You may notice that this particular article is lacking the " From the Corner " pre-fix.  That's because this review of the 1980 film " The Changeling " is a Basement Exclusive!  I have not reviewed this film for " The Corner of Terror ". After the death of his wife and daughter, John Russell moves into an old, isolated mansion in order to work on composing a new piece.  He soon finds himself enveloped in strange sounds, shadows, and spirits- all leading to an explosive revelation about one of the most powerful men in the country... This film, starring George C. Scott is a true horror classic.  It expertly weaves a ghost story that will stay with you even after you've turned all the lights on. The story is fantastic, and exemplifies what a good ghost story should be.  The pacing is slow, but tense as it builds and builds to it's eruptive climax.  It keeps adding bits and pieces of the story at just a fast enough flow to keep you i...

You wouldn't normally expect to see a movie that combines feral kids and ghosts, right?  Well, 2013's " Mama " is unexpected that way... Years after their disappearance, Lily and Victoria are discovered living in a supposedly haunted forest.  They are taken to live with their Uncle Lucas and their Aunt Annabel (no relation to the doll). But something has followed them from the forest... something that wants the girls back ... Guillermo Del Toro's " Mama " is not, unfortunately, one of his better movies.  The story idea is great, but the execution is a little flat in my opinion.  The plot progression is steady and moves towards an interesting- though predictable climax. The main flaw is the characters.  The two girls- Victoria and Lily felt like they were more or less a MacGuffin, rather than fully realized characters in themselves.  Victoria gets a bit more growth and development than Lily... but not much.  Lucas doesn't get much developme...

If you're a horror fan- or a fan of Steven Spielberg, you're aware of the movie " Poltergeist ", right?  Well, what you may not be so aware of is the fact that there was a novel done based on the movie. Though, it's not too far-fetched, since pretty much every movie in the 1980's had a novel done for it... The Freelings are a happy family: A loving father and mother, two daughters and a son, and a lovable dog.  They are a happy family living in a cozy little community called Cueste Verde.  They have a comfortable home, and a comfortable life. Soon, however, things take a turn for the worst when their daughter, Carol Anne disappears... only for her voice to start transmitting through the family television... The only thing I'm going to say about the movie this book is based on is that I loved it when it came out.  I'll save the rest of my thoughts for a proper review at some point. This, however, is about the book. The book is actually p...

Ghost stories are one of the hardest things to do visually without resorting to extensive CGI or gore to bring the scares.  Finding a good, solid, suspenseful ghost movie is a challenge for someone like me. Living in an isolated manor during World War Two, the Stewarts find themselves alone and depending on each other to survive the threat of invasion.  Adding to their isolation is the affliction that affects the two children.  One day, they hire some servants... only to find that they'd brought "The Others" with them. Or maybe "The Others" were there all along already... This is not a fast paced story.  It slowly builds and builds.  It slowly, but surely adds on the suspense, the unease, the creepiness until you're looking over your shoulder into the shadows of your closet or under the bed.  The characters all get equal time and development as the story progresses.  They all serve a purpose to the unfolding of the tale.  I could imagine ...

Growing up, I was a fan of the classic "Hammer Horror" films like Christopher Lee's Dracula.  So, when I heard that Hammer was back in business a few years ago, I was excited and eager to see what they had to offer modern horror fans.  I am also a huge fan of the 1988 BBC release of " The Woman in Black ".  When I heard that their first submission to the world's scrutiny was to be "The Woman in Black", I was even more excited to see what they would do... Solicitor Arthur Kipps has been assigned the task of preparing Eel Marsh House for sale, and getting the recently deceased owner's papers organized and settled.  Upon arrival, however, Kipps soon realizes that something is wrong with the town and the isolated manor.  Digging deeper reveals a tragedy that still lingers and brings grief to those that stay there... Right off the bat, I have to say that I was impressed.  The story is different enough from the 1988 version that it's fresh,...

Abandoned facilities such as mental institutions are an often used location in horror films .  It wasn't much different with the recent " What Movie Wednesday " winner, " Room 33 ". When their vehicle runs out of gas, a female roller derby team, and the couple they offered a ride to are forced to take shelter for the night in an abandoned mental institution .  They soon meet Roxy - a scared teenager with a mysterious connection to the facility... and the killer that is now stalking them from the shadows ... The premise, while not what one could call "original" these days is still one that promises potential.  The actual story used, however is pretty shallow and amounts to tedious repetition of characters being scared, concerned for Roxy, being bitchy and being killed.  There is very little in the way of emotionally engaging moments... or scares even.  The opportunities to explore the reasons for what was happening were wasted- rather than clear t...

One of the things that horror stories are supposed to do is take the things we take for granted, and use them to make us wonder about how secure our lives really are... Carlotta Moran is a simple mother trying to raise her two children, and make ends meet.  A single, night of violence by an unseen assailant changes everything in Carlotta's life.  Soon, she won't know what's real, what's imaginary- where it's safe, or where it's dangerous.  Is the terror stalking her every night spawned by demonic forces... or is it something much closer to home? I'd seen the cover for this book many years ago, and was interested in that fact that it was supposed to have been based on a real case of sexual spectral assault.  At the time I first saw it, I wasn't sure how explicit it was, since I was only about thirteen or so.  Well, after years of being curious about it, I finally got the chance to buy and read it a few months ago. While, I have some quibbles with...

