[Phantom Stranger]

"Vampire" (1979)
              -Jason Miller, E.G. Marshal, Richard Lynch

Plot: IMDB

-- His self-made, but unwanted sleep of nearly 40 years disturbed by the ground-breaking to build a new church, over his self-collapsed tomb, under an old house that was his refuge in the 1940's, Anton Voytek arises to drink the blood and control the lives of people of the modern age in the late 1970's. His plans thwarted to use the wealth he had stolen and hoarded over the ages of his long life, he takes revenge on the architect, his wife, a retired policeman and all the people who are important to them all, to gain his revenge and perhaps a companion in his never-ending night.

Phantom's Review: In the late '70's there was a major revival of interest in vampire stories, Frank Langella had a successful Broadway run as "Dracula" and in '79 starred in the film version. George Hamilton made the popular vampire spoof "Love At First Bite" and on TV there was a show called "Clifhangers" that had a segment called "Curse Of Dracula"with Micheal Nouri. During this vampire boom came this minor film. A pilot for a series that never made it. The film has a few things going for it, most notably Richard Lynch as the vampire.He plays the character with great style and nobility, but also very ferocious.He is what "The Vampire Lestat" should have looked like..Veteran actor E.G. Marshal does a fine job as the retired cop. In fact the only person who seems out of place is Jason Miller, he looks like he'd rather be any where else then in this film. In fact he seems totally bored by the whole thing.It's not a bad film, if your a vampire fan, but skip it if your not.

[Phantom Stranger]

"Equinox" (1970)
Plot: IMDB
Four friends are attacked by a demon while on a picnic, due to possession of a tome of mystic information. Told in flashbacks by the sole survivor.

Phantom's Review: What an amazing turd of a movie. Amateurish acting, directing and story. The only thing worth watching is some half decent stop motion animation FX by Jim Danforth.It;s a shame innocent film had to die for this.
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[Phantom Stranger]

"Plan 9 From Outer Space" (1959)
-Vampira, Tor Johnson, Bela Lugosi (kinda)

Plot: IMDB
Aliens resurrect dead humans as zombies and vampires to stop human kind from creating the Solaranite (a sort of sun-driven bomb).

Phantom's Review: It's been years since I last saw this "classic" and it hasn't improved any. Still hysterically bad and Totally amateur. The best of the worst.

[Phantom Stranger]

"House Of Dracula" (1945)
                 -John Carradine, Lon Chaney jr

Plot: IMDB
Dracula arrives at Dr. Edelman's office asking for a cure to his vampirism. However, this is a ruse by Dracula to get near Dr. Edelman's beautiful female assistant and turn her into a vampire. Meanwhile, a sincere Lawrence Talbot, AKA the Wolfman, arrives seeking a cure for his lycanthropy. When Dr. Edelman's first attempt fails, Talbot tries to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff, but instead finds a network of underground caves where Frankensteins Monster is in stasis. Chaos ensues as the three monsters fight for dominance of each other. 

Phantom's Review: The last of the "serious" Universal horror films. Not quite as good as "House Of Frankenstein" but still highly entertaining. John Carradine makes for a very classy Count Dracula, Chaney gives his usual fine performance as The Wolf Man and Glen Strange is an awesome looking Frankenstein Monster, although he spends most of the movie strapped to a lab table. Like most of the Universal films, this one has great atmosphere, fine music, sets and costumes. A minor classic, definitely worth watching.

[jordyn]

survival of the dead, i watched it because it's a romero, kind of fun where he's going with a zombie apocolypse and the variety of movies coming out about humanity surviving such an ordeal.

[Phantom Stranger]

"The Four Skulls Of Jonathan Drake" (1959)
                                  -Henry Daniell

Plot: IMDB

-- Jonathan Drake, while attending his brother's funeral, is shocked to find the head of the deceased is missing. When his brother's skull shows up later in a locked cabinet, Drake realizes an ancient curse placed upon his grandfather by a tribe of South American Jivaro Indians is still in effect and that he himself is the probable next victim. That night he is awakened by the approach of an Indian, his lips sewed together with string, and wielding a curare-tipped bamboo knife

Phantom's Review: , Micro-budget horror film. Themes that might have more interesting,had the film had a better script prove to be a bit silly here.Head hunters, immortality and Amazon magic are all used but to no great effect. The acting is over the top (especially Henry Daniell) and there are no real scares. Overall, just another low budget film that is easily forgettable.

[Phantom Stranger]

"Trick r Treat" (2007)

Plot: IMDB
Five interwoven stories that occur on the same block, on the same night. A couple finds what happens when they blow a jack o' lantern out before midnight, a high school principal has a secret life as a serial killer, a college virgin might have met the right guy for her, a group of mean teens play a prank that they take too far, and a hermit is visited by a special trick or treater.

Phantom's Review: Let's face it guys, as Horror fans, we have to sit thru a lot of crap looking for something that's good to watch. But every now and then a film comes along and makes it all worth while, for me "Trick r Treat" was one of those rare little gems. This is a great  movie. Terrific acting, a superb story that blends several interlocking stories together, very atmospheric. It's a nice blend of scares, gore and humor that really captures the "spirit " of Halloween. I think this film is going to go on the list of yearly treats that I watch. Highly recommended.

