JoBlo Horror Originals

Even the horror greats have some blemishes on their filmography. John Carpenter has Ghosts of Mars. Tobe Hooper has Crocodile. And Wes Craven has a werewolf venture that reeks of having a troubled production. So we're getting into all of the CGI Werewolves, replaced actors, and forced ratings change, as we look at how Awfully Good is Wes Craven's Cursed.

M. Night Shyamalan was dubbed by Newsweek as being The Next Spielberg. But after a few blunders, Night found himself having to self-finance his productions. So we're going to look at his first misstep as we look at WTF Happened To The Village.

What would you do...? It’s perhaps the easiest question to ask yourself when considering coming face-to-face with something unexplainable. We like to think we’d be open to a fantastical experience, that we’d open our eyes ever wider to soak in the shocking phenomena at hand. But really think about it... Would you stand your ground - or would you run in fear? Would your curiosity win out - or win terror overwhelm it? There’s really no telling how you’d react if the unthinkable happened before you. Maybe you never want to find out... We’re going to look at a couple very different responses to our questions. And you’ll have a moment or two to ask yourself... What would I do if I met Indrid Cold... The Grinning Man?

In 1989, an HBO horror anthology series took the genre by storm. Its chilling intro, featuring a journey through a decrepit mansion filled with horrors, left a lasting impression. The Crypt Keeper's devilish laugh and eerie atmosphere haunted my nights. Today, we delve into why this amazing series lacks a Blu-ray remaster and when we can expect one – a journey not as simple as it seems.

Ever stumbled upon a flick that's like a hidden treasure in the world of creature features? Well, let me introduce you to Eight Legged Freaks, a 2002 arachnid escapade that slipped through the cracks for many. Beyond just sending shivers down your spine, this movie dishes out a killer combo of horror and humor that makes it stand out from the crowd. So, buckle up as we dive into why Eight Legged Freaks is that underrated, entertaining gem you didn't know you needed.

Eli Roth burst onto the horror scene with the now cult classic Cabin Fever in 2002 and followed it up with another gorefest that would not only spawn two sequels but would become renowned for some pretty shocking imagery. However, was the hype for the movie justified, or did Roth create another sick and twisted splatterfest without any substance? Well, don’t book that ticket to Slovakia just yet, as we find out WTF happened to Hostel.

The end of the 1990s was an odd time for cinema and in general. We were in the midst of Y2K, and fears that It could lead to something of an apocalypse. So, of course, Hollywood ran with it. Technology gone wrong, end of days, Satan coming to Earth, etc. Today we look back at End Of Days!

Today we look at a scene from one of the more underappreciated entries in the Friday the 13th franchise. The film we are talking about today is Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood. And today, we are focusing on the entire climactic sequence in which iconic slasher Jason Voorhees gets knocked around by the telekinetic abilities of heroine Tina!

1989 saw the release of 3 very similar underwater flicks. While James Cameron's Abyss may have just gotten a 4K release, and Deepstar Six became almost forgotten, today we're looking at the one that's more middle of the road. And while the film may have turned out subpar, the production was full of insanity. So come on this journey to the ocean floor as we tell you WTF Happened To Leviathan!

2018’s Hereditary is the feature film debut of Ari Aster and was released with iconic arthouse studio, A24. The film follows the Graham family led by parents Annie and Steve and including their two children, Peter and Charlie. After a family tragedy leaves their young daughter dead, the family slowly spirals into chaos as the grief of their loss brings out the absolute worst and most desperate of darkness inside of them and their lineage.

Set against the backdrop of a punk rock and new wave music festival, New Year's Evil stands out with its unique premise of a killer targeting victims in different time zones on New Year's Eve. The gritty atmosphere, memorable kills, and Roz Kelly's compelling performance as the radio DJ protagonist contribute to its cult appeal.

As the year comes to a close, we look back on all of the wonderful moments that cinema has provided. We've got a nice mix of films that took the box office by storm and lesser-seen gems that you really should take the time to check out yourself. From an angry pilgrim to something in the walls, all the way to rich people and the strange things they do for kicks, we're covering them all. Because this is Our 10 Favorite Horror Films of 2023.

Some years ago, Trick R Treat left an indelible mark on Halloween horror, and the creative force behind that anthology film showcased the potential for a captivating Christmas horror tale with the release of Krampus in 2015. Unlike its darker predecessor, Krampus adopts a more family-friendly horror approach akin to classics like Gremlins, blending comedic elements to cater to a broader audience, including younger viewers and families.

