Category: Horror

Attack of the Puppet People

Attack of the Puppet People on VHS. Movie starring John Agar, John Hoyt, June Kenney, Susan Gordon, Michael Mark, Jack Kosslyn. Directed by Bert I. Gordon. 1958.

Attack of the Puppet People on VHS. Starring John Agar, John Hoyt, June Kenney, Susan Gordon, Michael Mark, Jack Kosslyn. Directed by Bert I. Gordon. 1958.

From the box:

Terror Comes In Small Packages!

“She’s a living doll!” changes from a flattering expression to a terrifying reality when a certifiably deranged maniac creates a shocking device that shrinks people to foot-high figurines! An “amazing triumph of special effects” (Hollywood Citizen News), this menacing mini-sized movie is so big on realistic terror, you’ll never turn your back on dolls again.

Mr. Franz is a kindly, old, silver-haired doll-maker… who turns people into living puppets! He forces his human inventions to put on parties and sing to him, but one day, tired of being toyed with, the puppets launch an attack, and suddenly Mr. Franz finds he better stop playing — and start praying — because these miniature moppets are hell-bent on revenge!

Upsize to DVD: Attack of the Puppet People

Free the puppets! (Watch instantly for free with Amazon Prime): Attack Of The Puppet People

Connection to Watergate? Trivia: Puppet People changed the history of the United States

Psychomania

Psychomania aka The Death Wheelers on VHS. Starring George Sanders, Beryl Reid, Nicky Henson. Directed by Don Sharp. 1973.

Psychomania aka The Death Wheelers on VHS. Starring George Sanders, Beryl Reid, Nicky Henson. Directed by Don Sharp. 1973.

From the VHS box:

Violence, excitement and a complete disregard for the conventions of society — this is the way of life for a group of motorbike riders who call themselves “The Living Dead.”

Leader of the gang is Tom, whose mother is a medium holding seances in her home. Together with a sinister butler, Tom’s mother exercises a strange communion with the dead. Through her, Tom learns a terrible secret — how to cross over the barrier between life and death. He suggests to his fellow riders that they put this new-found knowledge to the test.

One by one, they choose their own way to commit suicide with a difference — for each is certain he will arise from the dead.

At a secret place, a Druid’s circle of seven stones called “The Seven Witches,” the members of the gang return. Or do they? Is the butler really a domestic in a mystical household, or is he in reality Satan himself?

“Psychomania” is a powerful drama of the supernatural, the occult, and the violence which lies just beyond the conventions of society.

DVD upgrade: Psychomania



Lake Placid

Lake Placid on VHS. Horror comedy movie starring Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, Oliver Platt. With Brendan Gleeson, Betty White. Directed by Steve Miner. 1999.

Lake Placid on VHS. Starring Bridget Fonda, Bill Pullman, Oliver Platt. With Brendan Gleeson, Betty White. Directed by Steve Miner. 1999.

From the box:

An investigative team, armed with state-of-the-art equipment, high powered weaponry, and a biting sense of sarcasm, must work together to defeat Black Lake’s most ferocious resident: a 30-foot prehistoric crocodile! Betty White co-stars as cantankerous Mrs. Bickerman — a role you’ve got to hear to believe — in this terrifying tale of survival that “combines humor and thrills with remarkable deftness.” (New York Post)

Jump in the swamp DVD upgrade: The Alligator People / Lake Placid / Swamp Thing (Triple Feature)

Creature From The Black Lagoon

Creature From The Black Lagoon on VHS. Classic horror movie starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, Whit Bissell. Special appearances by Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman. Directed by Jack Arnold. 1954.

Creature From The Black Lagoon on VHS. Starring Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, Whit Bissell. Special appearances by Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman. Directed by Jack Arnold. 1954.

From the box:

Terrifying Monster Ravages Mankind!

A member of a scientific expedition traveling the dangerous Amazon River discovers an unidentifiable and mysterious web-fingered skeleton hand. The team searches further in this treacherous region to recover the rest of this terrifying beast. The search ends when they encounter a gruesome half man/half fish creature… who is alive! [The adventures of the Gill-man continue, but you won’t read it here as the remaining description just gives away the whole plot.]

