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31 Days of Horror (2018) - The October Movie Marathon
- Thread starter ThirstyFly
- Start date
It was. The actors started going kind of crazy during the filming of the dinner scene because the body odor and sweat and food in the dinner scene rotting made the stench unbearable, to the point that crew started passing out. The scene where the actress gets her finger cut open, they actually cut her and had her bleed
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Bit of a change of plan for tonight's film decided to check out Apostle on Netflix I've heard nothing but good things and it's by Gareth Evans so it's win win #13
The Fearless Vampire Killers
Something old: Horror Comedy
Let me start by saying that the atmosphere here is tremendous. We start out on a sleigh pulled by horses in the frozen land of Europe. When the sleigh gets to the town inn and you see the door open to the warmth inside, it very much made me feel as if coming in out of the cold. The warmth inside was palpable. Everything here felt lived in and warm. As the two travelers make their way inside, they start to inquire about a castle because all the garlic on the walls means a vampire is near and they are out to catch him. We get some story about the inn owners who have a daughter their trying to keep from getting taken by said vampire which is why there is so much garlic.
Anyway, this kind of drags on for a bit. It's not exactly boring, but over long. Eventually we get out of the village and over to the vampire castle which is another amazing piece of atmosphere on its own. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling the comedy. There were some amusing bits here and there, but largely I would not say this was funny at all. Played a bit more serious and I think this would have been much better. Still a good watch though.
The most interesting bit, that I found anyway, was that Sharon Tate was in this. You know, actress famous for getting offed by the Manson family way back in the day.
This one gets one dude chasing two hot vampire chicks.
Something old: Horror Comedy
Let me start by saying that the atmosphere here is tremendous. We start out on a sleigh pulled by horses in the frozen land of Europe. When the sleigh gets to the town inn and you see the door open to the warmth inside, it very much made me feel as if coming in out of the cold. The warmth inside was palpable. Everything here felt lived in and warm. As the two travelers make their way inside, they start to inquire about a castle because all the garlic on the walls means a vampire is near and they are out to catch him. We get some story about the inn owners who have a daughter their trying to keep from getting taken by said vampire which is why there is so much garlic.
Anyway, this kind of drags on for a bit. It's not exactly boring, but over long. Eventually we get out of the village and over to the vampire castle which is another amazing piece of atmosphere on its own. Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling the comedy. There were some amusing bits here and there, but largely I would not say this was funny at all. Played a bit more serious and I think this would have been much better. Still a good watch though.
The most interesting bit, that I found anyway, was that Sharon Tate was in this. You know, actress famous for getting offed by the Manson family way back in the day.
This one gets one dude chasing two hot vampire chicks.
#12 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Look what your brother did to the door! Ain't he got no pride in his home?
Quite a major one for me to be viewing, but while I've seen chunks of the film inevitably over the years, I've never actually just watched the whole thing through til now.
There's very little I'll be able to say that hasn't already been said in the last forty years about this film, but in any case, I do have thoughts to share. In short it's masterful. Horror films are for what? Scaring? Disgusting? Thrilling? Making you jump? But how often are they primarily for just that, horror? Well this one is. This film isn't made for gore, or for jumpscares, it's made to horrify and every frame is aimed at that goal. Even knowing the most famous scenes, having seen the most famous shots, I think it still succeeded with me.
I'm drawing a line between "scare" and "horror" here, but I think anyone who's seen this film knows what I mean. Long before Leatherface starts offing our group of nondescript young adults, the film is uneasy, discordant, on edge. Even once the killing starts, it's all about the sense of wrongness. Rather than being interested in gore, the film is interested in the idea of gore; it's happening, but it's all out of focus and left to your mind to fill it in. The raw camerawork and the soundtrack of grinding, chattering and howling make a real one of a kind eerie atmosphere, without even touching on the crazed performances from the villains.
There's no "slickness" or "coolness" here, and I'm not just referring to many modern horror films but even classic slashers from the same generation. Halloween for instance has its composed shots and carefully measured scares, and it's a great film, but this has a unique nightmarish quality. Jason Vorhees or Michael Myers are cool, badass villains people often root for, to see their increasingly silly kills. Leatherface, at least here, is not badass, he's a squealing nut. On the note of Halloween being more composed, that is not to say it's poorly shot, because I'd in fact like to give a special shoutout to the cinematography, which produces some beautifully ugly visuals.
To summarize, this is a filthy fever dream of a film and I loved it. It's a must see for all horror fans.
That's some rambling review from me today, but hey, it fits with the film. Now, onto the remake. My expectations are truly through the roof, just sky high.
The original is like watching a nightmare, the remake is a stylish slasher movie that turns leatherface into a Jason clone.
#13 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Here's your pants!
Remember how I said the 1974 film is a filthy fever dream? This one is an oil slick.
Pretty much everything I wrote in my review of the original, you can just toss out the window for this Platinum Dunes, Michael Bay produced remake. While telling roughly the same story, except with more plot as is required now, it takes the opposite approach on pretty much every aspect of the original film.
On a certain level, this is the right thing to do for a remake. If you just did everything the same way, trying to recreate everything exactly as it was, you'll not only fail to capture it, but what's the point of a remake at all (this killed the Thing "prequel"/remake, along with the digital monster). However, in this particular case, it might handle things differently, but it doesn't make for a very compelling film.
Everything is as you would expect from a modern slasher remake. It's slick, it's filmed stylishly, it has a music video director at the helm, a desaturated colour palette, gruesome gore galore, jumpscares aplenty, backstories spelled out plainly, irritating characters, an action climax, and an omnipresent loud orchestral soundtrack.
Does this mean it is "bad"? It's shot well (interestingly, it has the same cinematographer as the 1974 original, what a difference a director makes), as the Friday the 13th redo by the same director was, it has the explicit violence and murder the audience expects and doesn't rely on digital effects. When that's all I have to say about it, the only conclusion to be made is that it is generic. It is 400 other films released in the last 20 years but with a chainsaw and a famous character name in it.
It's a film I saw, and won't remember. I will not forget the 1974 film.
PS, when the hysterically stereotypical sheriff appeared, I instinctively made the "pwet!" sound miming tobacco spitting. Then he actually spat tobacco. At least I got one good laugh from the remake.
Here's your pants!
Remember how I said the 1974 film is a filthy fever dream? This one is an oil slick.
Pretty much everything I wrote in my review of the original, you can just toss out the window for this Platinum Dunes, Michael Bay produced remake. While telling roughly the same story, except with more plot as is required now, it takes the opposite approach on pretty much every aspect of the original film.
On a certain level, this is the right thing to do for a remake. If you just did everything the same way, trying to recreate everything exactly as it was, you'll not only fail to capture it, but what's the point of a remake at all (this killed the Thing "prequel"/remake, along with the digital monster). However, in this particular case, it might handle things differently, but it doesn't make for a very compelling film.
Everything is as you would expect from a modern slasher remake. It's slick, it's filmed stylishly, it has a music video director at the helm, a desaturated colour palette, gruesome gore galore, jumpscares aplenty, backstories spelled out plainly, irritating characters, an action climax, and an omnipresent loud orchestral soundtrack.
Does this mean it is "bad"? It's shot well (interestingly, it has the same cinematographer as the 1974 original, what a difference a director makes), as the Friday the 13th redo by the same director was, it has the explicit violence and murder the audience expects and doesn't rely on digital effects. When that's all I have to say about it, the only conclusion to be made is that it is generic. It is 400 other films released in the last 20 years but with a chainsaw and a famous character name in it.
It's a film I saw, and won't remember. I will not forget the 1974 film.
PS, when the hysterically stereotypical sheriff appeared, I instinctively made the "pwet!" sound miming tobacco spitting. Then he actually spat tobacco. At least I got one good laugh from the remake.
