Alone in the Dark (1982) A terrific mash-up of the slasher subgenre about three psychopaths (Jack Palace, Martin Landau, and Erland van Lidth) who escape from a mental facility and terrorize the hospital’s new doctor (Dwight Schultz) and his family. Suspenseful and more complex than the typical slasher flick of the time, this is infused with dark, witty humor, good acting, and some impressive, and brutal, death sequences. Poking fun of and embracing its material, Alone in the Dark is an ’80s gem. B+
The Car (1977) A goofy crossbreed of The Exorcist and Jaws, this features a small desert town under siege by a seemingly driverless, possessed killer car. James Brolin gives the movie an air of respectability but the whole thing is so silly and unconvincing you won’t take any of it seriously; as with most movies of this caliber, you can’t help be entertained by its goofy charms. C+
Cold Prey (2006) Thrilling Norwegian slasher about a group of snowboarders who take shelter inside an abandoned ski resort after one of the party breaks their leg. The group slowly comes to realize they’re not alone when a mystery person starts picking them off one-by-one. A beautiful snowy landscape and genuinely enjoyable characters heighten the story above its genericness, as does director Roar Uthaug’s eye for detail, creating an atmosphere of suspense and scares. A must-see. B+
The Mothman Prophecies (2002) Based on real case files dating back to the 1960s about a series of unexplained events surrounding the small town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in which a group of people claim to have seen or interacted with a large, winged humanoid that predicted several major catastrophes. When a Washington Post reporter (Richard Gere) investigates the mysterious death of his wife it leads him to Point Pleasant and the sinister workings of the mothman. More of a psychological mystery than an outright horror film, this has a surprisingly good cast and a serious take on the subject matter, making the story seem much more credible than it probably deserves. C+