Fright

Starring:Honor Blackman, Susan George, Ian Bannen, John Gregson, George Cole, Dennis Waterman, Tara Collinson, Maurice Kaufmann, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Michael Brennan
Director: Peter Collinson
Studio: Anchor Bay
Product Type: DVD

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection (Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition / North by Northwest / Dial M for Murder / Foreign Correspondent / Suspicion / The Wrong Man / Stage Fright / I Confess / Mr. and Mrs. Smith)

Average customer rating:

Alfred Hitchcock Signature Movie Collection DVD set
Wonderful Collection
a must for a fan
Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection
Alfred Hitchcock

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection (Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Edition / North by Northwest / Dial M for Murder / Foreign Correspondent / Suspicion / The Wrong Man / Stage Fright / I Confess / Mr. and Mrs. Smith)
Starring: Alfred Hitchcock
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

Signature Collections | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Mystery & Suspense | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Classics | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Alfred Hitchcock - The Masterpiece Collection (Psycho / Vertigo / Rear Window / The Birds / Shadow of a Doubt / Family Plot / Frenzy / The Man Who Knew Too Much / Marnie / Rope / Saboteur / Topaz / Torn Curtain / The Trouble with Harry)
Lifeboat (Special Edition)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents - Season One
To Catch a Thief (Special Collector's Edition)
Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 1 (The Asphalt Jungle / Gun Crazy / Murder My Sweet / Out of the Past / The Set-Up)

ASIN: B0002HOES0
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Description

The Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection contains the DVD debut of 8 Hitchcock classics including "Strangers on a Train Two-Disc Special Edition," and the following 7 new single-disc DVDs: "Dial M For Murder," "Foreign Correspondent" "Suspicion," "The Wrong Man," "Stage Fright," "I Confess" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." The previously released "North by Northwest" is also included in the 10-disc Signature Collection. Each of the 9 films in the collection shows why Hitchcock is regarded as one of Hollywood's most esteemed and important directors, and also brings legendary stars to the digital front including Cary Grant, Henry Fonda, Marlene Dietrich, Grace Kelly, Montgomery Clift and many others.

Strangers on a Train - En route from Washington, D.C., champion tennis player Guy Haines (Farley Granger) meets pushy playboy Bruno Anthony (Robert Walker). What begins as a chance encounter turns into a series of morbid confrontations, as Bruno manipulates his way into Guy's life. Bruno is eager to kill his father and knows Guy wants to marry a senator's daughter (Ruth Roman) but can't get a divorce from his wife. So Bruno suggests the men swap murders, which would leave no traceable clues or possible motives. Though Guy refuses, it won't be easy to rid himself of the psychopathic Bruno. Hitchcock's daughter Patricia appears in this film. The extra features included on the DVD are: Alternate 'preview' version of the film; Commentary by director Peter Bogdanovich, Psycho screenwriter Joseph Stephano, Strangers on a Train author Patricia Highsmith and biographer Andrew Wilson; New making-of documentary Strangers on a Train: A Hitchcock Classic, with Farley Granger, film historian Richard Schickel, Patricia Hitchcock O'Connell and other Hitchcock family members and colleagues recalling the making of this suspense landmark; Three intriguing featurettes: The Hitchcocks on Hitch, Strangers on a Train: The Victim's P.O.V., Strangers on a Train by M. Night Shyamalan; Alfred Hitchcock's Historical Meeting, a vintage newsreel.

Each DVD will be presented in a format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition and will include the original theatrical trailer, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish.

Customer Reviews:

Alfred Hitchcock Signature Movie Collection DVD set.......2007-04-12

A Must have for all hard-core Alfred Hitchcock movie fans

Wonderful Collection.......2007-04-06

This collection is absolutely fabulous. All the movies are remastered and are excellent quality especially on a big screen. Just as I remembered them. Too cool...

a must for a fan.......2007-03-08

As a long time fan of Hitchcock, I am always looking for more. I have approx. 20 of his films on DVD. This collection has some that I had never seen before. In addition, the "making of" special features are great for someone who wants to know what made Hitch so unique as a film director. I have (and will) spend many hours viewing these discs.

Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection.......2007-01-29

If you an Alfred Hitchock movie fan, you need to get this box set. There are some movies, I haven't seen before, but I did enjoy them.

Alfred Hitchcock.......2007-01-16

This was a gift to my son, he was thoroughly excited about it, he said he loved it.

Average customer rating:

Perhaps the Greatest Vampire Movie of all Time
Classic Horror, 80s Cheese
Wickedly campy romp!
Great 80s horror film
My favorite vampire movie from the 80s

Fright Night
Starring: Chris Sarandon , William Ragsdale , Amanda Bearse , Roddy McDowall , and Stephen Geoffreys
Director: Tom Holland
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Teen Terror | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( F ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Silver Bullet (1985) (Ws Sub)
The Lost Boys
Fright Night Part II
An American Werewolf in London
Salem's Lot

ASIN: 0767817664
Release Date: 1999-09-07

Customer Reviews:

Perhaps the Greatest Vampire Movie of all Time.......2007-06-12

Fright Night is a horror movie in its most simplistic form. A teenage boy named Charlie Brewster (William Ragsdale, "Herman's Head") believes that his next door neighbor Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon, "The Princess Bride") is a vampire. Of course no one believes him, especially his girlfriend Amy (Amanda Bearse, "Married with Children") and his buddy "Evil" Ed (Stephen Geoffreys, "Heaven Help Us"). Oh by the way, Evil Ed's classic line in this movie is, "Oh you're so cool Brewster."

Amy and Ed are concerned about Charlie's well being and figure humor his claims that his neighbor is a vampire. So Amy and Ed go to speak to Peter "The Great Vampire Killer" Vincent (Roddy McDowall, "Planet of the Apes"), a burnt out horror movie star turned late night T.V. show host for campy horror films (mainly his own). Charlie is a huge fan of Peter Vincent's work and conceders him a hero. This is why Charlie's friends seek Peter out. On the flip side, Amy and Ed are thinking Charlie's imagination is running amuck about Jerry because of all of his Peter Vincent viewing. Anyway I digress; Amy and Ed talk to Peter about their friend Charlie and the obsession that Jerry is a vampire. Now how two teenage kids are able to convince a movie star (burnt out or not) to speak with their "potential" insane friend, still befuddles me. Anyway, after some pretty definitive proof, it is discovered that Jerry REALLY IS A VAMPIRE! Charlie's confirmation is now fact and the other characters are quite shocked at this finding.

I will not give away any details or spoil this flick for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. Fright Night is really a fun movie and yes it does have some creepy and scary parts to it. I will also add that the movie has some pretty good special effects, they really aren't that cheesy. This movie was also made in 1985, which is the zenith of the 1980s, however this movie really doesn't seem dated. As a matter of fact, it is quite possible this movie is as relative today as it was back in 1985. The one part of the movie that could be abased for having a 1980s flare is the night club scene. There is the peachy music, "colorful" outfits and the hair sprayed hair. Then again, 1980s fashion is somewhat neo in these contemporary times, so it might not seem so dastardly. Ultimately, this movie isn't overshadowed by the fact that it was made in the 1980s.

Now when I say that this is the best vampire movie ever made, that is exactly what I mean. This movie has nothing to do with Dracula it is a basic vampire movie, so any comparisons with a Dracula is dubious. Hence Fright Night it is a marvelous vampire movie, not a marvelous Dracula Movie.

The acting in this movie is also really good; Chris Sarandon is smooth and suave as a vampire. He makes being a creature of the undead look like a lot of fun. Roddy McDowall is awesome as Peter Vincent (I love the throwback to Peter Cushing and Vincent Price in the character's name); he is dichotomy in his grapples with believing in vampires and faith. I think this was a bold performance by McDowall. William Ragsdale did a good job as Charlie. He looked a bit older than a 17 year old teenager, but then again this type of realism isn't why I am watching Fright Night. If that was the logic, then Elizabeth Shue was way too hot to be a hooker in Leaving Las Vegas. Consequently, these are the little persnickety thoughts I place into the box labeled "it is only a movie". Amanda Bearse was also fine as Amy, being both reserved and sexy. Stephen Geoffreys was also quite vexing in a jovial sort of way in his performance as Evil Ed. I also like how Jerry's "roommate" looks like a Xerox of Bill Paxton. Did anyone else notice that or was it just me?

