Category: Horror films

Really Awful Movies: Ep 229 – When a Stranger Calls

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When a Stranger Calls…the movie is infamous, most notably for being one-of-a-kind and for being aped by Wes Craven in the original Scream’s opener.

Based on an urban legend, the one about a guy calling and harassing a babysitter (from inside the home, as determined by police tracing the call), is a classic. It’s as well-known as the guy with a hook for a hand, but arguably even scarier. So, while the story is a classic…is the movie?

It really is “every babysitter’s nightmare becoming real”…provided you don’t concern yourself with Laurie Strode in Halloween, with which this is consistently (and sometimes unfairly) compared.

Is this worth checking out? It’s got a cracker jack opener, a saggy middle, and some strength toward the end.

If you’re a fan of Super Fly, you’ll enjoy a lazy performance by Ron O’Neal…and if you’re a fan of acting, generally, you’ll love Charles Durning, the always capable, stout 70s standout.

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Really Awful Movies: Ep 228 – Witchboard

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What would a party be without a Ouija board? Fun? Har. Har. OK, wags, admit it…you gotta love the ol’ Ouija board. What better way is there to contact the spirit world?

Witchboard is a fun 80s flick about that very phenomenon. The director is the same guy behind site favorite, Night of the Demons, so you gotta figure this one has the same goofy aesthetic. And you’d be correct.

Video vamp Tawny Kitaen stars as Linda, a woman who becomes obsessed with a Ouija board after being introduced to it at a party one night. She contacts the spirit of a young boy, David, and in doing so…opens up a Pandora’s box of evil.

Along for the ride, spurned lover, Brandon, along with fiance, Jim.

As Linda keeps toying with the board, a bunch of unfortunate events start to occur. This requires an intervention: not a psychiatrist, mind you, but a spirit medium.

Witchboard was such an 80s staple, seemingly everywhere on video store shelves. It was tepidly received at the box office, but continued to have a life beyond on via rental.

Your hosts delve into all things “wee-jee?”, “wee-jah?” Whatever way you slice it…this is a fun one.

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Really Awful Movies: Ep 227 – Scary Imaginary Friends in Horror Films

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On this special episode of the Really Awful Movies Podcast, Scary Imaginary Friends. Why are they so prevalent in horror?

There’s something disturbing about seeing things others can’t. That’s why ghosts are so successful in horror. Similarly, typically children (but not always) manifest an imaginary friend. These are used to wonderful effect in movies, some good, some bad.