together like a phantom in a park, in other words, very nicely.

Next, Lynde shows up as Lawrence of Arabia (Paul Lynde) who kidnaps Cecily Westinghouse (Florence Henderson) who isn’t the least bit interested, at first. This is another great sketch and also has a brief appearance from comedy legend Tim Conway. I know his health is suffering, and I send him good vibes. He’s a treasure, who brought and continues to bring the world so much joy.

After a quick funny sketch where the witches steal Lynde’s punchlines, Florence Henderson returns to sing OLD BLACK MAGIC with dancers hamming it up with wigs and costumes in the background.

From there, Peter Criss returns.  The song BETH is one of my faves. Criss in make-up, with his shaggy long hair, sitting at the piano in a sequence number is an amazing thing to watch. Full disclosure, he’s my favorite KISS band member and, subsequently, one of the major reasons that I dislike Gene Simmons. I don’t think Criss gets the credit he deserves because Simmons demands it all.  It’s so odd.  When I see Simmons, I get so irritated. On the other hand, when I see Criss, I get giddy. Yeah, what can I say? I’m a Catman girl.

Lynde does a quick intro with the band, and then the crew jumps into KING OF THE NIGHT TIME WORLD. Damn, these songs are great! I really want a time machine to go back to the 70s and live there.

Lastly, we have everyone, back on stage, for a rendition of DISCO LADY and then to close the show Lynde emerges as his dashing and charming self. He’s so likable and ends the whole production with a sweet, sincere, Mr. Rogers-esque farewell.  He just makes you feel good about yourself and good about humanity. We need his energy in this universe!

Track this baby down. The cameos are amazing. In fact, there are several I didn’t mention or focus on, but they are still memorable and great.

PAUL LYNDE’S HALLOWEEN SPECIAL is available on DVD and available for streaming via AMAZON. It’s a fun and bizarre trip that will get you into the Halloween mood like no other.

Scared Stiff Rating: 10/10

The post THE PAUL LYNDE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (1976) – HORROR COMEDY TV REVIEW appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

When looking for different things to review for Halloween, I found that HULU is streaming TINY TOON ADVENTURES: NIGHT GHOULERY (1995).  I remember when this first came out and how much I loved it. Even now, well over 20 years later, it holds up marvelously.

As a tribute to NIGHT GALLERY (1969), Babs Bunny (Tress MacNeille) presents the tales marvelously. She sports a dashing gray suit and though breaking character in a number of hilarious ways, does a fantastic Serling impression. Like Serling, she is an art gallery and uses the portraits as a segue into each short.

The first is a parody of the great Edgar Allan Poe’s classic THE TELL-TALE HEART, only here it is Hampton J. Pig’s (Don Messick) vacuum that is driving the narrator mad. Here, the narrator is Plucky Duck (Joe Alaskey), who just can’t take the noise anymore and must destroy the evil cleaning device.

Mixing direct quotes from Poe and then adding ridiculous lines creates for some of the greatest moments in TINY TOON ADVENTURES history.  God, I miss the 90s! As hard as I was on the American game shows of the 90s, I do give a lot of cred for the tremendous cartoons of that era.

Watching Plucky’s breakdown is such a delightful treat.  The conclusion cracks me up.  It’s such a tribute to the overly ironic twists that so many horror productions are known for. I have so much adoration for art which could easily be done pretentiously, but instead is off-the-wall silly.  It takes a very intelligent person to design such a perfect parody.  Sadly, ego sometimes gets in the way and the artist insists that their insight and vision be communicated in a hammer-to-the-head style.  In essence, they want the prestige and recognition from the art community.  What I love about TINY TOON ADVENTURES (1990), THE ANIMANIACS (1993), FREAKAZOID! (1995) and PINKY and THE BRAIN (1995)is that they were formulated by geniuses, who were confident enough, to not need the accolades of mainstream audiences.

Some of the other tales include a sneezing mouse ghost, a beast known as the devil dog and a murderous truck.  All of these are really short, but also very cute.

The highlights, and there are many of them, show Plucky confronting the devil in a fun take on DANIEL WEBSTER AND THE DEVIL (1941), Dr. FrankEnmyra’s (Cree Summer) efforts in making something cute and cuddly, a NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD riff with harassing salesmen busting down doors,  and in fitting fashion a TWILIGHT ZONE sendoff where Plucky, doing a fantastic William Shatner impression, sees a gremlin on a plane.

TINY TOON ADVENTURES: NIGHT GHOULERY is just genius TV. It’s fun and over-the-top, but it’s also smart and complimentary toward everything it parodies. This isn’t the EPIC MOVIE (2007) garbage parody style that was forced upon America in the early to mid noughties. Instead, the visionaries here not only knew of the art they were parodying but they also had genuine affection for them, and it showed. This is a love song to all the greats of horror and that’s why horror fans appreciate it so much.

Scared Stiff Rating: 9/10

The post Tiny Toon Adventures: Night Ghoulery (1995)  – Horror Anthology Movie Review appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

Halloween is the only time you can be whomever you want, and nobody has the technical right to judge you for your choices. This Halloween definitely should be as entertaining as top online casino, but what kinds of suits will be?

If you’re not too inspired, it’s pretty easy to analyze pop culture to get an idea of what will be popular this year. But for more accurate data, Pinterest and the Lyst search platform analyzed the data to guess what will be the most redundant this year in UK.

So we used this research to predict the 3 costumes that you might encounter everywhere on Halloween in 2017:

1. Wonder Woman

With her success on the screen, you will not be surprised to see her everywhere in the party. Sexy version in panties, or more reasonable in skirt: you will see the woman in red and blue in all the bars. Militant boots, shield and sword are all that you need for the image of a charming and ruthless Amazon, who can stun a man not only with beauty.

2. The Beauty of Beauty and the Beast

The Belle & La Bête is one of Disney’s biggest hit this year. Belle will therefore have the same success for Halloween. She will be as popular in her yellow princess dress as in her blue housewife dress. If you are looking for a nice suit not too daring, it is perfect for you.

3. Pennywise from It

Pennywise the clown is the Harley Quinn of 2017. Also popular, but much more terrifying. If I see one in the metro like the picture above, I would not enter! The new IT is a champion of revenue with regard to the horror film, and this fact makes us realize the great success of the audience, especially among the younger ones, who are also the majority of those who love to dress and masquerade in Halloween.

4. Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow

Game of Thrones: definitely one of the top series of 2017. It requires difficult organization, but it is a guaranteed success.

5. The sirens

We never get tired of sirens. The makeup is beautiful and easy to make, and Pinterest users love it: they have pinned over 1.4 million images of siren leggings. The sirens have been around for some time. Trends, graphics … No reason Halloween escapes.