As for the DVD itself, it is presented in letterbox/widescreen. There are several subtitles that can be utilized, so it is foreign speaking friendly. The original preview/trailer is included, which is somewhat a disappointment. It seems rather a mundane promotion for such a great movie. Nevertheless, it is cool that the trailer itself is included on the DVD.

Fright Night is great horror movie period. It also spawned a pretty good sequel in Fright Night 2. However, Fright Night stands fine by itself and I wish future vampire movies would use this movie as a paradigm. Mainly by having a basic story, good characters/acting performance and special effects that don't totally rely on computer graphics. Overall, a timeless piece of horror cinema which I am sure will still be enjoyed for many years to come.

Classic Horror, 80s Cheese.......2007-06-08

Ol' Charlie has a new neighbor and he turns out to be a blood sucking monster. No one believes Charlie. Not his mother, the police, or his girlfriend. They all believe he is crazy. If only they were right.

This is a horror classic from the mind of Tom Holland (Child's Play). If you've never seen this 80s incarnation of vampire cinema then you've been deprived. Before Vamp and the Lost Boys was the original horror comedy involving teens and the undead.

Wickedly campy romp!.......2007-06-04

This is one of the most memorable horror movies from the 80s, not because it was super scary or anything but because it was such a fun vampire flick. Charlie [William Ragsdale] is a horror buff who is convinced that his new next-door neighbor, Jerry Dandridge is a vampire. He tries to convince his girlfriend Amy [Amanda Bearse] and his best friend Evil to no avail. His last hope is Peter Vincent [Roddy McDowall] a TV actor who plays a vampire killer. The rest of the story deals with their efforts in tracking down and killing the vampire. The acting here is above average, and each character is memorable. William Ragsdale brings a certain earnestness to his role as Charlie, and Amanda Bearse plays the role of love interest to Charlie & Dandridge convincingly. However, the best role is the one of Jerry Dandridge, played most convincingly by Chris Sarandon. He is wickedly evil, with a wry sense of humor and dashing countenance.The storyline may have flaws in it, but this is just a fun vampire movie that should be enjoyed for what it is.

Great 80s horror film.......2007-05-13

As someone who saw almost horror movie made in the 80s, I can tell you that this is one of the better ones. It combines horror and comedy incredibly well and the older actors(Roddy McDowall and Chris Sarandon) deliver incredible spot on performances. The younger group do a good job as well, though they have their moments of "roughness". If you enjoy a great horror movie that is also very funny at the same time(purposely, not campy)...this is the movie for you.

My favorite vampire movie from the 80s.......2007-04-26

Who doesn't like Fright Night?...I haven't met one person yet that didn't enjoy Fright Night. I for one, love this movie and think its one of the best vampire movies from the 80s. Its kinda hard to believe that Amanda Bearse went from this..to Married..with Children....holy smokes!..lol...anyways, again as i said, this movie tops the 80s horror right along with Halloween..etc. etc. and should truly be in your horror collection..a true classic for all time, and remember, they barely play this film during Halloween as well...when is the last time you saw it on TV?...think about it!..thats why this is a must have!. Highly Recommended!!

The Munsters: Two-Movie Fright Fest - (Franchise Collection) - (Munster, Go Home! & The Munsters' Revenge)

Average customer rating:

I really liked it.
Corn and horror?
Munsters fan from Oz
Great set
Very Good Re Release

The Munsters: Two-Movie Fright Fest - (Franchise Collection) - (Munster, Go Home! & The Munsters' Revenge)
Starring: Fred Gwynne , Al Lewis (III) , Yvonne De Carlo , K.C. Martel , and Jo McDonnell
Director: Don Weis , and Earl Bellamy
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Addams Family - Volume One
The Munsters - Complete Second Season
The Munsters - The Complete First Season
The Addams Family - Volume 2
The Munsters - America's First Family of Fright (Documentary)

ASIN: B000GIXIN2
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Amazon.com

There aren't many funny, pre-Pufnstuf era monster movies suitable for the family, until one remembers the Munsters, who beyond their two-season television stint, made two feature films, albeit fifteen years apart. Both filmed in Technicolor, the vibrance of the Munsters' spooky lifestyle is most apparent in Munsters, Go Home (1966), far superior to the cornier Munsters' Revenge. A true '60s relic, Munsters, Go Home begins when Herman's deceased relative bestows him with Lord status, necessitating the Munsters' trip to England to claim his title. There, he meets other Munsters, Lady Effigy and Freddie Munster, whose jealousy results in frightening antics that only thrill Herman, Grandpa, Lily, Eddie, and Marilyn (with Pat Priest replaced by Debbie Watson). As the plot thickens, Herman faces other threats to the family honor with his classic innocent bravado. In Munsters' Revenge, a wax museum criminal circuit sends Munsters' imposters out to commit crimes, so it's up to the real family to solve the mystery. Different Eddies and Marilyns slightly spoil the family reunion's ambience, though ample physical comedy--for example when Herman's bee sting causes him to destroy the police precinct where he's being held as a criminal suspect--makes the film authentic to its original characters. Moreover, watching this double feature is an inspiring reminder of what props used to look like, like George Barris's Munster Koach, not to mention those that grace the entire Munster Mansion. --Trinie Dalton

Customer Reviews:

I really liked it........2007-05-14

I was pleased that the sender took the time to make sure the DVD was seated properly. If you seat the DVD down right no amount of shaking it around is going to dislodge the DVD. Which is the excuse some use when I receive one that is flopping around in its cover and getting scratched. I would order from this sender again. Sincerely Wanda Dixon

Corn and horror?.......2007-02-17

Nostalgia can sum up the two movies here. You either enjoyed the Munsters or you did not. If you grew up with "them" you will appreciate the first movie. The second has less of Lily and Eddie is not the same character, ( Butch was in his 20's at this time if I am correct). All in all not a bad regrouping of the actors and characters. Take the trip down memory lane.

Munsters fan from Oz.......2007-01-03

I just love the Munsters. I am glad they have released these two flicks on DVD. Corny but adorable. I wish they had more seasons but it seems to be that way with cult series'. They seem to become very popular years later. Can't beat them I say.

Great set.......2007-01-03

This DVD package is a two movie set that gives us the final bow of the original cast of the Munsters. In the first film "Munsters Go Home", we see a movie that was released right after the final season of the original show. Although it has a few funny scenes, it is not even close to as funny as the original TV series. But the whole cast is there except for Pat Priest who played Marilyn in the TV series.
The second movie was made a number of years later. It is the last time we get to see Fred Gwynn play Herman Munster. Although the movie itself is not very funny, it is nice to see the original Herman, Lily, and Grampa. It's obvious that all of the original cast has gotten older, particuarly Lily. But all in all, it's a nice way to finish the TV set if you are a true Munsters fan.

Very Good Re Release.......2006-10-03

I have both movies Munsters, Go Home (1966)(full screen) and Munsters' Revenge on DVD. but Munsters Go Home the new release is in 1:85 widescreen and both movies look much better on the new Munsters - Two Movie Fright Fest.
It was well worth buying this movie collection! Also the book Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane came out Sunday Oct 1, 2006. It is a Munster fan must have.

Average customer rating:

Pretty sweet!
PERFECT WAY TO END THE SERIES
The end of a saga
Nightmare in Dreamland
Still a good value.

Kirby: Fright to the Finish - Movie
Starring: Kirby
Manufacturer: Funimation Prod
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Fantasy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( K ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Kirby: Right Back at Ya!: Vol. 3: Kirby's Egg-Cellent Adventure
Kirby: Right Back at Ya!: Vol. 1: Kirby Comes to Cappytown
Sonic X, Vol. 7: Revenge of the Robot
Kirby Nightmare in Dream Land
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!

ASIN: B0008FPJJO
Release Date: 2005-06-14

Product Description

Kirby confronts his ARCHRIVAL eNeMeE in a Battle to save Dreamland! Is This Kirby s Final Battle? Will This Be The End Of Dreamland?

