Tag Archives: Saturday is Horror Day

Saturday is Horror Day #150 – The Green Inferno, Willow Creek, Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation

Leave a reply

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

The Green Inferno

Justine (Lorenzo Izzo) has the best of intentions when she joins with a group of fellow do-gooders to travel to the Amazon to stop the damage being down to the ecology by a major company. But she learns to her dismay that she was recruited for a reason, and her life was put on the line. The students’ protest ends with them being put on a plane to return home.

But things go wrong when their plane crash lands in the jungle, and the young people find themselves lost

in a hostile environment. They were previously told that the natives are less than friendly. They are about to find out how true that is, and that female genital mutilation is not a myth! And neither is cannibalism!

Eli Roth’s film is notorious for the cannibalism, headhunting,  and brutality depicted, and that is true.  This film is raw and gory, make no mistake about that. But it also isn’t a particularly good film, either. I don’t think it was well done, too focused on grossing people out to worry about anything else. The opening is slow and clunky, and the acting is nothing to write home about. I had to google the ending to understand it, and I realized that that point didn’t really come across very well when I was viewing it. I found Cannibal Holocaust more shocking than The Green Inferno (although not very good either). I hear there may be a sequel, and the ending is open to that interpretation. I’ll give this film 1.5 Stars.

Willow Creek

Jim (Bryce Johnson) is a Bigfoot enthusiast, his dream being to sight the elusive cryptid. His girlfriend Kelly (Alexie Gilmore) is not quite so interested, but she likes him enough to agree to visit Willow Creek, alleged home of Bigfoot. Willow Creek is the place where the infamous film footage of an alleged sighting was taken in 1967. Jim’s dream is to find that site and locate Bigfoot himself.

Jim and Kelly visit all the Bigfoot related businesses in town and interview various town folk before

heading into the wild. They find themselves in the middle of the deep forest, where they pitch their tent and begin their search. It seems like they are destined to be unsuccessful in their endeavors, until things begin to happen, and they end up huddled together in their tent, terrified… but of what?

It’s worth noting here that this film was written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. This isn’t a horror film in the gory, bloody sense, but I have to tell you, there is quite a bit of nail-biting suspense when Jim and Kelly are in their tent, and you can only hear but not see what is outside the tent. I really liked this film, and I would watch it again. Although the ending was unclear and I had to look up what happened, giving another layer to the film. I give this film 4 Stars.

Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation

Kim (Neith Hunter) is a would-be reporter who can’t stop thinking about the mysterious death of a woman who inexplicably threw herself off the top of a building. Her boss Eli (Reggie Bannister) doesn’t believe in her enough to give her the assignment, so she takes it upon herself to investigate and finds herself involved with a group of witches led by Fima (Maud Adams).

This fourth installment in the series really has no relation to the others, at least in terms of plot. One

might make an argument for the brief scene in which a character is watching Silent Night Deadly Night and intones “Santa Claus killer!” But that’s a weak argument  at best, despite the fact that Clint Howard plays a character named Ricky, who beings the movie as a silent sidekick but becomes suddenly quite loquacious and thoroughly creepy.

Despite this film having a few somewhat recognizable – Maud Adams was once a Bond Girl, Clint Howard is Ron Howard’s brother and has done some really creepy films of his own, Allyce Beasley was in Moonlighting and Reggie Bannister was my favorite character in the Phantasm series – this movie is beyond horrible. Terrible acting, writing, directing, and the story…. think Rosemary’s Baby, but with insects. I would avoid this one unless, like me, you are a glutton for punishment. I’ll give this film 0 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #149 – Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out, Saw V

Leave a reply

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out

Ricky Caldwell (Bill Moseley) lies in a coma and has for six years, after being shot in order to end his deadly rampage. Doctors don’t know when or if Ricky will ever awaken. Laura (Samantha Scully) is a blind young woman who has a talent that some might call ESP – despite her lack of sight, she sees things in her dreams/mind that she can’t explain. Dr. Newbury (Richard Beymer) is trying to help her understand and use these talents, but she is skeptical of the doctor’s studies and wishes to end her participation. During a particularly violent dream, her screams seem to have awakened Ricky. Let the blood bath begin anew….

This is the sequel to Silent Night Deadly Night 2, despite the fact that the part of Ricky was recast. After seeing this movie, I have to believe Eric Freeman read the script and said no. This film makes the second one look like a masterpiece. Where do I even start?

