Tag: 31 Days of Horror

31 Scary Movies: ‘The Dead Zone’

Jeff Mitchell

“The Dead Zone” (1983) – Director David Cronenberg and writer Jeffrey Boam bring Stephen King’s 1979 novel “The Dead Zone” to life on the big screen in a gripping supernatural tale that spawned a six-season television series as well.  Here, Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) was enjoying a happy life as a schoolteacher and a relationship with Sarah (Brooke Adams), but gets into a car accident and falls into a coma for five years. Sarah has moved on and Johnny laments the time and relationship that he lost, but he gains…

31 Scary Movies: ‘The Thing’

Jeff Mitchell

“The Thing” (1982) – In the ferociously cold, barren landscape of Antarctica, a small group of men run the United States National Science Institute Station 4, and although they currently live in isolation from the outside world, life seems pleasant. They play ping-pong and computer chess, watch VHS tapes of “Let’s Make a Deal” and listen to music. Actually, what work is really getting accomplished? Alas, when a Norwegian helicopter pilot – who desperately tries to shoot and kill a lone dog – enters their camp, tranquility changes to immediate…

31 Scary Movies: ‘An American Werewolf in London’

Jeff Mitchell

“American Werewolf in London” (1981) – David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne), two 20-something best buddies, just started their 3-month backpacking trip of Europe.  While telling knock-knock jokes and arguing over the attributes of Jack’s unrequited love (Debbie Klein), they wander through some desolate stretches of countryside in Northern England and stop at the tiny community of East Proctor.  It’s here where they, most unfortunately, run into a murderous wolf-like thing, and without much warning. Perhaps, East Proctor needs more safety signs, like “Children at Play”, “Sharp Turns Ahead” and “Wolf-like…