The Worst Film Ever

I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

A Major Disappointment

I had never heard of this film and as a huge horror buff and even more of an 80's horror buff, I was instantly intrigued. The fact that this introduced A Christmas Story's "Ralphie" was kind of neat and the story sounded like a good old fashion slasher flick. Well I wouldn't even classify this as a slasher flick although a few times it does certainly try. I would say the story is much more of a thriller and even that is pushing it simply because the pacing of the movie is very slow. They could have really edited this down as it spends a whole lot of time establishing the main youngster. Its sort of like you're watching home videos of his entire vacation and then at the tail end a killer shows up. As expected from a low budget 80's horror movie the kills are a little cheesy and the blood is so light red that it looks like strawberry ice cream syrup. (This isn't a complaint because this is just true 80's, just an observation.) There is also a completely unnecessary and forced scene of topless-ness that made me laugh out loud because it was so blatantly pushed into the scene. Again, this isn't a complaint just an observation of a classic low budget 80's move.As I mentioned Peter Billingsley makes his big screen debut as Billy. He is really the quintessential youngster. He looks adorable, he loves cowboys and guns and he is a good actor! He is believable and fun and you really root for him partially because of his performance and partially because they spend so much time focusing on developing his character. Catherine Hicks is the perfect 80's horror movie Mom. She reminded me a lot of Andy's Mom in Child's Play and that's a compliment. She is perfect in her role and helps support Billingsley's performance. Paul Le Mat is the new man in Hicks' life that Billy has to warm up to. He does a good job and plays his role well. He and Hicks have very good chemistry and...attempting to not give anything away...I was relieved at how they ended the film. Somehow you become attached to his character as Billingsley's character becomes attached to him. Veteran actor Wilford Brimley's name is all over this film but he has barely more than a cameo in the film as the old Sheriff. He is basically a B character to be fodder for our killer. Jack O'Leary is our crazed killer and he's good but very cheesy and campy. He overplays his scenes and the final scene when he battles with Le Mat is so hokey that you'll be howling with laughter. It is so choreographed and just really overplayed.Director Dick Richards does an adequate job as director. However, he should have took a harder look at editing the film. The pacing is far too slow and the killer is far too hokey. On top of that, the story is about as deep as a hillside. There is no rhyme or reason to the killer's spree and the thinnest of reason behind him stalking little Billy. The entire concept of the killer coming after him because he found his necklace in an RV is ludicrous. All the shortcomings of the film are overcome by a solid lead in Billingsley, and the fact that this was a low budget 80s thriller and that automatically allows for some wiggle room in the camp department. Horror fans will enjoy it, but it is certain to not blow anyone away. 7/10

"Death Valley" is the film that introduced the world to little Peter "Ralphie" Billingsley of "A Christmas Story" fame. "Death Valley" centers on a young boy named Billy who accidentally stumbles upon a murder scene while taking a road trip with his mother and her new boyfriend. He unknowingly picks up the only thing that can tie the killer to the location of the crime - a necklace dropped during the struggle with the victim. Billy's mother and her boyfriend attempt to bring the psychopath to justice before the murderer tracks the child down.This is one of those forgotten films of the 1980s. It's not bad by any means. It just didn't make enough of an impact on moviegoers to grant it cult classic status. Many would consider it a slasher film and they have every right to. There are graphic scenes of blood and violence, but not enough to place it in a category with "Friday the 13th" or "Halloween."The cast of "Death Valley" is relatively impressive in hindsight. Many of them hadn't hit their successful strides yet and were still on their journey to stardom. Catherine Hicks ("7th Heaven," "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home") plays Billy's mother. Veteran actor Edward Herrmann ("Gilmore Girls," "The Lost Boys") has a bit role as Billy's father. Wilfred Brimley ("The Firm," "Cocoon") plays the town sheriff."Death Valley" will provide genre fans and ordinary movie viewers some thrills and entertainment. It's interesting to see Peter Billingsley perform in this type of atmosphere after spending so many years seeing him as baby-faced Ralphie in the safety of "A Christmas Story." I might have to have a "Three Degrees of 'A Christmas Story'" party this year and screen "Death Valley," "A Christmas Story" and "Black Christmas," which were both directed by Bob Clark.

It's boring.It's slow.Where are the nasty and brutal murders? Where is the tension that is supposed to scare us? This is like watching Sesame Street without the funny characters of Ernie and Bert or Grover.It's really lame.Maybe it was the writing...maybe the direction...maybe the acting, maybe the editing, maybe the cinematography, maybe the special effects, maybe the makeup.Maybe all of the above brought this to something barely able to keep your eyes focused on.I wanted to get scared...not bored.This didn't scare me...it didn't even interest me...I had more fun watching the time on the microwave instead of watching this film.Don't bother to buy it..and if you see it on television by some freak chance, there is no need to tuck the kids asleep.

...a movie without a script totally bombs. From the writer of "Universal Soldier" (1 & 2) and "Hard to Hold", it's a wonder this movie is even as good as it is. The actors and director do a remarkable job despite the drivel they are forced to work with. If they did a total rewrite of this movie, it would probably be pretty good, but as it is, it is somewhat boring and just BLAH. It has some moments but I wouldn't bother unless it is on TV and you are bored anyways.