Terror in the Aisles

Lore & Background

The advertising specifically refers to the movies that the clips are taken from as 'terror films' instead of 'horror films,' and some of the movies used, such as Marathon Man and Nighthawks, are not considered horror films but were included because their respective villains were considered horrifying. The most recent movie used for the 1984 release was Videodrome, which David Cronenberg brought to theatres in February 1983; the efforts of getting rights to and assembling clips was so extensive that no movies released after that were considered for usage by the documentarians.

Reader's Guide

Terror in the Aisles is notable as a compilation documentary that gathers clips from 78 terror, suspense, horror, and thriller films, spanning classics and lesser-known titles. Its release in 1984 capitalized on the popularity of the slasher and horror genres of the era. The film received largely negative reviews from critics, with Gene Siskel giving it zero stars, Vincent Canby calling the commentary 'pretty dumb,' and Variety deeming it 'poorly conceived and executed.' Despite this, it has persisted in home media, first on VHS and CED Videodiscs in 1985, then as a special feature on the 30th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray of Halloween II in 2011, on DVD in 2012, and as a standalone Blu-ray from Scream Factory in 2020. Its legacy lies in its role as a time capsule of early-1980s horror film culture and as a reference for the clips it preserves.

Did You Know?

• The film includes clips from 78 different films.
• The most recent movie used was Videodrome, released in February 1983.
• The film was released on VHS and CED Videodiscs by MCA Home Video in 1985.