(Originally posted on our old site on December 29, 2005)

2005  YEAR IN REVIEW

Well another year almost done and gone, and I have to say that this was a very mixed year for us. We did have quite a few highlights, which we will discuss shortly. But on a personal (and more importantly financial) standpoint, this year sucked. So we are very much so looking forward to ending this year and starting afresh! We have also set up some goals for ourselves for this website. More updates, more contests, and more fun. So let’s see what happens! We are working on a big update, including our Cry Wolf and Wolf Creek reviews, along with a couple of Soundtrack reviews as well. But instead of waiting until the whole thing is done, we’ll update what we get done each time, and go from there. Usually when I wait, it takes weeks to get everything done. So here’s what we got so far. Enjoy!

What were some of the highlights of 2005 for us? Well, we’ve also posted this list on our Message Board, and would welcome anyone to add their own highlights, comments, or whatever they want.  It’s been pretty dead over there as of late, which I know I’m not helping either.

I guess the biggest highlights off-hand would be the movie festivals that we were able to attend this last year. The first one was the Bill Rebane Moviefest, where we were able to meet this Wisconsin legend and see some of his… entertaining films on the big screen.

Then there was the All-Night Horrorfest at the Drive-In that was put on by Mike and the Flashback gang. Not only was it cool to see some great movies at a drive-in, but my son was also able to experience seeing Evil Dead 2 on the same screen as I did some 20-years or so ago. Seeing him over at Tom Sullivan’s table grilling him for all the details about the movies was even better.

Then there was the 24-movie marathon that Rusty Nails put on at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago. I never thought I would be as awake as long as I was, and that I would have that much fun. I sure hope they do it again next year. That was a blast.

Lastly, there was the time when we almost didn’t meet director Alex de la Inglesia in Chicago. I want to send a special thanks out to my buddy Phil, since when he’s around, good things just tend to happen.

What about DVD releases? Could there be anything out there that could top that Hammer Horror Series that Universal put out? Eight great Hammer movies for only $25! All in beautiful quality! What about the Tombs of the Blind Dead box set? I think the best packaging for a box set had to be the import Phantasm set that Anchor Bay UK put out. I have that lovely thing sitting right in front of me at my computer desk. Right next to the Zuni Fetish doll from Trilogy of Terror!

Of course, we also like to take a moment to remember those that passed away this last year. These people have all contributed one way or another to the horror genre, and the genre fans like us feel the lost. But we know that with the films that they made, acted in, or just help create, they will live on and on to fans like us. For that, they will never die.

Robert Clarke, Debra Hill, William Hootkins,  Matt McGrory, Dan O’Herlihy,
Paul A. Partain, John Vernon, Mel Welles, Robert Wise