Not the best horror anthology in the world it is interesting in one aspect...using a class in fear be the set up for the stories. Basically, a professor with a very unorthodox way of teaching has to invite those willing to a special story telling event at his house or something. Been awhile since I saw this one, so I am not all that clear about the details. They mainly have to go to his house thanks to a very shaky first day of class where the professor proceeds to show everyone how nuts he is. Well they go and exchange stories, the first one being about a couple stranded near an old house that looks typical, but has the best ending of the three stories presented. The next story has these girls getting stranded in the wrong part of town and being terrorized by a guy and his Doberman. Granted, nothing really special about it overall, but it did make for the most tense story of the three and my favorite. The final one for the most part is highly forgettable to say the least. I only remember a woman who has some sort of answering service and there was no being stranded involved here, though the female did have a bum ankle. Then the movie wraps up in a somewhat interesting and somewhat absurd fashion. Not the best, but it is entertaining enough to pass the time quite nicely.
45 Reviews
After Midnight: Average horror anthology
Platypuschow25 August 2017
With the 3 stories and the wrap around this horror anthology features a couple of familiar faces including CSI veteran Marg Helgenberger.
Including an elaborate prank gone wrong, crazy homeless man and his attack dogs, a celebrity stalker and a jocks vengeance.
None of the stories are great but are at least competently made.
The wrap around though interesting all falls apart in the last act which damages the film.
There are a lot of horror anthology's out there and though this one isn't bad it's shadowed by considerably better ones.
The Good:
The teacher was suitably hammy
Intense opening
The Bad:
Rather clichéd
Awful ending
Things I learnt from this movie:
This prank thing is really get out of hand
If attacked by rabid dogs it makes more sense to be on foot than safe in a car
Abandoned derelict buildings are logical places to seek a working phone
Including an elaborate prank gone wrong, crazy homeless man and his attack dogs, a celebrity stalker and a jocks vengeance.
None of the stories are great but are at least competently made.
The wrap around though interesting all falls apart in the last act which damages the film.
There are a lot of horror anthology's out there and though this one isn't bad it's shadowed by considerably better ones.
The Good:
The teacher was suitably hammy
Intense opening
The Bad:
Rather clichéd
Awful ending
Things I learnt from this movie:
This prank thing is really get out of hand
If attacked by rabid dogs it makes more sense to be on foot than safe in a car
Abandoned derelict buildings are logical places to seek a working phone
Creepy Horror Anthology.
insomniac_rod25 August 2005
"After Midnight" offers interesting tales that remind me of another 80's slasher flicks such as "April Fool's Day" (the first tale), and "Girls Night Out" (the second tale).
People inside a house narrate these tales while a prowler lurks outside the place.
Anyways, the first story is pretty interesting and has a chilling climax. I didn't see that coming!. In the style of "April Fool's Day" but in this case something went wrong. The second tale is less interesting but has more action involving flesh eating dogs chasing the girls. It is thrilling and has a decent conclusion. The third one is absolutely thrilling and nerve tensing involving a psychopath.
I watched it on TNT a few years ago so my advice would be , look for this popular Anthology. You might be suprirsed to see how many people ask for the movie's title on the Horror board. It has generated a somewhat cult status.
People inside a house narrate these tales while a prowler lurks outside the place.
Anyways, the first story is pretty interesting and has a chilling climax. I didn't see that coming!. In the style of "April Fool's Day" but in this case something went wrong. The second tale is less interesting but has more action involving flesh eating dogs chasing the girls. It is thrilling and has a decent conclusion. The third one is absolutely thrilling and nerve tensing involving a psychopath.
I watched it on TNT a few years ago so my advice would be , look for this popular Anthology. You might be suprirsed to see how many people ask for the movie's title on the Horror board. It has generated a somewhat cult status.
A fun anthology film if you lower your standards a bit
WritnGuy-228 July 2000
I saw this on The Movie Channel yesterday, and I really liked it. The stories weren't great, but they were all entertaining, and I liked how the frame story was more than people sitting around telling stories, and despite the fact that the climax of the frame story was a little extreme (though, quite creepy with that skeleton!) it's still a good horror movie.
The film comes together with Allison (Jillian McWhirter) and Cheryl (Pamela Segall) starting college, and their first day of a class on the psychology of fear. After their professor (Ramy Zeda) goes too far with one lesson (scaring a macho frat guy to the point of wetting himself), he is forced to tone his class down, but opts for anyone who wants to get a better understanding of what he's teaching to come to his house the next night for a private lesson. A handful of students show up, including Allison and Cheryl, yet Allison has a bad feeling about it all (well, we haven't heard that one before!) and almost seems to be a bit psychic about it. (Believe me, it gets old quick.) Yet, that night, as a few students take turns telling stories to scare each other, the angry frat guy decides to get his revenge, and closes in on the party, as each story is told.
There are three stories told:
1: "The Old Dark House"- This one was really clever. It starts off and gets going with what seems like every cliche in hand. A couple takes the scenic route home, pass an old mansion where murders were committed, get a flat tire, and decide to go up to the house to call a tow-truck. We've seen all that before. But then, towards the end, the story takes a really creative twist that ties it all together perfectly, and actually proves to be a genuine surprise and thrill.
2: "A Night on the Town"- This one was a little thin, and could have used a few twists, yet it didn't surprise you like it should have, which would have helped the flimsy plot. Four girls looking for some fun (one of which, Amy, I knew I recognized, and finally realized was the teenage girl in "Mr. Belvedere"!) and end up in the warehouse district of town with little gas. They stop at a gas station, and meet the gas station attendant from hell and his dobermans, which all proceed to terrorize the girls in a sometimes tense, sometimes cheesy chase through the wrong part of town. This one was not as good as the others, but still entertaining.
3: "All Night Messenger"-This one was pretty good, though a little typical. A woman, Alex, who works for a telephone messenger service (I didn't get it, maybe this is pre-answering machine employment) comes home early from a ski trip with a broken ankle (hmm, will she have to run at some point?) and takes the late shift that night. She begins getting calls from a creepy caller for one woman, and when the woman comes home and calls for her messages, Alex tries to warn her before it's too late. Of course, the caller eventually catches on, and makes his move, and you can sort of see where it all goes from there. Though, this one was pretty good, and the ending was creepy.
The frame story eventually wraps up in this very bizarre climax that makes little sense at times, but it's still creepy. And to wrap all that up, the movie does the only thing that might make some sense, but will surely make you groan with annoyance.
Overall, I liked this. The main and end title music was creepy, and the whole atmosphere of the movie was that 80s horror movie feel that just sort of makes everything entertaining, and tolerably cheesy. The acting is all fairly typical. Jillian McWhirter sort of got on my nerves with all her damn premonitions, and she always looked really creepy, almost drugged. Ramy Zeda was a bit over the top, but creepy. I thought Pamela Segall was likeable, though, except, what was going on with her and the ending? (You'll know what I mean if or when you see this, and if you have, tell me what was going on.) All the other actors were forgettable, and basically playing the roles expected of them in a movie like this.
