Tuesday Terror: Graveyard Shift (1990)

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The small town in Stephen King’s Graveyard Shift is way too small. You can’t take two steps out of the house without running into one of your coworkers. The bully that mouths off at you during break is ready more than happy to continue pressing your buttons at the local diner.

And working at the textile factory is terrible. It’s a hard, dangerous job in a dying industry. Whether you are a secretary or a feeding cotton in a machine, you must deal with rats – both the human and animal variety. Warwick, the boss, is mean, petty and vengeful. Embarrass him or turn down his advances and he’ll get even. The problem is that he walks the same rat-infested hallways as his employees. What’s the good of having power if you can’t intimidate people?

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The factory building itself is an inspection away from being condemned. It should be boarded up or burned down. Warwick’s plan to keep the doors open involves assembling a crew to clean out the rat’s nest basement. Honestly, the workers are so accustomed to rats – killing them is child’s play. Those little creatures are the least of their problems.

Now, you may ask yourself how does a textile factory get over-run with rats? What has drawn them there? What are they eating? Well, let’s just say a cemetery is involved.

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The movie is slow in bits but just when you are tempted to turn away there’s a ghastly accident or glimpse of the main monster. It’s also a bit bloody and gory in parts. I can easily see this working as a remake – perhaps set in a factory farm.

If you are mind to do a double feature, I suggest pairing Graveyard Shift with The Mangler. Though one is a creature feature and the other deals with demonic possession, they are both explore themes about industry in small towns.

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Tip:
Don’t be Carmichael, the black guy who is fated to die once he accepts an assignment in the basement. The question is who will make the kill – human or a critter?

Tuesday Terror: The Haunting of Julia (1977)

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(aka Full Circle)

After her young daughter dies, Julia leaves her husband and old life behind. Starting over isn’t easy; Julia has a sense that she’s not alone. Could the disturbances be a manifestation of her guilt? When a seance opens the door to a past mystery, Julia knows she won’t have peace until she solves it.

Mia Farrow is great in this role. She is vulnerable and scared but still determined to have control over her life. Most of the people she interacts with are haunted in some way. There are no standout special effects here; the creepiness and dread emanates from the surroundings and the characters themselves.

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From a modern stand point, the daughter’s death is preventable. The girl begins choking at breakfast. The parents frantically try to save her and try everything except the Heimlich maneuver. I did a little research and discovered that the Heimlich maneuver was first introduced in 1974; however, it didn’t become the 1st course of action for conscious choking victims until 1986.

After trying to dislodge the object with her fingers doesn’t work, Julia picks up and knife and tries an emergency tracheotomy. Would the child have lived if she had waited a few moments for emergency services? Or was the tracheotomy the only chance for survival? This is the guilt and fear that Julia carries on her like a shroud—even when she pretends it isn’t there.

If you are looking for a dark drama were the horror elements creep in, check out The Haunting of Julia.

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Tip:
Deal with your own ghosts.

Tuesday Terror: Day Of The Animals (1977)

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A group nature hike turns deadly when the animals turn into rage machines. Contending with the crazed beasts requires group unity, but ego and pride make that impossible.

This is a man-f*cked-up-the-environment-and-nature-strikes-back movie. It’s a warning for aerosol can spraying heathens to get their lives together:

This motion picture dramatizes what COULD happen
in the near future IF we continue to do nothing to
stop this damage to Nature’s protective shield
for life on this planet.

Here’s the film logic behind the disaster: thanks to the hole in the ozone layer, the levels of ultra violet radiation are rising and driving the animals mad. (I asked a scientist about this possibility and she’d never heard of such a thing.)

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It’s also important to note that the animals don’t attack each other. Rather, different groups coordinate to attack the human intruders. This movie reminds me of The Warriors in a way – as the hikers try to make their way through the mountain, they encounter animal “gangs” – the wolves, the mountain lions, etc.

People in the valley are having a tough time too. There’s a rat attack that is sure to have your skin crawling.

The hiking group is diverse in a way that would please the director of diversity at Apple: a former NFL player referred to as “the cripple”, a Native American (who senses danger before the others), the ranger, an asshole business executive, a mother and her pre-teen son, a new couple, a bitter couple, a professor and a blonde news anchorwoman. Even without the extra radiation, the hiking trip sounds like a bad idea. The original plan was to spend two weeks hiking and camping with no weapons and limited food.

Paul, the business executive, is played by Leslie Neilson. Be warned: he’s not playing a comedic character. He’s the guy who immediately strikes up a conversation with the Native American and starts throwing “kemosabi” around. It’s all jokes until the animals start hunting them down.

Convinced he’s the smartest man around, Paul challenges the guide’s leadership. The group splits in two. Guess who becomes more vicious than the wolves? Once he is in charge, Paul gets to act out his Lord Of The Flies fantasies.

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The other faction is much more cooperative. There are moments of bravery and self-sacrifice. The animals pick a few off from each group, but they don’t have to worry about a human villain.

Heavy drama mixed with savage animal attacks – this movie is a winner.

Tips:
*The racist is a sexist, trust me on this.
*Dogs are just pretending to be goofy and lovable – they hate you. They really,
really hate you.
*House cats are indifferent to your existence no matter the UV levels.