House of Games

Starring:Lindsay Crouse, Joe Mantegna, Mike Nussbaum, Lilia Skala, J.T. Walsh, Willo Hausman, Karen Kohlhaas, Steven Goldstein, Jack Wallace, Ricky Jay, G. Roy Levin, Bob Lumbra, Andy Potok, Allen Soule, Ben Blakeman, Scott Zigler, William H. Macy, John Pritchett, Meshach Taylor, Johnny 'Sugarbear' Willis
Director: David Mamet
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

The classic teen novel of adolescent torment and forbidden love gets brought to the screen. When the father of four beautiful blond children is suddenly killed, their mother (Victoria Tennant, L.A. Story) takes them to the family home she fled 17 years earlier. Their fierce and frightening grandmother (Louise Fletcher, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest) locks them in an upstairs room, from which the only escape is into the cluttered and cobwebbed attic. The children's isolation gets more and more extreme as their mother abandons them, finally even slowly poisoning them to gain her father's inheritance. Sadly, the movie shies away from what made Flowers in the Attic such a hugely popular book--namely, the incestuous sex that began between the two older children, Cathy (Kristy Swanson, the movie version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and Chris (Jeb Stuart Adams). Instead, the movie insinuates incestuous longing in all directions: Cathy's father brings her special presents before he dies, Chris scrubs Cathy's back in the tub, Chris has a noticeably stronger attachment to their mother than Cathy does--not to mention that the grandmother whips the half-naked mother in front of the grandfather. Fletcher brings a bit of bite to her role, and the movie occasionally rises to absurdly lurid zest. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Fair but should have been so much better!!.......2007-06-03

I liked all of the actors in this film and thought they did a fine job. I probably don't need to go into specifics as to why this wasn't as good as it should have been, most people have written about it already. With all of the remakes happening in Hollywood, it is beyond me why this one has not been picked up yet because if there is any movie that could be improved upon, it should be this one. We don't need a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds. Leave the classics alone and redo the ones that will be better than the originals, not worse. I would love to see Nicole Kidman as the mother in a remake and perhaps Kathy Bates, Ellen Burnstyn or Gena Rowlands as the Grandmother. I will be really excited to see a new version of this if it's done right the second time around. However, this 1987 version is still worth a look. 3 stars. Wish it could have been 5.

I loved it! .......2007-04-30

I don't want to ruin the movie but it was creppy but good! it is about a lady who turns to her mother for shelter when she loses her husband but she is there to win respect of her father but something more awaits her children.....

DO! NOT! WANT!.......2007-04-13

Flowers in the Attic (Jeffrey Bloom, 1987)

I wish I could say that Flowers in the Attic is the worst movie I've seen this year. Unfortunately, it is not, for I have been embroiled in a two-week crapfest the likes of which I would not wish on my worst enemy. With that frame of reference, when I say Flowers in the Attic is more of the same, hopefully you will understand.

The story, which was beloved of grammar school and junior high girls everywhere when I was a kid (it was THE cool book to have read when I was in fifth grade in 1979), but which may have faded into obscurity: there is a family. The father (Jagged Edge's Marhsall Colt) dies. Mother (La Peste's Victoria Tennant) takes the four kids-- Chris (Jeb Stuart Adams of The Goonies), Cathy (Kristy Swanson, the only Buffy the Vampire Slayer who really mattered), Cory (Ben Ryan Granger, who recently, before his seeming retirement, popped up in Ed Wood), and Carrie (Lindsay Parker, who enjoyed a few years of child stardom before scaling back to occasional guest performances)-- and heads off to the family homestead, run by the dying Grandfather (Nathan Davis, recently of Holes) and Grandmother (Louise Fletcher, most recently of The Last Sin Eater). However, Grandma tells the kids in no uncertain terms they're evil little beasties, since it seems mom and dad were related; Grandpa is not to know they exist, so Mom and Grandma keep them locked up in the northern wing of the mansion, where they develop their own little world-- except not everyone is content to leave them alone in it...

The original posters for the movie declared it had been written and directed by Wes Craven (facsimiles of them are included with the DVD); it should take the average viewer about two minutes to realize this isn't the case. Subsequently, Jeffrey Bloom took responsibility for this travesty, and (perhaps not coincidentally) did not work again in Hollywood, aside from an extremely short-lived TV show he produced and directed, for eighteen years. Yes, this movie is that bad. The novel is, of course, a genre potboiler, practically made for the purpose of being filmed, and yet the script (also written by Bloom) still manages to leave out large sections, both in the (seeming) interest of "cleaning up" the novel to get a more family-friendly rating and in order to streamline things, we assume. Unfortunately, the streamlining, as much streamlining does, gets rid of the vast majority of the stuff that gives the book any emotional impact whatsoever.

The acting is bloody well atrocious. I'm half-amazed any of the principals ever worked in Hollywood again, and completely amazed Kristy Swanson was actually nominated for an award for this (more so that she won!). I've seen less melodramatic soap operas.

There's really nothing else to be said-- if you never read the books, read them instead. If you did, don't see this, for you will end up hating everyone involved with a passion you didn't know you had. Absolutely awful. (half)

effective gothic style horror(just my opinion).......2007-03-21

i thought this is a really creepy movie and very hard to watch.it is filled with an air of dread and depression,but i managed to get through it.the last time i tried to watch it,i had to stop watching after 15 minutes.Louise Fletcher is terrifying as the wicked and evil grandmother.i thought the movie was very effective in the horror dept.it doesn't go into as much depth as the book,but i think that would require at least a 2 part mini series.i wouldn't recommend it if you are feeling down.also,if you are a fan of the book,keep in mind that they left alot out of the movie.other than that,i would recommend it,especially if you like gothic style horror,which is what i think this movie is.for me,"Flowers in the attic gets a 3.5/5

Not the book!!!.......2007-01-13

The movie alone was good, if you are going to see it don't expect it to be like the book by V C Andrews. The movie changes things from the book and will leave you disappointed if you try to compare it, but if you take it by itself it is a good movie. The cast is good, the music is creepy but it is scary/suspence movie. You will enjoy it if you see it.

Average customer rating:

House of Games - Criterion Collection
Starring: Joe Mantegna , and Lindsay Crouse
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000QXDFRG
Release Date: 2007-08-21

OLYMPIA -The LENI RIEFENSTAHL Archival Collection

Average customer rating:

Don't waste your money
Olympic-- and film gold!
Optical quality?
Be Honest
The photography lures you, action holds you.

