Tremors (1990)

A group of people in a small peaceful town named "Perfection" becomes aware of a strange creature, which is picking off people one by one. But what is this creature, and where is it? At the same time as these mysterious occurrences, a seismologist is working in the area, who detects unparalleled tremors in the ground, which is later revealed to be the creatures! With the creatures popping up at any given moment to take their next victim, the townfolk are trapped, with no way of escape... Tremors is an absolute classic that, not only delivers horrifying prospects and imagery but also plenty of comedic elements through its characters, dialogue and sequences that culminate into a phenomenal monster flick. Originally made and filmed in 1989, this film could be considered an 80s movie despite releasing in 1990. Much like Back to the Future Part III (1990), which was filmed back to back with its second part during the 80s but was then released in the 90s making it a production of both decades. Tremors is, however, technically considered a 90s movie, though I like to think of it as another fantastic 80s production, but what a film to start the decade, probably one of the best films released that year, in my opinion. One of the strangest aspects of the film has to be the poster. It displays a completely different monster from the one seen in the movie. The poster shows the critter with sharp teeth, which is nothing like the version used (seen below) that has snake-like appendages coming from its mouth. It was possibly done, as a means to mislead viewers, creating a bigger surprise for when the monster is eventually revealed. To be honest, I like that it throws you off making you think you know what is in store when in reality you have no idea. My favourite aspect of the film has to be the townsfolk, especially when it comes to our main duo: Valentine and Earl. The pair of them have such a great friendship and easily have the best banter in the whole film. Even when joined by Rhonda the three of them share such great chemistry and make a formidable team when it comes to outsmarting the critters and getting everyone else to safety. I just love all the quick quips that they share back and forth like - Earl: "Damn it, listen to me. I'm older and wiser." Valentine: "Yeah, well you're half right." which will always get a chuckle from me and there are plenty of them sprinkled throughout. Despite frequently joking and bickering, when they put their minds to it, especially with help from Rhonda, they are able to defeat all the critters and save the remaining townsfolk. I think, without a doubt, my favourite sequence of the movie is when one of the creatures attacks Burt and Heather Gummer's Rec Room. Little did that creature know it had crashed into the wrong room as the couple fight it off with their guns in hand. However, they quickly run out of ammo leading to the funniest shot in the picture when the camera quickly pans around to show an entire wall covered in guns, which they both start grabbing and unloading on the beast. It's such a ridiculously brilliant sequence that was built up and revealed perfectly. Just seeing the gun-loving couple get to use their entire arsenal of weapons to battle this unknown entity and actually kill this one was one of the funniest, yet badass scenes ever! Despite being a comedy, the film is also a horror and does have some horrifically brutal deaths. From people being pulled under the earth in their car whilst it fills up with dirt suffocating them, to people being dragged underground alive and eaten, this film doesn't shy away from some horrendous deaths and imagery. However, there is just enough of each element to balance it out making for some quality entertainment. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Tremors. It is a film you can sit back and relax to for a bit of that horror and suspense feeling whilst being full to the brim with comedy and some fantastic acting, action and effects. I would highly recommend checking out this phenomenal classic! It even makes perfect viewing for either Summer time or even Halloween. If you are looking for more entanglements with these unusual creatures, look up the sequel in Tremors II: Aftershocks (1996).

