There is a lot of nostalgia factor that comes into play when I think of Terror in the Aisles. In fact, it may be one of the primary reasons as to why I became a lifelong fan of horror movies in the first place. Although this is just a series of clips from a variety of movies from the horror and thriller genres, it is done in a way that should be fun for both long-time genre fans and newbies alike. People just discovering the genre get a taste of a lot of great films from the classic era (up to the early 80s) and more seasoned fans will have fun picking out all of their favorites. My only caution is that there are spoilers all over the place including many key scenes from classic films like Rosemary's Baby and the 1978 version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers that may make you angry if you like to be surprised. Then again, I don't remember spending my life pissed off because Terror in the Aisles wrecked a bunch of movies for me. The fact that the clips are not identified helps to reduce the chance for some spoilers because you are unaware of the context.

The movie opens with a short clip from When a Stranger Calls and then the unmistakable voice of Donald Pleasance (Halloween) begins to describe feelings that you get while watching a horror movie. This leads into the first montage and the rest of the movie alternates between clips from various movies and either Pleasance or Nancy Allen (Carrie) providing insights into the nature of the genre. The style in which the movie is cut together keeps the energy high and makes this for a quick way to spend an hour and a half while either remembering some great scenes or finding new movies that you want to seek out. When I just watched this flick again some of the parts that stood out were some classic sequences that I have not seen in a while such as the clown attack from Poltergeist and the head explosion from Scanners. This recent viewing also piqued my interest in Alone in the Dark (thanks to the clips featuring Martin Landau) and Brian De Palma's psychic thriller The Fury among others.

Horror purists may be miffed by the fact that the hosts use the word "terror" as opposed to "horror" but when you think about the slate of movies that are featured, you realize that this indeed more of a celebration of movies that thrill rather than movies that horrify. There are not a lot of monsters on display here and much of the movie features human villains such a serial killers and criminals rather than creatures. Although some special effects are featured with films such as An American Werewolf in London and Alligator, there is a large focus on suspense and intensity rather than makeup and animatronics. In fact, a number of movies that are heavily featured would not be considered as horror flicks at all but still manage to get your pulse pounding. Movies like the cop thriller Nighthawks, the conspiracy focused Marathon Man, rape revenge classic Ms. 45, and the sleazy Vice Squad (featuring Wings Hauser as a sadistic pimp) are all featured repeatedly and fit well among the other clips.

I can't imagine a movie like Terror in the Aisles being produced today but when this came out, it was a like the "Hot Rocks" of genre movies. Just like when I was introduced to the Stones, I could not get enough of this. As I have grown older, I have wanted more than a greatest hits package when watching movies or listening to music and have used these packages as a starting point. The again, sometime I just want a blast of awesome without the filler. This still does the trick in both areas. (Josh Pasnak, 2/11/14)

Directed By: Andrew J. Kuehn.
Written By: Margery Doppelt.

Starring: Donald Pleasance, Nancy Allen, Fred Asparagus, Angel Salazar.