OLYMPIA -The LENI RIEFENSTAHL Archival Collection
Director: Leni Riefenstahl
Manufacturer: Pathfinder Home Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000FQJA2S
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Description

This limited edition 2-disc set features the complete original version of OLYMPIA, presented for the first time on DVD. (All Region, NTSC)

Special Edition DVD features: Over 5 hours of material including JUGEND DER WELT ("Youth of The World") Official Documentary of the 1936 Winter Olympics at Gaemisch-Partenkirchen, DIE KAMERA FAHRT MIT ("The Camera Goes Too") 1936 Documentary by Bavaria-Filmkunst featuring footage from Leni Rifenstahl's films OLYMPIA and TRIUMPH OF THE WILL. Deleted Scenes, Biography, Still Gallery, German with ON/OFF English subtitles and English language, Dolby 2.0 audio, Essays by film historian David Calvert Smith, Trailer.

Customer Reviews:

Don't waste your money.......2007-01-25

This disk is terrible. It is obviously cheaply digitized from a poor master tape. Don't purchase products by Pathfinder Home Entertainment, if this is an example of their business practice.

Olympic-- and film gold!.......2007-01-04

Some years ago I saw that a theater that played "revivals" was showing Leni Riefenstahl's OLYMPIA. I had heard of the famed cinematographer-- whose life circumstances placed her talent in the middle of 1930's Germany. The film chronicles the famous Olympic games where Jesse Owens triumped on the world stage and Adolf Hitler dominated the political stage. The film is long-- many many hours. I decided to invest the six buck price of admission and just stay "for a while" to get an impression of Riefenstahls work-- I was mesmorized! I couldn't leave and stayed for the whole thing (4, 5, 6 hours-- whatever it is). When I saw OLYMPIA available on Amazon while looking for another film I grabbed it. And, again-- (through the wonders of technology) I sat completely fascinated, entertained, transported by hours and hours of this film and found myself repeating sections more than fast forwarding. It is truly a classic. Anyone who loves film, the Olympics, history-- should see this film and have it in their collection. It is stylized, artful, beautiful, humorous-- (the equestrian sequences of people falling off horses is a riot). But I guess the adjective that comes most to mind is beauty-- the images, angles, light are magical and exciting. At times the beauty of a still standing scupted object-- at times ballet, at times the raw excitement of athleticism and competition. Over the years my love of film has led to the project of founding and running Scandinavian Film Festival L.A. I know film makers, and curators, and heads of film institutes and have seen hundreds and hundreds of films-- I would recommend this film to any and all. It deserves the name classic--

Optical quality?.......2006-12-11

I have long owned a VHS copy of Olympia, and it wasn't visually bad, but of course I longed for the improvement a DVD version might bring. This release was a surprise - it seems to be not an optical transfer, but a DVD of the VHS version, horizontal analogue scan lines and all, and visually a disappointment. I realise that a total restoration is expensive and that the market for this kind of thing is relatively small, and I'll live with what I can get, but if Criterion ever releases a restored version, I'll be first in line. Until then, concentrate on the hypnotic, iconic content. As an avowed curmudgeon, I'm offended by yahoo patriots at international sporting events chanting USA!USA! from the bleachers. There they were, in 1936, chanting for Jesse Owens as he won four golds - then and there the patriot war cry seemed right.

Be Honest.......2006-12-02

The original, as I viewed it on public television perhaps twenty years ago, was spectacular.

But the problems in this version are not just superficial and are not simply ones that some hyper-purist would notice. They include tiling, caused by extreme compression; scratches and blips galore; grey tonal quality converging on nil, and sometimes making it seem like one is looking through a duststorm; ridiculous cropping of the image, often even cutting off the heads of the subjects. The audio's flaky, too, especially noticeable in the sometimes lurching, but always tinny rendition of the orchestral scoring.

Weirdly, the package seems to have been conceived well, with nice features included. How is it possible, then, to have messed up the technical execution so badly?

The photography lures you, action holds you........2006-12-01

Part I
The film opens up with a film tribute to the history of Greece and the games. We get to see the names of the nations at the time that the torch passes through as it reached Berlin. A much more realistic torch than today's is ran into the stadium with a few pauses to let everyone see just before the final dash to the Olympic torch at the stadium. It would be great to recapture this in the present day. Some of the tribute leads me to believe that our athletes are overly clothed for the sports.

Part II
By now watching Part I, "Festival of the nation" spoiled you. Again this film starts out with the ideal and surrounded by Leni's signature clouds. List is leading you to "field hockey, soccer bicycling, equestrian, aquatic and gymnastic events. Highlights are the Pentathlon and the Decathlon." Remember that some countries were still using horses in the military.

It may be unique reasons that brought you to this point such as Leni or photography, or interest in history, or, or, or. But once the action starts you feel that you are there and get lost in the "who will win what and how." Even being aware of the outcome does not prepare you to "not bite your nails" as you watch each athlete barley besting the next until it is over too soon. I noticed that instead of placing medals over the winners, they used laurel wreaths.
Any way you cut it, this movie is worth watching.

Average customer rating:

Boring till the last 5 minutes
I love this movie!
watch something else
It was horror...horrible to watch
TV movie with some cursing...

Session 9
Starring: David Caruso , Stephen Gevedon , Paul Guilfoyle (II) , Josh Lucas , and Peter Mullan
Director: Brad Anderson (II)
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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THE EYE OF DANVERS: A HISTORY OF DANVERS STATE HOSPITAL

ASIN: B00006AUIG
Release Date: 2002-08-13

Amazon.com

Few things are more sure-fire creepy than huge abandoned buildings, and Session 9 has one of the eeriest buildings you've ever seen. A hazardous-materials-cleanup company has been hired to eliminate asbestos tiles and other toxic material from a gigantic mental hospital that had been shut down in the 1980s. But as one member of the team starts to nose into old files in the office, he uncovers a series of tape recordings of psychiatric sessions--nine of them--related to a notorious sexual abuse case. Soon, toxic materials and dark spirits start to merge. Like The Blair Witch Project (and most horror movies, really), Session 9 is longer on atmosphere and dream logic than story--but the atmosphere is effectively unsettling. A strong cast (including Peter Mullan, David Caruso, and Brendan Sexton III) do an effective job of slowly cracking under stress and evil influences. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Boring till the last 5 minutes.......2007-07-03

This movie was dull until about the last 5 minutes when the pace picks up a bit, its not scary or atmospheric, the mental hospital does not look old or drab enough to give it that old scary feel.
I like David Caruso and think he is a great actor, but why he signed up for this I don't know.
Obviously once again I missed something with all the good reviews this film got, maybe I fell asleep again !!

