31 Days of Horror (2020) - The October Movie Marathon
- Thread starter ThirstyFly
- Start date
First batch of movies done to close out the weekend.
Day 1: The Thing (1982) (owned) + The Thing (2011) (HBO Max) - both rewatches
The 2011 movie was added to HBO Max streaming this month, and since it's almost never streaming I figured to take advantage and watch it, so might as well do a double feature. The Thing (1982) is my favorite horror movie and an absolute classic. The paranoia, the practical effects, the ending, it's so fucking good. The 2011 prequel I saw in theater and liked but left disappointed, and this rewatch left me feeling about the same. It's doing a lot of the same stuff as the original but with crappy CGI and no real twist on an ending you know going into it. MEW is a solid lead, and while the movie doesn't quite nail the level of paranoia of the original there are some damn good moments. Specifically, saying to do the blood test again and surprising us with a swerve into a nerve-wracking filling-check scene was great. Shout out to a particularly fucked-up death, where a guy gets a tentacle into the kidney area and then the Thing climbs on top of him and starts fusing/merging with him as he is dragged away (noticeable when you see the Thing going forward cause it looks even more twisted with the new body added).
Day 2: Scare Me (Shudder)
An aspiring horror writer goes to a cabin to get the creativity going, and when the power goes out a neighboring writer visits and they start telling each other scary stories to pass the time. It starts off pretty slowly, really not finding its groove until the two leads start telling stories together (they start with their own, and then start making things up together) allowing them to better play off of each other in a way that really helped for me. The frame of the movie is the typical anthology wrapper, but here it is the two leads acting things out rather than cutting to isolated segments, and they are damn good with it. It's fairly minimal with special effects, so when they are storytelling you might see creeping shadows or something based on the moment that provides a visual element, as well as hearing sounds. It works well to bring the stories to life in a clever way. I ended up rather liking it.
Day 3: Spiral + Verotika (both Shudder)
Spiral is effectively Get Out but for a gay couple. They move to a new town and Malik immediately starts experiencing weird shit. It's pretty darn good but I don't want to say too much.
Verotika was made by Glenn Danzig and is basically a terrible horror-themed softcore porn if they kept the nudity but removed anything that might possibly arouse you. Visually it's interesting, but it's just boring.
Day 4: Hocus Pocus (drive-in) + The Mimic (Shudder)
Hocus Pocus I feel like I've seen parts of so I was glad to finally do a full watch of it. It's a lot of fun, and the three witches are a joy, Bette Midler's Winnie in particular has such a presence. I didn't realize it until the credits but the zombie was Doug Jones. The kids were a bit more hit-or-miss but still good, and it moved at a good pace with a lot of laughs. Glad I finally watched it.
The Mimic has a family in South Korea dealing with the disappearance of their young son due to their elderly grandmother, and the parents trying to deal with this grief when a mysterious girl appears and weird things start happening. This movie does a lot with mirrors and voices, which are used super effectively against people who have experienced loss and are desperate to have those people back. It doesn't always hit quite right with some slow moments and odd choices, but overall I felt that the ending was pretty sad with the mom knowing the monster was there using her lost son's voice but that she didn't care at that point.
Day 1: The Thing (1982) (owned) + The Thing (2011) (HBO Max) - both rewatches
The 2011 movie was added to HBO Max streaming this month, and since it's almost never streaming I figured to take advantage and watch it, so might as well do a double feature. The Thing (1982) is my favorite horror movie and an absolute classic. The paranoia, the practical effects, the ending, it's so fucking good. The 2011 prequel I saw in theater and liked but left disappointed, and this rewatch left me feeling about the same. It's doing a lot of the same stuff as the original but with crappy CGI and no real twist on an ending you know going into it. MEW is a solid lead, and while the movie doesn't quite nail the level of paranoia of the original there are some damn good moments. Specifically, saying to do the blood test again and surprising us with a swerve into a nerve-wracking filling-check scene was great. Shout out to a particularly fucked-up death, where a guy gets a tentacle into the kidney area and then the Thing climbs on top of him and starts fusing/merging with him as he is dragged away (noticeable when you see the Thing going forward cause it looks even more twisted with the new body added).
