Documentaries always find an interesting footing in the horror genre, sometimes they concern a certain topic, or others recall a bygone era, well this film covers both aspects though limited. Produced and released by Universal Pictures in 1984 and gave an overall of the entire genre up to that point while hosted by Donald Pleasence and Nancy Allen who filmed inside a packed movie theater, so the film can transition between their commentaries and back to screen for the related topic, namely the audience wants more terror and frights. Unlike many of the filmed documentaries of today that are often streamed, this had an opportunity for a wide theatrical release on October 26th and earned a modest $10-million ($28.8-million adjusted for inflation today). One should note that Margery Doppelt provided the script dialogue and at the director position it was Andrew J. Kuehn, although often for these types of films the unsung heroes are the editors as they need to interslice numerous scenes, they were William Flicker (Shark Lake [2015]) and Gregory Mclatchy.
Donald Pleasence
Nancy Allen
It all starts in a theater, with Donald Pleasence issuing a warning of the scenes triggered by watching scary movies, as it begins with scenes from Halloween [1978], When a Stranger Calls [1979], The Birds [1963], and many more. In fact, you may find pleasure and a game if you like repeated horror tropes thanks to the rapid fire of editing shots which generate an amazing trend within the film. It is clear, Donald enjoyed himself during the hosting and making of the flick, as he praises The Texas Chain Saw Massacre [1974] while strangely slaughtering Ed Gein’s name, unsure why the director never corrected him. The film switches gear and gives a wonderful, at least for myself a segment of the Master of Suspense Alfred Hitchcock and even notes the music of Bernard Herrmann, as it showcases the work of Psycho [1960], Strangers on a Train [1951], The Birds, and others of his notable creations.
Alfred Hitchcock
Psycho
Both hosts comment on the theories that are often associated with the horror films, such as people going to theater to see a version of fantasies come true to therapeutic experiences and the retribution to others while violence is used against killers and for revenge such in Ms. 45 [1981]. The production include both science fiction which was richly welcomed and deserved the inclusion with Creature from the Black Lagoon [1954], Tarantula [1955], and The Deadly Mantis [1957]; sadly Them! [1954] was missing perhaps could not secure the permission to use a clip but at least the favorite xenomorphs made an appearance, yep, Alien [1979] and The Thing [1982]. The screenwriter’s story noted how shrieks from The Bride of Frankenstein [1935] with Boris Karloff as The Monster aka Frankenstein [1931] turned to laughs in the late forties into the fifties with Hold That Ghost [1941], Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein [1948] featuring Bela Lugosi known for the legendary role in Dracula [1931] and Scared Stiff [1953].
Overall it’s a clip showcase of fans to enjoy complete film sequences namely werewolf transformational such as The Wolf Man [1941] that was slow and as the audience grew more knowledgeable and crave something more sophisticated there was An American Werewolf in London [1981] and The Howling [1981]. It stretched through the 60s with Rosemary’s Baby [1968] and Night of the Living Dead [1968] and spent an incredible time in 70s with animal attacking movies Frogs [1972], Jaws [1975], Jaws 2 [1978], Food of the Gods [1976], and Alligator [1980] to others such as Carrie [1976] and The Car [1977] and onward to the more violent eighties with Friday the 13th [1980] and Friday the 13th Part 2 [1981] along with the gory head exploding Scanners [1981]. Ah SPLAT!
Hey Terrifier Fans!
The biggest annoying issue in the film is that there is not any structure, rather random scenes out of chronological order, which does not let one who is unfamiliar with the history to learn and see how the styles are built on and what came before them. There were also some strange inclusions for a horror documentary to have for example Marathon Man (1976), Nighthawks (1991) neither are horror although they do support the film style of creating suspense. Then Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief [1956] which is a romantic drama, clearly no place for it a film like this, but it is used as a segway for the topic discussion ‘sex is romance’ from Nancy Allen but sex in horror is often a path to self-destruction and used a weapon showing scenes from Dressed to Kill [1980], Cat People [1982], and Videodrome [1983]. She additionally, noted that most people do not want blood and gore in their daily lives but for the sheer enjoyment of being terrorized they will pay for it and anticipate and even scream when it is given to them. Aside from that film both spoilers’ endings and ruins special suspense of other movies, despite the effort of editors to keep a viewer’s attention.
Sadly, the documentary does not really expand much past the mere setup of topics of commentary, rather becoming a smorgasbord of numerous horror flicks, but it’s always good to see Adrienne Barbeau in The Fog [1980] and even the serious tone of David Waner in Nightwing [1979] which seems equally the same in any film he did, just watch that and refer to The Omen [1976] and you will see many similarities. The clips never state the film, therefore those without knowing the horror history will be at a disadvantage for finding many of these treasures. They include a clip of Play Misty For Me [1971] which was cool, but no reference point of how a thriller connects as it well advances for its time, as crazed fan obsessive nature leads maddening stalking. But now you know! It is entertaining for those who know the genre in and out, but anyone born after 1995 might be considered disheartening as many the horror icons came along after its release.
*Note for the curious the look alike Creature From Lagoon in closeout bathtub scene is from Saturday the 14th [1981].
TAGLINES:
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- It’s only a movie, but it’s more than enough.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088249/
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Baron’s Rating: 6.0/10
Full Movie is found here: