Horror 2024 Countdown: Land of the Dead (2005)

Land of the Dead (2005), dir. George A. Romero, Atmosphere Entertainment MM/Romero-Gruenwald Productions/Wild Bunch S.A. Rangerkim

While the dead slowly make their way back to their graves and we move into the time of turkeys and fat men in red, George Romero hadn't made a zombie film in twenty years. Would the master still have the skill?

Horror 2024 Countdown: Spider (2002)

Spider (2002), dir. David Cronenberg, Catherine Bailey, Ltd/Grosvenor Park Productions/Davis Park

As Devil's Night comes to a close and the day of All Hallow's draws ever closer, we take a look at a film more than a few called Cronenberg's transitional film.

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Mangler (1995)

The Mangler (1995), dir. Tobe Hooper, Allied Film/Distant Horizon 

Ah, Mr. Hooper. Was there ever a director with such an uneven filmography? Surely having him adapt a Stephen King short story would be a good thing, right?

Horror 2024 Countdown: Shocker (1989)

Shocker (1989), dir. Wes Craven, Alive Films 

Wes Craven would end the 80's on either a darn silly note or a vastly underrated one.

Horror 2024 Countdown: Body Bags (1993)

Body Bags (1993), dir. John Carpenter/Tobe Hooper, 187 Corp./Showtime Networks

Got a twofer this time out, as both John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper worked on this anthology. I was tempted to have this for both men's entries this year but we'll have this under Carpenter as he did the lion's share of the work. 

Horror 2024 Countdown: Explorers (1985)

Explorers (1985), dir. Joe Dante, Paramount Pictures 

Last year we looked at Joe Dante's last full length feature but before we close the book on him, I thought it only fair to look at some of his other offers that we overlooked throughout the years. Explorers was such a film, and it might have been a vision of things to come regarding his career.

Horror 2024 Countdown: House of Usher (1960)

House of Usher (1960), dir. Roger Corman, Alta Vista Productions

I considered not reviewing this, mostly due to Dr. Gangrene's brilliant look back at Vincent Price's career covered everything with such detail I doubted I could do better; then again I do love me some Vincent Price, so why not?

Horror 2024 Countdown: I Saw What You Did (1965)

I Saw What You Did (1965), dir. William Castle, Universal Pictures

William Castle's career continued well into the 60's more or less unchanged. He did manage to snag the use of Joan Crawford for a few days, so that's something.

Horror 2024 Countdown: Spellbound (1945)

Spellbound (1945), dir. Alfred Hitchcock, Selznick International Pictures/Vanguard Films 

Moving into our directors' section, this time we kick off with not only Alfred Hitchcock but also Salvador Dali. 

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Beast with Five Fingers (1946)

The Beast with Five Fingers (1946), dir. Robert Florey, Warner Bros. Pictures 

So we end our lookback with Peter Lorre's last film for Warner Bros. and arguably the last A picture of the 1940s.

Horror 2024 Countdown: Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), dir. Frank Capra, Warner Bros. 

At this point, Lorre was now a full character actor. Granted, the character was usually a twitchy weirdo but every so often he would play something different.

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Boogie Man will Get You (1942)

The Boogie Man will Get You (1942), dir. Lew Landers, Columbia Pictures 

Jumping ahead a few years, and Lorre was trying to shake his horror persona. He was still getting big pictures but they tended to be small parts. Working with Boris Karloff probably didn't help shake the horror image either.

Horror 2024 Countdown: Crack-Up (1936)

 Crack-Up (1936), dir. Malcolm St. Clair, 20th Century Fox

Lorre's career was holding steady, 1936 saw him playing the lead in the Mr. Moto series but here he started to work for Fox. 

Horror 2024 Countdown: Mad Love (1935)

Mad Love (1935), dir. Karl Freund, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

After M, Peter Lorre fled Germany for the safer climes of Hollywood. When a sound remake of the Hands of Orlac was announced, more than a few felt that film cinched this role for Lorre. 

Horror 2024 Countdown: M (1935)

 M (1935), dir. Fritz Lang, Nero-Film, A.G.

Now we move into our special section. We've looked back at the films of Lugosi, Karloff, Chaney Jr., and Carradine. This year we'll focus on the films of Peter Lorre and his role in the first talkie film from Fritz Lang.

Horror 2024 Countdown: Thirteen Women (1932)

Thirteen Women (1932), dir. George Archainbaud, RKO Radio Pictures 

So we end our lookback at slashers with that what a few folks have called the very first one, or at least the earliest film I think of with the old 'wronged person gets some revenge'.

Horror 2024 Countdown: Maniac Cop 2 (1990)

Maniac Cop 2 (1990), dir. William Lustig, Fadd Enterprises/Medusa Pictures/the Movie House Sales Company/Overseas Film Group

When we last saw the Maniac Cop, Matt Cordell (Robert Z'Dar) murdered the cops who sent him up the river. He also got a pipe shoved his chest but from the last shot of the film he clearly got over it.

Horror 2024 Countdown: Halloween Kills (2021)

Halloween Kills (2021), dir. David Gordon Green, Miramax/Blumhouse Productions/Trancas International Films/Rough House Pictures

It is often mentioned that some sequels can surpass the original. It's rare to see a sequel that seems determined to ruin the previous.

Horror 2024 Countdown: Countess Dracula (1971)

Countess Dracula (1971), dir. Peter Sasdy, Hammer Film Productions

We'll be ending our look at Hammer with this one. They made quite a few about Dracula, why not one about Countess Elizabeth Bathory?

