The House of Mystery

Starring:Irving Bacon, Dick Botiller, Harry C. Bradley, Clay Clement, George Cleveland, Mary Foy, Dale Fuller, Sam Godfrey, George "Gabby" Hayes, Verna Hillie, Brandon Hurst, Joyzelle, Ed Lowry, James C. Morton, Fritzi Ridgeway
Director: William Nigh
Studio: Alpha Video
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Stone Cold
Stone Cold w/ Tom Selleck
Great little made for TV thriller starring Tom Selleck and Mimi Rogers!!!
Very Pleased, Except
TOM SELLECK - EXCELLENT FILM

Stone Cold
Starring: Tom Selleck , Mimi Rogers , Jane Adams (II) , Reg Rogers , and Viola Davis
Director: Robert Harmon
Manufacturer: Sony Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Jesse Stone - Night Passage
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ASIN: B0009FU0ZQ
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Description

Tom Selleck is Jesse Stone, a former L.A. homicide detective who left behind the big city and an ex-wife to become the police chief of the quiet New England fishing town of Paradise, Massachusetts. Stone's old habits die hard as he continues to indulge in his two favorite things - scotch and women. When a series of murders take place, and a high school girl is raped, he's forced to face his own demons in order to solve the crimes.

Customer Reviews:

Stone Cold.......2007-06-27

My wife really loves Tom Selleck, so we really liked the movie. We ordered the other two in the series and are waiting for the forth one to come out on DVD. When it does, you can be sure that we will order it.

Stone Cold w/ Tom Selleck.......2007-06-27

This movie is well done and has a good story. IF you like the Spenser series and others by this author, you will enjoy the mystery plot. Tom Selleck has enhanced a good story, and plays the part of Sheriff Stone as one would imagine in reading the story.

Great little made for TV thriller starring Tom Selleck and Mimi Rogers!!!.......2007-05-24

This is a great little made for TV thriller starring Tom Selleck(Magnum P.I.)and Mimi Rogers(Austin Powers)!!! A modern day film noir thriller!!! Even though this is a made for TV movie,it has solid production values!!! A great little gem from beginning to end!!! Recommended for fans of thriilers and Tom Selleck!!! Five stars!!! A+

Very Pleased, Except.......2007-05-17

This is avery good and typical job of all Tom Selick's movies. He is one of the best. Could have done without the sex scenes. Would have made it an even better movie.

TOM SELLECK - EXCELLENT FILM.......2007-02-09

I agree whole heartedly with all the favourable comments. I really do hope they make more of these books and from viewing the special features on this dvd Mr. Selleck says that they have the go ahead to do more. Very good story - excellent acting throughout so please don't make us wait too long before film 2.

Average customer rating:

an unusual masterpiece
Psycho
Still Waiting For Anamorphic Widescreen!
12 CABINS 12 VACANCY'S
THANK YOU ALFRED!!!!!!!!

Psycho (Collector's Edition)
Starring: Frank Albertson , John Anderson , Martin Balsam , George Eldredge , and Sam Flint
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Slasher Flicks | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: 0783225849
Release Date: 1998-05-27

Amazon.com

At last--a great American movie available on video for the first time in its original aspect ratio. For all the slasher pictures that have ripped off Psycho (and particularly its classic set piece, the "shower scene"), nothing has ever matched the impact of the real thing. More than just a first-rate shocker full of thrills and suspense, Psycho is also an engrossing character study in which director Alfred Hitchcock skillfully seduces you into identifying with the main characters--then pulls the rug (or the bathmat) out from under you. Anthony Perkins is unforgettable as Norman Bates, the mama's boy proprietor of the Bates Motel; and so is Janet Leigh as Marion Crane, who makes an impulsive decision and becomes a fugitive from the law, hiding out at Norman's roadside inn for one fateful night. Psycho gets the masterpiece treatment it deserves on DVD, with extras including newsreel footage surrounding the making and release of the movie; an archive of production stills; the special trailer in which Hitchcock (acting as one of the original Universal Studio tour guides) himself leads viewers around the Bates place; credit designer Saul Bass's original "shower scene" story boards; posters and advertising materials for the movie's William Castle-like publicity campaign (No One Will Be Seated After the Feature Begins!); and a 90-minute documentary on the making of the film! What more could any movie fan possibly want? --Jim Emerson

Customer Reviews:

an unusual masterpiece.......2007-07-06

By far Hitchcock's most twisted film, psycho twists plot, twists characters, and twists gender as no film ever had done.. Hitchcock was probably the best director at making technical breakthroughs and also in making those breakthroughs enjoyable for the audiece without any threads showing.. This is especially evident in psycho.. but also in other films like Vertigo with its famous vertigo camera effect that would later be copyed by several directors..
Psycho was a great success for Hitchcock and perhaps his last absolute masterpiece (though i would argue that the birds and Marnie were truly great masterpieces - and two of my favorites..) Anthony Perkins was truly made to play Norman bates.. although his career suffered afterwards as he would always be remembered as norman bates and he couldn't get the casting he deserved..
interestingly Hitchcock was extremely popular with the french new wave directors.. and psycho was kind of their bible in film - how to break the rules in effective ways..

