Retro Reviews

Reviews of older horror films, shorts, or general creepiness.

Let The Dead Rise Again: The 45th Anniversary of George A. Romero’s ‘DAWN OF THE DEAD’ (1978)

Dawn of the Dead

The Dead will rise again this year for the 45th Anniversary: Dawn of the Dead was first released in Italy in September 1978, and all the OG zombie fans can’t wait to celebrate the walking dead all over again. Dawn of the Dead set the standards a little higher for …

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‘THE WAR OF THE WORLDS’ (1953): Quintessential Alien Invasion Epic

The War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds is a science fiction film released in 1953, directed by Byron Haskin and produced by George Pal. Based on the 1898 novel of the same name by H.G. Wells (with screenplay by Barré Lyndon), it is considered one of the classic and influential movies in the …

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Turn Your Insides Inside-Out With Cauldron Films’ ‘City Of The Living Dead’ (1980) 4K UHD Set Review

You know from that opening scream, things are about to get strange. And “strange” is a very apt term to describe director Lucio Fulci’s splattery masterpiece, City of the Living Dead. After two very different Blu-ray releases, Cauldron Films has upped the ante with their new 4K transfer. Synopsis: “A …

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Yinzer Madness! Re-live the Sickness With Unearthed Films’ New ‘AUGUST UNDERGROUND’ Blu-ray!

Fred Vogel is a pretty normal guy. By all outward appearances anyways. He’s not, like, Satan, or anything.  I’ve met him a few times at conventions, his eyes don’t glow red, he doesn’t have fangs (that I’ve seen…), and no horns protrude from his noggin. He’s actually quite friendly and …

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“What’s In The Basket?”: Frank Henenlotter’s ‘BASKET CASE’ (1983) Turns 40!

Frank Henenlotter is one sick individual. In any circle—besides that of the horror fan, natch— that would be an insult. But the guy who would eventually bring us weird shit like Frankenhooker, Bad Biology, and Brain Damage cut his (bloody) teeth with Basket Case, a revered slice of 42nd Street cinema. …

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The Monster Match: ‘FREDDY VS. JASON’ (2003) – 20 Years Later

Freddy vs. Jason

When you think of the horror genre, two names come to mind almost immediately: Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees. For forty years, both have terrorized children and adults alike in their dreams, on the big screen, and in their minds in various capacities. You’d be hard-pressed to go to a …

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‘A Nightmare On Elm Street: Dream Master’ (1988) Turns 35… It Was Almost Very Different!

A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: Dream Master (1988) turns a whopping 35 this year… And in spite of Middle Child Syndrome and all the craziness that went on while trying to put it together, it was one of the more successful releases in the franchise. But it could’ve been …

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‘MIRRORS’ (2008) turns 15 This Year, But Eisoptrophobia is Much Older

Is It Just Me, Ooooor??? There’s something inherently unsettling about mirrors, to me. It doesn’t help that we play games growing up like Bloody Mary. Then films like ‘Mirror, Mirror’, and ‘Candyman’ added fuel to the already steady burning fire of anxiety. And of course, centuries-old traditions and lores that …

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Marriage, Pimps, Drugs, Murder, the Mob: Who Says ‘TRUE ROMANCE’ Is Dead?

True Romance

Note: This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SGA-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, True Romance, being covered here, wouldn’t exist. When asked what my favorite romance film is I always gleefully respond, True Romance (1993). Before the grumbling begins, understand …

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