Child's Play 3 (1991)

1st View
Format: Cable
Venue: Rivendell

Just happened to be on TV today and it's one of the last two in the franchise I hadn't seen. It's...not good. The idea behind the premise is passable, but the execution creates more plot holes than the film can handle. Satisfying ending though.

Rating: 4/10 Atkins

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

Revisit
Format: DVD
Venue: Rivendell

One of the most underrated horror sequels of all time, and a marvelously weird cult movie. This is the film that gave my tallyteer blog its rating system for crying out loud! The boys and I got together to record our own commentary for Tommy Lee Wallace's entry into the franchise for Louge Geek's Hatchet Men. Give it a listen! 

Rating: 7/10 Atkins

Special When Lit-A Pinball Documentary (2009)

1st View
Format: Netflix
Venue: Rivendell

Had never heard of this doco, saw it while scrolling through the Netflix streaming catalog. As someone who has recently become interested in the game, thanks to the amazing Pinballz Arcade here in Austin, I was excited to watch it. Starts out with a lot of energy, pizazz, and fascinating information, but fizzles near the end by lingering on some truly sad subjects. Overall, pretty solid.

Rating: 6/10 Atkins

Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010)

Revisit 
Format: Netflix WI
Venue: Rivendell

Mark Hartley is the master of the immensely entertaining documentary. Here he focuses his irreverent/reverent lens on the exploitation films made in The Philippines during the 70s-80s. Not quite as encompassing as Not Quite Hollywood, but Hartley is dealing with more limited subject matter. Still a great doco featuring exceptional interviewees and Hartley's signature pitch-perfect editing.

Rating: 7/10 Atkins

Bullhead (2011)

1st View
Venue: Alamo South Lamar (Press Screening)

This was one of the most praised films at this year's Fantastic Fest, but I unfortunately did not get a chance to see it. Finally rectified that oversight. Everything that was in the film was great, but it made me want to know more details about this story that were sadly lacking. I think it's a very good movie, there's just not enough there in my opinion.

Rating: 7/10 Atkins

The Pit (1981)

1st View
Format: DVD
Venue: Rivendell

One of the more bizarre 80s horror films I have ever seen. This weird little gem left such an impact on me that I decided to cover it for Junkfood Cinema. Read it if you dare.

Rating: 6/10 Atkins

Star Trek (2009)

Revisit
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: Rivendell

So good, even better after having watched a few more episodes of Star Trek TOS. Just a good mood movie.

Rating: 9/10 Atkins

The Green Hornet (2011)

1st View
Format: Cable
Venue: Rivendell

Finally caught this. I like the character quite a bit so I was hoping for a decent big screen adaptation. There are elements that work here, but they are subverted by horrendous miscasting in both Hornet and villain (sorry Christoph Waltz, you were great in Inglorious Basterds but you have nothing to work with here). I get that they got Seth Rogen because the character starts off as a bumbling rich oaf, but if he never changes to legit hero, the movie is a failure.

Rating: 4/10 Atkins

Attack the Block (2011)

Revisit
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: Rivendell

Still one of my favorite movies of this or any other year. Finally on home video for me to watch again and again and again. Whoop whoop!

Child's Play 2 (1990)

1st View
Format: DVD
Venue: Rivendell

Passable sequel, not nearly as entertaining or competent as the first. Still, pretty enjoyable.

Rating: 6/10 Atkins

Riding the Bus with My Sister (2005)

1st View
Venue: Alamo South Lamar (Master Pancake)

This was a very special, and I do mean special, Choose Your Own Pancake. The audience brings movie selections, narrowed down to own by the very sophisticated Applause-O-Meter. The comedic dynamos of the Master Pancake troupe then improvise a live mock of the film. Some friends from Spill.com assisted in the lampoon. The film that was chosen was a 2005 made-for-TV movie called Riding the Bus with my Sister starring Rosie O'Donnell as a mentally handicapped woman and Andie MacDowell as her compassionately handicapped sister. It is one of the most offensive exploitation films I have ever seen and it fervently believes itself to be an inspiring feat of humanism. We were informed as the film began rolling that the Disabled American Film Festival was going on in the theater across the hall. Warm up my seat, Satan.

