The Daily Beasts
For theme projects (like #Kaijuly, #Mocktoberfest, and #SeasonsBeatings—for example),
a new film/show is profiled every day by a different writer.
UFOctober: SUPER 8 (2011)
Sympathy for the devil leads to long overdue healing in J.J. Abrams’ throwback film.
UFOctober: THE X-FILES: FIGHT THE FUTURE (1998)
A great extension of the TV series adds to the lore and world in fantastic fashion.
UFOctober: THE TOMMYKNOCKERS (1993)
A lesser Stephen King adaptation still kinda works thanks to a great cast.
UFOctober: THE FACULTY (1998)
The ‘90s teen horror craze finds its way into a sci-fi thriller that still works today.
UFOctober: SIGNS (2002)
M. Night Shyamalan’s haunting film wrestles with not being alone—in more ways than one.
UFOctober: NOPE (2022)
Writer/director Jordan Peele’s UFO film reflects many truths—including the horrors of climate anxiety.
MOTHER TRUCKIN’ MAY: ROADGAMES (1981)
A taut trucking thriller with Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis is also an undersung piece of Ozploitation.
MOTHER TRUCKIN’ MAY: BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986)
It was a long, strange road to get to John Carpenter’s trucker vs supernatural martial artists film.
MOTHER TRUCKIN’ MAY: TRUCKS (1997)
The second attempt at the Stephen King adaptation fares far worse than MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE.
MOTHER TRUCKIN’ MAY: MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE (1986)
Stephen King’s directorial debut pits humans against sentient machines, including some pissed off trucks.
Number 2 — TALES FROM THE CRYPT: DEMON KNIGHT
The second-best horror movie of 1995 is a great siege film with a stellar cast from Ernest R. Dickerson.
Number 3 — TALES FROM THE HOOD
Rusty Cundieff’s movie remains one of the best horror anthology films of all time.
Number 4 — LORD OF ILLUSIONS
Clive Barker’s combo horror and noir delivers some of the best cinematic moments of 1995.
Number 5 — TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE NEXT GENERATION
The fourth TCM film poses such questions as: What is fear? Is it supposed to be funny? And is it smarter than we think it is?
Number 6 — SPECIES
An engaging tale of a human/alien creature is its own hybrid of different genres.
Number 7 — DOLORES CLAIBORNE
Taylor Hackford’s adaptation of Stephen King focuses on the monsters that lurk nearby….and within.
Number 8 — MUTE WITNESS
Marina Zudina delivers a genre-defining performance in Anthony Waller’s stellar film.
Number 10 — THE PROPHECY
Horror gets religion in Gregory Widen’s fascinating tale of angelic war.

