Thread by @The8thCurse on Thread Reader App

This October I will be celebrating Halloween by watching 31 of my favorite action horror films!

Right out of the gate I am starting strong with a stone cold classic & one of my all time favorites…

An elite team of commando’s travel behind enemy lines in a covert rescue mission only to find themselves hunted by a powerful & mysterious creature from another world in PREDATOR.

PREDATOR

In preparation for my 31 days of action horror I found that most of the movies fell into one of these sub genres.

Aliens
Evil Cults
Maniacs & Madmen
The Supernatural & Occult
Survival/Siege
Animal Attacks
Dangerous Tech
Bats & Dogs (Vampires & Werewolves)
The Undead & Zombies

The aliens sub genre of action horror is one of the deepest & PREDATOR is one of the most influential entries.

There is not much I can say about PREDATOR that hasn’t already been said but it really is a delightful convergence of so many awesome things coming together perfectly.

There is so much great talent involved in the crafting of PREDATOR. You have McTiernan at the helm, an amazing cast full of muscle bound badasses including 2 future governors, script work by Shane Black & iconic creature effects by Stan Winston. Everybody is on top of their game!

Even Silvestri’s score & the great ends credits are all classic.

If you haven’t seen it before I highly recommend the making of doc IF IT BLEEDS WE CAN KILL.

PREDATOR is an undeniable classic but how does it rate on my arbitrary & made up action horror rating system?

From a action standpoint point you have badass commandos, shoot outs, explosions, crazy feats of strength, cool alien tech & DIY jungle traps.

On the horror front there is wild gore & plenty of gruesome kills. The suspense of the slow burn build to the reveal of the predator is tremendous & the iconic creature design is fantastic!

PREDATOR gets a perfect score of 👊👊👊👊👊 & 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairings for PREDATOR:

OUTLANDER
SCARECROWS

Back at tomorrow with more unfriendly visitors from space.

2) The dead are coming back to life at Corman U after two desperate fraternity pledges accidentally release an alien life form on campus in NIGHT OF THE CREEPS.

NIGHT OF THE CREEPS

Where PREDATOR falls into the aliens action horror sub genre NIGHT OF THE CREEPS crosses multiple sub genres. It’s got aliens & zombies with even a maniac axe murder as a bonus.

NIGHT OF THE CREEPS

Tom Atkins is so badass in NIGHT OF THE CREEPS!

NIGHT OF THE CREEPS

So how does NIGHT OF THE CREEPS rate on my fists & Jack-o-lantern action horror rating system?

NOTC is not action packed but you have lots of gun play including an alien laser gun shoot out and there is a flame thrower. What really puts this one into the action horror category for me is Tom Atkins character Ray Cameron is clearly in an action movie.

The horror elements in NOTC are fantastic! The practical effects & gratuitous gore are great. Heads explode spraying blood everywhere & zombies are torched to a crisp! There is an axe murder, spacemen, mind controlling alien slugs, the walking dead & mindless zombies

NIGHT OF THE CREEPS action horror score:
👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended Action Horror pairing options for NIGHT OF THE CREEPS:

THE GUYVER
SLITHER

and the next movie up…

3) A pair a teenage sisters must learn to survive against crazed zombies after a mysterious comet passes by the earth turning their world upside down.

NIGHT OF THE COMET

I adore NIGHT OF THE COMET!

Fun coincidence, so far all 3 movies I have watched for my 31 days of action horror have started in space.

NIGHT OF THE COMET

Just like NIGHT OF THE CREEPS NIGHT OF THE COMET fits in to multiple action horror sub genres including zombies, aliens for the visitor comet & there is an evil science cult.

NIGHT OF THE COMET

As far as action goes there is plenty of gun play & some great action in NIGHT OF THE COMET highlighted by the shoot out at the mall.

NIGHT OF THE COMET flirts with being more of a post apocalyptic thriller than horror movie but the zombie mutant survivors transformed by the comet are all done well.

NIGHT OF THE COMET Action Horror score:
👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for NIGHT OF THE COMET:

OMEGA MAN

And….

4) Machines become sentient and full of murderous rage after a mysterious comet passes by the earth in Stephen King’s cocaine fueled MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE.

MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE

This one kind of starts in space as well.😅 That’s four straight unintentionally.

MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE fits into multiple action horror sub genres. There is an alien element with the comet, there is countless murderous machines/deadly technology & the film becomes a sort of siege movie where the survivors are held up in a dinner surrounded by killer trucks.

MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE

MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE is action packed and full of outrageous vehicular carnage & murderous machines that kill or demolition almost everything they come in contact with. Plus there’s rocket launchers & machine guns and some impressive explosions/wreckage!

On the horror front there are some pretty grizzly & over the top kills, a guy is pummeled to death by a vending machine launching cans of soda at him, a kid is ran over by a steamroller, there’s a killer lawn mower & a lethal arcade machine in addition to murderous vehicles.

MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE

Time again for my totally arbitrary action horror rating. To be clear my Fists & Jack-o-lantern rating system is in no way meant as a measurement of the overall quality of the film, it’s more about scoring how pronounced add/or rich the action & horror elements are.

MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE:

RUNAWAY

And our next movie….

5) A mysterious and otherworldly driver with a futuristic supercar wages war against a murderous gang of street racing thugs in THE WRAITH.

THE WRAITH

I seriously can not believe that so far all 5 movies I have watched to start my 31 days of action horror have started in space!!!

*I am confident this will be the last one for at least a little while.