Day 2: Scare Me (Shudder)
An aspiring horror writer goes to a cabin to get the creativity going, and when the power goes out a neighboring writer visits and they start telling each other scary stories to pass the time. It starts off pretty slowly, really not finding its groove until the two leads start telling stories together (they start with their own, and then start making things up together) allowing them to better play off of each other in a way that really helped for me. The frame of the movie is the typical anthology wrapper, but here it is the two leads acting things out rather than cutting to isolated segments, and they are damn good with it. It's fairly minimal with special effects, so when they are storytelling you might see creeping shadows or something based on the moment that provides a visual element, as well as hearing sounds. It works well to bring the stories to life in a clever way. I ended up rather liking it.
Day 3: Spiral + Verotika (both Shudder)
Spiral is effectively Get Out but for a gay couple. They move to a new town and Malik immediately starts experiencing weird shit. It's pretty darn good but I don't want to say too much.
Verotika was made by Glenn Danzig and is basically a terrible horror-themed softcore porn if they kept the nudity but removed anything that might possibly arouse you. Visually it's interesting, but it's just boring.
Day 4: Hocus Pocus (drive-in) + The Mimic (Shudder)
Hocus Pocus I feel like I've seen parts of so I was glad to finally do a full watch of it. It's a lot of fun, and the three witches are a joy, Bette Midler's Winnie in particular has such a presence. I didn't realize it until the credits but the zombie was Doug Jones. The kids were a bit more hit-or-miss but still good, and it moved at a good pace with a lot of laughs. Glad I finally watched it.
The Mimic has a family in South Korea dealing with the disappearance of their young son due to their elderly grandmother, and the parents trying to deal with this grief when a mysterious girl appears and weird things start happening. This movie does a lot with mirrors and voices, which are used super effectively against people who have experienced loss and are desperate to have those people back. It doesn't always hit quite right with some slow moments and odd choices, but overall I felt that the ending was pretty sad with the mom knowing the monster was there using her lost son's voice but that she didn't care at that point.
4. Don't Look under the Bed
Obligatory Disney Channel Original Movie time! I'll be honest, this was one of the films I was most excited to rewatch when I got Disney+. It was the only one of the Halloween Disney Channel Original Movies to legit creep me out, and going back and watching it now, I can see why. While the boogey isn't exactly a major threat until the end, spending most of the film pulling pranks, there's also some freaky imagery. That tied with my kid fear of something being under my bed kinda amplified that. I will say that the two kids are a little more annoying to me now than they were back then, though there are some serious-ass adult issues in this film that lend to that so I'll let it slide
6/10
Obligatory Disney Channel Original Movie time! I'll be honest, this was one of the films I was most excited to rewatch when I got Disney+. It was the only one of the Halloween Disney Channel Original Movies to legit creep me out, and going back and watching it now, I can see why. While the boogey isn't exactly a major threat until the end, spending most of the film pulling pranks, there's also some freaky imagery. That tied with my kid fear of something being under my bed kinda amplified that. I will say that the two kids are a little more annoying to me now than they were back then, though there are some serious-ass adult issues in this film that lend to that so I'll let it slide
6/10
Week 1: The Unholy Trinity
Week 2: Keeping It Classic
I'm quite fond of The Phantom of the Opera remake, so giving this one a try was a no brainer. I've enjoyed a couple silent horror films in the past, Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to name a couple.
I watched this version on Tubi, and it definitely was a tough watch. Idk if there's a digitally remastered version out there but the one i watched was nothing close to that. Much of the text was cut off the screen, so half the time i had to fill in the blanks of the narrative. It was easy enough to put it all together but it didnt make the viewing pleasant.
The music in this movie is fantastic and i found myself unintentionally humming to some of the songs by the end of the movie. It's not as musical as the remake but the ongoing orchestral music makes itself known by being cleverly composed. Every scene has its own individual piece of music and whenever the Phantom is onscreen, his anthem begins to play. It's like the Imperial March of the 1920s.
Unlike Gerard Butler's Phantom, this one is much more imposing and lecherous. They both have the same motives, but this one is treated as much more of a monstrosity. And it's no surprise; they made this Phantom hideous and the reveal is iconic to this day. I've scene it in clips from other movies, but the reveal is still effective when you watch it in totality.
I enjoyed the film for what it represents but the viewing experience wasnt very pleasant. If i can find a remastered version i'd like to give it another try.
Week 2: Keeping It Classic
- The Phantom of the Opera (1925)*
I'm quite fond of The Phantom of the Opera remake, so giving this one a try was a no brainer. I've enjoyed a couple silent horror films in the past, Nosferatu and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari to name a couple.
