Classic-Horror.com | Reviewing the History of Horror Movies

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!

Review: Lust for a Vampire (1971)

Submitted by Jenn Dlugos on Sun, 2004-10-24 00:00

When Nate asked me to review this film for the second time, I scoffed. This isn’t unusual as I tend to scoff at anything Nate says, but the reason for this particular brand of scoffing lies in my former opinion of this movie. Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, when I had a column at Classic-Horror called “Jenn’s Obscure Movie of the Month,” I reviewed this film. My general opinion was that it was a half hearted attempt at lesbian vampire porn and should be called Lust for Knockers. I believe I even suggested to get the widescreen version so you wouldn’t miss one erect nipple this movie has to offer. God, how my view of this film changed the second time around. In reality, Lust for a Vampire is a fine vampire film well worthy of the name “Hammer Films“.(read more...)

Review: Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Submitted by Nate Yapp on Sat, 2004-10-23 00:00

Horror comedies have always been a curious little subgenre. On one level it makes sense - truly great humor and truly great terror both rely heavily on timing and build-up to work. Beyond that, it's hard to imagine two entities more different. Most "horror comedies" end up being just one or the other - with elements of the opposing genre splashed in for texture.(read more...)

Jeremy Kasten Interview

Submitted by Nate Yapp on Fri, 2004-10-15 00:00

Anybody familiar with The Attic Expeditions (and if you're not, you should be) can tell you that it's a film loaded with interesting visuals and intriguing editing. The man behind the madness is Jeremy Kasten. We sat down with the director in August 2004 while he was working on the pre-production of his next feature...

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Review: Darkman (1990)

Submitted by Jenn Dlugos on Fri, 2004-10-15 00:00

When I first saw Darkman, I remember liking it, but not being overly impressed. However, after viewing this Sam Raimi flick post Spider-man, I was able to see it for the wonderful horror-superhero-action-comedy movie it is.

Peyton Westlake (played by a very young Liam Neeson) was formerly a scientist on the verge of a breakthrough in synthetic skin for burn victims. When thugs burn his laboratory, he is burnt beyond recognition. By day, he attempts to finish his skin research so he can reconstruct his face and get his girlfriend back. At night, he turns into the superhero-esque Darkman, impervious to pain and on the prowl for revenge.(read more...)

Review: Nekromantik (1987)

Submitted by Misfit on Thu, 2004-10-14 00:00

I've heard it stated from film students that a director will set the message for a film within the opening scene. In Nekromantik, the first shot is a close-up of a woman pulling down her underwear, squatting in a field, and urinating. I feel that this shot holds more significance than the following one, which graphically depicts her body having been ripped in half during a car crash.(read more...)

Review: Tarantula (1955)

Submitted by Jenn Dlugos on Fri, 2004-10-01 00:00

Tarantula was one of Universal’s first "giant-animal-type-monster wreaks havock on helpless civilians" movie. The times of the more humanistic monsters, like Frankenstein and Dracula, have passed and now bigger = better. As far as mutant monsters go, Tarantula is one of the most solid films ever created.(read more...)

Gore and Loathing in Phoenix V: The Recasting of "One Bloody Night"

Submitted by Matt Earles on Fri, 2004-10-01 00:00

Part of a series of essays related to the on-going production of an Arizona-based indie horror film, One Bloody Night.

After the "weekend of hell" when all but the entire cast had quit or been let go, I had come to the conclusion that I would never cast a movie again. I immediately put this lesson to use as other members of the crew stepped up to the plate and took over the second round of casting.(read more...)

Review: Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

Submitted by Jenn Dlugos on Wed, 2004-09-22 00:00

Upon watching Halloween III, I learned that I have spent most of my life believing a very inaccurate principle. Namely, I thought mankind came to some sort of agreement the word “sequel”. It surely didn’t seem like one of those words open to interpretation like, say, “God.” Yet Halloween III, considered by hundreds of people employed at the Motion Picture Association of America to be a sequel of Halloween, indeed failed in my definition. This brings me to the ultimate conundrum in horror movie reviewdom.
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Review: Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Submitted by Jenn Dlugos on Sat, 2004-09-18 22:42

Yay, further indignities! This movie is the cult movie to end all cult movies. What makes this film so special that it is the longest running movie ever? Why all the mass hysteria at midnight every weekend night? And why the hell am I covered with all this fricking rice??

This film is the first and last of its breed. You know the story. Dr. Frank N. Furter, an alien from Transsexual, Transylvania, comes to earth to create the perfect man (hence, Rocky Horror). In the meantime, he takes away a virgin couple’s “innocence,” engages in cannibalism, and enters a 5-way around-the-world orgy in a Michelangelesque swimming pool.

And you thought Blood Freak was weird.(read more...)

Review: The Evil Dead (1982)

Submitted by Nate Yapp on Thu, 2004-09-16 01:25

It's 1982, and amongst the polished studio horror and the repetitive indie slashers, a tiny little film from an unknown director pops onto the scene. At first glance, it appears to be much of the same - it's populated with college students, a nubile woman with not enough clothing runs through the woods, and there's an intense-looking guy with an axe and a chainsaw.

Then again, the college students become the bad guys, the nubile woman was just raped by a tree, and the slightly insane fellow with the sharp instruments is the hero. The tiny little film is, of course, The Evil Dead, the unknown is Sam Raimi (Spider-man), and the experience is unlike anything anybody had seen before.(read more...)