The Dorm That Dripped Blood (dir. Stephen Carpenter and Jeffrey Obrow, 1982) Also known as Death Dorm and more enigmatically Pranks, The Dorm That Dripped Blood follows a group of university students who remain on campus over the winter break to assist in renovating the dormitory. Because this is an early eighties slasher movie, they … Continue reading The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982)

Gremlins (dir. Joe Dante, 1984) For some reason, as a child, it only ever seemed like we had the sequels to movies on VHS. I would catch the first films in series on television, sure, but the second or third ones in the franchise always got cycled in and out of the VCR. Raiders of … Continue reading Gremlins (1984)

Christmas Evil (dir. Lewis Jackson, 1980) Harry Stadling (Brandon Maggart) had his conception of Santa Claus destroyed as a child because he saw his father dressed as him go down on his mother in the living room on Christmas Eve. Most everyone goes through these two events—learning that Santa Claus isn’t real and that your … Continue reading Christmas Evil (1980)

To All a Goodnight (dir. David Hess, 1980) Students and their boyfriends at the Calvin Finishing School for Girls are stalked by a killer dressed as Santa Claus. That’s the movie. There’s not a whole lot else to it than that. Fine, I will try to add something more. What even is a finishing school? … Continue reading To All a Goodnight (1980)

Wind Chill (dir. Gregory Jacobs, 2007) It’s 2007. You’re a pre-fame Emily Blunt badly affecting an American accent. You’re texting someone on your massive Sony Erickkson cell phone during the middle of a university exam. You were planning to take the bus home for winter break, but your anonymous friend—like you and everyone else in … Continue reading Wind Chill (2007)

A Christmas Prince (dir. Alex Zamm, 2017) A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding (dir. John Schultz, 2018) A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby (dir. John Schultz, 2019) Let the record hold that not only did I watch A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby the day that it premiered on Netflix, I also watched it and … Continue reading A Christmas Prince: The Trilogy

I Come in Peace (dir. Craig R. Baxley, 1990) Dolph Lundgren is Jack Caine, a Houston police detective who doesn’t play by the rules or do much to hide his Swedish accent. His partner, while conducting an undercover sting, was killed by criminals, who were themselves slaughtered by an unknown assailant. Caine is paired with … Continue reading I Come in Peace (1990)

Invasion U.S.A. (dir. Joseph Zito, 1985) Christmas in Florida somehow manages to get worse when a joint Soviet/Cuban guerilla force unleashes havoc in the streets. Ex-CIA operative Matt Hunter (Chuck Norris), who has had previous encounters with the Russian leader Mikhail Rostov (Richard Lynch), is the person best equipped to deal with these invaders. As … Continue reading Invasion U.S.A. (1985)

Dead End (dir. Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa, 2003) Have you seen or read No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre? Well, Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa almost certainly have. Sartre had his characters trapped in a finely furnished room, creating hell for themselves for sins committed during their earthly lives. Here, an American family is trapped … Continue reading Dead End (2003)

The Minus Man (dir. Hampton Fancher, 1999) The last time that anyone has thought The Minus Man in the twenty years since its release was when the AV Club published an article about its trailer. There are some notes about the movie, but the emphasis is on its unusual advertisement, one which is in some … Continue reading The Minus Man (1999)