Stars: Lance Henriksen, Veronica Cartwright, Cristina Raines, Joe Lambie, Anthony James, Richard Masur, Lee Ving, Moon Unit Zappa, Emilio Estevez | Written by Christopher Crowe, Jeffrey Bloom | Directed by Joseph Sargent
While it may be hard to believe that less than a decade ago Nightmares was one of The most sought after, most-requested titles for re-release, after watching this 80s anthology it’s easy to see why. Very much part of the 70s and early 80s portmenteau film vogue, which gave us the likes of Trilogy of Terror, Creepshow and its sequel, The Twilght Zone and Cats Eye, Nightmares features four stories that riff on pre-existing themes:
Terror in Topanga is a take on the “killer is in the house” trope; whilst The Bishop of Battle plays on the perils of obsession and the early-80s belief that video games were “evil”. The Benediction is a quasi-religious version of Richard Matheson...
While it may be hard to believe that less than a decade ago Nightmares was one of The most sought after, most-requested titles for re-release, after watching this 80s anthology it’s easy to see why. Very much part of the 70s and early 80s portmenteau film vogue, which gave us the likes of Trilogy of Terror, Creepshow and its sequel, The Twilght Zone and Cats Eye, Nightmares features four stories that riff on pre-existing themes:
Terror in Topanga is a take on the “killer is in the house” trope; whilst The Bishop of Battle plays on the perils of obsession and the early-80s belief that video games were “evil”. The Benediction is a quasi-religious version of Richard Matheson...
- 6/5/2018
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
By Tim Greaves
When it was announced that Flowers in the Attic was lined up for its UK Blu-ray debut, it occurred to me that I had no real memory of my one and only dip into writer-director Jeffrey Bloom’s adaptation of the controversial, best-selling Virginia (V.C.) Andrews novel – which I guess would have been right back upon its initial release in 1987. Interest to revisit it duly piqued, my anticipation was tempered a tad by the sense that being unable to remember it had surely to be indicative that it wasn’t actually very good. Although it still amuses me that a guy named Bloom wrote and directed a film with Flowers in the title, regrettably my reservations proved well founded. It really is rather awful. There be spoilers ahead!
After the death of her husband, Corinne Dollenganger (Victoria Tennant) falls on hard times and is forced to return,...
When it was announced that Flowers in the Attic was lined up for its UK Blu-ray debut, it occurred to me that I had no real memory of my one and only dip into writer-director Jeffrey Bloom’s adaptation of the controversial, best-selling Virginia (V.C.) Andrews novel – which I guess would have been right back upon its initial release in 1987. Interest to revisit it duly piqued, my anticipation was tempered a tad by the sense that being unable to remember it had surely to be indicative that it wasn’t actually very good. Although it still amuses me that a guy named Bloom wrote and directed a film with Flowers in the title, regrettably my reservations proved well founded. It really is rather awful. There be spoilers ahead!
After the death of her husband, Corinne Dollenganger (Victoria Tennant) falls on hard times and is forced to return,...
- 3/20/2018
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Forced to live together in a confined space and depending on each other for survival, the Dollanganger siblings from 1987’s Flowers in the Attic have always reminded me of the kids from The Boxcar Children book series I grew up reading, although instead of solving mysteries on fun adventures, they were busy dealing with a scissors-wielding grandma, a murderous mother, and some intense incestual feelings—not exactly the type of material you’d find next to Gertrude Chandler Warner’s books in the library.
Published in 1979 and featuring evil parental figures, inter-family violence, and sibling incest, V.C. Andrews’ Flowers in the Attic was a sought-after page-turner for readers drawn to its controversial elements, and its viability in the bookstores paved its way to the cinemas in the mid-’80s. A story about four siblings—two brothers and two sisters—locked away in a gothic mansion’s upstairs room (and the...
Published in 1979 and featuring evil parental figures, inter-family violence, and sibling incest, V.C. Andrews’ Flowers in the Attic was a sought-after page-turner for readers drawn to its controversial elements, and its viability in the bookstores paved its way to the cinemas in the mid-’80s. A story about four siblings—two brothers and two sisters—locked away in a gothic mansion’s upstairs room (and the...
- 7/17/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
It's a TV movie graduated to feature status, with four imagination-challenged tales of terror. The script has lots of variety -- a video game possessed by the devil, a truck possessed by the devil, and lastly, a rat possessed by the devil! But the roster of actors is attractive -- Cristina Raines, Emilio Estevez, Lance Henricksen, Veronica Cartwright and Richard Masur. Nightmares Blu-ray Scream Factory 1983 / Color / 1:78 widescreen + 1:33 TV flat / 99 min. / Street Date December 22, 2015 / 29.99 Starring Cristina Raines, Anthony James, Lee Ving; Emilio Estevez, Moon Unit Zappa, Billy Jayne, Gary Carlos Cervantes; Lance Henriksen, Tony Plana, Timothy Scott; Richard Masur, Veronica Cartwright, Bridgette Andersen, Albert Hague. Cinematography Mario DeLeo, Gerald Perry Finnerman Film Editor Michael Brown, Rod Stephens Production Design Dean Edward Mitzner Original Music Craig Safan Written by Christopher Crowe, Jeffrey Bloom Produced by Christopher Crowe Directed by Joseph Sargent
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Nightmares is a low-wattage '...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Nightmares is a low-wattage '...
