31 Days of Horror (2017)

I feel like it would have been a much darker Body Bags or something, haha. One can dream!

Thanks, YouTube.

Of course John Waters would love this. It does have some interesting things to say, and I really liked a lot of those down low shots like a more twisted version of what Spielberg was going for with E.T. I love how most of its fucked up sense of humor just comes from how meticulous and reasonable (for him) his thoughts are. The animal cruelty is a little hard to stomach, but then again, it is a movie where a dog deciding he'd like to drown a child is a comedic highlight, so that probably says more about me.

Day 8: Rituals (1977, Peter Carter)



If you go down in the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise! This Canadian eco-horror film follows five doctors who go on a camping trip in Northern Ontario and find themselves being hunted by something… or someone. Considered to be a lesser Deliverance upon release, it was also viewed as an alternative to all the National Film Board of Canada documentaries that focused more on the majesty of the wilderness. Instead, Rituals offers a portrait of man so far removed from his element and the complete physical and mental exhaustion that follows. A wild Hal Holbrook like you’ve never seen him leads the ensemble in this haunting story of paranoia and survival, and the grainy and low budget nature of the film makes it all the more nightmarish to watch.

Day 9: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948, Charles Barton)



When two freight handlers (the comedy duo Abbott and Costello) deliver a shipment to a local wax museum, they soon realize the actual contents of the crates: the real-life Dracula and Frankenstein monster, of course! So begins a slap-stick and Universal monster-filled romp which has Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr. returning to their most iconic roles. It also marked Lugosi's final film involvement for a major studio, and was the last time Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein's monster would share the screen again until 2004's Van Helsing. Cited as one of the best comedies on AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs list, the film does an excellent job balancing the horror elements along with Abbott and Costello's entertaining shtick. Also featuring a delightful animated opening title sequence to set the mood, it remains one of the most rewatchable and spooky comedies that can instantly get you into the Halloween spirit.

It might be more enjoyable for those who like their type of comedy and slapstick. Sorry you didn't care for it.

I really like this film.  As generic 80s thrillers go, this one was pretty good.  It was tense enough to keep me interested, and I actually watched it a second time, when I noticed it was showing on TV one time.  It was also cool to see Guttenburg playing in something that wasn't a bad comedy film.

I like that you threw Mad Love into this. I don't remember much about it, apart from Lorre and the last 15 minutes or so, but those moments really make up for what's lacking. I also remember thinking the Ted Healy character felt really out of place. This mention actually just made me realize that Lorre is the perfect answer to that Tyler thread of actors I'd watch in *anything*.

I'll always have a soft spot for Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein since it was my introduction to them. Young me was floored that Lugosi and Chaney were actually in it. And that Vincent Price voice cameo to boot.

I was never that big on Rituals, but there are definitely good aspects. I especially like the first 20 minutes where it has more of a Blair Witch vibe. The best thing about comparing it to Deliverance is the fact that, if one must do that, you're basically looking at Holbrook playing Ed, Drew, and Lewis all at once.

Day 12: Dying Room Only (1973, Philip Leacock)



On their way home from a road trip, Bob and Jean Mitchell (Dabney Coleman and Cloris Leachman) stop at a roadside diner to have a quick bite. Growing uncomfortable by the colorful characters, Jean excuses herself to the washroom and upon returning finds that her husband has vanished. Immediately suspecting foul play from the irritable cook and a flippant customer played by Ned Beatty, they tell Jean that her husband must have finally left her. There is no help to be found surrounded by desert and with busy signals on every landline in this made-for-television mystery thriller. No stranger to the small screen, director Philip Leacock's other television credits include Gunsmoke, Dynasty, Fantasy Island and The Waltons. While the underrated ‘90s Kurt Russell thriller Breakdown does a lot more with a similar plot and larger scope, this successfully builds tension and has a cast of character actors that are a lot of fun to watch squirm.

Day 14: Rollercoaster (1977, James Goldstone)



Amusement park goers are left screaming for all the wrong reasons in this action-suspense film about a blackmailer threatening to sabotage rollercoasters unless he’s paid one million dollars. From the director of the disaster film When Time Ran Out…, Goldstone is in his element and successfully creates tension with the use of quick cuts and POV shots of coaster riders. The film’s shocking opening segment does well to set the stage, and a dependable cast are all aboard including: George Segal, Timothy Bottoms, Richard Widmark, Henry Fonda and a young Helen Hunt.

I had not seen Pretty Maids All in a Row prior to your post and was able to find it. No idea how it escaped me, given that Tarantino fact and that this is just so much my kind of movie. It was kind of surreal seeing such a group of actors, and thinking back to their previous work, come together for such a movie. You could tell the dark comedy was on point very early on with the line "It's okay! She's dead!" I can see it being frustrating for some, but I actually love the ending, . Really loved this.

So glad Rollercoaster is here. I've always thought it was so underrated. Brilliant execution of what could have been a silly plot, masterful displays of suspense, and an incredible cast. Probably my favorite Segal performance.

Very excited to seek out Night of the Comet and Fear(s) of the Dark. I need another horror anthology in my life.   Dying Room Only is also intriguing. Before I got to that point in your description, I kept thinking "This sounds like Breakdown", which I love. 

Day 16: Lemora: A Child's Tale of the Supernatural (1973, Richard Blackburn)



Set in the Prohibition Era, a young girl named Lila Lee (Cheryl Smith) is summoned to the bedside of her dying father who has fallen in with some questionable locals in a strange small town. It is here that the mysterious Lemora (Lesley Gilb) becomes quite taken with her and draws Lila into a web of wickedness and vampirism. Despite its low budget, the film does well to balance both an unsettling atmosphere with a B-movie feel. Mostly taking place at night, this haunting and dreamlike coming-of-age tale is sprinkled with religious overtones and has gained a cult following among fans of lesbian vampire cinema. Lovecraft fans may also be interested due to the story drawing inspiration from his work “The Shadow Over Innsmouth."