Chiller Theatre April 2024

This past weekend was that time of the year again, when we go to the best damn convention in the world: Chiller Theatre! So, on April 27, 2024, we headed to New Jersey to have one hell of a good time!

The first celebrity I went up to was the lovely Cindy Weintraub star of cult favorites: Humanoids from the Deep and The Prowler. I'm a fan of both, especially the former, which is a personal favorite, I couldn't wait to meet her. And, she turned out awesome, as she is so sweet, friendly, and personable. Weintraub told us that she was having a great time meeting the fans, and how she had no idea the love they had for these movies.

Next was the celeb I was most pumped to meet this weekend, the gorgeous Lisa Langlois, star of Class of 1984, The Nest, and more. The former is a personal favorite and made me have a huge crush on her as a kid. I've mentioned my love for punk girls and the like ad-nauseum here, but here I go again. Anyways, I did let her know just that, and she was very sweet about it. She told us that her son carried her punked out pic, proudly saying this is "my mom"! She was extremely sweet, as well and also talked to us for a good while. And, she, like Cindy, still looks great!

Fred "The Hammer" Williamson was next for me. From Dusk Till Dawn is one of my utmost personal favorite movies, ever, and the man is a legit legend. So I was so happy to meet him. He had long been on my Chiller guest wish list. And, I gotta say, he is so funny in person! I told him Dusk was one of my favorite movies, and he was like "You are a sick puppy!" That killed me. I admit I was a little starstruck at first, but his sense of humor made it much easier to be around him.

The final celeb I met that Saturday was Angel (Scarface, Carlito's Way) Salazar. He was so cool in person! It was awesome that he did one regular pic and one with an Uzi and some yeyo. While both, Scarface and Carlito's Way are favorites of mine, the former is an utmost favorite. But, I have that Blu-ray in a collector's tin, making it impossible to get a permanent signature on it. So, instead I opted for my 4K copy of Carlito's Way. He said that the former is his most famous role, so he signed as both characters on the 4K disc! So cool of him to do that.

There was this cool room that had some movie props. You can see a few in the pic below.

Of course, the Chiller party was slamming! In fact, this was one of the most fun ones in recent memory, which is saying something!

The following are my Blu-rays and 4K movies that I got signed on this Saturday:

Carlito's Way: Angel Salazar
Humanoids from the Deep: Cindy Weintraub
Class of 1984: Lisa Langlois
From Dusk Till Dawn: Fred "The Hammer" Williamson

And, this is the swag that I bought:
I <3 Gialli (you can see the awesome back of it in the second pic) T-shirt
From Vinegar Syndrome's booth: Graduation Day and
Mail Order Murder: The Story of W.A.V.E. Productions (seen both before the former is a good slasher movie, while the later is an excellent docu about the infamous exploitation/ horror underground company)
The Beast of Screem magazine (LOVE that Jaws cover!)

Mommy double feature (won it cause I bought the above mag, also never seen either flick)

This was an AWESOME edition of Chiller! Any of you go? If so who did you meet? What were the highlights for you? Let me know in the comments section below. As for me, I already can't wait for October's edition!!

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Dark Glasses (Review)

Director: Dario Argento
Writers: Dario Argento, Franco Ferrini
Cast: Ilenia Pastorelli, Asia Argento, Andrea Zhang, Andrea Gherpelli, Mario Pirrello
Year: 2022
Min: 86

A vicious serial killer has been killing call girls and prostitutes, including a brutal slaying early in the film. Diana (llenia Pastorelli) is a call girl, who manages to escape said killer. But, in doing so is involved in a car crash with an Asian family of three. From them, the father ends up dead, the mom in critical condition and a coma, and the little boy, Chin (Xinyu Zhang) gets sent to a orphanage. Diana goes to visit him and gives the kid what looks like a Nintendo Switch. He, then, runs away from the orphanage and asks Diana to let him stay with her. She accepts, but the killer has turned his attention to her. He wants to finish what he started and kill her.

