By Geno McGahee

Lionsgate just released the low budget zombie film THE SPORE on DVD, Digital and On Demand.  The film has a definite influence of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD as all zombie films are, but it has its own angle and unique approach that makes it worth a watch and some fun for the horror fans.

The film covers ten characters as they face off against infected people that are turning into zombies and giant monster plants due to climate change.  The film is basically a bunch of short stories, giving the perspective of each character as they deal with this problem.  There’s some commentary on climate change and the pandemic in this work and there are some decent moments as you go along.

THE SPORE is a mixed bag.  It is slow.  It is a little too dark at times.  Beyond that, it does check a lot of the boxes that zombie fans enjoy and it tries to hit the sub-genre from a different angle.  I recommend it, but it could have tightened up the story and not focused so much on the news broadcasts that seemed to really slow down the film.

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By Geno McGahee

Lionsgate has released ALONE, a zombie film, to Blu-Ray, Digital, On Demand and DVD and it’s worth a watch if you’re a zombie fan. Directed by Johnny Martin, and starring Tyler Posey and Summer Spiro, the film checks every box for an end of the world zombie thriller.  The zombies look great and the pacing is quite good.

The film begins with a zombie problem that is impacting the entire world.  Aidan (Posey) wakes up to chaos and the reality that the zombies are widespread and have taken over in his own city of LA.   It doesn’t take long for the zombies to consume everything.  They are everywhere and the entire world falls apart.  Obviously, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is an inspiration.  I saw nods to it throughout.  I kept thinking of the NOTLD line “it doesn’t take long for the world to fall apart.”  The entire world falls apart in ALONE in quick fashion, including every utility and communication device.

Aidan is fighting for survival, including taking on zombie neighbors.   Like the zombie rules go, if you get bit by a zombie, you become a zombie, and that is happening a lot everywhere. Aidan is primarily a loner and that is a different take on this topic.  Usually, it’s a band of people coming together to take on the zombies, but Aidan seems reserved to accept the situation and deal with it solo.   I liked the direction they took.

Being alone, Aidan starts making videos about his experiences, looking for some contact somewhere.   He knows he cannot leave his apartment with all of the zombies taking the building over, but he’s also hungry and getting stir crazy.

Aidan meets up with Eva (Spiro) and they are now, finally, teamed up, to try to figure out this crazy situation.  It was nice to see Donald Sutherland and he owns the role as he always does.  His character is very amusing and adds a great deal to the film in his brief showing.

I really liked ALONE.  It follows the typical zombie formula but it’s got its own unique additions with good performances by both Posey and Spiro.  I recommend it.

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By Geno McGahee

I haven’t seen Mark Dacascos in something in quite a long time.  His work is usually very good.  He has a presence and proved to be a capable action star as he did very well in ONLY THE STRONG and the relatively unknown REDEMPTION: KICKBOXER 5. In the 2019 Lionsgate release “THE DRIVER”, Dacascos is back and he is in a world that has been all but destroyed and we have some zombies roaming around. 

The Driver (Dacascos) and his partner, Joe (Jeremy Stutes), have adjusted to the life and tend to fear the living more than the dead.  The desperation has brought out the worst in people and the film becomes a near diary for the lead. They live in a society that is protected from the zombies and outside world and live as well as they can, all things considered.

The zombies get into the complex and now the Driver must take off and brings his young daughter, Bree (Noelani Dacascos) with him.  Unfortunately, the Driver got bit by a zombie and I don’t care how badass you are, that will turn you into a zombie and now the Driver is racing against the clock, trying to protect the young child from the zombies, bad people, and even himself.  He knows he’s zombie bound.

The Driver prepares Bree for the zombie world and teaches her how to survive.  With his time limited, she must learn quickly about firing weapons, killing zombies and driving.   As they roam, they come across other survivalists that are seeking the same refuge.  We get the continued fight and the passing of the torch to the young Bree.

THE DRIVER is decent with a good pace, but it would have been nice to see Mark Dacascos do some martial arts with these zombies and take some of them out that way. I know he’s older, but he looks like he can still bring it.

It is now on DVD, Digital and On Demand from Lionsgate and checks all the boxes if you like zombies and zombie apocalypse movies.  I recommend it.