Psycho.......2007-06-28

Made at the peak of his career in 1960, "Psycho" was suspense master Hitchcock's last and most famous black-and-white picture--and a film that inaugurated the sub-genre of slasher movie. By the standards of today's gore-fests, it's a fairly restrained murder mystery, but disturbing nonetheless, achieving its chills more by what is withheld than shown. Hitchcock knows just how to heighten our dread of who or what might be at the top of the stairs, or beyond that shower curtain. The terrifying "Psycho" stands above most any psychological thriller made since.

Still Waiting For Anamorphic Widescreen!.......2007-06-13

Attention widescreen t.v. owners: this dvd is not in anamorphic widescreen(enhanced for 16 x 9). A couple of years ago "Psycho" was re-released on dvd in the Alfred Hitchcock collection. It is in anamorphic widescreen. Since then Universal has been SLOWLY releasing titles from the collection in anamorphic for the first time. Well when do we get "Psycho"???!!! I'd love to add this film to my collection, but will not do it until it is properly presented for widescreen t.v.

12 CABINS 12 VACANCY'S.......2007-06-07

I had to write a tribute to this masterpiece of
horror.Though in no way does Psycho stand alone
as a HORROR masterpiece it did get us into the
open,by that I mean the nightmares are no longer
wrapped in bandages or have scar tissue long fangs
and howl at the moon.No the nightmare can be at your
next door.This movie paved the way for so many Horror
masterpiece's.This movie as well as Rosemary's baby
and NIGHT of the LIVING DEAD said to all the up coming
director's O.K. we've shown you now what can you do
with Horror films in the 70's!Well we all no what Horror
films have came in the 70's and thank you to all involved
in Psycho for we would not have Last house on the left-Halloween
Black Christmas-Phantasm-Carrie-Suspira-Omen-Exorcist-Texas
Chainsaw-Cannibal Holocaust-The Shining-Rabid or even JAWS.
I write this for you can read any other review about the movie
I just wanted to say Hail,Hail to Psycho(60) no,I mean NO!
HORROR catalog is complete without this BABY!It is a difinitive
masterpiece on the macabre A-A- BOY'S BESTFRIEND IS HIS MOTHER.
eeee.Perkins was so fantastic still gives me shivers.My fav.
scene the first time we see mother walking past the window
frame in the pouring rain.Till this day that scene alone has
buried most of the horror crap that has come out in 2000-2007
I love the horror films from the 20's,30's 40's and the HAMMERS
but again thank you movie Psycho for the breath of fresh air.

THANK YOU ALFRED!!!!!!!!.......2007-05-10

This movie is not R rated it should be PG like Vertigo. The shower scene is one of the most famous scenes in history and my favorite charactor is "mother" because you dont see her till the end.
My favorite part is when the detective gets stabbed and falls down the stairs.
I love the music that plays in the shower scene because the strings are so high pitched it sounds like screaming.
When I get older I want to make a Psycho of my own.

The Frighteners: Peter Jackson's Director's Cut [HD DVD]

Average customer rating:

frighten again
HD-DVD version
Very good film and a good disc
great movie but
Wicked fun!

The Frighteners: Peter Jackson's Director's Cut [HD DVD]
Starring: Trini Alvarado , John Astin , Jake Busey , Jeffrey Combs , and Peter Dobson
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: HD DVD

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ASIN: B000O179EA
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Customer Reviews:

frighten again.......2007-06-28

this is once of those off the wall films,that will blow you away.i love this film,ever since i saw it on laser disc[remember those]!this also afilm you could watch again and again.this movie has everthing you could ask for.its funny,its drama.michel j fox is wonderful and a great supporting cast behind him.directed by peter jackson,yes that peter jackson!this hd dvd version with its 1080p avc-vc-1 video is first rate.audio is dolby digital plus,anew audio code.universal released this movie on vhs,laser disc,sd dvd and now hd dvd,there must be a good reason.get this hd dvd you will be glad you did!

HD-DVD version.......2007-06-22

Suffice to say that if you are into HD and especially HD-DVD and have a big screen, I mean 100" or above then this is why you got into HD.

