1. Crowhaven Farm (1970)
2. Simon, King of the Witches (1971)
2. Crawlspace (1972)
3. Stanley (1972)
5. Leptirica (1973)
Thanks,
Ozne
Five Underrated Flicks By Ozne
Author: unkle lancifer
Sunday Viewing:: The Others (2000)
Have you ever had that thing where you're desperate to watch something and so you peruse the Netflix Streaming, the choices available ON DEMAND, the boxes of VHS tapes that litter your floor and the towering shelves of DVDs that align your walls and still, you are unable to find anything that fits your persnickety mood? How is that possible? Possible or not it happened to me the other night. I was in danger of spending the entire evening loitering in a movie title K-hole. Then I remembered that I had recently been waxing nostalgic over the short-lived supernatural cozy-fest called THE OTHERS. Yes! I made a fort out of quilts and built a campfire out of safe LED tea lights that could never cause harm to my pets and I dug in once again into the pilot episode. And it was perfect. So now I'm going to use this space here to try to convince at least one other fellow human to check it out. I love this spooky character driven show! If I recall correctly, nobody could convince me to leave the house on the Saturday nights that it aired. At this point, I've fully given up hope that it will ever be made available on DVD but the pilot episode is below and the rest of the series is only a Google away. Make sure you stick around to see the episode directed by TOBE HOOPER ("Souls on Board"), and the one with the evil wallpaper, that's a good one too! I'm off to watch some more myself….
Frankenweenie Future Trauma by Mike Campbell
Children's films in general but Disney movies in particular have a long history of terrifying children. They love to lull a child into a sense of security and then scare the crap out of them. Who was not traumatized by "Dumbo," "Pinocchio," and the unspeakable horror of "Bambi"? I know we all have our own Disney traumafession. Mine would be "Darby O'Gill And The Little People." That scene gave me nightmares for weeks. It's not just Disney though, what about the Child Catcher in "Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang"? "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" is consistently unsettling, but God knows what they were thinking with that boat sequence. Not to mention those damn flying monkeys that sent me running out of the room like the Cowardly Lion.
As kids we aren't prepared for some of the stuff we might run into. I once shared "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" with a little kid I was babysitting, I had forgotten about Large Marge. He loved the movie up until that point, but that really scared him. I recently watched "Frankenweenie." (I know, I'm late to the party, sorry.) While "Ed Wood" is one of my favorite films, I haven't had much interest in Tim Burton lately. This is a delightful homage to the old horror movies that many of us enjoyed as a child. (When I saw "Bride of Frankenstein" as a little boy I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to live in an isolated castle and fly kites off the roof during a thunderstorm, and when folks would drop by I would cower behind the door and implore them to go away.)
The animation is beautiful. There are many references to old horror films and repeated viewings would undoubtedly reveal more. Mr. Whiskers transformation sequence cracked me up. The science teacher is a great caricature of Vincent Price with Martin Landau voice acting. The girl next door is named Elsa, thank you. Watching this movie I could not help but wonder how it might seem to a child. Without the affectionate back-story I live in, what does this look like to a kid? I can see some parents looking at this movie and deciding it is not appropriate for their children. I can see far more parents seeing that Disney logo and tossing it to the hapless kid without a second thought. I think every parent should watch this before showing it to their children, but I doubt that will be the case.
Kids have pets. Pets die. It's a part of life children have to learn to accept. When my pet turtle died I was very sad. (This movie does give a generous nod to Gamera, but does any little kid know who Gamera is anymore?) When your pets die you can't bring them back. My favorite scene was when Sparky ran away and found his headstone in the pet cemetery. He circled a few times, and sadly laid down. That was his place. Even the dog knew it was where he belonged. That's the only thing that bugged me about this movie, the ending. (SPOILER ALERT!) Sparky should have stayed dead at the end. I could have gone with Sparky trying to come back, but being unable to do so. My favorite line in the movie is when Victor tells Sparky it's OK, he doesn't have to come back. That should have been the end. In 10 or 15 years, this movie will be a recurring Traumafession.
Five Underrated Flicks By Dennis A.
The Black Pit of Dr M (Mexico, Fernando Méndez)
Ultimo Mondo Cannibale (Italy, R. Deodato)
Jigoku (Japan, Nobuo Nakagawa)
Witchhammer (Czechoslovakia, Otakar Vavra)
Our Mother's House (UK, Jack Clayton)
Future Traumafession :: Mary R. on Spongebob Squarepants
I love your website and it brings back some awesome memories from my childhood. I have a couple of future Kindertraumas that will possibly fuel good memories to come.
