Our editor-in-chief Nate Yapp is proud to have contributed to the new book Hidden Horror: A Celebration of 101 Underrated and Overlooked Fright Flicks, edited by Aaron Christensen. Another contributors include Anthony Timpone, B.J. Colangelo, Dave Alexander, Classic-Horror.com's own Robert C. Ring and John W. Bowen. Pick up a copy today from Amazon.com!

Posts by Eric Miller

Review: Bubba Ho-tep (2002)

Submitted by Eric Miller on Fri, 2008-07-04 01:31

If an ancient Egyptian mummy began to menace a retirement home in East Texas, what would he be called? Why, Bubba Ho-Tep of course! And who better to defeat them than JFK and the King of Rock and Roll? This epic battle is the subject of Bubba Ho-Tep, a delightful horror-comedy from director Don Coscarelli, starring Bruce Campbell and Ossie Davis. A film that knows when (and when not) to take itself seriously, Bubba Ho-Tep manages to carefully explore its main character, offer some very good laughs, and still have some poignant things to say. It's a charming little film that, while not inspiring chills, leaves the viewer with a chuckle and a smile.(read more...)

Lon Chaney Jr.

Submitted by Eric Miller on Tue, 2008-07-01 14:10

Most of the classic Universal Studios unforgettable fiends from the 1930s and ‘40s were played, at different times, by multiple actors. Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy, the Invisible Man; all of these characters were played by different actors at different times. However, Lon Chaney Jr. (who at times played all these characters with the exception of the Invisible Man) alone played Larry Talbot, aka The Wolf Man. The son of, arguably, the most famous silent movie star (perhaps Charlie Chaplin was more famous), Chaney Jr.

Review: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Submitted by Eric Miller on Fri, 2008-05-23 01:52

Remaking a classic can be a daunting prospect. The new film will be scrutinized not only by moviegoers and critics, but by people making exacting comparisons between it and the original version. A director must be careful to respect and honor the original film, while at the same time offering a new and fresh take on an already familiar story. On these terms, Philip Kaufman’s 1978 remake of Don Siegel’s 1956 masterpiece Invasion of the Body Snatchers succeeds magnificently. It does credit to the original while crafting an exquisite experience of terror and paranoia. This wonderful film is a must see of 1970s horror cinema.(read more...)

Review: Magic (1978)

Submitted by Eric Miller on Thu, 2008-04-03 01:00

Richard Attenborough is not typically a director that one associates with screen horror, his name usually calling to mind such sweeping epics as Gandhi, Cry Freedom, or Chaplin. However, in 1978, Attenborough broke tradition and directed a small, intimate horror film: Magic. Based on a novel by William Goldman (of The Princess Bride and Marathon Man fame), Magic is indeed a frightening film. It is not, however, the shocks that make it memorable. What makes this film special is the thought that has been put into it and the conviction of its performances. Boasting a sadness and a nasty sense of horror, Magic avoids the campyness that is usually associated with movies about living dolls.(read more...)

Review: Spiral (2007)

Submitted by Eric Miller on Mon, 2008-03-31 01:00

PG-13 horror films can be tricky affairs. They must walk a fine line, trying to be frightening and suspenseful without being too horrific or graphic. When not done well, they can seem bland, silly, or both. However, when done properly, the right director can take the MPAA-mandated limitations and turn them into strengths. Spiral, from directors Adam Green (Hatchet) and Joel David Moore (who also co-wrote the screenplay and stars), is an example of the latter. This film doesn’t rely on shocks or graphic violence. Instead, it(read more...)

Review: A Christmas Carol (1984)

Submitted by Eric Miller on Tue, 2007-12-25 01:01

There are many different cinematic incarnations of Charles Dickens’ 1843 classic holiday tale A Christmas Carol. It seems as if there are as many different versions, variations, and spoofs of this story as there are of Dracula and Frankenstein. One of the more memorable retellings of Dickens’ masterpiece is the 1984 made-for-television version, directed by Clive Donner and starring George C. Scott. While the direction of the film is fairly pedestrian, the overwhelming performance of George C. Scott vaults it to a marvelous level. This is this author’s personal favorite version of the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge.(read more...)

Review: Masters of Horror: Dream Cruise (2007)

Submitted by Eric Miller on Fri, 2007-11-16 01:43

Credits above are only for personnel unique to this episode. For credits relating to "Masters of Horror" as a whole, see the Masters of Horror review gateway.(read more...)

Review: From Beyond the Grave (1973)

Submitted by Eric Miller on Sun, 2007-10-14 01:54

From Beyond the Grave is an Amicus horror anthology that is a surprisingly disturbing experience. It is the rookie outing of director Kevin Connor, who delivers a film that, while not flawless, is able to offer some solid chills. Boasting such genre veterans as David Warner, Donald Pleasence, and the legendary Peter Cushing, From Beyond the Grave is a superior anthology film that is in the best tradition of the subgenre.(read more...)

Wes Craven

Submitted by Eric Miller on Sat, 2007-10-13 01:56

It’s rare for a director to create landmark films in three separate decades, but horror master Wes Craven can claim that distinction. From setting up the template for bare knuckled, visceral horror in 1972’s Last House on the Left, through creating one of the genre’s most remembered fiends in 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street, and then re-inventing the slasher genre in 1996’s Scream, Craven continually strives to break new ground in screen horror.

The creative father of Freddy Krueger was born on August 2, 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio to devout Baptists Paul and Caroline Craven. After he grew up, he earned a Master’s degree in psychology and writing from Johns Hopkins University. He had a strong interest in filmmaking, however, and in 1972 he directed one of the most notorious films of the 1970s.

Review: Scream 2 (1997)

Submitted by Eric Miller on Fri, 2007-10-12 01:59

Scream 2 is one of those rare sequels that reunites almost everyone from the original, on both sides of the screen. Horror master Wes Craven is again coupled with screenwriter Kevin Williamson, while Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, and Jamie Kennedy all reprise their roles. The script in this film is as sharp as, if not sharper, than the first film, and Craven still has a great skill at building fright and suspense. While its predecessor thoroughly interrogates the clichés and tropes of modern slasher films, Scream 2 brings this same wit to the exploration of sequels. It also look, briefly, into the debate over film's influence on real life. While it tends towards a convoluted plot, Scream 2 is nevertheless a worthy successor to its groundbreaking original.(read more...)