Dark Glasses (Occhiali Neri) is Dario Argento (here directing and co-writing along with Franco Ferrini) first movie since his wretched Dracula 3D. Admit ably Argento's film output has been hit or miss post-Opera, with the vast majority being huge misses. Which is a shame because Argento is one of the genre's true masters, and, at the end of day, my favorite director. While, it never reaches the greatness of say Suspiria (1977) or Opera (1987), it is his finest flick since The Stendhal Syndrome (1996). In short, I am happy to proclaim that Dark Glasses is, for the most part, a return to form for the master. 

The film's opening kill is a spectacular way to setup the movie's killer, and is the most Argento feeling scene he has made in years. It's a brutal garroting that is gorily realistic. Frequent Argento collaborator Sergio (Demons 1&2, The Church, Opera) Stivaletti provides the excellent gore effects, which also include throat ripping and stabbings. On top of the bloodletting there is also a bit of topless nudity from our lovely lead star.

Argento manages to add some legitimate suspense to the film, keeping it very involving. His direction, coupled with the excellent editing and driving score, makes the car chase scene exciting and leads to a violent crash. Even the cheesy snake attack in the water comes off as fun, rather than being groan inducing like say the giant praying mantis in the aforementioned Dracula 3D. In fact, this scene actually feels like the type of wild fun one wants in an Italian horror flick. The movie leads into a tense and great climax that had me cheering. 

Argento also keeps the flick looking good throughout. Now, I must say that there isn't as much stylistic flourishes as his older work. But, we still get some really beautiful wide shots and bird's eye views. The flashbacks and dream sequences use the color red, actually recalling his work on Suspiria. One aspect that has long been missing from Argento's recent work is a great score. Thankfully, this movie corrects that. The soundtrack handled by Arnaud Rebotini and is driving as well as being really catchy.

But, what is most surprising is the amount of heart that this movie has. I really love the relationship between Diana and Chin. Of course, it helps that both of them are great in their roles. Chin is that rare kid in genre movies that is very likable, as little Andrea Zhang does some great work here in his role. Ilenia Pastorelli is especially good in the lead role of Diana. She is obviously sexy and gorgeous but is also a strong, independent character with a good soul. Coupled with Pastorelli's acting talent, it really gives us one of my favorite female lead roles of 2022. Meanwhile, the always welcomed and stunning Asia Argento has a very likable role as Rita, an instructor for the blind.

Some might not appreciate the more syrupy feel, but I think it makes the suspense payoff better. Plus, we get a great doggy heroine in Nerea, Diana's brave and beautiful seeing-eye dog. She ranks right alongside of Sarii from the awesome Predator prequel Prey, making this year a great year for horror hero puppers. Honestly, if I had seen this earlier, she would easily have made my recent list of The 10 Greatest Good Doggies in Horror Movies. And, who doesn't love a great movie dog? I wouldn't wanna meet the person who doesn't anyway.

Dark Glasses is an involving and entertaining return for Argento. Thanks in large part to the acting of Pastorelli and Zhang as Diana and Chin, respectively. Their sweet relationship of surrogate mother and child adds a loving feeling and soul, that helps to make the film more riveting. Rebotini's awesome and driving score is another pleasing factor, especially as an Argento fan. The good looking flick has a couple of good, stylistic moments, as well being very suspenseful and having a climax that me cheer from my seat. This solidly made film actually makes me once again care for a new Argento project. You can experience this joy when the movie premieres in New York City and Los Angeles on October 7, 2022, then starts streaming exclusively on Shudder on the 13th of this same month. 

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Shudder: December 2020 Highlights for US, Including New Specials from "Creepshow" and "The Last Drive-In"!

