Presidents Day (2013)

In the 80’s, horror fans were treated to a very commonslasher theme. Holiday Slasher films became very popular and as a result tonsof titles were subsequently released. Titles like Silent Night, Deadly Night, My Bloody Valentine, April Fools Day, New Years Evil, Halloween were flying offof home video shelves and filling theaters alike. However as the genre died sodid the amount of holiday-based slasher movies. Sure some still trickled intovideo stores but, those really didn’t do anything for seasoned fans. Its hasn’tbeen until recently that holiday slasher films have started making a slight comeback,Granted most are in the form of remakes like My Bloody Valentine 3D, Rob Zombie’sHalloween 1 & 2, Silent Night, but I’m also seeing some upcoming originalfilms like Easter Sunday... and the yet to be made Eli Roth fake trailerThanksgiving! Presidents Day is no exception to this group!

Written by Jimmy George & Chris LaMartina Presidents Dayis basically about a slack named Berry, he gets a hard on for the new girl andnotices she’s running for student council president. As a way to get to knowher more, Berry also runs for President. Little do they know another Presidentis in the running, and this time he’s killing the competition.

Being that the film was shot in 2009 and just now released,gave me worries but Presidents Day is a really good new slasher film.Everything is good about this film. Acting, Practical Effects, Story, Editing,and Directing are all just pieces of what makes this film so successful. Thefilm notably stars Bennie Mack McCoy IV as Berry, Lizzy Denning as Joanna,Nicolette le Faye as Chelsea, fellow film reviewer Shawn C. Phillips as Dennisand Ryan Thomas as Officer Kennedy. All the actors, even the ones I didn’t namedid great jobs with their respective roles. I felt that every character wasbelievable and seemed like they were all around the age of high schoolstudents. Bennie was the stand out for me, he did some subtle thing inreactions and mannerisms that really helped bring a fluid & natural feel tohis character.

The gore in the film was done very well, and the body countis very high. Practical effects took the lead in the effects department offeringup some choppings, decaps, slices, dices, burnings, hangings, suffocation,smashing, some comical dismembering, and more. This film is not without thered stuff and gorehounds should be satisfied. Also the film boasts some skinfor the guys including two breast shots, and a lingerie shot. The ladies areout of luck on this one, sorry girls better luck next time.

The story is fluid and there were no big plot holes orcontinuity errors. My only disappointment is I knew who the killer was rightoff the bat. It doesn’t take anything away from the film as the reveal was stillgood, I just had my suspicions. Editing of the film was also very well done, noharsh cuts or terrible dialogue levels, I believe this can be attributed to thedirection of Chris LaMartina, nothing was out of place or weird. We got somefairly straight forward shots and as a result the film is easily watchable.

Obviously, GLP loved Presidents Day and we thing you willto, It does everything a slasher film is supposed to do. Independent films aretaking the for front of Horror and I am not complaining. GLP gives Presidentsday a solid 4 out of 5 stabs for great story, gore, acting, and behind thescenes work. I highly suggest hunting down this film and grabbing your copy. It’sa great flick and has classic written all over it. The film is currentlyavailable on DVD through Amazon. For more information and the film and cast youcan visit the films Facebook page. View the trailer below.

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New Years Evil (1980)

This weeks review will wrap up our first annual Gory Little Christmas. Its been fun but now its time for a New Year, new movies, new challenges, and new posts on GLP. Since New Years is just around the corner we decided that a review of the cult classic New Years Evil would be appropriate. So sit back, relax and take a sip of something bubbly cause were bringing in the New Year with blood!

New Years Evil is another one of those video treasures I found as a kid. One of the countless holiday themed slasher films, does New Years Evil stand up to its competition? Not quite, but its a fun ride into early 80's slasher cinema. NYE offers up some tip top cheese and very little red stuff, but manages to have some interesting rhetoric. After watching NYE again...I'm curious as to what I found so interesting about it when I was younger.

NYE stars Roz Kelly of Happy Days fame, Kip Niven, and Grant Cramer who would later go on to star in the classic films Hardbodies, and Killer Clowns from Outer Space. The film full of cheese acting, sometimes it was almost comedic, however Roz, Kip, and Grant manage to do decent jobs with the script it had. Basically Roz's character Diane aka Blaze is throwing an on TV New Years bash when she gets a call from a Killer threatening to kill someone she knows at 12 midnight for every time zone. That's basically it. Its doesn't go a whole lot deeper than that until the end when you find out who the killer is.

