Happy Horror-day! Terror Train (1980)

Here we are, rapidly approaching the end of the year and the end of the challenge with our final movie, Terror Train from 1980. Three years after traumatizing a fellow student with a prank involving a corpse a college fraternity organise a New Year's Eve costume party aboard a train and as people start to go missing they wonder could their class prank victim be back for revenge aboard the Terror Train? Yes, it’s another movie about a group of students doomed to die, yes it was filmed in Canada and yes it’s based around a holiday- loosely... I say loosely because although it informs us that it is New Year’s Eve as a basis for the victims to be together, Terror Train could have taken place any time of the year as it doesn’t fixate on the countdown to twelve o’clock as New Year’s Evil did. But this is not a criticism mind, as the film directed by Roger Spottiswoode (in his directorial debut) is rather good and serves as a slasher with a dash of ‘who done it’ and ‘how did he do that?’ using the claustrophobic and restricted space of a moving train very effectively. Executive producer and friend of Halloween's John Carpenter and Debra Hill, Daniel Grodnik’s idea to make "Halloween on a train" stars Jamie Lee Curtis as Alana Maxwell, staring alongside Hart Bochner along with Sandee Currie, Anthony Sherwood, David Copperfield and Ben Johnson as Carne, the train conductor. An independently produced film, Terror Train made a return of $8 million on an estimated budget of $5 million during its theatrical run, and is worth checking out. 
The more of these movies you watch the more patterns that start to emerge but anyone else notice how this film, which takes place on New Year’s Eve, released in 1980 features a killer dressed as Groucho Marx while New Year’s Evil also from 1980 which also takes place on New Year’s Eve features a killer dressed as Stan Laurel?

There we go, the Happy Horror Day challenge is over, 17 movies over a 12 month period with one reoccurring theme the ‘holidays’ admitably one’s Birthday isn’t a holiday but “meh” I wouldn’t usually celebrate Memorial Day, Independence Day or Thanksgiving either... Come to think about it, nobody really ‘celebrates’ April Fool’s Day or Friday the 13^th  (twice!) either... But anyway it allowed me to opportunity to enjoy (in some cases) this sub-genre of horror movies. Thank you for following my challenge, I hope it inspired you to do the same in 2020. Either way, I enclose a list of the movies that featured in the Happy Horror-day challenge and wish you a very Happy New Year!

New Year’s Evil (1980)

Happy Birthday to Me (1981)

My Bloody Valentine (1981)

Red Clover (2012)

Mother's Day (1980)

April Fool's Day (1986)

Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! (2006)

The Wicker Man (1973)

Memorial Day Killer (1998)

Father's Day (2011)

Uncle Sam (1996)

Friday the 13th (1980)

Halloween (1978)

ThanksKilling (2008)

Friday the 13th Part II (1981)

Black Christmas (1974)

Terror Train (1980)

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! Black Christmas (1974)

Christmas day, Merry Christmas to you all! I rather like Black Christmas, and I must confess that I watch it each year alongside Gremlins, It’s a Wonderful Life and Muppets Christmas Carol but I usually watch it during the run up to Christmas not on the day!  One of (how many has it been now?) Canadian, holiday themed slasher films to feature in this challenge the film was produced and directed by Bob Clark, and written by A. Roy Moore having been inspired by the "The babysitter and the man upstairs" urban legend. Originally called Stop Me the title was one of many changes made including changing the setting to that of a university , the completed story tells of a group of sorority sisters that receive threatening (and genuinely disturbing) phone calls while being stalked and (spoilers, murdered) by a unseen deranged killer during the Christmas season. Shot in Toronto in 1974 on an estimated budget of $620,000, the film was distributed by Warner Bros and stared Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, Andrea Martin, Marian Waldman, Lynne Griffin and John Saxon and was released in the United States on December 20^th as Silent Night, Evil Night before it was once again changed to the one we know it as today. NOT the first slasher by any means but the film does at least deserve the honor of being the holiday themed horror that influenced John Carpenter to make Halloween effectively kicking off the sub-genera. One factor that makes this one different from all the others is that it’s impossible to spoil in a review, as the killer’s identity is never given away (is my telling you that a spoiler?) either way, be sure to see it- but I guess you will be done with Christmas by the time you read this, so instead watch it next year!  