Spongebob Square Pants: Now how could the wimpy yellow kitchen sponge possibly scare anyone? Well in an episode called "Nightlight" a terrified Spongebob is told by his boss to go in the dark cooler to get some fresh Krabby Patties to grill up for the lunch crowd. Meanwhile Spongebob had spent the previous evening watching a scary show and has developed a morbid fear of the dark. As the cooler door opens a disembodied head (played by Tom Kenny who voices Spongebob) floats out accompanied by evil sounding laughter. When my then 5-year-old saw the face she screamed like someone encountering an ax murderer. Several weeks later my husband was sleeping and I was engrossed in something else when the episode came on again. This time she screamed even louder and ran around the room. We raced to see what the problem was, thinking that maybe she had fallen and was somehow hurt only to see "Nightlight" playing on the television. For months afterward she would ask if "Nightlight" was coming on whenever we watched Spongebob.
My son is pretty brave for a two and a half year old but comes unglued when confronted by giant inflatable lawn decorations. Last October he screamed and flailed around in the shopping cart when faced with a giant inflatable dancing pumpkin. Even after the thing was quickly sold he would cover his eyes and wail, "Oh no oh no!" any time we passed the holiday section where the inflatable had been displayed. He also goes bananas when he sees puppets on television or YouTube, this just proves that the Uncanny Valley continues on to the next generation.
Keep up the good work on an awesome website!
5 Underrated TV Movies with vampires by Mickster
Nick Knight (1989)
This failed pilot (until much later with a different cast) is a superior TV movie. The soundtrack loaded with awesome 80s tunes. Rick Springfield is super sexy as the vampire cop on the trail of what he thinks is another vampire killing the homeless for their blood. Try this one if you have not seen it before. I tried watching Forever Knight (the much later series), but I could not get past the fact that Rick Springfield was missing.
The Norliss Tapes (1973)
I adore all things Dan Curtis, so I loved this one right away. It had a lot of potential, so I am surprised this pilot was not picked up Roy Thinnes is fantastic as the investigative reporter helping Angie Dickinson discover what happened to her "late" husband, the artist, who used unusual art supplies.
3) Cliffhangers-"The Curse of Dracula" (1979)
The only storyline I recall from the short-lived Cliffhangers series is "The Curse of Dracula". No wonder since I have always had a thing for vampires and Michael Nouri. It was the best of both worlds! Unfortunately, I cannot find this one anywhere.
Vampire (1979)
Another failed pilot is the source of this gem. Richard Lynch is creepy and sexy as Prince Anton Voytek that emerges from the ground growling because of the groundbreaking for a new church. I remembered that scene from my childhood. This movie has some excellent actors besides Lynch such as Jason Miller (The Exorcist) and E.G. Marshall (Creepshow).
Count Dracula BBC (1977)
I wrote a traumafession about one particular scene from this adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic. I blocked this scene until I actually read the novel in high school. I have seen many adaptations of this novel, but this one has to be the closest to the book on film. Louis Jourdan, even though he would not be my first choice, is surprisingly good as the Count.
Merry Christmas!
UNK SEZ: Here's hoping all you fine folks are having the best holiday ever. I am currently trapped in a video game but we will be back to our regularly scheduled kindertraumatic program shortly-ish!
Five Underrated Horror Films By Dante Tomaselli Director of Torture Chamber
The Night of the Devils (1972)
This is one of my favorite horror movies. Growing up, I don't know how I ever missed out on it. Definitely triggers the same feeling I got when I finally experienced Suspiria for the first time in my late twenties. A magical feeling. A sweet horror rush. It aligns with my taste buds perfectly. Very moody, Night of the Devils is a beautifully constructed tale of madness. Simplicity is its greatest strength with the woods as its main backdrop. It's the kind of film that unfolds like a disturbing nightmare. The mirage hints at the same vampire-like entity featured in one of the segments of Mario Bava's Black Sabbath. This is a criminally underrated psychological horror shocker. Definitely worth seeking out for all horror fans.
