what would happen if a bug came between you and your lover....? never thought about that before....? well, this movie answers that question.... believe it or not.... the story revolves around a bug scientist, played by Angela Bettis ('May'), receives a strange package in the mail containing a unique and agressive bug.... she doesn't have any clue why this ended up on her doorstep, but she is fascinated and has to keep it.... meanwhile, a young woman who hangs out at the museum where Angela works, (played by Erin Brown aka Misty Mundae) secretly has a crush on her.... before long the two are involved and soon the bug gets in on the mix.... it's not exactly what you might expect, but it's very well done....this installment is directed by Lucky McKee, director of 'May'.... proves that nothing is off limits in this Showtime series.... and he makes this story so involving that you can't help but watch it.... i was sucked in right away by Angela Bettis's performance just as i was in the film 'May'.... and her relationship with Erin's character is so bizarre and juvenille, you can't help but watch.... this is one of the reasons i've finally come around to enjoy this series.... are episodes like this.... it's a great little creature feature and one with interesting characters to boot.... i gave this a strong 3 out of 5 stars.... almost 4.... something i recommend you watch if you have an hour to kill....
in 'Valerie on the Stairs', a short story by Clive Barker, a young man moves into an apartment type complex offering free room and board to any young and unpublished writers.... as long as they stay that way, they can continue living there.... it's a unique situation that our young hero feels lucky to be a part of.... soon things start turning towards the strange.... as he begins to see a young woman named Valerie who keeps appearing on the stairs.... appealing to him to help her.... it seems that some unseen force won't let her be.... as the story progresses, you find that she's not just imagining things and it just gets silly from there.... this stars Christopher Lloyd and Tony Todd.... but not in their best performances.... i was disappointed in Clive Barker and it won't be the last time i say that during my reviews for this series.... the story is just so off the mark and lacks any real substance that i felt like i'd wasted my time.... it was directed by Mick Garris, the creator of the Masters of Horror series.... and his direction isn't terrible.... but the story is.... i give this a low 2 out of 5 stars.... and i say that this isn't one to include in your queue to watch.... unless you really have a love of Clive Barker.... other than that.... lame.
a whore and an American.... from a forgotten time.... are the main focus of this tragic tale.... Billy Drago plays the American in search of a whore he'd fallen in love with years ago and promised he'd come back to take her back to America.... but his search kept proving to be fruitless.... the story starts with him stumbling onto yet another small island or brothel where he strikes out again in finding his love.... he instead spends the evening with a deformed prostitute who soon confesses to knowning his former love and tells him she's died.... but that is merely the start to the story.... there is so much more to this than that.... it's one of the best if not THE best in the series....Takashi Miike (pronounced Ta-Ka-She Me-Kay) is the premire director of disturbing films.... such as 'Audition', 'Ichi the Killer' and my favorite 'Visitor Q'.... supposedly this installment was so disturbing they never even aired it.... i don't know if that's true, but i wouldn't be suprised based on the content of the story.... this one cannot come highly recommended enough.... if you like J-Horror or disturbingly violent tales.... this one is for you.... not to mention completely original..... i've been a fan of his for years and love all of his films.... he's a genius of our time and i'm glad i finally saw this short film.... easily 4 out of 5 stars.... almost 5, but something kept me holding back just a bit.... either way.... if you only watch one of the installments of the Masters of Horror series, this is the one to see....
Jeffery Combs is one of the most underrated character actors of our time.... i've been a fan since the first 'Re-Animator' and all the rest along with 'The Frighteners', this is a tour de force for him.... so this episode holds a sweet spot because he plays Edgar Allen Poe....Poe is trying to make ends meet.... he's making an effort to be a poet, but all people want are his horror stories.... he's got a sick wife and a drinking problem.... but that's the least of his worries.... he's being tormented by his wife's black cat.... to the point of madness.... the story is very dark and has many moments of blood and guts....
i gave this only 3 out of 4 stars as i felt it was missing some small piece.... something that brought it down enough that it needed it back to make it soar.... directed by Stuart Gordon, the director of 'Re-Animator'.... he carries the story along well and never gives up the reality and the fiction.... it moves along at a strong pace and walks a thin line between sanity and madness.... another episode that i would recommend that you watch.... as it's got strong performances, an interesting story and Jeffery Combs as Poe.... nuff' said.
we've all seen the serial killer movies where the killer is stalking his victim's and is usually being persued by the law at the same time.... but how many times have you seen a movie where two serial killers are compecting for victims and there's not a single sign of law enforcement anywhere....? that's what you get with 'Pick Me Up'.... it starts with a bus load of people who's bus breaksdown in the middle of nowhere.... 1 of the passengers, played by Fairuza Balk, walks towards a motel.... the rest othe passengers stay behind an soon a trucker comes by and picks up half of them and the other half are met by a friendly hitchhiker.... soon everyone realizes that these people aren't who they seem.... and at one point in the film Fairuza is caught in the middle of the two competing killers.... directed by Larry Cohen, director of 'It's Alive', helms this new twist on an old theme.... the serial killers are played with amazing relish and joy and it makes you want to love them.... they're the anti-hero that people learn to love.... even though they're horrible human beings who do terrible things.... i felt this deserved 3 out of 5 stars.... the ending left me a bit cold.... and after such a strong installment overall, it just didn't seem right to end the way it did.... either way it's worth the hour to invest in it.... that being said.... i've got more reviews to ponder and many more installments to watch.... be ready for more soon....!
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