DECEMBER 2020 U.S. HIGHLIGHTS 

titles also available on Shudder Canada, UK and ANZ as noted

 

NEW SHUDDER SPECIALS

 

JOE BOB SAVES CHRISTMAS — December 11 at 9pm ET

The Christmas spirit takes over The Last Drive-In as Joe Bob and Darcy close out the year with a double feature of holiday horrors. Premieres live on the ShudderTV feed Friday, December 11, and will be made available on demand on Sunday, December 13. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

A CREEPSHOW HOLIDAY SPECIAL — December 18

In the holiday themed, hour-long episode, “Shapeshifters Anonymous,” fearing he is a murderer, an anxious man searches for answers for his "unique condition" from an unusual support group. Starring Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect) and Adam Pally (The Mindy Project), the special is written and directed by Creepshow showrunner Greg Nicotero, based on a short story by J.A. Konrath (Last Call). (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ) 

NEW SHUDDER ORIGINAL/EXCLUSIVE MOVIES

 

ANYTHING FOR JACKSON — December 3

After losing their only grandson in a car accident, grief-stricken Audrey and Henry, a doctor, kidnap his pregnant patient with the intentions of performing a “Reverse Exorcism”, putting Jackson inside her unborn child. It doesn’t take long to figure out Jackson isn’t the only ghost the grandparents invited into their home. Now it’s a race against time for the couple, as well as the pregnant woman to figure a way out of the haunting they’ve set upon themselves.

 

Consider this wintery anti-Nativity tale Shudder’s Christmas counterprogramming, from a writer (Keith Cooper) and director (Justin G. Dyck) who together have made a bevy of traditional holiday movies. Believe me, this ain’t Baby in a Manger or Christmas with a Prince.

 

Starring Sheila McCarthy, Julian Richings, Konstantina Mantelos, Josh Cruddas and Yannick Bisson, directed by Justin G. Dyck. A SHUDDER ORIGINAL. (Also available on Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ) 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/ZVnxgZor8F0 

THE PALE DOOR — December 17

The Dalton gang find shelter in a seemingly uninhabited ghost town after a train robbery goes south. Seeking help for their wounded leader, they are surprised to stumble upon a welcoming brothel in the town’s square. But the beautiful women who greet them are actually a coven of witches with very sinister plans for the unsuspecting outlaws - and the battle between good and evil is just beginning. Starring Devin Druid, Zachary Knighton, Bill Sage, Pat Healy, Natasha Bassett, Stan Shaw, Melora Walters, directed by Aaron B. Koontz (Scare Package). A SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE. (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ) 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/2CLqzKWDyxg  

NEW SERIES FOR DECEMBER

 

ELI ROTH’S HISTORY OF HORROR Season 2 — December 10 (all episodes)

Award-winning director, writer and producer Eli Roth brings together the masters of horror for a chilling exploration of how horror has evolved and its impact on society. Season two episodes explore “Houses of Hell,” “Monsters,” “Body Horror,” “Witches,” “Chilling Children,” and “Nine Nightmares.” Season 2 of the companion podcast, History of Horror: Uncut, currently debuting new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other podcast platforms, will also be available on Shudder on December 10. Featuring Stephen King, Quentin Tarantino, Jordan Peele, Ari Aster, Bill Hader, Megan Fox, Greg Nicotero and many more. (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

NEW COLLECTIONS FOR DECEMBER

 

UNHAPPY HOLIDAYS — November 30

Home invasion by a supernatural man in a blood-red suit? Holiday getaways that turn homicidal? These Christmas films prove that yuletide is the perfect season for terror. Featuring Blood Beat, Body, Rare Exports and Sheitan (all newly coming to Shudder on November 30) along with Bob Clark’s proto-slasher Black Christmas, the Shudder Exclusives All the Creatures Were Stirring, Better Watch Out and Christmas Presence, Christmas Evil, A Christmas Horror Story, Deadly Games, Jack Frost, Red Christmas and Silent Night, Deadly Night 2, among others. (Collection also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK; titles vary by region)