I recommend watching this if you get a chance. It moves quickly, and is really entertaining.
The film comes together with Allison (Jillian McWhirter) and Cheryl (Pamela Segall) starting college, and their first day of a class on the psychology of fear. After their professor (Ramy Zeda) goes too far with one lesson (scaring a macho frat guy to the point of wetting himself), he is forced to tone his class down, but opts for anyone who wants to get a better understanding of what he's teaching to come to his house the next night for a private lesson. A handful of students show up, including Allison and Cheryl, yet Allison has a bad feeling about it all (well, we haven't heard that one before!) and almost seems to be a bit psychic about it. (Believe me, it gets old quick.) Yet, that night, as a few students take turns telling stories to scare each other, the angry frat guy decides to get his revenge, and closes in on the party, as each story is told.
There are three stories told:
1: "The Old Dark House"- This one was really clever. It starts off and gets going with what seems like every cliche in hand. A couple takes the scenic route home, pass an old mansion where murders were committed, get a flat tire, and decide to go up to the house to call a tow-truck. We've seen all that before. But then, towards the end, the story takes a really creative twist that ties it all together perfectly, and actually proves to be a genuine surprise and thrill.
2: "A Night on the Town"- This one was a little thin, and could have used a few twists, yet it didn't surprise you like it should have, which would have helped the flimsy plot. Four girls looking for some fun (one of which, Amy, I knew I recognized, and finally realized was the teenage girl in "Mr. Belvedere"!) and end up in the warehouse district of town with little gas. They stop at a gas station, and meet the gas station attendant from hell and his dobermans, which all proceed to terrorize the girls in a sometimes tense, sometimes cheesy chase through the wrong part of town. This one was not as good as the others, but still entertaining.
3: "All Night Messenger"-This one was pretty good, though a little typical. A woman, Alex, who works for a telephone messenger service (I didn't get it, maybe this is pre-answering machine employment) comes home early from a ski trip with a broken ankle (hmm, will she have to run at some point?) and takes the late shift that night. She begins getting calls from a creepy caller for one woman, and when the woman comes home and calls for her messages, Alex tries to warn her before it's too late. Of course, the caller eventually catches on, and makes his move, and you can sort of see where it all goes from there. Though, this one was pretty good, and the ending was creepy.
The frame story eventually wraps up in this very bizarre climax that makes little sense at times, but it's still creepy. And to wrap all that up, the movie does the only thing that might make some sense, but will surely make you groan with annoyance.
Overall, I liked this. The main and end title music was creepy, and the whole atmosphere of the movie was that 80s horror movie feel that just sort of makes everything entertaining, and tolerably cheesy. The acting is all fairly typical. Jillian McWhirter sort of got on my nerves with all her damn premonitions, and she always looked really creepy, almost drugged. Ramy Zeda was a bit over the top, but creepy. I thought Pamela Segall was likeable, though, except, what was going on with her and the ending? (You'll know what I mean if or when you see this, and if you have, tell me what was going on.) All the other actors were forgettable, and basically playing the roles expected of them in a movie like this.
I recommend watching this if you get a chance. It moves quickly, and is really entertaining.
Probably won't cause a sleepless night!
Greensleeves9 September 2002
Although the stories in this Horror anthology are weak, the film manages to engage the mind throughout. The framing device used is that of a professor teaching the psychology of fear who humiliates a student during a lesson. Because of this, the wilder excesses of the teachers lessons can only be taught out of class at his home. Students relate scary tales during one such session most of which are interesting but have seriously flawed logic. Marg Helgenberger excels as the telephone service operator taking calls from a crazed stalker. The best story is the first in which a practical joke seriously misfires. The ending is surreal but is based on a hackneyed idea. The original music by Marc Donohue is excellent, especially that over the opening credits.
And the "Teacher of the Year" award goes to...
Coventry24 July 2019
"After Midnight" appears to be a passable and insignificant late-80s horror anthology, and it really is to be honest, but I would definitely still encourage enthusiast genre fanatics to seek it out! The writers and directors, siblings Ken and Jim Wheat, are mostly famous for their scripting of "Pitch Black" and "The Chronicles of Riddick", but they also wrote an impressive number of adequate and versatile 80s horror & Sci-Fi gems, like "Silent Scream", "The Return", "Nightmare on Elm Street 4" and "The Fly 2". "After Midnight" is one of their sole attempts to also direct, and it became a modest but amiable little omnibus with a pleasantly deranged wraparound story and at least 2 out of 3 segments that are far above average.
In the wraparound, which is righteously also considered to be a fully independent segment, cute but worried student Allison reluctantly attends the first psychology class of the unorthodox teacher Edward Derek. He teaches his students about "fear" by threatening them at gunpoint and faking his own suicide in class. Naturally, the school doesn't appreciate this, and thus Prof. Derek invites a handful of students - including Allison - at his home to further plunge into the world of fear via telling each other scary stories. The first story, "An Old Dark House" is a traditional urban legend type of tale, but I liked the atmosphere and crazy ending. "A Night on the Town" is very similar to a contemporary childhood favorite of mine, namely "Adventures in Babysitting" (which was actually also known under the same title "A Night on the Town"), only this short features four yummy girls and a pack of wild dogs. The final story, "All-Night Operator", is the most known because it stars Marg Helgenberger of "CSI"-fame in one of her earliest roles. She's a switchboard operator in an apartment block and becomes the target of a maniacal stalker after refusing to transfer his calls to a famous actress. The tale is good, albeit derivative, and in this very brief episode Ken & Jim Wheat surely demonstrate they are capable of mounting suspense and generating a claustrophobic atmosphere.
The primary reason to watch "After Midnight" remains the demented wraparound tale, for sure. The classroom sequence is so incredibly surreal and bonkers that it literally has to be seen to be believed! Just imagine the lawsuits an act like this would spawn in real life! During the climax, the Wheat bros' scenario goes tremendously over the top, and it doesn't really fit in with the rest of the film. Who cares, though, as it's great fun!
In the wraparound, which is righteously also considered to be a fully independent segment, cute but worried student Allison reluctantly attends the first psychology class of the unorthodox teacher Edward Derek. He teaches his students about "fear" by threatening them at gunpoint and faking his own suicide in class. Naturally, the school doesn't appreciate this, and thus Prof. Derek invites a handful of students - including Allison - at his home to further plunge into the world of fear via telling each other scary stories. The first story, "An Old Dark House" is a traditional urban legend type of tale, but I liked the atmosphere and crazy ending. "A Night on the Town" is very similar to a contemporary childhood favorite of mine, namely "Adventures in Babysitting" (which was actually also known under the same title "A Night on the Town"), only this short features four yummy girls and a pack of wild dogs. The final story, "All-Night Operator", is the most known because it stars Marg Helgenberger of "CSI"-fame in one of her earliest roles. She's a switchboard operator in an apartment block and becomes the target of a maniacal stalker after refusing to transfer his calls to a famous actress. The tale is good, albeit derivative, and in this very brief episode Ken & Jim Wheat surely demonstrate they are capable of mounting suspense and generating a claustrophobic atmosphere.
