Customer Reviews

Horror: 4 Film Favorites

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

WARNER's "HORROR: 4 FILM FAVORITES" consists of two dual-side recorded discs of American fright films made between 1978 and '96. Transfer quality of these is excellent.


SYNOPSES--

BAD MOON-- The family dog defeats Uncle Werewolf. Cheesy special effects and a small budget hardly detract from a mediocre script.

BODY SNATCHERS-- Family staying at a Southern military base notice that soldiers are acting oddly. The EPA inspector's daughter is warned to stay awake, because "they" get you when you sleep.

COMA-- A hospital's patients are being killed so their organs can be sold on the black market. This set's oldest film is also the best of the bunch. Superb cast includes small roles for Tom Selleck and Ed Harris (who made his screen debut here). Directed and scripted by author Michael Crichton-- he based his screenplay on Robin Cook's bestseller.

WOLFEN-- A NYC cop investigating deaths that appear to be animal attacks discovers an Indian legend concerning wolf spirits. (Watch for a cameo by Tom Waits as the "drunken bar owner.")


WARNER's THRILLERS: 4 FILM FAVORITES would be an excellent companion to this DVD 4-fer.


Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.

(4.8) Bad Moon (1996) - Mariel Hemingway/Michael Paré/Mason Gamble/Ken Pogue

(5.7) Body Snatchers (1993) - Gabrielle Anwar/Terry Kinney/Billy Wirth/Forest Whitaker/Meg Tilly

(6.8) Coma (1978) - Geneviève Bujold/Michael Douglas/Elizabeth Ashley/Rip Torn/Richard Widmark/Tom Selleck/Benny Rubin/Ed Harris

(6.2) Wolfen (1981) - Albert Finney/Diane Venora/Edward James Olmos/Gregory Hines/Tom Noonan (uncredited: Tom Waits)

Great collection overall, although I would have expected the werewolf movies to be together on one disc and the body snatcher movies on the other. Anyway they look pretty good, anamorphic ws on all as i recall.

Bad MOON requires you to get past some major schlock in the first 5 minutes, and after that there isn't a whole lot going on. I give it staggered 1 view

Coma was a good sci fi vehicle for Douglas and Bjould I give it 2 views

Wolfen is pretty interesting, with its offbeat cast, it take a more cerebral approach. Carefully developing the characters and ground rules up until the great finale. I give it at the least 3 to 4 views.

Body Snatchers lives up to its namesakes legacy, while the budget didn't seem to be too high it succeeds in creepy. Abel Ferrara most likely made this as a favor for someone as it lacks his signature themes. I give it 3 to 4 views

Note that I rate the films by how many times I can stand to watch them, for example a great film by Leone, or Kurosawa or the original invasion of the body snatchers gets a multi view rating meaning they can be watched over 6 times and as many times as necessary.

All I wanted was "Wolfen" and I got three more movies that I had liked but had forgotten great deal for the price.

I bought this for a friend and watched it with him. I knew it would be bad and it was. I guess if you like this kind of thing then it would be good for you. I on the other hand have taste.