The video transfer is superb, a couple of very minor film artifacts here and there but nothing to write home about.

The audio transfer is also a knockout.

Just get it you will not be dissapointed.

Very good film and a good disc.......2007-06-17

I'm not going to comment on the film itself as you can read up on the film elsewhere but i'll let you know a little about the HD DVD disc itself. If your in the UK, the disc works perfectly on my Xbox 360 Add On so don't worry about buying from the US.

On the disc, there is the film itself (14 minutes extra as it's a director's cut), peter jackson's (first) feature commentary and also a trailer. There is also a 240 minute documentary about the making of the film from start to finish. I started watching it last night not realising how long it was, so i had to turn it off and i'll watch the rest tonight. Nice Layout of the disc (same as any other Universal disc) and the quality of the film is great.

I've not seen this compared to the Standard Def version of the special edition so i cannot compare them, but the HD DVD version is definately one i'd recommend.

Hope this helps...

great movie but.......2007-06-12

This is a great movie, and the previous comment gives youthe storyline. But Im disappointed with amazon not listing aboutthe actual product. as far as whats ont he HD DVD version that's not on the already released regular DVD version. no reviews have been written about such information.

Wicked fun!.......2007-03-10

Just before doing "Lord of the Rings," director Peter Jackson (who can be seen in a cameo as "Man with Piercings") made an off-kilter horror/comedy movie called "The Frighteners," the tale of the undead and the guy who makes a living off of them. Though "Frighteners" was barely in theaters at all, this cult flick is funny, creepy, well-acted and wonderfully directed.

Frank Bannister (Michael J. Fox) has seen spirits and apparitions ever since the car crash that killed his wife. Now he operates an amateur "ghostbusting" operation that is supposed to exorcise ghosts from people's houses -- the problem is that the ghosts who haunt those houses are in league with him (Chi McBride as the opinioated afro-ed Cyrus, Jim Fyfe as the nerdy Stuart, and most of John Astin as what is left of The Judge).

Frank's business certainly isn't hurt by the fact that for years after a serial killer's murderous spree, people have died mysteriously of heart attacks. Then Frank starts seeing fiery numbers emblazoned on the foreheads of people who will die, including the husband of doctor Lucy Lynskey (Trini Alvarado). As if trying to stop a specter of death weren't hard enough, crazed FBI agent Milton Dammers (Jeffrey Combs) believes that Frank is the one murdering people. But the evil specter is still killing -- and Lucy is the next victim.

Peter Jackson once said that he has a "moronic" sense of humor, and it shows up in all its glory here -- from bug spray dissolving a ghost's face to a piece of talking oily sludge to a drill sargeant ghost with submachine guns, this is weird and absolutely hilarious. It's the perfect blend of comedy and horror.

But he's also good during the more serious moments, such as Bannister's flashbacks to his wife's death, or the eerie sight of homicidal young lovers dancing with a gun. The opening shot is pure Jackson, with the camera swooping through a window, past fluttering curtains, and though a hole in the attic floor to a screaming woman below.

Jackson also takes the opportunity to poke a bit of fun at more conventional ghost movies: the big Gothic house, crazy old lady, ghost in '70s clothes, and Fox's hilarious turn as a ghostbuster. Nothing horrific is sacred. "There ain't nothing worse than a bunch of pissed-off brothers... that's ALREADY DEAD!" Cyrus yells at one point.

Does it have a flaw? Yes -- the opening scene doesn't seem to make much sense later on in the movie. But Jackson makes up for that with a surprisingly tight, coherent plot, and a satisfying finale that makes more sense than most other horror movies do.

The cast is brilliant, whether it's the twitchy, wild-eyed FBI agent, or the three weird ghosts. Michael J. Fox does an excellent job as Frank, with the right combination of cockiness and pathos, while Alvarado is solid as the idealistic young doctor. But the scenes are reallystolen by Dee Wallace-Stone and freaky-eyed Jake Busey, as homicidal young lovers.

"Frighteners" might not make you believe in ghosts, but it will make you laugh, shiver, and maybe even shed a tear or two. Wildly funny, weird, gross, and sometimes really peculiar, this is Jackson's splatter-gore at its best.