The primary reason to watch "After Midnight" remains the demented wraparound tale, for sure. The classroom sequence is so incredibly surreal and bonkers that it literally has to be seen to be believed! Just imagine the lawsuits an act like this would spawn in real life! During the climax, the Wheat bros' scenario goes tremendously over the top, and it doesn't really fit in with the rest of the film. Who cares, though, as it's great fun!
Fun but not very good
Polaris_DiB29 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
In the vein of stuff like Creepshow and the like comes a movie about a strange college professor (Ramy Zada), who attempts to provide to his students the most intimate understanding of fear by scaring them as much as he can.
So they go to his house and tell typical urban legends complete with women in distress, creepy phone calls, empty gas stations, and yes, a flat tire in front of a scary mansion. Well, it started all right.
The three stories are overarched by the story of the students in the professor's house, one that has its own sort of horror conceits coming in towards the end. In typical 80s b-movie bonanza, it's just a dream. So honestly, if you're looking for something--I don't know--compelling? you won't find it here. This is just something to have around for, like, television fright night specials or Halloween ghoulies for preteens.
Which is too bad, because the beginning of this movie points out something very important, something that I wish horror film makers would realize to a stronger degree and utilize correctly: fear is a profound psychological effect, and in a way, it's important to feel strong levels of fear to understand yourself more, how you function and who you are. Too bad horror movies then just throw all that stuff away for cheap skeleton effects, bugs, and cat-out-of-the-bag gags.
Oh well.
--PolarisDiB
So they go to his house and tell typical urban legends complete with women in distress, creepy phone calls, empty gas stations, and yes, a flat tire in front of a scary mansion. Well, it started all right.
The three stories are overarched by the story of the students in the professor's house, one that has its own sort of horror conceits coming in towards the end. In typical 80s b-movie bonanza, it's just a dream. So honestly, if you're looking for something--I don't know--compelling? you won't find it here. This is just something to have around for, like, television fright night specials or Halloween ghoulies for preteens.
Which is too bad, because the beginning of this movie points out something very important, something that I wish horror film makers would realize to a stronger degree and utilize correctly: fear is a profound psychological effect, and in a way, it's important to feel strong levels of fear to understand yourself more, how you function and who you are. Too bad horror movies then just throw all that stuff away for cheap skeleton effects, bugs, and cat-out-of-the-bag gags.
Oh well.
--PolarisDiB
A slightly better than average horror anthology.
michaelb8429 July 2013
Horror anthologies are largely a mixed bag. For every spectacular Tales From the Darkside or Creepshow there is a horrible (and often British) movie like Tales That Witness Madness to drag the genre down.
The first story is a mediocre haunted house tale that didn't really impress me.
The second was about four girls who end up in a bad neighborhood and terrorized by a gas station attendant and three killer dogs. I liked this story and felt that the characters were generally interesting and intelligent, bad choices aside.
The final story is about a telephone operator who is terrorized by a psychopathic stalker. This one was pretty good as well.
The wraparound story is interesting and generally more involved than most other anthologies. It is arguably better than the stories themselves, aside from the ending which I won't spoil.
The first story is a mediocre haunted house tale that didn't really impress me.
The second was about four girls who end up in a bad neighborhood and terrorized by a gas station attendant and three killer dogs. I liked this story and felt that the characters were generally interesting and intelligent, bad choices aside.
The final story is about a telephone operator who is terrorized by a psychopathic stalker. This one was pretty good as well.
The wraparound story is interesting and generally more involved than most other anthologies. It is arguably better than the stories themselves, aside from the ending which I won't spoil.
From Dusk Till Yawn
Minus_The_Beer30 September 2017
In the pantheon of iconic horror anthologies, you have your "Creepshow," your "Tales From" both "Crypt" and "Darkside," and even a "Twilight Zone The Movie."
...and then you have "After Midnight," which in no way belongs to the same league as the aforementioned genre standards.
Really, "After Midnight" is the sort of thing you'd let slide to the bottom of your Netflix queue until one bored Friday or Saturday night. Within the first 20 minutes or so, your instincts prove to be true as this 3-part anthology has little to offer that its predecessors haven't already done in much bigger and bolder fashion. That's not to say that this film is completely worthless or without merit. There are some over-the-top, silly moments that -- whether intentionally or not -- will elicit a chuckle from anyone in the right mindset. It also boasts a pretty solid cast of "Hey, I know that guy!" and "Oh, that's the voice of Bobby Hill!" It's just so unfortunate that most of the 90 minutes spent on this film are devoid of any legitimate scares or creativity. Much like a drunken midnight snack, it comes and goes and leaves little to remember in its wake.
The first story, "The Old Dark House," focuses on a couple who find themselves stranded and seeking shelter in, well, an old dark house. Not much happens in this story until its hilariously stupid yet unforgettable conclusion. Nothing worth losing your head over, though. Next up, "A Night on the Town" finds a group of girls who just wanna have fun but instead have an unfortunate run-in with a crazy hobo and his three vicious dogs. The meatier of the three stories, this one doesn't do much to capitalize on its tense set-up. Its setting is creepy and all, but there's little else of interest here, though genres fans will enjoy spotting Penelope Sudrow of "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors" and Judie Aronson of "Friday the 13th Pt. IV: The Final Chapter" in the pack. Finally, "All Night Messenger," a would- be tense game of cat and mouse between a phone operator (Marg Helgenberger) and some creep making threatening phone calls. This one almost hits the spot, but is undermined by sharing the identity of the stalker with the audience too early and too often. It also ends right when it starts getting good.
The three stories are surrounded by a wrap-around that, bad as it might be, feels a little more fleshed out than the rest. A nutty professor (Ramy Zada) teaches his students about the meaning of fear (or something). Even though their teacher reveals himself to be a bit suspect early on, the students seem fit to follow him home regardless. This of course culminates in a truly bizarre finale that begs a rewind.
Overall, "After Midnight" isn't a movie that can be recommended for anyone other than those who grew up in video store aisles and/or those who remember staying up way too late to watch horribly butchered slasher films on cable TV. It's terribly slow, at times dull, and if you watch it (ahem) after midnight, there's a good chance you'll fall asleep halfway through. Having said that, it's not without its charms, and while there isn't one single segment that sticks the landing, there are a few moments of inspired lunacy that make it worth sitting through at least once. Even still, there's nothing here that is worth losing sleep over.
...and then you have "After Midnight," which in no way belongs to the same league as the aforementioned genre standards.
Really, "After Midnight" is the sort of thing you'd let slide to the bottom of your Netflix queue until one bored Friday or Saturday night. Within the first 20 minutes or so, your instincts prove to be true as this 3-part anthology has little to offer that its predecessors haven't already done in much bigger and bolder fashion. That's not to say that this film is completely worthless or without merit. There are some over-the-top, silly moments that -- whether intentionally or not -- will elicit a chuckle from anyone in the right mindset. It also boasts a pretty solid cast of "Hey, I know that guy!" and "Oh, that's the voice of Bobby Hill!" It's just so unfortunate that most of the 90 minutes spent on this film are devoid of any legitimate scares or creativity. Much like a drunken midnight snack, it comes and goes and leaves little to remember in its wake.
