Laserblast (1978)

An MST3K favourite, Laserblast is one of many Star Wars influenced films that poured into theatres and drive-ins across the world.

The trailer focuses on the crude stop-motion aliens and Billy blowing things up real good. The scenes of Billy in his monster/zombie makeup are actually somewhat creepy. He kind of looks like a mix of Luke Skywalker and the Emperor.

Somehow Roddy McDowall was convinced to take a paycheque to be in this film.

Directed by Michael Rae.

Starring Kim Milford.

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Zombie vs. Ninja (1987) aka Zombie Rival: The Super Ninja Master

Admittedly my knowledge of 80's ninja titles is pretty low but this one caught my eye for the title alone (actually this one has many titles and it took me awhile to confirm that this trailer was for Zombie vs Ninja).

Joseph Lai was the producer on this and he was responsible for about 9 or 10 similar films PER YEAR in the mid-80's. He also directed a handful of them and about 90 percent have the word "Ninja" in the title. Many of these titles were released in North America by the video company Imperial Entertainment and the VHS covers are really memorable (many of which can be seen on Critical Condition Online). Lai went on to produce a whole slew of "Kickboxer" movies in the 90's.

Like a lot of these films, it looks like they were almost entirely shot on one location in the woods and there is plenty of dubbed in phrases like "bastards!" and the like. Fun stuff.

Directed by Godfrey Ho.

Starring Pierre Kirby.

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Massacre at Central High (1976)

Believe it or not, this is the best looking video I can find on the net of this trailer.

A great film with an overwhelming Southern California vibe that you can watch over and over again. Forget Heathers. This is the craziest High School movie ever made. Check out the "Craig" character sporting an early John Tesh look. You just know this guy is going to meet a gruesome end.

There are some extremely inventive kills (handglider electrocution!!) and it's all harmless 70's fun, perfect for a Saturday afternoon. This gets played quite a bit here in Canada on the Scream and Drive-In digital channels. Definitely a must-see.

Directed by Rene Daalder.

Starring Derrel Maury and Robert Carradine.

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Watch the Entire Movie!

Summer Camp Nightmare (1987)

Meatballs meets Lord Of The Flies. This trailer gets really good about 1:45 in when we get some great lyp synched rock. I swear they are singing "She just wants my beef baloney", or maybe "beefaroni". Dude. Amazing.

Right at this time there is a shift in marketing style - they seemingly wanted to market this as a serious drama for the first half but quickly change to teenage sex comedy style before ramping up the action aspect. Very strange stuff and somewhat mean-spirited. For 80's completists only.

Directed by Bert L. Dragin.

Starring Chuck Connors and Charlie Stratton.

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Bloody Pit Of Horror (1965)

Total Italian insanity from the 60's.

Directed by Massimo Pupillo.

Starring Mickey Hargitay and Walter Brandi.

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Horror of Dracula (1958)

Some have called this the greatest vampire film ever made. Regardless, it's worth a watch just to watch two legends in their Hammer horror prime.

Directed by Terence Fisher.

Starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

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The Video Dead (1987)

Watch the entire movie here!



A classic of Mom and Pop video rental places of the 80's. I remember the VHS cover very clearly from those old days. It's funny how the term "Video" was so cutting edge in the 80's that you could use it in a horror film title and be completely serious.

Directed by Robert Scott.

Starring Michael St. Michaels and Thaddeus Golas.

IMDB