By Steve Newton I've been reviewing horror movies professionally since 1988. Here's 30 of my faves: Hereditary (2018) "The wrath of Satan seems pretty tame compared to the suffering that damaged family members can inflict on one another." A Quiet Place (2018) "...ultimately A Quiet Place emerges as an effective nightmare-maker for parents that is … Continue reading 30 great horror flicks from the last 30 years
Tag: Evil Dead
Don’t Breathe delivers endless thrills and chills
By Steve Newton ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, AUGUST 28, 2016 By Steve Newton Director Fede Alvarez blasted onto the scary-movie scene in 2013 with his twisted Evil Dead remake. It was the most shocking and intense horror flick to get widespread theatrical release in North America that year. The Uruguan-born filmmaker shows no signs of changing … Continue reading Don’t Breathe delivers endless thrills and chills
Poltergeist is scary loud, not scary good
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 22, 2015 By Steve Newton The first clue that Poltergeist might suck is the toothy skull presented at the start to signify that it's from Ghost House Pictures. That's the company that gave us such questionable crap as 2004's The Grudge and 2007's The Messengers. Mind you, Ghost House did shape up and deliver 2009's … Continue reading Poltergeist is scary loud, not scary good
BREAKING HORROR NEWS: Sam Raimi is developing an Evil Dead TV series
Here's some interesting news for horror fans. Apparently Sam Raimi--director of the original Evil Dead films and other genre gems like Darkman and Drag Me to Hell--is developing a TV series based on his Evil Dead franchise. According to the website bloodydisgusting.com, Raimi let slip earlier today at the San Diego Comic-Con that he is currently writing the series along with his … Continue reading BREAKING HORROR NEWS: Sam Raimi is developing an Evil Dead TV series
Horror review: Cabin Fever
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 18, 2002 By Steve Newton The promoters of Cabin Fever are using a quote from director Peter Jackson in print ads for their new horror flick. BRILLIANT! and FANTASTIC! are some of the adjectives attributed to the visionary filmmaker behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Now, this … Continue reading Horror review: Cabin Fever
Scream Factory to release Sam Raimi’s Darkman on collector’s edition Blu-ray
By Steve Newton I remember Darkman, partly because it was one of the first movies I ever got paid to review, way back in the fall of 1990. I also remember Darkman because it was one hell of an entertaining horror-thriller, which is what I'd come to expect from director Sam Raimi, the guy behind Evil Dead. The good … Continue reading Scream Factory to release Sam Raimi’s Darkman on collector’s edition Blu-ray
Horror review: Army of Darkness
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 25, 1993 By Steve Newton Sam Raimi, the imaginative director who turned the horror world on its ear with 1983’s shocking cult hit Evil Dead—and then did it again by remaking that film on a bigger budget and calling it Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn—has achieved one … Continue reading Horror review: Army of Darkness
The Newt rates Hollywood’s 2013 horror flicks, from killer to crap
I reviewed 18 theatrically released fright flicks this year, and according to my calculations, 2013 was no great shakes in the horror department. 2012 kicked a bit more butt, mainly due to impressive entries like The Woman in Black, Chronicle, and especially the B.C.-shot Cabin in the Woods, which earned 10 out of 10 in last … Continue reading The Newt rates Hollywood’s 2013 horror flicks, from killer to crap
Horror review: Scary Movie 5
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 12, 2013 The scariest thing about Scary Movie 5 is that it actually made me chortle less than some of the silly horror flicks it's trying to spoof! Like Mama, for instance. Ashley Tisdale and Simon Rex are the main actors committing career hari-kari in this poo- and penis joke-filled disaster, which also riffs lamely … Continue reading Horror review: Scary Movie 5
Horror review: Evil Dead
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 5, 2013 By Steve Newton At what point in life does the attraction of extreme gore--even to the lifelong horror fan--start to fade? It depends, I guess. All I know is, the sight of a possessed woman slicing her own tongue in half lengthwise just doesn't do it for me … Continue reading Horror review: Evil Dead
Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods isn’t typical scare fare
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 11, 2012 By Steve Newton When you ask Drew Goddard to name the best horror flicks he’s seen in the past 10 years and he comes up with High Tension and The Descent, it’s obvious he knows his stuff. Both films were distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment, a company that was formed right … Continue reading Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods isn’t typical scare fare
High Tension director Alexandre Aja tackles Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MARCH 9, 2006 By Steve Newton The French are famous for a lot of things, but making horror movies isn't one of them. Just try to name one French fright flick that has caught your attention lately-besides Alexandre Aja's terrifying 2003 effort, High Tension. As Aja explains on the line from … Continue reading High Tension director Alexandre Aja tackles Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes
Fearless demon-killer Bruce Campbell opts for the safety of the sidewalk in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 7, 2005 By Steve Newton Bruce Campbell won the hearts of horror fans everywhere with his role as the comically intense demon killer Ash in Sam Raimi's low-budget 1983 horror hit, The Evil Dead. He went on to portray the manic, blood-soaked hero in the increasingly slapstick follow-ups, Evil Dead II: … Continue reading Fearless demon-killer Bruce Campbell opts for the safety of the sidewalk in Vancouver