The first story, "The Old Dark House," focuses on a couple who find themselves stranded and seeking shelter in, well, an old dark house. Not much happens in this story until its hilariously stupid yet unforgettable conclusion. Nothing worth losing your head over, though. Next up, "A Night on the Town" finds a group of girls who just wanna have fun but instead have an unfortunate run-in with a crazy hobo and his three vicious dogs. The meatier of the three stories, this one doesn't do much to capitalize on its tense set-up. Its setting is creepy and all, but there's little else of interest here, though genres fans will enjoy spotting Penelope Sudrow of "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors" and Judie Aronson of "Friday the 13th Pt. IV: The Final Chapter" in the pack. Finally, "All Night Messenger," a would- be tense game of cat and mouse between a phone operator (Marg Helgenberger) and some creep making threatening phone calls. This one almost hits the spot, but is undermined by sharing the identity of the stalker with the audience too early and too often. It also ends right when it starts getting good.
The three stories are surrounded by a wrap-around that, bad as it might be, feels a little more fleshed out than the rest. A nutty professor (Ramy Zada) teaches his students about the meaning of fear (or something). Even though their teacher reveals himself to be a bit suspect early on, the students seem fit to follow him home regardless. This of course culminates in a truly bizarre finale that begs a rewind.
Overall, "After Midnight" isn't a movie that can be recommended for anyone other than those who grew up in video store aisles and/or those who remember staying up way too late to watch horribly butchered slasher films on cable TV. It's terribly slow, at times dull, and if you watch it (ahem) after midnight, there's a good chance you'll fall asleep halfway through. Having said that, it's not without its charms, and while there isn't one single segment that sticks the landing, there are a few moments of inspired lunacy that make it worth sitting through at least once. Even still, there's nothing here that is worth losing sleep over.
Decent but unspectacular Anthology
kannibalcorpsegrinder8 May 2015
Perturbed by the teacher in their psychology class, eventually he's forced to change his curriculum, and when he offers a special after- hours seminar that contains his original plans, students join at his house to indulge in telling scary stories to experience fear.
The Good Stor(ies): The Old Dark House-On their anniversary, a couple go for a midnight drive and get stranded on an abandoned road containing a house with a mysterious past. Eager for help, they ignore the warnings and go over, but when no one answers, they attempt to break in and get separated, forcing him to accept a deadly secret about the house's history. This here is a rather enjoyable entry, with a lot going for it. The atmosphere of the house, with the abandoned, sheet-covered furniture and shrubbery-lined walkways outside, give off a perfect Gothic atmospheric feel, combined with the back-story told to create a rather creepy setting. The mystery, with the bloodied necklace and off-screen call, works nicely with the key set-up scene, the collection of skulls covered in spiders and bugs as well as the flashlight-through-the- keyhole sequence, and then the final resolution is quite nice as it's a neat twist. If there was a flaw, it's not the fastest-moving story, but it's still enjoyable.
A Night on the Town-Trying to find a club, a group of friends drive around the city, and when they're low on gas, stop off at a gas station. When they meet the proprietor and his vicious dogs, they find themselves in an escalating series of encounters that makes them wish they hadn't stumbled upon. This is a slightly uneven effort, hampered really by the fact that there isn't a real effort to develop this one early on and simply making it run on the situation. They're lost in a strange part of town, the man they run into is somewhat slimy and perverted, but it never really does anything really interesting with those areas. Once it shifts into action, though, it's a lot more interesting and exciting from the different ambush attacks of the dogs through the town, to the deranged owner's extreme attempts to break into the car while it's on the run, this one is a lot of fun with its action set-ups and is an extremely better entry in the second half. Throw in an explosive finale, and it's a really redeeming effort.
Allison's Story-Arriving at their professor's house, the students proceed to tell their stories but one of them becomes concerned something is wrong. As the night continues, she begins to think those feelings are getting even stronger, and they eventually find the real reason why the events have been happening all night long. As the wrap- around, the main parts before the ending are just minor set-up pieces where the real fun is in the finale, which is a lot of fun. After the main stories, the ambush in the basement, complete with the flowing circle and eventual fire-filled room and slaughter, makes for a good time, and the interweaving with the stories told allows for a nightmarish feel in the manner done. It just takes a while to get there since that is the movie's logical end.
The Bad Stor(ies): All Night Operator-Returning to her apartment, a phone-line operator wants to forget about the ski accident that injured her and goes to work at a phone-call answering service. After getting several harassing phone calls from a deranged lunatic, she starts to realize that the caller is a little more unhinged than he let on, and thinking he's coming after her, she tries to defend herself. This here is the lone weak-link among the stories, simply through the exploits of two factors built into the main plot. This here has a one-note story that never really gives it a chance to go anywhere without a twist that is extremely illogical and unneeded, so it lumbers on mainly hitting all the expected notes until it's expected climax, driving out much of the suspense out of the premise. The other factor is the trapped-in-one- location nature, never allowing for there to be any suspense built up over the killer gradually coming closer to here, which combines with the first factor to lower it heavily. The finale chase through the building, with some clever hiding tactics and a couple suspenseful moments with her injury, is rather good, but it's too little too late.
Rated R: Violence and Language.
The Good Stor(ies): The Old Dark House-On their anniversary, a couple go for a midnight drive and get stranded on an abandoned road containing a house with a mysterious past. Eager for help, they ignore the warnings and go over, but when no one answers, they attempt to break in and get separated, forcing him to accept a deadly secret about the house's history. This here is a rather enjoyable entry, with a lot going for it. The atmosphere of the house, with the abandoned, sheet-covered furniture and shrubbery-lined walkways outside, give off a perfect Gothic atmospheric feel, combined with the back-story told to create a rather creepy setting. The mystery, with the bloodied necklace and off-screen call, works nicely with the key set-up scene, the collection of skulls covered in spiders and bugs as well as the flashlight-through-the- keyhole sequence, and then the final resolution is quite nice as it's a neat twist. If there was a flaw, it's not the fastest-moving story, but it's still enjoyable.
A Night on the Town-Trying to find a club, a group of friends drive around the city, and when they're low on gas, stop off at a gas station. When they meet the proprietor and his vicious dogs, they find themselves in an escalating series of encounters that makes them wish they hadn't stumbled upon. This is a slightly uneven effort, hampered really by the fact that there isn't a real effort to develop this one early on and simply making it run on the situation. They're lost in a strange part of town, the man they run into is somewhat slimy and perverted, but it never really does anything really interesting with those areas. Once it shifts into action, though, it's a lot more interesting and exciting from the different ambush attacks of the dogs through the town, to the deranged owner's extreme attempts to break into the car while it's on the run, this one is a lot of fun with its action set-ups and is an extremely better entry in the second half. Throw in an explosive finale, and it's a really redeeming effort.
