Dawn of the Dead (1978)

When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.

Following up after the end of Romero's first masterpiece, Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead takes us deeper into a world lost in zombie apocalypse.

Two SWAT team officers and two members of a TV news team aim to flee to Canada in hopes that the zombie outbreak has not spread across the border. They escape in the station's traffic helicopter. Soon they land at a local shopping mall where they hope to re-fuel and stock up on supplies.

They find that hundreds of zombies have congregated at the mall, as if driven there by memories or routine. They establish a safe base camp and go out to find supplies in the zombie infested halls of the mall. But it may be their fellow humans, not the zombies, who cause them the most trouble.

Like Romero's other films, Dawn of the Dead has something to say. Namely, a critique and mockery of the hedonistic consumerism exemplified in American capitalism. It also boasts improved special effects compared with its predecessor. The zombies are all kind of blue on the other hand, which is a bit odd. The film has also been criticized for its campy dialogue, sets and even acting. While some of this is partially true, it doesn't manage to take away from the movie's greatness. Romero lulls the viewer into a false sense of security using humour and lightheartedness only to jerk you violently back into reality through some series of horrifying events.

Dawn of the Dead is another great zombie classic; fun to watch, grisly, yet an effective carrier of a timely critique of the society we live in. A remake, which did not involve Romero, was released in 2004. 

5 Hare Krishna zombies out of 5
Rated R for violence/gore, language, frightening and intense scenes. 

The Ghost Galleon (1974)

The living corpses of the Satan-worshiping Knights Templar hunt for human victims in a 16th century galleon. 

A publicity stunt gone wrong leaves two women models stranded in the ocean on a small, leaky boat. Their situation soon becomes stranger, then just worse, as a 16th century galleon appears in the foggy distance and then turns out to be full of the zombified corpses of the Knights Templar.

Soon the head of the modeling agency, and a group of workers, sets out to find the models and also come across the ancient ship. But when they get on board they quickly realize that it may be too late not only for the two unfortunate young women, but for themselves as well.

The Ghost Galleon is the second sequel to Amando de Ossorio's Tombs of the Blind Dead. Like the original, this film features a gang of campy, but very cool looking zombie Templar's who arise at night to feast on human blood.

Unlike the original, this movie takes place primarily as sea with no rationale for this but a somewhat silly explanation as to how the Templar's came to get there. It also starts off quite slow unfortunately, and doesn't really pick up a heck of a lot even by the end. Ghost Galleon lacks a lot of the action and gore of the original as well as the atmosphere and cinematography that set the mood in the original. One thing it does, unfortunately, still possess is its rampant sexism. A flimsy plot, poor special effects, uninteresting characters, and a painfully obvious model Galleon top it all off.

Ghost Galleon is a duller, poorer, sillier installment to a series that started off much better with Tombs of the Blind Dead. In comparison to that film, this one doesn't even come close. Pretty cool cover art though.

1.5 toy Galleon's out of 5
Rated R for violence, frightening scenes.

Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

On July 12th, Michael comes home, and this time, there will be NO escape!

Resurrection takes up right where H20 left off. We learn that it wasn't Michael who was killed at the end of H20 and that he continues to out there somewhere. Meanwhile Laurie has been placed in a psychiatric hospital where she waits for her brother to return and strike again.

Michael does return, and after a visit to Laurie in the hospital he returns to the Myers house. Theoretically Michael should have been preparing to hunt down Laurie's son, his nephew, and finish off the last of his bloodline. But instead he receives some unexpected guests.

An internet reality show is about to begin filming at the Myers house. A group of young adults have been selected to spend the night in the house "uncovering" the dark secrets that lie within it. They are about to learn that Michael does not appreciate uninvited guests.

If something nice were to be said about this installment, it would be that Michael's character at least goes unsullied through to the end and remains just as vicious, creeping, and immortal as he was in the start. His methods of dispatching his prey are particularly grisly this time around as well which is good, because at least that way we are sure we won't have to put up with any more of their irritating banter.


Resurrection tries much too hard to be youthful and hip. The whole watching through hidden cameras thing is just goofy, as are too many of the characters. The film specifically makes a point of denying the existence of the Halloween sequels that fell between Halloween 2 and H20, thereby destroying the continuity of the series. Laurie is killed of shamefully early and unceremoniously as if to discard old, uncool characters, and make room for Busta Rhymes and company.