6. A hippie

This is not a novelty, it is even an old classic. But for some unknown reason, “hippie clothes” rose by 130% in Pinterest research. Do not forget to put the flower in your hair!

7. The unicorn

Obviously: the unicorn is EVERYWHERE in 2017. You do not need Narcity to tell you, but hey, the search for the word unicorn on Pinterest has risen by 110% this year.

8. Donald Trump

Pretty easy to achieve: blonde wig, red tie, orange face, and it’s settled! There are even masks from the President of the United States that are selling. One thing is certain, we will not stop talking about him, and just like last year, this costume will be everywhere!

The post The 14 Costumes You’ll See Everywhere on Halloween This Year appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

By Geno McGahee

Happy Halloween to everyone that celebrates this great day and I wish it to those that do not celebrate it as well. I wish it to those that even slip in religious propaganda into my kids’ trick or treat bags instead of candy. They may need it the most. I have narrowed down who’s doing it too. They’re lucky I’m not younger or I’d egg their house for that nonsense.

It’s 2016, meaning that this is the 10th year of my SCARED STIFF HALLOWEEN PICKS. It’s amazing to think that the site it still moving and that this much time has passed since its birth as a blog in 2006. So, to those that have enjoyed this site and what we do, we thank you.

The Halloween picks, for those of you that don’t know, are meant to showcase titles that you may not be familiar with. I see a lot of other sites that come up with suggestions, but they are stating the obvious. Everyone has heard of HALLOWEEN and FRIDAY THE 13TH. It’ meaningless to suggest them. I try to present something off the beaten path that I have enjoyed and I hope that you share the same feelings.

So, in no particular order or breakdown, here are some suggestions to make your Halloween that much better.

MALATESTA’S CARNIVAL OF BLOOD (1973) – Arrow Video has been digging up and putting out a lot of great horror films and this is absolutely one of them. This film reminded me a lot of CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS with the setting of an amusement park. There is something special about a horror film taking place at an amusement park. I’m not sure why they go together so well, but it’s much like heavy metal and horror. They are right for each other. This is a great and creepy film with plenty of mystery and strangeness.

DEATH WISH CLUB (1983) – In the anthology NIGHT TRAIN TO TERROR, we were presented with three stories. Although the film was very good, the stories seemed to be incomplete and there was a reason for that. They cut up three features and squeezed them into an anthology. DEATH WISH CLUB was one of them and it might not be terrifying, but it’s incredibly entertaining. The basic premise is what the title states. A group of people gather in games where they could die. It’s absurd and hilarious with memorable characters and ridiculous situations. You have to see it to believe it.

THE NIGHTMARE NEVER ENDS (1980) – Another feature from NIGHT TRAIN TO TERROR is THE NIGHTMARE NEVER ENDS. A detective is informed that a wealthy local celebrity is actually a former Nazi, but apparently he has not aged. The detective starts to see that anyone that gets close to this guy dies, and he begins to investigate himself, which ends up with his partner burning alive. The man turns out to be the devil and it just keeps getting better and better. This is an intense film and it’s difficult to watch it cut up in the anthology. When you see it in its entirety, you realize how tremendous it is. I’m happy to see that it was released in its entirety.

WNUF HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (2013) – I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this film. The 1980s was a very special time for horror and for the world in general. This 2013 film is totally believable as a 1980’s local TV broadcast gone wrong. I don’t think this film got the appreciation it deserves, yet, but there’s still plenty of time. A local reporter investigates a haunted house live on TV and soon finds out that it might not all be fiction.

THE MUTILATOR (1984) – One of the great 80’s slashers that has flown under the radar. Great focus was paid to the kills and to the fun factor. Recently re-released on Blu-Ray from Arrow Video, THE MUTILATOR is a film that is hard not to love. The film surrounds a young boy that accidentally kills his mother with a shotgun. His father comes home and finds his dead wife and snaps, turning him into the Mutilator, a maniacal killer that may just be the fiercest slasher of all time.

DARK FLOORS (2008) – As a fan of the metal band Lordi, this film was a must see from jump. The film features the monsters of the band in their origin stories, more or less. It is similar to THE LANGOLIERS, but this film is actually good and has this dark mysterious atmosphere throughout.

THE WICKSBORO INCIDENT (2003) – A mockumentary about aliens masquerading as humans that can be detected by a man that used to work for the government. Two young filmmakers begin making a documentary about him and his work, thinking that he is delusional, start to discover that he might be legit. This is one of the best horror mockumentaries out there.

THE DARKSIDE OF MIDNIGHT (1984) – A low budget horror flick that is very inspired by the action films of the 80’s, especially the work of Charles Bronson. A serial killer is terrorizing the community, killing college girls, earns the name of “the Creeper,” leading to a cat and mouse game with some ambitious detectives. This is a great horror/action hybrid with plenty of suspense and fun.

DON’T GO IN THE HOUSE (1979) – PSYCHO-inspired horror with the great feel of the 1970’s. A social reject with mother issues begins killing women because they are evil in his eyes and the eyes of his mother, runs into some paranormal issues along with some trouble with the law. The visuals in this film are incredibly creepy. Overall, the film starts off a little goofy but it becomes unsettling as it goes on, turning into a pretty scary horror film.

LONE WOLF (1988) – One of the best werewolf films of all time, although some may disagree with that. The acting is over the top, the kills are fun, it has a bad 80’s metal band, and the fun factor is through the roof. This is something that should not be missed if you are fan of werewolf movies or if you are just looking for a good time.

FAMILY SECRET (2016) – the recut version of the 2009 film “FAMILY SECRET” is one of the few slasher films that concern the illuminati. When the grandmother of a dysfunctional family dies, she apparently returns to take them all out. Now playing for free on Amazon Prime, this is a film to check out.

SOCIOPATHIA (2015) – Mara (Tammy Jean) spends her days making props for movies. Mara begins a killing spree, turning her lovers into dolls…decomposing human dolls. Tammy Jean is so great in this role and the film has a great pace and fun atmosphere.

SECRETS OF A PSYCHOPATH (2015) – Bert I. Gordon brings the beautiful Kari Wuhrer to the screen in this amazing tale. Gordon is known for that great rat movie FOOD OF THE GODS and he proves that he still has it here with this tale about some crazies and the madhouse that they reside in. This film also features a great performance by Mark Famiglietti and has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. You owe it to Gordon to see this one. He gave us FOOD OF THE GODS!