The Others (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

wonderful film of the best and most real life of grounded spirits
A Brilliant Haunted House Film...but the Dialogue is Extremely Soft
Will Give You the Willies
Terrifying
the twist makes the movie

The Others (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Keith Allen , Renée Ashershon , Christopher Eccleston , Michelle Fairley , and Nicole Kidman
Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Sixth Sense (Collector's Edition Series)
What Lies Beneath
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Unbreakable (Two-Disc Vista Series)

ASIN: B00003CYLJ
Release Date: 2002-05-14

Amazon.com essential video

A welcome throwback to the spooky traditions of Jack Clayton's The Innocents and Robert Wise's The Haunting, Alejandro Amenábar's The Others favors atmosphere, sound, and suggestion over flashy special effects. Set in 1945 on a fog-enshrouded island off the British coast, the film begins with a scream as Grace (Nicole Kidman) awakens from some unspoken horror, perhaps arising from her religiously overprotective concern for her young children, Anne (Alakina Mann) and Nicholas (James Bentley). The children are hypersensitive to light and have lived in a musty manor with curtains and shutters perpetually drawn. With Grace's husband presumably lost at war, this ominous setting perfectly accommodates a sense of dreaded expectation, escalating when three strangers arrive in response to Grace's yet-unposted request for domestic help. Led by housekeeper Mrs. Mills (Fionnula Flanagan), this mysterious trio is as closely tied to the house's history as Grace's family is--as are the past occupants seen posthumously posed in a long-forgotten photo album.

With her justly acclaimed performance, Kidman maintains an emotional intensity that fuels the film's supernatural underpinnings. And while Amenábar's pacing is deliberately slow, it befits the tone of penetrating anxiety, leading to a twist that extends the story's reach from beyond the grave. Amenábar unveiled a similarly effective twist in his Spanish thriller Open Your Eyes (remade by Cameron Crowe as Vanilla Sky), but where that film drew debate, The Others is finely crafted to provoke well-earned goose bumps and chills down the spine. --Jeff Shannon

Description

Screen sensation Nicole Kidman (MOULIN ROUGE, EYES WIDE SHUT) delivers an utterly unforgettable performance in this scary and stylish suspense thriller. While awaiting her husband's return from war, Grace (Kidman) and her two young children live an unusually isolated existence behind the locked doors and drawn curtains of a secluded island mansion. Then, after three mysterious servants arrive and it becomes chillingly clear that there is far more to his house than can be seen, Grace finds herself in a harrying fight to save her children and keep her sanity. Acclaimed by critics everywhere, the unpredictable twists and turns of this compelling hit will keep you guessing as it keeps you riveted to the edge of your seat!

Customer Reviews:

wonderful film of the best and most real life of grounded spirits.......2007-07-06

Fionnula Flanagan is brilliant, but Nicole Kidman makes the film the thriller it is, but all the cast are wonderful, particularly the children. It does take a while to get to the best bit, but the message is so good and much more truthful, the research was good.

Certainly worth rewatching, and the first viewing is the best, the most powerful.It is one of the best illustrations of how spirits get grounded and why. I love the Eric Sykes and Fionnula Flanagan parts together. oh it would be good to have more of this film, more like this.

A Brilliant Haunted House Film...but the Dialogue is Extremely Soft.......2007-07-05

Luckily I saved my VHS tape which has normal, evenly recorded dialogue and music and effects. I can't watch the dvd any longer because of the awful audio. The character's lines are incredibly faint and soft.
I wonder if they do it on purpose with some dvd's, making the dialogue so quiet that you need to crank your tv volume up a great deal. Then comes a deafening sound effect (or part of the film score, or a scream, etc) and it shakes the house.

That one negative being said, this is one of my favorite old fashioned, haunted house films. It is genuinely frightening. And the scares aren't cheap tricks or gimmicks that we've become used to from Hollywood. This film is a refeshing change from the usual junk that calls itself a horror movie but never really gets under your skin or genuinely creeps you out.

The atmosphere, acting, script, cinematography, score, and direction are wonderful. If you like brilliant, creepy ghost movies like The Innocents, The Changeling, and The Haunting (1963), then this is for you. Watch it at night in total darkness. I dare you.

Will Give You the Willies.......2007-05-28

This is a welcome throwback to honest-to-goodness thrillers - no gore, just psychological spookieness. No senseless nudity, foul language or gouged eyeballs here - but fear reminiscent of the George C. Scott thriller, "The Changeling" or more recently, "The Sixth Sense."

Nicole Kidman's acting is so impressive, as is the acting of the entire cast, you will find yourself on the edge of your seat. Set in post World War II England, Kidman's character, Grace, lives in a large mansion on a posh estate. Her two children, Anne and Nicholas, suffer from a rare genetic anomoly that makes them sensitive to light beyond that of a strong lamp. Pure sunlight - even ambient light can raise blisters on their skin and ala Dracula, will kill them.

Grace pines over her missing husband who never returned from battling the Germans, yet is not a confirmed MIA or KIA casualty. She finds herself housebound, unable to mingle with anyone in polite society or travel anywhere out of fear for her children's safety.