I love this movie!.......2007-07-03

This is one of my all time favorite movies. One of the best psychological thrillers that I have ever seen. The creepiness factor never diminishes for me. Even on repeated viewings, I am still captivated by it.

watch something else.......2007-06-26

ok it's about group of laboureres who get un-hinged by vibes and finding old case-notes in an abandoned looney-bin.The acting and dialogue is garbled i couldn't follow this movie at all.It just scrambled my brain for an hour or so.

It was horror...horrible to watch.......2007-06-16

Oh My Gosh...not a horror movie..not a creepy movie..not a scary movie..the most boring movie of all time..YES!!! that is it BORING and STUPID

TV movie with some cursing..........2007-05-07

I was led astray by the good reviews of this movie on Amazon. Good acting and taut direction can only cover the inadequacies of the script for so long. I could not empathize with any of the main characters. You can only drag the suspense for so long until you HAVE to pull the rabbit out of the hat and give the folks a show as to WHAT you're trying to sell as 'scary'. That's basic script writing, and if you can't keep people in the seats during the last five minutes of your movie, then you are bound to lose them well before the middle act.

Save your money; there's a lot more/better scares out there in low budget horror-land. I wish I did...

Average customer rating:

Great Movie
great the first time, but can't be re-viewed once you know the secret
You Cannot Cheat An Honest Man or Woman
Good, although I was able to predict the surprises
You can't bluff someone who's not paying attention.

House of Games
Starring: Lindsay Crouse , Joe Mantegna , Mike Nussbaum , Lilia Skala , and J.T. Walsh
Director: David Mamet
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004ZBVL
Release Date: 2000-12-19

Amazon.com

David Mamet's 1987 directorial debut was this mesmerizing study of control and seduction between two kinds of detached observers: a gambler who is also a con artist, and a psychotherapist who is also an emerging pop-psych guru in the book market. The latter (played by Lindsay Crouse) meets the former (Joe Mantegna) when one of her clients is driven to despair from his debts to the card shark. Mantegna's character agrees to drop the IOUs in exchange for Crouse's attention at the seedy House of Games in Seattle, a mecca for con men to talk shop and hustle unsuspecting customers. The shrink gets so caught up in the arcane rules and world view of her guide over subsequent days that she observes--with no false rapture--various stings in progress inside and outside the club. Mamet's story finally becomes a fascinating study of two people protecting and extending their respective cosmologies the way rival predators fight for the same piece of turf. The psychological challenge is compelling; so is the stylized dialogue, with its pattern of pauses and hiccups and humming meter. Mostly shooting at night, Mamet also gave Seattle a different look from previous filmmakers, turning its familiar puddles into concentrations of liquid neon and poisonous noir. --Tom Keogh

Description

It's the shrink vs. the shark in the ultimate mind game! Starring OscarÂ(r) nominee* Lindsay Crouse (The Insider) and Joe Montegna (The Godfather III) as an unlikely team of conartists, this "witty and devious" (Time) psychological thriller is OscarÂ(r) nominee** David Mamet's directorial debut. It's an "extraordinary" (Newsweek) and "thrilling funhouse" (New York Post) of mental gamesmanship that will keep you guessing until its exciting end! When a suicidal patient reveals that his gambling debt has him at the end of his rope, dedicated psychiatrist Margaret Ford (Crouse) enters into the shadowy underground world of gaming to help him out. At a seedy casino, she boldly confronts Mike (Montegna), the con man who holds her patient's markers. Duped into a high-stakes poker match, Margaret becomes intoxicated by Mike's mastery, as he both cheats at the game and charms her. She quickly falls for him, turning a blind eye to the fact that he's a swindler who can't be trusted. And before long she finds herself sparring in a mental poker match of the heart with deadly consequences! *1984: Supporting Actress, Places in the Heart **1982: Writing, Screenplay Based on Material From Another Medium, The Verdict; 1997: Writing, Screenplay Based on Material From Another Medium, Wag the Dog

Customer Reviews:

Great Movie.......2007-05-19

This film is practically flawless within the confines of the film. What I mean by that is In the film, you can believe everything that is happening.

This is one of those films (like LENNY and KUNDUN) where I'll double dip if a special edition came out. The Criterion Collection just announced a release in August 2007 [...]

HOWEVER, for those of you who have seen the film...

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

Mamet plays with the notion that you never really know who anybody is. Is he a small town gambler or a pawn in a game? Which brings me to the poker game. The poker game has, what, 5 or six players (I'm doing this by memory): Mike, Joey, George, and two or three other players.

Now, even though they leave after the "game" (as in poker) ends, are they part of the con? What about the bartender? You could even go as far as asking if anyone from that world isn't in on it. And then you can ask, well what about Dr. Ford's friend, Dr. Littauer?

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

great the first time, but can't be re-viewed once you know the secret.......2007-01-31

The first time I viewed this film, I was utterly wowed by the intricacy of the plot and the absolutely first rate acting. There is no doubt that that experience is worth the price of admission. You get the obsessively self-controlled psychiatrist, Crouse, who enters an alien underworld with indeciferable intentions. Then you have the mysterious and charming "gambler", Mantegna, who acts as her guide. The two of them enter what appears to be a wonderfully seductive and fascinating relationship that only grows more complicated and unpredictable as the film progresses - I do not want to play the spoiler here.

Unfortunately, once you "get it", there is little pleasure in watching it again for nuance and additional meaning, which I can only conclude are not there. As such, I would not recommend buying the film: it is far better to rent it, however excellent it is on first viewing.

You Cannot Cheat An Honest Man or Woman.......2006-03-26

In his 1987 directorial debut, HOUSE OF GAMES, master writer David Mamet delivers a chilling account of the relationship between Dr. Margaret Ford and a low rent gangster named Mike who tries to seduce her.

A psychological thriller that features the acting chops of Mamet's then wife, Lindsay Crouse and character actor Joe Montegna, HOUSE OF GAMES really stars Mamet's brilliant dialouge that captivates the audience with its hypnotic rhythms and captivating sentence structures.

In a nutshell the plot is simple. In this dark drama, Dr. Ford is an emotionally conservative psychologist and best selling author of a self help book. Through one of her patients she meets Mike, an underworld gangster type who charms her with his tales of the cons he and his cohorts use to swindle seemingly innocent people.

