Retro Reviews

Reviews of older horror films, shorts, or general creepiness.

‘THE SHINING’ (1980) and a Father-Son Relationship Gone Awry

Near the intro of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (read our retro review here), we already get the sense that Danny (Danny Lloyd) and Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) have a strained father/son relationship. In addition, the two, along with mother and wife Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall), eventually meet a series of …

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Tim Burton’s ‘BEETLEJUICE’ (1988) Still Going Strong After 35 Years

“It’s…showtime!” Thirty-five years ago, after making a name for himself with the 1985 hit Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Tim Burton’s success in the directorial world only grew stronger with 1988’s Beetlejuice. The film follows deceased couple Adam (Alec Baldwin, The Departed 2006) and Barbara (Geena Davis, The Fly 1986) as they navigate …

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‘MIRROR MIRROR’ (1990) and the Strange Disappearance of Rainbow Harvest

I discovered Mirror Mirror quite by accident a number of years ago, and I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about this 1990 horror gem. With a “who’s who” of actors and a cool plot, this nostalgic film deserves a second look.  Mirror Mirror stars the up-and-coming Rainbow Harvest (Old Enough …

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A Night To Die For: ‘PROM NIGHT’ (Nelson McCormick) Turns 15 – Retro Review

Prom Night (2008)

Back in the early 2000s, my friends and I would regularly grace the local movie theater to see the latest horror movies, from Paranormal Activity and The Unborn to The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Therefore, when previews began dropping for Nelson McCormick’s Prom Night, it was a given that I’d go. Plus, I had to see …

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“Welcome To Death Row. The Doctor Will See You Now:” ‘BEYOND RE-ANIMATOR (2003) – Review

Can you believe it’s been two decades since the release of BEYOND RE-ANIMATOR (2003)? Synopsis After 13 years in prison, the mad scientist from Re-Animator (1985) gets a new chance to experiment with the arrival of a young prison doctor, who secretly hopes to learn to reanimate dead people. Good …

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A Comedic Gem: ‘SPECIES II'(1998) Turns 25 – Retro Review

Species 2 (1998)

If you grew up an adolescent in the 90’s then you might remember stashing the Species II (1998) VHS from your parents’ sight, along with your other awesome paraphernalia. And it wasn’t for the violence. Now I adore sci-fi horror, but let’s just say I wasn’t watching Species II for …

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