Films 14, 15 and 16 - Hatchets 1, 2 and 3
I'm grouping these all together because I watched them one after the other tonight, and they are essentially just one long film anyway, with parts 2 and 3 starting at the exact same point the previous episode left off. I had only intended to watch the first one, lent to me on DVD, but then I saw that parts 2 and 3 were on Prime Video so here we are.
So what have I learned having watched Victor Crowley wander round his Louisiana swamp killing people for four hours? Not much is the honest answer, other than the spectacle of folk having their arms torn off does get a tiny bit boring after a while, no matter how much blood gets pumped from the stump. Creator Adam Green knows this, to be fair, and does his best to be inventive with the gore, sometimes at the expense of realism. I think in real life it would be quite tough to decapitate someone with their own intestines, but I suppose I might be wrong. And who cares about realism anyway.
I feel like I sound a bit negative about these movies, but actually I really enjoyed them. Danielle Harris is excellent in parts 2 and 3, and there's a great Sid Haig cameo at one point. While the story is only really there as an excuse for all the blood and guts, it's an interesting tale nonetheless, and almost all the characters are entertaining. All three movies are dumb, gory fun, and it's good to sometimes watch things you don't need your brain switched on for.
There is a Hatchet 4, but I'd have to pay extra to see it, and I think I've had my fill for now.
Films I've watched so far
I'm grouping these all together because I watched them one after the other tonight, and they are essentially just one long film anyway, with parts 2 and 3 starting at the exact same point the previous episode left off. I had only intended to watch the first one, lent to me on DVD, but then I saw that parts 2 and 3 were on Prime Video so here we are.
So what have I learned having watched Victor Crowley wander round his Louisiana swamp killing people for four hours? Not much is the honest answer, other than the spectacle of folk having their arms torn off does get a tiny bit boring after a while, no matter how much blood gets pumped from the stump. Creator Adam Green knows this, to be fair, and does his best to be inventive with the gore, sometimes at the expense of realism. I think in real life it would be quite tough to decapitate someone with their own intestines, but I suppose I might be wrong. And who cares about realism anyway.
I feel like I sound a bit negative about these movies, but actually I really enjoyed them. Danielle Harris is excellent in parts 2 and 3, and there's a great Sid Haig cameo at one point. While the story is only really there as an excuse for all the blood and guts, it's an interesting tale nonetheless, and almost all the characters are entertaining. All three movies are dumb, gory fun, and it's good to sometimes watch things you don't need your brain switched on for.
There is a Hatchet 4, but I'd have to pay extra to see it, and I think I've had my fill for now.
Films I've watched so far
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Said it earlier in the thread but the original's mask looks terrifying. It looks sloppily-sown together and doesn't fit quite right and the eyes holes are often shadowed making the mask even creepier. It looks like something made in the basement by a backwoods psycho family. And there's the fact that Leatherface has different masks for different roles/"personalities" in the original.#13 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Here's your pants!
Remember how I said the 1974 film is a filthy fever dream? This one is an oil slick.
Pretty much everything I wrote in my review of the original, you can just toss out the window for this Platinum Dunes, Michael Bay produced remake. While telling roughly the same story, except with more plot as is required now, it takes the opposite approach on pretty much every aspect of the original film.
On a certain level, this is the right thing to do for a remake. If you just did everything the same way, trying to recreate everything exactly as it was, you'll not only fail to capture it, but what's the point of a remake at all (this killed the Thing "prequel"/remake, along with the digital monster). However, in this particular case, it might handle things differently, but it doesn't make for a very compelling film.
Everything is as you would expect from a modern slasher remake. It's slick, it's filmed stylishly, it has a music video director at the helm, a desaturated colour palette, gruesome gore galore, jumpscares aplenty, backstories spelled out plainly, irritating characters, an action climax, and an omnipresent loud orchestral soundtrack.
Does this mean it is "bad"? It's shot well (interestingly, it has the same cinematographer as the 1974 original, what a difference a director makes), as the Friday the 13th redo by the same director was, it has the explicit violence and murder the audience expects and doesn't rely on digital effects. When that's all I have to say about it, the only conclusion to be made is that it is generic. It is 400 other films released in the last 20 years but with a chainsaw and a famous character name in it.
It's a film I saw, and won't remember. I will not forget the 1974 film.
PS, when the hysterically stereotypical sheriff appeared, I instinctively made the "pwet!" sound miming tobacco spitting. Then he actually spat tobacco. At least I got one good laugh from the remake.
The remake looks like a fancy movie prop with perfectly-done Frankenstein-style stitches
#13 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Here's your pants!
Remember how I said the 1974 film is a filthy fever dream? This one is an oil slick.
Pretty much everything I wrote in my review of the original, you can just toss out the window for this Platinum Dunes, Michael Bay produced remake. While telling roughly the same story, except with more plot as is required now, it takes the opposite approach on pretty much every aspect of the original film.
On a certain level, this is the right thing to do for a remake. If you just did everything the same way, trying to recreate everything exactly as it was, you'll not only fail to capture it, but what's the point of a remake at all (this killed the Thing "prequel"/remake, along with the digital monster). However, in this particular case, it might handle things differently, but it doesn't make for a very compelling film.
Everything is as you would expect from a modern slasher remake. It's slick, it's filmed stylishly, it has a music video director at the helm, a desaturated colour palette, gruesome gore galore, jumpscares aplenty, backstories spelled out plainly, irritating characters, an action climax, and an omnipresent loud orchestral soundtrack.
Does this mean it is "bad"? It's shot well (interestingly, it has the same cinematographer as the 1974 original, what a difference a director makes), as the Friday the 13th redo by the same director was, it has the explicit violence and murder the audience expects and doesn't rely on digital effects. When that's all I have to say about it, the only conclusion to be made is that it is generic. It is 400 other films released in the last 20 years but with a chainsaw and a famous character name in it.
It's a film I saw, and won't remember. I will not forget the 1974 film.
PS, when the hysterically stereotypical sheriff appeared, I instinctively made the "pwet!" sound miming tobacco spitting. Then he actually spat tobacco. At least I got one good laugh from the remake.
That's actually a great point. Saw this when it first came out and I really enjoyed it. But now I barely remember, but the original I'll never forget.
1. The Mummy (1932) (rewatch)
2. Extraordinary Tales (2013)
3. Justice League Dark (2017)
4. The Wicker Man (1973) (rewatch)
5. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
6. Godzilla: King of the Monsters! (1956)
7. It (2017)
8. mother! (2017)
9. The Void (2016)
10. The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
11. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
12. The Mummy (1999)
13. Constantine (2005)
Another more horror-themed movie (I promise, tomorrow's movie will be some classic straight-up horror), but this one is based on the long-running horror Hellblazer comic. It takes a lot of creative liberties with the source material, recasting the snarky, religion-hating Brit with a brooding American Catholic, but it's a compelling story nonetheless. I do like how one sequence about halfway through involving a liquor shop brings to mind the opening of the very first issue of the original comic.
2. Extraordinary Tales (2013)
3. Justice League Dark (2017)
4. The Wicker Man (1973) (rewatch)
5. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
6. Godzilla: King of the Monsters! (1956)
7. It (2017)
8. mother! (2017)
9. The Void (2016)
10. The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
11. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
12. The Mummy (1999)
13. Constantine (2005)
Another more horror-themed movie (I promise, tomorrow's movie will be some classic straight-up horror), but this one is based on the long-running horror Hellblazer comic. It takes a lot of creative liberties with the source material, recasting the snarky, religion-hating Brit with a brooding American Catholic, but it's a compelling story nonetheless. I do like how one sequence about halfway through involving a liquor shop brings to mind the opening of the very first issue of the original comic.
#13 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
Here's your pants!
Remember how I said the 1974 film is a filthy fever dream? This one is an oil slick.
Pretty much everything I wrote in my review of the original, you can just toss out the window for this Platinum Dunes, Michael Bay produced remake. While telling roughly the same story, except with more plot as is required now, it takes the opposite approach on pretty much every aspect of the original film.