The killer, you see his face the entire film, so you know who is committing the murders. What the writers thought was clever was revealing who REALLY is at the end...which was kind of a let down but it worked ok i guess. As I said earlier, this film did not live up to the height at which I had held it as a younger kid. It fell straight on its face. I lost much interest in the film about midway through, however I was pulled back in for the ending.  The most interesting part of the film was the soundtrack, which is a glorious 80's piece of work.

NYE really lacks all of the great qualities of a memorable slasher film...Blood, Nudity, Creative Killer, and kills that actually mean something. No jumps, no scares, no suspense. It was all so bland. I spend much of the film laughing than anything else. NYE is a mediocre slasher with bland kills, and bland everything else. However due to it being a holiday themed slasher it will be held close to my heart, even if it is very boring. NYE gets 2 out of 5 stabs for laughably bad acting and plot, as well as being extremely boring. Even with its bad pacing and silly story its still a fun watch in a group. NYE is finally available on DVD. View the trailer below.

 

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The Art of Scare

Since I am a moron my original post is being pushed till next week. I grabbed the wrong usb cable and can not upload pictures from my camera. But regardless I have and equally good post for you today.

I am a graphic designer by trade. I went to school for it and landed a rather kush job using my degree. I have always been fascinated with the illustrations of 80’s horror films. During the early 80’s most of the films used artists to design their posters and cover art. As a result, a lot of really cool and original artwork came out of it. Here are some of my favorite posters I would see as a kid rooming through left over posters at my moms old video store.

First on the list is Curtains (1983). I love this poster. The old lady mask in the background is a really nice touch, seeing as how the killer in the film wheres a mask similar to this. The creepy blank stare porcelain doll give the poster an air of unease. I really enjoy the mouth of the old hag tuning into curtains as well.

To sum up Curtains basically an actress commits herself into a mental institution to study for a role. While there the director of the film in which she is studying has her officially committed and offers the role to 6 younger actresses that are all invited to the directors home for a weekend audition where one woman will be crowned. Eventually the girls start being picked off 1 by 1 by someone in an old hag mask!

While this film is a classic in the slasher genre is has not gotten an official DVD release, it has been featured in a horror 4 pack but offers up a horrible transfer and has left most of the genre junkies quite pissed about it! Find this movie and watch it!

Alone in the Dark (1982) is a film that I had to hunt down when I first saw it. I vaguely remember seeing this poster in the old poster bin at the video store my mother worked at. I have always thought this poster was one of the better of the genre films of is time. There is no chance of misinterpretation with this guy. The waist down depiction of the man with the axe really sets the focal point for this poster. The blood stained axe lets you know your in for some slashing, and the lone home in the background really captures the desolate feeling of films final showdown.

Basically the film is about 4 escaped mental patiants that go on a killing rampage. All the while after their doctor from the asylum. I would also suggest people see this film. I consider this to be one of the better slasher movies of the 80's. The story is very well put together and the acting is pretty good as well. Also the late Jack Palance is featured as a lead in this gem.This film is available on DVD through Amazon and most other online DVD retailers. Check this classic out!

Last on today's list is the ORIGINAL Prom Night (1980) featuring Jamie Lee Curtis in here 3rd film role and the late Lesile Nielsen. This film for me is a staple in the slasher genre. I always remember this seeing this film in the video stores, and actually seeing 2 different posters, the other being Miss JLC as prom queen with a bloody axe in a bouquet of roses. I always found this poster to be very effective. Seeing the silhouette of the killer and only his eyes and hand holding a glass shard really adds to the mystic of the films killer. Being that you don't know who the killer is until the final seconds of the movie this poster nails it. I like the simplistic approach to the poster as well, the artist didn't convolute the artwork with things that were unnecessary.

The basic rundown of the film is much like any other slasher film out. A group of high school senior are being stalked by an unknown killer in a ski mask wearing all black. For me, they story of why the killer is stalking the high schoolers is what makes me like this film so much. Prom Night is available on DVD but has had multiple released by different companies, and most of the transfers are not that great. But hey its the slasher genre so the transfers only add to the sleaze.

Thats all for today, I hope you like my artwork post today, let me know what you thought!

Sleepaway Camp (1983)

            Sleepaway Camp is a movie that I will absolutely never forget, and for those of you that have seen this cult classic you understand why. Sleepaway Camp really embodies that of the Slasher genre. With slick kills and an ending that will have reeling for days after you first see it, GLP has nothing but praise for Robert Hiltzik’s little gem of a slasher flick.

