Welcome to the Critical Condition web site. For those of you unfamiliar with Critical Condition, let me give a little background. Critical Condition (CritCon for short) was started as a small  bi-monthly newsletter in 1982 to alert my friends about the new horror films that were released to theaters. The early 80's were a boon to the horror business as many home-grown and foreign-made horror films were being released to theaters every month. Some were good (Lucio Fulci's THE BEYOND; Gary Sherman's DEAD & BURIED) but most were bad (Jim Henley's JUNIOR; Bruno Mattei's NIGHT OF THE ZOMBIES and countless others). Being the horror maven that I am (and will always be), I started CritCon to separate the cream from the crap. The first CritCon newsletter was merely one typewritten xeroxed page that I passed out to my friends. By 1985 CritCon had mushroomed into a 20 page semi-pro magazine that had a circulation of about 1,000. The year 1985 was a turning point in the horror film business. It was the year that home video became wildly popular and forever changed the way we viewed movies. Cheap horror films were no longer being screened in theaters. Video distributors got wise and started releasing every cheap horror film they could get their hands on. I must have viewed over a thousand horror movies on video in 1985 alone! By 1987, I had burned-out writing about all the horror films that I had watched and ceased publishing CritCon with one final 100 page issue. By this time  there were plenty of other semi-pro magazines on the market that were covering the same market that I was. I took a much-needed rest from the writing game and began to read all these other magazines. For the next five years I kept a low profile but I was also becoming somewhat disillusioned. While some of these magazines flourished and were quite well done (Tim & Donna Lucas' VIDEO WATCHDOG, Mike Accomando's DREADFUL PLEASURES [now defunct]; Mike Weldon's PSYCHOTRONIC VIDEO [also now no longer publishing]), most were merely rants disguising themselves as film reviews. You would be lucky to get the name of the actor who starred in the films they were reviewing. Forget about getting the directing, producing or screenwriting credits because they were non-existant. They seemed more interested in raving about their political views or complaining about some insignificant pimple on their ass. By 1992, I'd had enough and decided to begin publishing Critical Condition on a semi-regular basis. I kept my own politics to a minimum (usually confined to the editorial page) and concentrated on the films and filmmakers themselves. Each issue of CritCon was jam-packed with reviews of films that you probably never heard of along with full cast and crew credits as well as original rare ad mats. CritCon accepted no advertising making it a complete read from the first page to the last. NOTE: After a long and hard look at the publishing business (or the "rip-off business" as I call it), I will no longer be publishing Critical Condition. It will now be completely web-based. I hope you enjoy this web site. If you do (or if you don't), drop me an e-mail and let me know what you think. Check back often to read the new reviews, news, scans and informative emails.

Fred Adelman
Editor & Publisher

PS: For all of you that have emailed me asking if I sell the films I review, the answer is NO!!!. I do this for the sheer joy of it and would never think of turning a profit off of something I love so dearly. While most of the films I review are available from reliable distributors, some of the films have been out of circulation for years and will probably never get a legal DVD release in the near or distant future. If you do not see a link to a distributor at the end of my reviews, I could probably make you a copy of the film on DVD-R (which will play on most DVD players sold in the last couple of years) if you have films to trade. Email me with your inquiries (I have over 7,500 films in my library) and I'll see what I can do for you. These films are to be distributed from one collector to another (Legal disclaimer). Don't expect crystal clarity as they are being copied from VHS to DVD-R and you may be able to get your hands on a film that you've been dying to see for many years. (Good news: I've completely turned all my VHS tapes to DVD-R, so you can probably get any film you want reviewed on this web site.) Good luck! To see my VHS and DVD library list (it's not complete and badly needs an updating), click HERE. You must have Microsoft Excel 2000 or later to view the file.

OTHER NEWS: 

WILLIAM CAMPBELL  1926 - 2011

Mr. Campbell was always a solid, dependable actor, from his starring roles in such films as DEMENTIA 13 (1963) and BLOOD BATH (1966), to his character roles in such TV series and films like STAR TREK (episodes "The Squire Of Gothos" and "The Trouble With Tribbles" - both 1967), PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW (1969) and BLACK GUNN (1972).

YVETTE VICKERS  1928 - 2010

Ms. Vickers' (best known to genre fans for her roles in ATTACK OF THE 50 FOOT WOMAN [1958] and ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES [1959]) mummified body wasn't discovered until April 27, 2011, when a neighbor noticed mail yellowing in her mailbox and cobwebs on the front door of her home. Initial autopsy results say she may have been dead up to a year! This just screams out so many questions, the main one being: How does a mailman not notice mail piling up in a mailbox? A terrible end for such a beautiful, yet flawed, woman.

