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TERROR
ON TAPE
PLOT
Continental Video released this little treasure trove of clips
from their extensive catalog of horror movies. Framing the
compilation is videotaped footage of Cameron Mitchell, who plays a
ghoulish video store proprietor tempting three different customers
with these gory bon-bons.
REVIEW
Pretty solid compilation of stuff from some odd obscurities from
the seventies and early eighties. It introduced me to some great
(and definitely not so great) stuff. The segments in between the
clips aren't that bad either. Cameron Mitchell had a pretty extensive
career doing these types of films around this time, so he makes a
pretty apt host. Another bonus is the appearance of Michelle Bauer
(before she was known as a scream queen) playing a vampish customer
who cannot quench her thirst for the gore...
Among the movies featured, we get clips from such underrated classics
as "The Slayer" (just about every death scene, including the fabulous
pitchfork-through-the-back) and "Return of the Alien's Deadly Spawn".
Another treat is seeing all the naughty parts of "Nightmare" (a.k.a.
"Nightmares in a Damaged Brain)...the axe murder is even shown twice.
Other personal faves are scenes from "Alien Prey" and "City of the
Walking Dead" (a.k.a. "Nightmare City).... both fun flicks worth checking out.
Stinkers on here include footage from "Frozen Scream" (a movie to be
avoided at all costs; everything exciting in it is included here so
don't bother renting it) and a very weird "possessed-little-girl" movie
from Canada called "Cathy's Curse". "Kidnapping of the President" looks
a little out of place among the gore...seems more like a jungle commando
movie to me.
Fred Olen Ray's "Scalps" is also here, and Continental was cool enough
to include juicy tidbits from several of H.G. Lewis's movies: "Color Me
Blood Red", "Blood Feast", and "2000 Maniacs" (the barrel-roll scene kicks
ass!). I was a little surprised that Continental omitted scenes from one
of my faves, "Class Reunion Massacre".... some of that stuff would have
really fit in well.All in all, I really like this video. A great one to
pop in at a Halloween party to make great background, but still great to
sit down and watch even if you've seen all of these movies a million times.
GORE
That's pretty much what this tape is...Ninety minutes of gore. A good
highlight is a crucifixion scene from "The Eerie Midnight Horror Show"
(which I'd still love to see one of these days). And what horror movie
would be complete without nudity? About halfway through, we get a cheeky
little montage of T&A scenes set to wah-wah porn music!
SOUNDTRACK
Dunno...I wasn't paying too much attention to it...the screams all just
flow together after awhile.
BOTTOM LINE
The movie is really nostalgic for me...it really takes me back to my
pre-teen years of being a video store leech, scouring the horror shelves
for that crusty nugget of horror gold. For being a cheap promotional video,
this is put together well.
Review
By: The Scaremaker
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