Retro Reviews

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

20 Years Of ‘CABIN FEVER’ (2003): Still A Fever Dream Of Fun

Fellow cabin dwellers, gather around the campfire because it’s time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the cinematic masterpiece that is Cabin Fever. Eli Roth’s directorial debut, Cabin Fever, set the stage for his later work in the genre, and it’s no surprise that he’s become a prominent figure in …

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‘Elvira: Mistress of the Dark’ (1988) – 35 Years of (Un)pleasant Dreams

I had the pleasure of meeting Elvira, aka Cassandra Peterson in 2010. I waited in line at Canada’s Fan Expo where she was a guest, signing autographs and posing for photos with fans. I had something special with me: the sleeve of an old VHS tape I had possessed through …

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‘COLD CREEK MANOR’ (2003) Turns 20 – Retro Review

Cold Creek Manor

Blood, guts and gore have never really bothered me in horror films. No, it’s the realistic scenarios, the ones involving creepy neighbors and townsfolk, and feeling a constant sense of discomfort in one’s own home, that usually get me. This is the tone of 2003’s Cold Creek Manor, directed by …

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Magic, Mayhem, and Mirth: Analyzing ‘WARLOCK: THE ARMAGEDDON’ (1993)

Warlock: The Armageddon

Warlock: The Armageddon is a 1993 American supernatural horror film directed by Anthony Hickox and is the sequel to the 1989 film Warlock. The film was produced by Trimark Pictures and features the late, great Julian Sands reprising his role as The Warlock, and he does it well enough. Though …

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Love Rings Eternal: Celebrating 100 Years of ‘THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME’ (1923)

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round and loosen those corsets because it’s time to dive into a true cinematic gem that’s turning 100 this month. Yes, you heard it right – a century of humps, bells, and dramatic rescues! We’re talking about none other than “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” the …

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Celebrating 35 Years Of David Cronenberg’s ‘Dead Ringers’ With Seven Fascinating Facts Surrounding The Film

Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SGA-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, Dead Ringers being covered here wouldn’t exist. David Cronenberg is most well-known for his uncompromising and often gory body horror flicks such as Shivers, Rabid, and the uncomfortably …

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‘X-Files’ Turns 30 This Month And Twice, Was My Salvation

I’ve been getting away from more standard retro-reviews lately. And this The X-Files retro will be no different. Maybe something along the lines of a “love letter” to a series that was a source of comfort for me. Tales of the Unexplained and Bizarre, But on the ‘Small Screen’ I grew …

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When Your Vacation Home Is A Blasted Out Hovel – Vinegar Syndrome’s ‘VACATION OF TERROR’ I and II – Blu-ray Review

Vacation of Terror

I know almost zilch about 1980’s Mexican horror cinema. I mean, I have a weird affinity for the “Coffin Joe” films, but those are Brazilian, and Paul Naschy did a plethora of Spanish language films, but other than the work in the last two decades from Guillermo Del Toro and …

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Looking Back On Twenty Plus Years Of ‘BUBBA HO-TEP’ (2002) – Retro Review

Bubba Ho-Tep

Bubba Ho-Tep (2002) is old enough to buy a beer! Let’s revisit this excellent horror comedy for the 21st anniversary of the film. But first? The trailer! Bubba Ho-Tep Synopsis Elvis Presley (Bruce Campbell) and a black JFK going by Jack (Ossie Davis) are living in a nursing home where nothing …

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