MOVIES & MANIA

Shako – comic strip

“This is no cute and cuddly polar bear. He’s a blizzard of white hot horror, the terror of the frozen wastes, he is SHAKO – and he is death!” Shako …

Richard Tennant Cooper – British artist

Richard Tennant Cooper (1885-1957) was an obscure British artist whose metaphorical phantasmic paintings show the negative effects of both disease and medical cures on the human body. There is not much information available …

MUCK (2014) Reviews and overview

‘The lucky ones are already dead’ Muck is a 2014 American horror film written and directed by Steve Wolsh (Fog City; Kill Her Goats). The film stars Lachlan Buchanan, Puja Mohindra, Bryce …

The Daughters of Satan – A novel by Sandra Shulman

The Daughters of Satan is a horror novel by Sandra Shulman. The novel was first published in 1968 by Paperback Library Inc under the title The Daughters of Astoroth but is …

PARANORMAL XPERIENCE (2011) Reviews and overview

Paranormal Xperience – aka Paranormal Xperience 3D and PX3D – is a 2011 Spanish horror film. As the title suggests, it was shot in 3D and directed by Sergi Vizcaino. The film …

Sphere horror pulp fiction

Sphere horror paperbacks were published in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s. They were hugely popular and many – such as Lust for a Vampire, Blind Terror, The Ghoul, …

TRAUMA Reviews of Dario Argento Giallo

‘A new vision of terror’ Trauma is a 1993 Italian Giallo horror film directed by Dario Argento, starring Asia Argento, Piper Laurie, Christopher Rydell and Brad Dourif. Shot in and …

EVIL DEAD TRAP (1988) Reviews of Japanese horror classic

Evil Dead Trap is a 1988 Japanese horror film directed by Toshiharu Ikeda and produced by Japan Home Video. Plot: TV show host Nami asks her viewers to send their …

Legend Horror Classics – magazine

Legend Horror Classics was a British magazine published by Legend Publishing and which ran for thirteen issues between 1974 and 1975. The magazine was very much a second fiddle imitation of …

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (2009) Reviews and overview

‘You think you know the story’ The Cabin in the Woods is a 2009 American horror film co-directed and co-written by Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon. The movie stars Kristen …

SLEEPAWAY CAMP (1983) Reviews and overview

Sleepaway Camp is a 1983 American slasher horror film written and directed by Robert Hiltzik. The film came at a time when slasher films were in their heyday and is largely known …

DRACULA 2012 (2012) Overview

Dracula 2012 is an Indian Malayalam 3-D horror film directed by Vinayan, starring Sudheer Sukumaran, Prabhu, Monal Gajjar, Nassar, Shraddha Das and Thilakan. Portions of the film were shot in Bran Castle in Romania. It was released on 8 February 2013. The film was also …

BELL FROM HELL (1973) Reviews and overview

Bell from Hell aka A Bell from Hell and The Bell of Hell – is a 1973 Spanish horror film directed by Claudio Guerin Hill. The movie stars Renaud Verley, Viveca Lindfors (The Exorcist …

WOLF CREEK 2 (2013) Reviews and overview

Wolf Creek 2 is a 2013 Australian horror film co-written and directed by Greg Mclean (Wolf Creek, Rogue). It was released in Australia on February 20, 2014. Main cast: John Jarratt, Ryan Corr, Shannon …

THE PURGE: ANARCHY (2014) Reviews and overview

The Purge: Anarchy – formerly The Next Chapter of The Purge and The Zone – is a 2014 American horror-thriller film directed and written by James DeMonaco. It is the …

GEMINI (2014) Reviews and overview

Gemini is a 2014 Filipino horror film from Blackswan Pictures co-produced and directed by Ato Bautista from a screenplay by Shugo Praico. It stars twins Sheena McBride, Brigitte McBride, plus …

ATROCIOUS (2010) Reviews and overview

Atrocious is a 2010 Spanish found footage horror film, written and directed by Fernando Barreda Luna and starring Rafael Amaya, Cristian Valencia and Clara Moraleda. Plot: In April 2010, the …

HONEYSPIDER Reviews and overview

‘ …let the blood of the dead inside’ Honeyspider is a 2014 American horror film written and produced by Kenny Caperton (owner of The Myers House NC) and directed by …

