Before the world was introduced to the savage zombies of Night of the Living Dead or the ferocious undead of Dawn of the Dead, George A. Romero decided to sink his teeth into a slightly less undead kind of horror in Martin (1977). This oddball vampire movie is less about fangs and more about the … Read More “Martin (1977) Romero’s Masterpiece: A Vampire Flick Where the Bite is More Than Just a Metaphor” »
Ah, The Incredible Melting Man—where science fiction meets body horror and results in something that feels like the awkward third cousin of Night of the Living Dead and a bad LSD trip. Directed by William R. Sachs, this 1977 B-movie masterpiece takes us on a journey into the depths of ridiculousness with a plot that’s … Read More “The Incredible Melting Man (1977) It’s melting, and so is your will to live.” »
Oh, Emanuelle in America—where the “wild ride” isn’t just about Emanuelle’s voyages through the world’s seediest locales. If you’re in the mood for a film that provides everything from snuff films to graphic violence, questionable taste, and a plot so incoherent it might just be a fever dream, then this 1977 Italian sexploitation film directed … Read More “Emanuelle in America (1977) An Italian sexploitation film that mixes unspeakable depravity with an even worse plotline.” »
Dead of Night, a made-for-TV anthology film, first aired on NBC in 1977, takes viewers through three distinct horror tales, each more absurd and perplexing than the last. Directed by Dan Curtis, the film features a stellar cast that includes Ed Begley Jr., Anjanette Comer, and Joan Hackett. The film is based on stories written … Read More “Dead of Night (1977) A spooky, sinister rollercoaster of supernatural terror – or a confused time-travel nightmare with some vampire biting and a possessed kid? You decide.” »
Welcome to Lisa, a Malayalam horror flick from 1978 that’s equal parts spooky ghost story and unintentional soap opera, directed by the inscrutably named Baby (yes, that’s the director’s name, not a warning). This film is so deeply rooted in the conventions of Indian cinema, it might just be the only horror movie that includes … Read More “Lisa (1978): When Horror Meets Hostel Drama, and Revenge Takes a Detour Through Bollywood” »
If you ever wondered what would happen if Ted Bundy took a wrong turn into the realm of low-budget 70s slasher flicks, Killer’s Delight is your cinematic cautionary tale. Directed and edited by Jeremy Hoenack, who clearly moonlights as a one-man band of indie filmmaking, this film is a blunt homage to the serial killer … Read More “Killer’s Delight (1978): Ted Bundy-Inspired Slasher With Less Thrill, More Dill” »
Ah, The Initiation of Sarah—the made-for-TV supernatural horror flick that dared to mix psychic teenage angst with sorority drama and somehow made a wet T-shirt moment on ABC prime time. That’s right, Morgan Fairchild’s trademark smoldering stare wasn’t just confined to 70s soap operas; here, she famously rocked the fountain-drenched T-shirt before it was cool … Read More “The Initiation of Sarah (1978): Where Psychic Powers Meet Sorority Shenanigans—and Morgan Fairchild Gets Wet” »
Brian De Palma’s The Fury is the 1978 supernatural thriller that proves you can never have too many psychic children, secret government agencies, or explosions. It’s a movie where telekinesis is the weapon of choice, and trust issues run so deep you’d need a psychic to untangle them. The story kicks off with Kirk Douglas … Read More “The Fury (1978): Psychic Powers, Paranoia, and Explosions — Oh My!” »
Ah, Deathmoon. The 1978 made-for-TV horror flick that asks the burning question: what happens when you mix werewolves with a Hawaiian vacation? Spoiler alert — it’s not paradise. Our hero, Jason Palmer (played by Robert Foxworth, who looks like he just wandered onto the wrong set), is sent to Hawaii on doctor’s orders. Because nothing … Read More “Deathmoon (1978): Werewolves, Hawaii, and the Curse of “Why Did I Watch This?”” »
Cyclone (aka El Ciclón or Terror Storm) is a 1978 Mexican survival horror flick directed by René Cardona Jr., which sets a bunch of doomed airplane survivors adrift on the ocean—only to discover that when nature doesn’t finish you off, desperate hunger and cannibalism will. If you’re looking for Hitchcock’s Lifeboat with a splash of … Read More “Cyclone (1978): When Survival Horror Meets Mexican Soap Opera at Sea” »