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Where has this movie been all my life? This is tremendous. Horror fans, if you haven’t seen THE CHILD (1977) watch it, and if you have – why didn’t you tell me about it?  I tell you cats about great flicks all the time! Sharing is caring so set Missy up once in awhile!

For those who are also new to this flick, allow me to summarize this baby. Alicianne (Laurel Barnett) is a sexy, dark haired gal in her early 20s. She’s hired to watch over young Rosalie (Rosalie Cole). Rosalie isn’t your average gal though. Her mother died and all indicators show that she takes after that dame quite a bit. She has some strange telekinesis powers that can connect with ghouls and make scarecrows come to life. She’s also got a bit of a temper. It’s like if Anthony Freemont from THE TWILIGHT ZONE’S: IT’S A GOOD LIFE (1961) was a helluva lot more violent and had more than a cornfield to work with.

When Rosalie becomes angry at nosy, old, Mrs. Whitfield (Ruth Ballan) she calls upon the creatures of the night to come attack – and attack they do. Anyone who steps out of line or anyone Rosalie thinks is responsible for her mother’s death is a target for this blonde girl’s rage.

I won’t lie. I like Rosalie. I wish I had her powers. Those ghouls and that scarecrow would be taking care of a lot of peeps for me.

Eventually though Rosalie turns her anger on poor Alicianne, who is really an innocent. She just wanted a job. She’s not trying to start anything with that girl, but Rosalie doesn’t give a fuck. She doesn’t like anyone playing mommy.

The conclusion of the movie sees an all out zombie attack that is fabulous! I love this movie so much.

It’s one part BURIAL GROUND (1981), one part THE PIT (1981) and all parts fan-fucking-tastic. The dialogue is scarce, but the story is told with imagery and it shines in that capacity. The camera angles used, the dark tone and the haunting music all make for a creepy atmosphere from moment one.

This is definitely one to own. This is pure 1970s horror gold, people!

ARROW VIDEO has put this out on a triple movie set entitled Volume Two of the Horror Collection Project. Pick it up. It’s worth it.

Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10

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By Melissa Antoinette Garza

Today I needed a comfort movie. If I was the average middle-age gal having an off day that would probably be a fuzzy Hallmark flick, but alas I am not. For me, SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004) is my warm blanket to cuddle with. It brings me solace and an escape when I need one.

I can’t imagine there are still those who haven’t seen this flick, but maybe some of the younger cats out there haven’t gotten around to it yet. It’s fabulous. It’s a love letter to George a. Romero’s classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968), but beyond that it stands on its own as a well-written, brilliant horror comedy filled with a cast of endearing characters and countless ingenious moments.

As I live in the states, I saw this flick before I ever had the joy of watching SPACED (1999) a marvelous British series put together by the same group of folks. If you haven’t seen that yet, get to it. That said, my introduction to Edgar Wright as a director and even Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in any acting capacity.

The film opens with Shaun (Simon Pegg) and his girlfriend Liz (Kate Ashfield) having some relationship problems. Liz is upset about Shaun’s lack of ambition and his bro friendship with best bud Ed (Nick Frost). Further complicating the relationship is smug douche-bag David (Dylan Moran). Seriously, fuck David!

David is dating a full fem goddess in Dianne (Lucy Davis). She’s sweet, funny, charming, supportive and puts up with his goddamn obvious crush on Liz. Admittedly, Liz is great, but so the fuck is Di. Di is gorgeous. She has long blonde hair, a wonderfully stacked body and seems to be sensual to the max. David is hitting FAR out of his league with this gal, but it’s not good enough for Davey boy. Nooooo! He wants to throw a wrench in Shaun and Liz’s courtship so he can weasel his way in. Have I mentioned, I hate David because I do. I hate him so much.

Everyone else is pretty cool though. Shaun has issues with his step-dad Philip (Bill Nighy) which sucks because Phil is a nice guy and Shaun is just being a mama’s boy. He’s a very cute mama’s boy, but he’s being a bit naughty about the whole thing. I feel for Phil. Thankfully, Shaun comes around. Despite, his minx-ie ways – he has a good heart.