THE WRAITH

Both THE WRAITH & MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE are sci-fi horror riffs on westerns. MO turns into a western style siege & THE WRAITH is an updated version of the lone gunman that comes to town to run off the bandits the local law can’t stop.

Mild spoilers THE WRAITH features the first but not final appearance of a Hemi Cuda in my 31 days of action horror.

THE WRAITH

THE WRAITH fits multiple action horror sub genres, there is a supernatural element and the gang are over the top maniacs.

Really the car might even qualify it for the dangerous technology sub genre.

THE WRAITH

All the driving sequences and how they are shot in THE WRAITH are outstanding. The camera placement and frame rate really enhance things.

The action in THE WRAITH is fantastic! There are so many great car chases/races, a shotgun rampage in a garage and awesome explosions. It also has a very action movie premise.

The horror elements of THE WRAITH are less pronounced but still great. The aesthetic of the mysterious driver & his car and how they are presented are so haunting & cool. The way he kills off the gang one by like a spirt of vengeance is really satisfying.

THE WRAITH action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for THE WRAITH:

HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER
GHOST RIDER SPIRT OF VENGEANCE

NIGHT OF THE COMET, MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE and THE WRAITH make one hell of a triple feature!!!

Fun fact, all 5 movies I have watched so far for my 31 days of action horror feature guns on some version of their poster and/or packaging.

Well if my first 5 action horror movies have taught me anything it’s be wary of ETs & comets and the road can be a dangerous place…

6) A young man finds himself in a deadly showdown with a deranged murderer when he offers the wrong stranger a ride in THE HITCHER.

THE HITCHER

Well I am a perfect 6 for 6 with every movie I have watched so far for 31 days of action horror featuring a gun on the poster and/or packaging.

THE HITCHER

The action in THE HITCHER is great. There are exciting shootouts & car chases with all kinds of carnage & destruction. Some highlights include a truck driving through a building & a guy that leaps from one moving vehicle to another and flys through the windshield.

Not only is the action great in THE HITCHER it’s a truly tense & scary movie. Hauer’s performance is captivating & terrifying and there’s plenty of gruesome parts & some moments that a really startling.

THE HITCHER

So far of the six action horror films I have watched most have been in the aliens sub genre but THE HITCHER falls into the maniacs & madmen action horror sub genre.

THE HITCHER action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for THE HITCHER:

DUEL
ROAD GAMES

Load up the RV & get ready to ride! The next few movies in my 31 days of action horror will all be southern fried road trips from hell.

7) A pair of couples find themselves on the run for their lives after accidentally witnessing a bizarre ritual & human sacrifice while camping on a road trip in RACE WITH THE DEVIL.

RACE WITH THE DEVIL

I wouldn’t dare try to race the devil but I would whoop his ass at NBA2K or COD.

RACE WITH THE DEVIL

I am delighted that I am so far a perfect 7 for 7 with movies that feature a gun on the poster or packaging.

RACE WITH THE DEVIL falls into both the evil cult and maniacs/madmen action horror sub genres.

RACE WITH THE DEVIL

I love how RACE WITH THE DEVIL is action horror injected with a strong dose of 70’s paranoia. It’s the ROSEMARY’S BABY of action horror!

RACE WITH THE DEVIL

RACE WITH THE DEVIL has some amazing car chase & shoot outs. After their first encounter with the cult it’s a little bit of a slow burn but once the couples arm themselves as things escalate it builds to an action packed third act.

On the horror front, RWTD is light on kills but there is a Satanic ritual where a girl is sacrificed & a terrifying rattle snake trap, plus there is a creeping sense of dread & paranoia as the travelers begin to realize there is no one they can trust. Also that ending!

RACE WITH THE DEVIL action horror score:
👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for RACE WITH THE DEVIL:

DRIVE ANGRY
KILL LIST

8) Two dangerous brothers on the run from the law kidnap a family to help smuggle them south of the border only to find that something other than sanctuary waits for them & the truth sucks in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN.

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN

My streak is intact. I am a perfect 8 for 8 with movies that feature a gun on the poster and/or packaging.

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN is the first entry from the vampires & werewolves sub genre in my 31 days of action horror. Ritchie is so deranged there is a maniacs & madmen element as well.

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN is another great example of how much you see elements of the western genre in action horror. Once the vampires reveal themselves the movie becomes a RIO BRAVO style siege film. MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE did it with trucks & killer machines FDTD does it with vampires.

There is a lot of famous talented people doing great work in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN but Selma Hayek is the star.

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN

I love this nod to ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 in FROM DUSK TILL DAWN. It’s a fun homage & clever foreshadowing.

FDTD has plenty of action even before the vampires show up, there’s shoot outs & a great explosion. Plus there is all kinds of cool weapons at the Titty Twister.

The horror elements in FDTD are great. There is plenty of over the top gore & bloodshed and various types of vampires/creatures. Ritchie is also menacing & commits some horrific & grizzly acts before they even reach the border.

FROM DUSK TILL DAWN action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for FROM DUSK TILL DAWN:

JOHN CARPENTER’S VAMPIRES
VFW

@PINNLAND_EMPIRE it’s not a side by side but thought you might appreciate this.

Up next is the last stop on my action horror southern road trip.

Will there be a gun on the poster?

9) A lonely cowboy falls for a mysterious girl with a secret and finds himself entangled in her desperado family’s murderous way of life.

NEAR DARK

Gun on the poster!

NEAR DARK

Not only is NEAR DARK my third action horror film in a row to feature an RV. It’s another great example of updated & reimagined western themes in action horror.

