IT COMES TO LIFE!

Starring: Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Arthur Byron, Edward Van Sloan, Bramwell Fletcher, Noble Johnson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"I destroy this lifeless thing! Thou shall take its place but for a few moments and then... RISE again, even as I have risen!" - Imhotep

Why watch this? ... because your Mummy told you to! Besides, it's a horror classic.

Plot Summary: A team of British archaeologists, while excavating in Egypt, accidentally resurrect the ancient priest Imhotep. After his unexpected revival, Imhotep disguises himself as a modern Egyptian scholar and embarks on a quest to find the reincarnation of his long-lost love, Princess Anck-es-en-Amon. His efforts involve a young woman whom he believes is the reincarnation of the princess, leading to a suspenseful confrontation.

Carl Laemmle Jr.; Universal Studios

The seals have been broken. The prophecies have begun. Now only one woman can halt the end of our world.

Starring: Demi Moore, Michael Biehn, Jürgen Prochnow; Peter Friedman, John Taylor, Lee Garlington, Akosua Busia, Harry Basil

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"So much misery, man against man. They kill each other. They have no faith. I used to think the world would change. But it hasn't." - David Bannon

Why watch this? It's a brilliant "what if" story loosely based on the biblical Book of Revelation.

Plot Summary: Abby Quinn, a pregnant woman who begins to experience strange occurrences and unsettling dreams as the world around her faces unusual natural phenomena mirroring biblical prophecies. A mysterious stranger renting a room in her home seems connected to these events, which Abby fears are harbingers of the Apocalypse. Abby finds herself increasingly embroiled in a struggle to understand and potentially alter the unfolding sequence of these prophecies.

Interscope Comm., ML Delphi Premier Prod.;
TriStar Pictures

There are demons among us.

Starring: Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Booth, Luke Askew, Jeremy Sumpter, Matt O'Leary, Levi Kreis, Derk Cheetwood, Missy Crider

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"We've been chosen by God, he'll protect us. We've been given special jobs to do. We don't fear these demons, we destroy them. We pick them up one-by-one and we pitch them out of this world. That's God's purpose for us. The Angel called us God's hands." – Dad

Why watch this? This religious psychological thriller will mess with your head.

Plot Summary: A devoted Texas father tells his two young sons that he has received a divine vision commanding them to destroy demons disguised as human beings. While one son embraces this violent mission, the other struggles with fear and doubt, forcing him to question his father's sanity. The story, told in retrospect to an FBI agent, unfolds through psychological tension and memories to reveal the true nature of the family's actions.

David Kirschner Prod., American Ent. Co.,
Cenerenta; Lions Gate Films

Six soldiers. Full moon. No chance.

Starring: Sean Pertwee, Kevin McKidd, Emma Cleasby, Liam Cunningham, Darren Morfitt, Chris Robson, Leslie Simpson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"We are now up against live, hostile targets. So, if Little Red Riding Hood should show up with a bazooka and a bad attitude, I expect you to chin the bitch." - Sgt. Harry Wells

Why watch this? A company of British soldiers against a bunch of werewolves. Oh yeah!

Plot Summary: A squad of British soldiers, on a training exercise in the Scottish Highlands, stumble upon the remains of a Special Forces unit and discover they're being hunted by a pack of werewolves. The soldiers take refuge in a secluded farmhouse and must fight to survive the night against the monstrous creatures.

Kismet Ent. Group, The Noel Gray Motion Pic. Co.,
Victor Film Co. Carousel Picture Co.; Pathé

One night is all that stands between them and freedom. But it's going to be a hell of a night.

Starring: Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Juliette Lewis, Cheech Marin, Fred Williamson, Salma Hayek

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Has anybody here read a real book about vampires, or are we just remembering what a movie said? I mean a real book." - Jacob Fuller

Why watch this? ... starts out as a robbery/kidnapping, then, boom, we're knee-deep in Latino vampires.

Plot Summary: Fugitive criminal brothers Seth and Richard Gecko are on the run and decide to kidnap the Fuller family, including a former pastor and his two children, to cross the Mexican border in their RV. Their plan involves hiding out at a remote strip club called the Titty Twister, waiting for a contact at dawn. However, their situation becomes unexpectedly complicated when they discover the bar's staff and clientele are actually vampires, forcing them to fight for survival until sunrise.

Dimension Films, A Band Apart, Los Hooligans Prod.;
Miramax Films

When the moon is full the legend comes to life.

