Short Film Review: Judith

Wes Craven 1939-2015

Another Walk Down Elm Street?

It has been leaked by a very reliable source that Warner Bros. is planning on bringing Freddy Kreuger back to the big screen.  I have to say that this news excites me.  Nightmare on Elm Street is my favorite slasher franchise and I would love to see what someone else could do with the bastard son of a hundred maniacs.  Interestingly enough, Platinum Dunes is NOT part of the as-yet unnamed production team.  So with some new blood in the water, here are my suggestions for what they should (and shouldn't) do:

Calm Down Fanboys (and Girls)

As most of you know, San Diego Comic-Con was last week and, while there isn't much horror news coming out of there (besides The Walking Dead), there was some huge sci-fi/comic book information being tossed around.  While I rarely write about things outside of the horror/slasher genre, I have some things I need to get off of my chest regarding the latest out pour of love/hate that has been all over the internet in the last year for my second favorite genre.  

Let me give you a little back story on what this article is really about....

Welcome to the newest segment here at 2HT.  A little something I call One From the Vaults.  Here, you'll find reviews of older horror films and unsung classics, most from my personal collection.  Being that Father's Day is this month, I wanted to review something that was within the realm of Dad related horror.  My first instinct was to review Creepshow, if only for the opening story and the wraparound segment starring the great Tom Atkins.  But as I was glancing at my collection of VHS tapes, I found an old favorite that I almost always forget sits on my shelf.....

Michael Myers is Coming Home!

I try to stay away from too much horror movie "News" on this page.  Mostly because I know that the rumor mill can turn out stories that sound like gospel, then get debunked, causing the writer to retract.  But the combination of what the news regards and the legitimacy of the sources has gotten me too excited NOT to say anything.  

Michael Myers is returning to Haddonfield.  More importantly, it will go back to John Carpenter's continuity that ended with 1981's Halloween II.  The plot description is after the jump.

Review: Blood Slaughter Massacre

There are many different sub-genres under the horror umbrella.  None of them are more beloved to me than the slasher.  While the set 'em up and watch 'em fall mentality is still being done today, they peaked in the late 1980s.  I will give any slasher a chance, just begging to have a new icon to hold on to.

How "The Babadook" Made Me a Better Parent

If any of you have read the "About Me" section of this page, you know I have two children.  As of the date of this publication, my daughter just turned one and my son is nearly four.  While I never really write about my family aside from the aforementioned "About Me", I couldn't find a way to discuss my next review without bringing up my life as a father.  

Review: Final Entries

Being a writer makes for some unusual opportunities.  Over the course of my career, I have written for a few websites and reviewed a lot of movies.  One movie I was asked to watch has, to my knowledge, never seen the light of day after my less than flattering review.  True story.

Scooby-Doo Meets KISS!

I have been a KISS fan since I was 15 years old.  My love for the band has only grown over the years.  Many fair weather fans come and go.  Many die hard fans complain about the "commercialism" and how it should be "about the music".  While yes, it should be about the music, KISS did not become the Hottest Band in the World (there words, not mine), by just making records.  They made (and still make) everything.  Toys, comic books and video games all the way down to condoms and caskets.  They'll get you coming and going!  *sorry Mom*  I saw them in concert a few years back and it was literally the best show I have ever seen.

Anyway, they are at it again, pairing up with the Mystery Inc team for a new direct to video release.  Why am I posting a trailer for an animated movie on a horror site?  Because I have always felt that Scooby and the gang have been dipping their toe into suspense/horror for the last 40 years (which is how long KISS has been around, FYI).  But also, my inner child just had to jump up and down on a public forum for a moment.  The trailer is below.

Review: The Perfect House

My wife and I are renters.  We have a decent sized four bedroom, two bath that is off the beaten path.  Sorry for the rhyme.  We have looked into home ownership, but could never really find exactly what we wanted at the time.  Without showing my hand too much, I have to say after watching this film, I might renew my lease.

Review: Hi-8 (Horror Independent 8)

The shot on video (SOV) format has been a tried and true staple of the horror community ever since the days of “Boardinghouse“. From time to time, a movie comes around that claims to be a “throwback” or an “homage” to these days of horror old. None more so than HI-8.

Short Story: Come Alone

Jade called me from a phone number I didn’t recognize. “Come to Arcadia,” she said. “Come alone”. Arcadia is the side of town that burned out years ago. No one wants to go to Arcadia. Not even bums.

Review: Swamphead

This is a bad movie.

Review: Play Hooky

Top Ten Worst Parents in Horror

“Pushy parents can drive you nuts.”  –Greta Gibson, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child

Review: The Night Before Easter

Review: Don't Go to The Reunion

Scott Rantzen (Brady Simenson) is a horror movie loving misfit who is teased by the popular students in school. When a date with the very popular and very beautiful Erica Carpenter (Stephanie Leigh Rose) backfires, he feels as though his life is ruined. Ten years later, the gang reunite for their class reunion. Little do they know that someone is waiting for them and ready to see that they pay for what they did. Is Scott back for revenge and will the old gang survive to tell the tale? There’s gore in store for the Class of ’04.

Why I Love VHSPS (And Why You Should Too)

At the beginning of my first post, I mentioned collecting VHS tapes. At last count, I have over 100 tapes, mostly horror. The best part of this hobby is “The Hunt”. Yard sales, thrift stores & flea markets have become my Mecca for the dead format. eBay is a treasure trove of lost tapes and collectible modern releases, but you will almost always pay a higher price for those hard to find tapes. In some cases, if I just want a title to watch, the condition of the box or the fact that it’s a former rental copy, won’t bother me too much. The downside of such a hobby is one that differs from most other hobbies: Geography

Not now, Zoidberg

Review: Bloody Birthday

I collect VHS tapes. As long as it’s horror, or occasionally action. Or Sci-Fi. Or exploitation comedy. Ok, so I collect any VHS. If you ask my wife, she will tell you I have too many. But any horror fan will tell you that VHS is how we fell in love with the genre. It has a special place in the hearts of any self-respected child of the 80s and 90s. The classic box art, which rarely had anything to do with the movie itself, would draw you in, begging you to rent what may or may not be (most times not) the scariest movie you’ve ever seen.

We're Back!

Howdy folks!  Welcome (back) to Secondhand Terror.  At this moment, I am deleting almost EVERYTHING and taking it back to basics in order to bring 2HT to the site I always envisioned.  To wet your whistle, I will be posting links to material I have previously released on HalloweenLove.com.  Thank you for all of your support.  We will see you soon!