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! Friday the 13th Part II (1981)

I have been mulling this over since reviewing the first one back in September, which should I watch? The first one, again or the remake? Then it dawned on me- seeing as this is the second Friday the 13^th of the year I suppose it should be the second Friday the 13^th movie really... Friday the 13th Part II was produced and directed by Steve Miner (his directorial debut) and was written by Ron Kurz, staring Amy Steel and John Furey. The film also features the return of Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer and Walt Gorney from the first movie, taking place five years later with a new murderer picking off the camp counselors in scenes that had the Motion Picture Association of America repulsed so much that they insisted on numerous cuts being made to allow it an R rating. Although not as big a hit as the original, the sequel made $21.7 million in the U.S. on a $1.2 million budget assuring there would be a Part III the following year. Isn’t it funny this is the second time I have set myself a movie challenge that involves Friday the 13^th and watching one isn’t enough!? If you’re not too busy/ tired join me here on the 24^th for Black Christmas!    

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! ThanksKilling (2008)

Here we go again- another Holiday themed film that centres around an American holiday I wouldn’t normally celebrate... either way, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you out there that do celebrate it!  
So, ThanksKilling the 2008 horror/ black comedy shot on a budget of $3,500 in the summer of 2007, and released on DVD in 2009. What can I say? ...When I set myself this challenge at the start of the year I drew up a rough list of movies that would feature and this one made the list right away, although I had never seen it I knew of its existence and two factors, 1) that it was generally regarded as a terrible movie and 2) It featured a wise cracking killer turkey- So with those two factors in mind watching it was inevitable and now having just finished watching it I can now confirm that it was indeed a terrible movie and yes, it does feature a wise cracking killer turkey, A possessed, wise cracking turkey in fact, that terrorizes five college students during Thanksgiving break repeating what he had done at the very first Thanksgiving in 1621.

Now, I try not to be over critical of any movie, I’ve never made one- and I know it’s not easy to do and commend anyone that accomplishes it and I try to look deeper, this one was indeed a challenge and to be honest, my interest waned right after the first pilgrim died before the opening credits, although the film did get one chuckle out of me. By all accounts it was written by the director Jordan Downey, Brad Schulz, Tony Wilson, Grant Yaffee, and Kevin Stewart, a group of friends, and this is apparent- and I will go out on a limb here and assume that they are fans of South Park? so let’s leave it at that. The film has garnered a cult following, believed (in part) to it being one of the movies available for streaming during Netflix’s early days and there is a sequel, ThanksKilling 3... Perhaps I will do that one if I ever do another of these challenges but let’s finish this one first! 
So join me next time for Friday the 13^th... wait! What?

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! Halloween (1978)

Due to a technical issue (I think it was a Blogger schedule issue) I’ve had to re-upload this post originally posted on October 31^st but anyway, Halloween, directed and scored by John Carpenter, co-written with producer Debra Hill the movie stars Donald Pleasence along with Jamie Lee Curtis who makes her film debut. A mental patient who was committed to a sanatorium for murdering his teenage sister on Halloween night fifteen years before escapes and returns to his hometown, where he stalks babysitters while his psychiatrist and the local sheriff try to find him. 
This is where it all started- the holiday based slasher movie, and basis of this challenge. Yes, Black Christmas from 1974 is technically the first but it was Halloween that grossed $70 million, making it the most profitable independent film ever that kicked off the holiday themed horror movie, I would go as far to say it was also responsible for every horror movie centred around a escaped mental patient and harassed babysitters as well. Enjoyed by horror purists and casual horror viewers alike I once again find myself asking what can I say that hasn’t been said about this movie? I can’t, so I’ll just leave it there. Happy Halloween!