DVD creature collection: Creature From the Black Lagoon: The Legacy Collection (Creature from the Black Lagoon / Revenge of the Creature / The Creature Walks Among Us)

Amazon Instant Video: Creature from the Black Lagoon

Sing it: Dave Edmunds — The Creature From The Black Lagoon




Golden Years

Stephen King's Golden Years on VHS. 232 minutes. Starring Keith Szarabajka, Frances Sternhagen, Felicity Huffman, Ed Lauter, R.D. Call, Bill Raymond. Television mini-series directed by Allen Coulter, Kenneth Fink, Mitchell Galin, Stephen Tolkin, Michael Gornick. 1991.

Stephen King’s Golden Years on VHS. 232 minutes. Starring Keith Szarabajka, Frances Sternhagen, Felicity Huffman, Ed Lauter, R.D. Call, Bill Raymond. Television mini-series directed by Allen Coulter, Kenneth Fink, Mitchell Galin, Stephen Tolkin, Michael Gornick. 1991.

From the box:

His body held the secret of time. Now time is… running out!

Reigning horror master Stephen King (Misery, Pet Sematary, The Shining) creates a chilling vision of scientific progress run amok in this electrifying, original techno-thriller! Starring Keith Szarabajka (Missing, “The Equalizer”) and Frances Sternhagen (Misery, Doc Hollywood), Golden Years features make-up and special effects supervised by legendary effects master Dick Smith (The Exorcist, Amadeus) and a plot that builds to an astonishing ending!

When aging janitor Harlan Williams is accidentally exposed to exotic chemicals in a lab explosion, he undergoes an extraordinary change. It’s a process the government will do anything to learn more about — no matter who has to die in the process. Soon, Harlan, his wife Gina and the lab’s beautiful security chief are on a cross-country race to evade a murderously effective federal agent. But even as he stays one step ahead of his ruthless pursuers, Harlan continues his transformation into something the world of science has never seen… or imagined!

DVD upgrade (2 discs, 236 minutes): Stephen King’s Golden Years

The Fog

John Carpenter's The Fog on VHS. Horror movie starring Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook, John Houseman. Directed by John Carpenter. 1980.

John Carpenter’s The Fog on VHS. Movie starring Adrienne Barbeau, Jamie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh, Hal Holbrook, John Houseman. Directed by John Carpenter. 1980.

From the VHS cover:

John Carpenter’s tale of vengeance beyond the grave…

A weather-beaten old fisherman tells an ancient tale of betrayal and death to fascinated children as they huddle together by their campfire. As a piece of driftwood in a child’s hand glows with spectral light an eerie fog envelops the bay and from its midst emerge dripping demonic victims of a century old shipwreck… seeking revenge…

DVD upgrade: The Fog (Special Edition)

Amazon instant rental: The Fog (1980)

Music by John Carpenter: The Fog (Original Soundtrack) [Soundtrack] John Carpenter | Format: Audio CD







Graduation Day

Graduation Day on VHS video. Horror movie starring Christopher George, Patch Mackenzie, E. Danny Murphy, E.J. Peaker, Michael Pataki. With Linnea Quigley, Vanna White. Directed by Herb Freed. 1981.

Graduation Day on VHS video. Horror movie starring Christopher George, Patch Mackenzie, E. Danny Murphy, E.J. Peaker, Michael Pataki. With Linnea Quigley, Vanna White. Directed by Herb Freed. 1981.

From the box:

The seniors of Midvale High are being fitted for caps and gowns — and coffins.

Taut suspense, heart-stopping shocks and mystery are all awaiting in Graduation Day. It’s just weeks before high school graduation and members of the track team are being mysteriously and gruesomely murdered, one at a time. When the team’s star runner, Laura Ramstead, falls dead at the end of a championship meet, her sister Anne (Patch MacKenzie) comes to town and a series of grisly murders begins. Is Anne responsible? Or is it coach Michaels (Christopher George) who has been fired because of Laura’s death? Perhaps it’s the campus policeman who is disliked because of his over-zealous drug investigations. Or is it Laura’s boyfriend, Kevin (E. Danny Murphy), who can’t reconcile himself to Laura’s death? You won’t want to see this one alone!

