I've always enjoyed a good Horror Anthology flick. From what I've come across, there were any number of great anthologies done in the 60's and 70's. Creepshow came along in the early 80's and I feel as though it might be the last great anthology in the horror genre. King and Romero seemed like such an inspired pairing, and the film came together about as well as one could have expected. The movie really nailed the look and feel of those EC comics as well as some of King's own twisted work. It seems like no horror anthology since has topped or equaled the greatness of Creepshow.
There have been a few valiant recent efforts in Trick r Treat and V/H/S, but I don't see those as being on the same level as the Romero/King classic. Some others which range from fair to pretty good are From a Whisper to a Scream, Body Bags, Tales From the Darkside, and Tales From the Hood. Some of those are solid, but all of them are beneath Creepshow in my opinion.
Then we come to Creepshow's sequel, which I feel is a disappointing follow up(aside from The Raft segment). The other Stephen King anthology film is Cat's Eye. It is certainly watchable and can be entertaining, but I don't really consider it an all out horror film.
Anyway, with Creepshow turning 30 this year it got me wondering: Is this the last great Horror Anthology? In any case, I hope we see some good horror anthologies in the future!
Creepshow is defo my personal fav but i also loved Cats Eye and Body Bags. I think Body Bags is prob the last great one. Shame there aren't movies like this anymore eh?
Thanks for the reply d2dave, yeah Cat's Eye is entertaining and easy to sit through. It's nice to see Quitter's Inc. and The Ledge given the film treatment - and they were both pulled off pretty well. I didn't mean to sound as though I was discarding the movie or anything, I just don't really see it as "true" horror, so to speak.
I haven't seen Body Bags in a loooong time. I like a lot of John Carpenter's work so I should probably try to track it down sometime soon. I remember the opening segment at the gas station was definitely creepy(especially the graffiti in the bathroom). It really felt like Carpenter. The second segment with the hair was very (darkly)amusing. I remember having a few laughs about that one. I don't recall the third story so well though. I recall it had Mark Hamill as a baseball player who gets into an accident and something happens with his eye(s). It's possible I didn't even see the whole thing since I can't remember how it ended. Well anyway, I'll have to check it out again sometime.
Wow. You needed to edit a post which consisted of exactly one single sentence? Tells me all I need to know about you. I think we know who the real idiot is. I wish you a speedy recovery from you affliction. Take care.
I couldn't care less what you're using to post with. Grammar is not the issue here. My point is if you are going to randomly swoop in and insult someone, without offering anything of value to the actual conversation, then at least do it right and without making yourself look foolish. On this count you failed. I only needed to see that your one sentence zinger not only had to be edited by you, but it took you more than a full minute do so. Really? For one sentence? At this point the laugh is on you, and I did bust up laughing at your failure, because of how incompetent you came across. In short: if you have to work that hard to insult someone, then you're trying way too hard, and it shows.
Now, let's start over – provided you are capable of doing so.
If you think some of those anthologies I mentioned are indeed great then why don't you take a minute or two to articulate which ones you think are great, and why(this is exactly what I did in the OP, as I described why I thought Creepshow is a great film). This way I could respond to your valid points and opinions and we would be having a civil conversation. See, this is how adults communicate. This is how things get done in the real world. Are you ready for that? Are you up to the challenge?
Look, I love a good conversation with a fellow Horror fan, so if you've got some substance to add to my original question then I'd be happy to read your thoughts on the matter. If not, then you leave me no choice but to group you with all the other dime a dozen trolls and sockpuppets the internet is rife with. So if you're up for it, let's hear what you think about these other films. However, based on what I've seen, articulation is probably not your strong suit.
I've always enjoyed a good Horror Anthology flick. From what I've come across, there were any number of great anthologies done in the 60's and 70's.
Really care to list them?
Creepshow came along in the early 80's and I feel as though it might be the last great anthology in the horror genre. King and Romero seemed like such an inspired pairing, and the film came together about as well as one could have expected. The movie really nailed the look and feel of those EC comics as well as some of King's own twisted work.
