Tag: horror movie

31 Scary Movies: ‘Night of the Living Dead’

Jeff Mitchell

“Night of the Living Dead” (1968) – Director George A. Romero certainly had brains in 1968, because his groundbreaking zombie (who were actually called ghouls) movie turned out to be the great-grandparent to about 114,000 imitators over the next 50 years.  His film, of course, features an endless supply of dead people coming to life and who are hungry for the living. For unsuspecting 20-something siblings Johnny (Russell Streiner) and Barbra (Judith O’Dea), their actual destination is intentionally-filled with dead people. A cemetery. They make their annual trek of 200 miles…

31 Scary Movies: ‘Village of the Damned’

Jeff Mitchell

“Village of the Damned” (1960) – “I’ve seen it all in a small town.” – John Mellencamp, “Small Town” At first glance, the residents of Midwich, a small British village, seem to be living a comfortable Norman Rockwell-existence, as this country town is complete with a local general store, friendly neighbors and is surrounded by green, rolling hills. When we first meet Professor Gordon Zellaby (George Sanders), he is enjoying a pleasant morning.  The good professor is conversing on the phone in his study with his handsome dog Bruno by…

31 Scary Movies: ‘Psycho’

Jeff Mitchell

“Psycho” (1960) – Film students have marveled at director Alfred Hitchcock’s macabre movie of misdirection for decades, and his picture forced millions of moviegoers to think twice before taking a motel-shower. Rightfully so, as “Psycho” instantly became meshed within pop culture in 1960 and to this day. To this day, every movie aficionado knows that the lonely Bates Motel is the film’s setting, and Norman Bates’ (Anthony Perkins) place may be 15 minutes away from fictional Fairvale, CA, but it actually begins in the bustle of Phoenix, Arizona. Young Marion…