TOXIC APOCAPLYPSE (2016) – This horror/comedy is much like SHAUN OF THE DEAD with zombie action and humor mixed throughout. The story surrounds a factory that is concealing a huge secret that is turning humanity into bloodthirsty zombies. One man and his girl have to overcome the mob of killers and zany lab workers to save the day.

SCARY TALES: LAST STOP (2015) – A horror anthology with Bigfoot, masked killers and more. Often compared to CREEPSHOW, this popular horror anthology is free on Amazon Prime and has some twists and turns mixed in with the monsters and gore. Definitely worth a watch.

Happy Halloween everyone! I hope you enjoy these selections!

The post Scared Stiff’s Halloween Picks 2016 – HORROR MOVIES FOR HALLOWEEN appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

By Melissa Antoinette Garza

During the next few weeks, you may be looking for some horror movies you’ve never seen.  Without video rental stores being an option, you may never find the nightmare you’re looking for.

I’ve compiled a list from the 1920s – 2010s, of some of the greatest classics that most audiences today haven’t seen.  Whether it’s a Halloween Party, a sleepover with friends, or just some late night viewing, here are some of the best obscure films that the genre has to offer.

London After Midnight (1927)

LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT has one of the scariest villains of all time.  I’m certain THE BABADOOK (2014) was based after this character, and as great as that film was, it doesn’t hit the same eerie spot that LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT does.

Now, be warned it’s a silent film and unfortunately the original version is currently lost.  Thankfully, you can watch a reconstructed version using stills of the movie.  This copy is available in parts on youtube and is set to music.  Personally, I think this is great for parties.  Many times, people aren’t sitting around watching TV, but instead chitchatting, playing games, etc.  Put the mute button on, and your favorite haunting musical number on.  This way every now and then, as your guests glance at the TV, they may catch glimpse at one of the most frightening visuals of all time.  For film buffs, the film’s history is a conversation starter and for horror fans the plot is enticing.

A wealthy man is thought to have committed suicide five years prior, though many suspect it was homicide.  The home is purchased, by what some ghoulish creatures – possibly vampires.

It’s a suspense thriller filled with Halloween horror to entice any fan of the genre.  The late great Lon Chaney stars in this masterpiece that has inspired so many productions, but is practically forgotten by the modern mainstream audience.

Freaks (1932)

You have probably heard the phrase or ditty “One of us, one of us; gooble gobble, gooble gobble.”  It’s been parodied both by SOUTH PARK (1997) and THE SIMPSONS (1989) among many other shows and movies.  It originated from this bizarrely horrifying film called FREAKS.  The film follows Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova), a beautiful trapeze artist, who feigns love for Hans (Harry Earles), a little person who works at the sideshow.  The two plan to get married, but unbeknownst to Hans, Cleopatra is just in it for money.  When his crew at the sideshow find out her plans, they handle it in a most unusual way.

FREAKS certainly has a cult following.  It’s had more than its share of controversy for utilizing people who really worked on a side show and many who suffered with life-altering deformities.  Both the UK and many states within the United States, banned the movie for its content.  Even the majority of actors within the movie, regretted their involvement because of the way it depicted their characters.

Still, the movie is haunting, cringe-worthy in the best possible way. It’s something one can’t un-see.  Sadly, the film is not available in its entirety and was actually only shown once upon its original release.  The edited version is available via streaming and for purchase via DVD.

The Spiral Staircase (1945)

If you’re looking for something to leave you with the unsettling feeling that one is after you, THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE is up your alley.  It’s based in a New England down where a serial killer is after women with disabilities.  Helen (Dorothy McGuire) is mute.  She is warned to be careful and advised to be on the lookout even within her own home.  That’s enough to make anyone paranoid, and it certainly makes the viewer feel the same way.

The filmography and angles used within the production is what causes the most tension.  I know it has been done as a radio play.  I never heard that version so I’m not sure the impact it would have, but I certainly can attest that the movie packs the punch that won’t leave for quite some time.

I Bury the Living (1958)

I BURY THE LIVING is one of the best films ever made.  It’s an underrated classic that plays like a long perfect episode of THE TWILIGHT ZONE.  Robert Kraft (Richard Boone) is the new chairman of a cemetery.  He has a map where black pins represent the plots where people are buried, and white pins represent the plots owned by people who are still living.  Kraft accidentally puts black pins, rather than white ones, on a plot sold and the people die.  At first he thinks it’s a coincidence, so he does it again to convince himself.  The bodies begin stacking up and Robert wants to find out whether he has some sort of dark power or if someone around him is playing a sinister and deadly game.

Homicidal (1961)

Nearly everyone who has seen this film compares it to PSYCHO (1960).  PSYCHO is my favorite film of all time (tied with 12 ANGRY MEN).  There are similarities, but the tone is different and the style is its own.  I love the movie – not as much as I love PSYCHO, but it’s an enjoying, crazy whodunit with a shocking ending that few see coming.  It’s definitely the best of director William Castle’s horror films.

If you haven’t heard about the ending – you won’t read it here.  Try not to read it anywhere else. Don’t go to IMDB, don’t read AMAZON reviews.  Wait!   This is a movie you have to pay attention to, so don’t play it at a party.  Wait and watch it with friends, family or alone.  Pay attention to the scenes and see if you can pick up on the clues.

Let’s Scare Jessica to Death (1971)

There’s nothing quite like 1970s horror.  Somehow it was a magical decade for the genre.  The mystery, tone, depth of the characters, and unease it invoked in the viewer has never been replicated.  Many times, LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH is overlooked.  Part of the reason for the lack of interest, is that it’s a slow burn.  You have to wait for the intensity and eerie happenings to get to your mind the way it gets to the lead character.

Jessica (Zohra Lampert) is just released from a mental hospital and goes with her husband and friend to an island.  She sees a woman who she’s not sure is real or imaginary.  Even when we see the woman is real, the viewer, like Jessica is left to wonder if she’s going crazy or if something is really wrong with the island.

Dead and Buried (1981)

DEAD AND BURIED is one of those flicks you have to see to believe.  It’s a bizarre little film about Potter’s Bluff, a small town with a dark secret that Sheriff Dan Gillis (James Farentino) will do anything to find out.  Though not the scariest film on the list, it definitely has a creepy feel to it and some intense imagery. The acting and cast are topnotch and the dialogue is fantastic.The conclusion is one of the coolest and surprising I’ve seen.  I won’t give anything away, but like HOMICIDAL don’t read any spoilers before watching.

Kingdom of the Vampire (1991) 

Though low-budget, I would put this film against nearly any mainstream horror film of the 90s.  I’d put it up against practically any vampire film made.  First and foremost, when watching make sure you are watching the 1991 version.  There was a remake, but it just can’t match the perfect time capsule of the 90s that is the original.  This is what TWILIGHT should have been.

