Retro Reviews

Was it really 36 years ago?!? Holy shit, do I feel old! Yes, 36 years ago, Charles Band’s Empire Pictures unleashed a second entry into the little demon franchise. With his father Albert (Dracula’s Dog) directing, and the triumvirate of Charlie Dolan, Luca Bercovici (director of Ghoulies) and Dennis Paoli …

It is hard to believe that it has been 30 years since The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) was released. This cult classic has lured audiences over the years with its dark imagery and enchanting melodies. Let’s indulge in some nostalgia for this Halloween and Christmas favorite. The Nightmare Before Christmas was …

It’s as if TOETAG Inc honcho Fred Vogel (The Redsin Tower) said, “Boundaries?? We don’t need no stinkin’ boundaries!!” after the grass roots success of 2001’s August Underground and decided to ratchet up the sickness to the nth degree for August Underground’s Mordum. Synopsis: “Two friends bring along a newcomer …

Italian maestro Dario Argento, after experimenting with supernatural horror, returned to the genre he helped define with 1982’s Tenebrae. An admitted Itali-horror fanatic, I already owned this masterwork in two separate Blu-ray releases, Arrow UK and Synapse. However, with Synapse’s new 4K treatment, I was more than happy to revisit …

Released in 1983 and celebrating its 40th birthday this year, Christine has the distinction of being directed by legendary Halloween director John Carpenter. However, in interviews, Carpenter stated that he only took the job due to production delays on other projects he was working on and didn’t consider it a …

Night of the Demons (1988) is a nightmare-invoking film spawned in the 80s. This horror classic is full of shocking scenes that have frightened audiences for decades. Let’s revisit the trauma on the movie’s 35th Anniversary! Night of the Demons Synopsis A group of teens throw a party at an …

Picture yourself transported to the small, seemingly tranquil town of Haddonfield, Illinois. This unassuming Midwestern enclave would become the canvas for one of the most iconic horror films of all time: John Carpenter’s Halloween. It’s a year in which flared trousers and vibrant polyester dominated the fashion scene, but the …

Ah nostalgia! Does it ever want to make you revisit all of the “evil little creature” films (Critters, Ghastlies, etc.) that followed in the wake of Joe Dante’s game-changer Gremlins? Um…no. Not all of them anyway, especially the direct-to-VHS titles that popped up incessantly in video stores. However, director Luca …

Off and on, popular horror media has been preoccupied with various tech booms. Techno-horror has been the subject of some of horror’s most popular works. The Ring and Sinister in particular have captured popular imagination for their intersection of recording mediums and the supernatural.Before them, however, in the UK, there …

Have you ever watched an older film for the first time, and thought to yourself, “Well this seems familiar?” I, personally, had a few of those while watching the legendary BBC production Ghost Watch, now available in the US on Blu-ray from MVD Visual. Ghost Watch Synopsis “The BBC gives …