My Top-10... (Part 2)

This week I finish Part 2 of My Top 10 Lesser Known 80's Slasher Movies list. I will say that for me making this list was HARD! I'm such a huge fan of the Slasher genre that picking only 10 was one of the hardest decisions ever. My process for this was to write down the first 10 lessor known films that popped into my head, then I organized them to the best of my abilities. Trust me, this was no easy task. I will probably post something in the coming weeks as honorable mentions to this list. So lets get on with the show.

5. Just Before Dawn
A group of teens go out into the wilderness for a camping trip, but when they start encountering strange things, and noises they find out that they may not be the only ones in the woods.

This movie had a lot of good things going for it. It is a slasher film but its rather toned down compared to most others from this time. It sports an above average cast that does tremendously well, a great score, and a setting the provides just the right amount of eeriness that makes a great horror film. The final scene of the film is what most will remember from this movie and the supsiquent death of some poor hunter in the beginning of the film. All in all its a great watch.

4. Nail Gun Massacre
After a woman is brutally raped by a large group of construction workers, someone wearing army fatigues and a motorcycle helmet armed with a nail gun is picking off locals one by one. Is it the rape victim or is it someone more sinister all together?

This film is full of campy goodness. From start to finish it gets more ridiculous by the second. This film was made on a next to nothing budget and it defiantly shows, but the film has this odd charm about it. I think this charm is part of the reason it has became such a cult classic among slasher enthusiasts. There is ample nudity throughout the film, pleny of bloody deaths, and the same song plays though different scenes in the movie. HILARIOUS. Great watch, check it out.

 3. Curtains
After a very predominate actress puts herself in a mental institution to study a role, the director leavers her there and decided to cast some new fresh faced talent instead. He gathers the girls at his mansion, and beings a long audition process for the role. When girls start going missing and seeing a strange old lady, they realize that they may be cut from the competition completely.

This film is great, one of the better stand alone slasher films of this time period. Its got a very ominous killer and a great cast. There is a very iconic death scene in this movie that everyone talks about...watch it and you will know what I'm talking about. This film also has a very shitty dvd release in a midnight horror 4 pack, that fans are not very happy about.   

2. Madman

When a camper investigates the house of the legend Madman Marz, He awakes something evil and Madman his out to destroy anything in his path. 

The film is a classic. Its got a great story, an iconic killer, and really awesome deaths. Its also a little hard to find too, with an Anchor Bay release that trumps the Code Red release 10 fold. If your lucky enough to grab an anchor bay release prepare to spend anywhere between 30 - 75 bucks on a solid copy. Watch this film now.

 1. Graduation Day
After a high school track star dies, a killer is hunting down her former teammates. Is the killer out for revenge or are they just quenching their thirst for blood.

While this movie is more widely known among horror fans, it is still not an extremely popular title. Graduation Day is an early Troma film that takes itself surprisingly serious. Most notable Troma films are goofy and downright ridiculous. This film plays the slasher game by the numbers and is pretty successful. With a decent cast, and some pretty cool kills this film really stands out for me. With a "twist" ending that really encapsulates the 80's slasher time period. this film is a great watch. This film also boasts an early apperance of the vivacious Vanna White.

Well that's it. We made it to the end. Let me know what you think of the list in the comments section below.

My Top-10... (Part 1)

I’ve decided to do something a little different this week. I have seen a lot of people doing top 10 list in many sub-genres of horror. Lists like “My Top-10 Vampire Movies” are even “My Top-10 80’s Horror Boob Shots” ect, ect. I tend to love reading through these types of lists on other blogs and websites, even if I don’t agree it’s always nice to see where some movies stack up for other people.

As most of you know, I am a HUGE fan of goofy 80’s Slasher Movies…To me this era was the best, the kills pushed the envelope, the skin ran rampant through dusty VHS tapes. So today, I present to you part 1 of “My Top-10 Lesser Known 80’s Slasher Films”

10. Scalps

This forgotten little slasher gem is about a group of college kids who venture out into the desert in search of ancient Indian artifacts. The group however unknowingly awakens an evil Indian spirt who will stop a nothing to protect his land.

In short, this film is pretty fun. The acting is horrendous, and the plot is a little slow but once you get into the film the film kicks into overdrive and creates some pretty gory and violent kills. The score of the film is pretty cool too.

9. The Dorm That Dripped Blood (aka Death Dorm, Pranks)

TDTDB is about a small group of college students (notice a trend here) that stay at the college during Christmas break to clean out an old dorm so it can be demolished. Someone however is picking off the students, but is it really who they think it is? 

This film is a classic. Made by 2 UCLA students in the early 80’s on a next to nothing budget this film has become somewhat of a cult classic. This film is also one of the unfortunate victims of the early MPAA being heavily cut for excessive gore and violence. The plot is again slow to start but it picks up about 15 – 20 minutes in. Lucky enough for us hardcore slasher fans, synapse films released a stellar UNCUT Blu-Ray/DVD combo of the film that TRUMPS all the other releases of the film including the notoriously bad lighting problem of previous transfers.

8. Superstition 
Superstition is about a witch that was condemned to death and drowned in 1692. The witch curses the grounds she was killed on and promises eternal revenge. Jump to our present time (80’s) and the property has been given to a local church. Since the curse extremely violent things have happened here, and now the violence has escalated.

I love this film, not only does it involve witchcraft but it’s REALLY gory. The story is solid and the effects are great. The acting is again full of cheese, and the score leaves a bad taste in your mouth but it’s a fun & entertaining supernatural slasher flick.

7. Roctober Blood
A heavy metal rocker goes on a killing spree and after he is caught and executed he comes back, and is ready for his encore.

This film is BAD, the acting is terrible. The storyline is wack, and the kills are pretty basic. For some reason, I am drawn to this film like flies to shit (pun intended). Maybe it’s the sheer ridiculousness of it all, or the fact that it’s based around heavy metal. Still it’s a great watch, even better with a group of like-minded individuals of some equally bad beers.

6. Hell High
A group of high school teens decide they are going to get even with their wicked science teacher and play a cruel trick on her. The kids prank quickly goes wrong, and terrible things start happening to the students.

This film is a very good flick. The story is solid and the acting is not dreadful. The gore effects are good and the score is appropriate. While it’s not perfect (most slashes are far from it), it possesses a charm not found in most rare slasher films. I am honestly surprised more people don’t know about this film.

That’s it for part 1 of “My Top-10 lesser known 80’s Slasher Films.” Stay tuned for the next installment in the coming weeks. Thanks for reading! If you feel so inclined seek out these films and let me know what YOU think about them in the comments section below.