December 29^th, 1999

"HAVE A BAD NEW YEAR"

Okay, so maybe I copped out and didn't list three films this time. But I couldn't find three that fit the theme.

With the dawning of a new millenium, and as the Graveyard hits its third anniversary (March 27, for all who care), it's only right to list some movies that have taken the celebrations of a new year and twisted them into horror form.

New Year's Evil [1980] is a prime example of a film made to cash-in on the slasher film craze that was sweeping the box-office. It's pure pablum as a murderer runs around killing people as it gets closer to Midnight and calling a radio DJ to tell her all about it. This is as forgettable as most of its type tended to be, with a ton of less-than-suspenseful murders and a cast with a make-up job so bad it looks like they've all been dipped in cotton candy.

Bloody New Year [1986] only really mentions New Year's in the opening credits that has a bunch of people celebrating it at a hotel. But look, in modern day some wise-acre friends had ended up stranded at that very hotel and it's very haunted. This leads to a bunch of shock sequences, some of which aren't too bad, but you just get a feeling the people behind this very trying too hard and piling on way too much. It's a noisy and chaotic mess and by the finale we don't really care if everyone dies and we're scratching our heads as to what this has to be with New Year's.

Okay everyone, go out and have fun this New Year's eve, and since the World will not end (unlike some paranoid people would like to convince us) be back here in the New Year for a whole slew of new reviews, articles and other fun stuff. Have a good one!