Rating: 1/10 Atkins

The Howling (1981)

1st View
Format: Netflix WI
Venue: Rivendell

Corrected a major blind spot in my horror knowledge. Not a bad film, but not nearly as good as I had expected. Great werewolf effects and interesting concept, but a little flubbed on execution. Very glad to have seen it.


Rating: 6/10 Atkins

A Return to Salem's Lot (1987)

1st View
Format: Warner Archive DVD
Venue: Rivendell

I sure have been watching a bunch of Warner Archive horror films lately. I should probably write an article about it or something. Oh wait, that's exactly what I did for Movies.com. Read it and feel free to tell me what you think. 

Rating: 5/10 Atkins

Salem's Lot (1979)

1st View
Format: VHS
Venue: Rivendell

Hadn't seen this before. Despite being a made-for-TV horror flick, it's sufficiently creepy. Borrowing quite a bit from Nosferatu, Salem's Lot may take its time getting going but it's a strong vampire entry once it does. The ending feels downright Hammer in tone and set construction.


Rating: 7/10 Atkins

The Exorcist III (1990)

1st View
Format: DVD
Venue: Rivendell

I had been wanting to see this for some time. Based on Exorcist author Peter Blatty's followup novel Legion. Very weird story that doesn't work consistently, but it's exceedingly creepy when it does. Points for the return(ish) of Father Karras and for the inclusion of a great performance by Brad Dourif.


Rating: 6/10 Atkins

The Exorcist (1973)

Revisit
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: Rivendell

Showed my wife a true classic for the very first time. She liked it a lot and appreciated several little nuances. Love.

Rating: 9/10 Atkins

The Evil Dead (1981)

Revisit
Format: Netflix WI
Venue: Rivendell

One of my favorites. I was fortunate to host a pair of screenings of The Evil Dead at The Alamo Drafthouse.

Rating: 8/10 Atkins

Killer Party (1986)

1st View
Format: Warner Archive DVD
Venue: Rivendell

Incredibly silly, but some legitimate quality peeks through the mire of goofballitude. Overall, passably entertaining despite itself. Ended up making the Junkfood Cinema grade for this month's Junkfood Horror. Read if you dare!

Rating: 5/10 Atkins

Black Zoo (1963)

1st View
Format: Warner Archive DVD
Venue: Rivendell

Strange film about Michael Gough using his zoo as his own personal Murder, Inc. I'm slowly learning that Gough is one of the kings of 60s horror.


Rating: 6/10 Atkins

Macabre (1958)

1st View
Format: Warner Archive DVD
Venue: Rivendell

Darker-than-expected William Castle outing. Not bad at all.

Rating: 6/10 Atkins

The Fly (1986)

Revisit
Format: Netflix WI
Venue: Rivendell

Charting some quality time with one of my absolute favorites. Here's an article I wrote in which I expend some meager words in a feeble attempt to encapsulate the genius of one of Cronenberg's masterpieces.

Rating: 9/10 Atkins

Black Roses (1988)

1st View
Format: VHS
Venue: Rivendell

Love the hell out of this movie. Heavy metal horror is quickly becoming one of my favorite subgenres. It made such an impact on me that it was canonized in this week's Junkfood Cinema. Thrash and headbang your way through it.


Rating: 7/10 Atkins

Maniac Cop (1988)

Revisit
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: Rivendell

The Synapse Blu transfer is beautiful. Review to come.


Rating: 8/10 Atkins

The Thing (2011)

1st View
Venue: Galaxy Highland (Press Screening)

Pitiful, visionless rehashing of Carpenter's classic with absolutely no understanding of what really made it work. Don't waste your time.

Rating: 3/10 Atkins

Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)

Revisit
Format: Blu-ray
Venue: Rivendell

Neither of the other denizens of Rivendell had seen this. It was like watching it for the first time again. I still very much enjoy this sequel.


Rating: 7/10 Atkins

Time Walker (1982)

1st View
Format: DVD
Venue: LEOG Lair

Silly, but overall entertaining. Starring not one, but two cast members of John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13.

Rating: 5/10 Atkins