Allison's Story-Arriving at their professor's house, the students proceed to tell their stories but one of them becomes concerned something is wrong. As the night continues, she begins to think those feelings are getting even stronger, and they eventually find the real reason why the events have been happening all night long. As the wrap- around, the main parts before the ending are just minor set-up pieces where the real fun is in the finale, which is a lot of fun. After the main stories, the ambush in the basement, complete with the flowing circle and eventual fire-filled room and slaughter, makes for a good time, and the interweaving with the stories told allows for a nightmarish feel in the manner done. It just takes a while to get there since that is the movie's logical end.
The Bad Stor(ies): All Night Operator-Returning to her apartment, a phone-line operator wants to forget about the ski accident that injured her and goes to work at a phone-call answering service. After getting several harassing phone calls from a deranged lunatic, she starts to realize that the caller is a little more unhinged than he let on, and thinking he's coming after her, she tries to defend herself. This here is the lone weak-link among the stories, simply through the exploits of two factors built into the main plot. This here has a one-note story that never really gives it a chance to go anywhere without a twist that is extremely illogical and unneeded, so it lumbers on mainly hitting all the expected notes until it's expected climax, driving out much of the suspense out of the premise. The other factor is the trapped-in-one- location nature, never allowing for there to be any suspense built up over the killer gradually coming closer to here, which combines with the first factor to lower it heavily. The finale chase through the building, with some clever hiding tactics and a couple suspenseful moments with her injury, is rather good, but it's too little too late.
Rated R: Violence and Language.
Horror class movie without the horror and without the class
encyes17 November 2006
They say that a student is only as good as their teacher. If this is true, then we the viewer as student have failed miserably. This hilariously dated 1980's film on a college class facing fear straight-on is interwoven with poor 'horror stories' and is mediocre at best. Overacting, clichéd scenes, and 80's fashion fail this film. If you lived the 80's then this may be a fun albeit painful remembrance for you. If not, then you'll cringe not at the horror stories but of the hair and clothes of the actors. There's plenty of other anthology movies out there that far surpass this film. A nude scene here or there might have moved the film to the head of the class, but there is none of that, and without it - and more importantly real writing - this movie flunks for the term.
A really fun and entertaining late 80's horror anthology blast
Woodyanders3 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Anthology fright flicks experienced a brief, but welcome resurgence in the mid 80's up until the early 90's, as evidenced by the lovably chintzy "Creepshow 2," the genuinely disturbing "The Offspring," the wonderfully offbeat horror-Western favorite "Grim Prairie Tales," the enthusiastically gruesome indie effort "Campfire Tales," and this well-done sleeper.
A creepy college professor (a very intense Ramy Zada) and several of his students (which include "Pumpkinhead" victim Kerry Remsen, who meets a similar ill fate here) tell each other a trio of urban legend-style terror tales throughout the course of your standard dark and stormy evening. First and most ironic vignette, "The Old Dark House" - Young married couple Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen in the "Superman" movies) and Nadine ("Critters") Van Der Velde are forced to spend a night in a spooky, rundown old mansion after their car breaks down. Second and most unintentionally sidesplitting story, "A Night on the Town" - A quartet of screaming, vacuous, wholly deserving bimbettes ("American Ninja" 's Judi Aronson among 'em) are terrorized by a demented homeless lunatic (outrageously overplayed to the sneering fruitbag hilt by the late, great Luis Contreras, who portrayed nasty Hispanic villains in such action items as "Stand Alone," "Extreme Prejudice," "Walking the Edge," and "Dollman") and his pack of vicious wild dogs. Third and best yarn, "All Night Operator" - This taut, gripping little corker features a bang-up performance by the ever-lovely and personable Marg Helgenberger as Alex, a sexy, resourceful receptionist who receives menacing phone calls from and, naturally, eventually gets stalked by some homicidal madman (a finely flipped-out freako turn by Alan Rosenberg).
Writers/directors Jim and Ken Wheat, who previously made the excellent, underrated Hitchcockian suspense thriller pip "Lies" and penned such goodies as the solid slasher picture "Silent Scream" and the fantastic sci-fi/horror knockout "Pitch Black," do a typically up to snuff job with this extremely fun, sometimes thrilling and always entertaining omnibus affair: the brisk, steady pace never falters for a minute, the acting is uniformly good, a suitably eerie atmosphere pervades throughout, each anecdote leads to a reasonably frightening conclusion (the climax to the first tale is especially effective), and the wacky, nightmarish final may be pretty silly, but it still works in a goofily over-the-top hokey carnival funhouse sort of way. Sure, it's no trend-setting, genre-bending innovative masterpiece, but "After Midnight" nonetheless doesn't deserve its current obscure status and certainly makes for a nice, perfectly pleasing late night with the lights out and the shades drawn horror movie viewing experience.
A creepy college professor (a very intense Ramy Zada) and several of his students (which include "Pumpkinhead" victim Kerry Remsen, who meets a similar ill fate here) tell each other a trio of urban legend-style terror tales throughout the course of your standard dark and stormy evening. First and most ironic vignette, "The Old Dark House" - Young married couple Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen in the "Superman" movies) and Nadine ("Critters") Van Der Velde are forced to spend a night in a spooky, rundown old mansion after their car breaks down. Second and most unintentionally sidesplitting story, "A Night on the Town" - A quartet of screaming, vacuous, wholly deserving bimbettes ("American Ninja" 's Judi Aronson among 'em) are terrorized by a demented homeless lunatic (outrageously overplayed to the sneering fruitbag hilt by the late, great Luis Contreras, who portrayed nasty Hispanic villains in such action items as "Stand Alone," "Extreme Prejudice," "Walking the Edge," and "Dollman") and his pack of vicious wild dogs. Third and best yarn, "All Night Operator" - This taut, gripping little corker features a bang-up performance by the ever-lovely and personable Marg Helgenberger as Alex, a sexy, resourceful receptionist who receives menacing phone calls from and, naturally, eventually gets stalked by some homicidal madman (a finely flipped-out freako turn by Alan Rosenberg).
Writers/directors Jim and Ken Wheat, who previously made the excellent, underrated Hitchcockian suspense thriller pip "Lies" and penned such goodies as the solid slasher picture "Silent Scream" and the fantastic sci-fi/horror knockout "Pitch Black," do a typically up to snuff job with this extremely fun, sometimes thrilling and always entertaining omnibus affair: the brisk, steady pace never falters for a minute, the acting is uniformly good, a suitably eerie atmosphere pervades throughout, each anecdote leads to a reasonably frightening conclusion (the climax to the first tale is especially effective), and the wacky, nightmarish final may be pretty silly, but it still works in a goofily over-the-top hokey carnival funhouse sort of way. Sure, it's no trend-setting, genre-bending innovative masterpiece, but "After Midnight" nonetheless doesn't deserve its current obscure status and certainly makes for a nice, perfectly pleasing late night with the lights out and the shades drawn horror movie viewing experience.