Runtime: 1h 36m

Director: Ron Underwood

Genre: Comedy / Horror

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Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind. As the family attempts to settle in the dilapidated house, unexpected secrets hidden in plain sight come to light with mysterious equipment and a strange vehicle rotting in the barn that seems to relate to the long-forgotten Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man Incident in 1980s New York City. However, there hasn't been a single ghost sighting in 30 years. Is history repeating itself? Following on from the events of the iconic movies: Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989), this adventure continues the Ghostbusters franchise and manages to bring about a worthy instalment. Not only does this movie pack in so much phenomenal fan service and beautiful effects, but it also has a great story that is thoroughly engaging and has some interesting characters. I have adored the Ghostbusters films for many years, so when this one was released, I was so keen, especially for all the nostalgia it promised, which was definitely plenty and enough to make a grown man cry. The amount of detail and thought process behind this film is nothing short of fantastic. It's incredible how they managed to recreate some of the creatures and monsters from the first film, such as the Terror Dogs, which look so realistic. I seriously appreciated it because nowadays most productions tend to over-rely on CGI to the point where it makes me long for the good old days of filmmaking. These effects, are used just enough whilst focusing on using puppets with mechanical features in some scenes and it makes a whole world of difference. They even managed to perfectly mirror the Dog's movement and run style like the original. I also loved all the new additions they added from ghosts to characters. I found the main characters: Phoebe, Podcast and Trevor, to be seriously enjoyable. They had some great chemistry together and I liked all their scenes involving them uncovering the Ghostbuster's past, especially with fanatic Grooberson there. I think that, without a doubt, the coolest inclusion was the upgraded Ecto-1, which is found by Egon's Grandchildren. It now has a gunner seat, which opens up on the side allowing them to catch ghosts whilst driving. It is such a cool concept that's executed perfectly. Of course, to catch the ghosts they need a ghost trap, which is no problem thanks to the remote control trap fitted with wheels so they can catch ghosts on the go. Although we don't get quite the extravagant return, we get to see many miniature Mr Stay Puft Marshmallow Man who all run amok, causing a whole manner of mischief in countless hilarious scenes. We even get the return of Gozer, who aims to finish their plan from the first film. Now I'm going into some spoiler territory here so just skip past the red if you haven't seen the film. *Spoilers* During the climax of the film we see the return of none other than the original Ghostbusters: Peter, Ray and Winston. The whole scene is filled with callbacks, comedic lines and jokes packed with shedloads of nostalgia. I especially loved the call back to when Gozer asked Ray if he was a God, to which he said no. In this film, the sequence repeats itself, but the others make sure he says yes this time. We even see the ghost of Egon join them during their final fight (seeing as the actor had sadly passed away), which made for some fantastic and emotional fan service. To top it off there are two post-credit sequences, with one of them, showing the return of Dana in another call back with Peter doing his electric shock test. Overall, this movie is a perfect example of fan service done right. Afterlife found a suitable middle ground by adding new content, keeping it fresh whilst still delivering an abundance of references for older viewers and long-term fans to enjoy, making it a perfect balance between the two. A new adventure that has a new cast but still pays respect to the source material and what came before is always a blessing and does a lot better than some other latest follow-ups to classic franchises. This long-awaited 3rd film in the franchise is a real treat and a must-see for any fans!

Runtime: 2h 4m

Director: Jason Reitman

Genre: Adventure / Comedy / Fantasy / Sci-fi

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Ghostbusters II (1989)

