Retro Reviews

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

Twenty Years Of ‘SAW’ (2004) – A Game Changer

Saw (2004) - James Wan and Cary Elwes

I remember sitting in the theater, awestruck, the first time I saw the trailer. I want to say it was during the previews before Freddy vs. Jason. I can’t remember the exact moment, because let’s face it, it was a while ago. What I DO remember was being completely blown …

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Surviving with a Smile: How ‘ZOMBIELAND’ (2009) Balances Horror and Humor

Zombieland is a 2009 horror-comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer, which combines elements of zombie horror with a satirical approach to survival in a post-apocalyptic world. The film follows four unlikely companions — Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) — as they …

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Alexandre Aja’s ‘HORNS’ Is Still My Favorite Book-Turned-Movie 10 Years Later – Retro Review

Daniel Radcliffe in Horns

I can’t believe it’s already been 10 years since Horns was released. I remember hearing about it and seeing trailers, and I was incredibly worried that the film would ruin the book for me, in the way that film adaptations are wont to do. Having already read, and loved, the …

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Celebrating 35 Years: Five Reasons To Love Wes Craven’s ‘SHOCKER’ (1989)

SHocker

Wes Craven is one of the few filmmakers on the planet not named John Carpenter deserving of the title “horror master.” The creator of both the Scream and A Nightmare On Elm Street.franchises, the late Craven’s filmography is home to a littany of horror gems, including The Hills Have Eyes, …

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It Never Forgives, It Never Forgets: ‘THE GRUDGE’ (2004) Revisited – Retro Review

The Grudge

I remember seeing the trailer and TV spots for The Grudge when it was released and told my girlfriend (who is now my wife) that it just looked OK. I told her that it was probably just another crappy PG-13 rated remake of a superior Japanese film and that I …

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Through ‘THE TWILIGHT ZONE’ (1959): A Journey into Sci-Fi, Horror, and Social Critique

The Twilight Zone is a groundbreaking American sci-fi/horror anthology television series created by Rod Serling that ran from 1959 to 1964. It is widely, and correctly, regarded as one of the most influential TV shows of all time, blending science fiction, fantasy, and horror with social commentary. In fact, it’s …

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