HOLLY GIALLI CHRISTMAS — December 2

Slip on your black gloves and deck the halls with bloody murder, Italian style, as Shudder debuts its biggest-ever collection of Giallo cinema, both classic and modern, with films by Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Lamberto Bava, Michele Soavi, Sergio Martino and many, many more. Featuring A Blade in the Dark, Death Laid an Egg, Black Belly of the Tarantula, The Case of the Bloody Iris, The Corruption of Chris Miller, The Editor, The Fifth Cord, New York Ripper, The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave, The Red Queen Kills Seven Times, Short Night of Glass Dolls, Stagefright, Torso, Trauma, Your Vice is a Locked Room and What Have You Done to Solange (all newly coming to Shudder on December 2), along with current Shudder films All the Colors of the Dark, The Cat O’Nine Tales, Deep Red, Don’t Torture a Duckling, Knife + Heart, Phenomena, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh and Tenebrae. (Collection also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ; titles vary by region)

ALL NEW TITLES FOR DECEMBER

 

November 30 – new Unhappy Holidays collection additions 

BLOOD BEAT (Director: Fabrice A Zaphiratos)

A young woman travels to rural Wisconsin to meet her boyfriend's family and a samurai warrior's spirit possesses her body to go on a bloody killing spree. Starring Helen Benton, Terry Brown, Dana Day (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

BODY (Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen)

A darkly funny and twisted journey taking place entirely on one unforgettable Christmas Eve, Body revolves around a trio of college co-eds whose dalliance with breaking-and-entering goes horribly awry. Following a freak accident, the girls find themselves entangled in a Hitchcockian nightmare steeped in tension, suspicion, double-crossing, and murder, where no one is to be trusted and a new twist lies around every corner. From the team behind last year’s Villains. Starring Helen Rogers, Alexandra Turshen, Lauren Molina, Larry Fessenden (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

 

RARE EXPORTS (Director: Jalmari Helander)

In this darkly comic gem, it's Christmas Eve in northern Finland, and an archeological dig has just unearthed Santa Claus. But this Santa isn't one you want coming to town. When local children begin disappearing, Pietari and his father capture the mythological being and attempt to sell Santa to the corporation sponsoring the dig. Starring Onni Tommila, Jorma Tommila, Tommi Korpela (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

SHEITAN (Director: Kim Chapiron)

On Christmas Eve, a group of guys meet two gorgeous girls who invite them to spend the weekend in the country, where they meet Joseph, a creepy unkempt man whose pregnant wife is hidden in the house. That evening, their innocent Christmas dinner turns into disturbing conversations about sex, satanic possession and incest. Joseph's behavior becomes increasingly erratic and the young friends realize all hell is about to break loose. Starring Vincent Cassel, Olivier Barthelemy, Roxane Mesquida (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

December 1

BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA (Director: Francis Ford Coppola)

From Francis Ford Coppola comes the remake of the classic and chilling tale about the devastatingly seductive Transylvanian prince who travels from Eastern Europe to 19th century London in search of human love. Starring Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Tom Waits

 

THE LOST BOYS (Director: Joel Schumacher)

When a single mother and her two sons move to the sleepy seaside California town of Santa Clara, they discover much more than they anticipated in this visually stunning blend of hip humor, horror and rock 'n' roll about the most compelling group of contemporary vampires ever to put fang to vein. Starring Kiefer Sutherland, Corey Feldman, Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Dianne Wiest

 

December 2 – new Holly Gialli Christmas collection additions

A Blade in the Dark (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Black Belly of the Tarantula (Also available on Shudder Canada)

The Case of the Bloody Iris (Also available on Shudder Canada)

The Corruption of Chris Miller (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ)

Death Laid an Egg (Also available on Shudder Canada)

The Editor

The Fifth Cord (Also available on Shudder Canada)

New York Ripper (Also available on Shudder Canada)

The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

The Red Queen Kills Seven Times (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Short Night of Glass Dolls (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Stagefright (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Torso (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Trauma (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ)

Your Vice is a Locked Room (Also available on Shudder Canada)

What Have You Done to Solange (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

 

December 3

ANYTHING FOR JACKSON (see above for details)

 

CASTLE FREAK (Director: Tate Steinsiek)

After inheriting a castle from her long-lost-mother, a recently blinded girl learns that her family harbored dark secrets with deadly implications. Starring Clair Catherine, Jake Horowitz, Chris Galust, Emily Sweet (Also available on Shudder Canada) 

Note: Castle Freak and VFW were acquired prior to May 2020. Shudder is no longer working with the producer, Cinestate, on any further titles.