Yes, that's right, Busta Rhymes, who end up performing in a highly silly martial arts battle against Michael only to get shit kicked, but then return to finish Michael off... or so he thinks... but the door is left open yet again for another sequel.

But it was a sequel that never was to be and the original franchise ended once and for all with this film in 2002. Despite the films generalized poorness, it's hard not to feel a bit disappointed that this excellent and seminal franchise ever had to end at all. Still, this is surely the worst of the Halloween films and an unnecessary addition to a franchise which could have easily been cut short after H20 instead.


2 skull crushers out of 5
Rated R for strong violence, language, some sexuality and brief drug use.

Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

The face of pure evil is back for Laurie Strode. 20 years later...

Twenty years after Michael Myers first broke out of Smith's Grove sanitarium and embarked on his murderous rampage to kill his sister, Laurie Strode, he now returns to kill again. Laurie, who faked her death shortly after the terrifying events of Halloween 1978, has been living in California under the name Keri Tate. There she works as the dean of a local school. Every year she suffers through Halloween, desperately hoping that her brother Michael won't find her. But he has...

Michael has found his way to the school where Laurie is working over-night watching over a small group of students, including her son, who have stayed behind while their classmates go on a camping trip. She is kept company by her boyfriend, Will, who is a teacher at the school. Now nobody is safe as Michael prowls the school groups looking for victims. After 20 years Laurie will now have to face the ghosts of her past and square off against her psychotic brother in order to protect her sons life, and her own.

Halloween H20 is the first film since Halloween 2 to star Jamie Lee Curtis and her character, Laurie Strode. The film practically ignores the existence of the other sequels and instead focuses entirely on the Laurie vs. Michael dynamic of the original two films. Sadly this is also the first Halloween film not to feature Dr. Loomis on account of the actor, Donald Pleasence, having passed away.

On the other hand the film does see the return of John Carpenter as a writer. None of the sequels beat the first two films, and it is hard to really list them from best to worst. But this film is a strong addition to the Halloween series with good writing, acting, and dialogue as well as just barely enough jumps, scares, and grisly kill scenes. Its dramatic and abrupt ending might have one think that this was the end of the legendary slasher franchise... not so much.

4 hockey skates to the face out of 5Rated R for terror violence/gore and language.

Paul (2011)

Who's up for a close encounter? 

Graeme and Clive are two British nerds who have just been to comic-con and are on their way across the United States to visit supposed UFO sites. What they don't expect, however, is that they will come in contact with an actual alien. His name is Paul, and he's neither a man eating monster, nor a cute and cuddly creature looking to "phone home", he's just a regular guy.

The only trouble is that he has just escaped from Area 51, where he was slated for dissection. Now he is rushing to get to an unknown meeting point where he can be picked up by his people and taken back to his home planet. The FBI is on his trail and he is looking for a ride. Soon Graeme, Clive, and Paul hit the road in their rented R.V. running from the law and accidentally picking up Ruth Buggs, Christian fundementalist, along the way. It's bound to be an interesting ride.

Paul is the most recent gift to the world of movies from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz). While I would put it as third out of their three films, competing with the other two is a pretty high standard. Paul is funny and action packed like its predecessors, but takes on a lighter over-all tone.

It's also helped along by a great cast. Naturally this includes Simon Pegg and Nick Frost in the lead roles of Graeme and Clive. But it also includes Seth Rogen as the voice of Paul, Kristen Wiig as Ruth, Jeffrey Tambor and Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Sigourney Weaver, and Bill Hader, amongst others.

Another victory for Pegg and Frost. They've done horror, action, and sci-fi. Where will they go next?

4.5 out of 5
Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug use.

Ponty Pool (2008)

Shut up or Die.

An unknown and deadly virus spreads rapidly through a small Ontario town. Meanwhile radio talk show host Grant Mazzy is in studio with his co-workers Sydney Briar and Laurel-Ann Drummond. They begin to hear reports of what sounds like a riot taking place at the office of local doctor, Dr. Mendez.But as more information trickles in the picture starts to look even more strange and frightening. Reports indicate that the local townspeople are turning into homicidal, cannibalistic zombie-like creatures.

Mazzy and the others are seemingly safe inside their studio, so long as the strange events outside don't find their way to them. They scramble to uncover the cause of the virus and soon come to realize that nobody is safe, no matter where they are.