Five years after the events of the first film, the Ghostbusters have been; plagued by lawsuits and court orders, and their once-lucrative business is bankrupt. But when Dana has ghost problems again, the boys come out of retirement and are promptly arrested. The Ghostbusters discover that New York is, once again, headed for supernatural doom, with a river of ectoplasmic slime bubbling beneath the city and an ancient sorcerer attempting to possess Dana's baby and be reborn. Can the Ghostbusters quell the negative emotions feeding the otherworldly threat and stop the world from being slimed? This sequel to Ghostbusters (1984) returns the beloved team to the big screen to take on a whole new manner of spirits, spooks and spectres. I personally, really liked this movie although, it isn't without its flaws and missed opportunities. I tend to overlook these slight faults as quite frankly this sequel is hilarious and pure entertainment. The film opens with a scene of Ray and Winston who are called out to a birthday party celebration where they get constant abuse from the kids. This short sequence shows that the people of New York don't like them anymore, which is so strange considering how the last one ended with them saving the whole world and being cheered by all. Scenes like that set the tone for this film, as the gang try to get back into the good books of the public and reclaim their old jobs. It did feel odd having everyone hate them out of nowhere to start this film and each member of the team off doing their own thing. However, things pick when they are all brought back together, and the chemistry between them skyrockets, bringing smiles and laughter for the remainder of the adventure. I think my favourite scene was when the trio are put on trial in court. Seeing them attempt to clear their names after breaking some laws was hysterical. It later turns in their favour when the court is attacked by two ghosts that they must stop. After promptly attaining their equipment, Peter turns his proton pack on and begins singing the musical scales (DO, RE, ME, etc) to the hum of the machine. After Peter's DO, it (of course) leads to Ray saying RE, which sounds just like his name. However, instead of ME coming next, Egon sings his name, following Ray's 'name sound-alike' tune, only to give a cheeky look to Peter, which is just priceless. It will forever be cemented in my head. We are introduced to a new villain in this movie in the form of Vigo, who is a pretty cool addition. I liked how he appears as a haunted painting which can move and control people like Janosz, head of the Restoration department of the Manhattan Museum of Art, to do his bidding, who has such a unique funny accent and expressions. One of the other main aspects of the film is the mysterious slime river under the city that reacts to different emotions, mainly anger, which fuels it. I think this flick actually had scarier moments than the first one, especially during the scene where Egon, Ray and Winston go into the sewers in search of the slime river but end up on an abandoned train tunnel. They, and we (the audience), get jumped scared by decapitated heads on spikes, which was extremely gruesome and truly frightening. Alongside all the main members of the ghostbusting crew, other characters also return from the previous story, like Dana (who now has a child, Oscar), Janine and Louis. Louis gets even more screen time in this one from his role as the Ghostbuster's lawyer in the court to becoming an unofficial Ghostbuster for the final battle. I do love Dana and Peter's relationship again in this film but was a bit sad how they had split up. Thankfully, they do get back with one another at the end for good. Overall, I think this is a decent follow-up to the original, which had a lot of laughs, scares and amazing effects. I mean, who doesn't want to see the Ghostbusters ride in a living Statue of Liberty to go and fight the evil Vigo to save the world? Simply seeing the whole team back together, delivering their usual banter, is enough to check this one out. Also, check out the next instalment Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), or if you want more 80s-style adventures, look up The Real Ghostbusters (TV Series 1986-1991).

Runtime: 1h 42m

Director: Ivan Reitman

Genre: Action / Comedy / Fantasy / Sci-fi

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Ghostbusters (1984)

After being kicked out of their university, parapsychology professors Egon Spengler, Raymond Stantz and Peter Venkman decide to go into business for themselves by trapping and removing ghosts from haunted houses. After some initial scepticism, business is soon booming as The Ghostbusters rid New York of its undead. However, when a downtown skyscraper becomes the focal point of spirit activity linked to the ancient god Gozer, the problem may be more than the team can handle. What can I say about Ghostbusters other than it is just one of those strange phenomenons of pure brilliance that came out of the best decades ever to occur: The 1980s. Ghostbusters ticks the mark in every category, from its comedy, action sequences, fantasy, and science fiction, to some elements of horror. We also can't forget about those incredible musical numbers, which are equally iconic on their own. This movie has it all! One of the biggest highlights of this feature that I adore is the friendship between our leading roles: Peter, Ray and Egon. They are non-stop back and forth with their witty jokes and comedy with just heaps of banter between them. Not only that, but the overall care they have for one another, as a team and friends, makes them such a joy to watch in every scenario they are put in. From start to finish, these guys will be bringing in plenty of chuckles to all-out laughter with their quick quips, subtle payoff lines and crazy antics. My personal favourite of the three would have to be Venkman, played by the fantastic Bill Murray. He is unbelievably funny, quick on his feet with his humour and very charming. But, of course, he is even more amusing when working off his co-stars. I love how very creative this film is with the designs for the ghosts, especially the special effects, which are way ahead of their time. I am a real sucker for 80s effects and Ghostbusters certainly delivered on my appreciation for them. Both of these elements can best be seen during the group's first call and test run where our team takes on the ghost Slimer. This little green blob who loves to slime people and constantly eat has some amazing visuals, from his design to the way he passes through walls just look incredible. He is also the most memorable ghost in the film, besides the Terror Dogs, mainly thanks to his phenomenal scenes in the hotel, which I have linked below. Venkman getting slimed to the hotel being destroyed whilst attempting to capture the pesky ghost is priceless entertainment. The proton packs are the gadgets the team uses to capture the ghosts by grabbing hold of them and directing them into their trap. The look and sound of this device are truly beautiful, which has a marvellous sound and an even better visual with streams swirling around in a cross between vibrant orange and blue. It is so visually stunning and one of the best aspects of the entire film. The main movie logo is really simple yet very effective. It is a piece of iconography so recognisable that anyone can recognise it. Another fabulous part of the film has to be their vehicle, Ecto-1, which is their mode of transport that carries all their equipment and has such an iconic sound in regards to the sirens. Whilst spending most of the story taking out ghosts throughout New York, we spend most of our time with one of their clients, Dana Barrett, who lives in an apartment terrorised by the ancient god Gozer who plans to bring about the end of the world. The finale is easily the greatest part, where the crew must face Gozer atop the skyscraper. I love the sequence where Gozer asks the Ghostbuster, now joined by new crew member Winston, to pick the form of the destroyer, which Ray accidentally thinks of Mr Stay Puft, the Marshmallow Man. We then see our crew have to battle with a giant marshmallow man, which is so absurd yet outstandingly hysterical. Overall, what isn't there to love? Ghostbusters is a movie that will forever stand the test of time. It is outright brilliant in every way. It has groundbreaking visuals, compelling characters and some of the finest movie magic. Just listen to Ray Parker Jr.'s song to get a taste of what this superb flick is all about! Also, check out the sequel: Ghostbusters II (1989).