[Phantom Stranger]

"The Haunting" (1963)

Plot: IMDB
Dr. Markway, doing research to prove the existence of ghosts, investigates Hill House, a large, eerie mansion with a lurid history of violent death and insanity. With him are the skeptical young Luke, who stands to inherit the house, the mysterious and clairvoyant Theodora and the insecure Eleanor, whose psychic abilities make her feel somehow attuned to whatever spirits inhabit the old mansion. As time goes by it becomes obvious that they have gotten more than they bargained for as the ghostly presence in the house manifests itself in horrific and deadly ways.

Phantom's Review: Arguably, the greatest ghost story ever filmed. Every time I watch this film I'm amazed by how good it is. With the just the use of good acting, writing, some superb direction , minimal FX and plenty of atmosphere director Robert Wise made a true classic. With so many modern films overloaded with special FX, it's nice to sit back and enjoy this creepy classic.

[Phantom Stranger]

"Deep Rising" (1998)
                   -Treat Williams

Plot:IMDB

A group of heavily armed hijackers board a luxury ocean liner in the South Pacific Ocean to loot it, only to do battle with a series of large-sized, tentacled, man-eating sea creatures who have taken over the ship first.

Phantom's Review: I love this movie. It's just a good old fashioned monster movie. Plenty of scares, action, gore and humor. A fun "leave your brain at the door and enjoy" type of film. Highly recommended.

[Phantom Stranger]

John Carpenter's
"Vampires" (1998)
                -James Woods

Plot: IMDb
A vengeful vampire slayer must retrieve an ancient Catholic relic that, should it be acquired by vampires, will allow them to endure sunlight.

Phantom's Review: Vampires have always been my favorite movie monsters and before they were ruined by sparkly, twinkly pansy boys, they were like this: Scary , violent and powerful. "John Carpenter's Vampires" shows them like this. The film is well made. Has some good scares, plenty of violence and gore and has some damn sexy women and James Woods is totally bad ass as the veteran slayer with a personal grudge against vamps. Highly entertaining.

[Phantom Stranger]

Just got back from the "Frankenstein/ Bride Of Frankenstein" double feature. What a truly awesome way to see these classics. A good crowd of fans and excellent copies of both films. This is a great way to celebrate Halloween.
__________________

[Phantom Stranger]

"Snow White And The Huntsman" (2012)

Plot: IMDb

In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.

Phantom's Review: First the good things, Charlize Theron is excellent as the evil queen. The movie is beautifully filmed, it has a kind of "Lord Of The Rings"style going for it. Some good special FX and fine action scenes.
The Bad things: Sadly, the worst thing about the movie is Snow White herself. Kristen Stewarts vacant, dead behind the eyes stare gave her a look of somebody who is perpetually stoned. Her acting abilities are non existent and she has the emotional range of a paper bag. I have never seen her before in a movie and if this is the best she can do, then I truly don't understand her popularity. This is a film that should have been great but instead is only OK.

[Phantom Stranger]

"Hound Of The Baskervilles" (1959)
                             Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee

Plot: IMDB
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson investigate the legend of a supernatural hound, a beast that may be stalking a young heir on the fog-shrouded moorland that makes up his estate.

Phantom's Review: While not one of my favorite Holmes films, this is nonetheless a superior mystery film with the ususal Hammer Film atmosphere and style. Cushing makes for a fine Holmes and Christopher Lee is a bit subdued as Sir Henry Baskerville. Well made and entertaining even though they made a few changes to the Arthur Conan Doyle story.

[Phantom Stranger]

"Curse Of the Undead"(1959)
                 -Michael Pate, Eric Fleming

Plot: IMDB
Young women in a small Western town are dying one by one of an unknown malady involving massive blood loss. The Carter family's ranch is being terrorized by ruthless land baron Buffer. And a mysterious black-clad gunfighter with an aversion to sunlight has just arrived in town.

Phantom's Review: I love this film. I watch it every Halloween. While most definitely a "B" movie, this is actually a very good "B" movie. It's able to combine elements from both supernatural horror and western into one story and make it good. Filled with familiar character actors that are easily recognizable to fans, some nice creepy atmosphere and a great spooky music score. This is a fun Halloween treat for those of us who are fans of both Horror and Westerns.

[Phantom Stranger]

"House Of Dark Shadows" (1971)
                           -Jonathan Frid

Plot :IMDB
Recently unleashed from his coffin by local drunk, Willie Loomis, the vampire Barnabas Collins goes on a killing spree, while at the same time charming his present day family members. In the process he meets local girl Maggie Evans and notices that she looks exactly like his deceased fiance Josette. Barnabas assumes that she is the reincarnation of Josette, and plans to make him his unholy bride for eternity.

Phantom's Review: One of my favorite vampire films. Good story (adapted from the soap opera) plenty of Hammer film style gore and atmosphere. And some fine acting from the stars. Highly entertaining.