Oddur B.T.Film Archive ⌕

Cult cinema, physical media, and strange films

Oddur B.T.
Film Archive

Notes from the darker side of the video shelf.

„Cult“ is where my comfort zone lies

I mostly enjoy writing about films that fit into the category „Cult“ in one way or another. It‘s, frankly, where my comfort zone lies. It would be easy to just focus on horror films, but the category also includes so many films that are truly un-classifiable.

Clear

Warning Sign (1985)

Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller, Drama

A government run research facility called BioTek Agronomics deals, on the surface, with genetically engineered corn that will improve farming considerably. But what the government is really doing is sponsoring a germ-warfare program which be can activated should the Soviets launch an attack on the USA. At the end of a normal working day the biohazard alerts appear on the monitor and security guard Joanie follows protocol and effectively puts BioTek on lockdown.

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Alone in the Dark (1982)

Horror, Thriller, Drama, Slasher

Dr. Leo Bain runs a mental institute called The Haven. He believes in unorthodox treatments and refers to his patients as voyagers and maintains that they be treated as human beings. Most of the patients are considered relatively harmless apart from four individuals who are incarcerated on the third floor of the establishment and it’s the only floor with maximum security.

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Moon of the Wolf (1972)

Horror, Thriller

“Moon of the Wolf” is quite the find for werewolf film lovers and fans of old TV movies. Shot on location in Louisiana and subsequently featuring some great authentic bayou surroundings that certainly add a lot of visual charm to this decently written lycanthrope mystery that’s very compact, to the point and well cast.

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House on Haunted Hill (1999)

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Married couple Stephen Price and Evelyn have a toxic relationship. Once Evelyn sees that a supposedly haunted place that was once a famous psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane is available for rent she decides she wants to have her birthday party there….

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The Mist (2007)

Sci-Fi, Horror, Thriller

A massive storm hits a small Maine town and causes a lot of damage. The next day a lot of residents head to the local supermarket to stock up on supplies. Among them are David, his son Billy and neighbour Brent who has a fairly rocky relationship with David. As the folks go about their business a thick mist approaches fast and suddenly a deathly frightened man comes running into the store shouting that there’s something in the mist.

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The Hills Have Eyes Part 2 (1985)

Horror, Thriller

A cannibalistic clan slaughtered members of Bobby’s family seven years before in the desert en route to California and he was fortunate enough to get out along with his sister, brother-in-law and his small baby and Ruby, a member of the clan who turned against her kin to help the city folk. Now Bobby is the owner of a motorcross team that’s scheduled to compete in or around the desert area where he lived through his horror.

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Girls Nite Out (1982)

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

At Dewitt University a scavenger hunt is about to begin. The game, which takes place at night, takes the contestants all over the campus looking for clues. The terror begins as one by one the female players are slashed by a maniac…dressed as the basketball team’s mascot bear!

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Gymkata (1985)

Horror, Thriller, Action

In Parmistan there a terrible game is played regularly and anyone who comes there must enter. It’s a game of survival and death where no outsider has won the game for over 900 years.

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The Deliberate Stranger (1986)

Thriller, Drama, Crime

One of the most notorious serial killers in history was the subject of this two part miniseries that aired in May 1986. A big part of the movie’s success is thanks to Mark Harmon’s alarmingly good performance as Bundy. The relaxed runtime also helps in showing just how much ground Bundy covered…

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