Entertaining & Fun, Only one story is a misfire
loomis78-815-98903424 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Three part anthology film has a wraparound story dealing with a class of College students taking a course in fear. The somewhat crazy professor (Zada) invites any member of the class to join him at his house for a special session dealing with real fear. A handful show up and begin to tell the tales. The first story, 'The Old Dark House' concerns a couple that becomes stranded when their car breaks down. The only place around is an old mansion with a notorious history for murder. Kevin (McClure) is sure he doesn't want to go in, but is talked into it by his girlfriend Joan (Nadine Van Der Velde). Some spooky atmosphere and a great twist ending highlight this twisted tale. The middle tale; 'A Night on the Town' is about some preppy girls who run out of gas in the wrong part of town and are terrorized by a psycho derelict and his attack dogs. The third story; 'All Night Operator' centers around Alex (Helgenberger) a woman working for an all-night answering service. Working a graveyard shift alone, Alex is slowly terrorized by a caller who claims to have murdered one of their clients. The killer soon targets Alex next and the stalk and slash begins with a chilling ending. The wraparound ends with a twist as well with the frightened students and the crazy professor and is quite fun too. Writers/Directors Jim and ken Wheat serve up a fun anthology movie that is relatively bloodless. It instead goes for suspense, chills and clever storytelling and other than the weak middle story achieves it. Despite the PG-13 rating, this film ends up being entertaining and fun with the first and third stories having great twist endings that will leave a smile on your face.
After Midnight
Scarecrow-8817 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Unspectacular anthology where students swap "spooky" stories at the home of their weird Psychology professor. Another student, seeking revenge for being embarrassed in class, plots to get even with the professor.
Psychology professor Edward Derek(Ramy Zada, whose freaky eyes propel his performance) has a notorious class where he challenges his students in regards to their worst fears. He uses a self-assured jock as an example, with a gun to his head causing him to urinate in his pants. Derek must cease to teach his class in the methods he planned thanks to the jock's snitching to his superiors, so he invites anyone to join him in a real lesson in the "psychology of fear". Student Allison(Jillian McWhirter, as unremarkable in performance as the film she stars)is really shaken by Derek's class, their meeting at his home, and what the future holds for all concerned.
The stories include a husband and wife's intrusion within an "old dark house" in search of a phone because their car has a flat(..the house is notorious for murders), four teenage girls terrorized by a hoodlum and his ferocious, blood-thirsty mutts, & a telephone operator's dangerous situation with a psychotic stalker who doesn't like being lied to.
The finale will remind many of Dead of Night in regards to the central character's ominous feelings of potential peril and how the stories soon intertwine for her. Good to see Marg Helgenberger as the crippled telephone operator attempting to flee on crutches within an apartment complex from her ex-husband Alex Rosenberg. The entire cast besides her did little to impress me(..not that what I feel matters anyhow)and the stories are a little lackluster. Despite violence in each tale, Jim and Ken Wheat's After Midnight is far from graphic. Good production values, though. Luis Contreras, as yet another foul Latino hood, out to kill the teenage girls, is memorable even though he checks out much too soon.
I must say that I got a good giggle out of the result of the first tale where the husband responds towards who he percieves to be a crazed killer with a sword he finds not knowing that it was an elaborate ruse, a victim's head coming clean off in the process!
Psychology professor Edward Derek(Ramy Zada, whose freaky eyes propel his performance) has a notorious class where he challenges his students in regards to their worst fears. He uses a self-assured jock as an example, with a gun to his head causing him to urinate in his pants. Derek must cease to teach his class in the methods he planned thanks to the jock's snitching to his superiors, so he invites anyone to join him in a real lesson in the "psychology of fear". Student Allison(Jillian McWhirter, as unremarkable in performance as the film she stars)is really shaken by Derek's class, their meeting at his home, and what the future holds for all concerned.
The stories include a husband and wife's intrusion within an "old dark house" in search of a phone because their car has a flat(..the house is notorious for murders), four teenage girls terrorized by a hoodlum and his ferocious, blood-thirsty mutts, & a telephone operator's dangerous situation with a psychotic stalker who doesn't like being lied to.
The finale will remind many of Dead of Night in regards to the central character's ominous feelings of potential peril and how the stories soon intertwine for her. Good to see Marg Helgenberger as the crippled telephone operator attempting to flee on crutches within an apartment complex from her ex-husband Alex Rosenberg. The entire cast besides her did little to impress me(..not that what I feel matters anyhow)and the stories are a little lackluster. Despite violence in each tale, Jim and Ken Wheat's After Midnight is far from graphic. Good production values, though. Luis Contreras, as yet another foul Latino hood, out to kill the teenage girls, is memorable even though he checks out much too soon.
I must say that I got a good giggle out of the result of the first tale where the husband responds towards who he percieves to be a crazed killer with a sword he finds not knowing that it was an elaborate ruse, a victim's head coming clean off in the process!
Great horror stories told by a hunk of a storyteller!
brencher2 May 2000
This is a great horror movie! For those people who don't favor gore so much but are more interested in hearing scary stories on a rainy night, you'll love it. If you like this movie, be sure to check out Rod Serling's "Night Gallery". Last but, not least, you get to check out that hunk, Ramy Zada.
Revenge of the 80's: Low rent "teen" horror films.
Captain_Couth14 October 2003
After Midnight (1989) is a bad 80's horror flick. It's one of those total cop-out movie. I hate these type of movies. Ramy Zada reminds me of Bruce Campbell's evil doppleganger for Evil Dead 3. I can't stand this picture. Lame movie based on even lamer "urban legends". Nothing to recommend about this flick. The movie's not even a "good" bad movie. It's just Bad, with no redeeming qualities, the film makers tried too hard to make a movie that's "scary". But in the end, all you wind with is a terrible film that has no meaning or substance.
You wanna be scared? I mean really scared? Then don't watch this movie! You can see scarier stuff on the P.A.X. network. For real.
No recommendations.
You wanna be scared? I mean really scared? Then don't watch this movie! You can see scarier stuff on the P.A.X. network. For real.
No recommendations.
A sub-standard 'horror' anthology
movieman_kev30 July 2012
I haven't seen.this one since I was like 14, and the only scene that I vividly remember was the ending of the first segment, the rest of the movie was vague, but all of it came back to me after watching it anew tonight. It hasn't aged well one bit. Aside from seeing a pre- Californication Pamela Adlon the whole thing wasn't that entertaining. The acting was average (for an '80's horror film) but its not frightening in the least. Only the aforementioned first story is even meagerly watchable, the second tale is OK at a stretch but lacks a true ending, the third was stale, uninspired and painful to sit through. Then we get to the ending,,,, holy Jebus is the ending atrocious you have no idea. But yea safe to say this isn't my favorite movie.
A mixed bag
atinder14 February 2013
Fun teacher, making Person Wet him self in class lol, the teacher invites some if Collage Kids to his house after Midnight for some very scarystories.
There were decent stories , nothing really stood in those story, I did like the first story and found a little funny.
