Profile: Robert Horror Bob Masters

Profile: Robert Horror Bob Masters

So for the assholes who don’t believe that Robert Masters ever existed and have been trying to bury his legacy, here is the story of a simple video store owner who was an innovator and a businessman who did things his own way.

I met Robert Ean Masters in 1986 when I was taking an afternoon movie criticism class at The College of San Mateo. Robert had just opened his store, Video Universe, in San Francisco.

He was able to attend the class because it was at 10 am on Wednesday and Video Universe opened at noon everyday except on Sunday when it opened at 1 pm.

Robert ran a very unique video store. His story only stocked horror, science fiction, fantasy, and mystery films. Later he would amusingly add horror themed porno films, like A Nightmare on Porn Street, Trampires, and all the Devil and Miss Jones films.

Robert actually took a cue from some Canadian video dealers and built onto the video store The Horror Bob Theater. For $20 each people could rent the theater and could watch two rented videos right there. Robert would also offer popcorn, canned drinks, and candy. The theater seated ten people, but with folding chairs, which he had available seating could be extended to twenty people.

The theater was popular with people who didn’t  have a VHS, Beta, or video disc player, because Robert had all three available. Towards the end he would a DVD player as well.

The theater was also popular with video clubs and independent movie groups.

As well it was when the original version of Horror Bob’s Blog was created. The Blog started out as a free newsletter that Robert would print and have available at the cash register. Unfortunately all my copies of the original blogs were burned up in my house fire

It wasn’t  all fun at the store though. Like a lot of businesses in the City, Robert’s video store was próne to being robbed. During one very nasty Robery Robert was shot and one of the things that were stole was an original poster from James Whales Frankenstein that he got from the Golden Gate Theatre. This really upset my mother who had been a nightly customer at the Golden Gate when the film had its premiere there. My mother had been having me try to convince Robert to sell her the poster if he ever wanted to sell it. Unfortunately the poster was never recovered.

In 1998 Robert decided to expand Horror Bob’s Blog to the internet. He found a French/American Blog site, Overblog and with my help we built his first blog site there. The hits on the site were fantastic. The only issue was you had to hit a translation program because all the text on the site was in French and the program would glitch qúite a lot. It was very annoying.

In 2005 I started my own blog on the website Blogger, William Pattison /Eric Morse Raw, and talked to Robert and The Wolf Pack, who were now involved, about creating a second Horror Bob’s Blog on Blogger so we could eventually disgard Overblog. Robert had started his Facebook page and was excited about expanding the blog.

Unfortunately, so after Robert had what turned into fatal health issues, His hearing started to fail him, so he ended up using hearing aids. Then his sight started to go. He had surgery that failed with one eye, so he was partially blind. Then Robert had a massive stroke and he had to end up selling off his video store because he could only use the left side of his body. He was stuck using an electric wheelchair. All this happened in a matter of two years…

After his stroke The Wolf Pack and I started to help Robert continue on the internet. During this time Robert continued to do movie reviews as well as did a couple interviews. But, but unfortunately in February of 2015 Robert died from a héart attack known as a widow maker.

 Luckily he had been smart enough to put my name and The Wolf Pack as the persons to take over all his internet identity.

So, since then I, William Pattison have been keeping Robert’s legacy alive. Since his death I have expanded Horror Bob’s Blog all over the Internet. You can find links, profiles, and pages for Horror Bob’s Blog on Facebook, Blogger, Overblog, MeWe, Slasher,Threads, Instagram, X, Tumbler, and Bluesky. You can also find links on groups like MadamCadaver’s Video Reviews,  Horror Nerdz, and Collectors, Slash Tracks Network, The Eric Morse Army, Assholes of Horror, Bay Area Horror Grouo, The Nerds Group, Cranky’s Place, Horrorland, and  Horror Video Group on MeWe William Pattison’s Bloodbath Theatre, and Bloodbath Beyond Podcast page.

Robert died at the age of 78 and left his wife and daughter, who I cannot name because a certain group of asshole immature cyberstalkers harassed both her and her daughter, so they now are only able to come on the internet using fake names.