Starring: Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Geraldine Chaplin, Art Malik, Antony Sher

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"As I don't know where the lunatic will strike, it seems the practical thing to do is to stay as near as possible to the potential victims." - Dr. Aberline

Why watch this? This lycanthrope is true to Lon Chaney Jr., but a lot more lethal.

Plot Summary: Nobleman Lawrence Talbot returns to his estranged father's estate in Victorian-era England after his brother's brutal murder. A suspicious Scotland Yard inspector investigates as a creature terrorizes the village, rumored to be connected to an ancient curse. During his search for the killer, Talbot himself is attacked and falls victim to the very curse he is investigating.

Relativity Media, Stuber Pictures;
Universal Pictures

An erotic fantasy about the animal in us all.

Starring: Nastassja Kinski, John Heard, Malcolm McDowell, Annette O'Toole, Ruby Dee, Ed Begley Jr., Scott Paulin, Frankie Faison, Lynn Lowry, John Larroquette

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"We are a incestuous race. We can only make love with our own, otherwise we transform. And before we can become human again, we must kill." - Irena Gallier

Why watch this? This film is as beautiful as it is horrifying.

Plot Summary: Irina, an orphaned young woman, travels to New Orleans to reunite with her estranged brother, Paul. Shortly after her arrival, she discovers a terrifying family secret: she is descended from an ancient line of "Cat People," beings who transform into deadly panthers when sexually aroused. As she navigates this dark truth, Irina finds herself torn between her attraction to a human man and the dangerous, incestuous nature of her family legacy.

RKO Pictures; Universal Pictures

They can only kill you once. But they can terrify you forever.

Starring: Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, Tim Thomerson, Joshua Miller 

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Caleb, those people back there, they wasn't normal. Normal folks, they don't spit out bullets when you shoot 'em, no sir." - Loy Colton

Why watch this? This ultra-violent flick is one of the most Western films in the vampire genre.

Plot Summary: Caleb Colton, a young cowboy, encounters a mysterious drifter named Mae and is drawn into her world. He soon discovers she is part of a nomadic family of vampires who roam the American Southwest. Caleb is forced to confront his humanity and navigate the dangerous lifestyle of the undead, all while grappling with his feelings for Mae and the threats posed by her ruthless companions.

F/M Entertainment; De Laurentiis Ent. Group

A NIGHTMARE OF HORROR!

Starring: Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Helen Chandler, Dwight Frye, Edward Van Sloan, Herbert Bunston, Frances Dade

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make." - Dracula, regarding wolves

Why watch this? The elaborate sets and Lugosi's haunting, iconic performance.

Plot Summary: Count Dracula, a Transylvanian vampire, travels to England and takes up residence in Carfax Abbey. He begins to exert his influence over local society, specifically targeting the young women, including Mina Seward and her friend Lucy Weston. When Lucy falls ill with a mysterious ailment, Professor Van Helsing is called upon to investigate, soon realizing the danger posed by the Count and working to protect Mina and expose Dracula's true nature.

Tod Browning, Carl Laemmle Jr.; Universal Pictures

Perfection of the outside. Murderous corruption within.

Starring: George Sanders, Hurd Hatfield, Donna Reed, Angela Lansbury, Peter Lawford, Lowell Gilmore, Richard Fraser, Douglas Walton, Morton Lowry, Miles Mander, Lyda Bilbrook, Mary Forbes

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"If only it was the picture who was to grow old, and I remain young. There's nothing in the world I wouldn't give for that. Yes, I would give even my soul for it." - Dorian Gray

Why watch this? This morality tale cautions us on the dangers, and intoxication, of narcissism.

Plot Summary: Young and handsome Dorian Gray has his portrait painted by close friend Basil Hallward in Victorian London. When Basil's friend, Lord Wooton, stops by, Wooton impresses Gray to partake in pleasures while still young. This prompts Gray to inwardly wish that his portrait age, while he remain young. Magically, and thanks to a Egyptian cat god statue, his wish is granted. The portrait not only ages, but it shows the terrible ugliness of his wanton actions, as Gray lives on as a man both depraved and heartless. Gray hides the ever-changing painting in his attic, deciding, years later, to let the artist, Basil, see the decaying device that has ruined his life.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's, Inc.

Heads Will Roll

Starring: Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Casper Van Dien, Christopher Walken, Christopher Lee

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"The Horseman comes, and tonight he comes for you." - Lady Van Tassel

Why watch this? ... it's a masterful gothic tale of curses, betrayal, and head-lopping murder.

