What I Watched in October 2021

I've been very happy with both of the computer animated Addams Family films from the past couple of years. The second one isn't as strong as the first but I think that may just be that I'm no longer surprised by how well the material is being handled. The first from 2019 shocked me by keeping very well to the spirit and tone of the 1960’s television series and even finding ways to fold a lot of the original Charles Addams single panel cartons smoothly into the narrative. This new movie takes some inspiration from the 1970’s TV cartoon version of the family as well by having the entire crew riding around America in their gothic styled Creepy Camper. That was unexpected! And the plot smartly focuses on the precocious Wednesday (voiced by Chloë Grace Moretz) as she is lead to believe she might not actually be an Addams. Mon Dieu! The film is funny, eerie and visually arresting throughout with pitch perfect performances from the entire voice cast. In fact, it would be easy to picture most of the actors embodying these roles doing do in a live action film as well which would be quite fun. Oscar Issacs as Gomez and Charlize Theron as Morticia are excellent and I hope they continue to play these characters for years to come.

The List 

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (1983) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2 (2021) – 7 

EVILSPEAK (1981) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

GRIZZLY (1976) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

CIRCUS OF HORRORS (1960) – 7 (rewatch on Blu) 

HOUSE OF HORRORS (1946) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

THE PROPHECY (1995) – 8 (rewatch) 

SCREAM (1980) – 3 (deadly dull horror effort made in Texas) 

THE UNSEEN (1980) – 6 (interesting basement lurker/hideous family horror) 

LEPRECHAUN (1993) – 5 (uneasy mixture of kid’s film and bloody horror) 

VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED (1960) – 8 (rewatch on Blu) 

THE MONSTER MAKER (1944) – 5 (rewatch on Blu) (Naish is great in this) 

13 GHOSTS (1960) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

ISLE OF THE DEAD (1945) - 7 (rewatch on Blu) 

BLACK AS NIGHT (2021) – 7 (New Orleans set vampire tale) 

DREAM DEMON (1988) – 6 (interesting British rubber reality film) 

THE FINAL TERROR (1983) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN (1943) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

CIRCUS OF FEAR (1966) – 6 (krimi scares) (rewatch on Blu) 

NO TIME TO DIE (2021) – 9 (an excellent farewell to Craig’s Bond)

REVENGE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1960) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

THE MAN WITH NINE LIVES (1940) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

DARK INTRUDER (1965)- 7 (rewatch on Blu) 

HALLOWEEN (2018) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

THE DEVIL BAT (1940) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) – 9 (on the big screen!) 

HALLOWEEN KILLS (2021) – 7 

PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES (1966) – 8 (rewatch on Blu) 

LEPRECHAUN 2 (1994) – 4 (pretty blah and typically 90’s) 

DARK AUGUST (1976) – 8 (strong low-key horror tale from Vermont) 

AMITYVILLE: THE EVIL ESCAPES (1989) – 3 (with Rifftrax – 8) 

KING OF THE ZOMBIES (1941) – 7 (rewatch on Blu – Mantan Moreland makes this one) 

PROPHECY (1979) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) (by turns ridiculous and sublime) 

UBALDA, ALL NAKED AND WARM (1972) – 4 (Italian sex comedy set in the Middle Ages) 

HALLOWEEN 4 (1988) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) 

CASTLE FREAK (2020) – 4 (weak remake with some bold ideas) 

BODY COUNT (1986) – 6 (rewatch) (Deodado’s killer in the woods slasher) 

THE MANOR (2021) – 7 (slight but satisfying chiller about aging) 

HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1999) – 7 (rewatch on Blu) 

FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VI: JASON LIVES (1986) – 7 (rewatch on Blu) 

THE GHOST AND MR. CHICKEN (1966) – 8 (rewatch on Blu) 

WRONG TURN 3: LEFT FOR DEAD (2009) – 4 (terrible CGI weighs this down) 

THE RAVEN (1963) – 7 (rewatch on Blu) 

DEMENTIA 13 (1963) – 6 (rewatch on Blu)