Believing she is becoming privvy to the secret world of gamblers and con artists, Dr. Ford drops her guard and follows Mike through a series of cons that seem to work flawlessly.

At times a suspicious person who trusts no one, Dr. Ford at other times appears to be pliable stooge, easily manipulated by a seasoned con man. But is she really as innocent and as naive as she appears? Or is Mike the real stool pigeon? It is never easy to say for sure, even when the film ends.

But one thing is definitely clear half way through the film: Dr. Margaret Ford is not as honest nor as much in control as her patients believe. But who will pay the price for a con gone awry? No one knows until the final scene closes and you are left to wonder what secrets lie behind the faces of the innocent and the guilty alike.

- Regina McMenamin

Good, although I was able to predict the surprises.......2006-02-26

Many years ago, someone recommended this film to me, and I can understand why. It's a clever film, full of surprises as the protagonist psychiatrist is drawn into the world of confidence men, finding herself fascinated by their very different life. Mamet is known for his dialogue, perfected on the stage, that tries to recreate "normal" speaking patterns. It might be normal, but it's not necessarily realistic. What I like about it is the quickness of it (something also from the stage), moving on from character to character without necessarily waiting for the audience to follow.

Unfortunately, I must have seen enough of these kinds of movies because I was able to predict a number of the surprises, including the major one. Still, I enjoyed the movie and would be willing to see another one by Mamet.

You can't bluff someone who's not paying attention........2005-11-28

When I first began House of Games, I hated it. I hated the language, I hated the characters, I hated the tone, but then something changed. Mamet finally took control of this film and pulled the audience in by tricking all of us into thinking this was a film about a young love and the darkness of the world, when instead it was all about something deeper. If you go into this film expecting the classic 1980s cliché of woman meets man, man is a criminal, woman changes man thus leading to a sloppy wet ending, you will be utterly disappointed. This structure is initially how I envisioned this film, and with the first half an hour filmed the way it was, there was no doubt in my mind that I had been suckered into just another average crime film. Then, midway through the picture, the tones and themes dramatically change. I didn't even see it coming, but when you least expect it, like the "con" performed in this film, it will blindside you quicker than a deer on the highway. House of Games leaves you with this perfect example of just how dark David Mamet is.

This is a film that most will either hate or love. The reason that I say this is because the language of the film is extremely "stagey". Before this film, David Mamet had found his success with his plays. The power of his characters, the unjustness of his plots, and the vile of his villains were key elements to packing his plays full of patrons. In House of Games he attempts to bring the stage to the screen without any changes. You can literally hear the beats between the characters when they are talking. The language that they use feel and sound as if they are acting in front of a live audience, not just for the camera. This makes the words a bit stale at times. You can visually see this film as a play because of the language that is used. Again, some will hate this about the film, while others will see it as nothing short of classic Mamet. For me, I hated it at first, but as the film developed, I began to see the logic behind it. The quickness of the conversations between the characters gave more definition to the "con" that they were trying to perform. I always felt as if they were quickly getting something by me. About the middle of the film, I began listening to every word said afraid that I would miss a key element that would unravel this tight plot. I began waiting for scenes where Margaret (Crouse) would stumble on her words, change the meaning, thus allowing us to develop the evil that was within her. Slowly and steadily this "stagey" language worked for me, and it gave just a small addition to the characters.

For anyone that has ever seen most of Mamet's film versions (and some of his stage performances) you will notice that he is notorious for using the same characters throughout. I like this quite a bit. Christopher Guest uses the same technique. While I have talked to some that think that it only shows the repetition of his originality, I think that it gives Mamet definition and substance. I loved watching this early film of Mamet's and see a young William H. Macy in a scene and his use of my favorite J.T. Walsh. It is fun to watch these actors grow in Mamet's films. Many of them you can see in State & Main and Heist. Does that mean that they are necessarily good actors then? I don't think so. While I liked the continual use of the same characters, some (more than others), have trouble with the characters. For example, in House of Games, it was obvious that Lindsay Crouse did not have control over her character. She seemed fake in her scenes, and did not counter will with Mantegna (who gave a great performance). She seemed on a different beat compared to the others in this film, and I think it hurt House of Games somewhat. She wasn't the strongest actress that Mamet could have chosen.

While I loved the "con" throughout the film, I did feel as if the ending was a bit on the weak side. Without giving it away, it started to feel used before it was over. I knew deep within me where it was going, but I kept waiting for the big "hurrah", but alas, there wasn't any. That is where Mamet missed his mark. The ending needed to be stronger. I loved watching this simple woman transform into evil and the entire themes that went along with that, but I needed more. I loved the anti-romantic notion of this film, but I needed more. I loved the character interactions in this film, but I needed more. That was exactly how I felt about this film. I loved House of Games, but I needed more. Mamet ended the film without giving us closure, and while the rest of the film was exciting to watch, this ending just left me soured.

Overall, I loved it, but I don't think that I could watch it again. Mamet is one of the greatest writers of our generation providing us with some very "cult" anti-Hollywood cinema, but this first film was a rough-cut. It was smart, intelligent, and overall a stage version of his play onto film. A stronger transition was needed from stage to screen. The characters were somewhat developed and the plot was sensational. The darkness by the end of the film caught me unprepared. I liked this film, but a second viewing is not in my future. I love David Mamet's work and cannot wait to submerge myself into more of his films later.

Grade: *** out of *****

Average customer rating:

Fun and Informing
Very Cute, and the kids really love it.
A must for every parent or grandparent... kids love it!!!

Mind Your Manners
Starring: John Lindsay
Manufacturer: Hannover House
ProductGroup: DVD
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365 Manners Kids Should Know: Games, Activities, and Other Fun Ways to Help Children Learn Etiquette
Etiquette Survival - Dining and Social Skills for Adults and Teens
American Dining and Entertaining Etiquette; Manners for the Table

ASIN: B0001ZX042
Release Date: 2004-06-15

Customer Reviews:

Fun and Informing.......2007-04-18

Based on the cover of the DVD I was reluctant to purchase it. I did not know exactly what to expect watching it for the first time today. It was a bit cheesy in the beginning and throughout certain parts of the DVD but then again...it is made for children ages 5-12. I am planning to show this to my students and teach each segment separately after we talk about it, model it and hopefully instill these good habits in their lives! As a bonus...I had also learned a few etiquette tips myself! It is well worth the few dollars I spent purchasing it from a private seller off Amazon.

Very Cute, and the kids really love it........2005-11-08

Clever lyrics, bouncy songs, catchy melodies... it's all part of an ingenious way to secretly teach kids about manners while they're having fun. It works! Check it out!

