The Fly (1958)

4 / 5
Tagline: If she looked upon the horror her husband had become...she would scream for the rest of her life!
Directed by: Kurt Neumann
Written by: George Langelaan, James Clavell
Actors include: David Hedison, Vincent Price, Kathleen Freeman
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror
Length: 94 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
Considering it's sort of hoaxy sci-fi from the fifties (which usually isn't my bag) it's actually quite entertaining and stylish. Here we have a scientist who accidentally winds up in a transportation chamber with a fly and as a result guess what he turns into. His wife finds out and then the dilemma of the situation seems to dominate the rest of the film. It's actually a great idea and the effects aren't too terrible considering. Sometimes the word "classic" means run away but in this case I'd say to watch it, the remake is actually pretty much it's equal though so if you'd like a little more modern take on the situation watch the remake (I won't tell).

Flowers In The Attic (1987)

3 / 5
Tagline: Home sweet home is murder
Directed by: Jeffrey Bloom
Written by: V.C. Andrews, Jeffrey Bloom
Actors include: Louise Fletcher, Victoria Tennant, Kristy Swanson
Genre: Drama, Horror
Length: 93 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
Firstly I adore this book to absolutely no end, I've read it over fifteen times in my youth. When I got around to watching this movie I was impressed with casting. Everyone looks exactly as I'd pictured from reading the books and they all do a good job in their roles. What's wrong is how they changed the story, I mean really changed it. What is the same is that a family is broken when their Father dies and they are broke. The only answer is to go stay with these mysterious Grandparents of their Mother's in order to win back their love and obtain their inheritance since they are loaded. The Grandfather (who is the one who is dying) doesn't know about the Grandchildren and they are forced to hide in the attic (it's all explained logically). Anyhow it turns out their Grandma is a religous and evil nut, and anyhow their stay ends up being four years of hell rather than a short stay. I don't want to ruin the story but there are tons of soap opera style twists which are awesome in the book, but it's so minimalized here and some major plot points are omitted or changed. It was really disappointing, but if you haven't read the book it won't bother you so much. Still it's a great story and I do recommend the book highly but this didn't cut it.

The Flesh And Blood Show (1972)

3 / 5
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Pete Walker
Written by: Alfred Shaughnessy
Actors include: Jenny Hanley, Ray Brooks, Luan Peters
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Length: 93 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: UK/USA

Review:
Well if you like to look at many large breasts, and heck they go so far as to show bush later for those interested. I thought that would get that out of the way firstly. It's definitely more about the flesh (which disinterests me) than the blood (which is ketchupy). The story is kind of an obnoxious scooby doo style thing with many twists and turns, all of which are boring. It's about a group of actors who have moved in to a set over the lake to prepare for and shoot an upcoming movie. The ladies on the set well they all get naked, act like idiots and a few get knifed, the males are pretty uninteresting too. I've come to really adore Pete Walker films but this one is definitely and entirely a dud for the most part. At least it's nicely shot and I made it to the end...that's a good thing right?

Flatliners (1990)

3.5 / 5
Tagline: Some lines shouldn't be crossed.
Directed by: Joel Schumacher
Written by: Peter Filardi
Actors include: Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon
Genre: Thriller, Sci-Fi
Length: 115 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
This is more of a thriller, but it's got an all-star cast and it's darned captivating. In fact as a kid it was one of my favorites, now it seems a little erm cheesy but it's still entertaining. A group of Medical students start experimenting with temporary death experiences. It's extremely dangerous but they put themselves under in order to experience strange memories and things that are unresolved. The getting to know the characters thing is actually a delight here and although it's pretty void of horror the concepts are really where the frightening stuff comes in. It's pretty well assembled, explained and well it's simply likeable even if it's not going to offer you any scares I'd say watch it!

Firestarter (1984)

 4 / 5
Tagline: She has the power...an evil destructive force.
Directed by: Mark L. Lester
Written by: Stephen King, Stanley Mann
Actors include: Drew Barrymore, Heather Locklear, David Keith
Genre: Thriller, Horror, Sci-Fi
Length: 114 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
I think this was fun to watch as a kid, but it still entirely watcheable as an adult to thanks to King's story and the excitment. We have a young couple who were experimented on (willingly) at college and it's somehow related to psychic abilities. They then produce a daughter (Barrymore) who happens to be able to start fires at will (think "Carrie" only flamier). The Government seems to be onto this information about their daughter and they want to capture the family and do testing on them (or something similar).  It's actually a pretty cool story and it's well acted even if it's hardly scary or bloody it's interesting and intensely entertaining.  It's probably the best adaptation that could have been made from the story and it keeps relatively true to King's vision I believe.  Sure they get a little carried away with flame balls towards the end but that's just action for ya!  Definitely worthwhile, great acting and you really won't feel the length of this one!

Final Destination 3 (2006)

3.5 / 5
Tagline: The Ride Will Be The Death Of You.
Directed by: James Wong
Written by: Glen Morgan, James Wong, Jeffrey Reddick
Actors include: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kris Lemche, Alexz Johnson
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 93 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: Germany/USA/Canada

Review:
What this lacks in original ideas it makes up for with creative deaths. It's the same formula as the first two, a teen predicts a horrific accident, some people listen to the prediction and live only to piss off death and have it hunt them down. This time we have an kick arse rollercoaster accident, and I mean how many horror fans have been dying to see an accident like that (I'll raise my hand). It's definitely bloody and fun and has all the teen drama trappings but it doesn't seem to matter because it's quite action pact. Highly recommended for fans of the first two and if you haven't seen them it shouldn't really matter either, this is fun no matter what. The DVD is kind of neat because it has a sort of choose your own adventure option to it where you can choose mercy or not for characters so there is extra viewing with the special effects too.

