I've liked this film for years, and have it on VHS. My favorite chapter is The Benediction (I love God vs. Devil films), with The Bishop of Battle as a close second!
All the Chapters were enjoyable. What is everyone's favorite "Chapter"??
"Bishop of Battle."
And I had a feeling you liked "God vs. Devil" films. "Let there be Light."
:-)
"An Archer is known by his aim, not by his arrows."
-Li Chen-Sung (Richard Loo) The Outer Limits
The third story. It really scared me.
share"The Bishop Of Battle"
Spread The Fear,
Toyland Chairman
http://www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/index.htm
Chapter Three - "The Benediction"
Although I do have a soft spot for the opening prologue and "Terror In Topanga".
Recently picked up the DVD on Ebay for a good price.
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Hi,
Thanks phoenix, I'll have to check out Dead of NIght. Sounds like it might be a good one. I liked the 'Night of the Rat' story, myself. Looks like i'm in the minority lol. I was rather fascinated by the idea of an unusually large species of rat causing trouble in the house. And i didn't think the ending was funny, but mysterious and sad as the Rat carried it's baby with him/her but the baby was dead. It was also neat seeing Hague (i've forgotten his first name) from Fame, as the rat exterminist. But i did also like the 3rd story 'The Benediction'. Pretty scary. Overall, a good anthology.
I think I'd have to say Terror in Topanga. Kill me, but I love urban legends and this came off as a slasher film, which I also dig. As a matter of fact, this could be one of my favorite legends. I will say that it was predictable because obviously I was well accquainted with the story before seeing the film. The fact is, this just made me appreciate more the way they did it. I thought the way the killer was sprawled out with his arms spread holding the knife after being shot was brilliant. My only gripe was how cheap it was that the gas station attendant pretty much looked exactly like the grainy photo on the news.
Contrary to what anyone else may think, I don't like Bishop of Battle, I thought it was too corny. As strange as it may seem, I think the ending was more sappy and moral induced than the benediction (my second favorite). I think the night of the rat was good, the only problem was that the way they handled the end was laughable.
What The Benediction, Terror in Topanga, and Night of the Rat have that Bishop of Battle lacks, is suspense. I didn't think that it was scary at all. My heart was beating a bit for the other three at times, but not for Emilio Estevez.
I disagree with you Seijyuro, I just saw this film the first time on the Sleuth cable channel. I thought it was suspensful, but I'm a gamer myself. Perhaps it helps to have that understanding of how it feels to be addicted to a game. As well as the concept that the game could capture you, inside it. That's freaky. I mean, I'd be so homesick. LoL
It really is another one of those, fear of technology urban legends. You also have to understand that even if the technology seems corny now, which it does. That's all they had then and at the time, it was considered somewhat realistic. Thank goodness they found the technology for speech, so they didn't have to keep repeating sound bites like they did in the arcade game, ad nauseum.
Oh I know perfectly well how it feels to be addicted to games, I used to be a gamer myself (a very avid one). I just don't believe they did it justice.
shareI liked Terror in Topanga the best. Cristina Raines is pretty and pretty good. In the scenes where she was really low on gas and she was driving while that scary music played, it really scared me. I didn't know if something terrible was about to happen. When the segment was over, and they played that heavy metal music, signifying the start of the second chapter, my heart sank. I didn't want the first part to be over. Thought the second, third and fourth parts were good enough to hold my attention, though. I wasn't horribly bored at any time. The third segment was kind of confusing. Albert Hague was his usual bland self. He plays every scene in a monotone. He probably never had to do a scene where he had to cry.
shareTerror in Topanga is my favorite part. When it comes to a close, and the rock music of the next segment starts, my heart sinks. I wish Cristina was in it all the way through.
shareI agree. Terror in Topanga is my favorite too and I also agree about the bad ending of Night of the Rat.
I didn't really understand the point of The Benediction and though the Bishop of Battle was corny it was still fun.
Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Criedshare
the bishop and the rat... i always loved the little girl ....i loved her movies when i was a kid...she reminded me of drew barrymore.. in the fact that she was in movies about the same age...
shareI think my favorite was the giant rat story--the "emotional
power play" it delivers at the end was great. But I also liked
the third story, which actually gave me chills.
Just caught this last night on Time Warner's free on-demand movie
selections. What a gem!
And damn if young Estevez wasn't a delight to watch.
Bishop of Battle for sure. Maybe that's "fer shure" as I was still in my 80's TRON phase when this movie came out and any movie with a video game as a main story had me pretty much hooked. Oh btw there is a fan made Bishop of Battle game available online. Go here....
http://www.roguesynapse.com/games/bishop_of_battle.php
The demo is availabe for download at the bottom of the page. I haven't played it yet but I don't think you will wind up like Emilio's character if you loose so give it a shot.
Chapter Three - "The Benediction"
was such an obvious rip off of 'THE CAR' from 1977, I couldn't help but hate it. And the priest was right to begin with. And I'm sure the devil drives an old crummy Chevy truck with an EVIL roll bar. I would hope he'd have better taste than that. At least 'THE CAR' was bad a$$. I personally envision the devil in a Jet black Rolls Phantom.
After all, he is a 'man of wealth and taste', right? Besides, I hate priests.
The Rat was the best.
Yep, the rat story is my fav. Das Teufel Nagetier... too cool. :)
'The Bishop Of Battle' comes in second place...
"You give me back my ball... I'll give you yours" - Viggo Mortensen in Renny Harlin's 'Prison'
"Terror in Topanga". I love classic urban legends. "Night of the Rat" comes second.
"Save me."
"I love you."
Film blog: http://cinemawrite.blogspot.com
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There isn't a chapter in the movie that I don't love in some way. I'm kind of disappointed that many seem to not have love for "Night of the Rat." I think they are all rather suspenseful at times, and I read on IMDB that the whole project was made for tv but it was deemed a bit too intense.
Lately, I would have to say that "The Benediction" might have my vote as the scariest. There's just something unsettling about the whole thing. And yes I'm aware that it's a rip off of "Duel."