Horror 2024 Countdown: Vampire Circus (1972)

Vampire Circus (1972), dir. Robert Young, Hammer Films Productions

A few folks have called this Hammer's finest vampire film. 

Horror 2024 Countdown: When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970)

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970), dir. Val Guest, Hammer Films

Did you know, aside from dinosaurs, cavemen had to deal with a lack of Moon? Yup, seems dinos are older than the MOON. Not sure I can add to that.

Horror 2024 Countdown: Moon Zero Two (1969)

Moon Zero Two (1969), dir. Roy Ward Baker, Hammer Films 

Hammer's science fiction offerings tend to be a mixed bag. When mixed with fantasy or horror, they are striking and memorable. When they go the 2001 route?

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Lost Continent (1968)

The Lost Continent (1968), dir. Michael Carreras, Hammer Films/Seven Arts Productions 

Moving into the Hammer section of our countdown and the late 1960's was an interesting period. The beginning of the end, if you will. 

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Phantom of the Mall: Erik's Revenge (1989)

Phantom of the Mall: Erik's Revenge (1989), dir. Richard Friedman, Fries Entertainment 

Moving into our homage section, we see a take on Leroux's antihero that somehow is the most 80's thing we'll see this month.

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Invisible Man (2020)

The Invisible Man (2020), dir. Leigh Whannell, Blumhouse Productions/Goalpost Pictures/Nervous Tick Productions 

Ah, the Dark Universe, what wonders it could have shown. Universal opted to farm the individual films out to different companies. Would the end result be better than the last two attempts?

Horror 2024 Countdown: Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956)

Curucu, Beast of the Amazon (1956), dir. Curt Sidomark, Jewel Productions 

Moving into the Universal adjacent section, we open with the other film on the Mole People double feature. 

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Land Unknown (1957)

The Land Unknown (1957), dir. Virgil W. Vogel, Univeral International Pictures 

Closing out our look at the Universal Pictures section, we end with a solid B picture, but at least it has dinosaurs.

Horror Host 2024 Retrospective: Dr. Scar

Dr. Scar

Real name: Jack Jacobson

Years active: Late 1960s to 1970s

And thus we end our look back at horror hosts with the last host from Arizona. Dr. Scar hosted Big 9 Chiller on KGUN-TB Channel 9 in Tuscon. I've read he also hosted Science Fiction Theater at roughly the same time. 

Like many hosts, Dr. Scar was also the host of the local kid show. Marshall KGUN is an odd name for a cowboy, but what do I know?

Dr. Scar seem to be your typical sardonic host but he sounded like he was having fun with the role. 

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Deadly Mantis (1957)

The Deadly Mantis (1957), dir. Nathan H. Juran, Universal-International

Hey, it was the 1950's. Vampires and werewolves were passe; giant monsters were in so why wouldn't Universal want some of that kaiju pie?

Horror Host 2024 Retrospective: Ghoulina/Ghoulia

 Ghoulina/Ghoulia?

Real name: Shirl Selman

Years active: 1957 to 1958

As we move into the Grand Canyon State of Arizona we have a mystery here folks. Most of my sources say the first host in the state was Ghoulina yet all the main published works talk of a Ghoulia. Misspelling? Mandella Effect?

Ghoulia hosted Classic Nightmares on KOLD-TV Channel 12 in Tuscon. I found more information on the children's show she hosted than anything else and while some tidbits on her station's history were nice, I fear info on the show itself was a bit flat. She seemed to be of the Vampira school of hosting, emerging from a coffin and a set decorated with a large lizard. 

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), dir. Jack Arnold, Universal-International Pictures Co., Inc.

We continue our look into the 1950s Universal Sci-Fi with a film I've seen described as both a classic and unbearably corny. Which is it?

Horror Host 2024 Retrospective: Ghost Host

Ghost Host 

Real name: George Lewis

Years active 1971 to 1985

Host of Ghost Host Theatre on WBFF Channel 45, out of Baltimore, this will end our look back at the hosts of Maryland. The Ghost Host was also Captain Cheapskate during the day. 

The show was fairly cheap, with the same footage of the host being used every episode only with new dialogue being dubbed over. He later moved to Pennsylvania, as best as I can tell. 

He tried and I suppose that will have to do. 

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Mole People (1956)

  The Mole People (1956), dir. Virgil Vogel, Universal International Pictures

Moving into the Universal section of our countdown and yeah, a lot of 1950's sci-fi is considered boring. This doesn't buck that feeling.

Horror Host 2024 Retrospective: Dr. and Mrs. Lucifer

 Dr. and Mrs. Lucifer 

Real names: Richard and Nancy Lee Dix

Years active: 1957 to 1959

This year we'll start our horror host lookback in the Old Line State, Maryland. Dr. and Mrs. Lucifer (no relation to Nashville's Dr. Lucifer) hosted Shock! at WBAL Channel 11 out of Baltimore. 

A mad scientist with a bountiful wife/assistant, Dr. Lucifer was more comedic than his Nashville counterpart. There were running gags and overall the doctor seemed more bumbling than anything else. 

The show ended after a short run but Richard Dix went on to a long career in local theater

Horror 2024 Countdown: The Nutty Professor (1963)

The Nutty Professor (1963), dir. Jerry Lewis, Jerry Lewis Films

Kicking off another year and we stat as usual with a pinch of mad science, this time with history's greatest monster.