Tombs of the Blind Dead (Blu-ray) – It was time to revisit these slow moving blood thirsty Templars as most people know I am not a huge fan but every once in a while I like to go back and see if I feel the same way about a movie? Well it just so happened Synapse Films has just released a new two disc Blu-ray edition for fans of this Spanish horror film. It is well documented some horror fans consider this not just a classic but one of those “Top Ten” outside of the U.S. films you need to watch! Anyhow for those of you who may have not had the chance to witness the Spanish carnage it begins with a young lady jumping off a train and finding some very old buildings in the middle of nowhere? Hunkering down for the night she soon finds herself dying at the hands of ancient blind Templars who do not take too kindly to trespassers as the locals avoid this place like the plague. Her friends seek help of a professor and this leads them down a path of destruction as well as we learn these Templars started their own religion that had them sacrificing virgins and for this action the Templars were tortured to death. Good soundtrack, some gore, and a weird rape scene that awakens the dead Templars again for 1971 Spanish horror film I respect why there is certain horror movie fans that live and die with this film. For me it never quite hit me right as a horror fan (as I give it 2 ½ stars just my opinion and I do like it a little more than I originally did). But let’s talk about the goodies packed into this Blu-ray for yinz “Blind Dead” fans: Original Spanish language with English/Spanish soundtrack versions, U.S. theatrical version which is several minutes shorter and definitely has a different vibe to it, of course it is as cleaned up as its gonna get as Synapse have become experts bringing old films back to life, a few different commentaries, Salem’s Pop music video called “Templar’s Tears”, several interviews, but I think the gem in all of these goodies was something I never knew is the alternate U.S. opening scene “Revenge of Planet Ape” (so weird?), documentary, and a cool segment “Awakening of Spanish Horror” or a little history lesson we shall say. This Blu-ray package is a Blind Dead’s fan wet dream come true as I gotta give it 3 ½ out of 4 stars and you can pick it up at www.synapsefilms.com . P.S. there is a limited edition 3-disc version that includes slipcase (for that crowd), a tribute audio CD, and liner notes booklet.

V/H/S 85 (Shudder) – The popular found footage anthology is back and just as strong. They have perfected the formula that others fail constantly at I think there might be only one in the series I wasn’t a huge fan of? This one immediately opens with random stuff that just tugs at my childhood where a tape goes into the VCR and boom… truck and tractor pull in an arena and the tracking needs adjusting, fun shit! First up is a story of young people on a camping trip not doing anyone any harm until a sniper kills all of them? What happens next sets up things for the rest of the film (without giving too much away)? Second up is a rescue for survivors in a building that houses a popular network TV crew in Mexico after being hit by an earthquake. Lots of blood, characters you find interesting, and a monster of sorts that doesn’t disappoint. Third up might be the weak link if I am going to pick one (almost all anthologies have one) where a woman doing a one-person play or art in a public theater on the threat of evolving technology as it’s the new god. Fourth story continues the storyline of the first with the campers but with the sniper and why? Fifth story is about a detective who receives video tapes of horrible murders that he watches before they happen. With some research and good detective work he finds out they are coming from a teenager but not the usual way you think as it has a nice twist to it. All that fun with a cool wraparound of “Total Copy” or if you are old like me like that “Hard Copy” show among others during the 80s. This might be one of the best wraparounds to an anthology to date as I thought hard about this but I have to give the film 4 stars folks.

Halloweed (DVD) – This is one of those films you hear about but never see it out there until you literally trip over it when trying to find something to watch? A horror/comedy filled with cameos, Simon Rex, Ray Wise, a Rutger Hauer reference, and weed sounds fun but at a 100 minute running time I was expecting more than being bored after twenty minutes. No one freaking dies in this wannabe slasher outside of the two brothers’ father in the electric chair until the 56 minute mark! If you wanna chance it, it is about two brothers Trent and Joey who move to a small town with its own killer history where a killer with a Babyface mask begins to murder again. Again on paper sounds fun but there is a reason no one hasn’t talked about this film as I give it 1 star.