A Reflection of Fear (1973)
Wow, what a genuinely strange film. I remember a friend loaning this to me around 2000 and it's still wadding around my subconscious. The less said about the plot the better but it involves a rich, isolated girl reuniting with her Dad (Robert Shaw of Jaws). There's something peculiar about this child who talks to a doll that seems to be alive. Or is it a projection of her off-kilter self? St. Michael, the warrior icon is chillingly conjured. This slow-burn film is so well made and not surprisingly it was directed by the cinematographer of Polanki's lush Rosemary's Baby. I can see that very clearly! Dreamlike imagery galore. Any adventurous horror fan should appreciate this odd unsettling chiller.
This Night I'll Possess Your Corpse (1967)
Here's a true independent horror film with the stamp of its creator all over. It's such a macabre and bizarre concoction that it just needs to be seen to be believed. I can only imagine how shocked and mystified audiences were back in the late '60s. I like to watch it through their eyes. The sequence where our anti-hero is sucked into a multi-colored hell is creative and outrageously eye-popping. Imagine a hazy nightmare that unfolds while you're lying on your back in a coffin with a black cloth over your eyes and a tarantula approaching.
Frightmare (1974)
This fascinating '70s low budget classic features a cannibalistic mother played by one of my favorite performers, Sheila Keith. I love every scene she's in and would have given anything to work with her. Rest in Peace. As the enigmatic, flesh-eating Dorothy, she's truly bloodcurdling. In the film, her daughter Jackie is trying to help her get better. Dorothy's days in the insane asylum are behind her. So we hope. But lately she's been reading tarot cards again and there are corpses in a room off to the side
The Visitor (1979)
I remember being 9 years old and seeing the black and white newspaper ad and staring at it endlessly. I cut it out and taped it on the refrigerator. This was around the same time The Godsend was being advertised too. I didn't see The Visitor in theatres but experienced it a year later on cable TV. I was 10 years old. I really had no idea what to expect and was startled by its strong imagery. The pictures presented on screen were bold and stylish. It's a sci-fi/fantasy horror mutation. The Visitor is confusing, crazy and a lot of fun…Visually, it's a sensation. This film is a completely unique viewing experience and for that it's gold.
THE VISITOR [Trailer] – Now In Theaters from Drafthouse Films on Vimeo.
UNK SEZ: Thanks Dante! It's always an honor and a pleasure when you stop by Kindertrauma! I love your taste in movies and what an excellent list! You mentioned a couple of my favorites and even better, a couple I can look forward to seeing for the first time.
Folks, get ready because pretty soon we'll all be able to check out the new film from one of the most original imaginations in horror! I'm talking about DANTE TOMASELLI's TORTURE CHAMBER! Make sure you stop by the official website HERE and prepare yourself for the trailer below! I can't wait!
Five Underrated Snow Flicks by Unk
Are there ever enough movies that take place in the snow? Nope. That's why this list is happening and don't be surprised if there's a part 2 in the future!
YOU'LL LIKE MY MOTHER (1972)
If you are not sold by the name PATTY DUKE alone, I'm really disappointed in you but I'll plow forward anyway. PATTY plays profoundly pregnant Francesca who goes to visit her deceased husband's mother for the first time. Things don't go well. The mother (ROSEMARY MURPHY) is sneaky and snidely and casually speaks of drowning non-pedigree kittens. She also tends to lie about everything, browbeats her sad mentally challenged daughter (SIAN BARBARA ALLEN of SCREAM PRETTY PEGGY) and is secretly harboring a psychopathic rapist (a very un-John Boy RICHARD THOMAS). This is a claustrophobic, tense psychological chiller cut from similar cloth as THE COLLECTOR, MISERY or DEAD OF WINTER. As far as atmosphere goes though, this one is in a class all by itself. Never has a snowy landscape appeared so relentlessly dismal and woeful. In fact, I think it's filmed in suicide-o-vision and I mean that as a compliment. Strangely, five years after the movie was made, two very real (and unsolved) murders occurred in the oppressive mansion where it was filmed. Why am I not surprised?