NEAR DARK

NEAR DARK is sort of a slow build to action & violence but once it gets going the blood & bullets really fly. There is a gruesome bar fight, a wild standoff with armed police & a great vampire vs Mac truck showdown. There are some great explosions as well.

On the horror side The vampires in NEAR DARK don’t do fantastical things like turn into bats or have mind control they are presented in a more grounded & realistic way but are still scary. There is plenty of grizzly gore & a beautifully haunting aesthetic.

NEAR DARK action horror score:
👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃

NEAR DARK

I can’t believe I left out the awesome helicopter chase.😅

NEAR DARK

Well my action horror southern road trip is over but I really need to do something about these pesky vampires. (Cue the techno music)

10) A warrior that is both parts human & vampire wages war against a secret vampire society in BLADE.

BLADE

We’ll despite the fact that BLADE regularly welds a gun unfortunately it looks like my streak of action horror movies that feature a gun on the poster or packaging has come to an end. However most feature a sword so at least there is a weapon present.

I would love to be wrong if anyone can find an official BLADE poster or packaging with a gun I will add it to the thread.

BLADE

It might not be from BLADE’s initial release but thanks to @hibachijustice I am 10 for 10!

BLADE

BLADE is the third straight vampire action horror film I have watched in a row & what’s cool is all the have had very different takes & approaches to the genre.

BLADE

BLADE leans into the action in action horror with so many great fight sequences & shootouts. It also is the first appearance of martial arts in my 31 days of action horror. Plus Blade uses all kinds of cool weapons!

The horror elements in BLADE are secondary to the action but still great. There is ample gore & bloodshed with scenes of the wealthy vampire elite decadently playing with their food. The blood rave is a highlight. Plus vampires die & are killed in all kinds of cool & messy ways.

BLADE action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for BLADE:

ABRAHAM LINCOLN VAMPIRE HUNTER
VAN HELSING

Up next in my 31 days of action horror there will be blood…

and martial arts!

While I have another movie planned for my next installment of 31 days of action horror. I might call an audible and watch BLADE 2 first.

(Bonus) BLADE 2

BLADE II

Donnie is in the building!

BLADE II

Both BLADE films are great but I prefer BLADE II it has more action on a larger scale but I picked part 1 for my 31 days of action horror because I feel the horror elements are more pronounced in the original, part 2 leans even harder into action.

BLADE II

BLADE II action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃

Also gun on the poster so I am 11 for 11!*

*looking ahead this streak is about to come to an end but I except it to return.

Recommended action horror pairing options for BLADE 2:

HELLBOY
VAMPIRE HUNTER D BLOODLUST

#SidebySide
ALIEN / BLADE II

@PINNLAND_EMPIRE

It’s interesting how few “final girls” there are in action horror. It’s almost all “final boys”.

11) A Taoist priest and his bumbling student battle bloodsuckers in MR. VAMPIRE.

MR. VAMPIRE

This is the official end of my run of a gun on the poster or packaging but there is a sword so I am 12 for 12 with a weapon on the poster.

MR. VAMPIRE

It’s fun how versatile & deep the vampires action horror sub genre is.

MR. VAMPIRE

Not only is there plenty of fun & invite fantastical martial art action in MR. VAMPIRE there is some great stunt work as well highlighted by a crazy full burn stunt.

MR. VAMPIRE is a fun and at times silly movie but it still has plenty of horror elements even if it’s light hearted. Other than hopping vampire’s and the undead there is curses & spells and some wild supernatural combat with a flying detached head!

MR. VAMPIRE action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for MR. VAMPIRE:

GHOSTBUSTERS

And the next movie….

12) Sammo battles Jiangshi in CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND

So there is no poster or packaging for ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND with a gun or even a sword on it but there are a few with Sammo wielding a staff so I am going to say I am 13 for 13 with a weapon on the poster!

ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND

That ending😂

I should have just posted this to this thread to begin with.

1/2

2/2

Just like MR. VAMPIRE ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY kind is full of all kinds of great martial arts, stunt work & super natural silliness that’s well blended with horror and occult elements. There are are spells, curses, spirits, the undead & vampires & a killer fire ball.

ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃

ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND makes a great pairing with a film that will be showing up in this thread in the near future as well as the next film but here is two great Shaw Bros martial arts action horror options.

BLOODY PARROT
HUMAN LANTERNS

13) A depressed & lonely man attempts suicide after being left by his wife only to trigger a series of supernatural events in his rundown tenement building in the modern day tribute to the classic hopping vampire films RIGOR MORTIS.

RIGOR MORTIS

There is a version of the poster with a sword (or huge as knife)! 14 for 14 with a weapon on the poster!!!

RIGOR MORTIS updates elements of MR. VAMPIRE & presents them with an aesthetic and action that feels inspired by THE MATRIX.

RIGOR MORTIS

RIGOR MORTIS is a loving tribute to both ENCOUNTERS OF THE SPOOKY KIND and MR. VAMPIRE that even features stars from both films but you don’t have to be familiar with those franchises to enjoy it.

The fight scenes in RIGOR MORTIS are inventively choreographed, hard hitting and presented in a slick in stylish fashion making great use of slow motion and changes in speed.

RIGOR MORTIS ditches the laughs of the the hopping vampire films that influenced it & really leans into the horror. It is a dark & gruesome movie with all kind of grizzly deaths & killings. Also in addition to vampires there’s twin angry spirits, spells & the occult.

RIGOR MORTIS action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

It’s been a great run of three straight movies in the action horror sub sub genre of hopping vampires. For my next action horror film I am staying in Hong Kong but battling a different type of evil supernatural menace…

14) Three badass women with special abilities and skills team up when an evil cult stars kidnapping new born babies in THE HEROIC TRIO.

