Very disappointed :(

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Two light-fingered movie fans pilfer some horror videocassettes from a Times Square video store and take them to a female friend's apartment to watch. After the films have finished, they fall prey to one of the movie's deadly characters that has mysteriously come to life.I suspect that the New York wraparound story to this British horror anthology was added as an afterthought to make the movie more marketable in the States. A shame, because it's the only weak part of an otherwise very enjoyable compendium from Michael Armstrong, director of the infamous nasty 'Mark of the Devil', and Stanley Long, the man responsible for the saucy 'Adventures of…' series.Tale one of three, 'That's The Way To Do It', stars Robin Bailey as ageing Punch and Judy man Jack, whose puppets take priority over his exasperated wife and angry teenage stepson Damien (Jonathon Morris). After Damien sets fire to Jack's puppet booth, a very upset Mr. Punch goes on a killing spree armed with his trusty piece of 2x4. An excellent way to start things going, this story benefits from solid performances and a very creepy puppet that repeatedly screams its nasal catchphrase while it bashes its victims to death.Story number two is 'Dreamhouse', an excellent little supernatural chiller which creates a genuinely tense atmosphere and delivers an ingenious twist at the end. Yvonne Nicholson plays Susan, who moves into a new home with her husband Tony (Ian Saynor), where she experiences a series of bloody visions that make her believe that the house is haunted. The truth, however, is far more horrifying.Last up is 'Do You Believe In Fairies?', which sees hard-up motorcyclist Gavin take a part-time job as handyman at a house owned by two apparently senile old women who believe that there are fairies living at the end of their garden. Gavin pays little attention to their silly stories, being more interested in where the old dears stash their money. With a little help from a pair of unscrupulous pals, Gavin breaks into the house at night, only to discover that the owners' fanciful tales are actually true, and that the little people aren't happy about their uninvited guests.Ignoring the obviously tacked on bookend segments, this mostly forgotten UK horror obscurity is a consistently entertaining effort, one that really deserves a wider audience (a proper release on DVD might help—someone needs to get on to this ASAP!).

Somewhat of a forgotten 80s (even though it felt like it was something out of the 70s than say the 80s) anthology feature, this low-budget British horror flick might not be anything remotely memorable but the three stories along with the wraparound tale are just so oddball, sedate, raw and fairly unpleasant that it's an magnetic viewing with a wicked sense of humour. From each story it moves on to, it gets better. Ed and Bruce are two young adults who decide to steal three video tapes from a New York video store (oh seeing a video store like this one brought back memories). The two then head to Ed's ex-girlfriend's apartment to watch these horror movies. So put in the first tape. The first tale follows that of an elderly puppeteer you must choose between his new family and that of his life's work presenting Punch & Judy shows for kids. What starts off as basic family dramas (a delinquent step-son and selfishly clueless wife) with some brooding psychological tension and dreary atmospherics, transcends in to complete daftness and predictability as the deaths pile up (which are maliciously portrayed) and the revelation goes over-the-top. It can get laughable, especially the attack scenes involving a puppet and a wooden plank with frenetic camera-work, but those moments are also mean-spirited and it moves by fairly quickly. The performances are quite amateurish, but Robin Bailey is fitting enough in the lead role. Hit eject. Time for another movie. The second entry about a young newlywed couple moving in to an old house seems like its going to be your typical cut-and-dry haunted house arch and while that is so with the constant noises at night, baffling visions plaguing one character's mind and no one believing the poor lady caught in the middle of it all. Is it haunted, a second sight or is she losing her mind? However some of the jolts can be jarring with its unsparing imagery and the final twist is so effective in its ironic twist of fate that it changes what you might have originally thought. I know it did on me. Sometimes the steady pacing might lull about with its monotonous actions and it's pretty straight-laced compared to the other stories, but the performances are considerably solid (especially Yvonne Nicholson with her neurotic turn) and the score is unnervingly bombastic in its cues. Strangely this one felt like the odd one. Now we are down to our final tape. The third and most creative, if interesting story. Is a whimsically wicked little horror tale with a fairytale like quality. A young motocross rider is in need of some cash so he can continue to compete in his beloved sport, takes up an offer as gardener in the house of two elderly ladies who like to talk about stories involving gnomes and fairies. There he also notices that they are considerably well-off. So one night he returns with his brother and friend to rob the place, but it turns out those stories are maybe more than just stories. Rather playful, after a slow beginning. But when it kicks into gear there are some entertaining sequences involving a midget dressed up a gnome, a treasure chest of gold, zombies popping out of the ground and a beautiful, but deadly fairy (Kim Thomson). So finally it coming to the credits, time for the wraparound to close things up and it's humorously macabre in doing so too. This is much better than those pirating ads you see before the main feature begins. For while it lasted, "Screamtime" was an amusingly twisted anthology that finishes on a screamer."Do you believe in fairies?"

I went into watching this with zero expectations and came out really surprised. I love anthology style horror films and have been searching for the best ones for a long time. My personal favorites include Creepshow, Cat's Eye, Tales from the Darkside, Asylum, Tales from the Crypt, Nightmares, The Willies, etc.. This movie manages to be funny and pointless in some parts and really scary in other parts. The wraparound story is so weird that you can't help but laugh at it. I think the scariest story is the second one about the couple moving into the old house. The way they built suspense and atmosphere was excellent and the end was a pleasant surprise as well. The first story wasn't very original but it was fun none the less. The third story was just plain bizarre but was by far the most original and creative out of the three tales. Overall I really recommend a late night viewing of this to anthology film fans. I think a DVD release would get this film the credit it deserves.

My brother and I rented this years ago. From the picture on the video box, we thought it was a ral bad, cheap thrills slasher film. Instead it turned out to be a suprisingly good anthology of British horror stories. Good british horror, very creepy and scary without being gory or violent, kind of 'quiet horror'. "Punch and Judy" is only okay, but the other two stories will give you some serious chills! THe only complaint I have about this film is the story-within-a-story concept about the friends renting this video and watching it, and seriously regretting it at the end of the videos. That was unnecessary and stupid. Good luck finding this film, though, I think it is pretty rare.