The reason I’m  writing this is clear. The horror community is trying to bury Robert and everything he achieved. I won’t  allow this. Robert was a bear friend. He was like family. He was an honored member of The Wolf Pack. These assholes are trying to say Horror Bob was Joe Bob Grigs or Bob Wilkins, or twenty other Bob’s. Fuck you assholes!!! FUCK YOU BITCHES!!!! Robert Masters is Horror Bob. His legacy is a love of Horror and this fandom, even though some of you fucks don’t deserve it.

I was actually so hurt the last few days that I thought about closing the blog for a while…but guess what, Fuck you, I’m  going to once again double down and continue the blog just to shit in the faces of those trying to bury Robert. Horror Bob will keep going as long as I have breath on my lungs. Keep on Creepin’ , assholes…Horror Bob Forever!!!

 Also, if you happen to have any of the print copies of Robert’ s newsletter he made at Video Universe I would really like to have a couple since mine got burned up (Note to funny people out there, the current logo I made for Robert for the internet blog. The printed newsletter logo is totally different. So don’t print up an internet review and try to trick me…)

Review: Tales From the Crypt: Ritual (2002)

Review: Tales From the Crypt Presents: Ritual (2002)

By William Pattison

Fór Horror Bob’s Blog

This time I have a review of the only Tales From the Crypt film to be done by Dímension and RKO pictures…

Dr. Alice Dodgson (Jennifer Gray) gets her medical license revoked after the death of a patient. She's facing the possibility of not getting any job when she accepts to be the nurse for one young man who suffers of cephalitis named Wesley Claybourne (Daniel Lapaine). Aside from the sickness from which he's suffering, Wesley believes he has been "touched" by some voodoo cult. While she stays in Jamaica, Dr. Dodgson will feel uncomfortable as she discovers that voodoo is not only a "state of mind", and could be a real threat to her life and Wesley's. She'll have to discover why she and her patient are targets of the voodoo curse.

Ten years after I Universal released and killed the sequel to it’s  incredibly popular Tales From the Crypt film, Demon Knight, Bordello of Blood, they lost the rights to the franchise and Dimension took over and did their usual cut and paste job they did with the Hellraiser, The Prophesy, and Children of the Corn franchises with this film.

Ritual is not a Tales From the Crypt story in that it is not a comic book style story. It is a very typical Voodoo zombie film and Dimension thought that would be enough. They figured they could simply paste on a CryptKeeper intro and that would be enough to make it a Tales From the Crypt film. They were wrong. Ritual is not a bad film at all. It is very much in line with Voodoo zombie films like Serpent and the Rainbow but this story is missing the aspects that a Tales From the Crypt stories need to fit in the series. It is missing the whole comic book aspect. The Cryptkeeper always shows a comic book coverage and introduced the title of the story. This doesn’t  happen with Ritual. You simply have Cryptkeeper state that he is in Jameca for the shooting of his next feature film, that’s it. Then the title appears in a very non Tales From the Crypt way before starting the story. Then after the film credits they tack on very fake outtakes of Cryptkeeper messing up on his intro and making jokes. Sorry, people, not enough.

 Now I do have to say that Jennifer Gray does a wonderful job as the doctor who comes to Jameca to care for a man who thinks he’s a zombie. So, does Creig Sheffer, who plays the guy’s brother who has sketchy motives for keeping his brother alive. Tim Curry is wasted playing the part of the family friend.

Though Ritual is an ok Voodoo zombie film it is in no way even close to being a true Tales from the Crypt. Thankfully Dimension gave up on doing anymore of these. Pasting on the Cryptkeeper doesn’t make it Tales From the Crypt. Maybe next time these idiots will get the idea…

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

Review: Crucifixion (2017)

Review: The Crucification (2017)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

This time I have an exorcism try hriller that is supposedly based on true events…

Nicole Rawlins, an American journalist with a complicated relationship to Catholicism, travels to Romania to report on the criminal trial of a priest accused of killing a nun during an exorcism ritual. What begins as skeptical inquiry shifts when Nicole encounters Father Anton and starts experiencing visions she cannot rationalize. The story lives in that uneasy middle space between investigative procedural and supernatural horror, pulling Nicole toward belief she has spent years resisting while something unseen appears to be pulling back.

Ok, I just finished watching this movie and thought it was a very entertaining  demon exorcism film. Do I believe the thing about it being based on actual events? I doubt it. Was a nune crucified on a cross burning an exorcism by members of the Roman Catholic church? All I can say is freaky shit happens with those people. Do I think a female journalist went to Rome and had a bunch of demonic shit happen…Naw, but it makes a good horror movie.

