Terror in the Aisles

Another one of my favourite VHS rentals as a kid was Terror in the Aisles. Essentially a compilation of clips from horror movies, this is That's Entertainment for weirdos. And it works beautifully.

A major reason why this works is the sheer breadth of the films that are used from the old to the new, the well known to the obscure. There are also films used that aren't strictly horror movies but are still examples of how suspense can be brilliantly generated in a film (Midnight Express, Night Hawks).

This film was also extremely popular in the UK as it contained clips from movies that were either banned by the BBFC (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre) or discreetly removed from video shelves by them (The Exorcist).

Another masterstroke by the movie are the links that involve horror royalty Donald Pleasance and Nancy Allen in a cinema pontificating on horror tropes and what makes them work. These sequences are priceless. Look out for a young Angel Salazar as a 'feature moviegoer'.

Themes such as the villain and the victim/Final Girl are examined with the respective appropriate clips being used to illustrate the filmmakers points. Theres also a lesson in suspense by the master himself, Mr Alfred Hitchcock.

This is a great compilation for either the young horror hound looking for new thrills or the seasoned purveyor of all things cinematically depraved. I never thought this film would see the light of day because of the logistical nightmare associated with a compilation like this and rights issues. I'm very glad to say that I was wrong. A few years back Universal released Halloween 2 (1981) on Blu ray with Terror in the Aisles as one of the bonus features. An essential purchase.

Well edited tribute to horror films made before 1984 with a good selection of clips even if some of them are more action/crime oriented than horror. Donald Pleasence and Nancy Allen make for excellent hosts. It's a fun ride especially for those who haven't seen all of the movies featured.

Saw this one in a drive in back in 1984. It was a great place to see this compilation of the best clips of (mostly) more recent Horror and Suspense movies. This movie was released in theatres first, not direct to video as with many other compilations, so the highlighting of 1970s slasher movies is totally understandable from a marketing viewpoint. For fans of early horror, I recommend the documentary "Universal Horror" which highlights the classic horror films and influences of Universal Studios. Donald Pleasance was at his prime then, starring in slasher films galore, he camps it up here as does Nancy Allen, trying to keep the suspense up in between clips. It all works. For horror fans, its a fantastic sampler platter of some of the greatest moments in Horror film. It will steer you toward films you may not be aware of, or it will give you peeks at films you may have heard of but never seen.

Rather pointless but also quite entertaining compilation of clips from famous (pre-1984) horror films. Many of the complaints that others have expressed about this film are valid (unnecessary "narration", too much footage from "Halloween II", some odd selections of sources - what are "To Catch A Thief" and "Midnight Express" doing here?), but I still believe most horror buffs will find enough to enjoy here - you may even feel a chill running down your spine during some of the scenes. (**1/2)

This documentary shows some of the best moments mainly from 70's and early 80's horror movies. Donald Pleasance was a perfect choice for a host. Its really fun to guess and point out which scene came from what movie. Highly recommended for any true horror fan.