On a certain level, this is the right thing to do for a remake. If you just did everything the same way, trying to recreate everything exactly as it was, you'll not only fail to capture it, but what's the point of a remake at all (this killed the Thing "prequel"/remake, along with the digital monster). However, in this particular case, it might handle things differently, but it doesn't make for a very compelling film.
Everything is as you would expect from a modern slasher remake. It's slick, it's filmed stylishly, it has a music video director at the helm, a desaturated colour palette, gruesome gore galore, jumpscares aplenty, backstories spelled out plainly, irritating characters, an action climax, and an omnipresent loud orchestral soundtrack.
Does this mean it is "bad"? It's shot well (interestingly, it has the same cinematographer as the 1974 original, what a difference a director makes), as the Friday the 13th redo by the same director was, it has the explicit violence and murder the audience expects and doesn't rely on digital effects. When that's all I have to say about it, the only conclusion to be made is that it is generic. It is 400 other films released in the last 20 years but with a chainsaw and a famous character name in it.
It's a film I saw, and won't remember. I will not forget the 1974 film.
PS, when the hysterically stereotypical sheriff appeared, I instinctively made the "pwet!" sound miming tobacco spitting. Then he actually spat tobacco. At least I got one good laugh from the remake.
I remember really not liking this movie when I saw it theaters. That entire catalog of horror remakes from Platinum Dunes really does not appeal to me. They all seem to lose that grit that comes with low budget filmmaking, and have a very high production/studio feel that contrasts a bit too much with the source material for me.
11) Bride of Chucky (1998)
★★★
"Jesus, the music scene's gone to hell since I've been dead!"
This one is…surprisingly not bad at all! When the first scene gives us a glimpse of an evidence locker containing the masks of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, Freddy's glove, and Leatherface's chainsaw, you already know we've landed in meta territory. In keeping with other well-established horror franchises, Chucky had to delve into the kind of self-referential meta-humor that was all the rage at the time. However, this is exactly the breath of fresh air that it needed to get out of the rut it had found itself stuck in.
The material here may not always be as clever as it thinks it is, but there are some genuinely funny lines and creative kills throughout. Thanks to the great chemistry between Brad Dourif and Jennifer Tilly, it is weirdly charming to watch the blossoming relationship of the two homicidal dolls.
On the downside, the goth metal soundtrack right out of the CD players of angry suburban teens sounds antiquated and oozes ridiculous 90s edge. I don't know about you, but I didn't need to be reminded of Stabbing Westward or Static-X! In addition, the young couple unsuspectingly hijacked by the pair of rubber maniacs is dull and wooden – what else would you expect of Katherine Heigl, after all.
Nevertheless, it's campy fun and the best entry in the series since the original.
1) Terrifier (2018) ★1/2
2) Child's Play 2 (1990) ★★1/2
3) Motel Hell (1980) ★★★
4) Wolfen (1981) ★★1/2
5) The Devil's Candy (2015) ★
6) I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House (2016) ★★★1/2
7) Lake Mungo (2008) ★★★1/2
8) Child's Play 3 (1991) ★1/2
9) Dead Night (2018) ★★
10) The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) ★
★★★
"Jesus, the music scene's gone to hell since I've been dead!"
This one is…surprisingly not bad at all! When the first scene gives us a glimpse of an evidence locker containing the masks of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees, Freddy's glove, and Leatherface's chainsaw, you already know we've landed in meta territory. In keeping with other well-established horror franchises, Chucky had to delve into the kind of self-referential meta-humor that was all the rage at the time. However, this is exactly the breath of fresh air that it needed to get out of the rut it had found itself stuck in.
The material here may not always be as clever as it thinks it is, but there are some genuinely funny lines and creative kills throughout. Thanks to the great chemistry between Brad Dourif and Jennifer Tilly, it is weirdly charming to watch the blossoming relationship of the two homicidal dolls.
On the downside, the goth metal soundtrack right out of the CD players of angry suburban teens sounds antiquated and oozes ridiculous 90s edge. I don't know about you, but I didn't need to be reminded of Stabbing Westward or Static-X! In addition, the young couple unsuspectingly hijacked by the pair of rubber maniacs is dull and wooden – what else would you expect of Katherine Heigl, after all.
Nevertheless, it's campy fun and the best entry in the series since the original.
1) Terrifier (2018) ★1/2
2) Child's Play 2 (1990) ★★1/2
3) Motel Hell (1980) ★★★
4) Wolfen (1981) ★★1/2
5) The Devil's Candy (2015) ★
6) I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House (2016) ★★★1/2
7) Lake Mungo (2008) ★★★1/2
8) Child's Play 3 (1991) ★1/2
9) Dead Night (2018) ★★
10) The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) ★
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OP
You know for a film that takes a complete left turn from the original tonally this is still really horrific. Perhaps moreso than the original the more I think about it. Between the gore, Chop Top, Leatherface acting like... that, and everything else going on here this is a lot to deal with. I'm not one of them but I can see why some people would hate this lmao.
Overall this is still slowly growing in my favor. I really appreciate the willingness to just do its own thing (and honestly in most of the other TCM films regardless of how it actually works out in the end) and I'm glad the risk paid off. I'm not sure how Tobe felt about this film or the franchise/series afterwards but I wonder what a third entry from him could've been like if he ended up doing one.
Trying to run through the Halloween series even though none but the original will matter at this point before the new film.
This is still really good, perhaps a bit better than I had recently thought. Sure the plot developments aren't very nice and the tone can feel off (mainly since this is such a close continuation of the original) but there's a lot to like. The biggest positives for me are the setting and score. The mostly deserted (seriously where was everyone?) hospital is a great setting and is pretty effective in helping build a mood. Meanwhile the score while there's a lot of tracks from the previous film redone is also a treat. Not sure if I'd say I prefer this score to the original but similarly to that one, I can't imagine anything else being used for the respective film.
At times I do kinda wish the new film would've kept this as canon even if it meant heavy retcons of the sister angle still. This film for better or worse has always felt like a singular entity with the first and I don't know if it will ever change.
It's too bad this spends so much time drawing you in with impressive aesthetics, an interesting villain, and general moodiness only to end up so basic in the end. In an alternate universe where this wasn't a run through 00s torture porn type messiness it's a really solid outback thriller.
I'm sure there's films like this that are worse by far but most of those also didn't show promise like this did so they don't sting as bad.
This sure was a Takashi Miike film. If you've seen any of his work you probably know what that entails and if not um.. beware?
This started off well enough but then kinda just settled into being a bit boring for me for most of the middle portion? I did watch this pretty late at night so maybe it was on me but I expected a bit more overall. There's a lot of wild stuff going on here but it felt like a lot of the impact was muted since I wasn't as engrossed in the film overall. Things started to pick up again near the end but it was too late and it was over soon after.
Will definitely have to revisit this to give it another go. Maybe it will grow on me.
I don't know, I didn't expect much from this particularly. I just wanted to see the critters be cute and ream things which they did in massive amounts. Could it have been better? Sure, but that's okay.
Very curious to see how the following entries go whenever I get to them.
It was kinda okay I guess. It wouldn't have fixed everything but I can't help but feel like this would be easier to swallow if the effects weren't like they were.
- Godzilla (1954)
- Godzilla Raids Again (1955)
- King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
- Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964)
- Ghidorah The Three Headed Monster (1964)
- Invasion of Astro-Monster (1965)
- Ebirah, Horror of the Deep (1966)
- Son of Godzilla (1967)
- Destroy All Monsters (1968)
- All Monsters Attack (1969)
- Godzilla vs. Hedorah (1971)
- Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972)
- Godzilla vs. Megalon (1973)
Seatopia is angry at Japan's(!) nuclear weapons tests and launches a war against the surface world using Megalon and Gigan... TOHO was feeling the pressure from TV's Ultraman and introduce Jet Jaguar - a robot that spontaneously develops self-will and shameless Ultraman ripoff - as Godzilla's tag team partner. One thing about watching these movies in a marathon is you realize just how much stock or repeat footage was used in these late Showa Godzilla films, and this one is no exception. On the plus side, there is a lot of screen time devoted to Kaiju wrestling, and audiences seeing one of these movies a year in the summer cinema wouldn't be likely to remember specific scenes...