I think the filmmakers were doing a standard story about faith and a person who either had none or lost their faith getting some during a drive by demonic forces…Actually standard fare for the demon/exorcism genre of horror.

When it comes to the truth of saying it is based on real events that is at the most ten percent true at the most. It is just the studio trying to sell DVDs. It’s mostly stardatdized fiction. Nothing more. Do the research and see if I’m  right about this.

Now, if you are a fan of this subgenre of horror you will love it. It’s got all the demon goodness fans love in these films, so you will definitely enjoy it.

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

Review: Grettle and Hansel (2020)

Review: Grettle and Hansel (2020)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

This time I have a feminist reimaging of a famous Grim fairytale…

 

Siblings, Gretel and Hansel live in the countryside with their mother. When times are hard and Gretel can’t find work, their mother sends them out to fend for themselves. As they journey through the dark forest without clothes nor supplies, they come upon a house with good-smelling food, and decide to temporarily stay there in care of an old woman. As they recover from fatigue, they uncover odd things which might prevent them from getting out alive.

 I know what some of you assholes are going to say…This film was directed by Osgood Perkins, who is obviously a man so it can’t  be a feminist film. My answer to this is obviously you haven’t  heard of male feminists. Yes, there are males that are so up the female asses they practically have vaginas themselves. Osgood Perkins I. Most definitely one of these beings.

But unlike so many filmmakers during this period during the WOKE era Osgood did preach “The Message”. There was a tiny bit of WOKE content but it quickly got over and done with and the story could continue.

I was so thankful that this male feminist still showed some respect for the sibling relationship, which was the center of this story. It could have easily deteriorated into super female/bad male situation.

Thankfully we got Grettle as the big sister protecting her dependent little brother who she loved very much. It came off very real and very honest.

The late great Alice Krige was awesome as the witch. She could have easily been miss used but she came out as one of the high marks of this film.

Yes, when I saw the change in the story title I cringed and was unsure of this film. But Osgood and crew did a great job. I actually have to say that this film is definitely AWESOMETACULAR!!!

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

 

 

Review: Innocent Blood (1992)

Review: Innocent Blood (1992)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog…

This time I got a review about a film about vampires and gangsters…

Marie has two appetites, sex and blood. Her career as a vampire is going along fine until two problems come up, she is interrupted while feeding on Sal (The Shark) Macelli and she begins to develop a relationship with the policeman who has been trying to put Sal away. Sal wakes up in the morgue very confused and very thirsty. He goes back to his old haunts and begins to create an organized crime family of vampires while Marie and her policeman lover hunt him.

 

What do you get when you combine the legendary John Landis with vampires and gangsters…? You get an amazing horror love letter to all the classic crime films and a vampire film like no other.

This film is loaded with actors who made their careers playing playing Mafia guys.

Robert Loggia plays the big boss Sal The Shark, who becomes the mob boss from Hell when he gets turned into a member of the undead.

Comedian Don Rickles plays the mob lawyer who ends up getting turned into a vampire and given the most brutal and disturbing ending in the film.

Actress Anne Parillaud plays the hungry and sex starved vampire Marie. Parillaud’s skinny frame makes her the perfect casting for the desperate vampire out for an Italian meal.

Anthony Lapaglia plays Joe Gennare,an undercover police officer who becomes Marie’s new love interest.

One of the most interesting aspects of the vampires in this film is their eyes that glow. One of the most interesting scenes in the film is where Marie is having sex with Joe. Her eyes glow and change colors with her increasing excitement.

It was actually the one of a kind vampire eye fx that made this film so unique. I never saw another film featuring eye FX like the ones in this film. It was one of the reasons that this film stuck in my mind.

The sad thing about this film is that for the longest time you couldn’t  find it anywhere. After I saw this film in the theatre over thirty years ago it just plain vanished. I had spent years looking for a copy with no luck. Then a few years ago I found it on amusingly Tubi TV. It was a happy day for me, and now a happy day for you because you can now get the pleasure of seeing this wonderful vampire film. With all my heart I can say that this film is AWESOMETACULAR!!!!!

