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#278 Day of the Reaper - 1984 (This Film Rates a C+ ) This super low-budget horror film, the feature debut of Tim Ritter, has a distinctly amateurish feel, reminiscent of a home movie shot on Super-8. The story follows a group of teenagers who are stalked and killed by an invincible psychopath, known as the Reaper. The film follows the storyline recounted by the lone survivor, Jennifer. "All my friends are dead and he is coming to get me". She fears and has nightmares the reaper will escape and kill her. Of course, he escapes under the lose fencing on the mental institution's grounds. The final conflict and the last ten minutes just melt into pure laughable cheese. The film's attempts at horror are often undermined by its poor production values, including cheesy special effects, badly written dialogue, and subpar acting. The storyline is convoluted and implausible, with the Reaper's origins and motivations being particularly nonsensical. Despite its many flaws, the film has a certain campy charm, and the electronic soundtrack, while crude, adds to the film's appeal. Some fun moments, such as the Jennifer's nonchalant reading of Fangoria magazine and at the 49 minute mark with Jennifer using a touch tone pay phone but the sound effects are a rotary dial, plus the killer is not missing Jennifer in the woods with that bright colored pink outfit she has on. Did I enjoy this, yes. Would I watch it again, no. Just know what you are getting yourself into for a $1000 film.

#277 Litan - 1982 (This Film Rates a B ) "Litan" is a surreal and unsettling horror film that masterfully crafts an atmosphere of dread and unease. The story follows Nora and Jock as they visit the town of Litan during a dark and ominous annual festival, only to find themselves entangled in a web of sinister experiments and the supernatural. As the narrative unfolds, the duo discovers the true nature of Dr. Julien's research, which involves attempting to raise and communicate with the dead. The town is also plagued by a mysterious, glowing blue entity that possesses individuals and rapidly dissolves corpses, adding to the sense of unease.

The film's strength lies in its ability to blur the lines between reality and nightmare, creating a dreamlike quality that is both captivating and unsettling. Sometimes you truly have no idea what is going on. The scenery is visually stunning, with a unique blend of atmospheric settings, including a hillside village and underground caves. The music and sound effects are effectively used to enhance the tension and suspense, making the film's lack of gore and special effects almost irrelevant. While the plot is convoluted and features some notable and numerous holes, the film's bizarre and entertaining narrative keeps viewers engaged until the very end.

#276 Nurse Sherri (AKA: Possession of Nurse Sherri) - 1978 (This Film Rates a C ) "Nurse Sherri" is a low-budget horror film that struggles to find its footing amidst a convoluted plot and uneven execution. The story centers around a cult leader's attempt to resurrect a young boy, which ultimately results in his own demise and the taking possession of nurse, Sherri. As Sherri's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, her doctor boyfriend, Peter, begins to suspect that something is amiss. The cult leader seeks revenge against others, and the killing begins. Can Nurse Sherri be stopped and saved? Despite some notable cinematography, particularly in its depiction of the cityscape and cars, the film is marred by laughable special effects, over-the-top music, and a script that often feels like it belongs in a 1970s sitcom. The pacing is also uneven, with several dead-end storylines that drag on for too long. The film's attempts at tension and suspense are frequently undercut by its unintentionally comedic moments, such as the car chase sequences. The gore and effects are minimal, which fails to elevate the film beyond its low-budget roots. The ending is particularly disappointing, feeling like a sudden thud and a missed opportunity. While "Nurse Sherri" has its share of campy charm, it ultimately feels like a relic of the drive-in circuit horror films of the 1970s. Sadly, it couldn't decide if it wanted to be more horror or more exploitative and wound up neither. It's all crap but that's why we love this genre.