Search - Horror: 4 Film Favorites on DVD

Werewolves and snatchers, both domestic and alien

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 04/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"WARNER's "HORROR: 4 FILM FAVORITES" consists of two dual-side recorded discs of American fright films made between 1978 and '96. Transfer quality of these is excellent.





SYNOPSES--



BAD MOON-- The family dog defeats Uncle Werewolf. Cheesy special effects and a small budget hardly detract from a mediocre script.



BODY SNATCHERS-- Family staying at a Southern military base notice that soldiers are acting oddly. The EPA inspector's daughter is warned to stay awake, because "they" get you when you sleep.



COMA-- A hospital's patients are being killed so their organs can be sold on the black market. This set's oldest film is also the best of the bunch. Superb cast includes small roles for Tom Selleck and Ed Harris (who made his screen debut here). Directed and scripted by author Michael Crichton-- he based his screenplay on Robin Cook's bestseller.



WOLFEN-- A NYC cop investigating deaths that appear to be animal attacks discovers an Indian legend concerning wolf spirits. (Watch for a cameo by Tom Waits as the "drunken bar owner.")





WARNER's THRILLERS: 4 FILM FAVORITES would be an excellent companion to this DVD 4-fer.





Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.



(4.8) Bad Moon (1996) - Mariel Hemingway/Michael Paré/Mason Gamble/Ken Pogue



(5.7) Body Snatchers (1993) - Gabrielle Anwar/Terry Kinney/Billy Wirth/Forest Whitaker/Meg Tilly



(6.8) Coma (1978) - Geneviève Bujold/Michael Douglas/Elizabeth Ashley/Rip Torn/Richard Widmark/Tom Selleck/Benny Rubin/Ed Harris



(6.2) Wolfen (1981) - Albert Finney/Diane Venora/Edward James Olmos/Gregory Hines/Tom Noonan (uncredited: Tom Waits)"