Horror Host Homework

After thinking about the Oscar award winning films I've seen (and more specifically not seen), it got me thinking about what movies I HAVE watched, and in particular the horror movies I've seen. Before I started this gig as a TV horror host, I really hadn't seen a lot of horror movies. I had seen the basic Universal package - Frankenstein, Wolfman, Creature from the Black Lagoon, etc. I had also seen a pretty good selection of mainstream 80s and late 70s movies, as well as a scattering of rentals from video stores. But when it came to low budget, obscure, or foreign films, I really was pretty much a novice.

I made up ground quickly, however, especially where low budget public domain films are concerned. I have easily watched hundreds of horror movies over the past 9 years, and I'd be scared to see an exact count. I devoured movies over those first few years, watching them whenever I got a chance, doing my homework, so to speak. It was like a new love, when you just can't get enough of each other.

I have always felt that was one thing that added to the success of my show. I was genuinely excited about the films I was showing, and often times was seeing these films for the first time along with the viewer. It was always my philosophy to never assume anything when it came to the viewers. For instance, I never assumed the viewers knew Lon Chaney Jr. played the Wolfman, or that his father played the Phantom of the Opera. I think that is one thing that made my show so accessible to younger viewers.

As many movies as I've watched over the past few years, there are still many more I want to see. For instance, I just borrowed the Coffin Joe movies from my friend Troy (Thanks Troy!) and look forward to seeing those for the first time soon. I haven't seen the Blind Dead movies, or many of the Naschy films, or a lot of Bava films. But I will eventually.

In a way, I feel lucky to see a lot of these for the first time as an adult, when I can truly appreciate them on multiple levels. It gives me something to share with my viewers, and keeps it fresh for me.

Now excuse me while I go fire up that Coffin Joe film!!

Horror Movies Abound

Seems almost every other movie nowadays is a horror title, which I have to say I am quite happy about. I remember the drought of horror films in the early 90s where it almost seemed the genre was dying.















I received a press release the other day about P2. I have to admit I'd seen the previews on TV but wasn't too sure about it. Here is the setup:


It's Christmas Eve. Angela Bridges (Rachel Nichols- “Alias”), an ambitious young executive, works late before she leaves for her family's holiday party. When she gets down to the parking garage, she discovers that her car won't start. The garage is deserted and her cell phone doesn't get a signal underground. When Thomas (Wes Bentley- AMERICAN BEAUTY), a friendly security guard, comes along and offers to help, Angela nervously accepts his gesture of good will. Soon after a failed attempt to start her car, he invites her to stay and share a small Christmas dinner he's preparing in the parking office, but she laughs it off. Angela doesn't realize this is no laughing matter – Thomas has been watching her closely...for months. His dinner invitation is not optional. If Angela wants to live to see Christmas morning, she must find a way to escape from level P2 of the parking garage.


Will be interesting to see if this movie does well. It has some stiff competition with the Christmas season coming up. The fact it's a Christmas themed film had to play into the release date. This film will probably play well with the younger audience, which is the target audience, I'd think. Interesting how every film has to write in an excuse for why cell phones won't work. Sign of the times, eh?