Category: Criterion
-
Criterion: The Hills Have Eyes (**) clunking through legends
The film would be better if there were more characters like the dog The Beast. At least that character knows when to stay quiet and when to sneak up behind an idiot savage and push him off of a high place.
-
Criterion: Shivers / They Came from Within (**1/2) feels like a bad date
It’s effective, for sure. Not my gig, even slightly, but it is not a bad film. It might even be considered good for the time.
-
Criterion: Deathdream (*) Should have stayed dead
This is a film for no one. Save your time by staring at the wall. It will feel less awkward than 95% of the dialogue of this film.
-
Criterion: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (***) is unrelenting horror
As it stands, there is no one that can take it’s cult status away. This will forever be a history making cinematic effort, even if it is almost as annoying as it is scary.
-
Criterion: Black Christmas (***1/2) coal for everyone
Bob Clark is best known for directing A Christmas Story. This sorority slaughter fest is his 2nd most famous Christmas film.
-
Criterion: It’s Alive (*) and it’s bad
Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist naturally lead to stuff like this crawling around in the sewer of entertainment. Having Warner produce just brings a nicer sheen to the turd.
-
Criterion: The Crazies (**) is a rough draft for a better film
There are occasional good moments here and there, but overall, the skill is somewhat below local theater troupe making an even lower budget version of Home for Purim.
-
Criterion Ganja & Hess (**) has history on its side
Fair or not, the film that results is worth one time through, and more if you can bear it. I had to stop on my second trip.
-
Criterion: The Wicker Man (*****) duel of faiths
Robin Hardy created a masterpiece during a time when good horror is as hard to find as the young and vibrant Rowan Morrison.
-
Criterion: Theatre of Blood (**1/2) Burning down the house
This film is one of the better Price performances. If you want to see him for what made him famous enough to be on Thriller, start with this.
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 