Those that read this blog on a regular basis will know that I love a good ghost story.  They will also know that I think that they are also one of the hardest things to transpose to the big screen... Guy and Jeanne have moved to a small town with their two daughters in order to be close to each other while Guy works on getting approval for and construct a wind farm in Princeton.  Soon, Jeanne starts to investigate the origins of a strange voice and apparition that appears in the wood nearby.  Her investigations set off a chain of events that echo back to the disappearance of little Lucy Keyes back in the 1700's ... " The Legend of Lucy Keyes " starts off with a bang with the family being terrorized by a vengeful spirit- setting you up with certain expectations.  For me, this movie met some of these expectations, and fell just a little short of others. The story is based on the real life mystery surrounding the disappearance of a girl named Lucy Keyes back in ...

In my travels through the realm of horror movies old and new, foreign and domestic, I come across one that really engages my interest, and manages to entertain me from the first shot to the last.  Such was the case during this week's " What Movie Wednesday " feature... Albert Kovac has been sent by his boss to the Hauff villa to discuss the owner's will with him.  Upon his arrival, the owner's beautiful wife reveals that he's been dead for a year.  Soon, Kovac and the owner's daughter, Corinne, are trapped in a net of horror as forces from the grave seek their vengence ... " Terror Creatures From the Grave " is a really interesting Italian horror film- originally titled, " 5 Tombe Per Un Medium ", and was inspired by the writings of Edgar Allan Poe.  Once production was completed, Director Massimo Pupillo was dissatisfied, and decided that Producer Ralph Zucker should take credit... even though Zucker did no directing whatsoever i...

Regular readers of my blog will know that I'm a big fan of William Castle.  The man was a visionary that made horror films fun, entertaining, and more than just images on the screen. Well, he's at it again- this time with a new book... the first book ever written by a ghost! William Castle finds himself a ghost in the quiet tomb of Saint Sarah in France.  While learning to adjust to his new "life", he discovers that his fate is tied to the lives of four teens who are soon sent on a terrifying quest to uncover the the truth behind Castle's death... and keep those responsible from gaining the tool for taking over the world... I have to admit, I was excited to read this book.  Seriously excited.  That last time I was THIS excited over a book was when I found a bunch of old " The Shadow " books at the book store I frequent.  And I was seriously geeking out at that time. And as far as I'm concerned, that excitement was worth it. The book, si...

  After all the black and white films I've watched over the past month or so as I worked my way through horror films from the 1920 to the present, I finally hit 1968- and a colour film.  It was a welcome change of pace- as was the story. Seperated from his regiment in 1806, Andre Duvalier stumbles across the castle of Baron von Leppe, and a mysterious woman whom the Baron claims has been dead for the past 20 years- because he killed her and her lover.  Determined to discover the truth behind the dark past of the castle, Duvalier soon finds himself confronting a deadly mix of guilt, revenge, and madness... " The Terror " was filmed on sets used in two other Roger Corman films- " The Raven ," and " The Haunted Palace ".  The tree in the final scene is from " The Haunted Palace " where it was the sight of Vincent Price being tied up and burnt.  In addition to re-using sets, this movie is notable for the number of directors it had: Roger Corma...

When I buy my horror box sets, I expect plenty of low budget horror movies.  I expect a fair number of bad ones.  I expect fewer decent ones.  I expect even fewer jewels. " Death on Demand " definately wasn't one of those jewels. Twenty years after a mountain climber is traumatized by an experience with a Yeti- culminating in his butchering his family during a nice dinner, a sleazy business man holds a contest in the now supposedly haunted house- a sort of scavenger hunt where the couples involved are looking for clues as to WHY the aforementioned mountain climber hacked his family to bits.  Unfortunately, they awaken his still insane spirit... and death ensues. Up to the point where the blood starts to flow, you would swear that " Death on Demand " was filmed for the Family Channel.  It has that "feel" and look to it.  The camera work is very simplistic, and brightly lit... almost cartoony.  The acting is sit-comy, and the humour rather immature...

I first heard about the "Ghost of Flight 401" as a kid, and saw a movie... appropriately titled, "The Ghost of Flight 401".  I'd heard that it was based on true events, and was interested in learning more about this case of the paranormal.  What I didn't know at the time was that it was also based on the book of the same name by John G. Fuller. Then one day, while rummaging through the Paranormal section of one of my favorite book stores, I came across this book.  Remembering the case from my childhood, I that it would be a good addition to my collection.  And it was. John G. Fuller was a journalist/author that at one time wrote a regular column for the magazine, " Saturday Review ".  He also wrote several non-fiction books regarding UFO's and the paranormal, including, " The Interrupted Journey: 2 Lost Hours 'Aboard a Flying Saucer' ", "Incident at Exeter: The Story of Unidentified Flying Objects Over America Now ...