Really Awful Movies: Ep 95 – A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge

It’s quite telling that the film’s tagline is, “the man of your dreams is back,” and that the protagonist is looking at the Springwood Slasher instead of his paramour. Homoerotic subtext abounds in this mediocre sequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Five years have gone by since the original Nightmare murders, and Elm street has new occupants in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge.

Teen Jesse is plagued by nightmares about being stuck on a bus alone with two women (not so bad), albeit said bus is in the middle of some kind of hellscape and being driven by Freddy.

His girlfriend Lisa comes over to his place and they find Nancy’s diary, a clue that sheds some light on what’s been happening – a loose tie-in to the Wes Craven classic first film.

Meanwhile, Jesse strikes up a friendship with school chum Grady, with whom he has much more sexual chemistry, and then has a scary dream about his gym teacher who likes to frequent leather bars.

It’s unbelievable that the series recovered from this one, a severe body blow to Craven’s legacy. Luckily, the classic Dream Warriors righted the ship.

But tune in to see what 2 is all about…

Really Awful Movies: Ep 92 – Child’s Play

Mr Holland’s opus. Tom Holland, that is. He’s the mastermind behind this incredibly creative, understated 80s horror classic.

Child’s Play is so darn fun.

A killer on the lam, by some sort of Voodoo mumbo jumbo, inhabits the body of a popular talking child’s toy, subsequently purchased on the black market by a Chicago mom for her young son.

From there, “Chucky” starts to wreak havoc.

Proof positive that a horror doesn’t need to be a 10 on the splatter meter, Child’s Play is wonderful tension slow-build. Like a lot of other horror notables, this one spawned a litany of forgettable sequels. But that’s OK. This one stands the test of time.

Join us as we delve into what makes this killer doll so indelible.

Really Awful Movies: Ep 91 – The Prowler

In this episode, a look at the Joseph Zito 1981 slasher flick, The Prowler.

The Prowler (released internationally as Rosemary’s Killer) is set in a very Podunk Northeastern town and is about a group of college students holding their first dance in decades because festivities had been banned due to a double murder. Seems like a bit of an overreaction, but there you go.

All of a sudden, they are being picked off one by one by a creepy masked assailant wearing military garb from World War II.

Maybe the ban was a good idea! Down with dances. This is the Footloose of 80s slasher films apparently.

We delve into the background of the film and its genuinely neat effects, courtesy of a young Tom Savini.