THE HEROIC TRIO

15 straight action horror movies with a weapon on the poster and not only is there a sword but a gun on the poster is back!!!!

THE HEROIC TRIO

THE HEROIC TRIO is such a fun genre mashup that falls into multiple action horror sub genres including evil cults, the undead and the supernatural & the occult.

THE HEROIC TRIO

Johnnie To really delivers on the fun & inventive action in THE HEROIC TRIO there’s spectacular over the top fights, wild gun play, all kinds of stunts & explosions! Plus a fatal flying guillotine! The energy, style & scale of the action feel like a precursor to Rami’s SPIDER-MAN

Without spoiling anything the horror elements in THE HEROIC TRIO are just as fantastic & inventive as the action and the movie gets surprisingly dark at times. Babies are constantly menaced & in danger, there is even bloody baby head trauma!

THE HEROIC TRIO action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for THE HEROIC TRIO:

CONSTANTINE

And the next movie up…..

15) After an encounter with an ancient evil from another world while staying at an old cabin deep in the woods a reluctant hero is accidentally transported back in time where his destiny & an horde of the dead wait for him in ARMY OF DARKNESS.

ARMY OF DARKNESS

Gun on the poster! 16 for 16 with weapons on the poster or packaging!

I love ARMY OF DARKNESS so much! Both the action & horror elements are great but it’s the humor that won me over the first time I saw it as a kid.

There was a point as a teenager I probably would have pointed to ARMY OF DARKNESS and Adam Sandler albums as a good representation of my sense of humor.

ARMY OF DARKNESS

ARMY OF DARKNESS falls into the undead as well as the supernatural & occult action horror sub genres. It also becomes a siege film in the third act like many of the other action horror films I have watched so far this month.

There is plenty of fun over the top & dynamic action in ARMY OF DARKNESS including a chainsaw, a boomstick, mid evil weapons, explosives & cool DIY tech highlighted by a groovy mechanical hand & a car converted to an armored attack vehicle.

The horror elements in ARMY OF DARKNESS are toned way down compared to the previous EVIL DEAD films but there is a fun scale to all of it. There is more Deadites, an evil zombie Ash, all kinds of malicious creatures and an entire army of the undead.

ARMY OF DARKNESS action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

ARMY OF DARKNESS

Recommended action horror pairing options for ARMY OF DARKNESS:

THE HEAD HUNTER
A CHINESE GHOST STORY

And the next film in the count down…

Tomorrow Tak vs The Evil Dead.

16) An escaped convict looking to meet his ride to freedom ends up battling his fellow gangsters & the undead in VERSUS.

VERSUS

Gun on the poster! 17 for 17 with a weapon on the poster!!!

VERSUS

VERSUS pushes its micro budget to the limits both in terms of action & horror elements. There fist fights, sword fights, knife fights and shoot outs with both people and zombies.

As far as horror in addition to plenty of bloodshed and the undead VERSUS is about an ancient battle between good & evil with some occult elements.

VERSUS action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

VERSUS

Recommended action horror pairing options for VERSUS:

WICKED CITY
RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION

Up next the war with the undead continues…

I just realized I forgot to include my paring option for RIGOR MORTIS.

THE LEGEND OF THE 7 GOLDEN VAMPIRES

17) Durning WWII a team of American soldiers set out to destroy a Nazi radio tower behind enemy lines make a horrific discovery in OVERLORD.

OVERLORD

Gun the poster!!!!

18 for 18 with a weapon on the poster!

OVERLORD

So far all the movies from the undead action horror sub genre I have watched this month have been rooted in the supernatural & occult but in OVERLORD the undead are a product of science qualifying it for the dangerous technology sub genre.

OVERLORD

Being a war movie there is a variety of good action in OVERLORD with a number of shoot outs & explosions highlighted by the massive invasion sequence that opens the movie and the assault on an enemy fortress in the final act.

OVERLORD is set during a war with plenty of great action but leans into the horror elements. There is a nice suspenseful build till the undead appear and the movie sort of shifts genres more into more of a horror film with some gruesome effects & monstrosities.

OVERLORD action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

OVERLORD

Recommended action horror pairing options for OVERLORD:

OUTPOST
ARMY OF THE DEAD

After three straight action horror movies about battling hordes of the undead, up next I am deployed to combat a different kind of monster…

What type of abomination will I be facing? And more importantly will there be a gun on the poster?

18) During a training exorcise in the Scottish Highlands a group of soldiers encounter an enemy like they have never seen in DOG SOLDIERS.

DOG SOLDIERS

What’s that I spy? It’s a gun on the poster! The streak is back for a gun on a poster and I am a prefect 19 for 19 with weapons on the poster or packaging!

DOG SOLDIERS

This is my first encounter with a werewolf on my 31 days of action horror.

DOG SOLDIERS

DOG SOLDIERS like many of the action horror films I have watched this month is another updated version of a western siege film. It’s been fun seeing all the ways the premise has been reimagined and used. It works with zombies, vampires or werewolves.

For action fans DOG SOLDIERS has plenty of gun play and tense standoffs as the soldiers fight to survive. On the horror side the practical werewolf effects are really impressive for the budget and there no shortage of blood and guts with lots of death & dismemberment.