The second story. I didn't really like. I felt sorry for those dogs,
I already forgot what the 3rd story was!,
I hated the way the movie ended as really just started all over again.
I hate those ending
I give 5 out of 10
There were decent stories , nothing really stood in those story, I did like the first story and found a little funny.
The second story. I didn't really like. I felt sorry for those dogs,
I already forgot what the 3rd story was!,
I hated the way the movie ended as really just started all over again.
I hate those ending
I give 5 out of 10
Scared? I doubt it, but you might still be entertained.
BA_Harrison10 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Late '80s horror anthology After Midnight suffers from a weak collection of stories that doesn't offer much in the way of originality, but the film still manages to be a reasonably fun time-waster thanks to good performances, a decent pace, and a wraparound that at tries to do something a little different, even though it eventually descends into absurdity and finishes in a trite cyclical style.
The film opens as Allison (Jillian McWhirter) and Cheryl (Pamela Adlon) head for their first class with Professor Edward Derek (Ramy Zada), whose methods are a little unorthodox: his class on 'The Psychology of Fear' involves holding a loaded gun to the head of brash student Russ (Ed Monaghan), scaring him so much that he pees himself. This doesn't go down well with the dean, who insists that Derek tones down his teaching style. To get around these restrictions, he invites students to a private seminar at his home, where they tell scary stories in the dark.
Story number one sees a married couple taking the scenic coastal road home when their car gets a flat tire. On seeing a light in a nearby creepy house (purportedly the site of five murders), the pair decide to seek help, but get no answer when they ring the doorbell (I half expected Riff Raff to answer the door). Not one to give up easily, wife Joan (Nadine Van der Velde) climbs in through a window and tries to find a phone. But when husband Kevin (Mark McClure) finally enters the house, his wife is nowhere to be seen...
Story two follows a group of four teenage girls - Amy (Tracy Wells), Kelly (Penelope Sudrow), Lisa (Monique Salcido) and Jennifer (Judie Aronson) - as they drive around town trying to find a nightclub that won't refuse them entry. Inevitably, they get lost and run low on fuel, and when they try to locate a phone to call for assistance, find themselves threatened by a dirty old psycho (Luis Contreras) and his pack of vicious dogs.
The final story stars Marg Helgenberger as Alex, who fields calls from a stalker while she is working the night shift alone at a phone answering service. When the loony realises that his messages aren't being forwarded to the object of his obsession (a famous actress), he gets very upset and vows to make sure Alex is never able to deceive him again.
This trio of supposedly true tales holds very few real surprises, but directors Jim and Ken Wheat successfully keep boredom at bay with a reasonable amount of tension and a spot of well executed action.
After the stories have been told, the film comes to a crazy climax as Russ, armed with an axe, sneaks into Derek's house intent on revenge. The closing minutes see Derek, on fire, repeatedly axing Russ in front of the scared students, before Allison is sucked into the stories, pursued by Derek's axe-wielding skeleton (stop-motion courtesy of Doug Beswick). The ultimate scene sees Allison waking from this nightmare, and setting off for her new psychology class with pal Cheryl ***groan***.
5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb.
The film opens as Allison (Jillian McWhirter) and Cheryl (Pamela Adlon) head for their first class with Professor Edward Derek (Ramy Zada), whose methods are a little unorthodox: his class on 'The Psychology of Fear' involves holding a loaded gun to the head of brash student Russ (Ed Monaghan), scaring him so much that he pees himself. This doesn't go down well with the dean, who insists that Derek tones down his teaching style. To get around these restrictions, he invites students to a private seminar at his home, where they tell scary stories in the dark.
Story number one sees a married couple taking the scenic coastal road home when their car gets a flat tire. On seeing a light in a nearby creepy house (purportedly the site of five murders), the pair decide to seek help, but get no answer when they ring the doorbell (I half expected Riff Raff to answer the door). Not one to give up easily, wife Joan (Nadine Van der Velde) climbs in through a window and tries to find a phone. But when husband Kevin (Mark McClure) finally enters the house, his wife is nowhere to be seen...
Story two follows a group of four teenage girls - Amy (Tracy Wells), Kelly (Penelope Sudrow), Lisa (Monique Salcido) and Jennifer (Judie Aronson) - as they drive around town trying to find a nightclub that won't refuse them entry. Inevitably, they get lost and run low on fuel, and when they try to locate a phone to call for assistance, find themselves threatened by a dirty old psycho (Luis Contreras) and his pack of vicious dogs.
The final story stars Marg Helgenberger as Alex, who fields calls from a stalker while she is working the night shift alone at a phone answering service. When the loony realises that his messages aren't being forwarded to the object of his obsession (a famous actress), he gets very upset and vows to make sure Alex is never able to deceive him again.
This trio of supposedly true tales holds very few real surprises, but directors Jim and Ken Wheat successfully keep boredom at bay with a reasonable amount of tension and a spot of well executed action.
After the stories have been told, the film comes to a crazy climax as Russ, armed with an axe, sneaks into Derek's house intent on revenge. The closing minutes see Derek, on fire, repeatedly axing Russ in front of the scared students, before Allison is sucked into the stories, pursued by Derek's axe-wielding skeleton (stop-motion courtesy of Doug Beswick). The ultimate scene sees Allison waking from this nightmare, and setting off for her new psychology class with pal Cheryl ***groan***.
5.5 out of 10, rounded up to 6 for IMDb.
1989
eilonelikam7 March 2005
and that particular year says more than you can think of. and the year is probably the only reason that i first started seeing that awful movie. the plot is about a group of students coming too their psychology teacher's house, who get his kicks in telling "scary" stories. every one of them on his turn telling his spooky stuff. and add to that crap, - while the whale thing is going, there's a stranger with an ex outside. oh well, that movie is a great example of just nothing interesting. the story's are all boring one after another, and the outline happening is lame too. so there some walking talking skeleton effect.. so do the 1958 "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" do, and it looks much cooler. one of the inner story's is on four girls looking for a place that they can get into, because of their young age, after failing in that, they are find themselves in the "bad part of town", well that just could be a real cool story, but that bad part of town, isn't really as you might expect, it's just a typical warehouse area. now that's a real shame.
I wanted to rate it higher
tvcarsd9 February 2024
Being a big fan of 80's and 70's horror I knew I would like this movie and for the larger part I did. The non-anthology story, the wrap around story was easily far more interesting than any of the brief segments. It was no match for Creepshow 1 or 2 or similar really good anthologies.
The last 2 segments were good as this is where the movie picks up its thriller component, especially the last one with the Telephonist Alex being played by Marg Helenberger. The first segment was more horror and seemed too rushed production wise.
There were actually some pretty neat special fx at the end as the wrap around story concludes the movies narrative and its definitely worth the wait. This is the main problem I have with anthologies, its trying to rate mixed content especially in the case of After Midnight. The stories needed to be a lot better I think because the wrapper seemed much better.