 

December 7

LET THE CORPSES TAN (Directors: Helene Cattet, Bruno Forzani)

A hypnotically stylish, fever dream thriller from the team behind Amer and The Strange Color of Your Body’s Tears. During a beautiful Mediterranean summer, Rhino and his gang steal a cache of gold. They believe they've found the perfect hideout until surprise guests and two cops compromise their plan. Starring Elina Lowensohn, Stephane Ferrara, Bernie Bonvoisin, Hervé Sogne (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

VFW (Director: Joe Begos)

A typical night for a group of war veterans at the local VFW turns into an all-out battle for survival when a teenage girl runs into the bar with a bag of stolen drugs. AStarring Stephen Lang, William Sadler, Martin Kove, David Patrick Kelly, Sierra McCormick, Tom Williamson, Travis Hammer, Dora Madison, George Wendt, Fred Williamson (Also available on Shudder Canada)

Note: Castle Freak and VFW were acquired prior to May 2020. Shudder is no longer working with the producer, Cinestate, on any further titles.

 

ZOMBI CHILD (Director: Bertrand Bonello)

Acclaimed French filmmaker Bertrand Bonello brings the zombie film back to its Haitian roots. In 1962, a man is brought back from the dead to work on a sugar cane plantation; many years later, a teen tells her friends her family secret, not suspecting that it will push one of them to commit the irreparable. Starring Louise Labeque, Wislanda Louimat, Katiana Milfort (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

December 10

ELI ROTH’S HISTORY OF HORROR Season 2 (see above for details)

 

December 11 at 9pm ET/6pm PT

JOE BOB SAVES CHRISTMAS (see above for details)

 

December 14

A GOOD WOMAN IS HARD TO FIND (Director: Abner Pastoll)

A recently widowed young mother will go to great lengths to protect her children as she seeks the truth behind her husband's murder. Starring Sarah Bolger, Edward Hogg, Andrew Simpson (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

LET US PREY (Director: Brian O'Malley)

A man brought to a police station possesses everyone's darkest secrets. As the cops try to figure out who or what he is, they soon realize deadly retribution awaits anyone who stands in his way. This violent chiller is definitely not for the easily disturbed. Starring Liam Cunningham, Pollyanna McIntosh, Bryan Larkin (Also available on Shudder Canada)

 

December 17

THE PALE DOOR (see above for details)

 

December 18

A CREEPSHOW HOLIDAY SPECIAL (see above for details)

 

December 21

LUZ: THE FLOWER OF EVIL (Director: Juan Diego Escobar Alzate)

El Señor, the leader of a small cult in the mountains, returns one day to his village with a child who is purported to be the new messiah. But when only pain and destruction befall the community, El Señor finds himself under attack from his own followers, including his three daughters, whose burgeoning femininity has already caused them to question their faith. Equally mystical and terrifying, LUZ: THE FLOWER OF EVIL is a fantasy folk horror film where tranquility belies a simmering evil. Starring Yuri Vargas, Conrado  Osorio, Andrea Esquivel, Sharon Guzman, Jim Munoz (Also available on Shudder Canada, Shudder UK and Shudder ANZ)

 

THE SOUL COLLECTOR (Director: Harold Holscher)

