The Nightmare Deck’s First Draw (Movies #1-52)

   Hey!

   First and foremost, I want to thank you for visiting Nickelbib.com. Second, I would like to take a moment to explain the Nightmare Deck to you.

   When I first started writing reviews in 2007, I used a free-hosting software called Freewebs (now known as Webs.com). Since then, I have kept the habit alive for over a decade and a half, and I have amassed a large portfolio of what I hope are (mostly) thoughtful, considerate reviews over a wide-range of movies, videogames, and other forms of entertainment.

   As a writer myself, I always try to be constructive and focus on the positives of whatever I talk about. I like to think of myself as less a critic and more a celebrator of storytelling. I learn from other artists every time I watch a film, I try my best to experience what they have created, and consider it a shared journey with each artist. Whether it be Martin Scorsese’s commentary through gangster cinema or the reoccurring themes in a Wes Craven film, I do my best to try and see things from the filmmaker’s point of view. I apply these same principles when I am reviewing videogames and books as well. 

   Not every review I have written will be available on Nickelbib.com. Some of them simply are no longer safe for public consumption (you don’t want to hear a thirteen-year-old boy ramble on and on, after all) and will never see the light of day again. The earliest review I have is a 2013 review of Warm Bodies.

   Long story short, I have a bunch of reviews scattered across about half a dozen different websites (some of them using Webs, others using WordPress, Weebly, SquareSpace, and more) and it has been a real chore to re-format them and bring them all under one roof.

   Unfortunately, it is a little more complicated than what any simple code, export software, or plugin can accomplish. I am more or less having to move everything by hand, and that is a real a bitch and a half. So, what I do is, whenever I have time for it, I will move reviews over from wherever I can find them and seamlessly drop them onto The Bib. I also try to post a new review any chance I can.

   Each review is then properly logged into a larger database and, with it, I hope to create a sense of continuity to Nickelbib.com and a greater, evergreen purpose to every review I write. 

   This is where the The Nightmare Deck and, soon, The Black Deck come in. They are basically a “Hall of Fame” like collection I hope to build over time. One will be for horror and dark subject matter, and the other will be for more generalized content.

   Each “Hand” or “Draw” will consist of 52 movies or 52 videogames (this post you are reading now is the first Draw of the “Movie” wing of the Nightmare Deck). The set is color-coded and loosely categorized in an order from least to greatest. The ones’ shown in larger text have officially been accepted into the “Nightmare Deck”. 

   This list is meant as a celebration of all storytelling, however, and will be a point of reference for other reviews / honorary “Hall of Fame” inductions.

   For instance, this initial 52 movies features the entire Saw franchise (barring the new Saw X film).

   Although none of the films make the cut for the Nightmare Deck, their legacy does factor into other things I want to do.

   For example, both James Wan’s films Insidious and Saw fall into the “Good” category. Although they aren’t Nightmare Deck worthy, they do heighten his credibility and legacy as a filmmaker. The same can be said for writer Leigh Whanell for both films as well.

   I would like to have separate in-depth inspections of directors / creators, which I believe could be touched upon greater in the Nightmare Shift Podcast I hope to work on more in 2024.

   Other filmmakers that were touched on in this first draw include Rob Zombie, Charles Band, Mike Flanagan, Scott Derrickson, Darren Lynn Bousman, and more. I also wonder how actors like Tobin Bell and Patrick Wilson will fare when the next Draw occurs. How will Full Moon Features and Hammer Horror size up when I delve deeper into their catalog of movies? How will South Korea or Japan factor in? It’s all an investment and I can’t wait to see how it all comes together over time. 

   In the mean time, congratulations to Gerald’s Game and The Black Phone as the first formal entries into the Nightmare Deck. I consider Gerald’s Game to be a breakthrough performance for Carla Gugino and Mike Flanagan is a director who has been on the rise for years now. Meanwhile, I have been a fan of Scott Derrickson since all the way up to his directorial efforts on Hellraiser: Inferno. I can’t wait to see what the future has instore for each of them. 

   

1.) Gerald’s Game – review originally written in 2019 – (4.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Mike Flanagan (1), starring Carla Gugino (1)

 

2.) The Black Phone – review originally written in 2021 – (4.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Scott Derrickson (1), starring Ethan Hawke (1)

 

3.) Saw III – review originally written in 2020 – (3.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (2), starring Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith (8,3)

 

4.) Terrifier 2 – review originally written in 2022 – (3.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Damien Leone (1), starring David Howard Thornton, Sienna Shaw (1,1)

 

5.) Barbarian – review originally written in 2022 – (3.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Zach Cregger (1), starring Justin Long, Bill Skarsgard, and Georgina Campbell (1,1,1)

 

6.) Speak No Evil – review originally written in 2022 – (3.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Christian Tafdrup (1), starring Morten Burian, Sidsel Siem Koch, Fedja van Huet, Karina Smulders (1,1,1,1)

 

7.) Saw – review originally written in 2020 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by James Wan (1), starring Tobin Bell, Leigh Whanell, Danny Glover, Shawnee Smith (8,1,1,3)

 

8.) The Exorcist – review originally written in 2021 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by William Friedkin, starring Max von Sydow, Linda Blair, Ellen Burstyn (1,1,1)

 

9.) Smile – review originally written in 2022 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Parker Finn (1), starring Sosie Bacon (1)

 

10.) The Last House on the Left – review originally written in 2023 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Wes Craven (1), starring Sandra Peabody (1)

 

11.) Final Destination 3  – review originally written in 2022 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by James Wong (1), starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead (1)

 

12.) Orphan – review originally written in 2023 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (1), starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard (2,1,1)

 