- 1/4/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Stars: Mitchel Musso, Dean Geyer, Nikki Leigh, Brooke Butler, Meagan Holder, Jamie Kennedy, Hector David Jr., Cynthia Murell, Cleo Berry, Etalvia Cashin, Adam Powell | Written by Alex Greenfield, Ben Powell | Directed by Isaac Gabaeff
After an all-night graduation beach party, a group of hung-over students wake up under blazing sun to find their numbers somewhat depleted. An enormous alien creature has burrowed down deep and anyone foolish enough to make contact with the sand finds themselves at the mercy of a sea of flesh-eating tentacles.
Can you say Blood Beach?
Ok so maybe that’s not fair. After all Jeffrey Bloom’s 1980 fear-flick, despite having a similar premise – something eating people on the beach, dragging them under the sand – is world’s apart from the gory body-horror of Isaac Gabaeff’s film. Whereas that film often played for oddball humour both intentionally and unintentionally, The Sand plays things very straight.
After an all-night graduation beach party, a group of hung-over students wake up under blazing sun to find their numbers somewhat depleted. An enormous alien creature has burrowed down deep and anyone foolish enough to make contact with the sand finds themselves at the mercy of a sea of flesh-eating tentacles.
Can you say Blood Beach?
Ok so maybe that’s not fair. After all Jeffrey Bloom’s 1980 fear-flick, despite having a similar premise – something eating people on the beach, dragging them under the sand – is world’s apart from the gory body-horror of Isaac Gabaeff’s film. Whereas that film often played for oddball humour both intentionally and unintentionally, The Sand plays things very straight.
- 8/11/2015
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Update: A lawyer for Dr. Gwen Korovin, who reportedly left the operation room at a time when she could have administered a tracheotomy on Joan Rivers, is denying the allegations that she abandoned the comedian in Melissa Rivers' lawsuit. "What happened was she never left the room," attorney William Lewis told The New York Times. "Not only did she never leave the room, she was the last doctor to leave the room after Miss Rivers was taken away by E.M.S. in an ambulance."
Joan Rivers' daughter,...
Joan Rivers' daughter,...
- 1/27/2015
- Rollingstone.com
Melissa Rivers has just filed a huge lawsuit against the clinic where Joan Rivers' heart stopped beating ... and Melissa's lawyer says the doctors acted like a bunch of groupies and not medical professionals.The lawsuit -- obtained by TMZ -- claims gross medical malpractice, alleging during the 20 minutes doctors tried to bring Joan back to life, they didn't think to perform a tracheotomy, which facilitates breathing.Melissa says, "The level of medical mismanagement, incompetency,...
- 1/26/2015
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Iconic comedian died after undergoing a medical procedure
Melissa Rivers, the daughter of deceased comedian Joan Rivers, has filed a lawsuit against Yorkville Endoscopy, the New York clinic where her mother stopped breathing while undergoing a medical procedure, the Associated Press reports.
The elder Rivers died in September after undergoing a throat procedure at the clinic. The medical examiner later determined that she had stopped breathing during the procedure and suffered fatal brain damage resulting from a lack of oxygen. She was 81.
See photos: Joan Rivers Remembered: A Life and Career in Pictures
Rivers’ death was ruled a “predictable complication of medical therapy,...
Melissa Rivers, the daughter of deceased comedian Joan Rivers, has filed a lawsuit against Yorkville Endoscopy, the New York clinic where her mother stopped breathing while undergoing a medical procedure, the Associated Press reports.
The elder Rivers died in September after undergoing a throat procedure at the clinic. The medical examiner later determined that she had stopped breathing during the procedure and suffered fatal brain damage resulting from a lack of oxygen. She was 81.
See photos: Joan Rivers Remembered: A Life and Career in Pictures
Rivers’ death was ruled a “predictable complication of medical therapy,...
- 1/26/2015
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
‘Starry Eyes’: The feel disturbed movie of the year
This film is at its very core a success story. A very demented, gory, horrifying and darkly comical success story – one with tinges of satanic cult horror wrapped in psychological terror. The plot follows a young aspiring actress, Sarah, as she is called back to audition for a horror film that is being produced by a mysterious production company that pushes her to her limits – a dark exchange for fame and fortune… click here to read the article.
‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part I’ is all prologue
In a previous review of the second instalment of The Hunger Games series for this website, I expressed some dismay that Catching Fire didn’t really have a conclusion to speak of, with its cliffhanger ending reminding me less of The Empire Strikes Back and more of The Matrix Reloaded orPirates of...
This film is at its very core a success story. A very demented, gory, horrifying and darkly comical success story – one with tinges of satanic cult horror wrapped in psychological terror. The plot follows a young aspiring actress, Sarah, as she is called back to audition for a horror film that is being produced by a mysterious production company that pushes her to her limits – a dark exchange for fame and fortune… click here to read the article.
‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part I’ is all prologue
In a previous review of the second instalment of The Hunger Games series for this website, I expressed some dismay that Catching Fire didn’t really have a conclusion to speak of, with its cliffhanger ending reminding me less of The Empire Strikes Back and more of The Matrix Reloaded orPirates of...
- 11/22/2014
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Darkroom
Showcase Inventory
Created by Peter S. Fischer
Produced by Universal TV
Aired on ABC for 1 season (7 episodes; 16 segments) from November 27, 1981 – January 15, 1982
Cast
James Coburn as the Host
Show Premise
Darkroom was a thriller anthology series, much in the vein of Night Gallery, where each story had an image to present before it began. The series was hosted by James Coburn, who introduced each story segment as a photographer in his darkroom, developing photographs and tales. The innovative aspect of this particular anthology series was that the story segments had free range to be as long or as short as the story needed to be, as long as the segments fit within the hour duration. Most episodes contained two stories, but at times there were three.
The tone of the stories presented on the series were mostly frightful tales, with grim twist endings that were enhanced with dark humor. The...
Showcase Inventory
Created by Peter S. Fischer
Produced by Universal TV
Aired on ABC for 1 season (7 episodes; 16 segments) from November 27, 1981 – January 15, 1982
Cast
James Coburn as the Host
Show Premise
Darkroom was a thriller anthology series, much in the vein of Night Gallery, where each story had an image to present before it began. The series was hosted by James Coburn, who introduced each story segment as a photographer in his darkroom, developing photographs and tales. The innovative aspect of this particular anthology series was that the story segments had free range to be as long or as short as the story needed to be, as long as the segments fit within the hour duration. Most episodes contained two stories, but at times there were three.
The tone of the stories presented on the series were mostly frightful tales, with grim twist endings that were enhanced with dark humor. The...
- 11/22/2014
- by Jean Pierre Diez
- SoundOnSight
Above: 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (Michael Curtiz, USA, 1932).
When I wrote about the posters of 1933 last week this was one poster I deliberately held back (though 20,000 Years in Sing Sing was released on Christmas Eve 1932, it is included in Film Forum’s retrospective). The early 1930s, no less than today—though the execution was a lot more interesting— was an era of big floating heads in movie posters. While 1920s movies had the occasional floating head poster for their biggest stars, artists and studios still favored the look of early silent posters with their head-to-toe portraits and snippets of narrative. Though Norma Desmond said famously of the silent era “We didn’t need dialogue...we had faces!” it was ironically with the coming of sound that faces started to dominate movie posters and, until Saul Bass, minimalism in American movie posters was almost non-existent.
All that makes the 20,000 Years poster,...
When I wrote about the posters of 1933 last week this was one poster I deliberately held back (though 20,000 Years in Sing Sing was released on Christmas Eve 1932, it is included in Film Forum’s retrospective). The early 1930s, no less than today—though the execution was a lot more interesting— was an era of big floating heads in movie posters. While 1920s movies had the occasional floating head poster for their biggest stars, artists and studios still favored the look of early silent posters with their head-to-toe portraits and snippets of narrative. Though Norma Desmond said famously of the silent era “We didn’t need dialogue...we had faces!” it was ironically with the coming of sound that faces started to dominate movie posters and, until Saul Bass, minimalism in American movie posters was almost non-existent.
All that makes the 20,000 Years poster,...
- 2/22/2013
- by Adrian Curry
- MUBI
Amber Portwood was recently sentenced to five years in jail. Find out why an appeal seems unlikely! Teen Mom Amber Portwood had her five year prison sentence reinstated on June 5 for failing to complete court mandated drug rehabilitation, but the question on everyone's mind is whether the 22-year-old reality star can appeal the decision. "She can't just change her mind," Maryland and Washington D.C. criminal attorney, Jeffrey Bloom, tells HollywoodLife.com exclusively. "Amber put herself at the court's mercy by suggesting that she wanted jail instead of rehab." While Amber can appeal the judge's decision if she has legitimate grounds for an appeal, Jeffrey says that it's not an appealable issue if Amber simply has a change of heart regarding treatment. "In some states, individuals can ask for reconsideration for an unfavorable decision, but you still needs grounds or facts," explains Jeffrey. "It's a possible option, but it's a tough sell to a judge.
- 6/5/2012
- by HL Staff
- HollywoodLife
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.