When a fleet of mysterious spaceships attacks Dreamland, Kirby embarks on a nerve-shattering journey into deep pace and confronts his ultimate nightmare...the diabolical eNeMeE. Can Kirby defeat the dark force of eNeMeE s malevolent mindscape, or will eNeMeE realize his devilish dream of total domination?!

Bonus Kirby Episode and Music Videos!

System Requirements:

Running Time 85 Min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Pretty sweet!.......2006-07-19

This movie was pretty good. If you're a fan of Kirby you'll love it. And I know some people might not want to buy it because it's dubbed by 4Kids and it's pretty much 5 episodes made into an 80 minute movie, but I thought it looked pretty good as a movie. I just hope 4Kids didn't take out too much. The beginning's kinda confusing because it starts with the 2 air ride episodes that we've seen before but after that is when the real excitement begins. And you'd probably have to watch that episode to understand what happens next. In conclusion, this is a great item for Kirby fans, but if you don't like Kirby, don't buy it of course.

PERFECT WAY TO END THE SERIES.......2006-03-17

This movie was great! this movie is a great way to wrap up the battle with Dedede and eNeMe the beggining was a little confusing but overall this was a great movie that deserves 5 stars!

The end of a saga.......2005-08-08

When I heard Kirby:Right back at ya! will be releasing kirby's very first full length movie "Kirby: Fright to the finish" I was overjoyed but yet very sad because I knew this movie would be an end to a life long saga as with the defeat of eNeMeE. The plot was very similar to Kirby: Nightmare in dreamland for GBA so I had a better understanding of the movie. I was a little lost in the beginning because they showed "Air rider part 1 and 2" which aired on T.V. way before the movie came out. This movie was one of the best things ever! 5/5 stars and an end to one of the best things to hit the air waves since C.S.I.

Nightmare in Dreamland.......2005-06-14

While watching this movie some Kirby fans wiil say,"This story sounds familier". They are right! This movie is based on the Game Boy Advanced game, Kirby:Nightmare in Dreamland. Infact the whole Kirby Right Back at Ya'series has been based on Nightmare in Dreamland! Even if you usually don't like the anime, if you are a Kirby game fan than this is for you.

Still a good value........2005-06-12

While I concur with the first reviewer (who, by the way, runs an EXCELLENT Kirby website) that this may not be true to the original spirit of the Japanese production of Kirby ... I do not speak Japanese or have access to the original anime, so 4Kids is the only outlet for Kirby that I have (despite the cheesy translation of many of the characters).

And with Fox continuously pre-empting Kirby from the Saturday morning lineup, this may likely be many fans' only chance to see the culmination of the Kirby series. For a reasonable price, you get the equivalent of 4 episodes + a couple catchy songs my kids like.

A movie ... no. A good value for a Kirby fan - YES. (Despite the fact that you are giving money to 4Kids and Fox for what they should be showing us on Saturday a.m.)

Average customer rating:

This movie is terrifying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a waste... With one original 'scene'
Obtuse
1 scary moment and that's it.
A Clean, Non-Violent, Atmospheric Little Chiller

Boogeyman (Special Edition)
Starring: Barry Watson , Emily Deschanel , Skye McCole Bartusiak , Tory Mussett , and Andrew Glover (VI)
Director: Stephen T. Kay
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

White Noise (Widescreen Edition)
Hide and Seek (Widescreen Edition)
The Grudge
The Ring Two (Unrated Widescreen Edition)
Cursed (Unrated Version)

ASIN: B00080ZG24
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Product Description

Every culture has one - the horrible monster fueling young children's nightmares. But for Tim, the Boogeyman still lives in his memories as a creature that devoured his father 16 years earlier. Is the Boogeyman real? Or did Tim make him up to explain why his father abandoned his family? The answer lies hidden behind every dark corner and half-opened closet of his childhood home - a place he must return to and face the chilling unanswered question does the Boogeyman really exist?

System Requirements:
Running Time: 88 Min.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Since movies began, thrillers have depended on a door just slightly ajar, with a narrow slit of darkness that promises to hold your worst fears. In the first five minutes of Boogeyman, a young boy's father is violently sucked into a closet, scarring the boy so badly that he grows up to be blank-faced Barry Watson (7th Heaven), who plays Tim, an editor at a newspaper or a magazine or something. Tim, to impress his girlfriend's parents, wears a coat and tie but doesn't shave his sexy stubble. A premonition of his mother's death drives him back to his childhood home so he can exorcise his phobias. From there...well, there's lots of atmospheric cinematography, regular jolts of loud music, and many quick edits. What actually happens is pretty obscure and, really, not worth unobscuring. The obsession with doors and doorknobs verges on the avant-garde. Also featuring a brief glimpse of Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess), wearing some truly terrible old-age makeup. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

This movie is terrifying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-06-26

.... if you are an eight year old girl up past her bedtime. Seriously, this movie was about as scary as drinking a cold Corona on the beach.

First of all anyone who stars in a movie and tries to look like Bryan "I'm so Gay" Seacrest from American Idol fame, needs to die a horrible death in a movie like this. Strike one. Second, we have a rich blond chick, and a redheaded country girl. Both are pretty and neither show any skin. Strike two.

And her comes strike three. When we finally get to see this 'Boogyman', it is a cut-rate CGI monster that looks like it was done by a tenth grader for extra credit in some kind of AV class. I mean seriously, the Boogyman looked like a mix of a teenager's drawing of Iron Maiden's 'Eddie', and 'The Shadow' from the old comic books. If you are going to scare me with a monster, it better be a monster and not some ridiculous looking CGI effect gone wrong.

The plot is simple enough. A kid has been traumatized since he was 8 years old when he saw the Boogyman drag his father into the closet. He is now 23 and is STILL seeing a child's psychiatrist. After his mother's funeral he goes back to the house, on the advice that it will cure him of his fear of the dark and of closets. How can I watch a movie about a guy spending the night in a haunted house with ghosts and a Boogyman running around and I am not frightened once?? Go figure.

The film also has no closure. The Boogyman is destroyed by counting to six?? Are you for real??? And what about the blond girlfriend? Don't you think the cops will find his bloody fingerprints on the bathtub at the motel? And what about the disappearance of Uncle Eddie?

I've seen some bad movies in my day, but this was just a waste of an afternoon. Thank God I was practicing my guitar as I watched this, so it was not a complete waste.

What a waste... With one original 'scene'.......2007-05-27

I dislike to 'pan' a movie - I do (check my other reviews). The old saying, "If you can't say something nice..."

Sorry, in this case, it needs saying, "This movie is a waste."

The only thing this movie does is make the viewer ask, "Where have I seen that before?" From the crow in the windshield, to the 'I see dead people', to the previous reviewer's 'shreenk', to the 'back away from the closet only to be grabbed from under the bed' this movie rips off a plethora of others.

The only original scene - product placement for the "tweens" - 'Red Bull and Vodka' - he pours it once about half way through the movie, but in the remainder of the movie we see it another half dozen times. I'm not sure but I think the legal drinking age is 21 - what audience is that drink intended for???

-Here is a tip: If you want to know what others think of a movie at Amazon - check out the `other sellers' - a newer movie with "283 used & new available from $0.01" - means `not very good'. "The Haunting", released in 1999, you can not get for less than $2.50 (and it costs less than "Boogeyman" new).

Obtuse.......2007-05-05

The Hindenburg. The sinking of the Titanic. The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Hurricane Katrina. The 2004 Tsunami. World War II. The 2005 film "Boogeyman". Do you know what all of these things have in common? If you said they were epic disasters that claimed human lives, you win a prize. You might question the inclusion of that last item, the film directed by Stephen T. Kay and produced by none other than Sam Raimi. How could a movie claim lives? "Boogeyman" likely killed no one (the number of fatalities aren't in yet), but I think it's safe to say that this clunker claimed the career of one Barry Watson, a former cast member of "7th Heaven" and a one time co-star of popular actress Jessica Biel. It must kill Barry that Biel's star keeps rising while his founders in dreck like this. That's Hollywood for you. Then again, Watson didn't seem to understand an important horror film fact, one that angers fans of the genre to no end. That fact, in a nutshell, is this: WE HATE PG-13 RATED HORROR FILMS! "Horror" and "PG-13" don't go together, period. We want blood and guts and scares. We do not want Barry Watson in a PG-13 rated horror flick.