DOG SOLDIERS action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

DOG SOLDIERS

Recommended action horror pairing options for DOG SOLDIERS:

THE MUMMY
PROJECT METALBEAST
UNDERWORLD

DOG SOLDIERS is a reimagined western siege film but there is another classic action horror film with a strong military presence that is a huge influence on DS and it’s up next…

19) After encountering an Alien life form that killed her entire crew and left her floating in deep space a lone survivor accompanies a team of marines on a rescue mission to the planet she first encountered the creature on in ALIENS.

Gun on the poster!

ALIENS

ALIENS is easily one of the most influential films in the action horror genre having inspired numerous imitators & reimaginings.

ALIENS is full of great action and cool future tech. In addition to all the types of fire power & explosions there is the iconic loader fight with the queen, space ships and an armored assault vehicle.

While ALIENS is more of an action film than the original the horror elements are still fantastic. In additions to more aliens there are more grizzly deaths, some tremendously tense sequences and the Alien Queen is menacing and impressive.

ALIENS action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

ALIENS

You could write a book on the influence ALIENS has had on the action horror genre. It’s inspired countless great films and some other ones as well…

(BONUS) A team of soldiers are sent in to investigate when scientists working on Venice’s water system go missing in the wild and shameless ALIENS and TERMINATOR ripoff SHOCKING DARK.

Gun on the poster!!!

SHOCKING DARK was originally released as TERMINATOR 2 before the actual T2 hit theaters in 1991.

SHOCKING DARK

My favorite member of the team.

SHOCKING DARK is cheap, amateurish and full of blatant plagiarism it’s also a silly good time and fun schlocky action horror.

SHOCKING DARK doesn’t just borrow themes or ideas from ALIENS and TERMINATOR it lifts entire scenes, dialog and situations often shamelessly aping the source material with only the slightest of changes.

SHOCKING DARK action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing option for SHOCKING DARK:

ROBOWAR

Another way that ALIENS is influential is how it puts an action twist on a horror sequel something that is really common in action horror.

20) Intergalactic bounty hunters travel to earth to battle an infestation of dangerous alien life forms in CRITTERS 2: THE MAIN COURSE.

CRITTERS 2: THE MAIN COURSE

Unfortunately despite there being cool guns in the movie I can’t find a poster of packaging for CRITTERS 2 with a gun on it. Even worse this brings my perfect streak of 21 straight action horror movies with a weapon on the poster to an end.

CRITTERS 2: THE MAIN COURSE

CRITTERS 2 is another action horror film that is an updated/reimagined western.

CRITTERS 2 has some fun action with a number of pretty fantastic explosions and lots of destruction as well as gunplay. It gets bonus points for cool alien tech & firearms.

The Critters can be more funny than scary but there is plenty of gore and a surprisingly high body count.

CRITTERS 2: THE MAIN COURSE action horror score:
👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing option for CRITTERS 2: THE MAIN COURSE:

TREMORS 2: AFTER SHOCKS

Up next another part 2 that injects action into a horror franchise.

21) Years after surviving an attack by a mysterious mortician a recently released mental patient still haunted by the encounter & experiencing strange visions sets out on a quest to stop the Tall Man and his evil plans in PHANTASM 2.

PHANTASM II

Some people thirst for a MCU & DCU crossover or celebrate Freddy vs Jason, I always dreamed of an EVIL DEAD and PHANTASM movie with Ash & Reggie battling deadites & The Tall Man.

PHANTASM II

I am I the only one that feels the narration in PHANTASM II at times reminds them of the narration in SHOGUN ASSASSIN?

PHANTASM II

PHANTASM II has the largest budget of any of the films in the series and it really shows in both the action and horror elements.

PHANTASM II is action packed with multiple explosions, a Hemi Cuda and various weapons including a homemade 4 barrel shotgun, a flame thrower and a chainsaw. There is even a chainsaw fight!

The horror elements in PHANTASM II are every bit as plentiful & impressive as the action. There is great gore & all kinds of gruesome kills. There is also a number of cool looking creatures in addition to the Tall Man, his pints sized minions & those deadly flying orbs.

PHANTASM II action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

#SidebySide

Picking the right tool for the job.

PHANTASM II / PULP FICTION

@PINNLAND_EMPIRE

Recommended action horror pairing for option PHANTASM II:

TALES FROM THE CRYPT: DEMON KNIGHT

Up next the run of action horror part 2’s continues.

(BONUS) During an annul government sanctioned 12 hour period of lawlessness one man braves the savage chaos at a chance for revenge but finds something else in THE PURGE: ANARCHY.

This is a first time watch.

Shout out to @puritythrufire @GenreFilmAddict who both talked up the action elements in this one.

It’s another one where the original was a horror film but part 2 shifts into action horror.

THE PURGE: ANARCHY

THE PURGE: ANARCHY action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing option for THE PURGE: ANARCHY:

SNOWPIERCER

Up next we return to our regularly scheduled programing and the final movie in our run of action horror part 2’s.

22) A murderous vigilante cop believed dead has returned & started a new killing spree in MANIAC COP 2.

MANIAC COP 2

Gun on the poster!

MANIAC COP 2

Putting the action in action horror.

With Spiro Razatos handing the stunts the action in MANIAC COP 2 is really impressive. It’s starts strong with the climax of the previous film and doesn’t let up. In addition to plenty of shoot outs and fights there’s some amazing driving sequences and the ending is incredible!

There’s another appearance by a chainsaw!

On the horror side of things in addition to the titular Maniac Cop the haunting aesthetic and suspenseful style of MANIAC COP 2 are tremendous and there’s ample gore and bloodshed. The crazy serial killer is terrifying.