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! Friday the 13th (1980)

Some well meaning counsellors decide to reopen Camp Crystal Lake, supposedly cursed since 1958 after some camp counsellors were murdered there after a claim of negligence the previous year that resulted in a young boy drowning in the lake. Despite numerous requests not to do so, work begins on preparing the camp for its first batch of campers before the counsellors are picked off one at a time by an unseen killer before the killer is finally revealed at the end...  Much like The Wicker Man entry before and the upcoming Halloween one what can I say about this movie that hasn’t already been said by fans, buffs and scholars alike since 1980? Although created to cash in on the success of Halloween in 1978 it seemed to become the most synonymous of all date themed and summer camp themed slasher films making it the most successful achieving ten sequels, a remake, a television show, novels, comic books, video games and a slew of merchandise! In fact the films alone have grossed over $529 million at the box-office worldwide and remained the highest-grossing horror franchise in the world until the release of Halloween (2018) last year and it all started with this one.  Friday the 13^th has always had a ‘fun fact’ regarding the killer of this particular movie and how many forget who the actual killer is, but I will not go over that here, as I have vowed to keep all reviews spoiler free. Yes Halloween was the first, but if it hadn’t been for Friday the 13^th I doubt I would have been able to do the previous eleven entries of this challenge (or my previous marathon challenge for that matter). Of course, the other thing that sets this movie apart from all the others is that I should essentially watch it again on the 13^th of December as it will be another Friday the 13^th... so if anyone is actually following this challenge let me know in the comments what I should do? Watch it again? Watch one of the sequels? (If so which one?) or the remake? Until then, I will see you again where it all started.... Halloween.

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! Uncle Sam (1996)

I must confess to have completely missed this movie when it was first released in the mid 90’s and so I was pleased to finally set that matter right.  Directed by William Lustig the man who gave us Maniac Cop and written by the great Larry Cohen (whom we sadly lost earlier this year) Uncle Sam regards one Sergeant Sam Harper (played by David Fralick) out in Kuwait, killed in the line of duty by “friendly fire”.   When his body is returned to his home town to the custody of his widow, sister and patriotic young nephew, Jody (Christopher Ogden), Sam comes back from the dead as the town prepares for its Independence Day celebrations!  After killing a peeping tom dressed as Uncle Sam he steals the costume (shortening the legs as the pervert was on stilts at the time) before embarking on a mission to punish the town’s unpatriotic residents, draft dodger and flag burners alike while Jody  whom harbors aspirations to join the army learns that his uncle Sam was not as good a man as he thought he was, but instead an alcoholic psychopath, who abused both his sister and wife that believe that his joining the army was more an excuse to go kill people than patriotic duty.  The movie also stars William Smith, Leslie Neale,  Bo Hopkins and  P. J. Soles (whom we haven’t seen the last of in this challenge) and not forgetting Isaac Hayes as Sergeant Jed Crowley the veteran who holds himself responsible for glorifying war to the young Sam Harper. The movie is a lot of fun and the image of Uncle Sam is genuinely creepy, why this one never got a sequel or remake yet, your guess is as good as mine, but if you haven’t seen it be sure to check it out. So, back here for Friday the 13^th of September?  

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! Father's Day (2011)

Wasn’t easy as I wasn’t actually home for the ‘horror-days’ this time but I still managed to watch Father's Day from 2011, the second Troma title to feature in the challenge (although they are in no way connected). This tale regarding a man called Ahab (played by Adam Brooks) out for revenge on a serial killer called Chris Fuchman also known as the Father's Day Killer who murdered (putting it mildly!) his father 30 years before, was originally made as a short film, but was later made into a feature-length movie that received great acclaim and numerous awards at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. The movie itself contains all that one expects of a Troma release (and then some!) with its over the top action and violence (some of which very gory and quite, quite graphic at times) but I was more taken however by its impressive Grindhouse style, feel and influences (think Grindhouse only with Lloyd Kaufman in it playing God!) and I also add that I liked the Channel Astron 6 late night movie segments throughout the film. See you on the 4th of July!