Plot Summary: In 1799, Constable Ichabod Crane is sent to the isolated village of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of gruesome murders where victims are found decapitated. The superstitious townspeople attribute these killings to the legendary Headless Horseman, a spectral Hessian mercenary seeking his lost head. As Crane, a man of science and logic, delves deeper into the chilling mystery, he must confront his skepticism and the possibility of supernatural forces.

Mandalay Pics, Scott Rudin Prod., American
Zoetrope, Tim Burton Prod,; Paramount Pics

...He who is doomed to wander alone in darkness.
...He who is condemned to destroy even those whom he loves.

Starring: Klaus Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Bruno Ganz, Roland Topor, Walter Ladengast, Dan van Husen, Jan Groth, Carsten Bodinus, Martje Grohmann, Rijk de Gooyer, Clemens Scheitz

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Death is not the worst. There are things more horrible than death." - Count Dracula

Why watch this? This version of the Nosferatu legend is a true work of gothic art.

Plot Summary: Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania to finalize a real estate deal with the mysterious Count Dracula. Dracula, captivated by a photograph of Harker's wife Lucy, purchases a property in Harker's hometown of Wismar and journeys there, bringing with him a plague of rats and death. Lucy becomes aware of the sinister nature of Dracula and strives to end the reign of terror he unleashes upon Wismar.

Werner Herzog Filmprod., Gaumont, Zweites
Deutsches Fernsehen; 20th Century Fox

In darkness, there can be light. In misery, there can be beauty. In death, there can be life...

Starring: Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil, Álex Angulo, Manolo Solor

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I've had so many names. Old names that only the wind and the trees can pronounce. I am the mountain, the forest and the earth. I am... I am a faun. Your most humble servant, Your Highness." - Pan to Ofelia

Why watch this? As wise critic Roger Ebert penned, "It is a fairy tale for grown-ups".

Plot Summary: Set in Spain during WWII, a young girl, Ofelia, and her pregnant mother move into the compound where her ruthless father-in-law, Captain Vidal, resides. Vidal, a sadistic leader, is responsible for suppressing a band of rebels who resist the Francoist regime. He is cruel, especially to Ofelia. To cope, the girl escapes to an imaginary world of fairies and creatures. Within a nearby stone maze, she encounters the bizarre, horned Pan, a faun who gives her three tasks to prove her worthiness to become a princess.

Estudios Picasso, Tequila Gang, Esperanto
 Filmoj, Sententia Ent.; Warner Bros. Pictures

A Fairy Tale for Troubled Times

Starring: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Nick Searcy, Nigel Bennett

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"When he looks at me, the way he looks at me... He does not know, what I lack... Or - how - I am incomplete. He sees me, for what I - am, as I am. He's happy - to see me. Every time. Every day. Now, I can either save him... or let him die" - Giles, interpreting Elisa

Why watch this? It's strange, haunting and a work of extraordinary beauty.

Plot Summary: In 1962 Baltimore, Elisa, a mute cleaning lady working at a high-security government laboratory, leads a lonely, isolated life. Her existence changes forever when she discovers a mysterious, captured humanoid amphibian creature and forms a deep, unique bond with him. To save him from a sadistic colonel, Elisa teams up with her friends to plan a daring escape and set him free.

Double Dare You Prod.; Fox Searchlight Pics

Bolt your doors. Lock your windows There's something in The Fog!

Starring: Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hal Holbrook, Janet Leigh, Nancy Loomis, Ty Mitchell, Charles Cyphers

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We were aided by an unearthly fog that rolled in, as if Heaven sent, although God had no part in our actions tonight." – Father Malone

Why watch this? This is one film I cannot watch with the lights off.

Plot Summary: On the eve of its centennial, the small coastal California town of Antonio Bay becomes shrouded in a mysterious, glowing fog. This fog brings with it supernatural occurrences and the vengeful spirits of shipwrecked sailors seeking retribution for their deaths, which were caused by the town's founders a century earlier. As the fog rolls inland, a diverse group of residents, including a radio DJ, a priest, and a hitchhiker, must fight for their lives against the mist.

Debra Hill Prod.; AVCO Embassy Pictures

The Fate Of The World Rests On The Courage Of One Warrior.

Starring: (English voice cast:) Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, John DeMita, John DiMaggio, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gillian Anderson, Debi Derryberry, Keith David, Tara Strong

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Now watch closely, everyone. I'm going to show you how to kill a god. A god of life and death. The trick is not to fear him." - Lady Eboshi

Why watch this? It is yet another wonderful animated treasure from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

Plot Summary: Set in the Muromachi period of Japanese history, young Prince Ashitaka is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. There, he becomes embroiled in a conflict between Iron Town, a community encroaching upon the forest and its inhabitants, and the forest spirits, led by the enigmatic Princess Mononoke. Ashitaka attempts to mediate between the opposing forces, seeking a path to coexistence before the escalating violence consumes both humans and nature.

