Retro Reviews

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

‘KING KONG’ (2005) – Twenty Years Later: Bigger and Sadder Than Ever

When King Kong arrived in theaters in 2005, it came with enormous expectations. Peter Jackson had just finished The Lord of the Rings, one of the most successful and celebrated film trilogies ever made. His next project was a remake of a movie many considered untouchable: the 1933 King Kong. …

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David E. Durston’s ‘I DRINK YOUR BLOOD’ (1970) – Retro Review

Horror movies in the 60s and early 70s often took the “Satanic cult” approach, though really, it has been done since the first horror movie premiered. In that era, the Satanic Panic set in, going on well into the 80s. It was a crusade against all things that were deemed …

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‘POULTRYGEIST’ : A Delicious Thanksgiving Dish of B-Movie Greatness

Yes, I know Thanksgiving is traditionally reserved for turkey, Turkie and Thankskilling (see my Thanksgiving review from last year here). But why restrict yourself to only one type of homicidal bird to satisfy your holiday horror of thanks? This Thanksgiving, indulge yourself in another type of deadly bird by revisiting …

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Urban Jungle Warfare: 35 Years of ‘PREDATOR 2’ (1990)

“THIS is history” -Peter Keyes Its 1991. Imagine you’re five years old. You’re looking for something to watch and you are leafing through your father’s VHS tapes. You’re a big fan of the Robocop action figures and the arcade game. Then you see “Robocop 2” on the side of a …

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Sorry Jack…Chucky’s Back: ‘CHILD’S PLAY 2’ (1990) Revisited – Retro Review

I’ll never forget the night that I first saw Child’s Play 2. A friend and I went to see it opening weekend and that night after I dropped him off at his house, I had the misfortune of having my first car accident. I had only had my license for …

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Rob Reiner’s ‘MISERY’ (1990) – Retro Review

We have seen plenty of celebrities who suffered from fixated fans, who are ready to do whatever it takes, from garden variety obsession to ending their lives. Rob Reiner’s Misery showed us what could happen when a cat plays with its prey, holding it captive in a corner to make …

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Stay out of the Sewers: ‘ALLIGATOR’ (1980) Revisited – Retro Review

I remember watching TV one night when I was a kid and they showed the trailer for Alligator since it was going to be premiering on network television a few days later. Since I was obsessed with JAWS – and any movie that featured killer aquatic animals – I nearly …

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Jack Sholder’s ‘A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY’S REVENGE’ (1985) – Retro Review

The A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise is the most recognized name among non-horror fans. Elm Street 2 was one of the first movies I watched as a kid. I was terrified of Freddy Krueger; however, I also had an attraction to the series. My parents let me watch all …

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‘HELLRAISER: INFERNO’ (2000) — The Franchise’s Descent into Psychological Horror

Hellraiser: Inferno is the fifth film in the Hellraiser series, and it represents a dramatic shift from the bloody gothic horror of its predecessors. Released direct-to-video in 2000, the film trades in the franchise’s elaborate mythos for a darker, more introspective story — one that feels closer to Jacob’s Ladder …

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