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! Memorial Day Killer (1998)

Memorial Day is when the United States remembers and honors those who died serving in the United States Armed Forces, and although it is not (directly) observed in the UK I thought I would add it to the challenge line-up, even though it has very little to do with the occasion.  So, Memorial Day Killer (also known as Memorial Day) is an offering from 1998 directed by Christopher Alender and written by Marcos Gabriel. A tale of wrongdoing and revenge that happens to take place on Memorial Day concerning a group of friends who decide to return to MEMORIAL Lake Campground for the first time since Rachel (Played by Therese Fretwell) 's adopted brother Danny accidentally drowned there three years before... sure enough, wouldn’t you know it? The killings start. I try not to be negative about these films as I doubt I could do any better, this movie came out at a time when I had become somewhat disillusioned with ‘modern’ horror but I was ready to go back and have my opinion changed, it wasn’t.  Perhaps had this been a big budget movie previously ignored the first time round it might have been regarded by some as the ‘Missing Link’ between the Scream/ I Know What You Did Last Summer genre of movies of the late 90’s and the Saw franchise of the early 2000’s but frankly the deaths of the whining girlfriends and over acting boyfriends at the hands of a papier-mâché mask wearing killer was just a blessed relief.

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! The Wicker Man (1973)

We seem to have strayed from our psycho killer themed ‘holiday’ movies again, this time in favour of a horror mystery, and a classic at that! What can I say about it that hasn’t already been said by movie historians and far more learned folk than I? This would probably the 20^th time I’ve seen Sergeant Neil Howie’s fateful trip to Summerisle. You will note that although I try and keep these posts spoiler free I said ‘fateful’ there, well I’m not so worried this time round, aside from being fairly confident that you will have already seen the film I will also add that this movie shares the same distinction with Planet of the Apes in that climax/final scene of the film features on spoofs and the covers of their Video/DVD releases! But if you haven’t seen it, please put that right! So, shall we meet back here on the 27^th of May? Memorial Day? Yes I know it’s when the United States remembers those that served their country and I am in the UK... But...

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! (2006)

Happy Easter! Traditionally we watch Night of the Leapus on Easter, but it doesn’t meet the criteria of this challenge so I watched Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! The movie starts off on the night before Easter “Easter Eve” when we are introduced to a man called Remington who robs a convenience store while wearing an Easter Bunny mask. Having shot the store clerk he makes his way over to the home of a woman he is seeing, Mindy Peters and her “special” son Nicholas who is obsessed with Bunnies and all things Easter related. Worming his way into their home Remington behaves cruelly towards Nicholas behind Mindy’s back who remains (seemingly) oblivious of his cruelty he inflicts on her son, who is hiding a pet rabbit in his room given to him by a homeless man he met outside their home (always good to see Trent Haaga!). A little slow at the start but when it starts ‘properly’ its exploitative cinema influences become more than apparent and I would have liked to see this set in the late 60’s early 70’s just to give it that ‘classic’ feel. If watching unpleasant people being picked off one by one by a killer carrying a toolbox, wearing a bunny mask is what you like to do while eating chocolate eggs then this is the movie for you! Speaking of which I’m off to finish my chocolate egg, see you May 1^st?

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! April Fool's Day (1986)

April Fool's Day is another American/Canadian 'mystery' slasher film that was directed by Fred Walton and stars Deborah Foreman as Muffy (yes, Muffy) who invites her friends over to her parents’ mansion located on a secluded island for an April Fool’s Day party but much like the before documented Happy Birthday to Me, it becomes a tale of over privileged college students being killed off one by one by an off screen killer. That’s not a criticism of the plot mind, that’s just a bare bones run through the plot -there is more to this film than meets the eye, however as I have vowed to keep these reviews spoiler free I can’t really get into it much more than that. All I will say is that it does bring something different to the table, if that’s a good thing or not I will let you decide when you’ve seen it. On its initial release it was seemingly well received by critics. If you just need an 80’s fix then it has great fashion, hair and music and also has Amy Steel from Friday the 13th Part II in it along with Thomas F. Wilson in a non-Biff role!  Oh, and yes, this was also remade in 2008... 

See you at Easter!

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! Mother's Day (1980)

Having strayed into the world of monstrous imps we’re firmly back in the genre of psychotic killers celebrating another holiday but in name only, the 1980 classic- Mother’s Day. As far as I can tell, the movie doesn’t actually take place during Mothering Sunday; frighteningly it’s just another day in the life of Ike, Addley and their mother! But whenever someone researches these Holiday themed Horrors Mother’s Day always makes the list so it’s included in my challenge.    