First off, if Ricky was shot in the chest in the second film, why is he wearing that weird protective device over his exposed brain? (Btw, I guess we just need to forget there was another Ricky, no explanation is given for his changed looks). This Ricky does not how “Revenge!” or “Garbage Day!” with great glee, in fact he says very little and shows no emotion whatsoever. But make no mistake, he is still a killer. And now his focus is on Laura. Why? Couldn’t tell you. Terrible plot, horrible script, terrible direction, sets, and cinematography, and very very bad exacting. Even Richard Beymer and Robert Culp (yep, that guy from I Spy) couldn’t save this. Also, there is Eric DaRe, whom I remember from Twin Peaks (oddly, his character was in a similar type situation as Ricky, almost Frankenstein-like). I didn’t recognize DaRe at first, thinking his character was cute.  Don’t ask me why, I requested the next one, where we have another actor playing Ricky. I’ll keep you in suspense until I watch and review it. I am giving this film .5 Stars. I only hope #4 is better, but I am not holding my breath on that.

Saw V

Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) emerges as a hero in the wake of Jigsaw’s death, but Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) is suspicious, believing that he was meant to perish with the others and unexpectedly he lived. He begins to search Hoffman’s past, as well as the previous Jigsaw murders. Meanwhile, five people awaken in a perilous situation, and a new game is afoot

One person Strahm seems to be focused on for information is John Kramer’s (Tobin Bell) ex, Jill

(Betsy  Russell). But she knows nothing, as her ex never made her privy to his plans, so she can’t help him. Meanwhile, the five people are trying to navigate this new situation they find themselves in. Jigsaw, as usual, has left them clues, but will they do what it takes to emerge alive?

I liked watching the evolution of Mark Hoffman as John’s assistant, as well as the struggle of the five people. They have the clues at their fingertips, if they’ll only pay attention. As with any Saw film, there is gore and there is peril. In the end, Strahm proves to be his own worst enemy. I also appreciate that Jigsaw is still very much a part of the film series, despite John’s death. There are clearly twists and turns yet to be uncovered, and I look forward to seeing them. I’ll give this film 4 St

Saturday is Horror Day #148 – We Need to Talk About Kevin, Saw IV

Leave a reply

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Every expectant parents dreams about the baby they are having, of their hopes and dreams for the new life they are bringing into the world. But sometimes reality is a far cry from what they envisioned.  Such is the case with Eva (Tilda Swinton) and Franklin (John C. Reilly). From the beginning, Kevin (Jasper Newell) was different. At first nonverbal, he was strong-willed and defiant. If he didn’t want to do something, he didn’t do it, and no one and nothing could make him do it. Even after he began to speak, he was rude and condescending. He refused to be toilet trained and was wearing diapers when he was six or seven years of age, deliberately soiling himself to force his mother to clean him up.

Eva tries, but he pushes her away at every turn. And when Franklin is around, he doesn’t exhibit the same

psychotic behavior. Eva is at her wit’s end. Getting pregnant again was not on her agenda, but it happened, and they welcomed a daughter, Celia (Ashley Gerasimovich). Celia is a sweet child, who adores her older brother, despite the horrible way he treats her. An unexplained accident leaves the poor girl with only one eye. Eva knows who is to blame, but nothing is done. She tries to talk to her husband but he doesn’t listen because he doesn’t want to hear or see what she does. And then the unthinkable happens…

This is a very chilling story, one which will especially resonate with parents. Love isn’t always the answer, and not all children are sweet and innocent. Some are just born bad. The story goes back and forth between the present and the past, and what leads up to the present. You can figure out something is wrong by the things you don’t see in the present. What do you do when your child is a monster? Is there a point at which unconditional love has to take a back seat to reality? Tilda Swinton is great as Kevin’s mother, and Jasper Newell shines as Kevin. It’s a hard film to watch, yet very compelling at the same time. I give this film 4 Stars.

Saw IV

John Kramer (Tobin Bell) may be dead, but the games are far from over. John’s legacy continues through his newest assistant. Who is that? That would be telling, now wouldn’t it. Now let the games continue!

The Saw franchise is far from over, and new puzzles await. Detective Rigg (Lyriq Bent) is put to the

test, as are various other law enforcement officials, such as Agent Straham (Scott Patterson) and Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) and Agent Perez (Athena Karkansis, who you might remember from Manifest).  As usual, John’s games target those who deserve punishment for something, but he gives them a chance to save themselves, but at a price.