I see why Shaun is protective over his ma though. Barbara (Penelope Wilton) is a delightful fem. She’s an older woman, but she’s got some vamp and style to her. She can rock & roll when the zombies start after her.

Oh yeah, the ZOMBIES! So while all these familial dramas are occurring, a zombie outbreak has occurred. I love this aspect of the film. Our leads are so self-involved that they come across zombies several times and don’t even notice it. They’re just so absent of their surroundings and it’s a fantastic commentary about how removed we have become from one another -even our neighbors.

Don’t fear. It’s not too heady. While all the buildup to the zombie showdown is going on there are so many foreboding mechanisms utilized. As this is a comedy, it’s a hammer-to-the-head, but a very welcomed one as it makes for a lot of hilarious bits.

When the group of friends do come face-to-face with the undead, their combat methods are the greatest. I don’t want to give anything away to the few who haven’t seen it, but my God for all of those who have, it just brings a smile. It’s so funny.

I can’t suggest this enough. I love the cast and the characters. It’s unique in that the women and men are equal participant in the take-down. Generally, the men will be portrayed as stronger and the fems as damsels or recently there’s been a lot of the vice versa. SHAUN OF THE DEAD doesn’t play that game. It shows the human emotion of each individual. The men can cry and yet can still pick up a gun and fight. The fems will jump on a dime and get in front to kick some serious ass. It’s equal footing and it’s fucking brilliant. I love it. I don’t think there was a way that this could be any better. It’s a rare perfect movie that just warms my heart every time I see it.

You’ll laugh, you may even cry (I do. I’m a sap), but by the end you’ll feel good. You’ll care about the characters and that’s the key to any good film.

Scared Stiff Rating: 10/10

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THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (1985) was one of my favorite movies growing up. It was a made-for-TV, 1980s, crazy horror musical with vampire witches, pilgrim demons, resurrected werewolves and a zombie little person. You’ve stopped reading this review and just Googled this movie, didn’t you? I can’t blame you.

The film starts with a kind, sweet, sensitive, shy boy named Phil (Lee Montgomery). Phil who is like the cutest boy in this high-school of twenty-something year old students, but he is ignored by all he girls. He actually has eyes on one of them, but she’s a devilishly heart-breaking minx.

Mary Masterson (Dedee Pfeiffer) is gorgeous. She’s sexy and spunky and I can totally see why Phil would fall for her. She’s total 80s fem. I would want to be with her if I was Phil, but she’s so mean. She leads Phil on and is just never straight with him. She knows he has a thing for her and instead of just breaking it gently, she plays with his heart and then flirts with this Frankenstein asshole at the party. Yep, she hurts Phil for some dude at the party that has a gelled back douche machismo haircut and a stupid tweed pressed jacket that is far too fancy a thing that Frankenstein’s monster would ever wear. I don’t like him. He doesn’t really say that much in this, but I hate that prick.

Well, Mary shows up at a Halloween party dressed like Bride of Frankenstein leaving poor Phil in the lurch. His friends are always assholes to him. Among the group are Melissa (Shari Belafonte) the descendant of sultry seductress witch vamp Lucinda (Jonelle Allen). How many of my fetishes do you want to put into one gal? Lucinda is a sexy, bisexual vampire and she has a motive of justified revenge as the catalyst for her destruction. I love Phil, but when Lucinda comes to play, I’m totally aligned with that fem goddess.

After Melissa is Mitch Crandall (Peter DeLuise). Mitch has an abusive drunk father who is also a judge (Kevin McCarthy). Daddy Judge rants and raves when he finds out Mitch and friends broke in and stole a bunch of costumes from a local museum. He’s pissed and he doesn’t have healthy techniques to deal with outrage.

Judge Crandall isn’t the only one upset. Timid, pretty boy Phil was also against the theft. Still, he was overpowered by a group of ragtag teenage hoodlums. Phil needs protection. He needs some saucy protection.

If Melissa, Mitch and Mary wasn’t causing enough problems there’s also Vinnie (LeVar Burton). He’s Melissa’s boyfriend and a nice enough guy, but he encourages everyone to read a curse that summons all these singing, dancing and killing ghouls. He’s not a good friend. He broke the seal on the sacred scroll.  This is sort of on Vinnie, but at least he’s happy about it.