Acustomed to being without electricity during the German bombardments throughout the war, Grace has decided to leave the luxury turned off, depending on heavy curtains to block out the light during the day and using oil lamps at night.

Grace tells her 3 house servants that her daughter, Anne, has a vivid imagination who tells of ghastly eyeless women and an invisible boy named Victor. Grace repeatedly punishes Anne for lying... but soon she realizes there really might be 'others' living in the house with them.

Whispering voices, creaky floors and other things that go bump in the night have you on your mental toes to figure out who might be dead, who might be alive and if one or more of the characters is just plain nuts and imagining the whole thing.

I must admit, this is not my favorite genre. I do not belive there are earth-bound spirits of the previously living people walking around in people's homes - so it's not like at the end when all the loose ends got tied up that I had chills going up my spine - but if you had an experience like that with "The Sixth Sense" or "The Changeling," this movie will not disappoint.

Having an intelligent storyline, superb acting and all devoid of rampant sex and toilet humor is a welcome relief compared to most movie fare coming out of today's Hollywood. While there are many scene changes in the large manor, the closed rooms and constant darkness and chiaroscuro lighting give the viewer a very claustrophobic feeling to the point you feel Grace's almost psychotic desperation and feeling of being trapped. Even the few moments when you see her outside the manor, the dense, eerie fog furthers the trapped sensation of the viewer and the characters.

The acting of Alakina Mann (Anne) and James Bentley (Nicholas) cannot be understated in making this more of an experience than a film. Much of Kidman's acting shines through in the scenes in which she is by herself, panicking in fear and desperation. This is one of those films that truly highlights the depth of her acting acumen.

Terrifying.......2007-05-26

This is a clever, terrifying movie. I hate scary movies but this one is smart. Nicole Kidman and the children (Alakina Mann and James Bentley) are wonderful.

the twist makes the movie.......2007-05-17

Fortunately, I lost interest in this movie after the first 20 minutes, so I wasnt paying attention and was able to appreciate the twist without forethought.

The movie seemed like a boring stage play. None of the characters were that fascinating. The atmospheric horror and dread never built. If I compared this film to 6th sense I'd give it 1 star.

House of Cards Trilogy (House of Cards / To Play the King / The Final Cut)

Average customer rating:

House of Cards trilogy
A great trilogy! You MUST have it!
A 10+
House of Cards Trilogy
A spellbinding tale of despondancy

House of Cards Trilogy (House of Cards / To Play the King / The Final Cut)
Starring: Ian Richardson , Susannah Harker , Miles Anderson , David Lyon , and Malcolm Tierney
Director: Paul Seed , and Mike Vardy
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009MGGI
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Amazon.com

Connoisseurs of political chicanery will relish House of Cards, the mordantly funny story of Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson), a British politician with his eye on the top job. Urquhart is the chief whip of the Conservative Party and his job is to maintain party discipline, or, as he likes to say, "put a bit of stick about." This means that he has intimate knowledge of his colleagues' foibles, knowledge that he uses to further his own political ambitions. Aided by his equally ruthless wife and drawing on a network of accomplices, Urquhart forces the prime minister to resign then sets out to discredit each of his rivals for the party leadership. Although it is strongly cast throughout, House of Cards belongs to Ian Richardson. Without his perfectly balanced performance, Urquhart might have become no more than a two-dimensional villain, but Richardson finds exactly the right tone to make his character as attractive as he is wicked. Thanks to Richardson, and a superb script by Andrew Davies, this brilliant political satire is sure to delight anyone who has wondered what might be going on in the darker corners of our democratic institutions.

In To Play the King, Urquhart appears to have everything he wants. He is the prime minister, he has no immediate rivals, and everyone who knows of his crimes is either on his side or dead. But a new challenge arises when the queen dies and the new king (Michael Kitchen doing a perfect Prince Charles) proves to be a thorn in Urquhart's side. Urquhart may be a staunch defender of the monarchy as a concept, but an individual sovereign is fair game if he proves to be a threat. With a Davies script that pokes fun at British politics and the antics of the royal family as well as a terrific cast led again by Ian Richardson, To Play the King maintains the high standard set by House of Cards.

