Poltergeist (1982)

 

A family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.

From memory: Big-budget paranormal horror movie is exactly what one would expect by a Spielberg production of a movie directed by a genre expert like Tobe Hooper: a visually brilliantly staged and performed ghost drama with lots of thrills and excitement, but not much more than a suburban family's visit to Disney World.

Halliwell**: "Skilful but dramatically thin and sometimes rather nasty horror movie in which the producer's hand seems often to have controlled the director's. Misjudgement must be the reason that it was not the huge success intended."

Maltin***1/2: "Sensationally scary ghost story...Paced like a roller-coaster ride, with dazzling special effects - and a refreshing sense of humor." 

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

The Famous Texas Chainsaw house, 1972

The Funhouse (1981)

Four teenage friends spend the night in a carnival funhouse and are stalked by a deformed man in a Frankenstein mask.

From memory: High-pitched and violent horror show with a grim humor and made with style, but a far cry from the director's infamous The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Halliwell (no star): "A violent, freak-show horror that tries for black humour but misses most of the time; it sticks to the usual equation: teenage sex equals gruesome death."

Maltin**1/2: "Intense drama...there is sex, violence, suspense and an increasing tension as they encounter the unkown. Stylish visuals help create an eerie atmosphere in this not entirely succesful chiller.here"

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Five friends visiting their grandfather's house in the country are hunted and terrorized by a chainsaw wielding killer and his family of grave-robbing cannibals.

Relentlessly effective horror shocker that stops at nothing in its terror - with grim humour (if you can take it) and all filmed in broad daylight.

Halliwell**: "Relentless horror thriller adapted from real events which also inspired Psycho; its cult success led to a flood of similar slasher movies, though few reached its level of sustained terror."

Maltin***: "Sweat-inducing, claustrophobic, unrelenting suspense-comic-horror film. Classic and influential - and nowhere nearly as violent as it's reputed to be."

New acquisition: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

Simply wanted to see this one again after more than 30 years.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)