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

Review: Miss Wilorghby and the Haunted Book Store (2019)

Review: Miss Willorghby and the Haunted Book Shop (2021)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

This time I got an amusing paranormal mystery..

Tragically orphaned at a young age, Elizabeth Willoughby inherited her impressive family estate and was raised by retired US Marine, Robert. Under his watchful guidance, her childhood was spent studying strategy, history and literature, all the while mastering the ancient arts of combat. Now an Ancient Civilization professor at University, Willoughby receives a call from family friends, Helen and Oliver Deakins, who have been experiencing a series of hauntings at their antique bookshop. With nobody else to turn to, and knowing Willoughby's insatiable appetite for investigation, Helen asks Willoughby to get to the bottom of this paranormal mystery.

Don’t expect any jump scares, blood, or even cool makeup fx in this film. I’m  a big fan of British style mysteries and that is what this film is. It is a charming mystery movie with interesting characters and an interesting sleuth, this time being Elizabeth “Lizzy” Willoghby.

Lizzy is played to perfection by actress Nathalie Cox and joined by Kelsey Grammar as her guardian Robert Whindgate. Together Cox and Grammar are excellently paired as the sleuth and her “Watson”.

As far as the mystery itself, it is nothing much. It is actually very predictable. I. Fact the ghost in the story really doesn’t  make much of an impression.  Also, the haunted bookshop is only in a couple of scenes. So, don’t  expect any scares. This film isn’t  a horror film, even though it is in the horror section of Fawesome.

When it comes down to it this film is very character forward and mystery is really in the background. It is more about seeing Miss Willoghby doing her thing and just enjoying the characters.

Personally, I would love to see Lizzy and Robert come back for another adventure or even a series of mysteries. This movie was a fun ride.

So, with all this said, get yourself a pot of English tea, some Bangers and Mash, and an English Trifle and sit back and enjoy the show. I know I did…

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog..

 

Review: Vivarium (2019)

Review: Vivarium (2019)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

This time I got a film that would put a smile on Rod Sterling’s face…

Aspiring to acquire their dream home, Gemma, a primary school teacher, and her boyfriend, Tom, follow Martin, a creepy real estate agent, to the idyllic suburban development called Yonder. But there, surrounded by identical, picture-perfect houses, the young couple is in for a big surprise--and it is not about the suspiciously affordable price of the pastel-coloured, eerily vacant house. Is house #9, indeed, the ideal home?

This is an incredibly freaky film. The filmmakers found, or might have built one of the most disturbingly plain house in a plain housing project in film history.this place is pleasantville on acid. And even more creepy is there is not a living soul who lives there…well except for the main characters and one of the most creepy creepy kids I’ve  experienced in film with a screech that puts the kid from The Barbadook to shame.

Basically this film is a nilistic representation of the boredom, monotony, and tedium of living in an urban existence, but in a horror and psychological way. It is literally the circle of human life in modern times viewed in an otherworldly manner. It is a show burn for the most part, so don’t  expect monsters or any jump scares. This is a beast of a different type from what most horror fans are used to.

 Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots play Tom and Gemma, the unfortunate couple stuck in the *perfect* community from hell. Also Senan Jennings plays the creepiest creepy boy I’ve  ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot. Also  Eanna Hardwick plays the older boy this son of Satan grows into.

This film is really a work that could have been part of The Twilight zone. It hits heavily in the psychological and gives you clues to what is going on but infact never actually tells you. You literally come out of this film wondering if it was aliens or what the hell was happening. But I can tell you that the ride is enough and you can figure it out in your own head cannon. B

For me it was a trip well taken and one I will happily recommend…

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

 

 

Review: Neon Maniacs (1987)

Review: Neon Maniacs (1987)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

All right we end our series of iconic films that were made in San Mateo and San Francisco Counties with a film that barely managed to get finished.

Yes, I’m talking about  that amusing monster mash Neon Maniacs.

This film has an awesome concept. It is about a bunch of cool individual monsters and killers from another reality that come to this world to hunt and slaughter. Sounds great. But unfortunately you end up with money picking asshole producers and you get this sad abused piece of cult horror. So, much potential but destroyed by the studio..