This installment is not lacking in gory games or twists and turns that will leave you wondering what the heck is going on, and who is playing a game of their own. I’ll give this film 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #147 – Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, Unfriended: Dark Web

Leave a reply

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum

Gonjiam Asylum is listed by CNN as one of the seven freakiest places on the planet as well as the creepiest place in Korea. Which makes it a natural attraction for thrill seekers and attention seekers. Especially what is said to be the most haunted place in the asylum – Room 402. So far, no one has gained entry to that room. And some have disappeared in the attempt…

Ha-joon (Wi Ha-joon) is the driving force behind the Horror Times, a web-based horror series. He has a

goal in mind – one million views – not just for the accomplishment but, of course, for the revenue such numbers will generate. And what better place to do this than in the notorious asylum of Gonjian? He assembles a team and makes his plans. While they sneak inside the asylum, he operates the control center and live streams it to his hungry audience.

Everything is ready for a most profitable evening. However not everything is as it seems, as Ha-joon doesn’t believe in leaving things to change. So just maybe everything is not on the up-and-up. Everything is wonderfully scripted with moments of sheer genius when the team genuinely freaks out at what they experience. But just when has everything changed?

I have to say that this is a most creepy and spectacularly horrifying film in every sense of the word. Even when you begin to doubt the reality of what you are seeing, you can sense that the line between what is fake and what is real is thinning all the time until you have no idea what might happen next, or what has actually already happened… and why. The atmosphere is off the charts, the scares are genuine, and yes, I did jump, although most of the scares are far from predictable jump scares. Be prepared for the unexpected because this movie really delivers. You may recognize Ha-joon, as he played the young detective in the Squid Game. Very well done and very genuinely terrifying. I give this film 5 Stars.

Unfriended: Dark Web

Matias (Colin Woodell) is working on an app that will make communication between himself and his deaf girlfriend Amaya (Stephanie Nougueras) better. He seems to be getting nowhere, however, and she is becoming more and more frustrated with him. It doesn’t help that his laptop is crappy, which makes both communication and working on the app difficult. So when he notices a laptop in the lost-and-found for three weeks at the cafe where he works, he seizes the opportunity as well as the laptop.

Of course, he has to figure out how to get into it, since it’s locked. But the answer is surprisingly easy.

He skypes with Amaya to show her the app and what he has done for her, but she remonstrates with him, tells him he’s making it easy for her to understand him but not him to understand her. She leaves the chat and he logs into his friend’s group for a game of Cards Against Humanity. But there’s something odd about the laptop. He asks his friend AJ (Connor Del Rio)who suggests that it’s full. And maybe there are secret files. So Matias does some digging, and what he finds will change their lives forever…

Although the sequel to Unfriended, which I reviewed previously, this is a stand-alone film and doesn’t involve any of the characters from the other movie. I confess to being a little confused at first, not understanding what was happening. It doesn’t help that I found the texting hard to read at times and a little fast. But then everything began to come together, and I found myself fascinated as I watched everything unfold. This is an edge-of-your-seat kind of film. You never know what is real, what isn’t, and what might happen next. Terrible decisions have to be made, ones I would never want to have to make. I enjoyed the acting of everyone, they were all believable, as was the script and the direction. Be aware that there are four alternate endings. I watched them all. Well done. I’ll give this film 4.5 Stars.

‘

Saturday is Horror Day #146 – Saw III

Leave a reply

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Saw III

Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Wahlberg) awakens to find himself in quite the predicament – chained inside of a bathroom. But not just any bathroom, one that was obviously the scene of a horrific crime. Blood smeared everywhere, dead men grotesquely displayed. And the only tool he can reach is a hacksaw. He furiously saws at his chains, but to no avail. And then he spies what was clearly someone else’s solution to the dilemma. The question is, can he do the same thing?

Lynn (Bahar Soomekh) is a doctor whose marriage is clearly suffering, but she doesn’t seem to have the stamina or the will to deal with the estrangement between herself and her husband. She leaves for her night shift at the hospital, her husband’s last words ringing in her ears – “I want a divorce”. At work, she can’t seem to focus on what she should and is told to go home. But Lynn is unexpectedly kidnapped by a strange figure and wakens to find herself in her own precarious predicament. She has a deadly contraption fastened about her neck and the rules of this strange game are explained to her – she must keep John Kramer alive or Lynn will die!