            This title has a familiar story line to most slashers of the early 80’. Camp setting, unknown killer on the loose, ect. What it does have , however, is a fresh look & twist on what was then a fairly new formula. All the usual suspects are also present. You have the bully, the hot head, the quiet one, the old wise man, the nerdy kid, and a slew of random that are introduced but not really expanded upon. Even with that, the film manages to find a way to keep its audience captivated.

            The basic plot is 2 live in cousins Ricky and Angela go to Camp Arawak for that summer. Being the new kid at summer camp Angela is picked on by most of the camp regulars. But something sinister is picking the tormentors off one by one, until the final revile that will leave you stunned.

            At the time the formula had not been done too much, Camps however seemed to be the go to setting for horror movies in the early 80’s. Can your really blame them though. I always thought there was something extremely creepy about being surrounded by all that nature, the feeling of seclusion, the endless woods, and most of the time a bleak lake. Regardless of the popular setting, Hiltzik made it work. Not so much by focusing on the setting but developing the story around it.

            The two main characters Ricky and Angela played by Jonathan Tiersten and Felissa Rose really make this film great. The evolution of Felissa’s character throughout the film is mesmerizing. She doesn’t even say a word until almost the 30 minute mark, causing an air of mystery to the character of Angela.  Ricky on the other hand is almost an exact opposite to her. Ricky is a foul mouthed hot head teenager who is constantly sticking up for his cousin, and having been to the camp before, seems to have a good grasp on the individuals at Camp Arawak.

            The film boasts rather impressive special effects. All of the scenes are very well done. Even with a rather low amount of the red stuff, the kills are effective. I think m favorite part of the movie besides the ending is the fact that there are a large amount of deaths that don’t use traditional weapons. Hiltzik did a really good job of incorporating the setting for cause of deaths. What I mean by that is, using items that are not necessarily man made like guns and knifes, but things that nature itself created.

            All and all this film really optimizes the early 80’s slasher genre. With great special effects, a great leading cast, and a fresh take on a relatively common formula. Sleepaway Camp will deliver to just about every horror fan out there. Don’t let the lack of red stuff fool you. This film will deliver all the goods and maybe a little more than you expect! GLP gives this move 5 stabs, for its, even then, fresh take on the slasher formula, excellent leading characters and the most shocking slasher ending of all time! If you are interested in buying the film you can get the stand alone DVD here, or if your luck you can get your hands on a good copy of the special edition "Survival Kit" boxset which is now out of print here. You can view the original trailer below!

GLP Rating

The Burning (1981)

The Burning is one of those slasher films that once you watch it, you will not forget about it. When I think of slasher movie stand outs, this one is definitely in my top five. For those of you who are not familiar with this title let me run it down for you. A camp caretaker who is notorious for being a cruel and unsavory man winds up on the wrong side of a prank gone bad. The prank leaves him horribly disfigured with terrible burns. Upon his release from the hospital, the caretaker returns to the old camp and has some fun with garden shears.

The Burning is a tale of blood and tears that most slasher fans will fall in love with instantly. The film features the motion picture debut of Jason Alexander, Fisher Stevens and Oscar winner Holly Hunter. While little Holly plays the role of Sophie she is actually hard to recognize but, Fisher and Jason have rather significant roles that showcase their talent even as young actors.

The Burning was also one of the first films released by Miramax Films with Bob Weinstein taking on co-writing duties, as well as Harvey Weinstein as a producer. Until its long awaited DVD release in September 2007 this film was a rather rare piece of cinematic gold. The film was under quite a bit of controversy in the UK when it was first released, resulting in it being place on the notorious Video Nasties list. The notorious RAFT MASSACRE was one of the driving forces for the ban. 

Make-Up effects artist Tom Savini is probably the driving force behind this cult classics post theatrical success. The Burning’s death scenes are some of the best in the slasher genre. The stomach scissors, and raft scene will undoubtedly haunt you for years to come. The acting however is at times hit or miss, but with the abundant kills and creepy atmosphere it really doesn't matter that much.

I would HIGHLY suggest this film to any slasher fan, or general horror fan for that matter. The story is solid, and the kills are even better. Right now you can currently buy the film on DVD at Amazon, or if you have a Netflix membership you can stream it here. View the trailer below. 

 

All in all this movie is great for the hardcore slasher fan, casual horror fans may be hit or miss. With a decent amount of nudity and an ample amount of gore this film delivers all the goods of the famed 80's slasher genre.

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