Synopsis
Hit the Trail... To Terror
Two travelers meet on the open prairie, and pass their time together by trading stories with each other. Their tales become a sort of competition, each attempting to relate something which might disturb the other.
Two travelers meet on the open prairie, and pass their time together by trading stories with each other. Their tales become a sort of competition, each attempting to relate something which might disturb the other.
Hellbent, Grim Prairie Tales: Hit the Trail... to Terror, Spuk am Lagerfeuer
A horror-western anthology flick directed by one-time feature film director, Wayne Coe. Grim Prairie Tales is a severely mediocre affair because the individual segments are weak AF and Coe doesn't know how to make a scene look interesting or how to build tension.
James Earl Jones and Brad Dourif, who are both in the wraparound story, elevate this above similar movies.
The second segment (with the pregnant woman) is a standout because of its fantastic conclusion, which takes the vagina dentata myth to another level. 😼
The final segment had an awesome animated dream sequence. ✏️
I can’t think of another anthology that made me think, “Enough with the narratives, let’s get back to the framing device!” Then again, I can’t think of another anthology whose framing device is Brad Dourif and James Earl Jones telling each other scary stories around a campfire.
Actually, it’s less a horror movie than a strangely thoughtful meditation on the power of storytelling. There’s nothing particularly scary here, but the second story has a pretty sweet climax that should freak out the bros and the last one has a trippy animated freak-out. I’m a sucker for a trippy animated freak-out.
RIP James Earl Jones
Yesterday I went and saw a bad movie theatrically; that will be discussed tomorrow. After the screening, it wasn't until arriving back home that I looked at Twitter and saw the unfortunate news. Even as a kid, I knew that him (for example) guest-starring on a TV show was a big deal and he was someone I knew as the voice of both Mufasa & Darth Vader. As an adult it was nice to see him in films like The Hunt for Red October and Conan the Barbarian; as it's Spooky Season, I've already reviewed the amazingly bad Exorcist II: The Heretic and I've known of Grim Prairie Tales for years, about time to discuss a Horror-Western…
Western themed portmanteau horror here that has Brad Dourif's city traveller and James Earl Jones' rough country drifter try to outdo each other telling horror stories round a campfire one night.
A great dynamic between the two as they bicker and critique each story after it's played out. In fact, so good are they both that the wraparound ends up being the main focus of the film, the stories themselves incredibly brief. I don't know if this was intentional or not but ends up being a wise choice as they're not a great collection.
The first one was a write off for me as it was impossible to make anything out due to the poor rip I saw, but from…
I’m going to tell you a story that will stick to you. Like an eyeball to a cactus needle.
A western-horror anthology from a one and done director. James Earl Jones & Brad Dourif have great chemistry as they battle swapping stories over a campfire. It’s easily the best part of the movie. The stories themselves are very tame with the only standout being the reverse birth story. It’s a fun watch once you settle in and realize it’s more western folk story than horror. Also the one sheet art is cool as hell. Would love to see this released on blu ray one day but for now caught it on YouTube
2/31
Little House of A 1000 Corpses on The Prairie. I know those are completely different then this movie but I wanted to make that joke so I did.
This was a bit of a surprise, not really 100% horror kind of more a fantasy Western with drama and horror elements ala The Dark Tower. I have to agree with most of the reviews on here saying the best parts are with Brad Dourif and James Earl Jones their whole characters/plotline is pretty spectacular. The poster is exquisite too and it's not even misleading which is good you pretty much know what you're getting with this, it's a celebration of storytelling and rich with dialogue. I do wish there was…
Super cool poster art, and a neat idea (I'm a huge horror western fan, I wish there were more entries in the genre) the stories are good but the quality vhs R.I.P. was rough to get through, BUT James Earl Jones and Brad Dourif steal the show.
I want you to ask yourself one question. Can you name, from memory, a James Earl Jones film you have seen that isn't The Lion King or a Star Wars film? I'm sure many of you can, but I was SCRAMBLING to find an answer. I eventually realized that the only movie I could think of was Dr. Strangelove. So yes, I am wildly I'll equipped in speaking about the nuances of Jones' acting style besides saying that he has a extremely iconic voice. And that voice remains intact here. But with this character he plays comes yellow stained teeth, a constantly shifting tone between laid back and extreme anger, and a very strange hair-do that simply does not work…
Segments are mostly pretty average (minus reverse birth!!) but the wrap around itself is one of my favorites. Two actors just having a whale of a time.
This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
James Earl Jones and Brad Chucky Dourif collect paychecks in this unengaging horror anthology in which none of the stories connect.
Of the 4 stories, only 1 one of them has an image that might be considered scary if you're a little bitch.
It isn't long before on of the campfire tales begins that you wish the movie would go back to Jones and Dourif.
About halfway through the movie you'll figure out the surprise ending because you won't be paying attention anything else that goes on.
The only thing grim about these tales is how tedious they are.
Watched this on an absolute whim while in search of a spooky western because I mean, James Earl Jones and Brad Dourif say no more. It’s so weird though! It’s a little low budget horror anthology but whoever made this doesn’t seem to understand how important suspense is to horror? Like the spooky tales are actually a cool kinda real-world-spooky (two of which address racism pretty bluntly, and one of which is so silly surreal male-terror I don’t wanna spoil it) but they’re told in a way that’s almost annoyingly ho-hum. But then again it’s so weird I kinda came around to enjoying its quasi low stakes tales and fake philosophical musings.
Fun little artifact!