"Boogeyman" starts off promising (Then again, so did I. Now look where I've ended up--reviewing films like this one.) as we see a young kid in bed at night, horrified of the creature that lives in his closet. Dad ambles in just in time to explain that there is no such thing as the "Boogeyman" immediately prior to the non-existing Boogeyman pulling him into the closet. Dad, despite a brief reappearance seconds later, disappears forever. Flash forward fifteen years (too bad we can't flash forward to the closing credits), and we now see the aforementioned little tyke, Tim Jensen, suddenly assume the form of a grown up Barry Watson. Tim, who also seems to fear an electric shaver, tries to move on with his life the best he can. He's a big shot at a magazine, and he's involved with a beautiful girl named Jessica (Tory Mussett). There's some song and dance about meeting her parents--I don't know...I wasn't paying attention--followed by scenes showing Jensen's obvious fear of closets. A few minutes later, Tim experiences some sort of vision/dream concerning his mother (played by Lucy Lawless) that forces him to return to his childhood home.

In short, Mom died. This means Tim has to attend her funeral and then go back to the domicile alone. After a ridiculous scene on the road, Jensen arrives at a house so run down it makes the Addams family digs look like the Trump Towers. He soon runs into a childhood friend, Kate (Emily Deschanel paying her mortgage), before the real weirdness starts. Some of the strangeness involves an enigmatic youngster named Franny (Skye McCole Bartusiak). Most of it involves the reappearance, and subsequent disappearance, of Tim's girlfriend Jessica. Soon the madness engulfs Kate as well. People appear and then disappear with frightening regularity, usually after entering a closet. Time and space mean nothing as Tim lurches from one improbable reality to another. Needless to say, it's the Boogeyman who stands behind this lunacy. Or is it Tim? Kate suspects he did something sinister to his girlfriend. Maybe Jensen's fear of the Boogeyman, coupled with the return to his childhood home, has resulted in a psychotic break of epic proportions. Never fear, however, as the conclusion explains everything in dreary detail. As an aside, the end of "Boogeyman" ranks as one of the lamest showdowns I've ever seen during my cinematic excursions.

Where to start with this nightmare? Other reviewers have rightly noted the mind-deadening reliance on sound effects to get a cheap scare out of the audience, so I won't go there except to say they're absolutely, positively correct. I could rail against the jarring editing techniques, so overused here that they negate any impact the film might have had on an audience above the age of fourteen. The acting isn't any better. With the exception of Emily Deschanel, one wonders what medication the rest of the cast took before stepping in front of the camera. My guess is Thorazine. Except for Barry Watson during the scenes where he grooves along the walls in the closet. In this instance, his behavior closely mirrors someone on the last day of a month long cough syrup binge. I think it's safe to say that just about every element of "Boogeyman" fails to project serious scares. The lack of gore and the lack of a scary monster is just the icing on this terrible tasting cake. Here's something truly scary, though: "Boogeyman 2" is coming to a theater near you in the future! How is that remotely possible? Because this movie grossed 46 million dollars! Gawd help us!

The movie looks great, and sounds great, on DVD. No problem there. As for supplements, we get a few deleted scenes, some special effects mumbo jumbo, a documentary that devolves into a lovefest between cast and crew, some animated storyboards, and an alternate ending. Trailers for a few other films round out the disc. I'm greatly disappointed that I spent ninety minutes of my life watching this crud. It's not scary, not bloody, and not that well acted. The idea isn't bad, especially the mind bending second half where we start to question the reality of what's going on, but it's not unique and comes far too late to save the film. I'm actually agonizing over whether to give "Boogeyman" one or two stars. I guess I'll go with the latter, as I usually round up when in doubt. But make no mistake about it; this film is NOT worth your valuable time. Rent something else instead.

1 scary moment and that's it........2007-03-08

Do yourself a favor. Don't get this film. There's nothing you haven't seen before a million times. And done better too. I was completely disappointed. No scares to be found. Get Darkness Falls instead.

A Clean, Non-Violent, Atmospheric Little Chiller.......2007-02-06

There is nothing great in this film except for very clever camera angles which are appropriately disorienting and quick flashy editing a la "The Grudge" and "The Ring" (which are far superior horror flicks). However, I found myself enjoying this little film nevertheless because of the smaller elements within the film.

It is a simple tale and much of the specifics are already given in Amazon's review/synopsis and the product descriptor. I want to focus here on what I liked about the film. This is a rather low-budget flick and that can often be a good thing as it forces the director and writers to be clever with little money. I already mentioned that the photography and editing are excellent, but so is the cinematography, which deals more with color, shades, and the like. It is truly nightmarish. The film's 88 minutes leave little room for tangents that don't play a part in the story and this causes the story to unfold at a suspenseful, but fast clip.

The principal actors are all rather familar and are quite convincing in their roles. Barry Watson of "7th Heaven" fame is the grown up kid who witnessed the Boogeyman take his dad. Lucy Lawless of "Xena" is in this film all too briefly, but is terrifying as the dying mom sending a last message to her son. Lastly, Emily Deschanel of the current hit "Bones" lends wonderful support as the childhood "girlfriend" from the past who still cares about our hero.

I found this film to be an effective little chiller. It's not one of my favorites and I can easily understand the negative reviews on here regarding this film, but, nevertheless, I did enjoy it. It plays well at home on a rainy night and it's a pleasant and spooky diversion from the more blood and gore, gratuitous sex and nudity, and paint-by-numbers slasher films that we've been hammered with lately and in the past. In comparison to those, this film is quite original and tame, but fun just the same.

I like a horror film that I can actually watch with my kids who are 10 and 14. They weren't terribly frightened by this film, but they enjoyed the spooky qualities within it. That and a bowl of popcorn and they are happy campers.

The Munsters - America's First Family of Fright (Documentary)

Average customer rating:

Great Rare Munsters
Worth the wait!
Well Worth the Wait!
It's Baaack... What You Should Know Before You Buy!
It should be lots of fun!

The Munsters - America's First Family of Fright (Documentary)
Starring: Al Lewis (III) , Hank Garrett , Charlotte Rae , Pat Priest , and Butch Patrick
Director: Lawrence Williams (III)
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Munsters: Two-Movie Fright Fest - (Franchise Collection) - (Munster, Go Home! & The Munsters' Revenge)
The Munsters: A Trip Down Mockingbird Lane
The Addams Family - Volume One
The Munsters - Complete Second Season
The Addams Family - Volume 2

ASIN: B0002EJ7I0
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Description

Your favorite TV ghouls have arrived on DVD with this fright-tastic two-disc set! Disc One features Four Amazing Looks at the Munsters: The Munsters: America's First Family of Fright; Fred Gwynne: More than a Munster; Yvonne DeCarlo: Gilded Lily; Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa. Disc Two with Hours of Eerie Extras: "My Fair Munster" (UNAIRED PRESENTATION#1/LONG VERSION AND UNAIRED PRESENTATION #2) Unaired Main Title Sequence (Pilot Version); CBS Network Promos; "Seven Wonderful Nights" (CBS Special with Buddy Ebsen); "Wayne & Schuster Take an Affectionate Look at the Monsters"; "Marineland Carnival" (CBS Special); "Big G, Little O" (CHEERIOS COMMERCIAL); "It's What's Happening, Baby" (with "Murray the K"); Plus: Universal Newsreels; Syndication TV Spots; Munster Go Home Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots AND BONUS INTERVIEWS.

Customer Reviews:

Great Rare Munsters.......2007-05-26

This is actually a great release. I bought this to supplement my Season One, Season Two, and Munster movies collection. A lot of the material here is repeated on the Munsters Season special features, but it still has additional unreleased material that is needed for any completist. The casual fan can pass on this package, but to any Munstermaniac, this is a must have!

Worth the wait!.......2007-01-12

KEVIN BURNS does a GREAT job at collecting all things MUNSTERS! Yvonne will be missed!