13.) Insidious – review originally written in 2021 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by James Wan (2), starring Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne (1,1)

 

14.) Saw VI – review originally written in 2020 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Kevin Greutert (2), starring Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor (8,1)

 

15.) Watcher – review originally written in 2022 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Chole Okuno (1), starring Maika Monroe (1)

 

16.) Warm Bodies – review originally written in 2013 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Jonathan Levine (1), starring Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer (1,1)

 

17.) Perfume: The Story of a Murderer – review originally written in 2014 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Tom Tykwer (1), starring Ben Whishaw, Alan Rickman, Rachel Hurd-Wood, and Dustin Hoffman (1,1,1,1)

 

18.) Cape Fear– review originally written in 2014 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Martin Scorsese (1), starring Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, and Jessica Lange (2,1,1)

 

19.) Spiral: From the Book of Saw – review originally written in 2022 – (3.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (4), starring Chris Rock, Samuel L. Jackson (1,1)

 

20.) Oldboy (remake) – review originally written in 2014 – (2.8 out of 5.0)

directed by Spike Jonze (1), starring Elizabeth Olsen and Josh Brolin (2,1)

 

21.) Godzilla – review originally written in 2014 – (2.7 out of 5.0)

directed by Gareth Edwards (1), starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olsen (1,1,1,2)

 

22.) Orphan: First Kill – review originally written in 2023 – (2.5 out of 5.0)

directed by William Brent Bell (1), starring Isabelle Fuhrman (2)

 

23.) Glorious – review originally written by 2023 – (2.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Rebekah McKendry (1), starring J.K. Simmons, Ryan Kwanten (1,1)

24.) X – review originally written in 2022 – (2.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Ti West, starring Mia Goth (1,1)

 

25.) Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter – review originally written in 2023 – (2.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Joseph Zito (1), starring Kimberly Beck, Corey Feldman (1,1)

 

26.) The Neighbor – review originally written in 2016 – (2.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Marcus Dunstan (1), starring Josh Stewart, Bill Engvall (1,1)

 

27.) Halloween IV – review originally written in 2022 – (2.3 out of 5.0)

directed by Dwight H. Little (1), starring Danielle Harris (2)

 

28.) Shiver – review originally written in 2022 – (2.3 out of 5.0)

directed by Julian Richards (1), starring Danielle Harris, John Jarratt (2,1)

 

29.) Subspecies – review originally written in 2022 – (2.2 out of 5.0)

directed by Ted Nicolaou (1), starring Laura Mae Tate, Anders Hove (1,1)

 

30.) Friday the 13th: Part II – review originally written in 2022 – (2.1 out of 5.0)

directed by Steve Miner (2), starring Amy Steel (1)

 

31.) Jigsaw – review originally written in 2020 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by The Spierig Brothers (1), starring Tobin Bell (8)

 

32.) Saw II – review originally written in 2020 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (4), starring Tobin Bell, Donne Walhberg, Shawnee Smith (1,1,1)

 

33.) House of 1,000 Corpses – review originally written in 2019 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Rob Zombie (2), starring Sherri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, Sid Haig (2,1,1)

 

34.) Halloween Ends – review originally written in 2022 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by David Gordon Green (1), starring Laurie Strode, Rohan Campbell (1,1)

 

35.) Friday the 13th – review originally written in 2020 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Sean S. Cunningham (1), starring Betsy Palmer (1)

 

36.) 3 From Hell – review originally written in 2021 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Rob Zombie (3), starring Sherri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, Sid Haig (2,1,1)

 

37.) Captain Clegg – review originally written in 2021 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Peter Graham Scott (1), starring Peter Cushing (2)

 

38.) The Brides of Dracula – review originally written in 2021 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Terence Fisher (1), starring Peter Cushing (2)

 

39.) Saw IV – review originally written in 2020 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (4), starring Tobin Bell and Costas Mandylor (1,1)

 

40.) The Family – review originally written in 2014 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Luc Besson (1), starring Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfieiffer (2,1)

 

41.) The Pit and the Pendulum – review originally written in 2022 – (2.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Stuart Gordon (1), starring Lance Henriksen (1)

 

42.) 31 – review originally written in 2016 – (1.7 out of 5.0)

directed by Rob Zombie (3), starring Sherri Moon Zombie (1)

 

43.) Allegoria – review originally written in 2023 – (1.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Spider One (1)

 

44.) Puppet Master: Doktor Death – review originally written in 2022 – (1.5 out of 5.0)

directed by Dave Parker (1), starring Jenny Boswell (1)

 

45.) Saw V– review originally written in 2019 – (1.0 out of 5.0)

directed by David Hackl (1), starring Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor (1,1)

 

46.) Saw 3D: The Final Chapter – review originally written in 2019 – (1.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Kevin Greutert (2), starring Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor

 

47.) Friday the 13th: Part III – review originally written in 2020 – (1.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Steve Miner (2), starring Dana Kimmell (1)

 

48.) Beyond the Resonator– review originally written in 2022 – (1.0 out of 5.0)

directed by William Butler (1), starring Dane Oliver, Josh Cole (1,1)

 

49.) Meridian: Kiss of the Beast – review originally written in 2023 – (1.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Charles Band (1), starring Sherilyn Fenn, Malcolm Jamieson (1,1)

 

50.) Terror Train – review originally written in 2022 – (1.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Philippe Gagnon (1), starring Robyn Alomar (1)

 

51.) Winnie the Pooh: Blood & Honey – review originally written in 2023 – (1.0 out of 5.0)

directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield (1), starring Nikolai Leon, Craig David Dowsett (1,1)

 

52.) Grimcutty – review originally written in 2022 – (1.0 out of 5.0)

directed by John Ross (1), starring Sara Wolfkind