A must for every parent or grandparent... kids love it!!!.......2005-04-01

This is such a clever program for having the insight to make learning manners FUN for kids. The gimmick of using the adults as the "bad examples" is quite funny and really hits home for the kids when they see the absurdity of bad behavior in a variety of settings. I showed this to four tough neighbor kids (all about 12-years old), and they loved it, all wanting their own copies! The next day, I saw two of them cleaning up a knocked-over trash can... which is a 180-degree change in prior behavior! Is Mind Your Manners to credit for turning rough kids into little angels? That's my theory! Check it out!

Average customer rating:

a rival for hal
A STRANGE, BUT INTERESTING SCI-FI THRILLER!!!
A disturbing classic
"I AM reason....you do not know me..When are you going to let me out of this box"
A Bizarre Concoction of Science Fiction and Psychological Horror...

Demon Seed
Starring: Julie Christie , Fritz Weaver , Gerrit Graham , Berry Kroeger , and Lisa Lu
Director: Donald Cammell
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The War of the Worlds (Special Collector's Edition)

ASIN: B000A0GOFU
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Product Description

Susan Harris is alone in the house when, suddenly, doors lock, windows slam shut and the phone stops working. Susan is trapped by an intruder?but this is no ordinary thug. Instead, the intruder is a computer named Proteus, an artificial brain that has learned to reason. And to terrorize. In "one of her finest, most vulnerable perfromances" (Danny Peary, Guide for the Film Fanatic), Julie Christie plays Susan in this taut techno-thriller based on the Dean Koontz novel. Packed with suspense, surprise and special effects, Demon Seed follows Susan's desperate attempts to outmaneuver and outthink her captor. Then Susan learns what Proteus wants: its own child, conceived in her womb and destined for domination.

System Requirements:

Running Time 94 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

One of the better examples of the mad-computer genre, Demon Seed is a sci-fi nightmare brimming with ideas. Julie Christie dominates the film as an unsuspecting woman whose house has been completely automated by her computer-genius husband (Fritz Weaver). He, in turn, has just completed Proteus, the world's smartest Artificial Intelligence machine. When Proteus traps Christie alone in the house, it--or he--has notions of passing his intellectual power to another generation... by impregnating her. One of the many intriguing things about Donald Cammell's film (based on a Dean Koontz yarn) is that Proteus's dreams are actually visionary and utopian, unlike the commercial uses planned for him by others. Of course, he's also scary as hell; the voice of Proteus, uncredited, unmistakably belongs to Robert Vaughn. Cammell, a fascinating and frustrated talent (he co-directed Performance), completed very few films and ultimately killed himself in 1996. Somewhere around the halfway point Demon Seed begins to break down dramatically and logically, yet it has so many ideas kicking around that it sticks in the mind anyway. A good Jerry Fielding score adds to the overall dread. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

a rival for hal.......2007-06-11

a superior science fiction film from the 70s about computer paranoia. how silly they were back then: thinking those machines could ever take over our lives! julie christie (stunning as always) is the victim of a rape by a computer -- dont ask -- who wants to have a child of its own, and the parallels to "rosemarys baby" are perhaps a bit too many, but this is proof of a wonderful time when this type of movie was about the story and not about spending millions on special effects. intelligent and well worth your time.

A STRANGE, BUT INTERESTING SCI-FI THRILLER!!!.......2006-07-19

DEMON SEED HAS AN ODD, BUT THOUGHT PROVOKING PREMISE! IT KEEPS YOU WANTING TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT!
THE ACTING IS FAIR, BUT THE PLOT KEEPS THIS MOVIE TOGETHER!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

A disturbing classic.......2006-01-04

This is one of the most underrated science fiction films of all time.

On the surface it's a horror movie about a distasteful subject with a lurid DVD cover. But it touches on all kinds of interesting subjects.

The basic plot is straightforward: a conscious machine, Proteus, decides it wants to become incarnate and that the only way to do so is by creating a 'child' through aritificial insemination. It's a way out story but it's handled in a convincing manner. Much of the technology is dated, but many of the technological ideas are not.

One striking feature is the prescience of this movie. For example computers aren't just used for number crunching but for just about every kind of household work - even acting as a media center providing music on demand. There's also an important realisation that has been forgotten in many later science fiction films - video evidence from a smart machine is no evidence of anything.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this story is the way it pre-empts, rather than follows, artificial intelligence research. When this movie was released it was still the heyday of classical AI research. People were building more and more complex 'reasoning' systems assuring us that any day now these machines would become intelligent and self-aware. But much of this research eventually died out with the promises unfulfilled (or produced other benefits as side-effects) and today the active area of research is robotics. What took place was the realisation that if you want a machine to solve problems in the world then a good approach might be to let go of the classical disembodied rational intelligence approach and instead develop machines that are actually in the real world with ability to sense and interact with it. This is exactly the realisation that fictional Proteus makes in the movie - well before most AI researchers in the real world.

Note the geometrical snakelike robot that Proteus builds. It's very similar in design to modular robots being built today. In fact, one of the reasons for interest in modular robots is that they are ideal for assembly by machines. Yet again this movie does an amazing job of predicting future research and technology.

Like quite a few other science fiction movies (eg. Alien and Terminator 2) it has a strange fascination with motherhood. It's probably an uncomfortable movie for most people given what artificial insemination actually means. But I think the subject is handled tastefully - so don't expect the kind of graphic scene that the cover suggests.

All in all, a classic.

"I AM reason....you do not know me..When are you going to let me out of this box".......2005-12-05

Disturbing and dark, "Demon Seed" came out during a period when science fiction films tended towards dystopian stories. Proteus (Robert Vaughn in a chilling performance) is a new supercomputer designed to find solutions many of the problems mankind has been unable to solve. Dr. Alex Harris (the wonderfully underrated Fritz Weaver)head of the project has separated from his wife. His wife Susan (Julie Christie)a psychatrist stays in their home where one of Proteus' early terminals is located allowing the supercomputer access to the house. Proteus decides he wants to study man "his glass jaw mind" as he puts it. When he's denied access to one of his own terminals for this purpose he reactives the terminal in Harris' own. Once there he traps and torments Susan as part of his study and decides the only way to understand humanity is to somehow become part of humanity.

A frightening tale, the late director Donald Cammell creates a claustrophobic atmosphere that overcomes the dated trappings of technology in this film. "Demon Seed" is a gripping horror thriller that depends on the central performances of Christie and Vaughn (who is never seen). I'm amazed that this film even got made in the mid-70s as its darker than just about any other film that came out of MGM at the time.