John Kramer (Tobin Bell) has a new protegee, former junkie Amanda (Shawnee Smith) who is assisting him in his games. She has kidnapped Lynn to keep John alive. She has also kidnapped a man named Jeff (Angus Macfadyen) who is grieving over the loss of his son, killed in an accident. He is set to undergo tests of his own, under Amanda’s watchful eye, and just maybe he will be able to take his revenge on the man who killed his son. Let the games begin.

The third installment in the Saw franchise may just be the best one yet. Beneath the surface story of bloody violent games, Saw III is about revenge vs forgiveness. There is a lot going on here beneath the surface, as well as the usual scenes of violence and gore. Makes you think about what you would do if you found yourself in a similar situation. I really enjoyed this film. I’ll give it 4.25 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #145 – As Above, So Below

Leave a reply

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

As Above, So Below


Scarlett (Perdita Weeks) is tormented by the suicide of her father in pursuit of his life’s work – the search for the philosopher’s stone. Following in his footsteps, she finds a clue that she believes will lead her to find what he did not. She calls upon the expertise of her ex, George (Ben Feldman) who reluctantly helps her. Her clue calls for her to enter the catacombs beneath the city of Paris, where millions of bones repose. George agrees to accompany her team only so far, but refuses to enter the depths with her. However, circumstances beyond his control compel him to go with them.

A local named Papillon (Francois Civil) knows the catacombs very well, and is persuaded to guide them. 


At first all seems to go well. But they reach a blocked-off tunnel which Papillon refuses to enter, saying that people never come back from there. But again fate intervenes, and they find themselves heading deeper beneath the city, past a sign that reads Abandon Hope All Ye Who Enter. They begin to face things they cannot explain, and their team is losing members. Now they aren’t sure if they can get back to the surface, even though Scarlett has found what she believes to be the stone. Will it be their doom?

 

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this film, but I was pleasantly surprised. Basically, it’s like Dante’s inferno, where they must descend through the nine levels of hair before they can emerge, must face their demons… and some will be found lacking. It’s stylish and well edited and photographed. There is plenty of suspense and horror and mystery. I confess, I had to look it up to discover the Dantean implications. But what is repeated is As above, so below. And you have to go down to get out. All in all, I think it was well done and worth a watch. I’ll give this film 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #144 – Patient Zero, Deadstream

Leave a reply

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Patient Zero

The world is struck by a virulent pandemic which resembles rabies, but is far worse and far more deadly. So far there is no cure. Morgan (Matt Smith) is an unusual case in that he was bitten but not turned. Also, he can translate the strange new unintelligible language of the “infected”. The military uses him to question infected prisoners in hopes of finding Patient Zero and put an end to this madness. While not military himself, Morgan has a personal reason to find a cure – his wife Janet (Agyness Deyn) is one of the victims and is currently being held in the facility where Morgan works, alongside Dr. Gina Rose (Natalie Dormer) and his assistant Scooter (John Bradley).

Colonel Knox (Clive Standen) is does not have the same patience as Morgan, and displays a distinct lack

of empathy for the infect, causing the two men to often butt heads. Morgan gives the infected he talks to nicknames, generally based on musicians he likes, such as Joe Cocker and Pete Townsend. One man they bring in has been dubbed The Professor (Stanley Tucci) and he seems different from the rest, not showing the same antipathy to music the others have. Could he be Patient Zero?

Morgan loves his wife, but he’s only human. He and Gina find themselves drawing closer and closer, leading to the inevitable. In a world filled with uncertainty, how such a relationship thrive? Especially when Morgan still loves his wife and wants to find a cure for her and the others. But that entails finding Patient Zero.

To be honest, I was going to turn this one off, not because it was bad or I didn’t like it, but it’s so dark and depressing. But I reasoned that since I hadn’t seen Stanley Tucci yet, I’d wait. And once I did, I couldn’t stop watching. Yes, this is rather dystopic, so don’t look for rainbows and kittens here, but it’s an interesting study of human nature under extreme pressure. We’ve been through COVID, so we know about pandemics – this one is far worse. I was interested in seeing Matt Smith as someone other than Doctor Who, and thought he did well, as did Natalie Dormer, who you might remember from The Tudors and Game of Thrones. Stanley Tucci – well, look him up if you don’t know him. He’s done a lot. This film kept me riveted till the end, so I’ll give it 4 Stars.