The Final Cut, the last installment of the trilogy, strikes a more somber note than its predecessors. Urquhart has almost overtaken Margaret Thatcher to become Britain's longest serving postwar leader, but the public is tiring of him and there are rumblings of dissent in the Conservative Party. Urquhart and his wife plot to secure both their place in history and their financial future. Once again, writer Andrew Davies has created a satire to relish, one that confirms all of our doubts about the motives of politicians. Ian Richardson's wonderful performance--filled with sly asides and winks to the camera--makes Francis Urquhart as fascinating as he is wicked, and we find ourselves rooting for this terrible man. The world would certainly be a duller place without him. --Simon Leake

Description

Ian Richardson (From Hell, M. Butterfly) leads an all star cast in this malevolent satire of greed, corruption and ambition in the highest realms of government. As Machiavellian monster Francis Urquhart, he schemes and backstabs his way to the top until he is standing on a pile of broken promises, betrayals and the bodies of those who oppose him. Every step of the way, Urquhart lays out his plans with horrifying wit and venomous charm. But the ranks of his enemies are growing, and they intend to bring him down, whatever the price. Brilliantly adapted by Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones's Diary), from Michael Dobbs's best-selling novel, this satirical trilogy took home a primetime Emmy, a Peabody, two BAFTAs and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award.

Customer Reviews:

House of Cards trilogy.......2007-06-28

The late Ian Richardson plays a charming,suave,gentlemanly snake-in-the-grass....in fact he elevates it to high art.
It is like a modern "Richard III" with all the murder and intrigue that goes with it.Nice to know the USofA hasn't cornered the market on scoundrels in politics.

A great trilogy! You MUST have it!.......2007-06-13

If you like quality stories (like you would see on the BBC) and you like to think and you enjoy a evil villan, this one is for you! The main character is so refined and innocent looking but also so evil - LOVE IT! GET THIS!

A 10+.......2007-05-15

Saw this production when first shown and was so thrilled that it was available on DVD. Still the VERY BEST PRODUCTION EVER MADE. I had forgotten the ending and some of the intrigues so it was like seeing it anew and as thrilling as the first. If you don't like this one, can't imagine anything you might like.

House of Cards Trilogy.......2007-05-14

Excellent. Acting superb. Story line superb. I highly recommend. Very much in tune with what is going on in the real world.

A spellbinding tale of despondancy.......2007-04-27

This whole trilogy reads to me as a tale of despondency among the political classes in Britain. In the first act, "House of Cards", the Conservative, but still somewhat moderate, Prime Minister, get railroaded by his total over trusting of FU, or as Ronald Reagan would call it, trusting without verifying. In the second act, "To Play the King", as FU crushes the British welfare state, the King and the opposition leaders enter the political arena with high hopes, only to be dashed by the simple fact that the game is fixed in favor of Urquhart from the very beginning. In these two acts, no one in a position of real power is ever killed -- just whichever members of the lower classes who happens to come in FU's way. In the last act, "The Final Cut", it would appear that Urquhart's various crimes may have finally caught up with him-- his crimes as a solider in Cyprus, his crimes during the previous two acts, and his reckless war, again in Cyprus, as PM -- but the game is still rigged, as FU's wife and chief assistant plan a merciless assassination of Urquhart, preventing him from facing courtroom justice. The only possible hope left for the country is Corder's apparent decision to let the appropriately named Tom Makepeace be Prime Minister. This series is so wonderfully depressing and it rings unbearably true.

A minor note: For those of you with region-free and PAL compatible DVD players, the Region 2 edition of this set, available at Amazon.co.uk, is preferred, as it apparently has cast & crew commentary on some of the episodes.

Average customer rating:

Fair but should have been so much better!!
I loved it!
DO! NOT! WANT!
effective gothic style horror(just my opinion)
Not the book!!!

Flowers in the Attic
Starring: Louise Fletcher , Victoria Tennant , Kristy Swanson , Jeb Stuart Adams , and Ben Ryan Ganger
Director: Jeffrey Bloom
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
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Similar Items:

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ASIN: B000059PP1
Release Date: 2001-04-24

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:

Pretty Good
HORROR MOVIES
The "Gold Standard" for haunted house movies!
"Whatever walks in Hill House walks alone"
The Haunting (Original 1963 version)

The Haunting
Starring: Julie Harris , Claire Bloom , Richard Johnson , Russ Tamblyn , and Fay Compton
Director: Robert Wise
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B00009NHB6
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Amazon.com essential video

Certain to remain one of the greatest haunted-house movies ever made, Robert Wise's The Haunting (1963) is antithetical to all the gory horror films of subsequent decades, because its considerable frights remain implicitly rooted in the viewer's sensitivity to abject fear. A classic spook-fest based on Shirley Jackson's novel The Haunting of Hill House (which also inspired the 1999 remake directed by Jan de Bont), the film begins with a prologue that concisely establishes the dark history of Hill House, a massive New England mansion (actually filmed in England) that will play host to four daring guests determined to investigate--and hopefully debunk--the legacy of death and ghostly possession that has given the mansion its terrifying reputation.