Well Worth the Wait!.......2006-09-20

Two years ago, Image Entertainment announced the release of this DVD only to have it yanked from release just days before Universal's release of "The Munsters" Season One. It seems Universal was "spooked" that another Munsters DVD item might confuse buyers. A compromise was reached: Image would withdraw the item voluntarily but Universal would release all four of the one-hour Munsters documentaries as VAM on their Season Two DVD. So why purchase this disc? Well, in addition to the really terriffic documentaries (originally produced by for A&E's Emmy Award-winning Biography series), Image has added LOTS of great bonus material, all digitally remastered from original 16mm and 35mm elements! In addition to two (2) extremely rare versions of the original 1964 Presentation entitled, "My Fair Munster" (which are, by the way, different from the one Universal released as VAM on the Season One disc), there are vintage TV spots, a cast commercial for Cheerios, a promo for the Munsters' 1965 TV Special at Marineland, "Munster, Go Home" trailers and TV spots, vintage Universal Studios newsreels and even a PSA featuring Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster for a US Government youth program -- to name just a few! But wait! There's MORE! As if nearly five full hours of content were not enough, Image added an hour of excerpts from cast interviews with Al Lewis, Yvonne DeCarlo, Butch Patrick and all three original Marilyns (Beverley Owen, Pat Priest and Debbie Watson)! Look, if you're NOT a Munsters fan, there's no reason to buy this DVD (or even read this review, for that matter). But if you ARE a Munsters fan, you MUST add this well produced item to your collection. Trivia Note: The featured documentary, "The Munsters: America's First Family of Fright" is narrated by Bill Mumy of "Lost in Space" and "Babylon 5" fame. Bill also guest starred on "The Munsters" in an episode entitled, "Come Back, Little Googie." Pretty cool, eh? Additional Note: All four documentaries and all contents of the discs were produced by #1 Munsters fan, Kevin Burns. Burns is the prolific filmmaker who made the definitive documentaries on Apes ("Behind the Planet of the Apes"), "Star Wars" ("Empire of Dreams") and Superman ("Look, Up in the Sky"). He also created and produces E! Entertainment's hit reality series, "The Girls Next Door."

It's Baaack... What You Should Know Before You Buy!.......2006-08-17

Back in August 2004, Universal released The Munsters Season One DVD. The set featured all 38 episodes plus the unaired pilot, but no extras. This set, The Munsters - America's First Family of Fright, an independent 2-disc (243 min.) set (with extras) from Image Entertainment was also planned to arrive on August 24th, the same day as the Universal Munsters season set release. Fearing consumers would be confused by what they would be getting from the two Munsters sets, Image pulled their release with the intent to simply release it at a later date. But then Universal expressed interest in using it as extras for the Munsters Season Two set. Universal and Image negotiated and voila! The Munsters Season Two released with extras: the four documentaries listed below. The four docs also make up Disc One of this 2-disc set.

Four Amazing Looks at the Munsters:
The Munsters: America's First Family of Fright
Fred Gwynne: More than a Munster
Yvonne DeCarlo: Gilded Lily
Al Lewis: Forever Grandpa

And here's the previously unreleased material you're getting that make up Disc Two of this 2-disc set:

Hours of Eerie Extras:
"My Fair Munster" plus 3 Different Presentations in Black and White and Color; Unaired Main Title Sequence (Pilot Version); CBS Network Promos; The Munsters in Several Vintage TV Special Appearances: "Seven Wonderful Nights" (CBS Special with Buddy Ebsen); "Wayne & Schuster Take an Affectionate Look at the Monsters"; "Marineland Carnival" (CBS Special); "Big G, Little O"; "It's What's Happening, Baby" (with "Murray the K"); "We Don't Knock" (with Lenny Clarke).

Plus: Universal Newsreels; Syndication TV Spots; Munsters Go Home Theatrical Trailer and TV Spots.

This set is a "no-brainer" purchase if you don't already own The Munsters Season Two DVD, but for those that do already own the Munsters Season Two set (with the Disc One documentaries from this set), just know you run the risk of double-dipping on Disc One content (assuming the docs are the same versions) so you may want to first rent and compare before you decide to buy.

It should be lots of fun!.......2006-08-10

For 60's TV fans, this should be a great addition to their collections. It should be a fun Halloween DVD :)

Average customer rating:

Cold
Clever...perhaps a little too clever!
hitchcock breaks his own rule and sinks this turkey
Lying Cheating Movie (recommended)
Fun but Flawed Early `50s Hitchcock

Stage Fright
Starring: Alfie Bass , Ballard Berkeley , Cyril Chamberlain , Marlene Dietrich , and Helen Goss
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Suspense | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Mystery | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

I Confess
The Wrong Man
Foreign Correspondent
Suspicion
Dial M for Murder

ASIN: B0002HOEQW
Release Date: 2004-09-07

Amazon.com

In suspense films characters frequently deceive one another. But can the camera tell a lie? This is one of the questions that Hitchcock takes up in Stage Fright (1950), and his answer has puzzled, infuriated, and delighted audiences ever since its initial release. Stage Fright is one of only two films Hitchcock made in Great Britain after he moved to America in 1940 (the other is Frenzy, his late masterpiece). It is also his only picture to star Marlene Dietrich, whose character's allegiances are even more ambiguous than usual.

Years after making Stage Fright, Hitchcock claimed that because the villains were just as frightened as the heroes, the film did not carry the requisite quota of menace. But it has received a good deal of attention in recent years and is worth a fresh look. The director did admit that he was proud of the movie's most astounding plot twist, though no commercial filmmaker since has been bold enough to let the camera lie so eloquently. --Raphael Shargel

Description

Jonathan Cooper is wanted by the police who suspect him of killing his lover's husband. His friend Eve Gill offers to hide him and Jonathan explains to her that his lover, actress Charlotte Inwood is the real murderer. Eve decides to investigate for herself, but when she meets the detective in charge of the case, she starts to fall in love.

Customer Reviews:

Cold .......2006-07-02

I guess I'll be the only one here with a bad review of this Hitchcock movie.
Though we have a very original story here, I was amazed at feeling that the actors were saying their lines at the camera, not at the opposite actor. And flatly at that! Never have I seen it show as much (and I have seen a lot of movies!!!). Nobody seemed convinced of what they were doing. We all know that Dietrich is not the best actress in the world(more an extraordinary personality)but here, she is cold as ever. Wyman is better... and Sims is the treasure of the lot, with much life to his character.
However, at the risk of looking a bit out of order , I still encourage you to see it. I am not a Hitchcock fan, but I believe we learn to appreciate by viewing many different movies...

Clever...perhaps a little too clever!.......2006-06-06

To begin, let me say that I agree with other film buffs, that
Alfred Hitchcock's Stage Fright is the most underrated of his
50's films. I think the reason for it being so, is that it's a little to artful and clever for its own good.
This is due to its use of a flashback in which a lie is told!
We can't see where the lie comes into place until the last scene
of the film. Clever...yes. Irritating...very!
But still this is a film worth seeing because of two reasons.
One, it is the first film in what I consider to be Hitchcock's
Golden decade(1950-60)of film making.
Secondly, It is the only movie he made with the legendary
Marlene Dietrich. Which makes it a definite keeper!
Add to that Richard Todd, a very young and very talented Jane Wyman.
The great charicter actor Alastair Sim, Dame Sybel Thronedyke
and Micheal Redgrave.
Watching this film is a nice way to spend a weekend evening.

hitchcock breaks his own rule and sinks this turkey.......2006-05-24

hitchcock said in interviews that the most important thing in a movie was if you do a flashback,the flashback must not lie to the people watching. if it does it distroys the trust we have placed with the film maker and hurts the feel of the movie.
this first rule of his was thrown out the window with this below average hitchcock thriller. never before or after did hitchcock do this lie in the flashback thing. the acting is also well below what he was used to having in his movies. a rare misfire from hitch.

Lying Cheating Movie (recommended).......2006-03-15

I'll begin by saying the movie plot I imagined from the title was not at all what this was about. I thought someone in the audience would be throwing daggers at actors on stage. Suspense movies are better when the viewer knows little about them. The plot should unfold as though the viewer were one of the characters not privy to script previews. This allowed me to enjoy STAGE FRIGHT all the more

The only thing I did know is what I read about the camera 'lying.' My eyes were glued to every scene in an attempt not to miss such an occasion. I even played one section back in slow motion. Though some movie critics argue the merits of what Hitchcock did, I feel it enhanced the movie and cannot imagine its effectiveness any other way. If the technique was repeated by other directors/authors it would become trite (though a similar technique was successful in A BEAUTIFUL MIND) -- but in STAGE FRIGHT it is extremely effective -- placing you within the same frame of mind as others in the film -- and it enhances the Hitchcock conclusion.