6. Pet Sematary (1989)
A new adaption is coming out next April, so why not on looking into this adaptation. Haven't read the book (or well, any Stephen King book for that matter lol. I should someday), but overall this was an decent film with a interesting premise about grief and death, and it really kicks things up in high gear near the end when Gage comes back. I think I was pretty meh at Pascow through (and why he seems to appear to Louis), and also Ellie being a psychic I guess, which apparently King likes using.
Be interesting to see how this upcoming adaptation turns out, in particular Gage and Zelda, but the kids with the masks seem to be a new thing (or were they in the book?).
A new adaption is coming out next April, so why not on looking into this adaptation. Haven't read the book (or well, any Stephen King book for that matter lol. I should someday), but overall this was an decent film with a interesting premise about grief and death, and it really kicks things up in high gear near the end when Gage comes back. I think I was pretty meh at Pascow through (and why he seems to appear to Louis), and also Ellie being a psychic I guess, which apparently King likes using.
Be interesting to see how this upcoming adaptation turns out, in particular Gage and Zelda, but the kids with the masks seem to be a new thing (or were they in the book?).
1. Wrong Turn (N)
2. Valentine (N)
3. Urban Legend (N)
4. Ghost Team One (N)
5. Constantine (R)
6. Monster House (R)
7. Warm Bodies (R)
8. Scream 2 (R)
9. Most Likely to Die (N)
10. Tragedy Girls (N)
11. The Windmill (N)
12. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (N)
13. The House on Sorority Row (N)
14. The Invisible Maniac (N)
15. Clown (N)
16. Halloween (R)
17. Ruin Me (N)
18. Hide and Go Shriek (n)
19. Hatchet (N)
20. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (NR)
21. Drag Me to Hell (N)
22. The Funhouse Massacre (N)
23. Revenge (N)
24. The Witch (N)
25. Caesar and Otto's Summer Camp Massacre (N)
26. Sleepaway Camp 2 (N)
27. Last Girl Standing (N) - One of the things with a themed month is you find a lot of movies that a similar so its grand to find a movie that approaches things from a different angle. What happens to a Final Girl after the credits roll. How do they go back to a normal life... if such a thing is possible. That is what we get here and it's a very fascinating look into the horror that becomes a mind after such a traumatic event.
2. Valentine (N)
3. Urban Legend (N)
4. Ghost Team One (N)
5. Constantine (R)
6. Monster House (R)
7. Warm Bodies (R)
8. Scream 2 (R)
9. Most Likely to Die (N)
10. Tragedy Girls (N)
11. The Windmill (N)
12. All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (N)
13. The House on Sorority Row (N)
14. The Invisible Maniac (N)
15. Clown (N)
16. Halloween (R)
17. Ruin Me (N)
18. Hide and Go Shriek (n)
19. Hatchet (N)
20. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (NR)
21. Drag Me to Hell (N)
22. The Funhouse Massacre (N)
23. Revenge (N)
24. The Witch (N)
25. Caesar and Otto's Summer Camp Massacre (N)
26. Sleepaway Camp 2 (N)
27. Last Girl Standing (N) - One of the things with a themed month is you find a lot of movies that a similar so its grand to find a movie that approaches things from a different angle. What happens to a Final Girl after the credits roll. How do they go back to a normal life... if such a thing is possible. That is what we get here and it's a very fascinating look into the horror that becomes a mind after such a traumatic event.
The book destroys the movie. They leave so much out of the movie that explains why things are happening.
13. Apostle: Gareth Evans and Dan Stevens, where can you go wrong? It kind of reminds me of The Witch where I went in expecting any of the supernatural stuff to be quite ambiguous but they show what you're dealing with pretty early on. A solid movie with an incredible atmosphere. Some of the subplots weren't that interesting and I felt the ending could have been more exciting but overall, it's a good story.
#13. Ghoulies
Oh man this was a weird one. I actually kinda enjoyed the practical effects just for their cheesiness. Jonathan totally looks like discount Tom Cruise at the end with that hair style and yelling the way he does.
I still don't understand whose side the creatures and minions were on. Also cool force grab by dad at the end.
But yeah other than a "so bad it's good" quality this was a hot mess and quite silly.
3/10
Oh man this was a weird one. I actually kinda enjoyed the practical effects just for their cheesiness. Jonathan totally looks like discount Tom Cruise at the end with that hair style and yelling the way he does.
I still don't understand whose side the creatures and minions were on. Also cool force grab by dad at the end.
But yeah other than a "so bad it's good" quality this was a hot mess and quite silly.
3/10
13. Quarantine
This one was kinda short notice. I got back late from something else so I just turned on TV so see what horror films were on to fill my quota. I've never seen REC so I can't really speak for comparison. As far as found footage movies go this is one of the better ones, but that's not saying much. I also hate that they used the ending as the poster.
This one was kinda short notice. I got back late from something else so I just turned on TV so see what horror films were on to fill my quota. I've never seen REC so I can't really speak for comparison. As far as found footage movies go this is one of the better ones, but that's not saying much. I also hate that they used the ending as the poster.
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Checked in between episodes of Haunting on Hill House to watch Apostle. I knew, due to word of mouth, to keep my expectations in check. Gareth Evans is a guy most go to for excess, not restraint. While this movie is far from restrained, its excesses are not the sort you'd expect out of the guy behind the best thing to ever come out of the V/H/S series. It's a competently put together film about Dan Stevens going off to rescue his sister from a cult, featuring actors giving their all within the limitations provided to them by a script that gets the job done. Nothing too fancy, nothing too showy, everything moves at a good clip, and the camera work is on point. Sure there's still plenty of gore, and occasional fun outbursts of violence, but this is a tamed Gareth Evans. Still, a tamed Gareth Evans is a hell of alot more interesting than most other genre directors at their most outlandish so it's an easy recommend. 4/5
DAY 21, or the Hong Kong Madness Triple Feature
Human Lanterns: What happens when you mix wuxia with horror? It might look a little something like this film, filled with all manner of wire work and melee weapons while having a most gruesome situation playing off in the margins. The title of the film pretty much says all that needs to be said about what we're dealing with, but there's a sense that this was ultimately catering more to the wuxia style of filmmaking, so we get a film that has a rather nice quality of production design that you wouldn't normally get from a more straightforward horror film, as we get some well-furnished sets, plenty of bright colors and costuming galore. That last point is important, as our villain Chun Fang goes around with his kidnappings in a rather striking beast man costume that's designed for both form and function, with Lieh Lo putting up quite the fight when dressed from head to toe and still looking quite threatening. The funny thing about his character is that for all the plotting, kidnapping and skinning he does, he's not particularly that much more awful than the "heroes" of the piece, as both masters Lung and Tan are locked in what amounts to a dick-waving contest, showing little regard for decorum as they try to one-up another and even try to use the kidnappings as a way to instigate the other as the culprit. This does mean that the emotional investment one might have in the film is a bit on the non-existent side, but I found myself digging the display of amorality throughout as it certainly kept things interesting the whole way through. Really though, the fights are the big highlight, with a good deal more violence than usual to punctuate the nice stuntwork and choreography, and there are plenty of fights to go around. A strange thing to praise in a horror film, to be sure, but this genre-bender is a solid time thanks to being steeped in the tradition of wuxia to give this wilder appeal in the long run. As long as you come into the film with the expectation of hating all of the characters, you'll find yourself pretty impressed with what this film has to offer.
A bonus film approaches!