Runtime: 1h 45m

Director: Ivan Reitman

Genre: Action / Comedy / Fantasy / Sci-fi

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The Blob (1958)

After teenagers Steve Andrews and his girlfriend Jane Martin see a meteorite crash nearby, they set off to investigate. They come across an old man who seems to have some type of gelatinous matter stuck to his hand. They take him to Dr. Hallen who isn't sure what the substance is but Steve becomes convinced it's a monster of some sort after both the old man and the doctor vanished. As the creature consumes more and more people, it grows larger and larger. Steve's biggest problem is that he can't get anyone to believe him and continually faces sceptical policemen and angry parents. The creature finally reaches a size that cannot be missed and everyone wonders how they will possibly stop it. The Blob is a cult classic horror from the 1950s during the era when monster movies were frequently sought out and in high demand. The concept of this film is simple yet effective. Having an alien creature that absorbs anything in its wake, consuming people and growing bigger and bigger with no way of stopping it, is a pretty frightening premise. The special effects in this film are quite amazing with the combination of practical and hand-drawn animation, which was used to bring the Blob creature to life. Some of my favourite scenes in the film centre around this alien creature showing how clever and adaptable it is to the situations it's put in. Whilst being chased by the monster in one scene, our protagonists, Steve and Jane, hide in a room and lock the door, only to later find out that it can fit under the door where it slowly begins to pass through. With no other way out, it makes for a terrifying sequence as the two are forced to stand and do nothing as it seeps through the gap. The monster would go on to display these qualities in a similar situation later on during arguably the most iconic scene where it attacks a movie theatre. It starts squeezing through a small space from the projector room into the packed cinema room with many unaware victims below. All the people eventually realise what is going on and start running out of the theatre as the blob grows exponentially, following everyone outside. This film features legendary actor Steve McQueen, in what was at the time, his debut feature film and a leading role at that, which would go on to sprout his acting career and fame. I thoroughly enjoyed him in this film as he made for a determined heroic character looking out for others and trying to do the right thing. The Blob was quite unlike any other monster movie of the decade since most of the films then ended with the creature being destroyed or killed however due to its indestructible nature, the Blob is only temporarily stopped, ending up being transported to a place it can supposedly never escape from. Filmed in colour, this flick utilises its bright tones well with the bright red jelly-like creature, which easily stands out, however, most of the film takes place during the night, so we don't get a great deal of beautiful colours on display, but the creature makes up for this. I quite liked that everyone was willing to help one another, in the end, to fight back against the monster, despite being previously denounced as a practical joke. Friends, family and strangers all chip in to defeat the behemoth showing how united we can all be when under a massive threat, no matter the danger. One of the downsides of this film is that has probably one of the most annoying child actors used in film history. His voice was incredibly annoying, with some truly bad acting that actually made me cringe. Overall, this is an excellent monster movie from the prime era of the sub-genre, which brought an actor to fame, had superb visual effects and showed an unstoppable creature unable of defeat, hammering home its frightening premise. This movie gives such a brilliant depiction of 1950s America for those looking for an authentic glimpse into the time period, which I found extremely fascinating. A cult classic that cannot be missed, especially with the whole film being free to watch on Youtube. Also, look out for the 1980s remake, The Blob (1988), which can be located on YouTube too.