I am happy that my expectation of a poor quality film transfer was erroneous as well. Contrast is great though there were a few voice synchronization errors (I thought the actors were speaking another language and had English dubbed in) and a brief moment of vertical film scratches that should be restored.

The Master of suspense does not lead viewers through nail-biting terror for the whole duration. Light-hearted character and plot development makes up the bulk of the movie. There are times when the characters do things that seem foolish. All such assumptions are neatly resolved in the chilling climax.

Movie quote: "I have a strong premonition that I'm going to behave like a fool."

Fun but Flawed Early `50s Hitchcock.......2005-12-31

(Note. It's impossible to say anything about this movie without giving the plot away a bit. So if you've not seen it, don't read this.)

This is a bit of an oddity in Hitchcock's oeuvre. We start out with a young couple in a car, the guy (Richard Todd) telling the girl (Jane Wyman) a story that is relayed to us in flashback of how his lover (Marlene Dietrich) turned up at his house with a tale of a quarrel with her husband that ended in his death; how he went back to her house for her to fetch a clean dress to replace the bloodstained one she wore; how he was seen there and is now being pursued by the police, how he picked her (Wyman) up from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts where she was a student. Trusting him she whisks him away to the country to the surreal seaside cottage where her fey old sea dog father (Alastair Sim) agrees to help her hide him from the cops. But then she sneaks back to London to figure out what the cops are thinking only to lose interest in her fugitive paramour by falling in love with Michael Wilding's dashing Inspector Smith. And so we move on, through encounters with Sybil Thorndike's dotty patrician mother and Joyce Grenfell's infinitely dottier fairground attendant inviting Sim to shoot "lovely ducks" to obtain the doll he will use to try to trick Dietrich into betraying her guilt, to the climactic scenes where we learn the opening flashback was entirely fraudulent. (At the time this seemed a serious weakness but this film came out in the same year as `Rashomon' which would begin to educate film audiences not to take flashbacks at face value...)

The whole thing rather recalls Hitchcock's earlier English movies like "Lady Vanishes" in seeking to mix a dark tale of suspense with elements of quirky humour. But here it must be said the concoction is somewhat less deftly blended than it is elsewhere. Sim, Grenfell and Thorndike are certainly amusing and are perhaps the main things to remember about the film. But as a suspense movie it never really floats. It's funny but never manages to be scary: there's never any real sustained sense that Wyman's heroine is seriously imperilled. The result is less a thriller than a light romantic comedy between Wyman and Wilding with a slightly halfhearted murder story as a backdrop.

As this movie clearly reminds us, not all Hitchcock's movies are great. But as his reminds us no less clearly, none of them are dull.

The American Nightmare - A Celebration of Films from Hollywood's Golden Age of Fright

Average customer rating:

Interesting Documentary Of Films From The Golden Age of Fright
A truly superb ode to the golden age of horror.
Insightful, Respectful Documentary
the best doc on horror movies, ever!

The American Nightmare - A Celebration of Films from Hollywood's Golden Age of Fright
Starring: David Cronenberg , Tom Savini , John Landis , John Carpenter , and Tobe Hooper
Director: Adam Simon
Manufacturer: New Video Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Politics | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

A Decade Under the Influence
Horror Business
Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls
100 Years of Horror

ASIN: B00018YCJQ
Release Date: 2004-03-30

Amazon.com

The explosion of gruesome horror cinema in the wake of George Romero's Night of the Living Dead is explored in this serious documentary, which has a welcome respect for an easily derided genre. A few academics make piquant observations (no film critics, although Robin Wood pioneered this line of thinking years ago), but mostly we hear from the filmmakers themselves: Romero, John Carpenter (on Halloween), Wes Craven (Last House on the Left), Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), and David Cronenberg (Shivers). The directors focus on those films, not their entire careers, which limits the scope of the movie. Juxtapositioning newsreel horrors with movie scenes introduces provocative ideas about where horror comes from, but also feels a little facile. Unexpected bonus: the enthusiasm of John Landis, in describing the out-of-kilter experience of watching these affronts to good taste, and suggesting why they thrill as well as scare us. --Robert Horton

Description

Disfigured knife-wielding murderers. Buxom teens fleeing for their lives through dark woods. Hordes of the undead limping along deserted streets. These images, now synonymous with horror movies, were born in the groundbreaking films of horror masters su

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Documentary Of Films From The Golden Age of Fright.......2006-02-15

This is a documentary about horror films and their impact on the world between 1968-1979. We get to hear the points of views of the directors of some of the most frightening classic horror films ever made. IFC interviews Tobe Hooper, John Carpenter, David Cronenburg, John Landis, Wes Craven, George Romero and more. We get an in depth look at the politics and upheaval of the 60's and 70's and how they influenced everyones life and the horror genre.

The DVD contains clips from events in history such as the Vietnam War, assasinations of some of the most prominent figures in America, clips from classic horror movies and discussions on what horror is about and why we go to see these films. The directors discuss some of their inspirations for the films, what scared them as a child and the horrors of the real world. Theres many striking and powerful images in this documentary, both real and fiction.

In a way it reminds you reality can be just as frightening as fiction, the real events that happen can be compared to the horror films, just with a diffrent face. Some of these events do happen in real life, yet we dare to face them, facing it gives you the illusion of control or knowing and that is the first step. Confronting it. And you can even examine what parts frighten you and what parts you enjoy and ask yourself why?

Professor Tom Gunning's words- Why do you go to see a horror film? some compare it to a roller coaster ride, theres a desire in a funny way for stimulus, we sometimes get disatisfied with that protection and we want it to be pierced.

Director Adam Simon left out some important horror/thriller films of the 70's like The Exorcist, Jaws, Carrie etc.. But i assume the movies he covered were some of his personal favorites. The ones he covered were enough to satisfy but i would have liked to have seen more films discussed.

Very good documentary and Highly recomended.

A truly superb ode to the golden age of horror........2006-02-13

This documentary is an absolute treasure for any true horror film buff. Containing insightful interviews from film philosophers and sociologists analyzing the films and the circumstances and reflections of the times in which they were made along with detailed and compelling interviews with such pioneering genre filmmakers as Tobe Hooper, Wes Craven, David Cronenberg, George A. Romero, John Carpenter and others. The interview with special effects master Tom Savini in which he recalls gruesome images from his tour in Vietnam is riveting, adding to the overall bleakness of the piece. Fascinating, thoughtful, chilling and ultimately unforgettable. I applaud director Adam Simon for assembling the components to pull off this highly analytical serenade to the most profound and influential horror films and filmmakers and his ability to do so with integrity and intelligence and an obvious love for the genre. Extra kudos for the Godspeed You Black Emperor soundtrack. Brilliant.

Insightful, Respectful Documentary.......2004-08-26

A well directed, informative documentary that explains the links between horror films of the late sixties and seventies and the social changes going on in the United States at the same time. This documentary serves as a great companion to David J. Skal's book "The Monster Show" and other essays that tackle horror movies from a more sociological standpoint. One cannot ignore what was going on in the world at the time their favorite film was made. Even with escapist fare, the social and political goings on of the era often trickle into horror movies in the most surprising of ways as this doc shows. I've always been a fan of George Romero's Zombie movies, but was even more impressed with the way this doc dealt with Wes Craven's "Last House on the Left" and David Cronenberg's "Shivers", two movies that I've found in the past to be pretty unredeemable. Hearing the filmmakers discuss their motivations for these two movies helped me understand them better and made me want to give them another look! My only complaint with this movie was that it was not longer. I think that the film makers could have expanded on their thesis and covered more ground. I would love to see a sequel documentary that deals with the slashers of the later seventies like "Friday the 13th" and the arrival of the more psychological and fantasy oriented "Nightmare on Elm Street" series that came on the scene in the eighties and how they were linked to their respective decades.

the best doc on horror movies, ever!.......2004-04-03

a beautiful documentary that treats these horror films with the respect they deserve" dawn of the dead, shivers, halloween, last house on the left, texas chainsaw massacre.

it combines interviews with the directors, tom savini, and several film scholars; as they all describe how the films were actual unconscious reflections of the times. combined with the beautiful music of "godspeed you black emperor," this film gives overdue creedence and social justification to these films.