In an attempt to start a new life with his young, fragmented family, bankrupt William Ziel returns to the farm he inherited from his estranged father. Lazarus, the farmhand who took care of William's father in his lonely final hours, reappears soon after William, Sarah, and adopted daughter Mary arrive. A supposed chance meeting between Mary and Lazarus develops into a bond between two kindred spirits. But Lazarus carries a dark secret: a demon child with an insatiable appetite for human souls ... and now the Ziels’ newfound domesticity is placed at unfathomable risk. Starring Tshamano Sebe, Inge Beckmann, Keita Luna (Also available on Shudder Canada)

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THE CAT o'NINE TAILS (Review)

Title: The Cat o'Nine Tails
Director: Dario Argento
Writers: Dario Argento, Bryan Edgar Wallace (uncredited)
Cast:  James Franciscus, Karl Malden, Catherine Spaak, Pier Paolo Capponi, Horst Frank
Year: 1971
Min: 112

Franco Arno (Karl Malden), a blind man, is walking with his little niece Lori (Cinzia de Carolis), when he overhears talk about blackmail emanating from a parked car. Later that night, one of the people in the car breaks into a large medical complex named the Terzi Institute. The following day the cops and a reporter Carlo Giordani (James Franciscus) investigate the break-in. As, Franco and Carlo run into each other, Carlo introduces himself.

In the meantime, Dr. Calabresi (Carlo Alighiero) tells his fiance, Bianca (Rada Rassimov) that he knows who the person who broke in is. At a train station, he gets pushed in front of a train getting killed. Franco, who used to be a reporter before his blindness occurred, works with Carlo to uncover the truth. Carlo, meanwhile, begins to get close to the daughter of Terzi (who runs the institute), Anna (Catherine Spaak). She talks with him about her father's work on research that reveals that killers have a chromosome difference that is XYY, the extra Y indicating murderous tendencies. While, this is all going on anybody, who gets close to finding who the murder is or somehow gets in the killer's way, gets killed violently. And, as our heroes get closer they and, in the case of Franco also his niece, find themselves in grave danger.

The Cat o'Nine Tails is Dario Argento's second film, as well, as his second in his so called animal trilogy. Though, aside from being giallos' with animals in their titles they really don't have shit to do with each other. The cat in this title has to do with 9 leads that are connected to the murder yet, they can't unravel it. Whatever the case maybe it's a solid and entertaining mystery/ horror/ thriller.

While, his later movies have a much more over the top and wild style, his touches of style are still clear and present in Cat. There are some nice shot compositions and well done point of views. They help to make the movie that more visually compelling. The score done by the master, himself, Ennio Moriconne, enhances the suspense and feel of the movie.

The film moves at a pace that slowly builds. It's handled in good manner by all involved so that it keeps you intrigued and entertained. The scene in the cemetery is admit ably quite suspenseful. While, the shattering climax is not just the movie's highlight, but one of Argento's early career, as well.

It was a huge hit in Europe, but not here in the US. In this country, it was released in a rather butchered GP (AKA PG) version. This eliminated much of the film's violence and gore. While, not on the level of his later movies in terms of splatter content, they are, in their uncut form, quite vicious. Thank the horror gods, they can be seen uncut in the DVD and Blu-ray releases of it. The shocking train kill is probably the most memorable out of these. Somehow and thankfully, though, Spaak's topless scene did make it in the American cut. Proving that back in the day you get away with a lot with in PG-rated movies!

Speaking of Spaak, she gives the weakest performance in the movie. She is mostly very flat and lacks much of any emotion, instead just giving the camera lots of blank stares. That being said, she did have great hair before Farrah Fawcett ever did. The rest of the cast, though, is quite good. Especially James Franciscus and Karl Malden, who are both very likable in their roles. Malden has a very sweet chemistry with little Cinzia de Carolis, who gives a great performance, especially when you take into account her young age.

This movie is actually Argento's least favorite movie of his. But, personally speaking I think it is better than The Bird with the Crystal Plumage, if only cause the story is more compelling and memorable, even if it is somewhat nonsensical. But, fuck it, it's so entertaining that you shouldn't be giving much of a shit.