Consumed by guilt and grief over her mother's recent death and driven to adventure by her belief in the supernatural, Eleanor Vance (Julie Harris) is the most unstable--and therefore the most vulnerable--visitor to Hill House. She's invited there by anthropologist Dr. Markway (Richard Johnson), along with the bohemian lesbian Theodora (Claire Bloom), who has acute extra-sensory abilities, and glib playboy Luke Sanderson (Russ Tamblyn, from Wise's West Side Story), who will gladly inherit Hill House if it proves to be hospitable. Of course, the shadowy mansion is anything but welcoming to its unwanted intruders. Strange noises, from muffled wails to deafening pounding, set the stage for even scarier occurrences, including a door that appears to breathe (with a slowly turning doorknob that's almost unbearably suspenseful), unexplained writing on walls, and a delicate spiral staircase that seems to have a life of its own.

The genius of The Haunting lies in the restraint of Wise and screenwriter Nelson Gidding, who elicit almost all of the film's mounting terror from the psychology of its characters--particularly Eleanor, whose grip on sanity grows increasingly tenuous. The presence of lurking spirits relies heavily on the power of suggestion (likewise the cautious handling of Theodora's attraction to Eleanor) and the film's use of sound is more terrifying than anything Wise could have shown with his camera. Like Jack Clayton's 1961 chiller, The Innocents, The Haunting knows the value of planting the seeds of terror in the mind, as opposed to letting them blossom graphically on the screen. What you don't see is infinitely more frightening than what you do, and with nary a severed head or bloody corpse in sight, The Haunting is guaranteed to chill you to the bone. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A group is introduced to the supernatural through a 90-year old New England haunted house. Be prepared for hair-raising results in this classic horror film!

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Good.......2007-06-27

This is, of course, a classic. It has a very nice atmosphere as well as a spooky one. I'm not going to say this is scary but more spooky than anything. The acting is good along with a good cast. I'm more of the type that likes to be scared watching a horror movie. This one didn't really scare me at all but I still think it deserves at least four stars. All and all, not a bad movie.

HORROR MOVIES.......2007-05-13

Vary will made at that time it was made.over all vary good old time horror movie.thay don't make these any more

The "Gold Standard" for haunted house movies!.......2007-05-12

If you are collecting haunted house movies this film must be purchased to make your collection complete. There is no question that this film is the gold standard against which every other haunted house movie is rated, at least among the older movie crowd. It is, after all, a black and white movie which does not rely on special effects to put on a good show. The film definitely had a great cast to act out a good plot which was faithful to the wonderful book by Ms. Jackson. As your other writers have said, it had great camera work and a musical score which worked. The most important thing for me was that I cared what happened to the characters, and that generally means the film worked for me.

With that said I just thought I should mention that there were a few lines of dialogue in the movie that must have been the work of a studio writer looking to jazz up the movie. I think that person failed. Some of the lines I could have lived without include (usually Dr. Markway is speaking):

"This is the operating room; I mean the center of operations."
Luke said ... "I am here because I am a wolf in ghosts clothing".
I'm not running a psychic beauty contest.
Markway ... "Psychic phenomenon are subject to certain laws".
Luke ..."What are they?"
Markway ..."You won't know until you break them".

If that sort of whimsical dialogue does not bother you I am certain you will enjoy this film. This DVD was a very good transfer. By the way, I personally enjoyed the remake and thought the rewrite of the story presented some interesting twists from the original.

"Whatever walks in Hill House walks alone".......2007-05-08

This is THE BEST HAUNTED HOUSE MOVIE EVER MADE!!!! Director Robert Wise has given us the Perfect Haunted House movie with this understated "Thriller" that takes for granted that we are all over the age of 3 and can use our brains as more that just a processor of gore and fright masks. Nothing is seen but it is sure felt as this movie works it's magic on you.
A doctor who studies the paranormal(Richard Johnson in a very nice turn) brings two psychics( Julie Harris And Claire Bloom, both of whom are in top form here) and the sole heir to the house known as Hill House( Russ Tamblyn also very strong in his role) to study the house which has a very dark past. As the study goes on the house comes alive around them and as the more susceptible Harris begins to fall under its spell the tension becomes more and more palatable. All the sounds and sights become bigger than the sum as little by little the house forces its will on the group.
This is a haunted house movie for everyone who likes to feel the cold chill creep down your spine, and doesn't have to have a shock every 30 seconds to get scared. This doesn't have one false note or scene in it. Be sure to unplug the phone and turn down the lights for this one, if you DARE!

