Gremlins (1984)

“They’re watching Snow White. And they’re loving it!”

Synopsis:
A cute, furry creature bought at a Chinese curio shop spawns a breed of evil Gremlins who take over the town of Kingston Falls.

Genres:

Black Comedy
Horror
Mutant Monsters
Small Town America

Response to Peary’s Review:
About halfway through watching Gremlins recently for the first time (shocking, I know [...]

What’s Up, Tiger Lily? (1966)

“It is written: He who makes the best egg salad shall rule the heaven and earth.”

Synopsis:
Dubbed Japanese spies will do anything to find a secret egg salad recipe.

Genres:

Comedy
Spies
Spoofs
Woody Allen Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, the novelty of this one-joke spy spoof by Woody Allen “wears off long [...]

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask (1972)

“With most grievous dispatch, I shall open the latch to get at her snatch!”

Synopsis:
Seven humorous vignettes poke fun at a famous sexology book.

Genres:

Comedy
Episodic Films
Sexuality
Woody Allen Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
Peary notes that critics at the time were divided in their response to this early Woody Allen film, which “severely [...]

Story of O, The (1975)

“O wondered why she found her terror so delicious…”

Synopsis:
At the request of her lover (Udo Kier), a woman (Corinne Clery) is given the pseudonym “O” and trained to become a willing sex slave to men.

Genres:

Literature Adaptations
S&M
Sexuality

Response to Peary’s Review:
Unfortunately, there’s little to enjoy and much to be offended by [...]

Zombie Island Massacre (1984)

Synopsis:
A group of tourists in Jamaica are knocked off one after the other by a mysterious killer in the dark.

Genres:

Caribbean Islands
Horror
Serial Killers

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this cult horror flick is primarily noteable for starring Rita Jenrette, ex-wife of Congressman John Jenrette (he of the 1980 ABSCAM scandal). Rita [...]

Alice, Sweet Alice / Communion / Holy Terror (1977)

“God always takes the pretty ones…”

Synopsis:
When 10-year-old Karen (Brooke Shields) is murdered right before her first communion, everyone suspects her raincoat-clad, jealous older sister Alice (Paula Sheppard) — but is Alice really the killer?

Genres:

Christianity
Evil Kids
Horror
Jealousy
Murder Mystery

Response to Peary’s Review:
This cult murder mystery (notable as Brooke Shields’ debut [...]

Adventures of the Wilderness Family, The (1975)

Synopsis:
Tired of the smog and pressure of city life, the Robinsons — Skip (Robert Logan), Pat (Susan Damante-Shaw), Jenny (Hollye Holmes), and Toby (Ham Larsen) — head out to live in the wilderness.

Genres:

Survival
Wilderness

Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, this popular film — which showed up repeatedly on cable television stations [...]

Long, Long Trailer, The (1954)

“It’s a fine thing when you come home to your home and your home is gone!”

Synopsis:
Newlyweds Tacy (Lucille Ball) and Nicky (Desi Arnaz) find their marriage on the brinks as they travel in their brand-new, “long, long trailer”.

Genres:

Comedy
Newlyweds
Marital Problems
Road Trip
Vincent Minnelli Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
I’m pleased that [...]

Adventures of Robinson Crusoe / Robinson Crusoe (1952)

Synopsis:
Slave trader Robinson Crusoe (Dan O’Herlihy) is stranded on a desert island, and must learn to survive on his own — until the arrival of “Man Friday” (Jaime Fernández).

Genres:

Buñuel Films
Deserted Island
Slavery
Survival

Response to Peary’s Review:
In many ways, this film adaptation of William Defoe’s classic adventure novel is stunning to behold—there [...]

Abominable Dr. Phibes, The (1971)

“Nine killed her… Nine shall die… Nine eternities in doom!”

Synopsis:
Concert organist Dr. Phibes (Vincent Price) seeks Biblical revenge on the nine surgeons who accidentally killed his wife years earlier.

Genres:

Detectives and Private Eyes
Horror
Revenge
Serial Killers
Vincent Price Films

Response to Peary’s Review:
I disagree with Peary that this classic British horror [...]