Customer Reviews:

1.5 STARS: Nice kills can't overcome horrendous acting and lack of style in this flick........2006-09-24

Michele Soavi's "Stage Fright" is a different type of slasher flick with an Italian flavor to it, but it is different in all the wrong ways. "Stage Fright" is about an obsessed director who is working with his actors on a play that is downright awful. The director is absolutely disgusted with the acting in this play. Ironically, the acting in this movie is even worse, especially that of the actor who plays the director!

Anyway, a lunatic (a former actor by the way who was probably so disgusted with the acting in this movie that he decided to kill everyone ) kills a stage-hand. Now, the director fearing that this will scare everyone on the set to go home and not finish their work actually has one of the actors hide the key to the studio/auditorium so no one can leaves. A long rain ensues that night with police officers unaware of what is going on in the studio as the escaped mental patient begins a reign of terror as he chops up the remaining people in the studio one by one. When the actress who hides the key is killed, no one knows where the key is, so they become trapped in the auditorium with this psychopathic killer. Sounds pretty good, right?

Well, unfortunately, "Stage Fright" is not good although it does have its moments. The kills in this movie are terribly gruesome, although not as graphic as they could have been. However, the mood and theme that this movie attempts to create fails to develop and take its true form due to the horrendous acting and ridiculous atmospheric music that is prevalent throughout the movie as the killer stalks his victims. It sounds like a lame and/or cheesey pop-rock video throughout the movie as the killer brutally kills these people. The type of music that "Stage Fright" employs in its presentation is completely inappropriate for any type of slasher and/or horror movie!

Also, with regard to the inept acting performances in this movie, there is this one scene that is emblematic of the atrocity that is the acting in "Stage Fright". While on stage and "acting", the actress who hides the key is killed by the killer (who the cast mistakenly presumed to be another actor) with a knife, and with the bloody girl lying there dying, the remainging actors act like they are just having to wait in line at the DMV a little longer than expected rather than reacting to an absolutely brutal murder while also facing the fact that their own lives are in great dangers.

The use of the owl mask was quite effective and will cause you to jump a time or two, but the movie just lacks the style that is necessary to create a good horror/slasher flick. You just can't use that type of music and have actors this horrendous and be able to create an atmosphere that is conducive to an effective horror movie. The beginning of "Stage Fright" is incredibly boring and downright ridiculous. As I said, the music is obnoxious and incredibly loud in relation to the dialogue that takes place between the actors. Once you've suffered through the beginning, the movie does get better, but it becomes very difficult to take this movie seriously as the movie goes on, notwithstanding the brutality of the murders that take place.

The final result in "Stage Fright" is a slasher flick with an obvious European flavor but is sorely lacking in style and acting talent. Even though the kills are pretty decent for this type of flick, the audience can't get over the poor atmosphere, terrible theme music, horrendous acting, and lack of style that is necessary to creating an effective horror/slasher flick.

The theatre of death........2006-06-28

This film has some very nice and gory death scenes, it was directed by Michele Soavi and it was his first film you can tell that Soavi is a protoge of Dario Argento and has learned alot from him. He creats a lot of suspense and has done a fairly good job with this film as it was nicely done and has some very stylish shots, however the music sounds very cheesy which was typical 80's synth pop that was reminicsent of the American slasher films that were released during the same period but you'll notice that the film itself looks different from those other films of course, the film is more like a slasher/horror than a giallo cause we already know who the killer is. The film takes place in an old obsolete theatre where a performance group are rehearsing for their new play 'The Horror Musical' a drama inspired by the real events connected to a sadistic mass murderer named Irving Wallace. They are unaware that Irving has escaped from an asylum and is heading their way, the killer wears a huge owl mask to conceal his identity and also uses everything he could get his hands on from a huge drill to a chainsaw and a knife so you get to see alot of hacked off bodies and lots of blood and gore which I thought was fantastic. The acting wasn't that good and some of them were just O.K. but then again why the hell would anyone watch this type of film for the acting?. This is the only film that I have seen from this director but I am looking forward to seeing his other films like The church and Cemetery man which has been re-released on DVD by Anchor Bay, overall this was a very good Italian horror film which I highly recommend to Italian horror fans...

Right Between The Eyes........2006-05-01

Michele Soavi makes his directorial debut. He decides to go not with a giallo, but a slasher flick. The iron was still hot for the slasher genre at this time, so why not? The premise is very much like Lamberto Bava's Demons, but with a group of kids trapped inside a theater with a killer on the loose, instead of bloodthirsty demons of course. The kids are rehearsing a Broadway musical slasher story called "Night Owl". Was there ever a slasher musical made? Seems interesting. The cast are mainly throwaways, nothing too special about any of the characters. Naturally the director of the play is a heartless jerk. Giovanni Radice is given a lame role. And too brief as well. His dubbed voice is the most stereotypical overdone homosexual man's voice you've ever heard. Well, our heroine gets a twisted ankle checked at a psychiatric hospital(!), the killer escapes from his cell and hitches a ride to the theater with her. In most slasher films, the doomed cast is usually oblivious to the fact that there's a killer around until it's too late. This time, everyone's aware they're trapped with lunatic, so that's cool. Wisely enough they decide it's best to stick together, but somehow someone always gets left behind to be slaughtered. There are two cops(one played by Soavi) parked in front of the theater keeping an eye on it, but Soavi's main concern is if he looks like James Dean and his partner is whining coz his wife wants him to eat spinach. The kills are well done. Not quite as stylish as Argento, and not quite as gruesome as Fulci, but pretty gory. Some very well done suspense, some cornball dialogue, some Simonetti-type music, some frustration(especially a scene where the heroine has a fantastic opportunity to just jump out and blow the killer away, but doesn't. This is guaranteed to make you yell at your tv screen)-all the good stuff you expect from these Italian films. The General's review pretty accurately gives you the strengths and weaknesses of this film. Not nearly as good as Soavi's Dellamorte Dellamore, but a worthy debut.

Worth the Wait........2005-12-10

As a fan of Italian giallo films and other exploitation films to come out of that country in the 1980's, this was one of them I knew about for quite some time but seemed to miss. Not that I never tried getting my hands on it, but it was always hard to find. I've read countless reviews by critics and other horror fans alike and everyone seemed to praise this film. And for good reason, everyone even slightly familiar with the Italian horror genre knows who Michele Soavi is. I finally found this film on DVD at a local mom and pop and decided to finally rent it, seeing is that I'd been wanting to see it for years. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. I loved it. Great visuals, great murder sequences on top of a solid story. I ended up watching it twice to kind of let it "sink in" and now it's definitely on my horror top-10 list. The cast was great and though the lines were a bit forced, it made me sad to see Giovanni Lambardo Radice (aka John Morghen) - who appeared in horror masterpieces like "House on the Edge of the Park" and "Cannibal Ferox" playing a tired old fag (mind my French) equipped with the gratuitious gay-lisp and flamboyant persona with the voice to match. This guy is fantastic and I still adore him (and have a major crush on him - hey, I'm a fag, too) but....WHY? Bottom line, rent it, buy it, it's worth a viewing or two.

REHEARSALS CAN BE MURDER.......2004-12-09

STAGEFRIGHT is the debut of acclaimed director Michele Soavi. Soavi does some brilliant camera work and maintains a claustrophoic aura of suspense in the locked up theatre. Also, the rain in this movie is some of the eeriest and atmospheric in some time.
The musical which the actors are staging also has to be one of the strangest sequences in a horror film. Use of an owl as the killer is also strangely horrifying. While the plot is standard and at times predictable, Soavi's flair for the garish yet subdued carries the movie far above many of the copycat American slashers of the 80s. The cast is pretty disposable, although Barbara Capisti as Alicia is a beautiful victim, and David Brandon's Peter is hysterically nasty.
A movie with a lot of style, gore, and unusual camera angles, STAGEFRIGHT is one of the better Italian Eurohorror flicks.

