The Blob (1988) #393

Horror movies are constantly being remade with updated special effects, modern story lines, and/or cultural twists. The 1988 remake of "The Blob" is an attempt to cash in on a classic film with mediocre special effects that wear thin by the end of the film. Besides a few minor tweaks, the movie is almost the same as the original but takes advantage of having an "R" rating by introducing elements of sex, gore, and language. The movie feels VERY 1980's and falls into the trap of trying to be bigger and flashier than the other movies out at the moment. But like the original, the film is campy, fun, and entertaining as long as you're not looking for something too serious or outright scary.

Even scientific-military types are potential victims of the blob.

Phantasm 2 (1988) #369

I'm a firm believer that Don Coscarelli never planned to turn "Phantasm" into a series and that a sequel only came about because the studio that he worked for demanded one and soon! It took nine years for it to come, but eventually the world was given "Phantasm 2". It appeared that the studio had other demands as well, including the recasting of the main character and no funky dream sequences or abstract events. This doesn't mean that "Phantasm 3" is any easier to follow! The sequel is almost just as loopy and bizarre as the first film. And like many sequels that came out in the 80's, everything had to be bigger than before; there are now different kinds of flying orbs, including a gold one with a targeting ray, and let's not forget Reggie's four barreled sawed off shotgun. Even though it has changes and it might not be the sequel that Coscarelli wanted to first give us, I thought it was a fun and enjoyable little movie.

The film picks up six years after the original, with Mike having spent the last few years locked up in an asylum. He fakes his recovery and makes his escape after having repeated dreams about a blond girl who will soon be in danger from the Tall Man. (I honestly thought it was the neighbor girl who's grandmother gave him a fortune telling). Mike meets up with Reggie who soon comes to believe Mike's crazy idea after his house blows up minutes before they arrive. The two load up on weapons and gear and head to the West Coast looking for the Tall Man and his minions. It's in the deserted little town of Perigord, Oregon, that the two find Liz and the Tall Man; along the way they also pick up a hitchhiker named Alchemy who Mike doesn't trust. Soon there are dead bodies, minions, flying orbs, the Tall Man, and fighting. Like most classic 80's horror movies, the villain is defeated and the heroes make their getaway only to be fooled yet again as the Tall Man has the last laugh.

Maniac Cop (1988)

I wanted to like "Maniac Cop" because it co-stars a young Bruce Campbell trying his acting chops outside of the "Evil Dead" films but this movie is too clunky and poorly acted by to many of the other actors to really get into. This was also during the time that the slasher/stalker sub-genre was becoming too diluted and a film really needed to stand out from all of the other cookie cutter imitations, which this ultimately becomes even though it had sequels following the original film. The scares are few and far between and not worth the time watching even thought Tom Atkins and Bruce Campbell really try to carry the movie as well as they could.


A tall, stocky New York cop is going on a killing spree, murdering innocent citizens and not the felons or vigilantes that would normally be expected. Jack (Bruce Campbell) is set up as the fall guy after his wife is found murdered in the hotel where Jack was caught having an affair with fellow officer Theresa and is arrested, even though the murders continue. Theresa and Lieutenant McCrae (Tom Atkins) keep searching for the real killer and discover that is a fellow police officer named Cordell who was arrested for police brutality. Cordell was trying to clean the police department of corruption as well and is back from the "dead" with an agenda for revenge.

Pumpkinhead (1988)

“Pumpkinhead” is a surprisingly great movie that stands the test of time! It’s been over twenty years since I last saw it from beginning to end, but watching it last night made it feel like I was seeing it for the first time. As a teen, I could care less about the setup in the beginning, all I wanted to see was Pumpkinhead killing people and seeing who lived and who dies and how. Now, I see a movie that is about a man’s journey and the choices he makes and how he’s forced to live with them. From the heart wrenching tragedy, to the wicked agreement to summon a demon to kill those responsible, and finally to the turning point when he realizes that what he did was wrong and takes the responsibility to end his agreement with the demon. I can only wonder if he would have had the moment of change if he didn’t know exactly what was happening to the teens as they died; would he have still felt the guilt or would his vengeance be satisfied? This film has very little to do with the teens that are chased and killed or the demon Pumpkinhead, it’s all about Ed Harley and that’s a wonderfully refreshing change.