Warner Home Video has done a terrific job in this transfer. The film looks extremely good with nice robust colors and it is presented in its original aspect ratio. Unfortunately the film doesn't have a commentary track or any extras (the theatrical trailer is included). That doesn't surprise me since this is very much a cult movie.

A Bizarre Concoction of Science Fiction and Psychological Horror..........2005-11-13

An anticipating clichéd cinematic event rests within Demon Seed, as the story deliberately applies several different themes from more than a few films. Yet the film pulls off a captivating (pun intended) nightmare about the super computer Proteus IV based on Dean Koontz's novel with the same name. To some extent the film overcomes the unoriginal perspective by encapsulating a tense and dark atmosphere generated by the power of Proteus. This helps keep the audience's attention intact through this science fictionalized horror tale where a computer desires the ability to feel touch.

The black background with deep red opening credits and an expanding dot accompanied by a subdued and digitalized wailing accentuates the apprehensive anticipation of what is to come. Contrastingly smooth, the scene switches into the sun rising over a hill, as the opening credits continue. Symbolically, the beginning offers a suggestion towards the birth of something sinister. Through brief editing, a small number of images lead the story to a valley where a company has been working under tight security for eight years. It is here the film begins with the birth of artificial intelligence, which is named Proteus IV.

Proteus' function will simplify the human existence; possibly turn the human race to a flock of sheep, as the computer will begin to think for the humans. This is a threatening concept, if the computer were to take charge over the human being, which will happen in Demon Seed. However, this is not a unique idea, as it has seen the silver screen before in films such as the brilliant 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) where the demonic computer HAL 9000 controls and apocalyptic Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) where the computer controls the weapons of United States. The difference with Demon Seed and its predecessors is that here Proteus will take power over one home, the home of the chief scientist Alex Harris (Fritz Weaver) where his wife Susan (Julie Christie) lives by herself after their separation.

Through Proteus' ability to reason it has acquired the aptitude to understand and learn. It has also generated an internal curiosity within the super computer to understand humans and why they do what they do. During a brief meeting Proteus inquires when he is going to be released outside of the box to which Alex laughs; however, Proteus understands that he will not receive any help from anyone and begins to make plans of his own. Through a link between Proteus and a private lab in Alex's home, the computer initiates his own entry out of the box.

Unaware of Proteus' intentions Susan becomes the computer's captive, as it begins to study Susan biologically, behaviorally, and logically. There are scenes that have strong sexual undertones, as Proteus' determination is to generate a life outside the box. However, these sexual implications have pure reproductive purposes, as Proteus alters DNA. This follows pretty much the same idea that Mary Shelly created with her Gothic novel Frankenstein where the man attempts to create artificial life, and yes there is artificial insemination. The birth of such a child presents another dreadful thought. This is a theory conceptualized in Rosemary's Baby (1968) where Satan impregnates a woman, while in Demon Seed the conception is the ultimate connection between human and machine.

Demon Seed pours several already applied ideas into a blending machine that concocts a strange brew that at times feel bizarrely frightening. However, the use old material also generates a sense of unoriginality, which produces a feeling of déjà vu. The cast performances do not help the film, as the characters feel excessively artificial. Nonetheless, Demon Seed offers a stimulating horror story in the shadow of mankind's technological progress that will have some viewers squirm in their seats. Demon Seed is a pretty good film despite its overuse of previous themes from other far better horror and science fiction films. The film feels dated, but if the audience could overcome the 1970s tone in the film, it will leave the viewers with a worthwhile viewing.

Average customer rating:

Who Knew the French were so Frightening
Absolutely Genius
Gaelic gore disappoints --
X-Mas With The French. In Hell.
A Nerve Twitching Nightmare !

Sheitan
Starring: Vincent Cassel , Olivier Bartélémy , Roxane Mesquida , Nico Le Phat Tan , and Leïla Bekhti
Director: Kim Chapiron
Manufacturer: Tartan Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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Calvaire: The Ordeal
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ASIN: B000IMVE32
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Description

Fuelled by sex, booze, drugs and hip hop, Bart, Ladj and Thai get kicked out of a Paris nightclub on Christmas Eve. The three friends meet up with two young ladies, Eve and Yasmine, who invite them to Eve's parents' countryside home. Later, a drunken dinner discussion of sex and evil leads to a recounting of a bawdy tale of a peasant possessed by Sheitan, Persian for Satan.

Customer Reviews:

Who Knew the French were so Frightening.......2007-05-18

I was drawn into this film initially because the always amazing Vincent Cassel stars, and as usual, he turns in another amazing performance.
I am still confused somewhat by all of the religious inuendo, but if you would like to see a freaky French film that will leave you squirming in your seat and scratching your head, check this out. Brotherhood of the WolfCalvaire: The OrdealIrreversibleLa Haine (Criterion Collection)
This film is more proof that Vincent Cassel is one of, if not the best actor working in film right now. He can go anywhere with his performances, aristocrat to salt of the earth maniac as evidenced in this film. Do not miss it if your a subversive film fan, a french film fan, or a Vincent Cassel fan.

Absolutely Genius.......2007-04-29

One of the few movies of recent years that's equal parts disturbing & creepy, funny, well-acted, and downright bizarre, all done effectively. It took two viewings for me to completely put this movie together (maybe because I'm a slow subtitle reader), but it's absolutely amazing and very smart. Fans of weird, quirky and original horror should definitely check it out. If Saw sequels and lame remakes are your thing, maybe it's not for you.

Gaelic gore disappoints --.......2007-04-16

A group of spoiled, hedonistic young people flee a disco and repair to an isolated villa in the French countryside. They are introduced to a hulking, perpetually grinning farmhand named Joseph (a ferociously mugging Vincent Cassel), caretaker of the estate. Joseph gives the kids a tour of the crumbling manse, full of dolls and mannequins and other spooky bits of décor. A shadowy female figure glimpsed in an attic is explained away as his wife (she later looms large in the film's big shock conclusion). Little by little, the young people find their host to be casually racist, cheerfully calling an Algerian girl "a camel driver" -- and during a side trip to the local swimming hole, they find he has a lustful eye towards the young men in their party! There is an blood-caked showdown between the kids and Joseph on Christmas Eve, leading to Grand Guignol conclusion.