The Pumpkin Man (Bu-ray) – Are yinz looking for a new Halloween Indy, well look no further as there is a new killer legend called “The Pumpkin Man”. The legend begins in 1790 in a small village of Cromwell where a woman battles a demonic presence called ‘Pumpkin Man’. Now present day Cromwell the fine folks of this town have a Pumpkin Man Festival on Halloween to celebrate the legend. In comes a curious teen named Cat who is obsessed with the legend and trying to discover the legendary book that supposedly exists on the property where Pumpkin Man once existed. This book could bring him to life if read out loud according to the legend. Cat convinces friends to find clues about it and they of course find the book eventually only to play a prank on each other while reading it out loud. Unbeknownst to the teenagers reading the book has consequences and they are bound to the legend until death! This was a super solid Halloween Indy flick throughout. I enjoyed the legend they came up with, cool monster, great believable teenagers, but most importantly stuck with the ending (watch it you’ll understand if you compare it to others that tried to come up with a new Halloween legend). Consider me impressed and entertained as we Indy horror fans have another great Halloween movie to watch every year as I give it 3 stars.

Spirit Halloween the Movie (Shudder) – A long time ago on Halloween an old man comes to serve final notice on a woman for her property. Of course she doesn’t take kindly and curses the old man who dies right there on the spot. Many years later a Spirit Halloween store resides on said property. Meanwhile three friends instead of trick or treating this year decide to sneak into the Spirit Halloween store to have fun on Halloween night. As it nears midnight, weird things begin to happen as the store seems to be haunted? The old man’s spirit is seeking one body to have so it’s able to cross back over into our world. This is a fun corny family Halloween film that poses the age old question when is too old to trick or treat and what do you do that year you discover it? Not looking for a blood and guts horror but something yinz all can watch and not hate yourself for watching it this would be it as I give 2 ½ stars.

I Bury the Living (YouTube) – A late 50s flick from the legendary Albert Band where Robert is a man who believes by changing these pins on a map of cemetery plots can cause people’s deaths. Interesting plot as the man slowly drives himself insane as police don’t believe him and his co-workers even more as they ask Robert to move their pins on their burial plots to prove a point. Not so much a horror movie as more of a psychological thriller as I give it 2 stars.   

My Uncle John is a Zombie! (DVD) – Apparently 50 years ago there was a zombie outbreak (yes, I am trying to keep this to a review and not a rant) that caused chaos and some of the zombies have survived. Now they still live among us but in hiding because they are hunted for sport or totally taken out because of their cannibalistic behavior. Hell supposedly some of the zombies gained their functions back and try to enjoy the undead life. Uncle John is a zombie for many years now and pretty much narrates this kind of documentary of his life and what events happened recently to lead up to himself becoming famous. Again Russo doing his best to connect anything to ‘Night of the Living Dead’ by throwing crap at the wall if that makes sense as that is the best thing I can say about watching this mistake of a film. Besides that there are some respected and talented Indy people in front and behind the camera I cannot blame. Sorry folks this is garbage and give this zero stars as this was me holding my feelings in. (Want my unedited opinion ask me at a convention?)

Dead Again (DVD) – A pretty boring UK film that tries to combine ‘Hot Fuzz’ and ‘Shaun of the Dead’ where a small village that has no crime is invaded by alien zombies. A small group of people gather in a library to fight them off for most of the movie for pretty much no reason? Should of just made a film about crazy alien zombies for 75 minutes fucking shit up as I can only give this film ½ star but at least it was better than watching ‘My Uncle John is a Zombie!’

My Pet Monster (YouTube) – Only available on VHS in 1986 is a film about a clumsy kid named Max who goes on a field trip to a museum where he becomes possessed by a monster statue that turns him into a big blue and purple thing with monster powers. A live-action film based on a popular toy of the mid-80s where a professor wants to capture Max and his siblings try to keep him out of trouble as hilarity ensues! If you are old like me and grew up in the 80s this is a well worth trip down nostalgic lane for 48 minutes as I give the Canadian feature 2 stars.

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