Lance Henriksen shines as Ed Harley, a famer and store owner who lives alone with his young son and dog. He loves his son dearly and is devastated beyond belief when his son dies in a careless accident. In his grief and rage, Ed makes a pact with a witch and summons the local demon of vengeance, Pumpkinhead. The demon goes straight to work and begins killing the teens that were with the man responsible for the accident. But with every death, Ed takes a step closer in becoming one with Pumpkinhead, first by seeing what the demon sees, and then finally a physical resemblance between the two appears as the deal comes near its end.

 Ed Harley and his son Billy

Pumpkinhead, who reminds me of a xenomorph from "Alien"

Pumpkinhead turning into Ed Harley

Ed Harley turning into Pumpkinhead

Child's Play (1988)

One of my favorite movies about casting spells, besides "Lord of Illusions" which I've already talked about a few months ago, is "Child's Play". Yes, I'm serious; most people would never connect this movie with the theme of spells but that's how Charles Ray Lee's soul got trapped within a plastic doll, by using evil witchdoctor voodoo magic! This movie is clever and thrilling and doesn't have any of the dumb jokes or attempts at lame puns that were rampant in the sequels. I wish I had been able to see this movie without knowing anything about it or about Chucky because I would love to see if there is any real suspense in trying to figure out if the young boy Andy or Chucky is the real killer.

All Andy wants for his birthday is one of the extremely popular “Good Guy” dolls for his very own. He’s a lonely kid and his single mother Karen tries her best to be there for him and is heartbroken that she can’t afford the gift he wants. Her best friend finds a homeless guy behind their retail store that has one and Karen buys it from him. Unfortunately this doll has been possessed by the fugitive serial killer Charles Lee Ray, who transferred his soul into the doll after he was fatally shot by the police detective that was chasing him one night. Charles, now going by the name Chucky, befriends young Andy and begins to frame the child for his murderous deeds. Just because you’re a doll doesn’t mean that you have to give up your hobbies or let loose ends get out of hand. When Chucky learns that he has a limited amount of time to find a new host or else be trapped in the doll forever, he sets his sights on Andy; unfortunately the police detective and Karen are going to do everything they can to keep that from happening.

Favorite moment – I love the point-of-view camera moments when Chucky is running around. It’s close to the ground and gives the right feeling to what Chucky sees and how fast the little guy can go!

I’m also super impressed by how well the animatronics for Chucky are. This movie was made in the golden age before CGI and how they made his face move when he spoke is awesome. 

They Live (1988)

In 1988 John Carpenter teamed up with former wrestler Roddy Piper to create a very manly, macho movie about aliens that are taking over the world but can only be identified by wearing special goggles. The aliens look like zombies and the overall story arch feels like a variation concept of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. The movie is best known for a particular scene which I will talk about later. Carpenter wrote and directed the film which turned out to perhaps be the high mark for Roddy Piper’s acting career.

Nada (Roddy Piper) is a drifter who finds work at a construction site, due to the fact that he had his own tools. He impresses some of the other crew members, one being Frank (Keith David from “The Thing”) who takes him to a homeless camp that is serviced by a soup kitchen. During the night Nada is woken up by a blind preacher yelling for people to wake up. Nada decides to check out the church and finds that it’s empty but has a recording of a choir playing loudly. He also finds boxes filled with dozens of sunglasses. He discovers that the sunglasses reveal that posters are covered with commands to obey and conform. He also sees the aliens, who are in positions of power and authority. It doesn’t take the aliens long to realize that he can see them and thus the bloodshed begins, with Nada killing two cops sent to arrest him. Eventually Nada finds Frank and attempts to make him try on the glasses, which Frank refuses. And thus begins one of the best, longest fight scenes in a movie. Ever. When Nada finally wins, Frank realizes that his friend wasn’t crazy. Now the two go forth and try to find a way to disrupt the radio signal that is blinding humanity from the truth….

Favorite moment – The fight scene! It even inspired on of the best episodes of South Park, (Cripple Fight)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXFvq2ycilg