Until very recently, France's horror film output was rather negligible. Other than George Franju's Les Yeux Sans Visage (1960) and the films of Jean Rollin, few could note any notable Gaelic shockers until the arrival of Gaspar Noe. His I Stand Alone (1998) and Irreversible (2002) were daring, innovative shockers that remained true to their European art house roots with leisurely pacing, existential outlook and overall brooding atmosphere. These features were bolstered with some very notable "borderline" horror projects such as Fat Girl (2001) and The Piano Teacher (2001).

However -- Sheitan, along with Calvaire (aka The Ordeal, 2004) seems to be treading the tired, tried-and-true path forged by American horror films of the Seventies. Both are essentially remakes of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Sheitan, for all of its frenetic pacing and eagerness to entertain creaks under conventionality. A bit of Psychotronica for Eurotrash fans -- look for Monica Belluci (Irreversible, The Passion of the Christ) as a vampire on a movie quoted off a nearby TV screen!

X-Mas With The French. In Hell. .......2007-03-26

"SHEITAN", from what I heard in advance, seemed like it was gonna be, at best, a French slasher rip-off...

Admittedly, the set-up (mouthy city kids stranded out in a desolate countryside estate and thrown into interaction with oddball, menacing locals) seems very cliche by this point. But the execution of this film, part hopped-up Euro-music video and part surreal country lull/dread, works decidedly well, and complements all the more a fantastic performance by Vincent Cassel. Cassel plays hard-drinking, wild-eyed, perpetually grinning Joseph, the caretaker, who clearly knows his way around the topics of voodoo and human sacrifice. Joseph's also given to wild outbursts, blatant public nudity, and is strong enough to manually dislodge a stuck automobile all by himself, so its a good thing he seems so darn friendly. *wink wink.

Cassel is truly a chameleon here, and the thuggish, disdainful look he often affects for his roles is eclipsed by the unshaven smiley madness of Joseph, as well as the cavorting, dancing, and general antics Cassel gives the character. It's wonderful; in fact, this movie may have received a two-or three star rating tops from me if it hadn't been for Cassel. But the rest of the cast is ok, and for something with a small release, "SHEITAN" has great sets and atmosphere. Plus, it features a raucous, bangin' French (?!) gangsta hip-hop soundtrack. But in between Joseph's hospitality, the creepy, mishapen villagers, and their own self-contained bickering, our cast of youthful potential victims fails to see the true danger of their predicament before it's too late.

The film itself is not fantastically bloody, though there is an adequate amount of the red stuff, 'specially near the finale. But this is no problem, as "SHEITAN" is still kooky and jolting enough without excessive gore gimmickry... it just attacks ideas of body image, propriety, religion, and sexuality in a slighlty loopier way than lotsa more 'standard' horror fare.

Brought to us by Tartan Asia Extreme, who usually releases "RINGU" rip-offs or Park Chan Wook revenge movies, "SHEITAN" kicked my butt and stomped all over my expectations, so I gotta say I was impressed.

A Nerve Twitching Nightmare !.......2007-02-20

[Do buy this film!
Its beautiful that vincent cassel agreed to make this film. It was creepy as hell!

its not at all like they just dubbed the texas chainsaw massacre.

absolutely worth your money & your time.]

Kim Chapiron's "SHEITAN" produced by and starring Vincent Cassel is by far one of the freakiest creep-fest's that I have seen in a while. Vincent Cassel is mind-blowingly scary as Joseph the abnormally strong bazerko housekeeper. Throughout the first half of the film your stricken with that unsettling(not quite right)feeling that something horrible is just around the corner. When you get to the halfway mark of the film horrible slowly starts to reveal itself in small but disturbing little doses. When you hit 3/4 the way through,any sense of normality you have left is swiftly pulled out from under your feet and you are then thrusted into a deliriously nightmarish rollercoaster of a climax that stands to be IMO one of the most skin-crawlingly frightning endings in horror film history. This is another unique & truly creative french kiss to the American backwoods horror film and also more proof that the real horror movies are being made by foreign independent film makers.

Average customer rating:

A Mother's Love
Pretty good...
A Great Part II For The Classic Original
Just as good as the original
Suprisingly good sequel.

Psycho II
Starring: Anthony Perkins , Vera Miles , Meg Tilly , Robert Loggia , and Dennis Franz
Director: Richard Franklin
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0009X76P0
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Product Description

Psycho II is the terrifying sequel to one of the most suspenseful films of all time, Alfred Hitchcock s Psycho. Anthony Perkins makes a horrific homecoming in his role as the infamous Norman Bates, who after years of treatment at a mental institution for the criminally insane, still can t quite elude the demands of Mother. Vera Miles also returns as the inquisitive woman who is haunted by her sister s brutal murder and the ominous motel where it all occurred. Meg Tilly and Dennis Franz co-star in this fiendish chiller.

System Requirements:

Running Time 113 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

A Mother's Love.......2007-05-24

"PSYCHO II", a 'twenty-years-later' tale, could have been a total disaster. But with a story, though far-fetched, that extends naturally from the first one & includes and/or name-drops characters from Hitchcock's awesome original film, "PSYCHO II" succeeds. Loaded with an authentic slasher-flick feel combined with a post-giallo approach (haunting score, jaunty camera angles partially cribbed from the original, a 'whodunit' plot), this flick feels more inspired than your average case of cash-in 'sequel-itis'.

I'm probably not saying anything new here, since the movie's been out for so long and is all but forgotten by anyone besides genre fans looking to complete their collections... but if you're like me, & you remember this pic vaguely and want to catch up on the old-school nostalgia tip, I'd say pick up "PSYCHO II". Because where the first film's tame-by-today's-standards approach doesn't really feel very scary in retrospect (aside from everybody's favorite seminal shower scene), and is more of a study in film-making technique than anything at this point, "PSYCHO II" is just a spooky, fun ride. It has a couple of good jumps and, more effectively, some truly eerie scenes (particularly the foreboding weirdness when Norman Bates believes he's talking to his 'real' mother on the phone). Anthony Perkins, reprising his infamous Bates role, is pretty spot-on here, and considering the teen demographic this one had to play to, there's a couple of pretty gruesome, '80s-style kill set pieces. These elements, combined with an ending ALMOST as good as the original's, make "PSYCHO II" a much better second installment than most of its retread kin from the same era. And it's certainly finer than any of the other junky later installments in the 'PSYCHO' franchise.

Pretty good..........2007-04-11

This was a good second installment of psycho. Ofcourse I never really fell in love with the psycho series. Never really cared to. I doubt I will purchase the third installment. I just wanted to atleast see the second movie in the series. If your into the psycho franchise, then get this move, otherwise just rent it.