Thankfully, Phil does meet one good friend that night. After the impromptu graveyard seance that unbeknownst to them raise the dead, Phil goes to the party. It’s there that the he sees Mary making eyes at Frankenstein. He takes off and meets Sandy Matthews (Jonna Lee).

I love Sandy. She’s a ghost, but Phil doesn’t know it. He sees a bunch of weird looking misfits and some crazy psychos but dismisses them as enthusiastic well-costumed party-goers. Sandy doesn’t look like a ghost. She’s dressed in a cute 50s cheerleader costume and is immediately taken by Phil and his 1960s powder blue, Cadillac convertible. He gives her a lift and she gives him one too. After drag racing, she pulls him in the back seat and the two get hot-and-heavy. Sadly, zombies interrupt, and they’re not like Sandy. They’re real zombies this time. If it was a bunch of sexy gals in cheer-leading uniforms rushing the car, I think Phil would have had a different reaction; and with Sandy’s prowess she may have been down too. The world will never know.

Instead, nearly everyone in town has been bitten by Lucinda or Melissa who was turned witch vamp. They all turn into vamp zombies. Phil and Mary go to the police but the fuzz just laugh at them. If Sandy gets to call Kurtwood Smith’s character the fuzz, I want to do it too.

Sandy’s cool. I want to hang out with Sandy. She’s much better than bitchy, two-timing Mary! Then again, Sandy is so sweet she could try to smooth things over and invite Mary and Phil over for a threesome… I mean sleepover. Yeah, that’s it. Sure, why not?

In the end, there is only one chance to save humanity. They must reverse the spell sending all the creatures back to the other side.

NOT SANDY! NOOOO. Don’t Go! I love you Sandy! Stay with Phil.  Ummmm….I mean, that was the reaction I had to this movie when I was a kid. Yep. I’m a grown up now. I don’t cry at the end of this anymore. I’m an adult!

The music is tremendous and I just love Wolfman Jack so much. Admittedly, the story is nonsensical silliness, but it pays homage to all sorts of horror classics.

The cast is sensational despite having to play characters quite younger than themselves.

I watch this a few times a year every year. I remember when they first put it on VHS, I was ecstatic. I had an old VHS that was taped off TV but the official release was amazing. Now I know it’s on DVD and on digital. It’s also on YOUTUBE for those who just want a free film to enjoy.

Is there home movies footage of me at 10 years old singing I’m Dead You’re Dying and doing the choreographed dance? Why? What have you heard?

Scared Stiff Rating: 8.5/10

The post THE MIDNIGHT HOUR (1985) – MOVIE REVIEW Jonelle Allen, Lee Montgomery, Dedee Pfeiffer, LeVar Burton, Shari Belafonte, Peter DeLuise, Jonna Lee appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

By Melissa Antoinette Garza

ZOMBIE HIGH (1987) is an overlooked horror comedy that deserves more praise than it gets. It’s silly and strange, but it’s a nice homage to movies like THE STEPFORD WIVES (1975) and INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (1956). The camp 80’s quality to it is spectacular. The zaniness of the characters is fun in an over-the-top caricature type of way. I love Virginia Madsen. She’s an eternal fem crush of mine. Then there’s Paul Feig playing a guy who hits on Virginia Madsen’s character. It’s all sorts of adorable. He looks like Scott Thompson from THE KIDS IN THE HALL. He’s so obviously 100% fem goddess gay. I just want them to give him a cute little boyfriend, but alas 1987 mainstream cult could only go so far. Still, we do get Feig in all of his glory in this and I love it. I wish he was in it more.

The film begins with Andrea (Virginia Madsen) transferring schools much to her boyfriend Barry’s (James Wilder) dismay. At the new school, she meets her fabulous fem, but completely straight friend Emerson (Paul Feig) who hits on her and then every other gal in the school, because he’s 100% totally straight guys! He’s just quirky (that’s the 80’s gay code my mom used on Boy George).  

