Sleepwalkers (1992) #463

 

"Sleepwalkers" is an often overlooked and forgotten horror film from the early 1990's, directed by Mick Garris and a written by Stephen King. This was in fact the first time Mr. King wrote an original script for a full length film that wasn't adapted from one of his of his own stories. The story revolves around the last two survivors of a vampiric species of shape shifters that can only survive on the blood of virgins. The movie itself has it's strengths and weaknesses but is still a pretty fair movie for the time.

Alice Krige ("Gretel & Hansel") and Brian Krause star as Mary Brady and her son Charles, two shape shifters that feed on the psychic essence of human female virgins. Their powers include strength and the ability to turn themselves as well as their car invisible. They can change the appearance of the car as well. They differ from standard vampires in most aspects; the sun doesn't hurt them being the first and foremost. The odd thing about these two, and perhaps one the more problematic aspects of this film is their incestral relationship between mother and son. This is how the two are able to pass the psychic energy that Charles consumes from his victims. It's awkward and unsettling to say the least. 

The Brady's intended victim is Tanya Robertson, played by Madchen Amick, who was best known at the time for her work on "Twin Peaks". She is a delight to watch and is one of the bright spots in the film, coming across as a genuine teenager (although she wasn't anymore). Her emotions as a girl with a new crush to being the final girl come across sincerely. 

My favorite, as well as many others I bet, thing about this movie is how it is packed with cameos of several masters of horror that include Stephen King, Clive Barker, Tobe Hooper, John Landis, and Joe Dante. I'm pretty sure this was how Mick Garris was able to forge the foundations for his series Masters of Horror, which would showcase work from three of the four artists. Mark Hamill and Ron Perlman as have small roles as well, both in law enforcement. 

Besides the cameos, I love the shape shifters unique weakness which is a mortal fear of cats. It seems that cats are their natural enemies and gather in large numbers wherever the Brady's live. When they get close enough, the cats would pounce and attack Charles and Mary. I love when cats are used in movies and are more than just a jump scare....which they are really good at. 

Invaders From Mars (1986) #389

Incredibly campy and comically overacted, the 1986 remake of"Invaders from Mars" is a both a let down and yet an entertaining gem of classic sci-fi fare. The fact that the screenplay was written by Dan O'Bannon ("Alien"), was directed by Tobe Hooper ("The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Poltergeist"), and starred horror veterans Karen Black and James Karen should have been more than enough to ensure a thoroughly frightful and creepy movie, even if it was rated PG. Perhaps it was because the movie DID star horror veterans Karen Black and James Karen is why the movie felt over the top and campy? Or maybe it was because most of the aliens looked more comical than frightening? Hunter Carson (Karen Black's real son) delivers a fairly strong performance that is comparable to the 1950's source material that the movie is based on. Further more, the scenes between Carson and Louise Fletcher (who plays the alien controlled school teacher) are the most genuinely intense scenes in the film. Overall, "Invaders From Mars" is a fun film that brings back memories of watching it during summer afternoons as a child and is still entertaining enough for kids today.

Young David Gardner believes that a UFO landed behind a hill near his house during a meteor shower. He soon believes that his dad, and soon his mom, have become pawns of the alien's invasion of his small town. One by one, the population of the town is assimilated and only David and Linda, the school nurse, are left to warn the military about what is going on. Will the military save the town and David's parents or are they already too late?

Lifeforce (1985)

Although it may not be any where as popular or scary as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" or "Poltergeist", Tobe Hopper's "Lifeforce" is still a great horror film that is still fun to watch since it's release in 1985. As one of my personal favorites, I was thrilled when I was able to see the film shown on a large screen when it was selected as a feature film for the H.P. Lovecraft film festival; an excellent choice considering how Lovecraft wrote about monsters and creatures coming from the depths of space, older than humanity itself. It's suiting that the screenplay was co-written by Dan O'Bannon ("Alien") and that it took full advantage of Haley's Comet passing by around the time the film was made. The concept of vampires from space is nicely explored and brought to film in this movie, taking liberties with the vampire mythos that would have otherwise raised eyebrows from traditionalists like myself; they can still hypnotize and seduce their prey but they can do so much more!

Interesting side note - Klaus Kinski, Billy Idol, and Anthony Hopkins were all considered for various roles in this film, with Hopkins actually being offered the role of Col. Colin Caine, but turned it down for his own reasons.