Possibly in Michigan: As someone that lived near Cleveland for over ten years, I can assure you that this was pretty much a documentary. Well, not quite, but there's no mistaking the state of origin with this slice of Middle America madness, a SOV mini-opera of malls, poodles, cannibals and the women that sing about them. It's tempting to call this a prototype of Adult Swim humor, but I'm not sure that's really correct when this bears such a distinct look and feel with its collage-like approach and the homemade musical touches that makes this truly stand apart as something unique. Crappy production values aside, there's such a strong vision being played around with that it's one of the few times where making the statement that some deserves points for originality does apply. It says a hell of a lot about the impression that this made on me that with a couple more Hong Kong films to watch, that there will be no doubt that this is the single strangest thing I'll see all day, and that's a good thing.
Seeding of a Ghost: It's not hard to see why this film was film was retroactively re-rated to the notorious CAT III rating, when this turned out to have all the elements in place years before the rating happened. With plenty of softcore sex, gratuitous nudity, graphic violence and gore, and yes, just a little bit of rape (though it should be noted that the scene here is shockingly tasteful for sensitive folks out there as the act is merely implied rather than shown), this breed of gonzo cinema was already stewing before it became a genre unto itself. So what separates this from its more famous relatives? The big thing here is that this here is a Shaw Bros. production, so it honestly looks really good from a production standpoint and has a healthy budget for the genre that allowed for them to pull off some really cool practical effects, in addition to a couple of well-staged fight scenes for those fans of the studio that wanted just a little bit of what they were best known for. The story is also surprisingly involved in the early goings, involving a cabbie whose chance encounter with a black magic sorcerer begins to bring enough misfortune in his personal life to create a love affair that has tragic results, so there is a bit of dramatic heft here for a while. Once the method of revenge turns right back to black magic, though, it's time for the fireworks to start and we're treated to a solid 45 minutes of increasing insanity as the revenge plot gets more and more ridiculous with the powers that are involved, culminating in blood-soaked, gore-filled finale that owes a lot to The Thing, of all movies. But before then, you're treated to such a cornucopia of crazy that I could spend an entire review listing as many as possible and still run out of space. The professional sheen to the production really helps to set it apart from the far more cheaply-made ilk and loses very little of the appeal in the process. The closest thing I'd compare this to is The Eternal Evil of Asia, my personal gold standard for CAT III films, and while I think that film boasts such a great energy that this film can't hope to match, this gets a lot closer than I expected to going blow-for-blow on the madness and the sheer bloodbath it turns into in the finale is a hell of a great way to finish. This is the kind of trashy fun that there needs to be more of: a deviant delight that's just offensive enough.
Mr. Vampire: Jiangshi, jiangshi everywhere! I've always found this particular breed of vampire quite interesting, given its movement limitations compared to its western equivalents, but they sure did look cool. It shouldn't be a big surprise that they're put to more comedic use as we see here, though this film is smart to remember what they can do and doesn't shy away from the harm that can and will ensue if they're left unchecked. There's nothing too fancy about the setup here: a competent priest is joined by his two less competent cohorts as they find themselves with a jiangshi problem on their hands, complete with lots of comic relief and, on occasion, some fun fight sequences that aren't of the usual martial arts variety. Considering the mix of action and comedy, it shouldn't be a shock to see that the legendary Sammo Hung had a big part to play in the production (and, as I understand it, already had a jiangshi film under his belt a few years previously), so the film already has a familiar, cozy feel to it if you've seen some of his other productions. The fights are very good and incorporate the humor quite well and are easily the highlight of the film. This isn't to say that the other spots of humor aren't funny, but they do run a large gamut of cute trifles all the way down to shaggy dog jokes that take forever to get through. There's something for everyone in a manner of speaking, but the duds do stand out and take away from the energy that the film has in its stronger moments. Not content to being entirely about jiangshi, the film has a pretty lengthy subplot involving a very horny ghost that goes after one of the assistants, which I'm of two minds about: I'm not sure why they felt the need to include her at all, but at the same time, it does result in a couple of rather fun fights that I would have hated to not see. I think it's a little too inconsistent with the jokes to be a total success, but I did have quite a few laughs all the same and with such fun fights, it's easily a success.
The answer is 42; 42 films...
Human Lanterns: What happens when you mix wuxia with horror? It might look a little something like this film, filled with all manner of wire work and melee weapons while having a most gruesome situation playing off in the margins. The title of the film pretty much says all that needs to be said about what we're dealing with, but there's a sense that this was ultimately catering more to the wuxia style of filmmaking, so we get a film that has a rather nice quality of production design that you wouldn't normally get from a more straightforward horror film, as we get some well-furnished sets, plenty of bright colors and costuming galore. That last point is important, as our villain Chun Fang goes around with his kidnappings in a rather striking beast man costume that's designed for both form and function, with Lieh Lo putting up quite the fight when dressed from head to toe and still looking quite threatening. The funny thing about his character is that for all the plotting, kidnapping and skinning he does, he's not particularly that much more awful than the "heroes" of the piece, as both masters Lung and Tan are locked in what amounts to a dick-waving contest, showing little regard for decorum as they try to one-up another and even try to use the kidnappings as a way to instigate the other as the culprit. This does mean that the emotional investment one might have in the film is a bit on the non-existent side, but I found myself digging the display of amorality throughout as it certainly kept things interesting the whole way through. Really though, the fights are the big highlight, with a good deal more violence than usual to punctuate the nice stuntwork and choreography, and there are plenty of fights to go around. A strange thing to praise in a horror film, to be sure, but this genre-bender is a solid time thanks to being steeped in the tradition of wuxia to give this wilder appeal in the long run. As long as you come into the film with the expectation of hating all of the characters, you'll find yourself pretty impressed with what this film has to offer.
A bonus film approaches!
Possibly in Michigan: As someone that lived near Cleveland for over ten years, I can assure you that this was pretty much a documentary. Well, not quite, but there's no mistaking the state of origin with this slice of Middle America madness, a SOV mini-opera of malls, poodles, cannibals and the women that sing about them. It's tempting to call this a prototype of Adult Swim humor, but I'm not sure that's really correct when this bears such a distinct look and feel with its collage-like approach and the homemade musical touches that makes this truly stand apart as something unique. Crappy production values aside, there's such a strong vision being played around with that it's one of the few times where making the statement that some deserves points for originality does apply. It says a hell of a lot about the impression that this made on me that with a couple more Hong Kong films to watch, that there will be no doubt that this is the single strangest thing I'll see all day, and that's a good thing.
Seeding of a Ghost: It's not hard to see why this film was film was retroactively re-rated to the notorious CAT III rating, when this turned out to have all the elements in place years before the rating happened. With plenty of softcore sex, gratuitous nudity, graphic violence and gore, and yes, just a little bit of rape (though it should be noted that the scene here is shockingly tasteful for sensitive folks out there as the act is merely implied rather than shown), this breed of gonzo cinema was already stewing before it became a genre unto itself. So what separates this from its more famous relatives? The big thing here is that this here is a Shaw Bros. production, so it honestly looks really good from a production standpoint and has a healthy budget for the genre that allowed for them to pull off some really cool practical effects, in addition to a couple of well-staged fight scenes for those fans of the studio that wanted just a little bit of what they were best known for. The story is also surprisingly involved in the early goings, involving a cabbie whose chance encounter with a black magic sorcerer begins to bring enough misfortune in his personal life to create a love affair that has tragic results, so there is a bit of dramatic heft here for a while. Once the method of revenge turns right back to black magic, though, it's time for the fireworks to start and we're treated to a solid 45 minutes of increasing insanity as the revenge plot gets more and more ridiculous with the powers that are involved, culminating in blood-soaked, gore-filled finale that owes a lot to The Thing, of all movies. But before then, you're treated to such a cornucopia of crazy that I could spend an entire review listing as many as possible and still run out of space. The professional sheen to the production really helps to set it apart from the far more cheaply-made ilk and loses very little of the appeal in the process. The closest thing I'd compare this to is The Eternal Evil of Asia, my personal gold standard for CAT III films, and while I think that film boasts such a great energy that this film can't hope to match, this gets a lot closer than I expected to going blow-for-blow on the madness and the sheer bloodbath it turns into in the finale is a hell of a great way to finish. This is the kind of trashy fun that there needs to be more of: a deviant delight that's just offensive enough.