A Great Part II For The Classic Original.......2007-04-08

Psycho II is a great movie. What happens when a mentally ill man who has killed in the past is released back into the very community where the murders were committed? Well just take a gander at this movie and find out. Some folks accept Norman Bates but others have plans for him. Who can he trust? Does he deserve a second chance? This dvd release is in widescreen and looks great.

Just as good as the original.......2007-02-17

I remember seeing this when I was younger and getting scared out of my mind. Now that I am older, I see it from a more psychological/suspenseful sense...and it is even better! Sequels usually pale in comparision to the original, but this one stands on its own. It not only has a great storyline, but also adds a great continuation to the Psycho history.

Psycho II deals with Norman Bates' battle with sanity as those he harmed attempt to push him back over the edge. All the while you are thinking--is mother really dead?--is Norman committing the murders or is it all in his mind? I would positively recommend Psycho II to fans of the original and new fans who want to explore the world of Psycho.

Suprisingly good sequel........2006-08-23

22 years later after the incident at the Bates Motel, Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) has been released out of the mental institute for the criminally insane and is back home. Even though he's back, he still feels haunted by mother's voice and has a second job as a cook at a diner, he's gotten strange phone calls and notes from someone playing Mother so he or she can drive him back to his original state of insanity.

Very good sequel to Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece of horror has good acting and has Perkins reprising his role as everyone's favorite looney with Meg Tilly, Vera Mills (From the original), Robert Loggia and Dennis Franz co-star. Jerry Goldsmith's score is half as good as the original's score and there's plenty of good scares to make one hell of a good sequel to an all-time masterpiece, there's also a nice twist at the end of this movie.

The DVD has good picture and sound quality with the only extra being the theatrical trailer, if you liked the original then i suggest you give this a try.

Average customer rating:

Little Gore, Low Budget, Still Spooky! ?
When creepy was less complicated
Good Movie
Hearse Review
0.5 STARS: YaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwN

The Hearse
Starring: Trish Van Devere , Joseph Cotten , David Gautreaux , Donald Hotton , and Med Flory
Director: George Bowers
Manufacturer: Rhino
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00005YUP7
Release Date: 2002-02-12

Amazon.com

The Hearse is an example of a horror movie subgenre: the demon-possessed vehicle. When Jane Hardy inherits her late aunt's home, she faces just such a vehicle in the form of a vintage hearse. Tormented by the car and harassed by mysterious townsfolk, Jane has to unlock her aunt's hidden secrets or perish. Part of the suspense comes from wondering if Jane is being tormented by the supernatural, her fragile emotional state, or someone just trying to scare Jane off her property.

Possessed-car suspensers can be surprisingly effective and frightening. Unfortunately, this movie is a fairly low-budget effort, offering up many standard suspense techniques that were pretty shopworn even in 1980. The end result is a film that is predictable, and has few if any real chills. Notable only as one of Joseph Cotten's last films. --Mark Savary

Customer Reviews:

Little Gore, Low Budget, Still Spooky! ?.......2007-06-28

The Film: The Hearse

I bought this film a few weeks back because I collect horror films and I had not seen this what I now consider to be a "gem" of a film in horror. So picture this, it's about 3AM in the morning and it's raining outside my window. What better time then to pop in a movie like The Hearse. Yes I'm a nightowl and yes I love horror films. MAHAHAHAH :)

1. The Box: ** Two stars here as there is nothing extra in regards to liner notes on the film. A basic cardboard holder that opens up to hold one plain looking disc. I love to see something a bit more special to each film that I can feast my eyes on, but the graphics still look cool with the hearse on the cover even though it's very basic.

2. Spook Meter: *** As a seasoned horror film buff it takes a lot to spook me however this film is very well done and in good taste with a lot of spook as well. The camera angles, lighting, and shadows really give it a creepy feel to the overall movie and on a rainy night ones imagination can run wild for sure. :) You will get a bit of a "chill" from this film and walk away at the end of it happy and wishing it did not end. Creapy sounds like the piano that plays throughout the film will raise the hairs on your neck a few times for sure.

3. Gore Meter: * This film this one star on the gore meter. I was amazed as I watched this gem of a film just how great a movie can be with almost no gore, blood what so ever in the whole movie. I kept wondering when some bloody thing was going to happen, but in the end it was great camera work, shadows, lighting, eerie sounds that carried the film through and made the total lack of gore not matter what so ever in this case.

4. Profanity Meter: ** Two stars here. Very little profanity throughout the whole film except of course like most films, film makers always have to toss Gods name in vain in a few times and this one has that twice toward the end of it. I always find this dissapointing, wither it's Gods name used or any other profanity I just don't see a need for it in films at all.

Final thoughts: There are many a great horror films out there and one may wonder why I would give 5 stars overall to a film like this compaired to many other greats. When I review a film I like to do so on a individual basis and I do not compair to other films but rather I look at this one and rate it based on just how much I enjoyed it. I hope you will enjoy this one too.

Thank you for reading.

When creepy was less complicated.......2007-05-22

What a great flick to pop in on a Friday night and let the storm winds and rain outside your window take you back to a time when that chill down your spine was brought on more by your spooked imagination and less by big budget blood,gore and computer run of the mill.

Popcorn,please.Large.Easy on the butter.Large Diet Coke.

Good Movie.......2007-03-22

If you love the typical 1970's-early 1980's horror movies, you will enjoy this one. There is a slight plot, but some eerie things are effective. The driver freaked me out for a couple days afterword...!
As usual, Van Devere is annunciating every syllable of every word she says...Enjoy!

Hearse Review.......2006-10-24

I remember watching this movie back in the 80's with my sister. It will put a little scare in you especially if you live alone. Even today, there are still parts of this movie that we still remember and talk about. I was going to give it 3 stars but I figured if we can still remember certain scenes and still talk about the movie, it's worth the 4 stars. This movie will spook you.

0.5 STARS: YaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwN.......2006-04-01

"The Hearse" is a slow-paced, predictable and boring movie with some very bad acting. Joseph Cotton is pretty good, Trish Vandevere is fairly adequate although her character is stupid, but the actors who played Tom and the Hearse driver are nothing short of terrible...I mean they look like a couple of dorks! The ending makes no sense whatsoever and the movie ends with a thud. Quite frankly, I was bored out of my mind but decided to sit through the entire movie just to see how it ended. All things considered, this is a poor excuse for a horror movie.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Off Key

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