Andrea is a rebel goddess without even trying. Other girls don’t like her and won’t let her sit at their lunch table. She tries to befriend hardcore punk Felner (Scott Coffey) by offering tutoring, but that dude just don’t get it. He’s too angry to try to make a move. He turns her down. That said, he is torn as he is ready to bolt and isn’t looking for any strings to attach him there. He tries to bolt, but a bunch of white collared, preppy students in suits surround him.

Next time she sees Felner, he’s an attentive student that seems as though he barely knows her. Other friends of hers end up in similar conditions.

Andrea is momentarily preoccupied with Professor Philo (Richard Cox). Philo is repulsive. He’s too much older, he has gross curly black hair and he wears a bitch ass pervy smile. YUCK. He hits on her and is nice in the grossest possible way. It’s all a disgusting little prelude to get Andrea in bed. I hate him. I hate him so much. She’s too young for him and he’s working her naivete. He’s a predator douche-bag that makes her feel like she has to apologize for not fucking him. BLECK.

He confesses he’s over a century old loon who has made himself immortal and controls the students with crystals. Without a chemical the faculty of the school will turn into their real age and die.

The students impacted by the crystals also become zombies, just not the type we’re accustomed to. Everything is methodical or with purpose. They do exactly as they are supposed to. It’s really the same type of control as THE STEPFORD WIVES. Philo offers to make Andrea eternally young and be with her, but she refuses. He’s nasty and I hate him. Even when the movie paints him as a hero, I hate him. I want to punch him in the face.

Thankfully, Barry breaks into a school dance to save Andrea. He’s immediately noticed as someone who isn’t one of them as he dances freely and not in the robotic way everyone else is. Before they can attack him, he goes looking for Andrea. The two lovebirds run into one another and head over to the infirmary. With the entire school on their tracks, Barry insists on Andrea going to the police while he works as a decoy and keeps them preoccupied.

Andrea gets to the police but they’re skeptical. The school traps Barry and while he’s asleep the naughty nurse (Abigail Hanness) gets a tad bit naughty, but the scene cuts away before any real fun can be had. After Andrea’s little thing with Philo, it’s only fair that Barry gets tawdry with a hot nurse for a bit. Turnabout being fair play and all.

It becomes clear that this if Andrea is going to be saved, she has to save herself. The fem goddess takes control and leads the men around to do her successful and noble bidding. She’s a dominatrix of decency – still sexy as hell.

This is a fun flick. It’s not scary, but it’s not supposed to be. It still has great energy and pace. The cast is fantastic and the story is an interesting one. The conclusion is somewhat nonsensical but within the context and levity of the film, it works.

Currently this is free via SHOUT! FACTORY’S channel on AMAZON PRIME.

Scared Stiff Rating: 6.5/10

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Mark Pirro is pretty badass. He wrote, rewrote, re-rewrote and directed NUDIST COLONY OF THE DEAD (1991). It says so in the opening credits. He also apparently made this film on only a $35,000 budget, and it’s awesome.

The film starts when Judge Rhinehole (Forrest J. Ackerman) proceeding over a case between Sunny Butts Nudist Colony and some churchgoing assholes. The nudists are led by Mrs .Druple (Rachel Latt). She’s an older woman who has breasts that hang to the ground. She hates the holy rollers who are trying to shut the colony down, and she’s very sensitive about her age.

The nudists lose because the scumbag religious douche-bags secured enough signatures from the town to scare Rhinehole into taking the city property and giving it to the church. The nudists decide to kill themselves with poison punch because if they can’t be naked, they don’t want to live. Druple convinces them to partake in a curse that will bring them out of their graves when zealots come onto the property.

Ranger Bygbutts (Marcus Aurelius Daniels) raps about an encounter he had with the dead nudists when they returned, danced, spoke and killed a bunch of kids. The police came and shut the place down, but a religious retreat is planned and put into motion.

A bunch of teenagers are sent to the colony to stop them from having sex and getting high. Ooooh, how I hate religious buzzkills! The retreat is led by Miss Stucco (Bea Lindgren) and Ms. Luger (Darwyn Carson), two churchgoers who pushed the lawsuit. They are the first attacked.

The next day, all the campers rise and shine. They get together and do a fabulous, bat-shit crazy, music number called Inky Dinky Doo Dah Morning.