Teenage vampire Jeff (Matthew Jason Walsh) has a crush on Nina (Shannon Doyle), but it interferes with his mother’s (Cherie Patry) controlling ways.  She’ll do anything to stop the lovelorn couple.

Headspace (2005)

HEADSPACE is a movie that I always talk about, but no one has ever heard of.  The main character Alex (Christopher Denham) though highly intelligent, suffers nightmares and becomes unhinged when he begins to see demons around him.  Even his friends appear to be changing right before his eyes.  This is almost a modern retelling of LET’S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH.  In fact, I’d suggest watching them back-to-back to see how the atmosphere within the films are different yet successful and relay the same intent and invoke the same feeling.

Oculus (2013)

I don’t get it.  I like SINISTER (2012), but I adore OCULUS.  Maybe, it’s because I’ve always been fearful of any lore surrounding mirrors.  Hell, even POLTERGEIST III gets to me.  OCULUS, unlike POLTERGEIST III, had a solid script, an amazing cast, character depth, and the aspect of time travel that should have brought in some of the sci-fi crowd, but it didn’t.

Though it made over 25 million at the box office and over five times its budget, there’s no sign of a sequel yet.  I wish more would give this film a chance.

For those who don’t know the story, it’s about a woman named Kaylie (Karen Gillan). Though, highly successful and in a great relationship she is focused on exonerating her brother and father for her mother’s murder.  When her brother is released from an asylum, she convinces him to return to their childhood home and face off against the demonic mirror she’s convinced caused it all.

So, these are my picks for the best Halloween Horror Films that most haven’t seen.  Reach out and let me know if you like the suggestions.

The post The Scariest Obscure Halloween Suggestions by Decade appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

By Geno McGahee

In 2006, a Scared Stiff Reviews debuted as a blog. The next year it turned to a website and we had the very first “Scared Stiff Halloween Picks”, with the hope of broadening the horizons of the casual horror fan or maybe even uncovering a hidden gem for the die-hard horror fanatic. Every year, I look forward to this time. I love Halloween, the fall, and of course, horror movies. This year, on top of presenting this compilation of horror recommendations, I wanted to show my appreciation for the readers that come to this site and enjoy its content. Thank you very much for your interest in our site.

Now, onto business… Halloween is the best holiday of all time, but I must say that I do get irked by trick or treaters that are in their fifties. I had several of them last year and felt strange about slipping them my Butterfinger. I feel strange saying “slip them my Butterfinger” in the first place. Although that irritates me, I want to mention certain things that I truly love. If you are not interested in my love, then scroll down to the picks.

I love the fact that I have a woman that makes her entire backyard a TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE-themed horror set and she escorts you through, dressed as a bloody bride. I love the big and obnoxious inflatable black cat that my neighbor puts up on his yard every year. I love the older men that compliment the children on their costumes in a non-creepy way. I also love taking my two children around the neighborhood and seeing the spectacle that is Halloween.

The Scared Stiff Halloween Picks aren’t here to point to movies like HALLOWEEN and THE EXORCIST. We are going for the obscure quality films that you may not have checked out. These are films that are perfect for that dark rainy night, or if you have a Halloween gathering and are looking for something to show the crowd.

Kevin Scott
SuperDuperShockCinema.com

Jennifer (1978)

I’m always partial to lower budget knock offs of big studio blockbusters that are actually good. It doesn’t happen very often, and I do realized that the term “good” is in the eye of the beholder. “Piranha” has achieved a well-deserved cult status, while capitalizing on the success of the water terror phenomena of “Jaws”. In that same vein, other good films like “Barracuda” are left only for the B movie devoted. That’s fine. That’s how it is sometimes. It affords guys like me the opportunity to recommend them to somebody else. “Jennifer” is a clear cut “Carrie” knock off, and embraces it with the tagline of “Makes Carrie look like an angel.” This is an American International Pictures film, and I’ve got a soft spot for all the stuff they did in the 1970’s.Their trademark was grindhouse fodder made with love by the talent in front of and behind the cameras. “Jennifer” is a classic example. She hails from West Virginia where she was raised in a Primitive Christian church where snake handling was used as a test of faith. She had a special knack for it, and seems to have a mysterious power over the snakes. Her and her father leave West Virginia after an unfortunate accident, and they seem to be adapting as they run a pest store, and she gets a scholarship to a prestigious all-girls school. When the rich girls don’t let her forget where she came from, she unleashes her snake control powers on all her tormentors. This is a perfect 1970’s time capsule that even features game show host icon Bert Convy, and it showed me at a young age that I would rather die at the hands of a blood soaked wallflower in fiery gymnasium fire, than have anyone throw snakes on me.

I Come in Peace aka Dark Angel (1990)

I know that this could be classified as sci-fi, but it’s just too enjoyable not to include on this list. The camp factor is way high, and a deeper look into the plot could give the viewer some appreciation on how clever it really is. Dolph Lundgren had come into his own as an action star in his own right by then, and I’ve always thought that he was capable of better roles than he got after this. He plays a cop that threw the book away and gets things done his own way. Granted a stereotypical stable of action films, but he pulls it off with more skill than that of his higher profile contemporaries of the day that he would be in the “Expendables” films with a couple of decades later. He and his unlikely yuppie FBI partner are on the trail of a space drug dealer named Talec. Talec has been murdering human drug dealers with some cool alien weaponry, and taking their heroin. He’s not taking the heroin back to his home planet, but instead is using it to inject into his human victims, causing their brains to produce endorphins which he then harvests with a huge spike into their foreheads. He uses the synthesized human endorphins to make a popular drug on his home planet. The director was also the stunt coordinator for “Predator”, and it shows. As much as I love “Predator”, I love the concept of this one a little more. I can’t say enough about how unique I’ve always thought this film was, and how it doesn’t deserve the obscurity that has befallen it.

Mausoleum (1983)

If there were ever a film that makes me nostalgic for the video store, it’s this one. I can still see the faux wood grain box the VHS tape came in, and how I had no idea what to expect. “Mausoleum” is dripping with the sweet nectar of the nexus of late 70’s and very early 80’s horror that had all the advantages of both. It tells the tale of kept wife, Susan who is played by Bobbi Bresee. She’s great in this, and while she did a few more notable flicks like “Ghoulies”, she never achieved Scream Queen status, even though she should have. Her husband is played by Marjoe Gortner, who is only second to Englebert Humperdink for being so cool that no one could ever give them crap about their name. Susan and her husband are enjoying an idyllic life until she reaches the age where an evil murderous, succubus possesses all the women in her family. The special effects are not bad for a midnight movie, and in one unforgettable scene, her boobs morph into monsters themselves. That last line alone, should make you want to see it. One of my all-time favorites that just doesn’t get enough love.

