Movie Review: Halloween Hell (2015)

Ed Hardy is back after a long hiatus to give us another glimpse of gory horror in Halloween Hell. The director, most notable for the late 70s and early 80s efforts Bloody Birthday, Plague and Alien Warrior. As a fan of the time period, and Ed's films in general, I was eagerly anticipating this new venture. I remembered the gory practical effects and solid characterization on a budget that was a hallmark of an Ed Hunt film. Halloween Hell has a portion of that, which is great, but it suffers from a reliance on digital effects that are, truly, sub par and a talent pool that was drained before shooting began. Still, there are moments of really effective horror filmmaking but they are hampered by budgetary and talent constraints.

TV on DVD Review: Ghost Hunters, Season 8, Part 1 (2012, Image)

...as a certain famed, wise and literary 15th/16th century sage once wrote, "...there are more things in Heaven and Earth, (Horatio), than are dreamt of, in your philosophy..." Eh (...with a shoulder shrug), I suppose that I'd subscribe to that...I'd buy that for a dollar. However, in doggedly engaging the twelve episodes, which make up the SyFy-sponsored "Ghost Hunters: Season 8, Part One" box set collection, I also seem to recall an equally certain...and well, at a specific moment, quite shaken...Dr. Lesh, from 1982's "Poltergeist", who candidly admitted, "...parapsychology isn't something you master in. There are no certificates of graduation, no license to practice. I am a professional psychologist who spends most of her time engaged in this ghostly hobby, which makes me, I suppose, the most irresponsible (sixty-one-year old woman) I know..." Least to say, BOTH convoluting relevations fervently rattled around in my head, while watching this slick, paranormal-themed, investigative reality cable series, which despite the wonderfully varied, eclectic, historical and picturesque locations ventured to, in the course of this series' episode set, the whole of this suggestively endeavorous production seemed more exploitively 'showboat', than 'show-me'...

TV on DVD Review: American Pickers Vol. 3 (2012)

HISTORY’s ratings record-breaker is finally back with an all-new installment! (and not a moment too soon in my opinion)

In small towns and along America’s back roads, treasures are waiting to be uncovered- valuable relics that are a part of this country’s history which are hidden in back yard junk piles, buried in hundred year old barns and stacked to the rafters in peoples garages. It takes experts to find them and turn rust into riches.

American Pickers follows two of the most skilled “pickers” on the planet- Mike Wolfe, the owner of Antique Archaeology, and his side-kick and business partner, Frank Fritz, as they hunt down objects with historical, collectable and pop culture value. Usually striking gold in the most unassuming of places.