Ponty Pool is not your traditional zombie film. In fact, we hardly see the zombies at all but are instead left to imagine the horrors as we hear about them over Mazzy's radio programme. We do see some actual zombie action but this is few and far between and largely lacking in the gruesome zombie attack scenes we are used to. Instead it is primarily a psychological, not a visual, effect that is used to get across the horrors of the zombie apocalypse. If nothing else, its concept is undeniably different and interesting.

As independent and small budget as Ponty Pool may be, its actually a well made movie in all respects. Instead of trying to do things outside of the realm of non-Hollywood movies, it does what it does well and leaves the rest to imagination. Imagine a group of rabid undead mauling your neighbours car, pulling him from the front seat and carrying him to the side of the road in their teeth only to devour him before your eyes. See. It works.

4 words out of 5
Unrated: contains violence, language.

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

Terror Never Rests In Peace!

For six years the town of Haddonfield lived in peace after Michael Myers and his niece, Jamie Loyd, both disappeared in a bizarre explosion. Both were presumed dead. But instead Jamie had been kidnapped by a Michael Myers cult. Now she has become pregnant and hopes to escape with her baby to avoid whatever fate awaits them at the hand of the mysterious cultists.

She escapes but doesn't make it far. Tommy Doyle (from the original film) and Dr. Loomis are alerted to the fact that Jamie, and presumably Michael, are, or were, still alive. Soon then find Jamie's baby and realize that Michael is returning to Haddonfield, presumably to kill it and thus finally end his own bloodline.

But the plot takes an even stranger twist and we soon learn the truth behind the cause of Michael's periodic deadly killing sprees and his obsession with killing his family.

The Curse of Michael Myers is the sixth installment in the epic Halloween series. Here we finally get an explanation for the who scenario even if it is a bit silly. Personally, this reviewer would have been just as happy if they kept making slasher films of a reasonable caliber and never did give us a real rationale for what had gone on. The "thorn" subplot distracts from the main plot and idea behind the films.

The film was promoted as "the scariest Halloween of them all." Not so. However, The Curse of Michael Myers does return the series to a darker, gorier, and more suspenseful place than its films 4 or 5. Gone are the cheesy comic-relief characters and occasional goofy sound effects.

Some of the acting definitely falls down in this sequel, but some of it is alright. Furthermore, this film adds more complex dynamics between the characters and creates good and bad guys within Michael's victims as well. Characters like the cruel step-dad and the pompous radio host are just screaming to be slaughtered and the audience gets its wish. Over-all, a solid installment.

4 creepy washing machines out of 5 
Rated R for strong horror violence, sexuality, nudity, and language.

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)

Michael Lives, And This Time They're Ready!

Michael survived his run in with shotgun toting rednecks and cops at the end of Halloween 4 ans was washed down stream where he came to and found a cozy resting space for a year. Then, on Halloween one year later he reawakens to continue his quest to kill his niece.

Jamie Lloyd is staying at a children's hospital where she continues to undergo treatment for the psychological damage done by last years massacre. She has lost her voice and suffers from spasms, nightmares, and fits. She is watched over by Dr. Loomis, Rachel, and a new character, Tina.

Michael makes his way back to Haddonfield in short order and begins a new round of grisly murders leading up to a confrontation at the Myers house which seems to end positively, until a last minute twist.

Halloween 5 continues logically from the previous film with the seemingly invincible Michael Myers returning for mayhem. The film is perhaps even less dark and suspenseful than its immediate predecessor and again contains some silly and unnecessary comic relief in the form of two incompetent police officers. Thankfully, there are no more gun toting rednecks, but some of the other new (but disposable) characters are fairly irritating. The film still packs on the gore, but perhaps not as viciously as some of the previous films.

At the same time it is important to keep the film in context. That is, the other two major slasher franchises (Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street) were both in stages of utter ridiculousness and cheese by the time of this film. Compared to the offering of those franchises in the same year, this film is much better.

With the exception of Halloween 3, this is probably the weakest film in the series up to this point. That said, it is still a worthwhile and entertaining film and represents an important pivot point in the plot line of the Halloween series with the introduction of the "thorn" sub-plot.

3.5 pitchforks out of 5
Rated R for strong horror violence/terror - occasionally involving children, language, sexuality, and teen drug and alcohol use.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

Horror has returned to Haddonfield.

For ten years Michael Myers remained in a coma at Richmond Mental Institute after his near death experience with Dr. Loomis at the end of Halloween 2.  Now he is being transferred back to Smith's Grove Sanitarium. But while in transit, he awakens.