Mr. Vampire: Jiangshi, jiangshi everywhere! I've always found this particular breed of vampire quite interesting, given its movement limitations compared to its western equivalents, but they sure did look cool. It shouldn't be a big surprise that they're put to more comedic use as we see here, though this film is smart to remember what they can do and doesn't shy away from the harm that can and will ensue if they're left unchecked. There's nothing too fancy about the setup here: a competent priest is joined by his two less competent cohorts as they find themselves with a jiangshi problem on their hands, complete with lots of comic relief and, on occasion, some fun fight sequences that aren't of the usual martial arts variety. Considering the mix of action and comedy, it shouldn't be a shock to see that the legendary Sammo Hung had a big part to play in the production (and, as I understand it, already had a jiangshi film under his belt a few years previously), so the film already has a familiar, cozy feel to it if you've seen some of his other productions. The fights are very good and incorporate the humor quite well and are easily the highlight of the film. This isn't to say that the other spots of humor aren't funny, but they do run a large gamut of cute trifles all the way down to shaggy dog jokes that take forever to get through. There's something for everyone in a manner of speaking, but the duds do stand out and take away from the energy that the film has in its stronger moments. Not content to being entirely about jiangshi, the film has a pretty lengthy subplot involving a very horny ghost that goes after one of the assistants, which I'm of two minds about: I'm not sure why they felt the need to include her at all, but at the same time, it does result in a couple of rather fun fights that I would have hated to not see. I think it's a little too inconsistent with the jokes to be a total success, but I did have quite a few laughs all the same and with such fun fights, it's easily a success.
The answer is 42; 42 films...
I will say that while the TCM and Friday the 13th redoes by Dunes are incredibly forgettable, at least they are not outright awful like their Nightmare on Elm Street remake. Now that was a remake that was just out and out shit.
I also really disliked that he's all deformed like Jason in the remake, whereas he's clearly "normal" looking underneath his mask in the original, like Michael Myers was in the first Halloween, because his problems are all mental. Let Jason be Jason and let Leatherface be Leatherface.Said it earlier in the thread but the original's mask looks terrifying. It looks sloppily-sown together and doesn't fit quite right and the eyes holes are often shadowed making the mask even creepier. It looks like something made in the basement by a backwoods psycho family. And there's the fact that Leatherface has different masks for different roles/"personalities" in the original.
The remake looks like a fancy movie prop with perfectly-done Frankenstein-style stitches
12. Quarantine
This one was kinda short notice. I got back late from something else so I just turned on TV so see what horror films were on to fill my quota. I've never seen REC so I can't really speak for comparison. As far as found footage movies go this is one of the better ones, but that's not saying much. I also hate that they used the ending as the poster.
REC is a good movie, but wouldn't recommend it now since you've seen Quarantine. which I think was a short for short remake, where there's even the same dialog, if I remember correctly. REC 2 was an interesting sequel about the same event but from different perspectives. but if you like trainwrecks, go watch Quarantine 2.
I believe the overall cause of things was quite different in REC. It's been a long time since I've watched Quarantine, but I feel like REC blows that one out of the water. I also think the REC series wasn't too bad overall. The entries were a bit hit or miss, but there were some interesting things thrown up against the wall.
12. Jacob's Ladder (1990): Before I watched this, I already knew about the twist ending, as well as this movie's influence on the Silent Hill games. Still, this is a great psychological horror, where things seem off from the beginning, and you can't rely on anything you see. The rapidly shaking heads are unnerving, and the famous hospital scene is disturbing. Oh, and there's another twist I didn't know about. I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would.
Full list
Full list
Rec and Quaratine are actually quite different in several respects despite being the same story and REC is the the more effectively-told and creepier version IMO
It's definitely worth watching even if you've seen Quarantine first
28. Stephanie (2017)
This is a cool little flick, though ironically the scariest part was watching an abandoned child living alone doing dangerous things that a parent would normally stop them from doing. The first 30 min are just one child home alone, it's compelling, then the parents show up and we really start to get into monster movie stuff, all in all pretty decent
29. You Might Be the Killer (2018)
This is a very funny take on the slasher genre. Based off a funny Twitter thread it's about a guy figuring out he's the summer camp killer via a phone call with his best friend. The movie is at it's best when it's just the two of them talking with some mixed in flashbacks. Towards the end we move away from that and it becomes a more standard slasher movie 3rd act (albeit not entirely) and the movie suffers. Great gore though. It's a definite recommend.
This is a cool little flick, though ironically the scariest part was watching an abandoned child living alone doing dangerous things that a parent would normally stop them from doing. The first 30 min are just one child home alone, it's compelling, then the parents show up and we really start to get into monster movie stuff, all in all pretty decent
29. You Might Be the Killer (2018)
This is a very funny take on the slasher genre. Based off a funny Twitter thread it's about a guy figuring out he's the summer camp killer via a phone call with his best friend. The movie is at it's best when it's just the two of them talking with some mixed in flashbacks. Towards the end we move away from that and it becomes a more standard slasher movie 3rd act (albeit not entirely) and the movie suffers. Great gore though. It's a definite recommend.
October 13, 2018
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
Synopsis: Jesse and his family move into the infamous house that Nancy lived in on Elm Street. He soon begins his journey into the hell that Nancy found herself in and comes face to face with Freddy Krueger. Except this time, Freddy wants to use him to continue his killing spree outside of the dream world...
Review: The first sequel (of many) to the classic "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise. The film continues in the 80's fashion of horror movie with the cheesy music, terribly bad special effects and campy acting. However, I felt they tried to make Freddy a bit darker and violent in this film. The take on Jesse being Freddy's vessel to hurting people outside of dreams/nightmares was interesting and one that led to make other 'dream/reality' theories that takes place in the later films. Again, Robert Englund is on point as Freddy but he really doesn't shine as Freddy until a few more movies in. Not as good as the first and probably the weakest in the set of sequels, it is still a fun watch and seeing Englund as Freddy is certainly worth the 90 minute ride.
- 7/10
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
Synopsis: Jesse and his family move into the infamous house that Nancy lived in on Elm Street. He soon begins his journey into the hell that Nancy found herself in and comes face to face with Freddy Krueger. Except this time, Freddy wants to use him to continue his killing spree outside of the dream world...
Review: The first sequel (of many) to the classic "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise. The film continues in the 80's fashion of horror movie with the cheesy music, terribly bad special effects and campy acting. However, I felt they tried to make Freddy a bit darker and violent in this film. The take on Jesse being Freddy's vessel to hurting people outside of dreams/nightmares was interesting and one that led to make other 'dream/reality' theories that takes place in the later films. Again, Robert Englund is on point as Freddy but he really doesn't shine as Freddy until a few more movies in. Not as good as the first and probably the weakest in the set of sequels, it is still a fun watch and seeing Englund as Freddy is certainly worth the 90 minute ride.
- 7/10
#13 - Dark Water (2002)
Brought to you by the director of Ringu, Dark Water isn't just a good horror film but a good film in general. I really liked this story of a troubled mother struggling to retain custody of her daughter, the film succeeded at making me feel for them. For the most part Dark Water didn't really scare me much, but maaaan, that bit in the elevator towards the end was super well-done and freaked me out pretty good.
Brought to you by the director of Ringu, Dark Water isn't just a good horror film but a good film in general. I really liked this story of a troubled mother struggling to retain custody of her daughter, the film succeeded at making me feel for them. For the most part Dark Water didn't really scare me much, but maaaan, that bit in the elevator towards the end was super well-done and freaked me out pretty good.
