My quick rating - 3,2/10. We have another anthology flick of sorts. Paula Brasca is a late-night radio DJ with a program where people call to tell her real horror stories but keeps getting nagged by an obsessed fan. The film may boast an intriguing premise but falls short in execution, leaving me craving any substantial scares. The film follows Candy (Brasca), a charismatic radio host known for her late-night show dedicated to horror stories. The plot takes a twist when an obsessed fan begins to harass her, blurring the lines between reality and fiction. This narrative element provides a promising foundation for a tense and psychological horror experience, but sadly, the film fails to fully capitalize on this potential. One of the most significant issues with Nightmare Radio: The Night Stalker lies in its weak collection of horror stories. While anthologies often feature a mix of hits and misses, this film leans heavily toward the latter. The stories lack depth and fail to deliver the bone-chilling thrills that horror enthusiasts crave. Despite some atmospheric cinematography and competent acting, the lackluster narratives leave viewers wanting more substance and originality. Some segments drag on, while others feel rushed, resulting in an inconsistent viewing experience. Tighter editing and a more cohesive narrative structure could have significantly improved the overall flow of the movie, allowing it to maintain a consistent level of engagement.
Brasca portrays the struggles of a radio host caught in a dangerous situation with believable authenticity, injecting much-needed life into the film since as an anthology flick, it falls short of the mark set by its predecessors, leaving viewers longing for more impactful and chilling tales. It is quite rare that the narrator's story for this type of flick ends up exceeding every tale in the anthology but that was certainly the case with this one. Maybe they should've just worked a full length feature on Candy attempting to survive the night and not mix in really poor horror shorts along the way.