MANIAC COP 2 action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

MANIAC COP 2

Recommended action horror pairing option for MANIAC COP 2:

DEAD HEAT

That brings to an end my run of 5 straight action horror part 2’s.

Tomorrow we explore new territory in my 31 days of action horror. Evil is about to find out what happens when you mess with the wrong person!

23) After a secret service agent’s wife is brutally murdered he begins a ruthless & uncompromising quest to catch & punisher her killer resulting in a sadistic game of cat & mouse that spirals out of control in I SAW THE DEVIL.

I SAW THE DEVIL

I SAW THE DEVIL fits into the maniacs & madmen action horror sub genre but it’s also a great example of one of my favorite reoccurring troupes in action horror and that’s when the evil -blank- (Insert killer, spirit, zombie, monster or machine) messes with the wrong person.

I SAW THE DEVIL

I SAW THE DEVIL is a brutal & bloody nightmare but it’s also full of some exceptionally staged and presented action. The savage knife fight in the car is a highlight.

I SAW THE DEVIL is as horrific as it impressive, there is a number of disturbing & graphic murders & assaults and almost every character is some shade of evil with murders & maniacs around every corner.

I SAW THE DEVIL action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

I SAW THE DEVIL

Recommended action horror pairing options for I SAW THE DEVIL:

10 TO MIDNIGHT
HELLBOUND

Up next the tables are turned on evil once again…

24) A family gathering descends into bloody chaos when the party is crashed by murderous masked men in YOU’RE NEXT.

YOU’RE NEXT

No gun on the poster but we have a number of different weapons including a crossbow.

YOU’RE NEXT

We have another siege on our hands!

YOU’RE NEXT

The action in YOU’RE NEXT is intense & brutal but it’s incredibly satisfying how the final girl is never a victim and an absolute bad ass that from the jump turns the tables on her attackers.

The mysterious masked home invader horror elements in YOU’RE NEXT are great and there is a variety of grizzly kills.

YOU’RE NEXT action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for YOU’RE NEXT:

THE ZERO BOYS
ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13

Next up another bloody dose of payback.

25) After surviving a hideous assault & betrayal a young woman begins her blood soaked quest for atonement in REVENGE.

REVENGE

Gun on the poster!

REVENGE

I know REVENGE might not be what some would consider a horror film but I feel the tremendous physical & psychology anguish the main charter is forced to endure put it into the survival horror category.

REVENGE

I usually don’t have much of a stomach for rape revenge films but the absence of the male gaze and the fact that the film doesn’t try to present the assault in a provocative way sets REVENGE apart for me.

REVENGE

While it’s not action packed Jen’s transformation from innocent young women to a sort of resurrected spirt of vengeance is glorious. There are a number of tense stand-off’s & shootouts and some savage payback.

The horror elements in REVENGE are less pronounced but what Jen must endure is a nightmare both physically & existentially. Plus the film has plenty of impressive and grizzly gore.

REVENGE action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing option for REVENGE:

SAVAGE STREETS

26) A lumberjack with a past goes on wild drug fueled rampage for revenge after a crazed biker gang and a twisted cult kidnapped & murder his soulmate in MANDY.

MANDY

There is no gun on the poster but we do have various versions with a badass battle axe and/or a chainsaw.

MANDY

There is some brutal action in MANDY. Cage uses a crossbow, a box cutter, a chainsaw and an amazing custom made battle axe all in his pursuit of vengeance. He also runs over a biker with his car & crushes a guy’s skull with his bare hands.

The horror elements in MANDY are fantastic. I love how the biker gang and the cult are presented in a heightened almost supernatural way. The film has a beautiful & haunting hyper stylized aesthetic and there are some gruesome kills.

MANDY action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

MANDY

Bill Duke making an awesome return to the 31 days of action horror!

Recommended action horror pairing option for MANDY:

CLASS OF 1984

It’s a father & son action horror double feature tonight!

27) A tough LA cop attempts to protect a fashion model from a murderous cult of axe wielding maniacs in COBRA.

This might be the ultimate gun on the poster entry!!!!

COBRA

I love how in COBRA Cosmatos slather’s Sly’s delightfully over the top vanity project in a hyper stylized almost surreal aesthetic that is like something out of a giallo.

COBRA

COBRA has some great action, there is all kinds of shoot outs, fisticuffs, car chases and explosions. There is even a great one of Stallone’s signature montages from the era that cuts together him doing police work looking for the Night Slasher.

The first half of COBRA feels more like a horror movie before really shifting gears into the action in the later half of the film. However, in addition to the awesome aesthetic the horror elements like the murderous axe cult & how they are presented are fantastic.

COBRA action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃

COBRA

Recommended action horror pairing options for COBRA:

HOT FUZZ
COLD HELL

That brings to a close my run of 5 straight action horror films where evil fncks around & finds out they messed with the wrong one.
Up next I go from one action Icon to another…

28) A woman is stalked by a mysterious & seemingly unstoppable killer in THE TERMINATOR.

So I might have spoken to soon. Gun on the poster!!!

THE TERMINATOR

THE TERMINATOR is an action horror classic and one of the most influential films in the dangerous technology action horror sub genre.

THE TERMINATOR

The action in THE TERMINATOR is awesome. There are a number of great shootouts and car chases highlighted by the siege on the police station. Plus the scenes from the future include all kinds of cool tech.

As great as the action is in THE TERMINATOR the horror elements are just as good. Cameron reimagines the slasher film as a tech noir thriller & delivers a classic. The aesthetic & design of the terminator are tremendous.

THE TERMINATOR action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing option for THE TERMINATOR:

CLASS OF 1999

Up next my favorite Terminator knock off!