JACKIE COOPER  1922 - 2011

Mr. Cooper had an instantly recognizable face, especially to all of us old enough to remember him as a small child on the OUR GANG/LITTLE RASCALS shorts from the 1930's that use to play on TV constantly in the 60's & 70's. He was also the youngest person ever to be nominated for an Academy Award; for Best Actor In a Leading Role in the film SKIPPY (1931). Most people not old enough to remember that will know him as Daily Planet editor Perry White in the four SUPERMAN films (1978 - 1987). He easily transferred from movie star to TV director and directed countless TV series episodes during the 70's & 80's, including some Emmy Award winning episodes of M*A*S*H. Mr. Cooper retired from show business in 1989, saying "I'm sixty-seven, and worked sixty-four years."

ROSS HAGEN  1938 - 2011

Ross Hagen's deep, gravelly voice and rugged good looks made him a prime candidate for many bad guy roles in movies and TV from the 60's until his death. Mr. Hagen had starring roles in such films as ANGELS' WILD WOMEN [1972], WONDER WOMEN (1973) and NIGHT CREATURE (1978), as well as having supporting roles in films like AVENGING ANGEL (1985), ACTION U.S.A. (1989) and BLOOD GAMES (1990). Fred Olen Ray used Mr. Hagen in many films during the 80's & 90's, including PRISON SHIP (1986), ALIENATOR (1990) and DINOSAUR ISLAND (1994). Hagen directed a handful of genre films during his career, including THE GLOVE (1978), B.O.R.N. (1988) and CLICK: THE CALENDER GIRL KILLER (1990). R.I.P. Ross Hagen, and thanks for the memories.

JAMES ARNESS  1923 - 2011

While most people will remember Mr. Arness as the actor in the TV Western series GUNSMOKE (one of TV's longest-running series, on air from 1955 to 1975) and being the older brother of actor Peter Graves (who passed away in 2010), I have rather fond memories of him playing the "carrot creature" in THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD (1951) and his starring role in the giant ant creature feature THEM! (1954), both TV staples during my childhood. While I was never a fan of GUNSMOKE when I was a kid, I find much pleasure in watching episodes of the series as an adult. Farewell James Arness and thanks more making my life a little more brighter.

PETER FALK  1927 - 2011

Peter Falk will be best remembered as the star of the COLUMBO TV series, but I also remember him for his memorable film roles in such movies as MURDER, INC. (1960), THE GREAT RACE (1965), HUSBANDS (1970), A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE (1974), MURDER BY DEATH (1976), THE CHEAP DETECTIVE (1978), THE IN-LAWS (1979; and one of my favorite comedies of all time!), THE PRINCESS BRIDE (1987), VIG (1998; a very underrated film), UNDISPUTED (2002) and many, many others. Mr. Falk had the chops to do both drama and comedy, which is why he was so successful in both TV and films. Goodbye to a true classic and I hope as you pass through the Pearly Gates, you stop, turn around and say to St. Peter, "Oh, just one more thing......."

ROBERTS BLOSSOM  1924 - 2011

Here was a character actor that always impressed the audience with his wide range. He could make your skin crawl as serial killer Ezra Cobb (based on Ed Gein) in DERANGED (1974) or make you cry like a baby with his emotional performance as neighbor Marley in HOME ALONE (1990). This tall, lanky actor (who always appeared older than he actually was) has done a wide range of films, including SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE (1972), ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ (1979), CHRISTINE (1983), THE QUICK AND THE DEAD (1995) and TV shows like AMAZING STORIES, TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE, THE TWILIGHT ZONE (the 80's version) and CHICAGO HOPE. The man was incapable of giving a bad performance and his absence is just another reminder of how we are losing those great character actors who have impressed us to that little thing we call old age. R.I.P. Roberts Blossom.