Rather appropriately for this month Mother's Day was directed, co-written and produced by Charles Kaufman, brother of Troma Entertainment’s Lloyd Kaufman (who also acted as an associate producer) a film notorious for recounting the tale of a mother and her two deranged sons capturing and torturing three women camping in the woods. Starting out much in the vein of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre it jumps into an early Troma movie style, having you almost forget the previous scenes before it jumps back in again before shifting into an I Spit on your Grave conclusion! Notorious for its scenes of violence and rape it also contains satire which sadly went completely over most people’s heads resulting in it being labelled as depraved and nothing more than an exploitation film. With movie critic Roger Ebert giving it zero stars, stating that he was disgusted by it and the BBFC rejecting it and banning it from distribution in the United Kingdom the film wasn’t a huge success but as is always the way now it’s now a cult classic and it was even remade in 2010! Almost a distant relative of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes with its feeling of isolation and decrepit surroundings and demented characters I am certain that Mother’s Day must have also played a small part in the inspiring of later movies such as House of 1000 Corpses. If you haven’t seen it and you like such movies, be sure to seek it out- me I’m going to grab some sleep, tomorrow is April 1^st.... April Fool’s Day!

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror Day! Red Clover (2012)*

We have strayed quite a way from the usual Holiday themed horrors involving a psycho killer for St Patrick’s Day this time round.  It was suggested that I watch Leprechaun (1993), but Leprechaun hasn’t much to do with St Patrick’s Day BUT that wasn’t a problem however as there is a killer Leprechaun movie that takes place on St Patrick's Day for our convenience! A made for television horror film directed by Drew Daywalt called Red Clover from 2012, originally with the title of St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun (would have been better suited for this challenge!) the title was changed to Leprechaun's Revenge when it aired on the Syfy Channel but switched back to Red Clover for its DVD release! It all starts kicking off in fictional town of Keening, Massachusetts.  While out hunting Karen O'Hara (Courtney Halverson) picks a red clover, releasing a deadly Leprechaun which starts picking off citizens as they prepare for their St Patrick’s Day celebrations (eating gold as it goes about it). We find out that this Leprechaun had been previously banished by the town’s folk for similar reasons and so it’s up to Karen to put it back where she found it, aided by lucky horseshoes and her town drunk grandfather (William Devane) and town sheriff father played by Billy Zane. The film maker’s decision to distance itself from the traditional Leprechaun depictions more associated with Warick Davis’s version by having the creature appear more goat like gives the story more of a Cryptozoology feel, which I felt was reminiscent of another Syfy Channel movie, Chupacabra: Dark Seas (2005) which I also liked. As previously said, quite a detour from our usual themes and perhaps not as well known- but a lot of fun, be sure to check it for out for yourselves next year, until then I’ll see you back here for Mother’s Day!   

*Technical difficulties originally posted on 17/3/2019    

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! My Bloody Valentine (1981)

With a box of unfinished Valentine’s Day chocolates I once again embarked on my challenge to watch a holiday based horror movie on the days they are set, this time round ... what else? But My Bloody Valentine from 1981! Directed by George Mihalka and written by John Beaird the film was shot on location in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia and released theatrically in North America on Valentine's Day.

The mining town of Valentine Bluffs has lifted its twenty year suspension of their traditional Valentine's Day dance to the delight of the town’s young folk, the reason for this 20 year hiatus? Two supervisors left several miners in the mines in favour of attending the dance, neglecting to check methane gas levels results in an explosion that traps the miners for six weeks, only one of them survived one Harry Warden whom resorted to cannibalism in order to survive. Now insane, in his mining attire Warden murdered the two supervisors and vowed to return and kill the townsfolk if they held the Valentine's Day Dance again... sure enough, the bodies start to pile up!

Yes, it shares certain parallels with Halloween but the film holds its own and gained a cult following over the years, it was even remade in 2009.  On its initial release the movie was heavily censored and a total of nine minutes of violence and gore was cut by the Motion Picture Association of America and it remained like that until an uncut version was finally released in 2009 (I watched the extended cut tonight) With its dingy, claustrophobic atmosphere and drinking/smoking randy young adults with complete disregard for the advice of their elders it’s worth checking out. Don’t forget to check back with me on Sunday the 31^st of March... Mother's Day!
Until then, Happy Valentines’ Day!

