Author: Donny

Chopping Mall

I just saw Chopping Mall for the first time. It truly lives up to 80’s horror movies. Chopping Mall was recently released on blu-ray by Vestron.

I have no idea why I skipped over this movie as a kid. It is right up my alley. While not typically counted as a slasher, this movie has many of the tropes of a slasher: stalking kills, awesome final girl, nudity/sin factor before the killer strikes…

The mall is about to get 3 new security robots that are supposed to capture intruders. According to the company rep, they will not kill or harm intruders. While the presentation about the robots are going on, we have some teenagers planning a party in a furniture store in the mall. One thing, as part of the upgrade in security, the mall will be outfitted with steel doors that are time-locked like a bank vault.

While the teenagers are having their party, the building is struck by lightning. This affects the computer controlling the robots and the robots themselves. We do not get a friendly robot like Johnny Five from Short Circuit. Nope. We get lethal robots intent on removing intruders with deadly force. They first take care of their technicians before taking out Dick Miller.

as you would expect, the partying teenagers are next on their hit list.

The new blu-ray release has many special features – including multiple commentaries and featurettes. I highly recommend picking it up.

Vía Letterboxd – AngryTownsman

Blair Witch, 2016

Official Site: BlairWitch.com

Starring: James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Corbin Reid, Brandon Scott, Wes Robinson, Valorie Curry

blair-witch-poster-2-600x447For this movie, we have Heather’s brother, James, and friends going into the woods in search of any information on his sister. Based on a youtube video uploaded by a Burkettesville local.

They go with all types of nifty modern gear like in ear cameras with GPS, a drone, all the bells and whistles. We do not see if they left word with anyone on their destination.

The purpose of the filming in this installment (yes it is a found footage movie) is that one of James’ friends is shooting the search for her school documentary project.

Up front, this was not that good of a movie to me. 2 1/2 stars out of 5. I think we are too far removed from the original for another sequel. Plus found footage. We all know how these things end: everybody dead and no clear idea how the footage was recovered.

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Fright Night, 2011

While I did not think Fright Night needed a remake, I was pleasantly surprised by this modernization of a classic vampire film.

With the newer version, we get a believable scenario of a vampire’s hunting ground, an update on the horror movie host, a more ferocious vampire, I just really liked the update.

Anton Yelchin played Charlie Brewster very well. From this “loser” kid who got in with the popular crowd who diched his quirky friends to manning up to fight Jerry Dandridge, Yelchin gave a wonderful performance.

Vía Letterboxd – AngryTownsman