Melissa Ann
True Horror Fans
Scared Stiff Reviews

Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

Trick ‘r Treat is a Halloween-themed anthology that tells four related stories. Sam (Samhain) is a small trick-or-treater who wears a burlap sack and orange pajamas. He shows up when someone breaks a Halloween tradition and is the embodiment of Halloween itself. The stories are about a killer principal, undead children who were murdered on their bus, sexy female werewolves, and a Halloween-hating old man who is connected to the dead school children. Trick ‘r Treat is the perfect Halloween movie and will put anyone in the haunting spirit.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon is a comedic horror that will change the way you watch slasher movies. Leslie Vernon is an aspiring serial killer who allows a film crew to follow him and document his success and challenges. He explains that all slashers are human and shows the training and dedication it takes to become a legend, such as Michael Myers. There’s a fun twist along the way and cameos from horror icons Kane Hodder and Robert Englund. This is one of the most underrated horror movies from recent times. Fans of the slasher sub-genre should definitely check it out.

The Ugly (1997)

The Ugly is a New Zealand horror film about a serial killer, Simon Cartwright, who asks a famous psychiatrist to evaluate him because he believes he has been cured. As they meet and discuss his past crimes, Simon opens up about the voices (or “The Ugly”) in his head telling him to kill. As he revisits his kills, the victims appear around him oozing black blood and look terrifying. The movie is dark, creepy and intense from beginning to end. Although the movie won many festival awards in New Zealand and the United States, few people have heard of this psychological gem. This is definitely recommended for horror fans that have “seen it all”.

Brent Hannon
Scared Stiff Reviews

Steak Land (2010)

This film follows Mister (Nick Damici), an old vampire hunter, and Martin (Connor Paolo) a teenager learning the trade from his older mentor. The world is overrun with vampires to a degree that is similar to most zombie films. The pair are making their way North to New Eden in hopes of finding the safe haven they have heard of. On their journey they run into plenty of vampires, and a variety of people, some of them are better than others. This is the perfect film for lovers of vampires and zombies alike. They are definitely vampires, but the majority of them are mindless and after blood instead of brains.

Dead Snow (2009)

A group of seven friends head up to a cabin, near Oksfjord, Norway, for their Easter break. One of them discovers treasure hidden under the floorboards of the cabin, and one of the gold coins is pocketed. Unfortunately for them there is a group of Nazi zombies that protect that treasure. This is another amazing movie that is a must see for any self respecting zombie fanatic. The Nazi zombies are awesome, and there is no lack for gore in this film.

Dog Soldiers (2002)

What would halloween be without a good werewolf movie? Six British soldiers are dropped into the Scottish Highlands to run through some training against another squad of SAS. They soon find the squad torn to shreads and only one survivor. They are pursued by werewolves and wind up taking refuge in the house of a woman they run across while retreating through the woods. This is a prefect movie for anyone remotely into werewolf flims, and a definite must for lovers of practical effects. This movie is right up there with An American Werewolf in London as far as the werewolves are concerned.

Andrew Bard
Scared Stiff Reviews

Witchery (Ghosthouse 2) (1988)

Where else will you find Linda Blair and David Hasselhoff together in a supernatural horror movie set on an island off of Massachusetts? In this Italian horror film of course!

The plot which is about as basic as Cheerios is as follows, Gary (David Hasselhoff) and his gal pal Linda (Catherine Hickland) visit an island off the coast of Massachusetts where a haunted resort hotel looms to do research on witchcraft. The Brooks family stumbles in because more people need to die to make it a horror. Then they are hunted by the spirit of the witch!

Ooooooo scary right? Not really but its good fun, full of cheese and there’s a kinky little scene that involves sex with the devil or a demon or its just a weird interpretive dance who knows but it goes on longer than it should have. This film isn’t for everyone, hell its really not meant for anyone but since its out there I recommend it if you want a good laugh and a few actually spooky scenes.

I give this a 3/5 for David Hasselhoff for saying “Who were you expecting? The Phantom of the Opera?” No, no David I was expecting Mitch Buchannon.

Suspiria (1977)

What is with Italian horror?

This film is a trip and actually pretty scary. Suzy (Jessica Harper) A new student joins a ballet school in the middle of fucking nowhere in German because those are the best ones apparently… She notices another student running from the school in the middle of the night only to find she has been found dead the next morning. She soon discovers a string of murders where everyone at the school is trying to cover up as she begins to uncovers the true horror that is lurking within the walls of the school.

From an army of maggots infesting the school, dogs killing their owners and the discovery that this school was the home for a large witch coven everything begins to spiral out of control! It’s supernatural, its trippy, is surreal and the musical score is actually quite frightening.

I give this a 4/5 for the overall story and execution. It was scary but modern sfx may have ruined me in someway because a few of their gags were silly.

Dagon (2001)

If done well any story from H.P Lovecraft has the ability to frighten and and disturb you. From some of the campy stories of Re-animator, From Beyond and The Unnameable to the dark truly frightening world created for In The Mouth of Madness these stories all have a similar thread that ties them together. Dagon brings in more of the Mythos into the film with the backstory of a poor fishing village being swayed to worship an ancient god named Dagon. The plot follows a young couple who were in a boating accident and flee to the shores of a dilapidated Spanish fishing village. It is soon discovered however that the inhabitants are hybrid sea creatures who murder people and skin them to wear their skin as their own. Paul Marsh (Ezra Godden) is having dreams and fantasies of a beautiful women whom he later meets and discovers she’s basically the princess of the hybrid villagers. There is a lot of tension in this film and enough sincerely creepy factors in it that help mask the not so great sfx that pop up once in a while. As a whole though, this is a great movie to watch when you’re all alone and want to feel more so. I give this a 4/5 for the sheer hopelessness you feel and the decent into the Dagon mytho’s, flashbacks of the cult leader turning people and the overall aesthetic this film brings.

Geno McGahee
Scared Stiff Reviews

STAGE FRIGHT (1987)

The Italian horror movies of the eighties were something special and that goes especially for the lesser known title “STAGE FRIGHT”. A gathering of actors putting on a play about a killer in an owl mask, only to contend with a real killer in an owl mask, makes this one a must see for slasher fans. The kills are great, the pacing is nice and the atmosphere is great. The Italians knew how to make a stylish horror films. Much like DEMONS, the usage of color and creepiness have you glued to the screen.