I watched this version on Tubi, and it definitely was a tough watch. Idk if there's a digitally remastered version out there but the one i watched was nothing close to that. Much of the text was cut off the screen, so half the time i had to fill in the blanks of the narrative. It was easy enough to put it all together but it didnt make the viewing pleasant.
The music in this movie is fantastic and i found myself unintentionally humming to some of the songs by the end of the movie. It's not as musical as the remake but the ongoing orchestral music makes itself known by being cleverly composed. Every scene has its own individual piece of music and whenever the Phantom is onscreen, his anthem begins to play. It's like the Imperial March of the 1920s.
Unlike Gerard Butler's Phantom, this one is much more imposing and lecherous. They both have the same motives, but this one is treated as much more of a monstrosity. And it's no surprise; they made this Phantom hideous and the reveal is iconic to this day. I've scene it in clips from other movies, but the reveal is still effective when you watch it in totality.
I enjoyed the film for what it represents but the viewing experience wasnt very pleasant. If i can find a remastered version i'd like to give it another try.
#4
Pulse (2001, Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
I need help understanding some stuff, like there's gotta be a metaphor with the red tape that I'm not getting. I'm also not really clear on why what happens happens. Lots to think about with this one, which should come as no surprise from this director.
I really liked this, and I like it more as I think about it. It's another Japanese technology horror film, just three years after Ringu, but the message feels completely different. It's about isolation. We can feel isolated despite having our friends and family right there with us. The fear from those feelings or the darkness that leads to anguish and depression are horrifying things, indeed.
Pulse (2001, Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
I need help understanding some stuff, like there's gotta be a metaphor with the red tape that I'm not getting. I'm also not really clear on why what happens happens. Lots to think about with this one, which should come as no surprise from this director.
I really liked this, and I like it more as I think about it. It's another Japanese technology horror film, just three years after Ringu, but the message feels completely different. It's about isolation. We can feel isolated despite having our friends and family right there with us. The fear from those feelings or the darkness that leads to anguish and depression are horrifying things, indeed.
#4. The Babysitter: Killer Queen - The first movie was a nice little surprise when it released three years ago. Decent horror comedies are hard to come by these days so I tend to latch onto any I sort of like. The sequel is OK. The first one had a lot of irreverent humour and wacky characters throughout but this just turns it up to an annoying degree. Every character and all their interactions are a little too cute and it grows tiring after a while. There was some decent laughs and gore and seeing Samara Weaving is always a treat so it's not a total waste. Wonder if they will bother to make more. I had no idea this one was being made until it came out.
Better off just watching the 1929 re-release with its original theatrical score on Youtube in decent quality. The film is in the public domain so it can legally be watched for free online. That's also why the remake with Claude Raines is the version Universal re-releases regularly instead of the iconic Chaney silent version.
6. High Tension (2003) (unrated, full French language cut)
A pretty gory little slasher that lives up to it's name. Then the contrivances start to distract, and just when you think the big climax is happening, the twist kicks in & you realize it does't make sense at all.
Technically well made, just not well written.
=3 out of 5
1
2
3 & 4
5
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#04 - The Addiction (1995)
A terrifically atmospheric philosophical horror shot in stark black and white, with moral dilemmas, the psychology of dealing with addiction, pitch-black blood, Christopher Walken stealing the movie as the coolest vampire, and hip hop. 8/10
Well that's the first partial week of the month down. Here's what I got around to.
I'm trying to think of a time when someone made a direct sequel to a movie that already had a direct sequel and I didn't hate it. I've got nothing.
OP
OP
03) Nightmare Beach (1989) [Harry Kirkpatrick, Umberto Lenzi] (Oct 3)
[In tribute to John Saxon]
A helmeted biker goes on an... electrifying killing spree during spring break.
Half 80s boner comedy, half slasher, Nightmare Beach is definitely an oddity. Apparently, Umberto Lenzi was hired as director, however he refused to have his name on the project due to believing it too similar to one of his earlier gialli. Screenwriter Harry Kirkpatrick took over directorial duties and had Lenzi stay on as an adviser for the entirety of the project. A nice Claudio Simonetti score and a cute reference to Lamberto Bava's Demons ensure an Italian feel.
The young leads range from laughably bad to adequate, but in a fun way. There's just something charming about watching them spit out the film's awkward dialogue that sounds like it was written by a robot. The more seasoned cast including Michael Parks are a big improvement, and always a true professional, John Saxon absolutely kills it in his role, no matter how ridiculous it gets.
