Masters of Horror: Best to Worst
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- CreatorMick GarrisStarsKaren Elizabeth AustinJ. Winston CarrollMiho NinagawaAnchor Bay's collection, which has amassed some of the best horror film anthologies.
- 2005–200759mTV-MA7.5 (9.8K)TV EpisodeDirectorJohn CarpenterStarsNorman ReedusColin FooUdo KierWith a torrid past that haunts him, a movie theatre owner is hired to search for the only existing print of a film so notorious that its single screening caused the viewers to become homicidally insane.9/10
John Carpenter is one of the most consistently good horror directors, and the plot is similar to 'In the Mouth of Madness'. - DirectorNorio TsurutaStarsDaniel GilliesThom IrvineEthan AmisAbsolutely terrified of the sea, an American lawyer reluctantly goes on an ocean cruise to be near the wife of a client, with no idea of the grim situation that awaits them all.9/10
Exactly how an horror should be. It's dark, nightmarish, intelligent, well acted, without having to resort to gore/blood/sadism all the time.
The overly simplistic happy ending, while not exactly the best way to end it, was a refreshing change from the rest of the series - DirectorStuart GordonStarsElyse LevesqueJeffrey CombsAron TagerThe Black Cat, set in 1840 Philadelphia, has the great writer Edgar Allan Poe, struggling with alcoholism, writers block, as well as being out of ideas, short on cash, and tormented by his wife Virginia's black cat that will either destroy his life or inspire him to write one of his most famous stories.9/10
A great, twisted psychological horror based on a great story, with a great performance by Jeffrey Combs. - DirectorBrad AndersonStarsChris BauerMatty FinochioLaura MargolisDeeply affected by a personal tragedy, an office drone comes to realize his sense of hearing has taken on extraordinary capabilities that could drive him insane.8/10
The concept might seem strange for an horror, but Brad Anderson manages to turn it into an effective and interesting psychological thriller. - DirectorWilliam MaloneStarsLori PettyLindsay PulsipherWilliam SamplesA warlock couple abduct a young teenage girl to sacrifice her to a mysterious and evil entity as an offering to resurrect their long-dead boy.8/10
Strong story and characters, and a happy ending that still keeps to the dark tone of the rest of the episode. - DirectorStuart GordonStarsEzra GoddenCampbell LaneJay BrazeauA graduate student questions his sanity after he rents a room in an old boarding house which was the residence of a 17th-century witch, and he discovers that the evil forces still roam within the walls.8/10
Another HP Lovecraft adaptation by Stuart Gordon. Definitely better than some of his other attempts. - DirectorJohn McNaughtonStarsSteve BacicMicki MaunsellGerard PlunkettA grieving widower seeking the help of a necromancer is told the terrible tale of Ernst Haekel, a man obsessed with reanimation.7/10
Atmospheric mix of horror and period movies. Typical sexual situations/innuendos/BDSM one would expect from a Clive Barker story.
Terribly unfunny and campy ending, though. - DirectorRob SchmidtStarsJulia BensonMartin DonovanAnna GalvinWhen a grisly car accident put his wife into a coma, a man reluctantly pulls the plug only to realize her spirit has turned vengeful against the living.7/10
Very good and original story, with a fun 'happy' ending (a bit of criticism: how did her ghost become a pyrokinetic?). Surprising, considering who directed it. - DirectorJohn LandisStarsGeorge WendtMeredith MonroeMatt KeeslarHarold is seemingly a peaceful neighbor in a quiet American midwestern town, but he's actually a murderous psychopath, setting a trap for a couple who has just moved in across the street from him.7/10
Not great but a solid episode, with good acting, story and mood; fun to watch. Downsides are the irritating music and lack of actual horror elements. - DirectorLarry CohenStarsFairuza BalkMichael MoriartyWarren KoleIn the middle of nowhere, with only a two-lane highway to connect it to anywhere, a recently divorced woman traveler, who's a passenger on a bus that has broken down, gets caught in a bizarre and violent turf war between serial killers.7/10
Funny twist on the hitchhiker horror cliché. - DirectorMick GarrisStarsTyron LeitsoNicola LipmanJonathan WattonTaken from a Clive Barker original screen story, tells the tale of a novelist who discovers there are fates worse than literary anonymity in this sexually-charged tale of terror.7/10
I have never read that Clive Barker story, but the concept was very interesting. Good acting, very good monster by Tony Todd, but the tries at comedy (like at the end) hinder more than help. - DirectorMick GarrisStarsHenry ThomasMatt FrewerStacy GrantIn Chicago, Jamie works in the food lab of a company developing flavors. Jamie is divorced and on a diet, but after eating a chocolate, he becomes connected to a beautiful woman. He can see through her eyes and feel what she's feeling. Jamie falls in love with the woman until he witnesses her killing her lover. He travels to meet her with tragic consequences.6/10
Works more as a dark comedy than a horror. - DirectorJoe DanteStarsJason PriestleyKerry NortonLinda DarlowA strange virus turns the entire human male population into homicidal maniacs who end up wiping out all females, leaving a woman and her daughter to fend for themselves.6/10
Merely okay; like most of what Joe Dante does, it's rather fun but held back a bit by his political innuendos, plus a terribly unoriginal twist. - 2005–200757mTV-MA5.3 (2.2K)TV EpisodeDirectorTom HollandStarsBrent SheppardMaxwell NeckTim HenryYears ago, they pulled a disastrous childhood prank on the neighborhood ice cream delivery man that got him killed, but now as they've become adults with families of their own, the last thing anyone expected was for that man to come back in the form of a vengeful, bloodthirsty spirit.5/10
