Blacula (1972) Classic ’70s exploitation flick starring the great William Marshall as Prince Mamuwalde who is turned into a vampire by Count Dracula and, centuries later, rises from his tomb in modern day L.A. Director William Crain focuses more on well-written characters and suspense than cheap shocks and in doing so creates a movie that’s much better than its schlocky title would suggest. B+
Darkness Falls (2003) Thinly plotted ghost story about a small sea-side town terrorized by a vengeful spirit, whose attached itself to a man (Chaney Kley) who witnessed his mother’s murder at the hands of the malevolent entity years earlier. Stiff acting – Buffy‘s Emma Caulfield Ford is wasted in a one-dimensional role – and transparent plot devices harm the already mundane story, and even at just 85 minutes this feels way too long. D+
Nightmares (1983) Light but fun Twilight Zone-like anthology of four stories centered around urban legends. The first (and best) features Cristina Raines as a mother who, along with the rest of the town, is living in terror after a madman escapes from a nearby sanitarium. The second has Emilio Estevez as an arrogant teenager whose obsession with a video game leads to dire consequences. Third has Lance Henriksen as a disillusioned priest who finds road rage with a demonic pick-up truck. The last chapter pits Veronica Cartwright against a giant rat that has invaded her suburban home. Definitely worth a look for the anthology fan. B–
The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) Before Michael or Jason there was this influential slasher based on a real case about a hooded killer terrorizing a small Texas town in 1946. A surprisingly taut film, director Charles B. Pierce smartly injects moments of humor in between scenes of brutal, and intense, violence, creating a terrific pace and solid storytelling. Only a needless voiceover narration hurts an otherwise good little movie. B+
