B-Horror Films offer Laughs and Scares
It is almost time for Halloween. While the little goblins and ghosts are out trick-or-treating, you can make some popcorn and pick up one of these newly released on Blu-ray or DVD B-rated horror films for a few scares and even more laughs.
“The Exorcist III” (1990)
In the third installment of this horror franchise that made people shy away from pea soup for a long time, follows Lieutenant William Kinderman (George C. Scott, “Patton” and “Inherit the Wind”) as he investigates the murders that seem to be linked to the dead “Gemini” serial killer.
He ends up investigating the patients of a psychiatric ward where he finds that a demon is pinballing between the body of a patient during the day and the other members of the ward at night who commit murders on behalf of the demon.
“The Exorcist III” is rated R.
“Manhattan Baby” (1982)
This Italian film, archaeologist Professor George Hacker (Christopher Connelly, “Peyton Place” and “Benji”) who is investigating a tomb in Egypt when he ends up releasing an evil spirit.
His daughter, Susie Hacker (Brigitta Boccoli, “La Ragazza dei Lilla” and “Gli angeli di Borsellino”) becomes possessed by the evil and wrecks havoc in New York City upon her return home.
The film is unrated.
“Hobgoblins” (1988)
This cult film that has been considered one of the worst movies ever made and was lampooned on the television series “Mystery Science Theater 3000.” While it rips off “Gremlins” it is the telling of a story about a security guard, Kevin (Tom Bartlett in his only acting role) who investigates these creatures that are trying to take over Earth.
The film is rated R.
“Voodoo Rising” (2016)
B-rated movies were not created only in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, with the many streaming services available like Netflix or Amazon Prime, a variety of horror movies who may not have had a chance to make it to a national audience are now receiving exposure. One such movie is “Voodoo Rising.”
In the film, a group of friends decide to spend their last summer as a group by camping in the Black Hills. However, once they arrive at their destination they realize they have walked into a deadly quarrel with the locals.
Stars of the film include April Needham (“Hellweek” and “Hellementary: An Education in Death”), Sarah Domanick (“Helementary: An Education in Death” and “Post-Mortem”) and Don Kilrain (“Hellweek” and “Hostile Denial”).
This film, with the tagline “Them Woods is Evil” is unrated.
Other films arriving on Blu-ray and DVD this week include:
n “Lights Out” starring Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman and Maria Bello and directed by David F. Sandberg in this horror film about siblings who encounter a dark entity that has attached itself to their mother.
The film is rated PG-13 for terror throughout, violence including disturbing images, some thematic material and brief drug content.
n “Nerve” starring Emma Roberts, Dave Franco and Emily Meade and directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman in this thriller about a student who finds herself in a dangerous game of online truth or dare. The film is rated PG-13 for thematic material involving dangerous and risky behavior, some sexual content, language, drug content, drinking and nudity.
-all involving teens.
n “Captain Fantastic” starring Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay and Samantha Isler in this dramatic romance about a father who has gone off the grid with his children who is forced to reenter civilization.
The film is rated R for language and brief graphic nudity.
n “Papa Hemingway in Cuba” starring Giovanni Ribisi, Joely Richardson and Adrian Sparks and directed by Bob Yari in this biopic about a young journalist who went to meet his idol, Earnest Hemingway in Cuba in 1959 during the Cuban Revolution.
The film is rated R for language, sexuality and some violence and nudity.