Scanners (1981) #392

"Scanners" is a clever, original horror film that was written and directed by a young David Cronenberg. Unlike some of his other films from the 1970's and early 1980's, While "Scanners" is pretty tame compared to Cronenberg's other films, it still has it's wild moments which include Micheal Ironside doing what he does best, acting completely terrifying and insane. The film is about a handful or telepaths and a research/government agency that tries to control and use them. The agency refers to them as scanners because they can "scan"  and control other people and even computer systems. Like other movies in the early 1980's that deal with telepathic powers, the people with these gifts don't always know how to control their powers. In the case of "Scanners", the telepaths are social outcasts, often times unable to block out the voices of the people around them. Those few who have mastered their powers are formidable and deadly.

Cameron Vale is the latest telepath to be rounded up by ConSec, a mysterious agency that trains telepaths to work for them. After their last remaining telepathic agent is killed by a rogue scanner during a conference, Mr. Vale is trained to act as an undercover agent. Vale is able to infiltrate a group of former ConSec telepaths and track down the rogue telepath, the murderous Daryl Revok.

Favorite scene - The telepathic showdown between Vale and Revok. This scene would one day inspire an epic homage that would appear on "South Park".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Tj_l4PcPs

Galaxy of Terror (1981)

Another film from director/producer Roger Corman is "Galaxy of Terror", a psychological slasher film set on a distant planet, where the rescue crew end of being the victims that are killed one by one. As cheesy and low budget movies can be, Roger Corman had a knack of working with young stars in the film industry and giving them the oppurtunity that they needed. For example, "Galaxy of Terror" marked the second time that James Cameron worked on a Roger Corman film, impressing everyone with his ingeunity for creating special effects with a minimal budget while working as the Production Designer and Second Unit Director. Another example is a starring role for Robert Englund, who would soon appear in the mini-series "V" before becoming world renown as Freddy Krueger in "A Nightmare On Elm Street".

"Galaxy of Terror" is both a success and a failure as a horror film. The story is about a rescue team sent out to a distant planet to rescue another ship that had sent out a distress signal. Once on the planet, the members of the rescue crew are slowly tested and killed by their deepest fears. In this respect, the film could be compared to the higher budget, glossy production of "Event Horizon". But where "Event Horizon" was slick and carefully designed, "Galaxy of Terror" is full of cardboard sets, horrible sound effects, and an even worse and annoying soundtrack. If someone took the time to restore and replace the sound effects and the occastrastion, "Galaxy of Terror" would be a solid film in it's own right rather than a cult movie favorite most recognized for a scene involving a giant maggot raping a woman.

Favorite moment - When the character played by Sid Haig finally speaks and says "I live by the crystal and I die by the crystal."

Wolfen (1981)

“Wolfen” was one of the earliest horror movies that I saw as child, the first being “Alien”. I remember some intense moments that stayed with me until I was able to rent it again as a teen. It’s a slower police thriller that takes its time and explores Native American spiritualism and inner city “gods” which is something that isn’t in may horror movies. It has great character development and some thrilling set ups to the death scenes.

Captain Dewey Wilson is assigned to solve a high profile murder case that involves a land developer who was working on a massive redevelopment of a rundown section of New York City. The people who become involved with the case fall victim to the mysterious killer as well. While on the trail of the killer, Wilson begins to suspect that things are larger than he or anyone suspects and when he is enlightened by several wise Native Americans, Wilson is told about the Wolfen, the Wolf Spirit. Wilson is then tested when he comes face to face with the Wolfen and has to prove who’s side he is on.

Evil Dead (1981)

It’s the one and only….errr, I mean the original “Evil Dead”! Before there was “Evil Dead 2” there was a creepy, low budget movie filmed by a group of friends from the Detroit area including that included Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, and Sam Raimi, who had just turned 20 when filming began. This was a group of young kids who had no real idea what they were doing out in the wood of Morristown, Tennessee. When it was released in theaters, it quickly became a favorite in the UK but was branded as too violent and banned in some countries. Although it’s a cult and mainstream favorite now, it might have disappeared and gathered dust on the rental shelf if Stephen King hadn’t gave it his approval by calling it one of his favorite movies at the time of its release.

“Evil Dead” is about five college aged friends driving out to a cabin in the woods for a nice spring break getaway. Along for the trip are Scotty and Shelly, Ash and Linda, and Ash’s sister Cheryl. At the cabin they find a tape recorder and an ancient book that was left behind by the last people there. They listen to the recording and by doing so, they release and summon a host of demons. One of the girls, Cheryl, goes out into the woods and it attacked by a tree and that happens to be possessed by the demons. She manages to escape and tries to tell the others what happened. No one believes her but her brother Ash decided to drive her back into town; on the way to town they find that they are trapped in the woods because the a bridge that they crossed earlier is now destroyed. Back at the cabin, the demons begin to possess the group of friends one by one. First Cheryl becomes possessed and is locked in the cellar. Next Shelly becomes possessed and is killed by Scotty after she tries to attack him. Linda is next to fall victim to the demon’s power. Soon Scotty is possessed as well, leaving Ash in a room full of demons. He is forced to defend himself when he is attacked, killing his friends in order to stay alive.

