Dead End (2003)

3.5 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: Read the signs.
Directed by: Jean-Baptiste Andrea, Fabrice Canepa
Written by: Jean-Baptiste Andrea, Fabrice Canepa
Actors include: Ray Wise, Lin Shay, Alexandra Holden
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 85 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Although I thought this was relatively enjoyable there were some extremely cheesy things that kept this from being great. The story is about a family driving out on Christmas Eve to go to a relative's house. The father decides to take a short cut which lands them in a world of trouble. They end up on a extremely long road, all signs of life have disappeared except for a ghost (badly acted by model Amber Smith) who appears every time they have to stop the car. It's kind of a hybrid of a Stephen King novel and Identity in a way, sort of the mystery of what the heck is going on (though it's obvious). It's definitely a situational horror thing and it's quite effective on that level, there is some gore and even a tiny bit of comedy (I love Mom's drawing) packed in there. It's not the most amazing film one is likely to come across, but the family is well acted and somewhat believable and the what if factor is what really makes it work.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

To All A Good Night (1980)

2 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline:  You'll Scream 'til Dawn
Directed by: David Hess
Written by: Alex Rebar
Actors include: Jennifer Runyon, Forrest Swanson, Linda Gentile
Genre: Horror
Length: 90 minutes
Banned: Iceland

Review:
Oh dear, well this is a Christmas slasher that is extremely cheap, dark and even hard to see what's going on some of the time. It was directed by David Hess (who should stick to raping women in films) and although I'm sure he's seen many slashers this 'un is proof that not just anyone can make one. It's definitely color by numbers, a group of wooden teens have a party and a killer dressed as Santa bumps them off one by one. Even the deaths weren't imaginative! The characters seem to lack motivation for most things and plenty of times they could have gotten away or gone for help or whatnot and of course they just hang out and have sex waiting to be killed without asking questions. At least most have some sort of original twist or surprise but I should note that this did come out before Silent Night, Deadly Night but Deadly Night is a zillion times more entertaining!

Availabilty:  Currently Not On DVD
To All a Goodnight

The Signalman (1976)

4.5 / 5 Dec '09
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Lawrence Gordon Clark
Written by: Charles Dickens, Andrew Davies
Actors include: Denholm Elliott, Bernard Lloyd
Genre: Horror, Drama
Length: 37 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Part of the UK's A Ghost Story For Christmas series and likely the best story of the lot (though I've only ever seen one other that was also quite good). It's a short period piece but it packs a nice little punch. We follow around a Signalman (bet you wouldn't have guessed that) who seems to be haunted by an image that appears when a disaster happens. This all started after he watched a nasty crash between two trains in a tunnel. He meets a friendly fellow and the two talk about life, work and become friends. It's more than just that though as the dreary ominous atmosphere builds into quite a wonderful flick. When you consider this will only take a little more than a half hour of your time and it's probably the best Christmas ghost story how could one say no?

Availability:  Currently Unavailable