Deadstream

Shawn Ruddy (Joseph Winter) was a popular video streamer who did something stupid and was banned for a while. But six months have passed and he’s back and ready to go! His specialty has always been to exploit his weaknesses as a human being through his videos. But there is one venue he hasn’t challenged yet and he’s going to do it now, by live-streaming from a haunted house! He finds a house that isn’t so famous they’ll kick him out for trespassing and beings to stream. Knowing how weak he is, he takes precautions to prevent himself from taking the easy way out, such as throwing a couple of spark plugs from his car into the woods, padlocking the front door after he enters and throwing the key where it isn’t easy to reach… His viewers seem divided between supporters and hecklers, but he doesn’t mind, sure he’ll win the skeptics over.

Shawn has cameras set up all over, and besides his own supplies, his mother has given him a few things to take, including holy water. Supposedly a number of people have died in this house, supposedly killed by a ghost named Mildred, who hung herself after the man she loved and wooed with her poetry died. Shawn sets a few ground rules for himself to his viewers, including no running away, and if he hears a noise, he has to check it out, which goes against his grain as a scaredy cat. But as he begins to tour the house, he does hear things, and he isn’t sure what he is hearing, or what we are seeing. Until everything becomes all too real…

To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect here, but it wasn’t this. There is definite scary and creepy

vibes, especially when you think you see things the main character doesn’t. I played it back a few times to make sure I wasn’t seeing things, and I wasn’t. I knew from the outset when he threw out the spark plugs and padlocked the door that this would all come back to bite him in the butt and it did! I jumped more than once, and although Shawn is not particularly likeable, he does grow some as a person during the film. I am a big fan of found footage films, and I think this was a pretty good one. Low budget doesn’t have to mean low quality, and I think this one was well done. It was also written by Joseph Winter and his wife Vanessa. Well done! I give this film 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #142 – Insidious: The Red Door

Leave a reply

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Insidious: The Red Door

Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) and his family have been through a lot, especially Josh and his son Dalton, who both experience astral projection. They decide to put everything aside. Josh and Dalton are hypnotized into forgetting everything that took that year, and all knowledge of the Further.

Nine years go by, life goes on. Josh and Renai (Rose Byrne) are divorced, and there is a strain in the relationship between Josh and his kids. When Josh’s mother dies, the family assembles for the funeral, just before Dalton is set to leave for college. Renai urges Josh to offer to drive Dalton, which he does, and Dalton reluctantly accepts. Upon arrival at the university, Josh tries to help Dalton be more social by giving him a flyer/invitation to a frat party, although Dalton insists that isn’t his scene. They find his dorm room and then when his roommate enters, he finds it’s a girl named Chris (Sinclair Daniel).

Dalton is taking an art class, and the teacher tells the students to reach deep inside of them for a memory, but when he does, he doesn’t understand what the red door means. But he is starting to see things he can’t explain. He and Chris decide to get to the bottom of things, but at what cost?

I love the Insidious movies, especially Patrick Wilson, and I don’t think this one disappoints. There is a definite creep factor, and the way the tension builds is wonderful. I think that beneath the surface story of the father and son getting back the time that was lost, it’s about healing and letting go and moving on. Look for a surprise appearance at the end of the film! All in all a satisfactory watch. I believe this will be the last of the series.I’ll give this film 4 Stars.

Saturday is Horror Day #141 – I Spit on Your Grave (1978), Violent Night

Leave a reply

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

I Spit on Your Grave (1978)

Jennifer (Camille Keaton) heads to the Connecticut woods in order to write her first novel, having previously only written short stories. Fresh air, solitude, and country living should do it, right? But she quickly learns that all things in the country aren’t good or healthy.

On arrival in town, Jennifer gets gas at the local station, where she shares her excitement over the coming summer with the owner/attendant, Johnny (Eron Tabor). Later she meets Stanley (Anthony Nichols), who delivers her groceries. He is friendly and sweet, if a little slow. Seems like a good place. But she learns otherwise when she is laying out in her bikini in a boat and Johnny and a couple of his friends come upon her and decide to have some fun, in a brutal attack which they continue even after she thinks she has escaped from them. When they send Stanley in to finish the job, he can’t do it, and lets them think he has. So now it’s time for revenge.

