On Saturday, I again watched a couple of horror movies (I use the term horror loosely here). I didn't write about them then because, frankly, I just wasn't feeling it. But I'm writing about them now, so let's begin.

I decided that I wanted to watch some older movies this time, since I'd watched newer ones last time. I checked through the On Demand library and came across the movie 13 Ghosts. This movie, released in 1960, is black and white. It tells the story of a nearly destitute family who inherit a mansion from an eccentric uncle. They move in and find out that it's haunted with 13 ghosts (hence the title). They discover that the uncle had figured out how to trap ghosts and control them (with the aid of a pair of funky glasses). They also find out that, shortly before his death, the uncle took out his life savings and hid it somewhere in the house.

What I liked about this movie is that it's a hardcore cheese-fest. It's so cliché it's hilarious. What I didn't like about it was the fact that it left too many questions...how did Dr. Zorba learn how to trap ghosts, where did he find them, why is Ben such a schmuck (oh, yeah, because he's a lawyer - scratch that one). The most endearing thing about this movie is the effects. At the beginning of the film the director tells you that you need some special glasses to see some of the elements of the movie (you actually don't, at least not any more), namely, the ghosts. Every time you need the glasses the screen goes blue, when you no longer need them, the screen returns to black and white. Remember, it was released in 1960...so yeah, the "special effects" aren't all that special, but for that period, they were probably fairly revolutionary.

All in all, this was an okay movie. Really cheesy, really clichéd, but a nice change from the garbage that gets released these days. This movie is appropriate for all ages.

If movie 1 was a cliché, movie 2 was a tired cliché. The Brotherhood of Satan, released in 1971, tells the story of a town in the middle of nowhere that is gripped in fear after dozens of towns folk are slaughtered by some unknown force and their children have all gone missing. Turns out the children are being stolen by a coven of senior citizens bent on immortality.

The big issue I have with this movie is that it is incredibly stereotypical. Seriously, think of every Hollywood stereotype of a Satanic coven and you will find it here (except maybe the coven being geriatric...). Think of every stereotypical non-coven movie element and, voilá! Just once I'd like to watch a movie that is innovative (but not Twilight-innovative, you really have to draw the line at completely throwing out all tradition and legend when dealing with supernatural beings) and non-stereotypical.

There is really no gore in this...there are a few borderline bits, but it's mostly implied...and the raciest bits are the make-out sessions between the lead female and her boyfriend; unless you want to count the 70s fashion...with dresses that barely cover the undies.

So, this movie, while a big disappointment, is probably okay for most viewers...