PROPHECY (1979)

For everyone that loved GRIZZLY, you will find great joy in the 1979 killer mutant bear movie “PROPHECY.” A slow burn at first, but the film picks up in the second half and it becomes an incredibly fun and crazy. David Seltzer wrote this and he is responsible for THE OMEN, just to give you an idea of the quality you should expect. This is one of those films where you cheer for the killer and as powerful and cool as the bear was in GRIZZLY, this steps it up about fifty levels and we get to see some very fun deaths. This is a must see.

THE NAIL GUN MASSACRE (1985)

If you take I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE and take away the serious tone, you get the great whodunit slasher/nail-gunner, THE NAIL GUN MASSACRE. This is a rape/revenge story with an over the top approach. It screams the straight to video 80’s boom of VHS horror and it’s actually head and shoulders above most. If you love the 80s, this one is a great film to give a go. If you love getting nailed, then this film will do it for you. You won’t get screwed here.

Melissa Antoinette Garza

Scared Stiff Reviews

Burial Ground:The Nights of Terror (1981)

So often you will see horror films play the original Night of the Living Dead in the background of scenes where one is watching television; and with good reason.  It’s public domain and has some of the most frightening imagery ever put on screen.  Undeniably, it’s a classic, even for those of us who don’t love zombies.

In recent years, we have had a bastardization of that sub-genre.  No story, bad make-up, worse CGI and shaky camera nonsense makes for a tedious watch, yet there is a never ending supply of them.  That said, there was a time when they were done right yet were still different than the beloved classic of George Romero’s.

Burial Ground is an Italian cult classic with a lot of sex, little dialogue, a strange incestuous relationship between a mother and her young son whose age is impossible to determine and most importantly bad-ass zombies that utilize weaponry and the mindless desire to kill.

The basic premise is that some “brilliant” professor decides to open a crypt which releases these awesome creatures.  They’re not as grateful as one would expect and the professor meets a quick demise.

Meanwhile, a bunch of folks head over to the professor’s home for a scheduled visit.  Instead, they are greeted by death.  That’s the whole story.

Generally, I’m one who needs character development, structure, dialogue, a plot…you know, the little things.  That said, every once in awhile I’ll encounter a fun and well-made ‘brainless’ production.  It’s not trying to change the world or make a point.  It’s just a strange cool form of art on film and definitely Halloween worthy.  If the scenes of the zombies won’t scare you, the relationship between the mother and son will.

Evilspeak (1981)

Based on the true story of the Chaos Computer Club and one of the most accurate portrayals of hacking ever, Clint Howard shines as the black-sheep bullied kid who overcomes obstacles to succeed in the computer industry.  Okay, everything in that statement aside from Clint Howard shining and portraying a black-sheep bullied kid is a blatant lie, but I just reviewed this so I figured I’d spice it up and confuse the hell out of you for a moment.

Stanley (Howard) is a great kid at a military academy that just wants to fit in.  He’s on the football team but sucks.  This angers the rest of the bunch that tries to force him to sit games out.  When he refuses the war is on.  He’s pushed too far when his new puppy and only friend, the runt of a litter, is killed by Bubba (Don Stark) while being cheered on by his douchebag friends.  I’m okay with humans being killed but animals piss me off.  I tend to cheer for bad guys, but if they hurt a defenseless animal, I have no choice but to root for the hero.

Stanley goes nuts and summons evil Father Esteban (Richard Moll) via his computer, and then the football players have no idea what to do.  It’s like Carrie meets Dungeons and Dragons and somehow, someway it works.

On a side note, Richard Moll was in a bunch of underrated horror movies AND he was in But I’m a Cheerleader (1999) the best romantic film since Harold and Maude (1971). What I’m trying to say is give Richard Moll a lifetime achievement award of awesomeness.

Some Guy Who Kills People (2011)

I have to put this one up here! It’s not scary but it’s awesome and has enough horror components to make it a watch for Halloween.  It’s a heartwarming horror comedy.  If video-stores were still around, they’d definitely put it in horror but consider it a Gremlins style horror.

First, Kevin Corrigan stars in it.  That should be enough for you to run out and buy it.  Second, Barry Bostwick has a large role in it.  Any true RHPS fan should be Googling this right now! Especially, on RHPS’s 40th Anniversary.  So Rocky Horror crew, when you’re checking your cart out on Amazon with the blu-ray copy that comes with Dr. Frankfurter’s gloves make sure you add this too.  It’s definitely worth it and if anyone will understand it, it’s RHPS fans.

Anyways, back to the film.  Much like Stanley in Evilspeak, Kenny (Corrigan) was bullied by jock assholes in high school.  When he pokes fun at them in a comic book, they terrorize him, literally.  They tie him to a chair and scar his face.  He ends up trying to kill himself and goes to an institution.

Fast forward 12 years, he’s released from the institution and works at an ice cream shop with a buddy from high school.  Irv (Leo Fitzpatrick) sees the potential in Kenny, that Kenny is blind to.  He gets assigned to dress like an ice cream cone and serve at the birthday party of a former bully who still has the high school mentality.  You know the type.  Everyone has a guy like this in their family.  Mine is embarrassed by his He-Man action figure collection and doesn’t want his friends to know he has them.  Me and my hubby proudly collect figurines.  I’m staring at my Chucky doll right now, but the guys who peaked in high-school are fucked.  They have no idea how to deal with real life and so they try to go into ‘cool kid’ mode which is really sad when you’re 30.  So, like this idiot in my family,  Marty (Britain Spellings) tries to act like a big-shot at his birthday party and makes a few rude comments to Kenny.  He laughs at him for wearing the costume and is just one of those guys you want to see get pummeled.

We get better.  Shortly after the party, he is chased down by an unknown assailant and brutally murdered.

Sheriff Fuller (Bostwick) investigates and since he’s dating Kenny’s mother Ruth (Karen Black) he is really hoping that despite the eccentricities and hermit way of life, that Kenny is innocent.  The bodies begin piling up and they are all the basketball players that had screwed with Kenny in high-school.  This makes it harder for Fuller to ignore the connection and Kenny is arrested.

Before the arrest, Kenny is finally finding himself and happiness. This is thanks to the new relationship he has with his daughter Amy (Ariel Gade).  She seeks him out after discovering her mother lied about him being dead.  She helps him come out of his shell and he’s a great dad. Amy even helps him secure a relationship with an understanding and caring girlfriend that doesn’t judge and loves him for him.

This movie is like a mish-mash of genres that you wouldn’t think could fit, yet here it does.  It’s an anomaly that works and it so under-appreciated which is why it’s on my list.  Twenty years from now, I think people are going to see this and be blown away by how ahead of its time it was.

