Horrible Horror

Former TV horror host John Zacherle (who also put in appearances in several Frank Henenlotter films) hosts this collection of movie clips from a dusty, cluttered dungeon set and interrupts the proceedings far too often. Most of the titles covered in this long tape (110 minute) are from the 1930s through the 60s.

Included are trailers (THE ALLIGATOR PEOPLE, I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF, ATTACK OF THE PUPPET PEOPLE), fun rare bloopers from ABBOTT AND COSTELLO horror comedies, TV serials like THE UNDERSEA KINGDOM, SUPERMAN and CAPTAIN VIDEO, some hilarious William Castle gimmicks like the 3-D 13 GHOSTS and "death by fright" insurance policies for MACABRE and THE SCREAMING SKULL, a special section for Bela Lugosi movies (DRACULA, GLEN OR GLENDA?, BRIDE OF THE MONSTER and more), plus some rare and fun Lugosi interviews and great scenes from KING OF THE ZOMBIES with the hilarious Mantan Moreland.

My favorite trailer was for THE KILLER SHREWS, where a serious-sounding on-screen narrator informs us, "There have been recent sightings of giant killer shrews in Alaska!" Toward the end things are divided up by genre such as zombies (CARNIVAL OF SOULS, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD) and vampires (THE VAMPIRE'S COFFIN, THE VAMPIRE BAT). Also with SHE-DEMONS, THE BRAINIAC, WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST, THE BLOB (in color), HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, SPIDER BABY and many others. As you can tell, many of the titles covered do not fall into the category of "horrible horror."

I got my copy for $1.99 at Wal-Mart, so keep your eyes peeled for it!

If you can get a hold of this one you won't be sorry. It's a terrific compilation of clips from all the schlock films you've ever loved. If you love William Castle, Chiller Theater, or Dr. Shock, you've gotta find a copy of this one.

This tape is perhaps one of the funnest, greatest compilations of old movie clips ever assembled. Hosted by legendary television host Zacherley, it's a veritable army of clips, trailers and bits of old b-movies, many of which are the worst of the worst.

Zacherley, some 20-30 years after his heyday, is in fine form here, as he introduces segments devoted to different themes. The clips are of the so-bad-they're-great variety, including trailers for ROBOT MONSTER and THE KILLER SHREWS (a great promo piece that's not in the actual film). There's a fantastic section on Bela Lugosi, with pieces of interviews and television appearances. I was introduced to films I'd never heard of, like the Mexican z-classic THE BRAINIAC.

All in all, a great party film.

Ten stars for the clips, minus two for lame hosting. If you like to revel in the wonderful awfulness of 40's-60's sci-fi and monster movies, this abbreviated collection may be for you. Most clips are enough to elicit good-natured chuckles, though a few run a bit long. Includes some great Bela Lugosi interviews from the 30's as well. Not being familiar with host Zacherley, who shows up at intervals, this was the first time I'd seen him. I'll take it on trust that he was popular some years ago, but here he's mostly just annoying---you may long for the voiceover riffs of Mystery Science Theater/Rifftrax. Still, this is a great compilation of clips from flicks that actually frightened audiences back in a time before today's explicit levels of gore, violence and occultism. Makes you think about how hardened we've become.....

Zacherle introduces clips from some classic cheesy horror films, as well as rare TV stuff. Watching this, my brother and I found some of the footage to be so weird that it was almost disturbing, particularly the god-awful Electro.

Two complaints: Zacherle's bits really try your patience after a while (that fast-forward button WILL come in handy); and the inclusion of Night of the Living Dead, a great film that doesn't belong alongside such side-splitting crap as Robot Monster, Bride of the Monster, et al.