BLOOD RELATIONS (1988)
Wait, it seems a lot of my unloved horror flicks tend to get lumped into the "thriller" category. The way I see it though if the crap that happens to the characters in these movies happened to me, I'd call it "horrible" rather than "thrilling" and so here we are. Anyway for about the first half hour of watching the snowy enough for this list BLOOD RELATIONS recently, I began to wonder, "Why the hell did I like this movie?" and then the entire flick nosedived into a surreal nightmare zone of depraved insanity and I had my answer. It was like when Cindy Brady was all, "Why do you always make me peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? And her mom Carol goes, "Because they're your favorite" and Cindy goes, "Oh yeah, I forgot! I forgot that I'm playing the part of a character so dumb she can't even remember what she likes to eat." BLOOD RELATIONS cleverly tricks you into thinking it's about cold, calculated family backstabbing and then it punches you in the face with the fact that it's about cold, calculated involuntary brain operations. That's cool isn't it? It's also got RAY WALSTON, is mildy pervy and was filmed in Canada.
A COLD NIGHT'S DEATH
Another pattern I see forming with these unloved flicks is that they tend to have forgettable titles. A COLD NIGHT'S DEATH? Is that trying to be Shakespearian or something? You don't win friends with salad. If you're like me, you love JOHN CARPENTER'S THE THING more than you love any of your friends or family but you always felt that one thing was missing from it and that thing is a monkey. There is no monkey in THE THING. It is verifiably monkey-less. A COLD NIGHT'S DEATH does indeed involve a monkey or two. On the other hand, never at any point during A COLD NIGHT's DEATH does a person's head fall off, sprout crab legs and do a jig under a desk so ultimately there's not much of a competition. The good news is this made-for-television production does get right what CARPENTER's film does, the sense of isolation and paranoia is truly palpable and it's hard to get a firm grip on exactly what to fear. I'm not sure if that's enough to make up for COLD's shocking lack of scenes in which chests explode into teeth that chomp off arms but it's something. How's about ROBERT CULP as a compensation prize? He's sort of the unsung king of winter horror considering his turns in SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT 3 and SANTA's SLAY. Certainly he and monkeys combined are an adequate substitution for the mind-blowing artistry of ROB BOTTIN? I guess not but give this one a stab anyway.
THE DARK HOURS
Now this movie is truly underrated. See, there's this psychiatrist (KATE GREENEHOUSE) who finds out she has a brain tumor. She goes to hang out in her cabin in the snowy woods and is surprised to find her little sister and husband already there and plenty of suspicious evidence that her unexpected arrival thwarted a tryst. Shocking as that may be, the night has much more drama to offer in the form of one of her disgruntled ex-patients showing up for one of those surprise home invasions that are so popular these days. This movie is unnerving. And the stakes are higher than most of its kind because the characters seem like real people and the danger feels like legitimate danger. It's also a bit of a mind-screw so make sure you keep an eye on every fire lit detail. How this one keeps falling between the floorboards I'll never know.
THE BOOGENS
Don't give me that look. I know there are far more obscure films needing a leg up than this one but I wouldn't be me if I didn't try to cram THE BOOGENS into every possible conversation I could. Everybody knows about THE BOOGENS but do they respect THE BOOGENS? Not as much as they should. People like to give this gem a hard time simply because it presents monsters that look like adorable turtles but c'mon, those shoddy shots only concern about two minutes of screen time! Hmmm, I feel like I ranted about this before. Did I already tell you how I read the movie tie-in novelization and I loved it and it had the same characters but in different situations and it concerned the entire town all leading to a climax together which reminded me of THE FOG? Or that in the book the monsters were so hideously described that I just picture them that way now when I watch the flick? Can you believe that I'm watching THE BOOGENS right now as I write this? It's true. How can you beat that cabin in the snow? I'm not kidding when I say I think Trish and Mark (REBECCA BALDING & FRED McCARREN) are my favorite horror couple at this point. Oh and Tiger the dog, let's not forget him! Or that Jessica (ANNE-MARIE MARTIN) was not only in PROM NIGHT & HALLOWEEN 2 but also once battled BUCK ROGERS with glowing-eyed psychic powers!!! The less we talk about Roger (JEFF HARLAN) being on MORK & MINDY the better on account of he tried to date rape Mindy in the pilot. I'm going to watch this movie every year for the rest of my life. I just want you to know that.
Five Underrated Flicks By Kevin of House of Mysterious Secrets
UNK SEZ: Thanks Kevin! Those are all excellent picks! Kinderfolk, the holiday is looming closer! Make sure you stop by HOUSE OF MYSTERIOUS SECRETS to take care of all of your horror shopping needs (especially if I'm on your list)! And why not "like" HOMS on Facebook HERE!?