Studio Ghibli; Toho

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Director: Francis Ford Coppola rated R for strong violence, nudity, scary scenes

LOVE NEVER DIES

Starring: Gary Oldman, Winona Ryder, Anthony Hopkins, Keanu Reeves, Richard E. Grant, Cary Elwes, Tom Waits

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You will, I trust, excuse me if I do not join you. But, I have already dined, and I never drink... wine." - Dracula

Why watch this? Gary Oldman's portrayal of Dracula is singularly unique... and terrifying!

Plot Summary: In 1897, a young solicitor, Jonathan Harker, travels to Transylvania to handle a real estate transaction for the mysterious Count Dracula. Upon seeing a photograph of Harker's fiancée, Mina, Dracula believes she is the reincarnation of his deceased wife. Imprisoning Harker, the Count travels to London to find Mina, unleashing a reign of terror and seduction upon those seek to protect the girl.

American Zoetrope, Osiris Films;
Columbia Pictures

From a dimension beyond the living, a terror to scare you to death.

Starring: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight, Dominique Dunne, Heather O’Rourke, Zelda Rubinstein

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"It lies to her, it tells her things only a child could understand. It has been using her to restrain the others. To her, it simply is another child. To us, it is the Beast." - Tangina

Why watch this? Nightmares come to life in this disturbing, apparition-filled experience.

Plot Summary: The Freeling family's seemingly normal suburban home becomes the site of increasingly strange and frightening supernatural occurrences. These manifestations initially seem playful, but they quickly turn menacing, eventually leading to the disappearance of the youngest daughter, Carol Anne. Desperate to rescue her, the family enlists the help of paranormal investigators and a spiritual medium to confront the malevolent forces that have invaded their home.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, SLM Prod. Gp.,
Mist Ent., Amblin Ent.; MGM/UA Ent. Co.

Not every gift is a blessing.

Starring: Bruce Willis, Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, Olivia Williams, Trevor Morgan, Donnie Wahlberg

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I don't wanna be scared anymore." - Cole Sear

Why watch this? This is a very chilling, sophisticated and creepy film, from a promising new director.

Plot Summary: Child psychologist Malcolm Crowe takes on a new patient, a young boy named Cole Sear, who is isolated and troubled. Cole confides in Malcolm that he can see and communicate with deceased individuals who are unaware of their own deaths. As Malcolm works to understand and help Cole with his unusual ability, he also grapples with personal issues, including a strained relationship with his wife.

Hollywood Pictures, Spyglass Ent., The
Kennedy/Marshall Co., Barry Mendel Prod.;
Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

IS HE A MAN... OR UNHOLY BEAST?

Starring: Claude Rains, Lon Chaney Jr., Warren William, Ralph Bellamy, Maria Ouspenskaya, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Even a man who is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night, May become a wolf when the wolf's bane blooms, and the autumn moon is bright." - Maleva, the gypsy

Why watch this? This timeless classic still remains my favorite werewolf movie.

Plot Summary: Returning to his ancestral home in Wales, Larry Talbot becomes entangled with a gypsy carnival and the local folklore surrounding werewolves after a fateful encounter in the woods. A gypsy woman informs Larry that he was bitten by a werewolf, implying that he will transform into one himself. The film then follows Larry's tragic descent as he grapples with the terrifying possibility of becoming a monster.

George Waggner; Universal Pictures

An American Werewolf in London (1981), Director: John Landis, rated R for language, nudity, sex, violence, gore and scary scenes

 BEWARE THE MOON

Starring: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne, John Woodvine, Brian Glover, David Schofield, Frank Oz

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #32 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of An American Werewolf in London

"On the moors, we were attacked by a lycanthrope, a werewolf. I was murdered, an unnatural death, and now I walk the earth in limbo until the werewolf's curse is lifted.” – Jack

Why watch this? The first transformation scene is worth the price of admission.

Plot Summary: Two American backpackers, David and Jack, are attacked by a creature on the English moors. One is killed, while the survivor, recovering in London, experiences terrifying nightmares and hallucinations. Soon, he discovers the horrifying truth about his attack and faces the potential of his own monstrous transformation.

PolyGram Pictures, Lycanthrope Films Limited;
Universal Pictures