This production was riddled with issues that nearly caused the film to not be finished. First off there were originally supposed to be twenty five of the title creatures but the producers ended up having to cut the number of creatures in half due to financial issues. Also one of the maniac actors quit because the production started to cost cut and changed the contracts of the actors. The production found a replacement for the actor but because the makeup and costume department had to rework the character to fit the new actor a bunch of the members of both departments got cut to make up the money. Eventually the incompentant producers cut so much of the production budget they had to cut a lot of the origin scenes for the monsters as well as cut out a lot of the major kill scenes. In the end the film that ended up being produced bore no resemblance to the original script what the filmmaker intended. The entire origin of the Maniacs were cut down to a voice over monologue and a guy finding a bag with Maniac trading cards with the rough hint that the individual creatures came from the cards themselves, even though later thestory has something about a bus and a hinted portal. Anyway, as you can guess this film is a bit of a mess. The creatures are cool and it would have been great if someone had put out Neon Maniac action figures, with the trading cards of course. But as a film this piece of San Francisco film history has a shitload of issues.

His film is a prime example of how fucked up it is to work with producers who don’t understand film production.

Viewers are lucky they managed to get anything near to a coherent film in the end. The scenes they managed to shoot had potential but the film is so Frankensteined together it is loaded with scenes that go against others and are  full of missing info and plot holes. No good.

In many scenes you see the actors struggling with their performances.Yet somehow with everything wrong with this film it is amazingly entertaining in spite of itself. It’s  an interesting hot mess with cool monsters and in the end by some magical bit does the job. What more can I say???

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

Review: The Video Dead (1987)

Review: The Video Dead  (1987)

By William Pattison 

For Horror Bob's Blog 

For our second iconic horror film that was made in San Mateo and San Francisco counties is one of the most unique zombie films you will ever find…

The writer Henry Jordan receives a mysterious TV set and soon he learns that the apparatus is a gateway through which undead come to the world of the living. They kill Henry and the house is sold to another family. The teenager Zoe Blair comes to house to clean it for her parents that are traveling abroad. Her brother Jeff Blair comes later to help Zoe and finds the TV set in the basement. He brings to his room and out of the blue, the stranger Joshua Daniels knocks on the door. Joshua explains that he sent a TV set mistakenly to that address, instead of to the Department of Occult Warfare. Jeff does not believe in Joshua, but soon he leans the truth about the TV of the undead.

The zombies in The Video Dead are different from any other zombies in film. These are not exactly real zombies. They are characters brought to life and set loose our would through a cursed TV set. These zombies only kill people if they show fear. Also, like anything that comes out of the cursed TV they are afraid of mirrors because when they look into one they can see their lack of a soul. Also, únlike your usual zombie these are highly intelligent and can use tools and weapons to kill people. Also, if you lock the zombies in a room together they go nuts and eat each other.

In the film we see a couple other decisions from the TV. One is the seductrice who tries to seduce the teenaged main character. Also there is The Garbage Man who is a human who found a way inside the TV and has been spending years hunting The Video Dead in the TV world.

Unfortunately the film itself is an unfinished work. A third of the film was never finished due to the fact that the people financing the film pulled their money two thirds of the way through the production. This caused the filmmaker to have to cut out parts of the film that would have better explained certain things in the plot, like The Garbage Man and The Seductress. Still, the filmmaker managed to shoot the origin scenes, and a usable ending. But thankfully through carful editing they managed to put together a complete film, unlike the film in my next review.

All in all The Video Dead is a unique and well done cult classic low budget horror film.

If you are a zombie fan you will not want to miss these zombies…

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

Review: Nightmare in Blood (1977)

Review: Nightmare in Blood (1977)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

This time I’m review the first of three independent films that were produced in both San Mateo and San Francisco Counties. For the first I have a homage tand love note to tacky, cheesy horror films with this film which was directed, produced, and written by my horror host mentor, John Stanley…

Attendees at a horror-film convention in San Francisco keep disappearing. It turns out that the guest of honor is a real vampire, and his henchmen are kidnapping the convention guests. A horror writer, a Sherlock Holmes fan and an Israeli Nazi-hunter set out to stop him.

If you are a full on horror host show, cheesy classic and iconic classic horror fan this is your film. It was created with pure love by, journalist, horror host, author, movie reviewer, and all out horror and science fiction geek, John Stanley.