After brutally murdering his transfer crew, he escapes and sets his sights on Haddonfield once again. This time, his target is his young niece, Jamie Lloyd, ostensibly the last of his blood line since the supposed death of his sister, Laurie Strode.

Dr. Loomis rushes to Haddonfield, finding Michael's trail of death and destruction along the way as he races to alert and convince the local authorities of the danger. Before long Haddonfield is at the mercy of this knife wielding embodiment of evil, and only Jamie's foster-sister, Rachel, and Dr. Loomis, stand in the way of Michael's fratricidal quest.

Halloween 4 is probably one of the better of the Halloween films outside of the first two. It reintroduces Michael Myers to the series for good and brings back all the hallmarks one would expect from the franchise.

The addition of Jamie Lloyd puts Laurie Strode to rest, although not as permanently as one might assume. The new character is easily likable, as is her foster-sister, Rachel, which gives you someone to root for as opposed to many of the Friday the 13th or Nightmare on Elm Street sequels wherein all the characters were so obnoxious that you pretty much had to root for the bad guy. Plus, the surprise ending will surely leave you a little creeped out, not to mention curious about what is yet to come for the franchise.

The film does, undoubtedly, have some cheese-ball aspects, like a gun toting posse of drunken red-necks which seem half thrown in for comic relief. Otherwise, a solid Halloween film.

4 shotguns out of 5
Rated R for strong horror violence/terror involving a child, language, and a scene of sexuality.

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch

...and now the earth will run with blood again!

Local shop owner Harry Grimbridge is chased by men wearing suits until he collapses at a service station. Ranting about plot to kill him, and clutching a Halloween mask, he is taken to the hospital for treatment. But while in the hospital one of the strange men catches up with him and kills him, then immolates himself as well.

His doctor, Dr. Dan Challis, and Grimbridge's daughter, Ellie, travel investigate the horrible incident. Their efforts lead them to the Silver Shamrock Novelties Factory in the small town of Santa Mira. There they uncover a monstrous plot to kill untold number of people on Halloween. Can they stop the evil plot in time?

Halloween 3 has the strange distinction of being the only film in the series which does not feature Michael Myers. For that matter, it does not feature any of the recurring characters of the series including Laurie Strode and Dr. Loomis. Instead we have an entirely new and different plot, unrelated to the previous two films that had already been released and the sequels which would follow.

Taken as part of a lengthy franchise of popular slasher films, this movie fails. In fact, it is hardly a slasher film at all. It's themes are more along the mad-scientist bent, and it lacks in the gore, as well as the suspense and dark atmosphere of the other films.

Halloween 3 is more interesting when taken apart from the rest of the series and looked at for what it really is; namely, a fairly poor movie with a more or less noble aim. That is, Halloween 3 is a clear critique of capitalist consumerism and corporate culture.

The unfortunate thing is that any effectiveness that its message may have is largely lost due to the fact that the film itself is quite cheesy, dull, and poorly done all around. John Carpenter's role was relegated only to that of music production. It's possible that this had something to do with the poor outcome as compared with the first two films as well. On the other hand, many of the other sequels also lacked Carpenter's directing, and yet were much better over-all. Politically progressive undertones aside, Halloween 3 misses the mark.

2 out of place sequels out of 5
Rated R: contains violence, sexually suggestive scenes, language.

Halloween 2 (1981)

The sensational follow-up to the worldwide phenomenon. More terror, even more terrifying.

Halloween 2 picks up exactly where the original finished. Laurie has survived Michael's initial rampage thanks to her own ingenuity and strength, plus a little help from the pistol packing Dr. Loomis. But Michael's body has disappeared.


Laurie is rushed to the hospital for treatment. The only catch is that Michael is hot on her heels. Soon Laurie realizes that he is now creeping through the hospital, continuing his murderous rampage, knocking off security guards, nurses, and whoever else he happens upon. But Dr. Loomis is also on to the fact that Michael is still alive, and he is out to put an end to his terror once and for all.

Halloween 2 could be watched immediately after the original and one could almost think it was one very long and epic film. It is an immediate continuation of the plot with the same characters, actors, and so on. That's, in part, what makes this one of the best horror sequels.

Another reason for this is that it still has the same use of suspense and surprise, the same creepy villain, and the continued presence of at least two decent actors (Pleasence and Curtis), even if some of the others are pretty poor.

The gore level is turned up on this one compared to the original. Keep in mind that Friday the 13th had been released one year prior, and slasher movies were becoming a big thing. A struggle was taking place to keep on top of this developing sub-genre. Perhaps mild by the standards of some modern movies, but still effective. A great continuation to a great series.