With all that in mind, if you’re looking for something to scare the hell out of you on Halloween, this isn’t it.  That said, if you want a smart fun film with a whodunit feel and an unbelievable cast, you can’t go wrong.

This is actually a movie I’d like my sister-n-law to see.  She’s not big into scary movies, but as this is a tame where the horror is concerned yet still adult oriented, I think she’d enjoy it immensely.  When I reviewed I gave it a 10 out of 10.  I watched it quite a few times after that and I still give it a 10/10.

If you’re having a Halloween Party and some of the gals and who knows, maybe some of the guys say, “I can’t watch anything too violent or scary…”  throw this on.  It will entertain everyone as it has something that each person will love.

The post Scared Stiff HALLOWEEN HORROR PICKS – Updated List – HORROR MOVIE NEWS appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

By Geno McGahee

In 2006, a Scared Stiff Reviews debuted as a blog. The next year it turned to a website and we had the very first “Scared Stiff Halloween Picks”, with the hope of broadening the horizons of the casual horror fan or maybe even uncovering a hidden gem for the die-hard horror fanatic. Every year, I look forward to this time. I love Halloween, the fall, and of course, horror movies. This year, on top of presenting this compilation of horror recommendations, I wanted to show my appreciation for the readers that come to this site and enjoy its content. Thank you very much for your interest in our site.

Now, onto business… Halloween is the best holiday of all time, but I must say that I do get irked by trick or treaters that are in their fifties. I had several of them last year and felt strange about slipping them my Butterfinger. I feel strange saying “slip them my Butterfinger” in the first place. Although that irritates me, I want to mention certain things that I truly love. If you are not interested in my love, then scroll down to the picks.

I love the fact that I have a woman that makes her entire backyard a TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE-themed horror set and she escorts you through, dressed as a bloody bride. I love the big and obnoxious inflatable black cat that my neighbor puts up on his yard every year. I love the older men that compliment the children on their costumes in a non-creepy way. I also love taking my two children around the neighborhood and seeing the spectacle that is Halloween.

The Scared Stiff Halloween Picks aren’t here to point to movies like HALLOWEEN and THE EXORCIST. We are going for the obscure quality films that you may not have checked out. These are films that are perfect for that dark rainy night, or if you have a Halloween gathering and are looking for something to show the crowd.

Kevin Scott
SuperDuperShockCinema.com

Jennifer (1978)

I’m always partial to lower budget knock offs of big studio blockbusters that are actually good. It doesn’t happen very often, and I do realized that the term “good” is in the eye of the beholder. “Piranha” has achieved a well-deserved cult status, while capitalizing on the success of the water terror phenomena of “Jaws”. In that same vein, other good films like “Barracuda” are left only for the B movie devoted. That’s fine. That’s how it is sometimes. It affords guys like me the opportunity to recommend them to somebody else. “Jennifer” is a clear cut “Carrie” knock off, and embraces it with the tagline of “Makes Carrie look like an angel.” This is an American International Pictures film, and I’ve got a soft spot for all the stuff they did in the 1970’s.Their trademark was grindhouse fodder made with love by the talent in front of and behind the cameras. “Jennifer” is a classic example. She hails from West Virginia where she was raised in a Primitive Christian church where snake handling was used as a test of faith. She had a special knack for it, and seems to have a mysterious power over the snakes. Her and her father leave West Virginia after an unfortunate accident, and they seem to be adapting as they run a pest store, and she gets a scholarship to a prestigious all-girls school. When the rich girls don’t let her forget where she came from, she unleashes her snake control powers on all her tormentors. This is a perfect 1970’s time capsule that even features game show host icon Bert Convy, and it showed me at a young age that I would rather die at the hands of a blood soaked wallflower in fiery gymnasium fire, than have anyone throw snakes on me.

I Come in Peace aka Dark Angel (1990)

I know that this could be classified as sci-fi, but it’s just too enjoyable not to include on this list. The camp factor is way high, and a deeper look into the plot could give the viewer some appreciation on how clever it really is. Dolph Lundgren had come into his own as an action star in his own right by then, and I’ve always thought that he was capable of better roles than he got after this. He plays a cop that threw the book away and gets things done his own way. Granted a stereotypical stable of action films, but he pulls it off with more skill than that of his higher profile contemporaries of the day that he would be in the “Expendables” films with a couple of decades later. He and his unlikely yuppie FBI partner are on the trail of a space drug dealer named Talec. Talec has been murdering human drug dealers with some cool alien weaponry, and taking their heroin. He’s not taking the heroin back to his home planet, but instead is using it to inject into his human victims, causing their brains to produce endorphins which he then harvests with a huge spike into their foreheads. He uses the synthesized human endorphins to make a popular drug on his home planet. The director was also the stunt coordinator for “Predator”, and it shows. As much as I love “Predator”, I love the concept of this one a little more. I can’t say enough about how unique I’ve always thought this film was, and how it doesn’t deserve the obscurity that has befallen it.

Mausoleum (1983)

If there were ever a film that makes me nostalgic for the video store, it’s this one. I can still see the faux wood grain box the VHS tape came in, and how I had no idea what to expect. “Mausoleum” is dripping with the sweet nectar of the nexus of late 70’s and very early 80’s horror that had all the advantages of both. It tells the tale of kept wife, Susan who is played by Bobbi Bresee. She’s great in this, and while she did a few more notable flicks like “Ghoulies”, she never achieved Scream Queen status, even though she should have. Her husband is played by Marjoe Gortner, who is only second to Englebert Humperdink for being so cool that no one could ever give them crap about their name. Susan and her husband are enjoying an idyllic life until she reaches the age where an evil murderous, succubus possesses all the women in her family. The special effects are not bad for a midnight movie, and in one unforgettable scene, her boobs morph into monsters themselves. That last line alone, should make you want to see it. One of my all-time favorites that just doesn’t get enough love.

Melissa Ann
True Horror Fans
Scared Stiff Reviews

Trick ‘r Treat (2007)

Trick ‘r Treat is a Halloween-themed anthology that tells four related stories. Sam (Samhain) is a small trick-or-treater who wears a burlap sack and orange pajamas. He shows up when someone breaks a Halloween tradition and is the embodiment of Halloween itself. The stories are about a killer principal, undead children who were murdered on their bus, sexy female werewolves, and a Halloween-hating old man who is connected to the dead school children. Trick ‘r Treat is the perfect Halloween movie and will put anyone in the haunting spirit.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon is a comedic horror that will change the way you watch slasher movies. Leslie Vernon is an aspiring serial killer who allows a film crew to follow him and document his success and challenges. He explains that all slashers are human and shows the training and dedication it takes to become a legend, such as Michael Myers. There’s a fun twist along the way and cameos from horror icons Kane Hodder and Robert Englund. This is one of the most underrated horror movies from recent times. Fans of the slasher sub-genre should definitely check it out.