John, was the guy at KTVU in San Francisco and in Sacramento who was always sent on assignment to do stories on attraction and movie premieres. Because of this John was well known by theatre and attraction management, so when he decided to make his movie he had a lot of resources to work with in order to give his movie the feel he wanted on a shoestring budget. Maney of the set pieces of this movies feature places like The Fox theatre in Oakland, Pier 39, Madam Truisough’s Wax Musium, and even the studios of KTVU, most notably The Creature Features set.

A lot of The acting and characterizations in this filmare purposely pure tougue in cheek. This film is by a horror geek for horror geeks, so what do you expect.

This film is most definitely a Bay Area film with that very Bay Area feel.

Amusingly, the opening of this film is a firm example ofguarilla filmmaking, literally. John actual had the good luck of being able to film footage frown the Bay Area premiere of the original Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and caught shots of fans running around wearing ape costumes. It was an incredible bit of luck and helped establish that the film took place at a fan convention.

This film is not at all scary, but it is one that you can sit with a bunch of friends and drink a Coke Zero with popcorn with diet butter, because you have to watch the fat and sugar because you are getting old…lol…and just have a good time watching something made for you, you geek!

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…

Beyond the Grave (2023)

Review: Beyond the Grave (2023)

By William Pattison

 For Horror Bob’s Blog

This time I’m reviewing a paranormal documentary abóut rebranding Death..

Beyond the Grave (2023)

 

An investigative journalist researches the mystery of what happens after death. She interviews several people who have had Near Death Experiences, visits a reputed haunted house, and gets a reading by a Medium.

This is an excellent documentary when it comes to the paranormal and the new theories regarding the body and mind during death. This film is full of excellent interviews with people who have had an afterlife and a haunting experience. Some of these interviews are with people I actually know and trust in the paranormal including researcher and person who died and had an out of body experience Peter Anthony. Peter tells his story of how he was rushed to the emergency with blood issuing from his mouth. He is misdiagnosed as being in the final stages of AIDS and was being left to die when Death came for him. Then the documentary goes to Arizona and the headquarters of Alsor and discusses the technology of cryonics. I found this part interesting because my former associate Shane Molher obsessed with cryonics and was actually a member of Alcor. Unfortunately when he died from diabetes the hospital costs took so much a toll on his finances he was unable to get himself cryptically suspended. Amusingly though his cat, Tuffy, was one of the feline subjects of Alcore. Finally, they also included an interview with my dear friend Andrea Peron, who experiences the events depicted in The Conjuring as well as authored the three books in the House of Darkness, House of Light series, which is the true story. She talks about her eleven years living in a haunted farmhouse.

As I stated earlier this is an excellent documentary if you are interested  in the afterlife without having to go through an entire ghost hunt.

The only thing I disagree with the documentary on is the idea that spirits cannot be dangerous. Being a person who has lived in a haunted house and had several paranormal and out of body experiences I know for a fact spirits can be dangerous and can in fact cause the living both mental and physical harm. I know this from actual experience. Same with life after death. So, from experience I agree and disagree with this documentary. I disagree with some of the critics that the film needs a bit of editing, but that is just my informed opinion.

So, all in all I consider this documentary AWESOMTACULAR!!!!

You can find this on Tubi.

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s  Blog..

Review: 100 Feet 2009)

Review:100 Feet (2008)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog

This time I got my number one favorite Ghost film of the past decade, done by the film genius, and that is my informed opinion, Eric Red…

A young woman, Marnie Watson, is granted early release from her prison sentence for manslaughter (killing her husband - a violent NYC cop - in self defense) on condition she wear an electronic ankle bracelet and remain within her home, effectively under house arrest, for the remainder of her sentence. Her late husband's partner keeps tabs on her from a patrol car parked across the street, hoping she'll violate probation and he can send her back to prison. But the 100-foot radius her ankle bracelet allows isn't the worst of her problems.

Now, to start out with, if you want to be completely blown away you need to track down and buy a copy of the Hollywood Video Exclusive Unrated version of this film because the mere two and a half minute of additional footage elevates this film to genius level. You jaw will literally drop and you will be stunned. It is the definition of brutal perfection. It makes Negan’s murderous introduction in The Walking Dead look cute and cuddly by comparison. I kid you not.