During an historic space shuttle mission to investigate Haley's Comet as it passes by earth, the joint US/UK team of astronauts discover a large, 150 mile long alien space craft caught in the comet's gravitational pull. Upon inspecting the supposedly derelict spacecraft, the crew finds hundreds of dried up bat-like creatures and three human like figures in suspended animation within glass like coffins. The crew take the humanoids, two male and one female, back to the space shuttle...and that's when everything goes astray! Mission control loses it's signal contact with the shuttle and an emergency rescue mission is sent up to see what's wrong. The rescue party finds the ship nearly destroyed by fire but the three humanoids and the glass containers are untouched; the rescue team returns to Earth with the three aliens.

Once on Earth, the Female alien wakes up and steals the "lifeforce" of those around her, leaving behind a trail of dead bodies that eventually come back to life and need to feed in the same fashion as she did, otherwise they end up exploding. The commander of the original shuttle mission is soon found in an escape pod, and he admits that he set the shuttle on fire to kill the aliens and keep Earth safe. It's soon discovered that he is psychically linked to the Female vampire. It's now up to him a few brave souls to enter London, which has become infested with the zombie vampires, to find the three Space Vampires and kill them before their "plague" can spread across the world.

Poltergeist (1982)

“Poltergeist” is still one of the best ghost movies ever made. How a PG rated movie ended up being so frightening is still a mystery; everything is so simple and yet so very effective. Just the opening scene where five year old Carol Anne is talking to the static of the television, with the flashing strobe light like effects, can be spooky if you’re in the right mood. Some of the special effects and the dangerous situations that involve the children are particularity effective. Even the music adds the right amount of suspense at the perfect moments. Both Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg were involved in this film, as director and producer respectively although there is debate about how much Hooper actually directed when Spielberg was on the set.

It’s interesting to see plot devices in this film that would later be the main focus for future ghost related films like “White Noise” and “Pulse”. I would not be surprised if the scene where Steven shows the children’s room to the paranormal research team possibly influenced a scene or two in “Evil Dead 2”.

The Freelings are a happy family of five living in a planned community in California. There is Steven who is a real estate developer; Diane is a stay at housewife, and the children Dana, Robbie, and Carol Anne. One day Diane and Carol Anne discover odd occurrences taking place in their kitchen, and then that night a tree in the back yard becomes animated and tries to eat Robbie. While Steven and Diane save Robbie, Carol Anne is “kidnapped” and taken to the Other-Side. Steven and Diane bring in a paranormal investigation team to help them Carol Anne. After witnessing several events, the team adds a spiritual medium, Tangina, to help bring Carol Anne back. With her help, Diane goes over and brings Carol Anne back, after which Tangina declares that the house is clean. But it’s not….

 Carol Anne as she is being taken.

Tangina

How did this scene make it into a PG movie?

Steven picks up Diane and Carol Anne after they cross back over.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

The 1970’s had more than its fair share of cannibal themed movies but the one that stands out for me the most is “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”. It’s perfectly creepy with the soundtrack, grainy film quality, and bizarre cast of characters...and I’m talking about the ones you see before you even get to Leatherface. Even though he became a major franchise onto himself, I strongly feel that “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” should have been a single, stand-alone film. It doesn’t need to answer the questions that might linger after the end credits begin rolling. Do you really need to know who Leatherface is or what he looks like under his creepy mask? No. Do you really need to know if the family ever gets caught or how long they’ve been robbing graves? No. Just knowing what you see is enough.

As the opening describes, this is a story about five young adults who get caught up in something gruesome and terrifying. They drive out to check out a graveyard that has been having problems with grave robbers. Two siblings have a grandfather buried there and they want to make sure that his grave wasn’t disturbed. Afterwards they decide to check out an old family house that their father grew up in. On the way to the house they pick up a hitchhiker who quickly runs out his welcome when he begins to start a fire and cutting one of the teens; they kick him out and continue on their way. Once at the house, they begin to split up and eventually find their way to the neighbors’ house. No one seems to be home but they go in anyway only to be killed off by Leatherface. When Sally and her brother go looking for the other three in the evening, they are attacked Sally’s brother is killed. She is runs throughout the house being chased by Leatherface, finally making it to a gas station where she is tied up by another member of Leatherface’s family (brother or dad). Sally wakes up and finds that she is surrounded by Leatherface, the gas station guy, the hitchhiker, and Grandpa. They try having Grandpa kill her but she manages to get away and after an almost comical chase, Sally rides away in the back of a pickup truck and Leatherface revs his chainsaw in the soft sunlight of the morning.

Favorite moment – I honestly love the moment when Leatherface hits Kirk in the back of the head with a mallet, drags his body into the alcove, and slams the metal shutters closed. What the hell kind of noise was he making???