NECRONOMICON
1993 / d. Christophe Grans, Shusuke Keneko, Brian Yuzna

A Lovecraft film starring Jeffrey Combs NOT directed by Stuart Gordon? It might explain why the film is barely Lovecraftian but who the hell cares, you're here for the gore, not for the staying-true-to-the-source-material! An anthology film with a clever wraparound story, this film uses Lovecraft as a jumping off point for some entertaining short stories with increasingly amped up gore. And tentacles. Oh boy are there tentacles. Throw in some face peeling, some limb amputation and some Mi-Go marrow munching and this is Lovecraft for gore-hounds. Criminally unavailable on (legit) DVD, dig out the old VCR, scour the pawn shops and go mad…ish. (SK)

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NIGHT OF THE DEMONS
2010 / d. Adam Gierasch

Some films are so bad they're good. Others are just so bad they're really effing awful. Such is the case with this remake of the widely enjoyed 1988 campy classic. The bottom line is this: if a film clearly possessed potential but failed to deliver because of low-budget, bad acting, poor effects, etc., then a remake should be considered. However, if a film accomplished everything it set out to do and is still enjoyed to this day, then seriously, sink money into a different project and don't waste time making an inferior product. Redundant gore, barely passable effects, and dialogue which makes you want to brain yourself with the DVD case contribute to why you should skip this one altogether.

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NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2
1994 / d. Brian Trenchard-Smith

Angela, the Halloween hostess from hell, returns to throw another killer party! When teenagers begin transforming into horrible mouth-foaming demons, it becomes up to a ruler-weilding Catholic school nun to save the day. Slapstick horror goodness from start to finish puts this one with the ranks of EVIL DEAD 2 and RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD. Plenty of boobs, plenty of gore, and plenty of good old fashioned horror hilariaty.

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NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
1968 / d. George A. Romero

Ok, so it's obvious that NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD isn't about the graphic human meat-chomping that characterized the later Romero pictures, but without this influential little gem, the zombie genre as we know it would not exist. An incredibly bleak and tragic tale, this low-budget black and white horror classic marked the directorial debut of Mr. Romero and set up him up for a long career in the horror industry. Followed by DAY OF THE DEAD, DAWN OF THE DEAD, LAND OF THE DEAD, DIARY OF THE DEAD, and SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD.

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NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD
1990 / d. Tom Savini

Incredibly successful and atmospheric remake of George A. Romero's original masterpiece. Not particularly heavy on the gore, but spectacular make-up effects and convincing performances by Tony Todd and Patricia Tallman make this a personal favourite.

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A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
1984 / d. Wes Craven

A creative, utterly relentless, and disturbing horror film from the director of LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT. Tells the story of a child-killer turned dream-stalking boogeyman after he is murdered by a group of vigilante parents. Filled with unbelievably effective low-budget effects and a high-strung soundtrack, NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET has a unique way of getting under your skin and making you think twice before shutting those sleepy peepers late at night. Also marks the first feature film appearance by Capt. Jack himself, Johnny Depp.

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A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET
2010 / d. Samuel Bayer

A decent jaunt in the realm of remakery, this one stays reasonably close to the spirit and storyline of the original. Though generally not well received by horror fans (as is usually the case with remakes), in this reviewer's opinion the film makes for a more-than-decent watch. Plentious gore, creative new twists on classic scenes, solid filmmaking, and an excellent performance by Jackie Earle Haley (of WATCHMEN fame).

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A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE
1985 / d. Jack Sholder

Gimpy sequel which pales in comparison to the brilliance of the first film. FREDDY'S REVENGE brings us back to 1428 Elm Street, where the infamous Mr. Krueger is once again scheming a way to increase his bodycount. This time: by crossing over into the real world by using a (questionably gay) teenager as his vessel. Hokey-ness abounds, but some memorable scenes -- including dogs with babyfaces -- make this one a guilty pleasure. Watch at your own risk.

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A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS
1987 / d. Chuck Russel

DREAM WARRIORS is, without a doubt, a high-point in the franchise. Set in the psychiatric ward of a hospital, another group of troubled teens must band together to fight off old Fred, whose hunger for souls has become insatiable. Classic kills, good performances by the cast, and a bit more backstory on Krueger make this essential viewing for horror fans. Also, watch out for the appearance by the very young Lawrence Fishburne.

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