Census Bloodbath: This is a tool, not a toy

THE CARPENTER

It's Halloween again, and for our 12th annual Switcheroo with Brennan Klein of Popcorn Culture, we're doing what we always do this time of year when we turn the tables on one another: he takes over my Cardboard Science feature and reviews some of those corny mid-century sci-fi movies, and I do some fieldwork for Brennan's Census Bloodbath, as he gives me a slate of sick 80s slasher flicks from his ever-expanding encyclopedia of death.  This year we're back to full power, with three psyche-scarring films of Brennan's selection.

1988

Directed by David Wellington

Written by Doug Taylor

Spoilers: moderate

As alive as you need me to be

TRON: ARES

2025

Directed by Joachim Ronning

Written by David DiGilio and Jesse Witugow

Spoilers: moderate

Reach out and touch someone

BLACK PHONE 2

2025

Directed by Scott Derrickson

Written by C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson

Spoilers: moderate (though I make some implications that could, conceivably, be construed as "high" spoilers)

Census Bloodbath: You have a 20th century mind—you may soon regret it

SUPERSTITION

aka The Witch

It's Halloween again, and for our 12th annual Switcheroo with Brennan Klein of Popcorn Culture, we're doing what we always do this time of year when we turn the tables on one another: he takes over my Cardboard Science feature and reviews some of those corny mid-century sci-fi movies, and I do some fieldwork for Brennan's Census Bloodbath, as he gives me a slate of sick 80s slasher flicks from his ever-expanding encyclopedia of death.  This year we're back to full power, with three psyche-scarring films of Brennan's selection.

1985

Directed by James W. Roberson

Written by Michael O. Sajbel, Bret Thompson Plate, Brad White, and Donald G. Thompson

Spoilers: moderate

Mentally ill from Amityville: A devil-shaped hole

AMITYVILLE 3-D

1983

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Written by David Ambrose

Spoilers: moderate

Mentally ill from Amityville: Auto de fe(o)

AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION

1982

Directed by Damiano Damiani

Written by Tommy Lee Wallace and Dardano Sacchetti (based on Murder In Amityville by Hans Holzer)

Spoilers: moderate, or high, or inapplicable?

Mentally ill from Amityville: 28 days later

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR

1979

Directed by Stuart Rosenberg

Written by Sandor Stern (based on the book by Jay Anson)

Spoilers: moderate, but sort of inapplicable, right?