Retro Reviews

Growing up, Friday’s always meant video store rentals with my family. Each week, my brothers and I had the option of renting a video game or movie. In some cases, we were lucky enough to get a movie AND a video game. Those were good times back then in the …

Deadly Friend is one of those movies that could easily fly under the radar, given the surplus of famous films that we flocked to in the mid-80s. But it has something of a Made for-TV charm to it that puts it among Wes Craven’s most underrated efforts. A mix of science …

Not to be confused with Danny Boyle’s directorial debut of the same name, this Shallow Grave is one of the latest remasters/re-releases from Vinegar Syndrome. There are similar themes, like murders and poorly hidden bodies, but this film has enough to make it stand apart, and the new release has …

I grew up in the 1970’s and 80’s. It was the era of “The Big Three” television networks: CBS, NBC, and ABC. This is before FOX. Before satellite and cable were widely available. A time when VCRs were new. Odds are you had one television in your house. This all …

“Rock’s chosen warriors will rule the apocalypse!” October 24, 2021, marks the the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of veteran character actor Charles Martin Smith’s directorial debut, 1986’s heavy metal horror flick, Trick or Treat. (another PopHorror writer’s thoughts on the film). The film flashes its metal bona fides often, …

When it comes down to the most iconic horror films in history, there are not very many that can argue that this film would be on that list. Directed and written by Sam Raimi, The Evil Dead  (another epic review) set many horror standards for years to come. Anyone who loves …

When horror fans talk about little movie monsters from the ’80s, they most likely mention Gremlins, Critters, Ghoulies, or maybe even Hobgoblins. However, before any of those delightful mini-terrors ever graced the silver screen, we had The Boogens, subterranean, fanged, turtle-like creatures who dwell in the underground tunnels of a …

What do you think of when you hear the name “Freddy”? Or how about the words “Elm Street”? Even if not being spoken or written in relation to the iconic Nightmare on Elm Street franchise that took over horror in the ’80s and ’90s, we can’t help but invoke the …

Even if Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer isn’t the absolute scariest movie ever, it’s certainly one of the bleakest. Because of that, director John McNaughton didn’t have the easiest time getting it released. Its original X-rating was partly due to its violence, of course, but the film very often …

Ah, Team Building Exercises. During my five year tenure at a corporation, I can honestly say that nothing, NOTHING, was more torturous that than those horrific hours spent “bonding” awkwardly with my co-workers. So when the talented director of Creep (the 2004 version with Franka Potente), Christopher Smith, made Severance, …