Runtime: 1h 26m

Director: Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr., Russell S. Doughten Jr.

Genre: Horror / Sci-fi

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Salem's Lot (TV Mini Series 1979)

After years of absence, the successful novelist, Ben Mears, returns to his peaceful hometown of Salem's Lot, intent on writing a book on the notorious Marsten House, the property atop a haunted hilltop. However, there is a new tenant already residing in the gloomy house, a newcomer, Richard Straker. His arrival coincides with unaccountable disappearances and violent attacks. As more and more people die one after another, Ben Mears comes to realise that there is a curse that plagues the town and is starting to spread. Both Ben and a young horror fan make a horrific discovery. The town has been invaded by vampires! Together they attempt to save the small town from the growing forces of evil. Salem's Lot was a made-for-TV special, which was released as a mini-series of 2 parts due to being over 3 hours. It can be viewed as either a TV mini-series or a movie but I will be categorising it in its original format as a mini-series. This is most certainly one of the best vampire products ever made and a phenomenal series at that. I certainly enjoyed the premise of the show. Having a vampire create an army from the citizens of Salem's Lot is an incredible story premise. Despite being made for TV, it had the quality of a cinema release with a high budget feel, much like other TV-made projects like Battlestar Galactica (TV Series 1978-1979) and Jesus of Nazareth (TV Mini Series 1977) released around the same time. One of my favourite aspects of the show that I loved was the creepy design of the lead vampire known simply as The Master. He was extremely terrifying and had some really scary scenes, however, he only appeared 3 times throughout the whole series, having his minions doing all the work for the most part. It was quite a shame since he is one of the coolest-looking parts of the whole feature and although I wanted to see more, I can't deny that by not showing him as much, it helped up the fear factor. Having us constantly wonder when or where he would next appear certainly made him more threatening and something to truly be afraid of. His minions also looked very cool and frightening with their piercing yellow eyes, fangs and pale-grey skin. Their sinister appearance is best displayed in the scene where the recently deceased Ryerson returns from the grave, now a blood-thirsty vampire. It's a spine-chilling scene that just does vampires right by taking heed to the lore surrounding them. For example, when the character Burke says: "Get out. I revoke my invitation." to Ryerson, acknowledging the lore about how a vampire can only enter a household when invited. I really liked all the lines and subtle details, which showed all the effort put into this horror masterpiece and the amazing writing of Stephen King. This product is such a brilliant adaptation of his work and might even be one of the finest out there. Another highlight of this series is the dialogue, which has many quotable lines that I frequently repeat. For instance, my favourite, "You can do nothing against the master. Stop, Holy man!" I also really liked Ben Mears played fantastically by David Soul, who steps up and becomes the hero the town needs, fighting back against the evil invaders. From taking on foot soldier vampires to The Master himself, he doesn't back down from the task. A true hero! He is aided by Mark Petrie a horror-loving fan who wants revenge on The Master for killing his parents and converting his friends. Thanks to his monster knowledge, he knew what to do when his vampiric friend Danny came to his window wanting to enter. Mark, unlike everyone else who let him in, picks up a cross from his model of a churchyard and uses it to send him away. Overall, this TV mini-series is a horror classic, which is truly terrifying but in the best way managing to get away with so many horrifying moments with little to no gore involved. There are some exceptional visuals and effects, which elevate this story to new heights whilst also helping to drive home how this is easily one of the best vampire shows ever made. Salem's Lot is one to definitely check out, especially during the spooky season of Halloween! Also, look up the unconnected sequel A Return to Salem's Lot (1987).

