The Last House on the Left

Another Friday the 13th is almost upon us and I'm really excited to get the opportunity to see a remake of the classic "The Last House on the Left" originally released August 30, 1972. The film launched Wes Craven's directing career and despite having a pretty major flaw, remains one of my favorite horror flicks. For those of you who watched the original, you might recall the annoying subplot (the scene is the woods, with the two stupid cops trying to make their way back to the escapee’s car) which negatively impacted the most powerful scene in the movie. However, what makes this movie a classic, and incited some controversy was the graphic realism the film presented. The monsters were not zombies, vampires, or any other assortment of creatures brought forth from the imagination, they were human. Real life people, the kind you watch on the news or read about in the paper and the victims could very well be any one of us. The story (screenplay written by Wes Craven) follows two girls who are kidnapped, brutally raped and tortured in sadistic ways by an escaped con and his crew. Unknowingly the criminals seek refuge with the family of one of the victims, the family finds out and through various means of torture exact revenge. What frightened me most and haunted my dreams for many years, was that what the family did seemed right, it felt good. If it was me, my daughter, or someone I loved, I would quite possibly do the same thing. It’s a good film, although not for everyone. Whether the upcoming release will be as good or better has yet to be seen, but with the masters of horror, Wes Craven and Sean Cunningham together again my hopes are high.

A Vampire's Dream Come True...

What do you get when you place humans in a small town in Alaska, cut off from the sun and the rest of the world for "30 Days of Night"? One hell of a tasty treat for vampires.

The vast array of films, novels, and other entertainment mediums depicting vampires has brought the aura of mystery and fear associated with the vampire mythology near extinction. “30 Days of Night”, based on the graphic novels written by Steve Niles (co-writer of the “30 Days of Night” screenplay) and illustrated by Ben Templesmith, attempts to resuscitate the vampires role in modern horror. Director David Slade accepts the challenge, doing away with the charismatic, seducers we’ve all come to know as vampires, and in so doing creating a new visage of horror. These primitive beasts are killers, plain and simple, hunting and feasting on their human prey. They have all but lost the ability to speak, communicating with guttural sounds. Only the vampire leader, Marlowe (Danny Huston), seems capable of speech. They are strong, quick and merciless, the perfect killing machines.

The film takes place in Barrow, Alaska, where the locals are preparing for the annual phenomenon, “30 Days of Night”, during which the sun isn’t seen. While most of the inhabitants depart south, a hundred or so remain. When a stranger (Ben Foster) rows ashore from a larger ship, bizarre happenings begin to occur. Barrow’s local sheriff, Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett), sets out to investigate these events, while his estranged wife, Stella Oleson (Melissa George) attempts to catch the last plane out of town before the sun sets. Unable to make the last flight out, Stella heads back to town, shortly thereafter the horrifying vampires arrive and all hell breaks loose. “30 Days of Night” is pulse-pounding horror that succeeds in what it set out to do, giving new life to vampires and the horror genre. Do yourself a favor, buy it or rent it, and look for the Knightmare in your dreams.


30 Days of Night - 2 Disc Special Edition DVD - http://knightmareentertainment.zlio.net/p/30-Days-of-Night-2-Disc-Special-Edition/13573247

30 Days of Night - Blue-ray Disc - http://knightmareentertainment.zlio.net/p/30-Days-of-Night-Blue-ray-Disc/13573248

Welcome to Crystal Lake

“You lookin’ for this? ‘Cause it goes with your outfit.” Chewie (Aaron Yoo) said, handing over a hockey stick to Jason Voorhees. Jason showed no interest, quickly finding another means to kill the young man.
Platinum Dunes Productions on the other hand couldn’t say no when offered the opportunity to produce another “Friday the 13th” movie. Platinum Dunes Productions, established in 2001 with the partnership of Michael Bay, Andrew Form and Brad Fuller has made an excellent go of bringing several classic horror titles to life for a new generation. Productions such as “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” remake in 2003 and the adaptation of “The Amityville Horror” in 2005 got the trio off to a good start. Each film grossing over $110 million worldwide, with “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” being nominated for a couple of MTV Movie Awards and receiving a Teen Choice Award. Now they’ve taken to remaking the Friday the 13th films, the first installment “Friday the 13th” released on Friday, February 13, 2009 is a good beginning. The film follows Clay Miller (Jared Padalecki) as he searches for his missing sister, Whitney (Amanda Righetti) who disappeared six weeks earlier in the woods surrounding Crystal Lake. Along the way he enlists the aid of a beautiful young woman, Jenna (Danielle Panabaker), that he meets among a group of college kids out for a good time, having not a clue of the horrors that will soon unfold around them. The movie waste no time, approximately 10 minutes in, Jason Voorhees (Derek Mears) being not too fond of guests quickly sets about ridding himself of the pesky visitors. It never ceases to amaze me the ways that screen writers (Damian Shannon and Mark Swift) are capable of envisioning Jason’s numerous slaughters, my personal favorite, a girl roasting over an open fire. The writers took a new take on Jason Voorhees, he was smarter and more calculated, setting traps for his victims. It was a change for the better, making him more human and frightening. Platinum Dunes Productions has created another hit, a must see for horror fans.

Ride the Knightmare to haunting dreams...

Hello and welcome to the Knightmare Entertainment blog. Lock the doors, turn off the lights, and prepare for a fright. The Knightmare is coming to take you on a journey through the haunting world of horror. From horror movies, TV and anime, to horror novels, comics and manga. You'll be taken on an adventure that will leave you trembling, jumping at shadows, and unable to sleep.

I've consistently read reviews in the local paper and watched as movie critics dismissed (unjustly so) recent horror films. Horror has always been a popular genre for me ever since I watched my first Friday the 13th and read my first Stephen King novel. I put one and one together and decided that I had no choice except to write my own reviews in the hopes that other like me, would have another source of information tailored toward the horror buff.

Whenever I get the opportunity, or a good story comes my way, I'll spruce up the blog with a real life haunting.