The Ugly (1997)

The Ugly is a New Zealand horror film about a serial killer, Simon Cartwright, who asks a famous psychiatrist to evaluate him because he believes he has been cured. As they meet and discuss his past crimes, Simon opens up about the voices (or “The Ugly”) in his head telling him to kill. As he revisits his kills, the victims appear around him oozing black blood and look terrifying. The movie is dark, creepy and intense from beginning to end. Although the movie won many festival awards in New Zealand and the United States, few people have heard of this psychological gem. This is definitely recommended for horror fans that have “seen it all”.

Brent Hannon
Scared Stiff Reviews

Steak Land (2010)

This film follows Mister (Nick Damici), an old vampire hunter, and Martin (Connor Paolo) a teenager learning the trade from his older mentor. The world is overrun with vampires to a degree that is similar to most zombie films. The pair are making their way North to New Eden in hopes of finding the safe haven they have heard of. On their journey they run into plenty of vampires, and a variety of people, some of them are better than others. This is the perfect film for lovers of vampires and zombies alike. They are definitely vampires, but the majority of them are mindless and after blood instead of brains.

Dead Snow (2009)

A group of seven friends head up to a cabin, near Oksfjord, Norway, for their Easter break. One of them discovers treasure hidden under the floorboards of the cabin, and one of the gold coins is pocketed. Unfortunately for them there is a group of Nazi zombies that protect that treasure. This is another amazing movie that is a must see for any self respecting zombie fanatic. The Nazi zombies are awesome, and there is no lack for gore in this film.

Dog Soldiers (2002)

What would halloween be without a good werewolf movie? Six British soldiers are dropped into the Scottish Highlands to run through some training against another squad of SAS. They soon find the squad torn to shreads and only one survivor. They are pursued by werewolves and wind up taking refuge in the house of a woman they run across while retreating through the woods. This is a prefect movie for anyone remotely into werewolf flims, and a definite must for lovers of practical effects. This movie is right up there with An American Werewolf in London as far as the werewolves are concerned.

Andrew Bard
Scared Stiff Reviews

Witchery (Ghosthouse 2) (1988)

Where else will you find Linda Blair and David Hasselhoff together in a supernatural horror movie set on an island off of Massachusetts? In this Italian horror film of course!

The plot which is about as basic as Cheerios is as follows, Gary (David Hasselhoff) and his gal pal Linda (Catherine Hickland) visit an island off the coast of Massachusetts where a haunted resort hotel looms to do research on witchcraft. The Brooks family stumbles in because more people need to die to make it a horror. Then they are hunted by the spirit of the witch!

Ooooooo scary right? Not really but its good fun, full of cheese and there’s a kinky little scene that involves sex with the devil or a demon or its just a weird interpretive dance who knows but it goes on longer than it should have. This film isn’t for everyone, hell its really not meant for anyone but since its out there I recommend it if you want a good laugh and a few actually spooky scenes.

I give this a 3/5 for David Hasselhoff for saying “Who were you expecting? The Phantom of the Opera?” No, no David I was expecting Mitch Buchannon.

Suspiria (1977)

What is with Italian horror?

This film is a trip and actually pretty scary. Suzy (Jessica Harper) A new student joins a ballet school in the middle of fucking nowhere in German because those are the best ones apparently… She notices another student running from the school in the middle of the night only to find she has been found dead the next morning. She soon discovers a string of murders where everyone at the school is trying to cover up as she begins to uncovers the true horror that is lurking within the walls of the school.

From an army of maggots infesting the school, dogs killing their owners and the discovery that this school was the home for a large witch coven everything begins to spiral out of control! It’s supernatural, its trippy, is surreal and the musical score is actually quite frightening.

I give this a 4/5 for the overall story and execution. It was scary but modern sfx may have ruined me in someway because a few of their gags were silly.

Dagon (2001)

If done well any story from H.P Lovecraft has the ability to frighten and and disturb you. From some of the campy stories of Re-animator, From Beyond and The Unnameable to the dark truly frightening world created for In The Mouth of Madness these stories all have a similar thread that ties them together. Dagon brings in more of the Mythos into the film with the backstory of a poor fishing village being swayed to worship an ancient god named Dagon. The plot follows a young couple who were in a boating accident and flee to the shores of a dilapidated Spanish fishing village. It is soon discovered however that the inhabitants are hybrid sea creatures who murder people and skin them to wear their skin as their own. Paul Marsh (Ezra Godden) is having dreams and fantasies of a beautiful women whom he later meets and discovers she’s basically the princess of the hybrid villagers. There is a lot of tension in this film and enough sincerely creepy factors in it that help mask the not so great sfx that pop up once in a while. As a whole though, this is a great movie to watch when you’re all alone and want to feel more so. I give this a 4/5 for the sheer hopelessness you feel and the decent into the Dagon mytho’s, flashbacks of the cult leader turning people and the overall aesthetic this film brings.

Geno McGahee
Scared Stiff Reviews

STAGE FRIGHT (1987)

The Italian horror movies of the eighties were something special and that goes especially for the lesser known title “STAGE FRIGHT”. A gathering of actors putting on a play about a killer in an owl mask, only to contend with a real killer in an owl mask, makes this one a must see for slasher fans. The kills are great, the pacing is nice and the atmosphere is great. The Italians knew how to make a stylish horror films. Much like DEMONS, the usage of color and creepiness have you glued to the screen.

PROPHECY (1979)

For everyone that loved GRIZZLY, you will find great joy in the 1979 killer mutant bear movie “PROPHECY.” A slow burn at first, but the film picks up in the second half and it becomes an incredibly fun and crazy. David Seltzer wrote this and he is responsible for THE OMEN, just to give you an idea of the quality you should expect. This is one of those films where you cheer for the killer and as powerful and cool as the bear was in GRIZZLY, this steps it up about fifty levels and we get to see some very fun deaths. This is a must see.

THE NAIL GUN MASSACRE (1985)

If you take I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE and take away the serious tone, you get the great whodunit slasher/nail-gunner, THE NAIL GUN MASSACRE. This is a rape/revenge story with an over the top approach. It screams the straight to video 80’s boom of VHS horror and it’s actually head and shoulders above most. If you love the 80s, this one is a great film to give a go. If you love getting nailed, then this film will do it for you. You won’t get screwed here.

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