Introduction: From Theaters to the Bargain Bin The Warlock franchise began in 1989 with Julian Sands in a black trench coat, slinging spells and quips like a satanic James Bond. The sequel, Warlock: The Armageddon (1993), doubled down on camp but at least had enough energy to qualify as “fun trash.” Then came Warlock III: … Read More “Warlock III: The End of Innocence (1999) – Or, How to Ruin a Trilogy in Under 90 Minutes” »
Introduction: Troma, Trauma, and Trash Cinema Lloyd Kaufman and his merry band of cinematic anarchists at Troma Entertainment have never been accused of subtlety. This is the studio that gave us The Toxic Avenger, Class of Nuke ’Em High, and more exploding genitalia than a medical malpractice lawsuit. But with Terror Firmer (1998), Kaufman decided … Read More “Terror Firmer (1998) – A Love Letter to Bad Taste That Should’ve Stayed Unmailed” »
Introduction: The Curse of the Unnecessary Sequel When Ring (1998) terrified Japan—and the rest of the world—with its cursed videotape and long-haired ghost climbing out of a TV, it was a cultural reset. People unplugged their VHS players, avoided static, and reconsidered late-night channel surfing. Then came Rasen (Spiral), the “official” sequel based on Koji … Read More “Ring 2 (1999) – Proof That Sometimes You Should Just Leave Sadako in the Well” »
Introduction: Rage, but Make It Discounted Some sequels are destined to fail. Jaws: The Revenge. Exorcist II: The Heretic. Speed 2: Cruise Control. Into this pantheon of cinematic shame proudly wobbles The Rage: Carrie 2. Released in 1999, this was Hollywood’s attempt to cash in on the late ’90s teen-horror revival (Scream, I Know What … Read More “The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999) – A Sequel So Unnecessary, Even Stephen King Pretends He Didn’t See It” »
Introduction: Reflections of Regret Anthology horror films are like buffets—you know most of it will be cold and disappointing, but you hold out hope there’s at least one dish worth your plate space. The Mirror, a 1999 Hong Kong horror anthology directed by Siu Wing, proves that sometimes the buffet is just a sneeze guard … Read More “The Mirror (1999) – Five Tales, One Mirror, Zero Reasons to Watch” »
Introduction: The Eye That Should’ve Stayed Shut Every so often, a film comes along that makes you question not just the state of cinema, but your own life choices. The Killer Eye is one of those films. Directed by David DeCoteau (hiding behind the pseudonym Richard Chasen, because even he knew he didn’t want his … Read More “The Killer Eye (1999) – Proof That Some Things Should Stay in the Eighth Dimension” »
The Disney Channel’s Monster Under the Covers Before High School Musical made every teen think life was a permanent pep rally, Disney Channel occasionally tried to traumatize its audience. Case in point: Don’t Look Under the Bed, a movie that asked the bold question, “What if we made a horror film for kids that gave … Read More “Don’t Look Under the Bed (1999) – Disney’s Scariest DCOM, Where the Real Horror Is Growing Up” »
Welcome to the Island of Terrible Decisions If you ever thought Friday the 13th needed more smugglers, urination gags, and characters named “Blowie” and “Pervert,” then congratulations: The Deadly Camp is the movie you didn’t know you never wanted. Directed by Bowie Lau and written by people who clearly hate campers as much as they … Read More “The Deadly Camp (1999) – A Chainsaw, Some Bandages, and 90 Minutes You’ll Never Get Back” »
A Legend Is Born in the Woods Every generation has its horror milestone. For the ’30s, it was Frankenstein’s bolts. For the ’70s, it was Linda Blair’s spinning head. For the late ’90s, it was Heather Donahue sobbing into a camcorder, snot pouring down her nose like Niagara Falls on steroids. The Blair Witch Project … Read More “The Blair Witch Project (1999) – The Movie That Made Everyone Afraid of Camping, Maps, and Shaky Hands” »
Welcome to the Building of Bad Ideas There are movies about haunted houses, demonic hotels, and cursed cabins. The 4th Floor decided to buck tradition and give us… an apartment building where the scariest thing is Juliette Lewis arguing with her landlord. Written and directed by Josh Klausner (his directorial debut, emphasis on debut), this … Read More “The 4th Floor (1999) – Where the rent is cheap, the neighbors are creepy, and the plot falls down the stairs.” »