I’m not going to lie, the rape scenes are brutal and hard to watch.  The poor actress also spends most of the film naked. I read that the actors asked to be naked as well in order to help make her feel more comfortable. This is a revenge film, pure and simple, and as such it succeeds, although certainly not a great film in any way. But the brutality of the rape makes the revenge that much more satisfying. I am going to watch the sequel, which was made like 40 years later, and hope it’s a better film. There is also a remake of the series, which I may or may not watch. But for now, I’ll give this film 3 Stars for succeeding in its primary goal.

Violent Night

Santa Claus (David Harbour) is jaded and weary, tired of the commercialism and cynicism of the modern world. He feels as if the spirit of Christmas has been lost, and he drinks to dull the pain. Trudy (Leah Brady) is a very bright little girl with only one wish for Christmas – that Dad (Alex Hassell) and Mom (Alexis Louder) make up and get back together again. They are all meeting at her Grandma Gertrude’s (Beverly D’Angelo) house, along with her aunt and uncle and their brat, Bertrude. The latter are all in a tizzy to make sure they stay in good with the wealthy grandma. But a criminal who calls himself Scrooge (John Leguizamo) has other ideas. This is a Christmas they won’t soon forget.

You’d think with a cast like this, and an interesting premise, this movie would be a shoe-in. I like David Harbour from Stranger Things and Hell Boy, and I have loved John Leguizamo for a long time, both for his stand-up and for such movie roles as Toulouse Lautrec in Moulin Rouge (we can forget his Mario Brothers Stint). But if you believe this, you will be sadly disappointed. The film doesn’t lack of looks, and it clearly had a decent budget. But there is nothing interesting or original about it. As my son son, it’s bland. It reminds me of a wanna-be copy of Die Hard. I was not just disappointed, I was bored, and I could imagine how everything was going to play out. I gave up after about thirty minutes. I suggest you just pass on this one.

Saturday is Horror Day #141 – A Monster Calls, Silent Night, Deadly Night 2

Leave a reply

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

A Monster Calls

Twelve-year-old Conor (Lewis MacDougall) i8s having a rough life.  His mother (Felicity Jones) is dying, and the thought of living with his strict grandmother (Sigourney Weaver) is more than he can bear. On top of that, he is being bullied at school, and no one will come to his assistance. His dad (Toby Kebbell) lives in America now, and he has a new family, and he has no room for Conor. What’s a boy to do?

But then he encounter a monster in the form of a giant tree (Liam Neeson). While frightening at first, he helps Conor to cope with the reality of his existence. He tells Conor that he shall tell him three stories and then Conor will tell him his own story. Conor protests that he has no story to tell, but the Monster proceeds anyway with his tales.

I honestly did not know what to expect from this movie, but I was most pleasantly surprised. Twelve is

very young to have to deal with the impending death of one parent and the seeming indifference of the other, along with a grandmother he barely knows and doesn’t like. It’s a tale of bravery and imagination that will warm the coldest of hearts. It’s well written, acted, and directed. I really enjoyed it. I’ll give this film 4.5 Stars.

Silent Night, Deadly Night 2

Ricky Caldwell (Eric Freeman) was just a baby and his brother Billy only 7 when their family was attacked by a man in a Santa suit by the side of the road. Dad was shot and killed, and Mom was assaulted and murdered in front of her children. The two boys were sent to live in an orphanage run by Mother Superior (Jean Miller). Billy grew up haunted by what he had seen, and the nun was brutal in her punishments. He became a serial killer in a Santa suit himself.

Fast forward a number of years. Ricky is in a mental institution, being interviewed by the new psychiatrist.  He tells of his past family trauma, but he has plans of his own. Will history repeat itself?

Silent Night Deadly Night 2 picks up where the last one left off. But if you haven’t seen the first one,  no worries – this one recaps all of the highlights of that film, and that takes up about two-thirds of this movie. So you might as well skip the first one completely.

Let there be no doubt this movie is all about shock and gore and senseless violence. And women with bare breasts. The writing is horrible, the acting atrocious. It’s like watching a train wreck. And yet you find you can’t look away. If you don’t take it seriously, and just accept it for it is, you might not be sorry you watched it. I didn’t realize I’d already seen one of the scenes  in another video. Now I’ll never forget Garbage Day. All things considered, I’ll give this movie 2.5 Stars. I hear there are sequels. Might have to check them out.