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror-day! Happy Birthday to Me (1981)

Ok here is the second instalment of my challenge to watch a Holiday-themed horror movie on each holiday/festivity of the year! Not ACTUALLY something the populace celebrate (I have reservations about celebrating it myself!) but.... today is my Birthday so I thought I would include it. So today I watched a Birthday related slasher released when I was only 3... 

Happy Birthday to Me is a 1981 Canadian slasher from director J. Lee Thompson and stars Melissa Sue Anderson as Virginia Wainwright a popular high school senior at Crawford Academy, who is part of the elite clique of privileged and popular students who are killed off one by one by an off screen killer during the length of the movie using gruesome means, one of which with a shish kebab skewer (not a spoiler as this death featured on the poster!). Glenn Ford also stars as Dr. David Faraday, Virginia’s Doctor trying to help her when she starts to suspect that she might be the one murdering her friends during a series of blackouts, which slowly explain the murderer’s motives before closing with a twist ending.  This movie has achieved a cult following over the years, helped largely by being included on the Section 3 Obscene Publications Act in Britain during the video nasty ‘panic’ and so an interesting flick that’s worth your time. If I had to find fault in it, I found a group of privileged spoilt teenagers difficult to like and so I was never really sure who I was ‘rooting’ for, I didn’t like the kids so perhaps the killer? But then the movie sometimes suggests it might be one of the kids, so...  anyway check it out and I will see you again on St Valentine’s Day!

Happy Birthday (to me)

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.

Happy Horror- day! New Year’s Evil (1980)

Happy New Year to you all! I've set myself a new challenge for 2019 I call it, Happy Horror- day! The success of Halloween in 1978 gave rise to the holiday based horror movie genre and that is why I, Arfon Jones will attempt to watch a Holiday-themed horror film for each holiday/festivity of the year! I must have (Subconsciously) got the idea from Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn but my only requirement is that the movie takes place during a specific holiday/occasion playing a central theme (images/ motifs from the holidays featuring throughout) and a movie that features a killer wearing a costume associated with that celebration will most definitely meet the criteria!  Each movie will then be documented on this blog. So first up...

Directed by Emmett Alston New Year’s Evil takes place during (you guessed it) New Year's Eve (and New Year's Day hence why I thought I should start the challenge/ year with this one first) during a live televised show called, Blaze’s Countdown which celebrates the music of that year with callers, calling in the Hollywood Hotline nominating their favorite songs (Think Top of the Pops meets Telethon) the show features various punk/ new wave groups and their fans dancing to their hits, (personally I would rather watch this show than Jools Holland’s Hootenanny!) and features such bands as Shadow and Made in Japan (Shadow play the title song New Year’s Evil twice!). The show’s punk rock presenter Blaze (played by Diane Sullivan) receives a phone call from man calling himself Evil disguises his voice with a “Voice Processor” announces that each time the clock strikes midnight in each time zone, a "Naughty Girl" will be killed declaring that Diane herself will be the last Naughty Girl to be punished. The studio calls in Lieutenant Ed Clayton (Chris Wallace) a man who doesn’t care much for the punk/new wave scene who rather unsympathetically resents having to “pick a phone freak from this bunch!” but agrees to tighten security never the less as, Evil delivers on his promise and starts killing women on the hour (playing tapes of the killings over the phone to taunt Blaze) building up to the climax of the film, which I will not spoil for you.   

While researching this film I read that movie critic, Gene Siskel called it "a hideously ugly motion picture” I must disagree with that, although perhaps not the most original concepts the movie does do one thing differently by showing us the killer right from the start, instead hiding his identity and motive from us which is revealed as a twist at the end, in my opinion the film could (almost) pass as a Thriller, If it hadn’t been for the Friday the 13^th style "chi chi chi ha ha ha..." effect, set up for a sequel and use of a Stan Laurel mask which is genuinely creepy! It’s not brilliant, but it’s not bad. It’s just a good old fashioned slasher that's worth a look. 

Happy New Year!

© Arfon Jones 2019. All images are copyrighted throughout the world.