The Video Verdict

Leaving crumbling castles and cobwebbed mausoleums behind, 1987's The Lost Boys ushered in a new breed of vampire that was primed for the MTV Generation—as well as introducing the concept of the teenage bloodsucker. 

It's back to Crystal Lake—or, at least, two counties over—as we take a stab at one of the franchise's most controversial entries, 1985's A New Beginning. Love it, or hate it, Part V offers up a variety of interesting kills, whacky characters, and even an imposter Jason!  

When Jaws hit in the mid-70s it spawned countless of imitations, none of which are as whacky—and violent—as 1976's Grizzly. Starring fan favorite, Christopher George, Grizzly is a must for the when-animals-attack movie fanatic.  

After a long hiatus, we're back to discuss the 1976 classic, Carrie. Based on Stephen King's first novel and directed by Brian De Palma, Carrie is a masterwork of storytelling, seamlessly blended into movie magic by De Palma's tour-de-force filmmaking style.   

With the upcoming arrival of the newest entry in the series, we chat about everything Final Destination—from the first film’s origins as a spec script for The X-Files, to the franchise’s inventive use of 3-D technology, to the crazy twist of FD2! Saddle up—it’s gore galore! 

This week we talk about the 1974 sci-fi/horror/disaster mash-up Chosen Survivors, an obscure film about nuclear holocaust, government cover-ups, and… killer bats! 

After being laid to rest for several years, the vampire movie got a boost of 80s-infused energy with Fright Night, a stylish homage to the gothic (and sexy) vamp flicks of yesteryear. Written and directed by veteran horror screenwriter Tom Holland (Psycho II, Child’s Play), Fright Night abandons the old world setting of Dracula and Orlock for modern suburbia, and created a new breed of vampire film that laid the groundwork for The Lost Boys.  

In this episode we discuss how a micro budgeted Roger Corman horror comedy from 1960 transformed into a popular Off-Broadway musical, which bloomed into an Oscar-nominated Hollywood movie in 1986.

A group of strangers become trapped in a movie theater as a demonic curse escapes from the screen and infects the audience, turning them—one by one—into bloodthirsty, possessed maniacs. Taking the Evil Dead premise to spectacular new heights, this cult favorite, produced by Dario Argento and directed by Lamberto Bava, is a high-energy, supernatural thrill-fest and a testament to the longevity of VHS-era horror. “It’s only a movie…” Until it isn’t. 

After a teenage boy commits murder, his mother hides him inside the walls of their home. And he's still there when a new family moves in… This made-for-TV thriller, based on a novel by Jack Vance, has—since its original 1974 broadcast— become a cult classic and an unforgettable touchstone for viewers of a certain age. But how “bad” is Ronald, really? And how does it compare to its sinister source material? Find out in this week’s episode!