Visiting Hours “The Fright, Get Well Soon” (1982)

Visiting Hours Aka “The Fright and Get Well Soon” is a slasher horror film directed by Jean-Claude Lord. The plot is focused on a feminist TV journalist Deborah Ballin (Lee Grant) who is being followed by a malicious serial killer who previously attacked her and wants to finish his work. Deborah’s view on women’s rights anger Colt Hawker who is one of the studios’ cleaning staff and a homicidal psycho and misogynist. Hawker despises woman ever since he was a young boy and saw his mother throw boiling oil on his father. He has developed a fascination on photographing his victims he stabs as they spasm to death. After more than a few closely related assaults and murders take place, Deborah tries to convince Gary Baylor (William Shatner) her boss, that she and her friend, Sheila Munroe (Linda Purl) are not safe. Deborah discovers the identity of the attacker and how he thinks, suspecting that she is his main target. Originally not cleared for video released and censored under UK’s “Video Nasty” list it is now available for purchase by Scream! Factory as a re-release and as a double feature on BluRay from its previous DVD that has been placed “Out of Print”.

Curtains (1983)

Curtains, released in 1983, is a Canadian slasher film directed by Richard Ciupka and written by Robert Guza Jr. The story focuses on a group of six actresses auditioning for a lead role who become targeted by a masked killer in a remote mansion. Samantha Sherwood (Samantha Eggar) is a film actress who’s had much success in the film industry, but because of her age the director John Striker (John Vernon) is no longer is interested in her work. The film she is presently working is a role of a deranged schizophrenic.  In an attempt of method acting, he admits Samantha into a psychiatric ward to learn how to act as if she were actually deranged. After months of being cooped up in an asylum, Samantha slowly begins to deteriorate as the place takes a heavy toll on her and her sanity. She soon finds out that her director John has been using her as a rouse the entire time and was never interested in her as his lead role.  She finally snaps and escapes the asylum with the intent to murder the other actresses being auditioned at the remote mansion.  She hopes of being the only one left to hire for the leading role. Will she succeed in her devious plans to kill all the other actresses?  Attacking her victim with a sickle and wearing a grotesque hag mask, she acts out in rage against the other actresses auditioning the lead role. Has it been Samantha all along or could it be her mysterious friend she trusts?  In this thrill seeking horror, the murders keep you guessing as to who is committing these acts and with a well done twist of the story line at the end, Curtains is not one to miss. Released by Synapse Films it can be purchased on BluRay or DVD directly from their website or from Amazon.

The Dorm That Dripped Blood "Pranks, Death Dorm" (1982)

The Dorm That Dripped Blood (Pranks, Death Dorm) is an American horror slasher film directed by Stephen Carpenter, Jeffrey Obrow and written by Carpenter and Stacey Giachino. The film involves four college students who stay behind at their college campus during the Christmas holiday to clean a dormitory that is about to be demolished. As they begin to clean out the dormitory, they begin to be stalked by an unknown killer who uses a multitude of industrial tools, such as a spiked baseball bat, wire and industrial tools to kill his victims. The students begin to notice the tools missing and they suspect it’s a guy they know who hangs around the school. The killer slays one student after another. As the movie progresses, the killer turns out to be a vicious murdering stalker who is madly in love with one of the girls. There is a lot of twists and turns with lots of gore and originality, The Dorm That Drips Blood is a classic slasher and ultimately earns it’s keep in anyone’s horror collection. Featuring Daphne Zuniga as (Debby) in her film debut, “Pranks, Death Dorm” was deemed video nasty in the United Kingdom upon its initial release due to its drill killing scene and its original art work that showed a spiked baseball bat. Unfortunately in 1992 it was re-released with the drill murder removed. Released once more by Synapse Films as of 2011 as an Uncensored Directors Cut as a BluRay/DVD combo pack including audio commentary with Jeffrey Obrow and Carpenter, Interviews and many more Bonus Features, the film is absolutely a must own and can be purchased from Synapse Films or Amazon.

The House on Sorority Row (1983)

The House on Sorority Row is a cult classic in the horror genre known as an American slasher film, directed by Mark Rosman. The plot follows seven young sorority sisters who pull a cruel prank on their strict house mother, Mrs. Slater (Lois Kelso Hunt). The prank involved one of the sorority girls pointing a gun to threaten Mrs. Slater but her heart gave out and she died. Covering up the body of Mrs. Slater, the sorority sisters now have time and the ability to throw a graduation party they always wanted but weren’t allowed. During the graduation party, guests are being targeted along with seven sorority sisters. Little did they know that Mrs. Slater had a disfigured and mentally challenged son, Eric (Charles Serio) who lived in the attic and witnessed the prank.  Eric is now out for revenge. The film is a classic slasher film from the 80’s and has all the criteria for being a cult classic as the sorority sisters think Mrs. Slate was not dead and is getting revenge. Eric is now on the prowl as only one survivor is left to defeat his malicious intentions. The House on Sorority Row needs to be in your horror collection and is a cult masterpiece. Released and re-mastered in widescreen with extras, The House on Sorority Row has been released on BluRay on a 2-Disc set by Scorpion Releasing and is not one to pass up on. It can be purchased through Amazon or directly from Scorpion Releasing as a limited edition to 2200 prints.