The Haunting (Original 1963 version).......2007-05-07

Released in 1963, and in black and white, The Haunting is still considered to be the scariest ghost movie ever made and I agree. The Haunting is a suspenseful thriller that does its thing without fancy effects or blood and gore. The DVD version is the only genuine way to view this grand movie, directed by Robert Wise. Wise's use of infrared film enhances the visual effects of certain scenes. The house used for the exterior shots is the Ettington Manor hotel in England. The interior scenes were filmed in the studio. The cast is superb and Julie Harris plays the part Eleanor so well the she becomes the character. The DVD makes possible the viewing of the wide format and the viewer can see the entire scenes, as they were filmed. This film is truly a milestone in ghost-horror and is best viewed in darkness with premium sound. If you're a ghost-movie fan, you must have this DVD. Prepare to be frightened and..............enjoy.

Average customer rating:

Back Off, Casper!...
Is This A Comedy?
I didn't order these for me!
TRUE LIFE HORROR !!!!
VERY SCARY - True story

The Entity
Starring: Barbara Hershey , Ron Silver , David Labiosa , George Coe , and Margaret Blye
Director: Sidney J. Furie
Manufacturer: Starz / Anchor Bay
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B0007WFXLM
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Description

Carla Moran awakens one night to find herself being assaulted by an unseen presence. Terrified of what's happening to her, and shunned by friends and family who think she's lost her mind, she seeks help from parapsychologists. The researchers soon discover that evil spiritual force has been drawn to Carla and is responsible for the violent attacks. The question now, however, is how do they stop it? Based on a true story.

Customer Reviews:

Back Off, Casper!..........2007-07-02

Like THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, THE ENTITY is based on a "true" story. However, unlike AMITYVILLE, this movie is both smart and engaging. Carla Moran (Barbara Hershey from Boxcar Bertha and Falling Down) is haunted, terrorized, and sexually assaulted by three ghosts. Her psychiatrist (played by Ron Silver of Silent Rage fame) tries to convince Carla that it's all in her head. The invisible attackers continue their nightly visits, causing Carla to seek help from a group of parapsychologists (ala Poltergeist). This leads to a final showdown in the local college gymnasium, where Carla confronts her fear once and for all. Hershey is quite believable in her role, as is the skeptical Silver. Frank De Felitta wrote the screenplay, based on his book of the same name. De Felitta also wrote both the book and screenplay for AUDREY ROSE, another good spooker! Enjoy...

Is This A Comedy?.......2007-04-01

Yeah, it may be based on a true story. So what? That don't make it a good movie, and man oh man, it ain't good at all. Oooohhh....blue lightning striking. That's real scary stuff. Now I know Barbara Hershey can act, and she did what she could with this script, which would have been better used as a doormat. The doctors, and especially Silver, were so over the top clueless and cliche it was insulting. Tell me about your father....yeah, right. Kids were annoying, whiny things and that son was such a rube, albeit a loyal one. The theme and subject matter are strong and heavy stuff, and this could have worked. Failed miserably for me though. Worst ending for a horror flick not just of the era, but for all time. The mingling of science and horror rarely works, except the Lovecraft flicks and a few others. The students that came to her house were such dopey flops I couldn't stand it. That old guy she was sleeping with could've been her grandfather. What a joke, man. The attack and rape scenes were pretty physical, brutal and believable, though. Gotta admit that. The blue lightning ruined any authenticity, and the freezing of the creature in the end was just lame. Her friends were kind of stooges, too. The 2 stars are for the scenes when she was getting attacked and the one where she was violated while she slept. By the way, who sleeps through sex? This was a bad movie based on the story of some west coast crackpot who needed attention. Get The Exorcist or Poltergeist and forget this one. Felt I had to warn potential buyers, as all the reviews on this are positive for some inexplicable reason. Be honest and be discriminating. Worth the price if the price is just a few bucks. Would have enjoyed a scene where The Entity went after Ron Silver.

I didn't order these for me!.......2007-03-12

I ordered these movies for a friend they are very happy with them and I was very happy with the fast shipping!

TRUE LIFE HORROR !!!!.......2007-02-16

This story is based on a real life happening over several years. The DVD extra The Entity Files goes into the true story in great detail and, is fasinating in its own right. Barbara Hershey is superb in the role of the tortured woman and, not bad to look at either. Be warned there is graphic nudity although I believe some of it to be a rubber molded body. None the less its a thoroughly enjoyable story and not a cheesy slasher horror film! Ron silver is his usual boring self.Thank goodness hes not in it that much!

VERY SCARY - True story .......2007-01-12

This is based on a true story. It's very scary.

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

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
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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!!

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