Still on schedule with my movies, but not with posting about them in this thread. Going to do that today.
October 13, 2018
A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
Synopsis: Jesse and his family move into the infamous house that Nancy lived in on Elm Street. He soon begins his journey into the hell that Nancy found herself in and comes face to face with Freddy Krueger. Except this time, Freddy wants to use him to continue his killing spree outside of the dream world...
Review: The first sequel (of many) to the classic "Nightmare on Elm Street" franchise. The film continues in the 80's fashion of horror movie with the cheesy music, terribly bad special effects and campy acting. However, I felt they tried to make Freddy a bit darker and violent in this film. The take on Jesse being Freddy's vessel to hurting people outside of dreams/nightmares was interesting and one that led to make other 'dream/reality' theories that takes place in the later films. Again, Robert Englund is on point as Freddy but he really doesn't shine as Freddy until a few more movies in. Not as good as the first and probably the weakest in the set of sequels, it is still a fun watch and seeing Englund as Freddy is certainly worth the 90 minute ride.
- 7/10
This is by far the weirdest entry in this series, and that's including the damn power glove. It breaks so many rules on what Freddy is able to do.
A special shoutout to how incredibly tiny Danielle Harris looks in these films, especially next to the likes of Kane Hodder or Tony Todd. Sometimes it's like she's still just Jamie Lloyd.Films 14, 15 and 16 - Hatchets 1, 2 and 3
I'm grouping these all together because I watched them one after the other tonight, and they are essentially just one long film anyway, with parts 2 and 3 starting at the exact same point the previous episode left off. I had only intended to watch the first one, lent to me on DVD, but then I saw that parts 2 and 3 were on Prime Video so here we are.
So what have I learned having watched Victor Crowley wander round his Louisiana swamp killing people for four hours? Not much is the honest answer, other than the spectacle of folk having their arms torn off does get a tiny bit boring after a while, no matter how much blood gets pumped from the stump. Creator Adam Green knows this, to be fair, and does his best to be inventive with the gore, sometimes at the expense of realism. I think in real life it would be quite tough to decapitate someone with their own intestines, but I suppose I might be wrong. And who cares about realism anyway.
I feel like I sound a bit negative about these movies, but actually I really enjoyed them. Danielle Harris is excellent in parts 2 and 3, and there's a great Sid Haig cameo at one point. While the story is only really there as an excuse for all the blood and guts, it's an interesting tale nonetheless, and almost all the characters are entertaining. All three movies are dumb, gory fun, and it's good to sometimes watch things you don't need your brain switched on for.
There is a Hatchet 4, but I'd have to pay extra to see it, and I think I've had my fill for now.
Films I've watched so far
Oct 14
30. The Windmill (2016)
An excellent slasher. Top notch gore and pretty cool concept, a uniquely international collection of victims, several likeable characters. Love it. Highly recommended.
30. The Windmill (2016)
An excellent slasher. Top notch gore and pretty cool concept, a uniquely international collection of victims, several likeable characters. Love it. Highly recommended.
#10 - House of Wax (1953)
Honestly, while being very decent, this was also pretty stale. Most of the parts taking place outside the actual wax museum are slightly boring. I did like the cast, Vincent Price was fine and it was funny seeing a young (and for me unrecognizable, until someone pointed it out) Charles Bronson. There are some creeps and some thrills, but most of it is rather tame. There was a moment where a wax mask gets punched that was really awesome though. 6/10
Did a double feature with the 2005 remake of the same title, and my friend said it best; "2005 movie is bad, but enjoyable. The 1953 one was good, but only half enjoyable." Pretty spot on.
Film 17 - Annabelle: Creation
Entertaining, well made prequel with an excellent cast; the two girls the film was primarily focussed on were particularly good. The movie's only real issue is that it's just not particularly scary, outside of Annabelle being her innately creepy self of course. In fact, a couple of the scenes where the film was trying to be scary just came off as a bit goofy really, like that moment when Darth Maul pops up in Insidious. Still an enjoyable movie though.
Films I've watched so far
Entertaining, well made prequel with an excellent cast; the two girls the film was primarily focussed on were particularly good. The movie's only real issue is that it's just not particularly scary, outside of Annabelle being her innately creepy self of course. In fact, a couple of the scenes where the film was trying to be scary just came off as a bit goofy really, like that moment when Darth Maul pops up in Insidious. Still an enjoyable movie though.
Films I've watched so far
12. Quarantine
This one was kinda short notice. I got back late from something else so I just turned on TV so see what horror films were on to fill my quota. I've never seen REC so I can't really speak for comparison. As far as found footage movies go this is one of the better ones, but that's not saying much. I also hate that they used the ending as the poster.
Quarantine is a faithful, direct translation of [REC]. That said, it leans into some aspects harder than the original, and downplays others. The shots and script might be the same, but the original is much creepier, atmospheric and effective. The original is hands down my favorite found footage movie.
#11 - The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
I am not very well-versed in the Hammer horror-verse, but this was very British and proper, I mean the men wear a lot of scarves, overcoats, and ruffled shirts is all I'm saying. I also noticed a lovely stylistic gothic atmosphere, which supported the strong cast (especially Peter Cushing is great in this!) and slightly drawn out plot. And I wasn't all that impressed with the monster either. 6/10
Microwave Massacre
Something new: Horror Comedy
Well this one happened. Very b movie that borders on soft porn quite a bit of the time. This actually has a better story than any porno though so were not quite there yet. For only about 70 minutes of run time, this thing was actually pretty entertaining. I mean the humor is definitely not anything tasteful, but I think that is what makes it work so well. I enjoyed it, but would probably never revisit this again.
So the story is that old married dude has a battleaxe for a wife that makes the worst food imaginable. One drunken night, he comes home and they get into it at which point he straight up murders her. For some reason he gets hungry and tosses her into the industrial size microwave. From there he's killing all kinds of chicks and spewing bad one liners the whole time. Toss in some 70's porn music for the soundtrack.
Microwave Massacre gets two boobs stuck in the temporary construction wall because seeing those boobs was worth two stars.
Something new: Horror Comedy
Well this one happened. Very b movie that borders on soft porn quite a bit of the time. This actually has a better story than any porno though so were not quite there yet. For only about 70 minutes of run time, this thing was actually pretty entertaining. I mean the humor is definitely not anything tasteful, but I think that is what makes it work so well. I enjoyed it, but would probably never revisit this again.
So the story is that old married dude has a battleaxe for a wife that makes the worst food imaginable. One drunken night, he comes home and they get into it at which point he straight up murders her. For some reason he gets hungry and tosses her into the industrial size microwave. From there he's killing all kinds of chicks and spewing bad one liners the whole time. Toss in some 70's porn music for the soundtrack.
Microwave Massacre gets two boobs stuck in the temporary construction wall because seeing those boobs was worth two stars.
1. The Mummy (1932) (rewatch)
2. Extraordinary Tales (2013)
3. Justice League Dark (2017)
4. The Wicker Man (1973) (rewatch)
5. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
6. Godzilla: King of the Monsters! (1956)
7. It (2017)
8. mother! (2017)
9. The Void (2016)
10. The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
11. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
12. The Mummy (1999)
13. Constantine (2005)
14. The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
This is my first time watching Hammer Horror, and honestly, I'm not terribly impressed. Cushing has good screen presence, but everyone else, even the late great Christopher Lee, is really lacking. Cushing and Lee's friendship reportedly began when Cushing made fun of this film's script, and yeah, this movie isn't really that good.