The last 2 segments were good as this is where the movie picks up its thriller component, especially the last one with the Telephonist Alex being played by Marg Helenberger. The first segment was more horror and seemed too rushed production wise.
There were actually some pretty neat special fx at the end as the wrap around story concludes the movies narrative and its definitely worth the wait. This is the main problem I have with anthologies, its trying to rate mixed content especially in the case of After Midnight. The stories needed to be a lot better I think because the wrapper seemed much better.
Fun anthology
BandSAboutMovies9 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
In a class called The Psychology of Fear, Allison and Cheryl (Pamela Segall, the voice of Bobby Hill!) learn all about being scared by Professor Edward Derek, who teaches class with a loaded revolver that causes a jock to wet himself. The college shuts him down after that, but he still offers private lessons in his home where he tells his students three stories all about being frightened.
So begins After Midnight, an anthology movie directed by Ken and Jim Wheat, who also wrote The Silent Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master and Pitch Black and directed Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.
In "The Old Dark House," Kevin (Marc McClure) and Joan (Nadine van der Velde, Critters) are separated inside a haunted house but there's a surprise for, well, both of them. "A Night on the Town" has four women battling a deranged gas station attendant with a pack of trained dogs ready to kill for their master. "All Night Operator" has Alex (Marg Helgenberger) taking calls for a woman who is being stalked before the caller* turns his attention on her.
After these tales, we're back in the home of the professor, who is attacked by the disgraced athlete before he turns the tables on the man and murders him with an axe. His entire house becomes a literal hell on earth, dragging everyone into the flames before Allison wakes up in his class all over again.
After Midnight didn't have many fans when it came out, but like I enjoy horror anthologies. Obviously, I'm doing an entire week of them. There are some big shocks in this and it goes to some interesting places, even if the wrapup is kind of an easy ending.
*He's played by Alan Rosenberg, her real-life husband.
So begins After Midnight, an anthology movie directed by Ken and Jim Wheat, who also wrote The Silent Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master and Pitch Black and directed Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.
In "The Old Dark House," Kevin (Marc McClure) and Joan (Nadine van der Velde, Critters) are separated inside a haunted house but there's a surprise for, well, both of them. "A Night on the Town" has four women battling a deranged gas station attendant with a pack of trained dogs ready to kill for their master. "All Night Operator" has Alex (Marg Helgenberger) taking calls for a woman who is being stalked before the caller* turns his attention on her.
After these tales, we're back in the home of the professor, who is attacked by the disgraced athlete before he turns the tables on the man and murders him with an axe. His entire house becomes a literal hell on earth, dragging everyone into the flames before Allison wakes up in his class all over again.
After Midnight didn't have many fans when it came out, but like I enjoy horror anthologies. Obviously, I'm doing an entire week of them. There are some big shocks in this and it goes to some interesting places, even if the wrapup is kind of an easy ending.
*He's played by Alan Rosenberg, her real-life husband.
Better Than Average Horror Anthology
ladymidath2 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
After Midnight is a late eighties horror anthology that I had actually forgotten about. I found on Shudder. I remember this from years ago and it's still as good as I remember it. The stories are all very creepy and entertaining, and the main story that pins it all together is excellent. A college professor decides to trach his class about fear in a rather unorthodox way, paving the way for the three stories all about fear.
This is a rather unique horror movie and one worth watching if you are tired of the usual slashers.
This is a rather unique horror movie and one worth watching if you are tired of the usual slashers.
Entertaining
danielcereto4 March 2023
The Anthology movies are just OK. Not scary, gory or anything remarkable. Just Entertaining.
If you are looking for a 80's decent suspense B-movie this one is for you.
The movie itself drinks from Tales from The Crypt but the result is weaker. Acting is OK, script is predictable and the three stories are decent enough to entertain you for a while.
But don't get me wrong. You will forget this movie as soon as you turn off the TV. On the other hand, the 80's Nostalgia works here if you're around 35-40 yearss old. Good memories from our childhood here and the golden era of horror creativity/slasher, even here the glass can be half empty or half plenty. You choose.
If you are looking for a 80's decent suspense B-movie this one is for you.
The movie itself drinks from Tales from The Crypt but the result is weaker. Acting is OK, script is predictable and the three stories are decent enough to entertain you for a while.
But don't get me wrong. You will forget this movie as soon as you turn off the TV. On the other hand, the 80's Nostalgia works here if you're around 35-40 yearss old. Good memories from our childhood here and the golden era of horror creativity/slasher, even here the glass can be half empty or half plenty. You choose.
Dull anthology...
paul_haakonsen8 February 2024
I never heard about the 1989 movie "After Midnight" prior to sitting down here in 2024 to watch it.
As horror anthologies usually go, even "After Midnight" was a mixed bag of nuts. Some of the contents was good, whereas other contents were not so good.
The wrap-around story, titled "Allison's Story", was actually quite enjoyable and was nicely put together.
The first segment, titled "The Old Dark House", was watchable, but hardly an outstanding viewing experience. There were some familiar faces on the cast list, at least, to make it all the more bearable to sit through.
"A Night on the Town" is the second segment in the anthology, and it was pretty mundane, and it proved to be a bit of a tedious part to sit through. But again, a couple of familiar faces on the cast list helped to brighten up the viewing experience.
And the third segment is titled "All Night Operator", was the most boring of the three segments, despite the fact of it having Marg Helgenberger in the leading role.
There are some familiar names and faces on the cast list through the segments, with the likes of Marg Helgenberger, Marc McClure, Penelope Sudrow, Tracy Wells and a couple others. The acting performances in the anthology was actually fairly good.
All in all then "After Midnight" turned out as you would expect from a late 1980s horror anthology, for better or worse. But hey, if late 1980s horror anthologies is your thing, then you're in for quite a treat from directors Jim Wheat and Ken Wheat.
My rating of "After Midnight" lands on a very generous three out of ten stars.
As horror anthologies usually go, even "After Midnight" was a mixed bag of nuts. Some of the contents was good, whereas other contents were not so good.
The wrap-around story, titled "Allison's Story", was actually quite enjoyable and was nicely put together.
The first segment, titled "The Old Dark House", was watchable, but hardly an outstanding viewing experience. There were some familiar faces on the cast list, at least, to make it all the more bearable to sit through.
"A Night on the Town" is the second segment in the anthology, and it was pretty mundane, and it proved to be a bit of a tedious part to sit through. But again, a couple of familiar faces on the cast list helped to brighten up the viewing experience.
And the third segment is titled "All Night Operator", was the most boring of the three segments, despite the fact of it having Marg Helgenberger in the leading role.
There are some familiar names and faces on the cast list through the segments, with the likes of Marg Helgenberger, Marc McClure, Penelope Sudrow, Tracy Wells and a couple others. The acting performances in the anthology was actually fairly good.
All in all then "After Midnight" turned out as you would expect from a late 1980s horror anthology, for better or worse. But hey, if late 1980s horror anthologies is your thing, then you're in for quite a treat from directors Jim Wheat and Ken Wheat.
My rating of "After Midnight" lands on a very generous three out of ten stars.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