5 bleached-out captain kirk masks out of 5
Rated R: contains violence, gore, sexual content, nudity, language.

Halloween (1978)

The Night He Came Home.

On Halloween, 1963, in the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, six year old Michael Myers stabbed his seventeen year old sister to death. After fifteen years of institutionalization at Smith's Grove Sanitarium, Michael escapes only nights before Halloween.


He heads towards Haddonfield, with the intention of finishing off the remaining living member of his family, his sister, Laurie Strode, and anyone else who comes in his path. Meanwhile his doctor, Dr. Loomis, is hot on his heels, hoping to stop Michael before he strikes again.

Halloween was among the first true slasher films in the modern sense, and undoubtedly was the most successful of the early films, challenged only by Friday the 13th two years later. It was followed by seven sequels, a remake, and a sequel to the remake.

To this day Halloween is arguably one of the best slasher films of all time, and spawned arguably the best slasher film franchise as well. What sets Halloween apart from the vast majority of films belonging to its sub-genre is its masterful use of suspense and surprise, it higher than usual caliber of acting and writing, and its plentiful (not as plentiful as the sequels), but not unrealistic or over-the-top violence.

The film also features Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode and Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis, both of whom reappear in many of the sequels. Halloween remains one of the best horror movies of all time to this day, and perhaps John Carpenters greatest masterpiece.

5 kitchen knives out of 5
Rated R: contains violence, frightening scenes, sexually suggestive scenes, nudity. 

The Last Man on Earth (1964)

Do you dare to imagine what it would be like to be... the last man on earth... or the last woman?

A mysterious disease sweeps across the globe, carried by the wind. Dr. Robert Morgan works desperately with a team of scientists to find a cure while the dead pile up at alarming rates. Soon the government turns to burning the corpses in hopes of containing the plague. Dr. Morgan's own family comes down with the disease. Rumours spread of some of the corpses returning to life as vampires.

Soon Dr. Morgan finds himself alone. Somehow possessing immunity to the disease, he is now the last man on earth. But at night the living dead, zombie-like vampires, rise from their resting places and come out to hunt. Each day Morgan searches the city, destroying any vampires he encounters. Each night, he takes sanctuary in his home and waits for the protective cover of sunrise.

Based on the 1954 horror novel, I Am Legend, the story embodied in The Last Man on Earth has been remade on film twice since; in The Omega Man (1971), and I Am Legend (2007). It also inspired the seminal film in modern zombie cinema, Night of the Living Dead, which was released only four years later.

The Last Man on Earth stars the legendary horror actor Vincent Price. Like other films of that era, it lacks the fancy special effects and make up, and the gore, that we have grown accustomed to in modern horror movies. It also features some pretty awful acting on the part of most of the cast, and some fairly campy music aimed at setting the mood.

All of this fails to stop The Last Man on Earth from being a pretty good watch, however. In fact, it easily keeps the viewer interested as we gradually learn how Dr. Morgan to to where he is today, and what his life has become. Then, a plot twist that could change everything and save the human race. Could...

4 wreaths of garlic out of 5
Unrated. Contains mild violence.

Growth (2010)

Sometimes the Greatest Enemy Comes From Within.

Back in 1989, on Cuttyhunk Island, a breakthrough was made in advanced parasitic research. Scientists used parasites on human subject to heighten physical and mental strength as well as awareness and cognitive abilities. But something went wrong...

Three quarters of the islands population was wiped out. Jamie Akerman lost her mother, but escaped. Now she returns to the island to sell the family property which she has inherited. However, the past has come back to haunt her as a new parasitic outbreak threatens her and everyone around her.

Like 2006's Slither, Growth is about some squeaky wormy-looking parasites that invade human bodies causing disease and death. The difference is that instead of turning people in zombies, it turns them into super-humans. But the parasites grow and multiply at the same time until eventually the person dies and the parasites move on to their next victim. Growth is a more serious take on a similar story. Rather than aiming for a cheesy, semi-comedic experience, Growth aims for fear and suspense.

While Growth isn't likely to find its way into the top ten scariest, or even best, horror movies of all time, it is a decent and very watchable film. It has suspense, a few jumps, and good atmosphere. It also has reasonable acting and dialogue as well as some grisly, skin crawling special effects.

3.5 severed arm slaps out of 5
Not rated. Contains violence, sexuality, language, disturbing scenes.