2. Extraordinary Tales (2013)
3. Justice League Dark (2017)
4. The Wicker Man (1973) (rewatch)
5. The Phantom of the Opera (1925)
6. Godzilla: King of the Monsters! (1956)
7. It (2017)
8. mother! (2017)
9. The Void (2016)
10. The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
11. The Blair Witch Project (1999)
12. The Mummy (1999)
13. Constantine (2005)
14. The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
This is my first time watching Hammer Horror, and honestly, I'm not terribly impressed. Cushing has good screen presence, but everyone else, even the late great Christopher Lee, is really lacking. Cushing and Lee's friendship reportedly began when Cushing made fun of this film's script, and yeah, this movie isn't really that good.
4. Drag Me to Hell
I originally seen Drag Me to Hell in the theater with a bunch of friends and we had a blast. Every time I rewatch it, some of those feelings come rushing back.
I absolutely adore this film. While it's not quite up to Evil Dead trilogy standards, it both shares enough similarities and does enough to stand on its own to make it feel special. There's nothing quite like the way Raimi directs a horror scene and that zoom/rush in/rotate the camera technique makes me giddy every time.
There's a lot of gross out stuff here, but it's primed well early on and always presented with enough comedy to keep me engaged rather than looking away or getting bored with it. The CG is noticeably dated and can be a bit jarring at times, but the practical effects are fantastic and often exaggerated to a satisfyingly comedic degree. Pacing is superb and there's never a dull moment. And then there's those Deadite-esque performances at the seance... they're just the best.
8.5/10 movie, 10/10 for dem good 'ol memories
1. Bone Tomahawk - 5/10
2. Director's Cut - 6.5/10
3. Vampire's Kiss - 6/10
How I rate movies (or anything else): There's only a single criteria -- how entertained am I? I don't rate movies comparatively to others in their own genre or against other movies in general. I don't care about arbitrary measures of "quality." If a film has my undivided attention and I'm entertained, up the score goes. If I feel as though I could be doing anything more fulfilling with my time, then points get docked. If the movie gets turned off before the credits roll, it's a 0/10.
BONUS!!!
***The Venture Bros. - A Very Venture Halloween
Only the Venture Bros. could weave some extremely critical lore and a major plot point that gets referenced six years later into a holiday special. Of course, there's also a ton of fun and pop culture references to be had throughout.
For those not already invested in the Ventureverse, it's worth watching for the brilliant Hellraiser send-up alone.
9/10
I originally seen Drag Me to Hell in the theater with a bunch of friends and we had a blast. Every time I rewatch it, some of those feelings come rushing back.
I absolutely adore this film. While it's not quite up to Evil Dead trilogy standards, it both shares enough similarities and does enough to stand on its own to make it feel special. There's nothing quite like the way Raimi directs a horror scene and that zoom/rush in/rotate the camera technique makes me giddy every time.
There's a lot of gross out stuff here, but it's primed well early on and always presented with enough comedy to keep me engaged rather than looking away or getting bored with it. The CG is noticeably dated and can be a bit jarring at times, but the practical effects are fantastic and often exaggerated to a satisfyingly comedic degree. Pacing is superb and there's never a dull moment. And then there's those Deadite-esque performances at the seance... they're just the best.
8.5/10 movie, 10/10 for dem good 'ol memories
1. Bone Tomahawk - 5/10
2. Director's Cut - 6.5/10
3. Vampire's Kiss - 6/10
How I rate movies (or anything else): There's only a single criteria -- how entertained am I? I don't rate movies comparatively to others in their own genre or against other movies in general. I don't care about arbitrary measures of "quality." If a film has my undivided attention and I'm entertained, up the score goes. If I feel as though I could be doing anything more fulfilling with my time, then points get docked. If the movie gets turned off before the credits roll, it's a 0/10.
BONUS!!!
***The Venture Bros. - A Very Venture Halloween
Only the Venture Bros. could weave some extremely critical lore and a major plot point that gets referenced six years later into a holiday special. Of course, there's also a ton of fun and pop culture references to be had throughout.
For those not already invested in the Ventureverse, it's worth watching for the brilliant Hellraiser send-up alone.
9/10
12) XX (2017)
★1/2
Modern horror anthologies are usually male-dominated affairs with occasional misogynist undertones – "VHS" being the worst offender with its uncomfortable frat-boy sexism. It is disappointing, then, that "XX", featuring four stories written and directed by female artists, feels so derivative and fails to leave a lasting impression.
With one exception, the tales presented here touch on maternal themes, giving us an insight into the trials and tribulations of motherhood. What these shorts also have in common, unfortunately, is that they thoroughly squander their potential, ending rather abruptly before they are fully explored. None of the barebones ideas are ever fleshed out to a satisfying degree. Devoid of any focus or drive, the aimless direction almost gives the impression of nobody being especially invested in the project. And neither was I.
1) Terrifier (2018) ★1/2
2) Child's Play 2 (1990) ★★1/2
3) Motel Hell (1980) ★★★
4) Wolfen (1981) ★★1/2
5) The Devil's Candy (2015) ★
6) I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House (2016) ★★★1/2
7) Lake Mungo (2008) ★★★1/2
8) Child's Play 3 (1991) ★1/2
9) Dead Night (2018) ★★
10) The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) ★
11) Bride of Chucky (1998) ★★★
★1/2
Modern horror anthologies are usually male-dominated affairs with occasional misogynist undertones – "VHS" being the worst offender with its uncomfortable frat-boy sexism. It is disappointing, then, that "XX", featuring four stories written and directed by female artists, feels so derivative and fails to leave a lasting impression.
With one exception, the tales presented here touch on maternal themes, giving us an insight into the trials and tribulations of motherhood. What these shorts also have in common, unfortunately, is that they thoroughly squander their potential, ending rather abruptly before they are fully explored. None of the barebones ideas are ever fleshed out to a satisfying degree. Devoid of any focus or drive, the aimless direction almost gives the impression of nobody being especially invested in the project. And neither was I.
1) Terrifier (2018) ★1/2
2) Child's Play 2 (1990) ★★1/2
3) Motel Hell (1980) ★★★
4) Wolfen (1981) ★★1/2
5) The Devil's Candy (2015) ★
6) I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House (2016) ★★★1/2
7) Lake Mungo (2008) ★★★1/2
8) Child's Play 3 (1991) ★1/2
9) Dead Night (2018) ★★
10) The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) ★
11) Bride of Chucky (1998) ★★★
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1) Sleepaway Camp (1983)
2) The Prowler (1981)
3) The Thing (1982)
4) The Babysitter (2017)
5) Apostle (2018) - Been extremely busy this month and not having as much time to sit down and watch movies as I would have liked, but girlfriend and I had a free Saturday and jumped into Apostle last night. I liked it a bit more than she did, but neither of us were particularly blown away. I actually liked the first half more than the second - some great world building as you try and figure out what's going on with the cult, and lots of good mystery. But it never quite capitalized on its potential and it never got as "crazy" as I read about. Still, a solid flick and definitely worth checking out for atmosphere alone, which is by far the movies strongest feature.
2) The Prowler (1981)
3) The Thing (1982)
4) The Babysitter (2017)
5) Apostle (2018) - Been extremely busy this month and not having as much time to sit down and watch movies as I would have liked, but girlfriend and I had a free Saturday and jumped into Apostle last night. I liked it a bit more than she did, but neither of us were particularly blown away. I actually liked the first half more than the second - some great world building as you try and figure out what's going on with the cult, and lots of good mystery. But it never quite capitalized on its potential and it never got as "crazy" as I read about. Still, a solid flick and definitely worth checking out for atmosphere alone, which is by far the movies strongest feature.
#12 - The Virgin Spring (1960)
I never would've guessed that a Bergman movie would make it into one of my horror marathons since most of his movies seem to include themes of religion, faith, and moral struggles. This one does as well, but in a different way. It's a well told, chilling and harrowing tale that is at times hard to watch. Featuring everything from gorgeous stark cinematography, focused direction by the Swedish master and an incredibly powerful performance by Max von Sydow, this might be one of my favorite Bergman movies so far. 8/10
I'm always happy to see someone praise Drag Me to Hell. The only thing it was missing was a Bruce Campbell cameo.