Horror History: Sunday, May 22, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Family Reunion” premiered

Season 4 Episode 16

A man guards his sick son closely and has sole custody, while the boy’s worried mother desperately wants to be reunited with her child. Its later revealed the mother is a werewolf, and their son inherited her lycanthropy; she kills the father to reunite with her son, who has been unable to control his changes.

Written by Edithe Swensen, directed by Tom Savini, and guest-starring Patricia Tallman.

Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 22, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Family Reunion” premiered”

Horror History: Friday, May 20, 1988: Not of This Earth was released in theaters

Remake of the Corman classic of a mysterious alien sent to earth to replenish his world’s blood supply by feeding on human blood. It takes the unstoppable determination of a nurse and her boyfriend cop to stop this vampire alien.

Read more “Horror History: Friday, May 20, 1988: Not of This Earth was released in theaters”

Horror History: Friday, May 20, 1988: American Gothic was released in theaters

A new tale of terror from the director of The Legend of Hell House and The Incubus.

When six young friends fly off on a weekend getaway and suddenly find themselves with engine trouble, they have no choice but to land on a remote Pacific island. Looking for shelter, they are grateful when they meet Ma and Pa and their children: an eccentric family still living in the backwoods as if it’s still the 1920s. But what begins as simple old-school hospitality becomes a terrifying race for survival when one by one, the friends start disappearing and dying horrible deaths. Fleeing the outside world many years ago, the family has created an island domain, where all strangers are sinners: and the killing has never stopped.

American Gothic features an all-star cast including Rod Steiger (In the Heat of the Night), Yvonne De Carlo (The Munsters), Michael J. Pollard (Bonnie and Clyde) and William Hootkins (Raiders of the Lost Ark).

Read more “Horror History: Friday, May 20, 1988: American Gothic was released in theaters”

Horror History: Sunday, May 15, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Do Not Open This Box” premiered

Season 4 Episode 15

Charlie is a sweet-natured but unsuccessful inventor. His wife Ruth (an acid-tongued opportunist who sorely regrets her choice of spouse, and who is openly jealous of their well-to-do neighbor) takes advantage of a deliveryman’s generosity, after the latter expresses his need for a mistakenly delivered item with the title warning inscribed on it. When it becomes evident that Ruth has no intention of returning the box, our deliveryman reveals his true identity. It doesn’t help that Ruth has already opened the apparently empty box…or that the box in fact contained something which, literally, money cannot buy.

Written by Franco Amurri and directed by Jodie Foster and guest-starring Eileen Heckart.

Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 15, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “Do Not Open This Box” premiered”

Horror History: Friday, May 13, 1988: The Nest was released in theaters

Horrifying shocker as a biological experiment goes haywire when meat-eating mutant roaches invade an island community, terrorizing a peaceful New England fishing village and hideously butchering its citizens.

Read more “Horror History: Friday, May 13, 1988: The Nest was released in theaters”

Horror History: Friday, May 13, 1988: Maniac Cop was released in theaters

The undead killer cop returns in this gory sequel, which sees maniac Officer Matt Cordell (Robert Z’Dar) team up with a NYC serial killer to hunt down the criminals who murdered him in prison.

Read more “Horror History: Friday, May 13, 1988: Maniac Cop was released in theaters”

Horror History: Friday, May 13, 1988: Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood was released in theaters

Ever since homicidal maniac Jason Voorhees got trapped in chains at the bottom of Crystal Lake, the nearby summer camp has operated without a hitch… without a murder. But one of this season’s happy campers has brought along a deadly secret.

Read more “Horror History: Friday, May 13, 1988: Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood was released in theaters”

Horror History: Sunday, May 8, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Cutty Black Sow” premiered

Season 4 Episode 14

On Halloween, a boy is warned by his dying great-grandmother about the Cutty Black Sow, a Celtic demon that steals the souls of those who die on All Hallow’s Eve, and tries to prevent it from getting hers.

Based on a story by Thomas F. Monteleone, adapted by Michael McDowell and guest-starring Paula Trueman.

Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 8, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Cutty Black Sow” premiered”

Horror History: Friday, May 6, 1988: Slime City was released in theaters

Alex and his girlfriend Lori move into a New York City apartment, where they fall victim to the restless spirits of an occultist named Zachary and his fanatical followers who had committed mass suicide years before.

Read more “Horror History: Friday, May 6, 1988: Slime City was released in theaters”

Horror History: Friday, May 6, 1988: My Best Friend Is a Vampire was released in theaters

This ’80s teen comedy involves a youth (Robert Leonard), who is seduced by a sexy schoolgirl and then transforms into a blood-sucking vampire. Instead of fighting his affliction, he tries to cope with the change.

Read more “Horror History: Friday, May 6, 1988: My Best Friend Is a Vampire was released in theaters”

Horror History: Friday, May 6, 1988: Dead Heat was released in theaters

Maverick L.A.P.D. officer Roger Mortis is a good cop who will do anything to nail the bad guys. Investigating some frightening goings-on, Mortis and his partner, Doug Bigelow pay a visit to Dante Laboratories. It is here that they discover the high-tech Resurrection Room churning out a weird band of recycled and indestructible criminals. And it is here that Mortis meets his untimely death.

Read more “Horror History: Friday, May 6, 1988: Dead Heat was released in theaters”

Horror History: Sunday, May 1, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Apprentice” premiered

Season 4 Episode 13

A woman goes to work for a museum and is transported to the past and forced to work as a near-slave.

Written by Ellen Sandhaus. Guest-starring Haviland Morris and Wayne Tippit.

Read more “Horror History: Sunday, May 1, 1988: “Tales From The Darkside” episode “The Apprentice” premiered”