Average customer rating:

No Remorse for this Buyer
Great Live Motorhead DVD!
Motorhead Stage fright
This DVD will kick your ass!
MUST OWN FOR ANY MOTORHEAD FAN!!!

Motörhead - Stage Fright DVD
Starring: Motörhead
Manufacturer: Steamhammer Us [Spv]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Thrash & Speed Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

White Line Fever: The Autobiography: The Autobiography
Inferno
Judas Priest - Rising in the East
Dio - Holy Diver Live
Classic Albums - Motorhead: Ace of Spades

ASIN: B0009S6QV0
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Amazon.com

If you're looking for some no-nonsense hard rock riffage, Motorhead - Stage Fright is your destination. The Teutonic power trio, who've been around for over 30 years, have a lean, muscular musical attack that clearly influenced not only heavy metal (with its bludgeoning thunder) but also punk rock (with its no-frills minimalism). Phillip Campbell's guitar technique blisters with ruthless efficiency as he rips through Motorhead classics like Ace of Spades, backed by Mikkey Dee's ferocious and buoyant drumming. But the master of ceremonies is towering Lemmy, the lead singer/bassist with mighty muttonchops; though he keeps his stage patter sparse--the band frequently segues straight from one song into another--his humor and charisma are clearly the focal point. Visually, Stage Fright--filmed in Dusseldorf, Germany, before a mob of sweaty, head-bobbing adolescent males (with occasional glimpses of a rare girl)--depends heavily on rapid editing and the relentless throb and flicker of the light show, as the band is pretty much a stand-there-and-play bunch. But by the end, even nonbelievers may find themselves bobbing along with Dancing on Your Grave or Going to Brazil or the acoustic Whorehouse Blues.

The second dvd of this two-dvd set is an extensive exploration of Motorhead's backstage world. While a non-fan might think that including interviews with Lemmy's bass technician or the band's potty-mouthed cook is the height of rock narcissism, the opposite is true; Motorhead are about the least pretentious rock stars you'll ever see. The genuine family feeling among the band and crew is enviable and results in a raffish, enjoyable portrait of life on the road. Also included is a montage of fan tattoos, interactive features, ringtones and wallpaper, and the full text of the band's backstage rider, which dictates the booze and candy that the band expects to find in their dressing rooms. All in all, Stage Fright is an honest and entertaining portrait of one of rock-and-roll's most resilient bands. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Lemmy Kilmister explains his unabatedly passionate relationship with his own band and its varied history as follows: "Motörhead is not only my job, it's my whole life." The legendary group is about to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year, looking back on a unique career. Motörhead have sparkled on the world's most prestigious stages, graced countless important music magazine covers and released numerous rock classics. The fact that this band counts among the most authentic and charismatic rock acts world-wide is without a doubt due to the never-tiring enthusiasm of Lemmy, who continues to live his own visions of musical earthiness irrespective of trends and fashions. This latest Motörhead release, entitled Stage Fright, is a double DVD and not merely a rock'n'roll statement chiseled into stone, but also an extraordinary look at the band's life.

Customer Reviews:

No Remorse for this Buyer.......2007-05-13

This was a great purchase. If you've ever been to a live Motorhead performance, you know that the sound mix can be a wall of mud. Not so here in this DVD live performance. Lemmy and Co. clearly spent a lot of loot on getting the sound spot on, and the camera work and lighting are great. The lighting is special-occasion caliber, not their standard-issue stuff, and really adds to the show's excitement, since this trio is a stand-there-and-play sort. On the Special Content disc, the best part as mentioned by other reviewers is the interview with Richie, the Cook. No danger whatsoever of this band becoming a gray corporation! I sit and play my guitar along with the DVD, and it's a real kick.

Great Live Motorhead DVD!.......2007-01-17

I just got this DVD and was very happy that I did. This really outshines Their previous release, Boneshaker. The first thing you notice is the performance. They sound so good it's scary. A total wall of sound. I saw them open up for Iron Maiden a couple of years back here in Montreal and I thought they blew Maiden off the stage. I had never seen them before and I just could not believe the wall of sound they created, as well as the volume they played at. I have never heard anything that loud in my life. What really surprised me was that although they played really loud, the music still came through really clear and clean. It's not like you couldn't make anything out. In fact, I felt they had a better sound than Maiden. And this is what you get with this DVD...the great sound. The 3 members really play well together and it is amazing how the older songs really stand out and sound like they could have been written today. The other great thing about this release is how it was filmed. The camera positioning, lighting and editing really make this interesting to watch. I feel it mixes the best of both worlds, fast pacing in terms of editing with extended close shots of Lemmy, Phil and Mikkey so you can really see them playing their instruments. The bonus disc is interesting as well. Kind of like behind the scenes footage of life on the road. A majority of it centers around their crew and what it is like to put a Motorhead show together and what it's like to travel/work with the band. Another interesting selection on disc one is the "commentary" option. With this option you can watch the concert with running commentary by all 3 band members. At times the screen will split in two and you will see the members sitting on a couch watching the performance and offering their ideas and opinions. I feel this is a nice touch. I have never seen an option like this on other music DVD's. It's really interesting to see them reviewing their own show. The other point I want to make is that you really see just how underrated Phil is as a guitarist. His performance is just outstanding. Stand out cuts are Killers, in the name of Tragedy, Sacrifice, Dancing on your grave, Iron Fist and Overkill. It would have been nice to see them play more songs off the new release like In the Black, Terminal Show and In the year of the Wolf. Motorhead fans and music lovers in general will love this DVD. My only complaint is that I did not like the menu layout. If you want to access the song list to go to a particular track, the menu only gives 4 songs per screen, so if you want to get to track 20, the "next" key will become your new best friend. I would have liked it if all 20 tracks were accessible from one screen. But this complaint is minor. My last complaint is that the "making of" mini-film is not in english. It's interviews with the local people who worked on the project, so it's in their language. But there are options for subtitles. As you can see both my complaints are not nearly enough to stop you from getting this DVD. Thanks to Lemmy for keeping this Motorhead machine going after all these years. You can't help but feel that new life is being pumped into Motorhead. A whole new generation of fans are being turned on to them and hopefully this will be the incentive for Lemmy to keep putting out new material. If he has anything left in him that resembles the material found on "inferno", then we can all consider ourselves lucky, and I personally look forward to hearing it.

Motorhead Stage fright.......2006-11-10

This is a great experience to watch the show and the back stage stuff is great.
This band is the real deal, sex drugs and rock and roll at it's finest.
The meat and potatoes of rock and roll.
Get it and live Motorhead.
White your listening, get Lemmys book White LIne Fever its a great read as well.

This DVD will kick your ass!.......2006-03-21

One suggestion I'd give is to have a good sound system. The sound is awesome. It's the next best thing to being there. Turn it up and buckle up. The 5.1 surround has you in the front row. If you like fast, hard Motorhead, buy this now. Mikkey's bass drum was pounding my chest. Don't hesitate. Whoever engineered this DVD did his job right. Like I said, it kicked my ass!

MUST OWN FOR ANY MOTORHEAD FAN!!!.......2006-02-17

"Stage Fright" is arguably one of the best concert dvds I have purchased. Any Motorhead fan needs to add this to their cart ASAP. Why? Great camera work, great sound, great price and the best band on the planet, Motorhead. The camerawork is excellent. The dvd does not fall prey to the "switch the picture" every split second disease as often as most concert films. Often concert dvds swith the camera angle so often it makes your head spin, not here. The 5.1 sound is fantastic. Every instrument & vocal come through loud, clear & in your face...right where they need to be! The sound quality is as good as any Motorhead live album released on a cd. The price is very reasonable too. 2 dvds for the price of one. There is a great special feature on disc two about the band and the road crew which is a must see for any Motorhead fan. Last, but not least....MOTORHEAD!! I swear Lemmy has never sounded better and the band is firing on all cylinders. Mickey Dee is rock's best drummer, bar none! Phil Campbell has stepped up his game big time...flat out killer guitar work...leaving even the longest time fans to ask themselves, "Eddie who?". Plus, the set list is really good. All in all, just a few words here to let you know this dvd is as great as advertised. You can even check out zShops and get a pretty good price.

DVD:

DVD

Spooks: Season 1 [2002]

DVD: Unfaithful/High Crimes

The Mirror Has Two Faces