Alright, so unfortunately I couldn’t exercise or do much of anything this week, on account of a dose of flu. Dublin is damp and wet these days, so it was inevitable. Feeling better now though and will be back on the wagon first thing.
Anyways I’ve been watching a shit-tonne of horror movies, with a big focus on 80’s horror. There was a few of the big well-known franchises I’d never fully watched, like Friday The 13th (turns out they’re quite a wishy-washy and inconsistent set of movies).
For this Halloween though, I’ve been trying to sniff out the weirder, more obscure movies that I’d barely heard of. Turns out there are some really great little gems that went under the radar back in the day, because they didn’t have any major distribution clout.
So if you’re looking for some fvcked up or funny gore off the beaten path, give one or two of these a try:
Chopping Mall (1986)
Chopping Mall takes place in…well, a mall. A new fleet of robot security guards are deployed to keep the place safe after hours, and on the same night a bunch of horny teens decide to stay over drink beer and engage in premarital sex (wouldn’t you know it, the mall has a bed store!).
Well when lightning strikes the robots control room, they lose their shit and go on a kill-crazy rampage and all sorts of teen-killing fun ensues.
The Blob (1988)
I can’t believe I went so long without watching this. From a gore and practical effects point of view, this remake of the 1950’s classic is an unsung masterpiece.
The kills in this are really graphic and gross and it’s just so much fun to watch. Definite must-see.
The Stuff (1985)
On the surface, the Blob and The Stuff come across as quite similar, but in The Stuff things are a bit more dystopian in that it comes in the form of a goo-like yoghurt that people can’t resist binging on. It definitely plays on the dangers of consumption and addiction in society.
Motel Hell (1980)
Motel Hell is a great little slow-burner involving live burials, removing voice-boxes, cannibalism and a good old fashioned chainsaw fight. It’s actually quite a unique premise, considering slashers such as Halloween & The Fog were in vogue.
It’s also quite graphic for a movie just barely out of the 1970’s, and especially with Rory Calhoun in the lead, with him not typically starring in horror movies.
The Hunger (1983)
Alright, so The Hunger isn’t a very niche movie, but it’s one of the most beautifully shot horror films I’ve ever seen. The movie doesn’t really have a plot, but it’s more of a stylistic commentary on relationships and how disposable people in each others lives.
It definitely wouldn’t be for everyone, and it is certainly isn’t a gore-fest. It’s like if Blade Runner was a vampire movie basically.
