Category: Scaldcrow Stories | Page 2

31 Days of Halloween: Vault of Chilling Tales

Tales from the Crypt (1972)******* (7 out of 10 stars)Starring: Joan Collins, Peter Cushing, Roy Dotrice, Richard Greene, Ian Hendry, and Patrick Magee. The film opens with an ominous manor, standing alone with a heavy, menacing air against a lush countryside. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor plays with a sinister grin over this…

31 Days of Halloween: Lure of the Black Lagoon

Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954)******** (8 out of 10 stars)Starring: Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning. As a lifelong aficionado of monster movies, my fascination with the genre is deeply intertwined with a love for isolated, exotic locales that serve as their haunting backdrops. “Creature From the Black Lagoon” offers both in spades, and…

31 Days of Halloween: Monsters and Mayhem

Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)****** (6 out of 10 stars)Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. “I’ll bet you’re surprised to see me!” – Wilbur Grey In my quest for classic horror flicks, I unearthed “Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein,” a delightful horror-comedy gem perfect for adding some nostalgic flair to…

31 Days of Halloween: Iconic Monster Unleashed

Frankenstein (1931)******** (8 out of 10 stars)Starring: Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, and Mae Clarke. “It’s alive! It’s alive!” – Dr. Henry Frankenstein (Colin Clive) Boris Karloff delivers an unforgettable performance in “Frankenstein,” embodying the Creature with a poignant blend of pathos and monstrous presence. His portrayal transcends mere terror, infusing the character with a tragic…

31 Days of Halloween: Silent Shadows-Nosferatu

Nosferatu (1922)********* (9 out of 10 stars)Starring: Max Schreck, Gustav von Wangenheim, and Greta Schröder as Ellen Hutter. Let’s address the Vampyre in the room: it’s a silent film. This might be a challenge for some audiences, as silent films demand the viewer’s full attention and emotional acuity. Unprepared viewers might find slower segments dragging.…

31 Days of Halloween: Pendulum’s Dark Swing

The Pit and the Pendulum (1961)******* (8 out of 10 stars)Starring: Vincent Price, Barbara Steele, John Kerr, and Luana Anders. “I will tell you where you are. You are about to enter hell, Bartholomew. Hell! The Netherworld. The infernal region. The abode of the damned. The place of torment. Pandemonium.” – Don Nicholas Medina (Vincent…

31 Days of Halloween: Retro Scares, Real Laughs

House (1985)******* (7 out of 10 stars)Starring: William Katt, George Wendt, Richard Moll, and Kay Lenz.“The house knows everything about you. Leave while you can.” (Aunt Elizabeth) Back in 1985, as a teenager, the horror scene was thriving with new releases every month. “House” might not have been the peak of terror, but its entertainment…

31 Days of Halloween: Beacon of Isolation

The Lighthouse (2019)******** (8 out of 10 stars)Starring: Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson.“Why’d ya spill yer beans?” (Thomas Wake) From the moment “The Lighthouse” starts, you’re hit with the raw power of the sea and the isolating presence of a lonely island, all captured in stark black-and-white. Initially, I was skeptical about how this artsy…

31 Days of Halloween: Santa Carla Nights

The Lost Boys (1987)******** (8 out of 10 Stars)Starring: Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Jamison Newlander, Dianne Wiest, and Edward Herrmann “You’re a creature of the night, Michael. Just like out of a comic book!” (Sam Emerson-Corey Haim) Back in ’87, “The Lost Boys” hit theaters and became a must-see…

31 Days of Halloween: Sardonicus Unmasked

Mister Sardonicus (1961)******* (7 out if 10 stars)Starring: Guy Rolfe, Ronald Lewis, Audrey Dalton, and Oskar Homolka. “…when my master says Krull do this thing, I do the thing, whatever it may be.” (Krull) Amidst the haunting call of a ship navigating a fog-laden sea against the shadowy backdrop of a brooding London, William Castle…