So, this is filmmaker, Eric Red’s violent and claustrophobic masterpiece about a woman, played brilliantly by Fanke Jameson, who is trapped in her brownstone where a year before she freaked out and cut the head off her abusive cop husband. She is trapped because she is tethered to the house by an electronic bracelette around her ankle that only allows her to go one hundred feet in any direction or an alarm goes off and she is only allowed one minute to get back into the one hundred toot zone or the police will come and take her to prison. But she is unaware that she is not alone. The vengeful spirit of her husband is also tethered to the brownstone and is going to use her for his personal punching bag.

Also, added into the mix is her husband’s partner who thinks the wife didn’t kill her husband but is being bullied into silence by the “real” killer. As well is a young delivery man who falls for her … but you have to watch the unrated version to truly appreciate his fate.

Eddie and the Cruisers star Michael Pare plays the spirit of the dead husband, but you would not recognize him with the freaky ghost FX that Eric Red Co seals him underneath. You actually only get to get a clear look at him at the very end of the film.

But, when it comes down to it this is Famke’s film and she is literally put through hell throughout this nightmare of a film.

Years ago I had Eric Red on my Podcast, An Awakening of Horror and we spent over two and a half hours discussing this film. Eric praised it as the best interview of his career.

But, I’m not mentioning the interview just to pat myself on the back, though I deserve it. It is because Eric talked about how he manipulated Fanke to get the incredible performance out of her. He literally made her hate Michael Pare and at the end of the shoot she even ended up punching him in the face to get rid of the anger and stress she was under, though for all I know this might be an amusing fiction on Eric’s part. For me, I can believe it.

But once again I heartily suggest you see the uncut version because you

Literally get to see a human being broken into a bag of mush wíth all the yummysnapping and crushing sounds and closeups of limps and

 ribs breaking…spoilers !!!... Now that is a party!!!

 Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog… GO NOW!!!

Review: Last Shift (2014)

Review:Last Shift (2014)

By William Pattison

For Horror Bob’s Blog..

This time I got a remake of a 1990 film that started the horror subgenre that inspired The Innkeepers.

A Manson-inspired horror film centering around a transitioning police station. Officer Jessica Loren has been assigned to wait for a Hazmat team to pick up bio-hazardous waste from the station's armory. But unbeknownst to Jessica, cult Leader John Michael Paymon has haunted the department ever since he and two of this followers committed suicide a year ago to date. And now, Jessica is about to find out how dangerous they can be when she's left alone on this Last Shift.

 The Last Shift subgenre of horror started actually with the infamous grind house film, Day of the Woman, aka I Spit on Your Grave  In this film a woman must survive against a gang of psychopaths. In 1990 this idea was taken into the ghost genre of horror with the release of the first of many The Last Shift films, which have a woman having to survive being stuck either haunted business or government office location that has had a bloody past… pretty munch The Shining meets I Spit on Your Grave. So far, from what I can tell there have been six The Last Shift themed horror films that include the remake of the first The Last Shift, which I’m  now reviewing as well as The Innkeepers, which I’ve  already reviewed. All these films either have a revenge subplot or a satanic one. They all have ghosts that torture and either drive the female lead insane and eventually lead them to their death and their souls being trapped in the location.

These films are heavy in jump scares and psychological horror. The ghosts start out as looking human and are usually looking for the person to help or theyprovide the person with their stories. But once the story is told they turn malevolent. In the case of this film, Last Shift, as with the original the filmmakers connected the story to a Manson-like cult that swore vengeance on the main character’s family and it is because the lead character who decided to become a police officer, like her father, that puts her into this paranormal powderkeg. This is much like the main character in The Innkeepers with her obsession with paranormal investigation.

Even though a lot of reviewers try to say the acting of the lead actresses of these films are bad, I have to disagree. It is in the end that the performances of these actresses that support the entire production, not just the freaky ghost makeup. Without these actresses going heavy on emotions and making the audience feel the feelings and stress these films wouldn’t work as well as they do. It takes a special actress to go through the amazing about of stress these roles can put an actress through. It is far less as easy as they make it look. In fact I’ve  heard stories that some of these actresses have had to have therapy after finishing one of these films.

So, with all this said, I have to say that the remake of The Last Shift is REMAKETACULAR!!!

Keep on Creepin’ , Horror Bob’s Blog…