Bonus) An ancient & evil mystical spirt posses an anthropologist transforming her into an unstoppable weapon determined to get vengeance on the descendant of the man that imprisoned her in LADY TERMINATOR.

LADY TERMINATOR

Gun on the poster!

LADY TERMINATOR

LADY TERMINATOR is a shameless, wild & tawdry Indonesian reimagining of THE TERMINATOR that replaces the sci-fi elements with supernatural bits rooted in local folklore & ratchets everything up to delightfully absurd heights.

LADY TERMINATOR

LADY TERMINATOR is a silly & cheap knock off but it’s packed full of all kinds of great action highlighted by an impressive version of the assault on the police station. There are plenty of shootouts, car chases & explosions all crafted with unexpected scale & quality.

“First she mates… Then she terminates”

The horror elements are where LADY TERMINATOR really lets it freak flag fly & departs the hardest from the film that inspired it. There is all kinds of supernatural wackiness.

In addition to lots of TERMINATOR inspired gore, a crazy bodycount & a flying severed head one of the most wild horror elements is the Lady Terminator having a penis devouring serpent living in her vagina as one of her powers gained by being possessed by the evil South Sea Queen.

*Yes you read that right.

LADY TERMINATOR action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for LADY TERMINATOR:

NINJA III: THE DOMINATION
PLANET TERROR

Up next more dangerous technology.

29) A artist unknowingly revives a killer robot after using pieces of its scrap in one of her sculptures in HARDWARE.

HARDWARE

#SidebySide

THE TERMINATOR / HARDWARE

So I remember there being more action in HARDWARE.

HARDWARE

While there is less action in HARDWARE than I remember & it’s more of a straight up horror movie than action horror it still has some great action with a number of fire arms & various weapons used to combat the killer robot who also has a variety of weapons at its disposal.

The aesthetic and cyber punk horror elements in HARDWARE are fantastic. Not only is it beautifully shot but the production design is tremendous. The robot is menacing & cool. Plus there is some gruesome & graphic kills.

HARDWARE action horror score:
👊👊1/2
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

I want to take moment to remind everyone that my silly arbitrary fist & Jack-o-lantern rating system is not meant as a measurement of the overall quality of a movie but just an attempt to rate how pronounced the action & horror elements are.

HARDWARE

Recommended action horror pairing option for HARDWARE:

CHOPPING MALL

The next movie features more dangerous tech and it is without a doubt action horror.

30) A broken man who was crippled & lost his wife in a mugging agrees to a radical new procedure in an attempt to get revenge in UPGRADE.

UPGRADE

Sadly there is no gun on the poster but there is a weapon.😉

UPGRADE

I still think it’s funny that the guy who looks so much like Tom Hardy made a better VENOM movie & it was released the same year.

The action in UPGRADE is impressive. The hand to hand combat is inventive & brutal. There is also all kinds of cool future tech & body augmentations.

The horror elements in UPGRADE are subtle & take time to fully develop but are very well done. In addition to the body horror touches there is some horrifically gory violence & kills.

UPGRADE action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing option for UPGRADE:

MALIGNANT

Up next more dangerous tech & another human weapon.

31) A mysterious soldier brings chaos & suspicion to a small town & the family of one of the men he served with in THE GUEST.

THE GUEST

How could I forget?! Gun on the poster!

Gun on the poster!

THE GUEST

THE GUEST feels like a vampire movie on the low. David needs permission to enter the family’s home & much like a vampire he appears to his victims as exactly what they need. Wether it’s a brother, a lover or son.

They even have to call in Van Helsing to hunt his ghoulish ass down.

THE GUEST is not packed full of action but there are some great fights & shoot outs.

The like the way THE GUEST plays with genre and uses horror elements & themes in fun & clever ways. David looks like a person but he’s a monster.

THE GUEST action horror score:
👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

THE GUEST makes a great pairing with the next film…

32) After loosing his wife and daughter in a brutal home invasion a man hunts down the underground organization of scientifically altered super soldiers responsible for the attack in UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING.

*I am watching the director’s cut.

UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING

Gun on the poster!

UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING is a modern action horror classic.

UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING

The action in US:DOR is tremendous both in it’s physicality and presentation. It’s as explosive as it is savage and one of the best action films of this century.

The Cronenberg like horror elements in US:DOR are every bit as well done as the impressive action. In addition to the body horror the film is a nightmarish fever dream of broken men damaged from years of being welded as weapons & doomed to live in a inescapable cycle of violence.

UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING action score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

This brings to a close my run of 5 action horror films in the dangerous technology sub genre & 3 straight that dealt with human weapons.

The question is how do you follow up a classic like UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING?

The answer is a Dolph double!

33) While investigating A drug trafficking ring a tough cop encounters an otherworldly foe in DARK ANGEL.

DARK ANGEL

Gun on the poster!

There is nothing more 90s than using a CD as weapon.

DARK ANGEL

DARK ANGEL marks the return of famed stunt coordinator & director Craig R Baxley to the list who did the stunts for PREDATOR but is directing this time.

DARK ANGEL

With Baxley at the helm the action in DARK ANGEL is outstanding! The scope & scale of the car chases, gun fights, explosions & carnage are really impressive & gloriously OTT. Plus there is cool alien tech!

The horror elements in DARK ANGEL are not as prevalent as the action but still well done. The aesthetic, mood & gruesome kills are all great.

DARK ANGEL action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing option for DARK ANGEL:

SPLIT SECOND

The next movie also makes a nice pairing with DARK ANGEL and is another action horror film in the aliens sub genre.