Agreed love it.
It seems like no horror anthology since has topped or equaled the greatness of Creepshow.
Yes Creepshow is the best.
There have been a few valiant recent efforts in Trick r Treat and V/H/S, but I don't see those as being on the same level as the Romero/King classic. Some others which range from fair to pretty good are From a Whisper to a Scream, Body Bags, Tales From the Darkside, and Tales From the Hood. Some of those are solid, but all of them are beneath Creepshow in my opinion.
Then we come to Creepshow's sequel, which I feel is a disappointing follow up(aside from The Raft segment). The other Stephen King anthology film is Cat's Eye. It is certainly watchable and can be entertaining, but I don't really consider it an all out horror film.
I agree but I really don't see your point? Creepshow is my all time favorite. Why does another movie have to beat it to be considered "great"?
Anyway, with Creepshow turning 30 this year it got me wondering: Is this the last great Horror Anthology? In any case, I hope we see some good horror anthologies in the future!
Last great horror anthology? Reading everything that you typed here Creepshow is the ONLY great anthology. Talking down on all the other anthologies really irks me. Just because they aren't as good as Creepshow they aren't great in your opinion? Oh and you know damn well they don't make good horror movies anymore so you answered your own question and all your post did was berate and trash other great anthologies. It's a very pointless thread and that is why I was irritated by it.
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Imagine my surprise when I came here later and saw I had managed to summon a competent response from you after all – and from your cell phone no less! It only took the third try. That wasn't so hard, now was it? Now we have something to work with and can actually talk about the subject at hand.
First off, I'm sorry if you took offense to my supposed undermining of Horror Anthologies post Creepshow. This thread wasn't started to irk or irritate people, and I'm more than a little surprised someone took it that way - but you've made your stance clear, so fair enough. My reasons for starting this thread were in no way meant to belittle other films(after all, I am a Horror fan). It's quite clear to me now you have simply misunderstood my intentions. Let me be clear: I'm not throwing any of the prior mentioned films under the bus. Looking back on the thread I haven't made any disparaging remarks(other than my assertion Creepshow 2 was a disappointing sequel with one superb sequence) about these films. I am merely suggesting none of them attain a level of greatness alongside Creepshow – which you've already admitted was the best among them. So you'll have to forgive me for coming to the conclusion you're being just a little over sensitive about my critique of recent horror anthologies.
Taking a look back I see me using phrases or words such as: “valiant recent efforts”, “pretty good”, “solid”, “entertaining”, “easy to sit through” etc. I even admitted some re-watches were in order. In fact since starting this thread I have gone back and watched Creepshow 2, Body Bags, and Tales From the Darkside. While I enjoyed revisiting each of these films I still didn't find them to be on the same level as the original Creepshow. So I ask you, where is all this trashing and berating I have supposedly done? Answer me that.
My intentions for starting this thread were this: 1. I wanted to give recognition to this classic, because it's one of my favorites as well, now that it has three full decades under its belt and can now be seen for what it is – an impressive, and rare, collaboration between two superior horror minds. And 2. I'm obviously looking for recommendations. The fact my thread title is in the form of a question rather than a statement should have been a dead give away. If someone had chimed in and responded something to the effect of “Hey jjamp48, I agree Creepshow is fantastic, but if you're looking for a great horror anthology you should check out “_________” from 19____”. Let's suppose I track down and watch this recommendation and, while perhaps not a classic like Creepshow, it turns out to be good then starting this thread would have paid off wouldn't it now? By the way, that offer stands for you: if you noticed I left out an anthology which you feel is pretty good then feel free to throw it out there and I'll get back to you about it after I've seen it(although something tells me you couldn't care less what I think at this point). I certainly don't claim to know all, so if someone came here with film titles I'd never heard of then I'd have something to work with. I guess for whatever reason it never even crossed your mind I might be looking for recommendations. Perhaps in the future you should read posts a little more closely before jumping to conclusions.