Final Destination 2 (2003)

3.5 / 5
Tagline: It's not over yet...
Directed by: David R. Ellis
Written by: Jeffrey Reddick, J. Mackye Gruber
Actors include: Ali Larter, A.J. Cook, Michael Landes
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 90 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA/Canada

Review:
Well if you saw the first movie than you likely have some idea what happens with this one. Same formula different accident. Here we have a giant awesome auto pile-up which is predicted by a teen, so of course she and some others are saved but death is angry and hunts them down in the order they would have died in the accident. The deaths are equally as creative and fun as in the first film, and it's certainly every bit as momentous and easy to watch. Definitely if you liked the first one, you'll like this one and it's not exactly like you had to watch the original to get this one but there are some nice tie-ins.

Final Destination (2000)

4 / 5
Tagline: Most people have dreams. For Alex this is real.
Directed by: James Wong
Written by: Jeffrey Reddick, Glen Morgan
Actors include: Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 98 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA/Country

Review:
I actually really like this series even if it's nothing that requires any sort of thought but perhaps that's why I like it. This time around we ahave a teen who foresees a plane crash and a group of kids get off the plane. Death isn't satisfied though because it was their time and it begins killing them in imaginative ways, in fact there is a lot of fun and play in this. It's very direct, no guessing and yes there is some great deaths so it actually should provide entertainment for most so long as you aren't looking for brilliance. It's a pretty fun idea and the cast does a fine job getting the point across, the only thing that is strange is that each of the films in the trilogy is pretty much exactly the same, just new deaths and new accident, oh well!

The Final Conflict (1981) aka Omen III: The Final Conflict

3 / 5
Tagline: The power of evil is no longer in the hands of a child.
Directed by: Graham Baker
Written by: David Seltzer, Andrew Birkin
Actors include: Sam Neill, Rossano Brazzi, Don Gordon
Genre: Horror
Length: 108 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: UK/USA

Review:
Well, the first film was of course brilliant, the second film was pretty decent and then this third piece is nowhere near as good as either. The story is now about Damien as an adult who is after world domination (who isn't?). Some Monks now must go out and try to find Damien as well as all the boys who were born on a certain day as one of them is to be the next anti-Christ. It's a pretty decent idea actually and it's pretty easy to sit through, it's just as exciting as it could be. Some good stuff does happen and if you are interested in the saga then by all means watch this, but unless you adored the first two this is little more than a time waster.

FeardotCom (2002) aka Fear.com

1 / 5
Tagline: Want to see a really killer website? It's the last site you'll ever see.
Directed by: William Malone
Written by: Moshe Diamant, Josephine Coyle
Actors include: Stephen Dorff, Udo Kier, Natascha McElhone
Genre: Horror
Length: 101 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: UK/Germany/Luxembourg/USA

Review:
My only defense is that it came on tv and I was bored so I watched it. The stupid title should be enough to deter passers by, but in case it's not let me explain why this in no way should be watched. The plot is about logging in a website called....feardotcom (go fig) and the user then turns up dead...and not soon enough. Seriously what a boring contrived piece of crap put out to capitolize on the whole Ring thing most likely. This is seriously difficult to watch and pointless and although I forced myself to get to the end I wouldn't recommend that you do the same. This is as bad as it's reputation, and that is shockingly bad!

Fear (1996) aka No Fear

3.5 / 5
Tagline: With boyfriends like this, who needs enemies? Not you.
Directed by: James Foley
Written by: Christopher Crowe
Actors include: Reece Witherspoon, Mark Wahlberg, Alyssa Milano
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Length: 97 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
Definitely more of a thriller than a horror film in nearly every way but it's a pretty decent set up at least. A young pretty girl (Reece Witherspoon) falls for a charming yet slightly strange young fellow named David. Turns out David is a bit of a psycho and ends up tormenting and even killing some of those closest to Reese. It's not that scary, but it's easy enough to watch in a made for tv kind of way. Also the celebrities make it a relatively well acted and interesting film even if it's hardly groundbreaking or frightening. One of those things to grab for a couple of bucks if you feel so inclined, also one of the first times I've seen a girl get fingered on a rollercoaster I should add...

Fatal Games (1984)

2 / 5 Apr '09
Tagline: The second prize is death!
Directed by: Michael Elliot
Written by: Rafael Bunuel, Michael Elliot
Actors include: Sean Masterson, Lynn Banashek, Sally Kirkland
Genre: Horror
Length: 88 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
Have you thought to yourself that the horror world has been overlooking the javelin as a weapon? Do you wonder why horror movies don't have more pointless nudity and plenty of boring sporting events and product placements between deaths? This movie may fulfill your fantasies and many more! Okay so it was wooden, poorly acted, you can tell who the killer is early on and it's really cheaply made. The first hour and ten minutes are so very dull, even with multiple javelin deaths! It's just sort of poorly written and I was just wishing I'd picked a better movie. There is one hugely redeeming quality about this one though and that is the awesome ending. It actually made the movie make sense, plus it was a really campy treat and the "why" factor is one I hadn't thought of. If only getting to the good part weren't so painful! Still I'm glad someone made a movie about this, it's one heck of a strange one and I'm sure fans of bad cinema will get the most from this 'un.