The Cat o'Nine Tails is a bit more typical than the later movies in Argento's career, but there is enough style and quality to hold your interest. The mostly good acting helps it, as does the quality Morricone soundtrack. The rousing and violent climax really gives the movie an extra kick in the ass. A solid giallo overall, I definitely recommend to anyone interested in Argento and movies of this sub-genre in general. Also, if you are looking for just a good mystery thriller with elements of horror, violence, and suspense, then look no further. It has been on DVD from Anchor Bay and later/ currently from Blue Underground. Fans, should really try and get the Blue Underground Blu-ray set of the Dario Argento collection, as it also comes with the superlative Deep Red and the bat-shit crazy Inferno.

3 out of 4

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NIGHTMARES (1980) (Review)

Title: Nightmares
Director: John Lamond
Writers: Colin Eggelston, John Lamond
Cast: Jenny Neumann, Gary Sweet, Nina Landis, Max Phipps, John Micheal Howson
Year: 1980
Min: 90

When Cathy was a little girl she saw her mom screwing a man in bed. Later, she finds herself in the backseat of a car. Her mom is driving and making out with a dude. When the guy decides to run his hand up her leg, Cathy tries to stop him. This causes the car to crash. Mom goes flying through the windshield, and a shard of glass cuts her throat. Jump forward to her being an adult. She has changed her name to Helen (Jenny Neumann). Helen is now a stage actress and starring in a new play called Comedy of Blood. As an adult she is stunningly beautiful but also sexually repressed. It doesn't take long for people around her to start dying, all of them getting stabbed by shards of glass.

Nightmares is an interesting, Australian attempt at making a slasher film, at a point when the sub-genre was just beginning to bloom. It should not be confused with the 1983 American horror anthology of the same name. The movie is also known as Stage Fright, which means it also should not be confused with the Michele Soavi giallo of the same name, which came out some years later. Which is interesting and quite the coincidence to note, as the movie feels and looks like an amalgamate of the American stalk and slash flick and the Italian Giallo.

Co-writer director John Lammond has an interesting visual aesthetic for the film. There are some really odd shots, that combine with moments of style to making for an interesting looking movie. A particularly violent stalk and kill in the rain stands as one of the movie's most visually captivating moments. Sadly, the kills lack any real suspense, but are instead punctuated by bloody violence. The shards of glass cut through backs, slice a breast, thighs, etc. Aside, from good bits of bloodletting there is also some fairly graphic sex scenes and ample nudity, throw in for good measure.

Our gloved killer is never really seen, but the movie is unsure if it wants to keep the killer's identity a mystery or not. It seemingly tries to do both, as it tells who the killer is and pretends it is a mystery, at the same time! It's an odd choice, but one has to just go with it and enjoy it. At least, it makes for a different storytelling choice.

The film moves at a good enough pace. It's interesting and entertaining enough, that if you just go with it, you'll find yourself liking it. I, personally, got a real kick out of the ending. In a lesser movie it may have come off as feeling cheap. Here, it made me go, ''Ha! That's pretty cool''

It is also great that the characters aren't a bunch of horny, interchangeable teens but instead are adults. Sure, they have sex on the brain, too, but the age change of the characters is refreshing. The acting is competent from most of the cast. Most fun to watch is the absolutely gorgeous Jenny Neumann. She has this great, wild look throughout the movie, that I got a kick out of seeing her do. There is something genuinely likeable both of her portrayal of the character and the character, itself, even if it is a little over-the-top at times. It also helps that she is a breathtaking beauty. Too bad she quit acting later in the 80s, I would have loved to see her in more films.

Nightmares is good, if flawed fun. What it lacks in suspense or story telling decision making, it makes up for with its positive points. It's a good, albeit at times odd, film that takes inspiration from both American and Italian horror. Adding a good amount of blood and skin and a beautiful and likable lead in Nuemann; this under-seen Australian horror flick deserves a look. It is currently streaming on Shudder and available on DVD from Severin films.

 
2.5 out of 4

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