Troma DVD upgrade: Graduation Day

Watch now (instant rental at Amazon): Graduation Day

Altered States

Altered States VHS cover art. Drama fantasy horror movie starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid. Based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky. Directed by Ken Russell. 1980.

Altered States on VHS. Movie starring William Hurt, Blair Brown, Bob Balaban, Charles Haid. Based on the novel by Paddy Chayefsky. Directed by Ken Russell. 1980.

From the VHS box:

IN THE BASEMENT OF A MEDICAL SCHOOL DR. JESSUP FLOATS NAKED IN TOTAL DARKNESS. THE MOST TERRIFYING EXPERIMENT IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE IS OUT OF CONTROL… AND THE SUBJECT IS HIMSELF.

Research scientist Eddie Jessup (William Hurt) believes other states of consciousness are as real as everyday reality. Using sensory deprivation, then adding powerful hallucinogenic drugs, he explores these altered states… and endures experiences that make madness seem a blessing.

Academy Award winner William Hurt as Jessup (his film debut) heads a solid cast featuring Blair Brown, Bob Balaban and Charles Haid. Working from Paddy Chayefsky’s novel, director Ken Russell guides us with a sorcerer’s skill through Eddie’s magical and horrific journey as Altered States gyrates with dazzling visual bravado and rumbles with John Corigliano’s all-stops-out, Oscar-nominated score. Unlock the doorways of your mind — if you dare.

DVD it in your mind: Altered States

Read it in your mind: Altered States: A Novel

Hear it in your mind: Altered States (1980 Film)




Fright Night

Fright Night on VHS. 1980s horror comedy vampire movie starring Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Roddy McDowall, Stephen Geoffreys. Written and directed by Tom Holland. 1985.

Fright Night on VHS. Movie starring Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Roddy McDowall, Stephen Geoffreys. Written and directed by Tom Holland. 1985.

From the VHS box:

Meet Jerry Dandridge. He’s sweet, sexy, and he likes to sleep in late. You might think he’s the perfect neighbor. But before inviting Jerry in for a nightcap there’s just one thing you should know. Jerry prefers his drinks warm, red — and straight from the jugular! It’s FRIGHT NIGHT, a horrific howl starring Chris Sarandon as the seductive vampire and William Ragsdale as the frantic teenager struggling to keep Jerry’s deadly fangs out of his neck. Only 17-year-old Charley Brewster (Ragsdale) knows Jerry’s bloodcurdling secret. When Charley can’t get anybody to believe him, he turns to TV-horror host, Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowell), who used to be the “Great Vampire Killer” of the movies. Can these mortals save Charley and his sweetheart (Amanda Bearse) from the wrathful bloodsucker’s toothy embrace? If you love being scared, FRIGHT NIGHT will give you the nightmare of your life!

DVD upgrade: Fright Night

Oh, a remake: Fright Night

Oh, and a sort-of sequel: Fright Night 2: New Blood




The Wicker Man

The Wicker Man VHS cover. Horror mystery cult classic movie starring Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt. Directed by Robin Hardy. 1973.

The Wicker Man on VHS. Starring Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt. Directed by Robin Hardy. 1973.

From the VHS box:

The 20th Century never touched Summerisle, where pagan fertility rites — and blood sacrifice — live on!

This eerie, evocative tale ensnares you in a world where pagan gods still rule. The search for a missing child sends a British police sergeant (Edward Woodward) to the isolated island of Summerisle. Here he is drawn into an ancient fertility cult led by the obsessed Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) and a sensual Aphrodite (Britt Ekland). Modern police techniques are no match for pagan magic when the sergeant finally learns the unspeakable secret of the Wicker Man. “Pure, brilliant, spine-tingling fun,” said The Boston Globe about this award-winning cult classic.

DVD Upgrade: The Wicker Man

Watch Now: The Wicker Man (1973)

Uh-oh, Nicolas Cage Stars In A Remake: The Wicker Man (Widescreen Unrated/Rated Edition)