October Horror Movie Marathon

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

American Nightmare (2002)

Direct to dvd slasher starring Debbie Rochon as a slightly unstable nurse who murdered a group of campers the year previously then returns the following October 31st to 'off' a group of listeners of the American Nightmare pirate radio show who phone in to chat about their own fears on Halloween night.

A very low budget but competently made and acted film. The never modest Rochon is great as a Goth psycho bitch from hell in a film with a few inventive kills. Despite the dialogue being self referential (Spoorloos, Flesh for Frankenstein etc) especially at the start, it's clear the film makers are horror fans and take an idea such as a persons own fears and put it to good use in a film such as this.

Rock fans may be intrigued by the all girl band Pervis performing a cover of Venom's In League with Satan on the soundtrack.

Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

Freddy Krueger has lost his dreamlike powers to kill because he's been forgotten by the residents of Elm Street, Springwood, Ohio. To regain his power and freedom, Freddy resurrects Jason Vorhees from his watery grave at Camp Crystal Lake and manipulates him into traveling to Springwood to cause panic and fear, leading to rumors that Freddy has returned. However Freddy soon realises that Jason is too good at this killing teenagers lark and is depriving him very quickly of potential victims. Freddy decides Jason has to go back to Crystal Lake but it ain't that easy to make happen so the two fight it out in a violent free for all.

Nearer an Elm Street film than a Friday the 13th one, at least in the first half, Freddy vs Jason is basically a comic book monster mash from the half way point onwards. Plot strands disappear and it's mayhem all the way in a cartoon like gorefest which should delight fans of the two supernatural serial killers.