34) A Homicide detective & an FBI agent team up to investigate a series of wild & deadly crime sprees that seem unrelated but share a shocking connection in THE HIDDEN.

THE HIDDEN

Gun on the poster!

THE HIDDEN

The action in THE HIDDEN is awesome there are some fun stunts and a number of great car chases & shootouts. The variety of cool cars & guns is also a bonus. Plus there is alien tech.

The horror elements in THE HIDDEN are secondary to the action but still great. There is plenty of blood & guts and the creature design is gnarly.

THE HIDDEN action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃

THE HIDDEN goes great with the next movie.

35) A down on his luck drifter looking for work discovers a mysterious pair of glasses leading him to a frightening revelation in THEY LIVE.

THEY LIVE

The action in THEY LIVE is great fun & highlighted by the absurdly long back alley brawl between Rowdy & Keith David.

The horror elements in THEY LIVE are campy but subversive and great as both genre entertainment and clever allegory.

THEY LIVE action horror score:
👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃

THEY LIVE

THEY LIVE goes nicely with the next move…

36) A group of teens band together to protect their neighborhood from an alien invasion in ATTACK THE BLOCK.

ATTACK THE BLOCK

No gun on the poster but there is a sword.

So many of characters in ATTACK THE BLOCK remind me of the kids grew up with.

ATTACK THE BLOCK

The kids in ATTACK THE BLOCK face both extraterrestrial & human threats in the action. It’s fun & resourceful how they defend themselves with what is on hand. As a plus the fireworks look cool & add to the aesthetic.

I love the style of the horror elements in ATTACK THE BLOCK the aesthetic and look of the aliens is outstanding. The creatures have such a unique and stylish design to them. Things also get more bloody than you might except.

ATTACK THE BLOCK action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing option for ATTACK THE BLOCK:

BEYOND SKYLINE

That ends my 4 film run of movies in the aliens action horror sub genre & marks their last appearance on the list.

As I reach the conclusion of my action horror celebration there is some wild genre mashups to close things out & even a curve ball…

37) When an attempted arrest of a ruthless crime lord goes wrong a police strike team find themselves trapped & fighting for their lives in THE RAID.

There is a gun on the poster for THE RAID but even if there wasn’t Iko counts as a weapon!

THE RAID

Look I know you might be thinking THE RAID isn’t a horror movie & I debated including it because I didn’t want a conversation about what is & isn’t considered horror to overshadow the action horror celebration but as I worked on my list I felt it had to be included.

THE RAID is survival horror like THE TOWERING INFERNO or THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE but in TR they’re not trying to survive a burning building or capsized cruise liner they’re trying to survive waves of murderous baddies & thugs in a 30 story project controlled by a vicious drug lord

Who wore it best?

THE RAID

The action in THE RAID is as spectacular & unrelenting as it is savage. There are some shootouts but the ultra violent hand to hand combat is the main course and it is a buffet of seemingly never ending brutality & bloodshed.

The horror elements in THE RAID are shaped not only by the insane body count & vicious graphic kills that put many slashers to shame but by the tense & almost exhaustingly relentless pace it moves at. It’s a punishing nightmare.

THE RAID action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃

THE RAID

Recommended action horror pairing options for THE RAID:

THE NIGHT COMES FOR US
BUY BUST

Next up a great martial arts horror movie mash up that’s also a period piece.

38) A renowned scientist & adventurer and his Native American companion are called in to investigate a series of savage & deadly attacks by a mysterious beast in the French countryside in BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF.

BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF

Gun on the poster!

BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF

BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF is such a fun & stylistic genre mashup with great action & horror elements. Both are strong enough to support a movie on their own but combined make for a one of a kind action horror experience.

The fantastic action & fight scenes in BOTW are highlighted by a tremendous performance from Mark Dacascos. There is dynamic martial arts, gun play and all kinds of cool bladed weapons.

In addition to the beast and it’s savage kills BOTW also features an evil cult as part of its horror elements.

BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF

Recommended action horror pairing option for BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF:

DEVIL’S EXPRESS

I’m down to the last movie I will be watching as part of my 31 days of action horror. With all the great films I have watched it’s not easy picking the right one that can follow what’s preceded it & still stand out while finishing strong but I am confident my choice fits the bill

Next up an evil baby killing cult, malicious spirits, the undead, machine guns, martial arts, crazy monsters, a rocket launcher & a deadly blood curse….

39) A doctor & adventure contracts a supernatural affliction after rescuing a beautiful young woman from a deadly cult and desperately searches for a cure before it’s too late in THE SEVENTH CURSE.

THE SEVENTH CURSE

Really I imagine some of you saw this coming.😅

THE SEVENTH CURSE

THE SEVENTH CURSE is bursting at the seems with all kinds of great action & wild supernatural happenings. You barely have enough time to digest what you have seen before something else even crazier happens.

I could write a book trying to keep track of & list all the action & horror elements in THE SEVENTH CURSE.

THE SEVENTH CURSE fits into so many action horror sub genres it’s hard to classify.

THE SEVENTH CURSE

THE SEVENTH CURSE action horror score:
👊👊👊👊👊
🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

Recommended action horror pairing options for THE SEVENTH CURSE:

RAW FORCE
BLIND WOMAN’S CURSE

This brings to a close my 31 day long action horror celebration. It’s been a great month and I got to spend Halloween with Iko, Joe Taslim, Yayan Ruhian, Mark Dacascos and Chow Yun-fat. I give that 👊👊👊👊👊 & 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃!

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