THE QUIET ONES (2014) Reviews and overview

The Quiet Ones is a 2014 British horror film produced by (in-name-only) Hammer Films and directed by John Pogue (Eraser: Reborn; Deep Blue Sea 3; Quarantine 2: Terminal) from a screenplay …

DRACULA: THE DARK PRINCE (2013) Reviews and overview

Dracula: The Dark Prince is a 2013 American horror film directed by Pearry Reginald Teo (The Curse of Sleeping Beauty; Necromenta; The Evil Inside) from a screenplay co-written with Steven Paul and Nicole Jones-Dion. In his …

“Ban the Sadist Videos!” The Furore and Moral Panic About So-Called Video Nasties – article

The film world in Britain during the early 80s was grim. Most of the grand cinema palaces of yesteryear were, if not already transformed into bingo halls, falling apart, offering …

Mire Beasts – Doctor Who monsters

The Mire Beasts, tentacled octopoid monstrosities tucked away in Episode One (“The Executioners”) and Episode Two (“The Death of Time”) of the 1965 Doctor Who story The Chase, are among …

Attack of the Rats! – article

Some animals are guaranteed to inspire feelings of disgust and fear in cinema audiences, and none more so than the humble rat. While a few people keep rats as pets, …

The Axons – Doctor Who monsters

The Axons appeared in The Claws of Axos, a Doctor Who story made in 1971 starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor. They featured only once in the classic series and have so far not …

PUMPKINHEAD: BLOOD FEUD (2007) Reviews and overview

Pumpkinhead: Blood Feud – aka Pumpkinhead 4: Blood Feud – is a 2007 made-for-sequel in the Pumpkinhead franchise. The film was written and directed by Mike Hurst. It directly follows 2006’s Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes. The film stars Amy …

A HAUNTED HOUSE 2 (2014) Overview

A Haunted House 2 is a 2014 comedy horror sequel to A Haunted House directed by Michael Tiddes from a screenplay by co-producers Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie) and Rick Alvarez. The comedy …

PIRANHA SHARKS aka JURASSIC PIRANHA (2014) Reviews and overview

‘Terror has a new set of teeth’ Piranha Sharks is a 2014 American comedy horror film written and directed by Leigh Scott. It was produced by Mark Burman for Red …

The Brains of Morphoton – Doctor Who monsters

in lurid production-still colour… and glorious black-and-white… The creatures commonly referred to as ‘the Brains of Morphoton’ appeared in “The Velvet Web”, episode two of the 1964 Doctor Who story …

SPECIES III (2004) Reviews and overview

‘Beauty is only skin deep’ Species III is a 2004 science fiction horror film directed by Brad Turner. Also known as Species 3 The film’s American broadcast premiere was on …

IMAGES (1972) Reviews and overview

Images is a 1972 horror film written and directed by Robert Altman, starring Susannah York, René Auberjonois, Marcel Bozzuffi, Hugh Millais, Cathryn Harrison and John Morley. Cathryn (York), a writer of children’s stories, is quietly losing her mind. …

SCINTILLA (2014) Overview

‘Half a mile underground they will find the unthinkable’ Scintilla is a 2014 British science fiction horror film directed by Billy O’Brien (Isolation, Ferocious Planet) from a screenplay co-written with …

SCOOBY-DOO! CURSE OF THE LAKE MONSTER (2010) Overview

Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster is a 2010 American live action/CGI television film directed by Brian Levant for Cartoon Network with a screenplay by Daniel Altiere and Steven Altiere based on the Saturday morning cartoon series Scooby-Doo by Hanna-Barbera. It is …

PATRICK: EVIL AWAKENS (2013) Reviews and overview

Patrick: Evil Awakens is a 2013 Australian sci-fi horror film directed by Mark Hartley (Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!) from a screenplay by Justin King. It was produced …

QATIL CHUDAIL “Killer Witch” Indian Bollywood horror

Qatil Chudail is a 2001 Indian Bollywood horror film directed by Kanti Shah (Darwaza, 2002) for Pali Films. The title translates as “Killer Witch”. The movie stars Sapna, Amit Pachori, Vinod Tripathi, Anil Nagrath, …