Uninspired and unoriginal; I couldn't help feeling this was too similar to 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'. Still, it's quite fun. - DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsCaitlin WachsEmmanuelle VaugierMark FeuersteinDetermined to "rescue" his pregnant daughter from an abortion clinic, a religious fanatic and his sons plan a violent assault - just as the doctors' suspect her pregnancy might not be of this world.5/10
Unintentionally funny, complete with a cheesy looking monster. Ron Perlman is great here, and the story had a lot of promise but it kinda lost its way towards the end. - 2005–200751mTV-MA6.5 (5.9K)TV EpisodeDirectorDon CoscarelliStarsBree TurnerAngus ScrimmJohn DeSantisWhile driving at night along a lonely road through the mountains, Ellen gets distracted by her radio and hits a car parked on the road. She faints and looks for help since her car does not start again. She meets Moonface pulling a woman in the woods. He's a deranged monster-like man that collects human bodies. She is abducted by Moonface, but she recalls the survival lessons of her husband Bruce as she faces and fights back against the killer.5/10
An unexpected twist and Angus Scrimm (for 'Phantasm' fans) are really the only good things in this typical slasher copycat, which feels like it wants to be a mix of Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Jeepers Creepers. - DirectorJohn LandisStarsBrian BenbenWalter HighMichael P. NortheyA harried, burned-out cop believes that a recent string of murders proves that the murderer might be a deer-like creature in the form of a beautiful woman, straight from a local Native American folklore legend.5/10
John Landis trying to mix comedy with horror again. If you liked 'An American Werewolf in London', you will probably like this one too. - DirectorLucky McKeeStarsMike McKeeErin BrownAngela BettisA story about an evil bug with the ability to change people's behavior, a commentary on the dangers of moving into a relationship too quickly.4/10
Good enough story and lesbian scenes with Misty Mundae, but it drags on too much. There is not enough material here for an hour-long episode - DirectorDario ArgentoStarsMeat LoafLink BakerEmilio SalituroA sleazy, desperate fur trader haunts a local strip club and gets his hands on some priceless raccoon furs - which might be more than just priceless but cursed.4/10
Very gory, but overly rushed. The concept could have been better worked in other ways instead of turning into an exploitative giallo. - DirectorJoe DanteStarsThea GillJon TenneyTerry David MulliganA hotshot White House speech writer deals with the publicity nightmare of his life when recently deceased soldiers return from beyond the grave.4/10
Left-wing propaganda, but fun enough to be watchable. - DirectorPeter MedakStarsCaroline CarterJulia TortolanoVenus TerzoA family man unearths an old letter, claiming that historical figure George Washington was a cannibal, and that a colonial-era reenactment group may be upholding that way of life.3/10
Overly campy, American horror version of DaVinci Code. Badly acted too; I almost gave up on the episode when the girl screeched for the fourth or fifth time.
I liked the ending though. - DirectorErnest R. DickersonStarsArjay SmithBranden NadonJodelle FerlandTwo curious teenage boys break into an old mortuary looking for thrills, only to find themselves stalked by a former teacher who is a very real vampire looking to increase the ranks of the undead.3/10
The story made me think of 'The Addiction', but rushed and more commercial-oriented; ended up a mediocre and boring episode.
Still better than the Twilight Saga. - DirectorTobe HooperStarsJessica LowndesGenevieve BuechnerJonathan TuckerIn a post-apocalyptic society, 17-year-old Peggy lives with her mom, who's overprotective since her young daughter Anna died. Peggy works at her mom's restaurant. When two punk couples come to the diner to eat, Peggy is attracted to Jak, who invites her to go out with him later. Without letting her mom know, Peggy goes out with Jak, and they go to a dark club, the Doom Room. The master of ceremony is the ringmaster of a freak show with dead people. The MC injects blood into the dead and they dance on a ring for the exalted audience. When Peggy sees her undead sister Anna dancing in the show, the MC discloses the truth about her presence in the circus.3/10
Good atmosphere and Robert Englund are the only worthwhile things here. - DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsBilly DragoShihô HarumiMichiéIn the 1800s, an American returns to Japan to find the prostitute he fell in love with, but instead learns of the physical and existential horror that befell her after he left.3/10
It's just a Japanese version of 'torture porn': it has the surreal and nightmarish feel of a good Japanese horror, but ends up as just another depraved exploitative horror with its torture scenes.
Not as strong as people keep saying, either. - DirectorTobe HooperStarsSean Patrick FlaneryMarisa CoughlanBrendan FletcherApocalyptic tale of a monstrous force which devastates Sheriff Kevin Reddle's family and his small Texas town. Sheriff Reddle thinks there's a connection between this mysterious, invisible force which made his father kill his mother back in 1981, and he sets out to uncover and stop the so-called "damned thing" before it decimates the whole town by forcing the residents to kill each other and then finally... themselves.2/10
Boring, senseless and unoriginal; if not for the screaming all the time I would have fallen asleep. Tobe Hooper, once one of the best in the horror genre, has really lost his way. - DirectorDario ArgentoStarsSteven WeberLaurie BrunettiCarrie Anne FlemingFrank Spivey (Steven Weber) is a detective who rescues a strange young girl with a horribly disfigured face and lusciously ripe body from a deranged killer.2/10
It is irksome and creepy, but tends to go too far (even for an horror movie) and is overly predictable (the 'twist' could be expected from a minute into the movie).