Favorite moment – So many to choose from! Some of the most memorable moments include Linda sitting on the floor while she is possessed, just giggling even when Ash begins to punch her repeatedly in the face. Another is the way that Shelly’s body is quivering after Scotty chops her up with an axe. Another is when Ash beheads Linda with a shovel. 

The Howling (1981)

“The Howling” is another strong werewolf movie from the early 1980’s but where “An American Werewolf in London” is about one person who changes into a vicious beast, this movie is about an entire colony of them! The make-up and special effects for the werewolves is ok but I don’t particularly care for what the last werewolf in the movie looks like; reminds me too much of a poodle. I liked the plot, the pacing, and overall quality of the movie in general. Several sequels follow ranging from horrible (mostly) to decent but none of them reach the level of quality that the original set. Kudos goes out to director Joe Dante who co-wrote the script and went on to work on many other great films in horror and other genres.

Karen is a reporter who is working on a story about a serial killer. During a sting operation with the police, she meets the killer, Eddie Quist, in a porno theater. When things look like they are getting are out control, the police come in a shoot Eddie. The event is too traumatic for Karen and develops a case of amnesia. Her therapist sends her and her husband to a secluded countryside resort to recovery. There are other patients at the resort and one of them tries to seduce Karen’s husband Bill. When he turns down the advances, he is attacked by a werewolf as he is walking back to their cabin. Soon Karen’s friend Terri is attacked when she comes to visit, only after they discover that Eddie is still alive and hiding out at the resort. Terri’s boyfriend comes to Karen’s rescue, bringing along silver bullets in order to kill Eddie and any other werewolves they may encounter. As they try to escape, they realize that everyone at the resort is a werewolf, including Bill. After getting away and making it back to the city, Karen goes on TV during a live showing to tell the world that werewolves are real. To prove her point, she turns into one and Chris promptly kills her, as she requested. But the viewers are left to wonder if it was a hoax or not…

Favorite moment – The beginning is thoroughly creepy and gross.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

American Werewolf in London is simply one of the most amazing movies of its kind. It has the best and possibly most realistic, pre-CGI effects style transformation scene and won an academy award for it that year. The movie blends comedy and horror with ease without being campy. It's original while honoring previous classics like "The Wolf Man".  I personally think it’s interesting that three wolf theme movies came out that year, the other two being “Wolfen” and “The Howling”.

David and Jack are two young Americans backpacking across Europe. The movie begins with them traveling through the distant countryside of England. They come across a small town just as night falls and decide to try to get something to eat at an inn aptly named “The Slaughtered Lamb”. As they enter, they are met with objecting stares from the locals. They become more unsettled when they see a large pentagram on the wall. When Jack asks about the pentagram, the locals become hostile so Jack and David decide to leave. Before they go, they are told to stay on the road…which of course they don’t. Before long they have lost their way and the road and begin to hear a creature pacing around them in the darkness. Suddenly Jack is attacked and brutally killed and before David can get away, he too is mauled. Before the beast can finish him off, the locals from the pub arrive and shoot the beast. And David passes out…

When David comes to three weeks later, he finds himself in a hospital. He is interviewed by police and a representative from the American Embassy, but he doesn’t remember much and is shocked to find out that Jack is dead. The doctor takes an interest in David’s story while the nurse takes an interest in David. As David heals, he begins to have weird dreams about Nazis and hallucinations about a decomposing Jack. Except Jack is not a hallucination, he’s a spirit caught on earth begging David to kill himself before the full moon comes. David dismisses Jack’s existence and moves in with the nurse, Alex. Everything is going well until she leaves him alone one night when the full moon is near and David goes through his famous painful and horrific change into the werewolf, where he then breaks out of Alex’s apartment and kills a couple going to a party, a few homeless bums and a man walking from the subway. When David wakes up in the morning, he is naked in a zoo. He is later visited by Jack and the ghosts of those he murdered. David’s sanity is tested as Alex and the doctor quickly try to find the truth from the locals at “The Slaughtered Lamb” before it’s all too late.

Favorite moment – the transformation scene!

Second favorite moment – The conversation in the porn theater between David, Jack, and the other ghosts. Some are nice towards him while others want him to kill himself and to be quick with it.