Horror for Christmas? Yes, I'm here to holly your jolly, deck your halls, and sacrifice your children to Krampus. What a merry holiday season indeed! Since our October vid focused on Halloween Specials, I figured the Spooky Christmas crossovers deserved some attention as well.

Today we're looking back at a movie that was just released last year, writer/director Joe Begos's holiday horror film Christmas Bloody Christmas. It's bound for midnight movie status, and today we tell you why!

Would it be a total buzz kill to find out one day when you decide to open your streaming service and see some of your digital copies gone in an instant? What if you didn't have the chance to pick up a physical copy as a backup when it was put on store shelves at your local retailer months or years prior? Chances are, it's happening much more frequently, and that's a sad, hard pill to swallow. Today, let's talk about a film that has disappeared in the ether when it comes to physical and digital release. Let's discuss George A. Romero's 1978 zombie epic, Dawn of the Dead.

A unique blend of horror, dark comedy, and historical drama, Ravenous is set during the Mexican-American War; the movie explores themes of cannibalism, survival, and the thin line between civilization and savagery. Its seamless shift between intense horror and dark humor sets it apart, challenging genre conventions. Ravenous is a cult classic that captivates with its bold storytelling and haunting exploration of the human psyche.

JoBlo’s own Lance Vlcek shifts his focus over to the works of John Carpenter with the latest episode in his The Best Scene video series. The Carpenter classic Lance is looking at with this one is the 1986 action extravaganza Big Trouble in Little China, a movie that's so good that he couldn't pick just one "best scene". He narrowed it down to three options!

Despite the incredible execution and near-perfect performances of everyone involved in the making of Psycho- Someone, somewhere, thought it would be a good idea to create an almost shot-for-shot remake of the classic 1960 title and bringing it into the modern era, while simultaneously remaining detrimentally faithful to the original film- which was not meant for the modern era.

Movies with $15,000 budgets are usually doomed to failure. Heck, that's more the budget of a 5-minute short film than for a full-length feature. Yet somehow, Oren Peli was able to give audiences an experience that scared the crap out of them. So join us as we go back to the late 2000s and revisit Paranormal Activity.

What if the person you prank called turned out to be a sadistic serial killer with limited patience for practical jokes, and even less patience for unruly young people who waste his time and give him the dreaded...blue balls. That is the premise for 2001’s Joy Ride- a horror thriller about a pair of brothers and their childhood friend who are making their way cross-country when a road trip prank gone wrong results in a relentless weekend of death, car chases, sabotage and even a bit of pink champagne. It’s a movie that plays on the classic teen slasher moodiness while also substituting blood and guts with more subtle haunts like the monotone and rough voice of the killer being the main terrifier in the story.

JoBlo Horror run-downs our favorite Horror Films set at Christmas time!

I've been immersed in TV lately, as you'll soon see in an upcoming adaptation video and my recent watches. The 2023 season of Creepshow is a blast, and the blend of Mike Flannigan's Succession with a Giallo twist in Fall of the House of Usher is a standout for me this year. It brings back memories of the '90s TV horror resurgence, reminiscent of the golden age (though I reserve that title for the '70s). The '90s offered a plethora, from Stephen King adaptations to timeless shows like Tales From The Crypt and The X-Files. TV horror owes a lot to Dan Curtis, and while his 1975 Trilogy of Terror is iconic, its sequel, 21 years later, stands as a true Black Sheep in the realm of TV terror.

Some of the movies we talk about have opinions fueled by nostalgia if they are good or reputation if they are bad. Of course, everything is subjective when speaking about how you feel about a movie. Van Helsing was the culmination of what Stephen Sommers had been working towards. While it did very well at the box office, it is not held in very high regard. Compared to the Tom Cruise Mummy flick and the other attempted reboots like The Wolfman and Dracula Untold, though, it’s a hell of a lot of fun.

At Test of Time, we analyze classic films based on factors like critical acclaim, box office success, and reputation. Our trio—writer Andrew, narrator Niki, and editor Mike—brings a fun perspective to the discussion. We also question the reverse scenario: can a initially deemed bad movie be reevaluated over time? Considering "The Thing," once a flop now praised, and with the release of David Gordon Green's new Exorcist trilogy, we're on the lookout for a new "worst" entry. Today, we scrutinize the long-standing title-holder: Is "Exorcist II: The Heretic" any better now, or does it remain one of the worst horror films ever, testing its endurance over time?