Now as far as past horror anthologies which I believe reach a certain level of greatness, I will try accommodate you. The hour here is late so I'll list the ones that come to mind, but I'm certain all of them at least pre-date Creepshow. You may have seen some or all of these, so you might have a very different take on them - which is fine, everyone is entitled to an opinion. In no particular order:
Three Cases of Murder Tales from the Crypt(1972) Black Sabbath Tales of Terror Spirits of the Dead Dead of Night Trilogy of Terror(1975) Kwaidan
Asylum The House That Dripped Blood The Vault of Horror (these last three are admittedly marginal choices since I wouldn't exactly call them great, but they pre-date Creepshow and are worth a watch). There are undoubtedly others which I either haven't seen or don't recall at this time, but if I remember others I'll be sure to post them.
Now for your question as to what my point was, the best way I can break it down for you at this hour is this: You follow sports? Most major professional US sports have a Hall of Fame. Those inducted into the Hall of Fame are the best of the best. It isn't The Hall of good, or The Hall of very good. Only the greats get in(in some cases even the greats don't get in). Creepshow belongs with the best - the greats. Those other films? I enjoy many of them and will probably revisit them all again at some point but - in my mind - they aren't the best of the best and I wanted to make a distinction. Does that make any sense to you?
As for your ludicrous assertion there are no good horror movies anymore; this is both ignorant and false. If anything it sounds like you are the one making vague blanket statements. I was only being slightly dismissive of more recent horror anthology efforts, but to me it sounds like you are willing to throw the whole horror genre out.......ummmmmm okay, what was your entire argument against me in the first place? LOL. Yes it is true mainstream Hollywood horror has become stagnant and has been feeding us on a steady diet of remakes and sequels, but there is so much more to horror than mainstream Hollywood. If that's all you've been watching than I suggest you broaden your horizons because good horror is out there for those willing to look. My suggestion to you: check out the Horror board here on imdb. The regulars there are generally very friendly and will be happy to suggest numerous recommendations in regards to recent horror. I can't help but add you seem to agree with me on a lot of points so let me ask you: was the name calling really necessary? Be mature buddy.
Man you just keep whiffing away, don't you? Now you're telling me you can't even pick up on blatant sarcasm when it's staring you right in the face? That's another strike. I think you're out buddy. Can we assume we've seen your best already? I'm so sorry but it's crystal clear we're operating on two completely different levels here. Like I said, strictly fodder for the kiddies table.
I'm in agreement - Creepshow is probably the greatest anthology of al-time. I hope it's not the last great one. I have the feeling it isn't - everything is cyclical. Great anthologies will return at some point. I miss the grainy picture feel of 80's movies though
The only horror anthologies I've seen that were not named somewhere in this thread are Three Extremes, Twilight Zone: The Movie (which some may not consider horror) and Trick 'r Treat (which may not be a true anthology since the stories are connected).
Thank you, jjamp48, you gave a pretty good list.
I have seen Tales of Terror, Black Sabbath, Tales From The Darkside: The Movie, Creepshow 1 & 2, Cat's Eye, Tales From The Crypt (1972), V/H/S 1 & 2, and the three listed above. I'm interested to see Three Cases of Murder, Spirits of the Dead, Dead of Night, Trilogy of Terror, and possibly Body Bags.
Although there were a few duds in that bunch, there were a lot of great shorts. That is one of the best anthologies. Overall, it can't beat Creepshow & the likes because of the duds... but for quick 5-minute films, you can't miss it.
Not to mention it was so good, it spawned a sequel "ABCs of Death 2".
As others have said, Creepshow is probably the best, so if you're looking for something that stacks up to it or surpasses it then you're bound to be disappointed, but as you yourself point out, there are a ton of other good ones that have come out since. Trick 'r Treat and VHS in particular are very good recent ones. The saddest thing would be for those two to be the last great ones.