NURSE 3D (2012) Overview

‘What your wife doesn’t know won’t hurt her… but may kill you!’ Nurse 3D is a 2012 horror thriller film directed by Doug Aarniokoski from a screenplay by David Loughery. The movie project was inspired by the …

BURIED ALIVE (1990) Reviews and Blu-ray and DVD release news

Buried Alive, the 1990 made-for-TV horror-thriller, will be released on Blu-ray and DVD newly remastered in 2K by Kino Lorber on January 12th 2021. The package includes a slipcover with …

NIGHT, AFTER NIGHT, AFTER NIGHT. (1969) Reviews and overview

‘The ripper is waiting…’ Night, After Night, After Night. is a 1969 British horror thriller film directed by Lindsay Shonteff (Devil Doll; Curse of the Voodoo aka Curse of Simba) [as Lewis J. …

NECROMANIA (1971) Reviews and overview

Necromania is a 1971 American movie with a horror theme written and directed by Edward D. Wood, Jr (Plan 9 from Outer Space, Night of the Ghouls, Orgy of the Dead). The …

THE FROZEN GHOST (1945) Reviews and overview

The Frozen Ghost is a 1945 mystery film starring Lon Chaney Jr and Evelyn Ankers. Directed by Harold Young, it is the fourth film in the Inner Sanctum series that …

BURIED ALIVE Robert Vaughn, Donald Pleasence, John Carradine – reviews

‘The dead return!’ Buried Alive – aka Edgar Allan Poe’s Buried Alive – is a 1989 American-South African horror film, directed by Gérard Kikoïne (Edge of Sanity) from a screenplay by Jake Chesi …

THE DRUMS OF JEOPARDY (1931) Review and free to watch online

The Drums of Jeopardy is a 1931 American horror thriller that is very much in the then-popular vein of the Master Criminal movie, with a sinister figure committing murders while …

KISS OF THE TARANTULA Reviews and free online

Kiss of the Tarantula is a 1975 American horror film directed by Chris Munger from a screenplay written by Daniel Cady (Dream No Evil, Garden of the Dead, Dolly Dearest) and Warren …

Richard Lewis – author

Richard Lewis was a novelist who emerged during the British horror fiction boom of the late 1970s, then vanished once that boom turned to bust. Over a few short years, …

Chewits ‘Monster Muncher’

Chewits is the brand name of a British chewy, cuboid-shaped, soft taffy sweet manufactured by Cloetta since 1965. Chewits have been available in a variety of increasingly exotic flavours since their inception. Chewits were first advertised on …

OCULUS (2013) Reviews and overview of Mike Flanagan horror

‘You see what it wants you to see.’ Oculus is a 2013 American supernatural horror film from Jason Blum, the producer of Paranormal Activity and Insidious. It was directed by Mike Flanagan (Gerald’s Game; Before …

FRANKENSTEIN’S CAT (1942) Animated short

Frankenstein’s Cat is a 1942 American animated cartoon that was part of the Mighty Mouse series. It is a Terrytoons production, directed by Mannie Davis. The six minute long story …

Rodan – movie monster

‘Never a horror like it!’ Rodan (ラドン Radon) is a fictional Japanese mutated pterosaur introduced in Rodan, a 1956 release from Toho Studios, the company that produced the Godzilla series. Like Godzilla and Anguirus, he is designed after a type of prehistoric reptile (the Japanese name “Radon” …

Riz Ortolani – film composer

Riziero “Riz” Ortolani was an Italian film composer. Born on 25 March 1926, he died in Rome, on 23 January 2014. In the early 1950s, Ortolani began his musical career as a founder …

BENEATH (2013) Reviews and overview

‘They’re only friends on the surface.’ Beneath is a 2013 American horror film edited and directed by Larry Fessenden from a screenplay written by Tony Daniels and Brian Smith. The movie stars …

DEMONS (1985) Reviews of Italian surreal horror classic

Demons – original title: Dèmoni – is a 1985 Italian supernatural horror film directed by Lamberto Bava and produced by Dario Argento, starring Urbano Barberini and Natasha Hovey. The screenplay was written by Bava, Argento, Franco Ferrini and Dardano Sacchetti, from a story by …