“Just when they thought the boogeyman wasn’t real….he came home to prove them wrong!”

Slasher films were all the rage in the late 70’s and early 80’s, and no one can deny that the one that stands out the most is probably the 1978 classic Halloween!  Written and directed by legendary filmmaker John Carpenter, this movie has stood the test of time as one of the best and most successful independent horror films of all time.  Created with a very thin budget of 300K, this iconic masterpiece was a vision that almost didn’t happen due to funding.  Originally titled The Babysitter Murders, it was recommended by producer Irwin Yablans to give the movie a “holiday” theme, and nothing was more fitting than the scariest night of the year…Halloween!

THE PLOT

On the eve of Halloween in 1978, psychiatrist Dr. Sam Loomis (Donald Pleasance) along with his nurse assistant, is on his way to an Illinois sanitarium to pick up his longtime patient, Michael Myers (Nick Castle) and prepare him for his meeting with a judge to determine his future prison sentence.  Fifteen years prior to this night, a 6 year old Michael shockingly murdered his older sister for reasons unknown.  Dr. Loomis has spent all these years trying to make sense of Michael’s actions, but due to his emotionless silence there seems to be no hope for rehabilitation. As they approach the hospital gates, they’re startled to see that many of the other patients are wandering around unsupervised.  As Dr. Loomis exits the car to find out what’s going on, the nurse is attacked and “carjacked”.  This carjacker is none other than Michael Myers, and now Loomis is panicked knowing that the “evil” has escaped, and is convinced that there is only one place he is headed…..home to Haddonfield!

The next day (Halloween), in Haddonfield, the small town is getting ready for what they think is another exciting night of tricks and treats. Teenage shy girl, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her group of wild friends are preparing for a night of babysitting, drinking, and boys.  Little do they know that they are all in for a long night of blood filled terror, as the “boogeyman” is coming home!  When Dr. Loomis makes his way into town, he quickly alerts the authorities that “evil” has come to town and there may be nothing that can stop him!  As night begins to fall, Laurie and her friends quickly go from having fun to fighting for survival as Michael Myers silently stalks and slashes his way through them all one by one!

SHOULD YOU SEE IT?

This film has become a staple for the slasher genre and a yearly tradition for movie watchers (myself included).  It’s a great popcorn flick, with plenty of tense moments and well timed jump scares. The cast is pretty great, and this is the first feature film for the “Scream Queen” herself, Jamie Lee Curtis.   Throw in a great soundtrack, including the easily recognizable theme song, it makes for a fun and spooky film that will live on for many generations to come.  The boogeyman is coming…and he’s gonna get you!

“A great old fashioned slasher flick, that’s gallons of bloody fun!”

If you’re a fan of old school 80’s style splatter films, then look no further.  Paying tribute to the slasher flicks that we have all come to know and love, comes 2006’s Hatchet.  Written and directed by Adam Green (Frozen, the ski-lift thriller), Hatchet has enough blood, guts, gore, and 80’s campy cheese to entertain any horror movie fan!

THE PLOT

Set in the good ole’ Louisiana bayou, the film follows Ben (Joel David Moore) and his best friend Marcus (Deon Richmond) who are celebrating Mardi Gras in an attempt to cheer up Ben since his recent breakup.  In an attempt to think outside the box, they decide to go on a haunted swamp tour.  Accompanied by an oddball group of tourists, the trip quickly takes a turn for the worse when their inexperienced tour guide crashes the boat and leaves them all stranded in the swamplands.  Now they are about to face an even bigger problem…Victor Crowley (Kane Hodder).  Thought to be just a local legend, Crowley, a deformed and tormented man, wanders the swamps looking for his father and killing anyone who dares to set foot on his territory.  As the night progresses, the lost and terrified tourists have to rely on each other in order to try to survive Victor Crowley’s gruesome and bloody rampage!

SHOULD YOU SEE IT?

This film is a nice and refreshing splatter film, with enough humor to keep it more than just a gore-fest.  Director Adam Green’s “No CGI rule” makes this movie even more fun, because it relies on the old fashioned practical effects that have become a bit lost in today’s horror films.  Special effects artist John Carl Buechler, whose work includes Goulies, Friday the 13^th Part VII, Nightmare on Elm Street 4, and Halloween 4, does a great job here! One kill scene in particular really stands out to me as one of the most brutal deaths I’ve ever seen in a movie.  Kane Hodder  himself told me that it was his favorite kill that he’s filmed!  Decent acting, great special effects, hilarious dark humor, and a few horror icon cameos make Hatchet a bloody good time!