Seasons & Episodes: 1 Season - 2 Episodes (3h 4m)

Creator: Tobe Hooper

Genre: Horror

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The Fog (1980)

Against the backdrop of spine-chilling stories of drowned mariners and a 100-year-old shipwreck lying on the bottom of the sea, the peaceful coastal town of Antonio Bay, California, is making preparations to celebrate its centennial. However, as strange supernatural occurrences blemish the festivities a dense fog starts to shroud the seaside town, leading to unaccountable disappearances. A century ago, the townsfolk committed a heinous crime that now sees the undead victims rise from the sea to claim retribution. Under cover of the ominous glowing fog, they carry out their vicious attacks, seeking revenge and searching for what is rightly theirs. John Carpenter's The Fog is an eerie, suspense-filled horror that is a true 80s cult classic for the genre. I thoroughly enjoyed the mysterious tone set that slowly unravels as the movie progresses as we see the townsfolk being taken out, one by one. Although having a low budget, John Carpenter chose to shoot the movie in anamorphic widescreen Panavision, which aided the film by giving it a much grander appearance of having a much bigger budget than in reality and it worked surprisingly well. This film looks amazing visually and managed to work around the lack of money to bring us one of the best suspense-filled horrors I've ever seen. From a simple shot of a young boy walking along the beach uncovering a broken segment of an old shipwreck (later discovered as part of the ghost's ship) is displayed magnificently as it lays down some curiosity that later unfoldes as the situation becomes darker, even lending to the growing fear felt by us viewers. This is especially seen when the wood sets aflame of its own accord with no explanation available. One of the highlights from this flick was every scene with the undead, ghostly pirates that lurked in the mystical fog. Even though we don't see much of them, they look so cool, most notably in the scene where they enter the church towards the end. The Captain himself begins to move through the glowing fog whilst the others remain standing, rooted in the background. As he gradually approaches Father Malone, his eyes start to glow increasingly red becoming the focal point in one of the most visually stunning moments in the whole feature, in my opinion, as he begins to draw his sword. The fact we don't see them all that much actually does this story some favours. It increases the fear factor by leaving us frantically wondering where they could spring from whilst keeping them a mystery for the narrative. When we see the fog, which in itself is supernatural with how it moves against the wind and has a strange glow to it, we the audience know that the pirates are there but, like the characters, we can't see them and don't know where they could manifest from. The undead seafarers become even more deadly as they brandish swords and hooks, which they use without mercy or remorse on their victims in some truly brutal imagery. Carpenter is most known for his tremendous horror productions, creating so many memorable thrillers from Halloween (1978), Christine (1983) to The Thing (1982). One of the actresses in The Fog, Jamie Lee Curtis, is very well known for her roles in the horror genre, being one of, if not the biggest, 'scream queen' who starred in plenty of other Carpenter movies, such as the equally frightening Halloween (mentioned above). It is also very interesting to note that her mother, Janet Leigh, starred in another popular horror movie: Psycho (1960). The music composed for this film is surprisingly spine-chilling and racks up the unnerving aesthetic creating a dread-filled atmosphere. What makes the theme all the better is that Carpenter composed the music himself, which easily displays his many incredible skills being able not only to create and direct this but also lend to the musical areas too. Overall, I extremely enjoyed this classic horror, which brought ghostly zombie pirates to the big screen and is executed magnificently, making them a formidable force to reckon with. Despite the film having no blood, it doesn't shy away from its horrific murderous imagery and some gruesome kills throughout. The Fog is an underrated classic that certainly shouldn't be missed.

Runtime: 1h 30m

Director: John Carpenter

Genre: Horror / Thriller

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