After their song, Shelly (Deborah Stern) finds a decapitated head in the pool. She runs to get help and they break-in to the cabin with all the paperwork. There they find paperwork which details all the murders that occurred before.

When they get back to the tents, there’s a bunch of dead bodies and one living head. The head tells them that it was the nudists who killed everyone. The living teens jump into the van to escape, but the entire engine was ripped out of the car.

They decide to sing a song to God that they aren’t afraid of death convinced he is testing them. They think they can trick him into thinking that they don’t care about their lives so that the test will end and they can survive.

It’s not politically correct and some of the humor would find difficulty with today’s audience. One character in particular, Juan Tu (Peter Napoles) speaks with a stereotypical Asian accent that will certainly make some angry. I’d ask viewers to withhold harsh judgement and trust that no offense was intended. In my opinion, Pirro used it much like SOUTH PARK does with a touch of irony. There’s a few telltale signs, but it is most telling when Lou (Steve Wilcox) uses an Irish slur to insult him.

Lou, by the way, is my favorite character. He LOVES his Bible. He will jump thru a glass window to get it back. He also constantly asks God to make his enemies burn in hell, but then apologizes. I love him. He’s hilarious!

This film is great. There are so many hilarious moments. In one scene, Rev. Ritz (Dave Robinson) gives a sermon where he says that you “can’t praise the Lord if they have genitals in their mouth.” It’s ridiculous.

This entire production is ridiculous. I love the music. The zombies get a number and even Bygbutts gets a second in before the conclusion that sees a demented reappearance of Rev. Ritz.

Oddly, I remember when I was really young I saw one of Pirro’s other films A POLISH VAMPIRE IN BURBANK (1983). I was like 4 years old, so I remember nothing. After watching this I went back and re-watched the trailer for the vamp flick and it looks equally fantastic so expect that review in the next few days.

I also have to give it up to Mark Pirro for calling his production company Pirromont. That’s ballsy and awesome. I’m telling you – that dude is a badass.

Currently, this is on AMAZON PRIME for free and if you haven’t already queued it up, do it now! I love it.

Scared Stiff Rating: 7.5/10

The post Nudist Colony of the Dead (1991) – Movie Review appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

BURIAL GROUND (1981) begins with a Professor (Raimondo Barbieri) who brings back some really pissed off zombies that hate both regular sex and weird freaky sex alike. Either that or the zombies will kill anything and everyone just happens to be fucking. I’ll let you decide which but bear in mind, this is an Italian film.

Oh how I love Italian Horror!

The same genius professor who accidentally cursed everyone with death, also was nice enough to call a party at his mansion before doing it.

Among the group is Janet (Karin Well) a woman who instantly suspects something is wrong, has nightmares, wants to leave, but is married to Dipshit Mark (Gianluigi Chirizzi) who tells her that things are fine. Things are NOT fine. There are zombies wandering around and some strange kid is trying to screw his mom. Things are NOT fine, Mark!

Let me properly introduce Michael (Pietro Barzocchini). Michael is the most compelling character in this entire film, but he’s a strange dude. At the time the actor was 26 years old, but Michael is played as someone very young. He’s young enough for his mom Evelyn (Mariangela Giordano)to check up on him before bed which is fine. Great! That’s normal. When she leaves and he opens his eyes as wide as possible – a bit less normal.

It gets worse. The boy has serious problems which are made even more clear when he and his mom have a hot-and-heavy, make-out session and he caresses her breast and then goes lower. Evelyn stops him, but not as quickly as a mother should. All the more disturbing is that he calls her “mama” – I don’t know why that puts me off more. Just call her mother like a normal pervert! The term mama makes it so much worse on every level, but kudos because I’m certain that was the point.

The third couple Leslie (Antonella Antinori) and James (Simone Mattioli) are having fun sexing it up before the insanity ensues. Leslie even puts on some lingerie that fits her stunningly, but she just so happened to find. Maybe it’s lost in translation, but James’s dirty talk needs some serious work! After she dolls herself up, he not only seems initially unimpressed, but the most she gets from him is that he kind of likes that she looks like a whore. Come now! The 1980s electronic GIRL TALK DATE LINE game guys had better skills.