G.D. SPRADLIN  1920 - 2011

Man, this has been a terrible year when it come to the deaths of highly capable character actors and G.D. (Gervase Duan) Spradlin was no exception. He had the looks, height (6' 2") and the voice to play a wide assortment of characters, including Presidents (THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT - 1998), cops and detectives (HELL'S ANGELS '69 - 1969; TANK - 1984), military personnel (APOCALYPSE NOW - 1979; THE LORDS OF DISCIPLINE - 1983; INTRUDERS - 1992), government officials (THE GODFATHER PART II - 1974; RICH MAN, POOR MAN BOOK II - 1976) and an assortment of bad guys (MANEATERS ARE LOOSE! - 1978; THE FORMULA - 1980; NICK OF TIME - 1995). Spradlin also directed two movies during his lifetime, one of them being the 1972 kidnap exploitationer THE ONLY WAY HOME, starring Bo Hopkins and Steve Sandor. Spradlin was 90 years-old when he passed away of natural causes on his cattle ranch is San Luis Obispo in California.

CLIFF ROBERTSON  1923 - 2011

Cliff Robertson was the consummate A-list actor (He won an Academy Award for his role as a mentally handicapped man in CHARLY [1968]), who wasn't afraid to get his toes wet in genre filmmaking. Besides appearing on the very first episode of the original TV series THE OUTER LIMITS (titled "The Galaxy Being"), Robertson appeared twice on THE TWILIGHT ZONE ("A Hundred Yards Over The Rim" [1961] & "The Dummy" [1962]), made several appearances on TV's BATMAN as "Shame", starred in director Frank Perry's terribly overlooked suspenser MAN ON A SWING (1974) and Brian De Palma's OBSESSION (1976), co-starred in Natalie Wood's last film, BRAINSTORM (1983), portrayed the President of the United States in John Carpenter's ESCAPE FROM L.A. (1996), co-wrote the screenplay and starred in the horror film THE 13TH CHILD (2002) and appeared as Ben Parker in all three of Sam Raimi's SPIDER-MAN films. Not too shabby for a man who could carry any mainstream film on his broad shoulders (Check out his performances in J.W. COOP [1971] and THE GREAT NORTHFIELD MINNESOTA RAID [1972] when you get the chance). We lost another great one, folks. R.I.P. Cliff Robertson.

CHARLES NAPIER  1936 - 2011

One of the best character actors, period. From his time spent as a regular player in the films of Russ Meyer (CHERRY, HARRY & RAQUEL! - 1970; BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS - 1970; THE SEVEN MINUTES - 1971; SUPERVIXENS - 1975), a regular on 70's, 80's & 90's TV (KOJAK; THE ROCKFORD FILES; BJ AND THE BEAR; DALLAS; THE A-TEAM; RENEGADE; and many others), the countless exploitation and A-List films he appeared in (THUNDER AND LIGHTNING - 1977; THE BLUES BROTHERS - 1980; WACKO - 1982; SWING SHIFT - 1984; RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II - 1985; DEEP SPACE - 1988; THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS - 1991; SKEETER - 1993), to the voiceover work he did in such animated series as THE SIMPSONS, THE CRITIC, GOD THE DEVIL AND BOB and SQUIDBILLIES, Charles Napier was the consumate professional and the go-to guy if you needed an angry police chief, heartless cop or sheriff, gruff military man or anyone who can handle a situation that seems uncontrollable with an instantly recognizable voice. I met Mr. Napier on a couple of occasions (once in tandem with late character actor George "Buck" Flower) and he was as nice on the inside as hard as he looked on the outside. A real teddy bear of a man. RIP to one of the hardest working men in show business. A real, serious loss to films and TV.

DAVID A. HESS  1942 - 2011

Wow. This one hurts badly. David was an extremely talented musician before he hit the big time in films starring as Krug in LAST OUSE ON THE LEFT (1972). He made a string of films that played on that Krug personna (HITCH-HIKE - 1977; THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK - 1979) and also appeared as the cheif bad guy in Wes Craven's SWAMP THING (1982) and a red herring in Ruggero Deodato's BODY COUNT (1987), but music was always David's passion. Yet he had no problem appearing at countless conventions signing autographs and taking photos with fans of his films. He was a true film fan's dream; taking time to talk about his films and even spending more time with you if you wanted to talk about music. David appeared in a few recent films (ZOMBIE NATION - 2004; ZODIAK KILLER - 2005; SMASH CUT - 2009), but he was always more passionate about his music (and he wrote a lot of songs for the films he appeared in). Rest in peace, David. You were truly an original in a sea of imposters.

NEW REVIEWS:

Thanks to all the fine folks at Infinology (Quam, Josh, Barry, Calvin & Barbara) for making sure that this website stayed up and running through difficult times. You guys and gals are the greatest!