In part one, (see part 1 of Frtiz Lang’s M) we covered Fritz Lang’s immortal film M and the vampire serial killer that inspired it. But we were only breaking the skin in terms of Teutonic maniacs. This round we’ll slice a little deeper. A word of warning—I don’t recommend eating bratwurst while reading this article. Here we go! …

The late James Brown was a human dynamo whose relentless touring schedule earned him the nickname “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.” But there are some movie directors out there whose untiring work ethic would have earned The Godfather of Soul’s admiration. Admittedly, some of the filmmakers on this list are more notable for the quantity of their work …

Most films strive for linear, coherent storytelling, creating a believable world full of relatable characters. But occasionally you stumble across a film that breaks the shackles of logic and reason to explore a dreamlike realm. Here are ten films that offer a guided tour of a filmmaker’s inner thoughts, fears and desires. You can label them experimental, surreal, oneiric or …

For this chapter in Horrifying History we’re focusing on the groundbreaking, but sadly overlooked, 1931 film M and the devil’s brigade of real life monsters that inspired it.  Fritz Lang’s M is a remarkable accomplishment on multiple levels, and, like all those we’ve featured, it’s inspired by grisly real-life events. This time we’re traveling back to Germany’s post World War …

Sometimes I wonder why Hollywood leans so heavily on sequels and remakes when producers could just crack open a history book and find some of the most ghoulish tales imaginable. If Hollywood was pitching this epic they’d proclaim, “It’s MASTER AND COMMANDER meets THE HILLS HAVE EYES!” So lets kick off the Horrifying History series with that gruesome saga known …

Rate This Movie SYNOPSIS: Sarah, an orphan with telekinetic powers is accepted to a prestigious university along with her perfectly normal stepsister, Patty. The two girls attempt to join the most renowned sorority on campus, but only Patty is accepted. Sarah joins a rival sorority overseen by the eccentric Mrs. Hunter, who takes an unhealthy interest in Sarah’s psychic abilities. …

Rate This Movie SYNOPSIS: A 747 carrying three hundred passengers crashes killing everyone on board but the pilot. The sole survivor miraculously walks away unharmed, with no memory of what caused the crash. The victim’s ghosts return to haunt the lone survivor while taking vengeance on anyone who desecrates their memory. REVIEW: 1981’s The Survivor was produced during the 70’s …

Rate This Movie SYNOPSIS: A Hollywood actor returns to his hometown to investigate his sister’s suicide. But he discovers she may actually have been murdered and all the clues point to a cursed church and it’s mysterious priest. REVIEW: I recently worked a particularly spooky night shift with the locations department of a television series. Due to a broken door …

Rate This Movie SYNOPSIS:   Cells from an alien life form are accidently brought aboard the space station Gamma-3. They quickly grow into an army of deadly creatures with electrified tentacles hell bent on killing the crew. REVIEW: Here’s some fun “elevator pitches” for science fiction movies. How about having astronauts land on an asteroid that’s on a collision course …

SYNOPSIS: When a population explosion of wild rabbits threatens his land a rancher turns to a pair of ecologically minded scientists for help. But their scientific miracle creates a whole new problem… of gigantic proportions! REVIEW: The post Star Trek-Original Series years weren’t kind to the cast who quickly fell victim to typecasting or were just plain forgotten. William Shatner …

SYNOPSIS: After losing her baby, Laurie and her husband Frank leave New York to start a new life in the small town of Lilith. But despite its bucolic façade, Lilith is no Mayberry. The local populous all practice witchcraft and Mr. Cato, the town’s patriarch has demonic designs on Laurie. REVIEW: I vividly remember a Variety ad from the 1980s …

SYNOPSIS: Four friends discover that an urban legend about a seductive phantom hitchhiker is no myth. Now the spectral beauty is intent on loving one of them to death. To lift the curse they must venture to an abandoned ghost town and face a parade of zombies and evil spirits. It’s a deranged paint-huffing Evil Dead wannabe from the director …

SYNOPSIS: A female demon, or Succubus, is charged with seducing wicked men before sending them to their hellish eternal reward. Tiring of her duties she vows to seduce a man who is pure of heart. She sets her sights on Marc, a heroic ex soldier now living in isolation with his sister Amael. But to accomplish her mission she’ll need …

SYNOPSIS: Professional gigolo and part time con artist Matt Stone sets his larcenous sights on a flirtatious dowager and a widowed single mom. But his attempts to con both women are complicated by the widow’s meddling twelve-year-old daughter. To avoid capture Matt is forced to kill everyone who gets in his way.  REVIEW: IMPULSE  (1974) could be considered a double …

SYNOPSIS: Rural Texas is struck by an invisible energy wave that transforms nice small town folk into BLOODSUCKERS FROM OUTER SPACE. REVIEW: On this round of reviews I was assigned two of the greatest titles ever conceived – Satan’s Cheerleaders (1977) and Bloodsuckers from Outer Space (1984). I didn’t say they were great movies, just great titles destined for garish …