Soon, Mark finds out that Janet was right because they get attacked by zombies that also control electricity and cause paranormal activity like bulbs exploding. It’s complicated. Jesus makes water into wine. Other zombies make light bulbs explode. I don’t know all the rules.

These are some of the greatest looking zombies ever! I love their style, the way they move and the way they attack.  Filled with amazing visuals, this film is effective on all fronts. The sex, gore and especially the pace are topnotch. This is among my top 5 favorite zombie films of all time. It’s under-recognized, under-appreciated, but absolutely fabulous on all counts.

I still have my bootleg copy of BURIAL GROUND (1981) from before its official release. I typically keep the bootlegs that I buy even after I acquire the legit copies. Generally, the fake copies use the OG posters or old VHS covers and those definitely hold a special place in my heart.

Currently, this is both free on YOUTUBE and on AMAZON PRIME. It’s definitely one to own though it does make one back-cover claim about being the next RHPS, which just simply isn’t true. Still it’s fan-fucking-tastic.

Scared Stiff Rating: 8/10

The post Burial Ground (1981) – Horror Movie Review appeared first on SCARED STIFF REVIEWS.

By Melissa Antoinette Garza

While updating the website, I was shocked to see that I never personally reviewed CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS (1972). I should have done this years ago, but now, that I have a MELISSA’S OBSESSIONS category to put it in, it would be a crime not to write a review and include this film.

God, I miss Bob Clark! Some fans will site A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) or PORKY’S (1981) as his finest work, but for horror fans we’ll look to the classic BLACK CHRISTMAS and the underrated cult gem CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS.

This movie is insanely brilliant. It follows a pompous, selfish and elaborately dressed director named Alan (Alan Ormsby). He brings his theater troupe to a deserted island with only a rat infested cabin and a graveyard. He threatens to fire them if they don’t do exactly what he says, including a seance, pranks, and digging up a dead body of a man named Orville (Seth Skarley).

They bring Orville back to the cabin and Alan does a strange impromptu wedding ceremony where he marries the corpse.  Though, the crew grows tired of Alan’s attitude and actions, they all stay and play nice in hopes of remaining in his favor and keeping their jobs.

It isn’t until one of the girl’s, Anya (Anya Ormsby) feels something isn’t right and believes that Orville is angry that the others become frightened enough to leave regardless of Alan’s insistence on staying.

It is only then that they find the seance worked and the group are now stranded on an island with pissed off zombies.

When I was a child, I had seen this film. For years, I wanted to find this movie, but could only remember a single scene where one character pushes another into the zombies.  It frightened me so much that it stuck with me.  Years later, my brother found the movie and we watched it again.  That was roughly 20 years ago now, and it’s become a staple every October.  We watch it at least once a year.

It’s such a fantastic flick, but as I view it now, I am shocked that I watched it when I was only about 6 years old. Back then, they had these movies on regular TV during the day and on the weekends. My older siblings would be watching the SPINE TINGLERS: MOVIE OF THE WEEK and thus I grew up watching these movies at far too young an age.  Still, that’s one part of my childhood I wouldn’t change.  I have such fond memories of these great flicks, and it helped make me into the insane, horror-loving gal I am today, and I like me.

One thing to consider when watching this is that it came out 7 years before THE EVIL DEAD (1981).  Now, I’m obviously a huge fan of THE EVIL DEAD, but I do wonder if Sam Raimi had taken any inspiration as there are several scenes that otherwise are eerily similar.

This is a perfect flick.  The concept is awesome. The acting is fantastically campy.  There are a few genuine scares.  Some are turned off by the way Alan talks, but it fits his character perfectly and Ormsby sells every second of it.

I’ve shown this film to countless people and each one became a fan.  Over the years, a cult following did develop, but this movie still doesn’t get the recognition it deserves.  Years before his untimely death, Bob Clark was going to remake this film.  The early concepts and ideas thrown around were less than stellar and included a rapping zombie, but I’m still sad we didn’t get to see the end result.  I love Clark’s contributions, especially those to the horror genre.

Currently, CHILDREN SHOULDN’T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS is streaming on PRIME and free on YOUTUBE.  If you haven’t seen the film, watch it and if it’s been a little while, watch it again and share it with friends.

SCARED STIFF RATING: 10/10

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