They kind of dropped the ball on making it a mystery/giallo though, if that even was their intent. There's some real Mayor in Jaws action going on, causing the police to be more concerned with covering up the murders rather than solving them. To be fair though, I have seen the giallo which caused Lenzi to quit, so being aware of that ruined the mystery for me as I knew what to expect.
Overall, Nightmare Beach a fun, goofy 80s slasher with some creative (and outrageously silly) methods of dispatching the biker's victims. The killer's preferred method of murder is electrocution, which isn't exactly the most practical, so sometimes alternate methods are substituted in. There's one kill involving a furnace that's especially wacky. It's definitely worth checking out if you want a fun time, or just want to see the slowest motorcycle chase ever put to film.
Enjoyably bad, but not exactly a classic. 3 / 5
31 Days of Horror #4: The Vampire Doll (1970)
This mixture of western gothic horror and Japanese horror makes for a combination that's simultaneously cozy and eerie, watching well worn tropes get reconfigured and recontextualized in new surroundings and cultural mores. It's bizarre to see a western style mansion, in sickly faded hues of white and turquoise, in the lush Japanese countryside, for example.There's just enough strangeness, that when coupled with the quiet and unhurried atmosphere, makes for some genuine uneasiness at times. It also helps that The Vampire Doll isn't really a traditional vampire film at all, but more of a haunted house film that's propped up by family tragedy and Japanese history. It all serves to keep you slightly off balance even among all the warmness of those Hammer-esque flourishes. Despite some satisfyingly gruesome money shots towards the end, and the creepy and distinct portrayal of the "vampire", there's a sense that the film ends before it really gets going though. The film movie finds plenty of room to breathe despite being barely over an hour in length, but the ending feels rushed, particularly because we get some exposition dumps that feature one of the more confounding uses of hypnotism as a plot device, making the ending feel more muddled than it aught to. Muddling be damned, though, The Vampire Doll is all about the vibes.
This mixture of western gothic horror and Japanese horror makes for a combination that's simultaneously cozy and eerie, watching well worn tropes get reconfigured and recontextualized in new surroundings and cultural mores. It's bizarre to see a western style mansion, in sickly faded hues of white and turquoise, in the lush Japanese countryside, for example.There's just enough strangeness, that when coupled with the quiet and unhurried atmosphere, makes for some genuine uneasiness at times. It also helps that The Vampire Doll isn't really a traditional vampire film at all, but more of a haunted house film that's propped up by family tragedy and Japanese history. It all serves to keep you slightly off balance even among all the warmness of those Hammer-esque flourishes. Despite some satisfyingly gruesome money shots towards the end, and the creepy and distinct portrayal of the "vampire", there's a sense that the film ends before it really gets going though. The film movie finds plenty of room to breathe despite being barely over an hour in length, but the ending feels rushed, particularly because we get some exposition dumps that feature one of the more confounding uses of hypnotism as a plot device, making the ending feel more muddled than it aught to. Muddling be damned, though, The Vampire Doll is all about the vibes.
6) Hostel 2 (2007)
Better than the first one. Lauren German carried the movie pretty hard. I did like how they went more into the background of the Elite Hunting Club and there was actually somewhat of a story this time. I did prefer the gore in the first one as Eli Roth went full edge lord on this one.
1. Hell House, LLC. (2015)
3 out of 5 stars
Pretty decent found footage flick. A couple of unsettling scenes but nothing too scary to be honest. The cast was really boring and I didn't feel attached to anyone, didn't care as the shit started to hit the fan. One thing I noticed is that the ending and some of the lore was quite rushed. The whole thing ends rather abruptly and looking online, I saw that the director admitted some plot points had to be cut short.
Overall I'm glad I finally saw this as apparently its developed a bit of a following. The sequels look questionable though lol.
3 out of 5 stars
Pretty decent found footage flick. A couple of unsettling scenes but nothing too scary to be honest. The cast was really boring and I didn't feel attached to anyone, didn't care as the shit started to hit the fan. One thing I noticed is that the ending and some of the lore was quite rushed. The whole thing ends rather abruptly and looking online, I saw that the director admitted some plot points had to be cut short.
Overall I'm glad I finally saw this as apparently its developed a bit of a following. The sequels look questionable though lol.
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Day 2: Scare Me (Shudder)
An aspiring horror writer goes to a cabin to get the creativity going, and when the power goes out a neighboring writer visits and they start telling each other scary stories to pass the time. It starts off pretty slowly, really not finding its groove until the two leads start telling stories together (they start with their own, and then start making things up together) allowing them to better play off of each other in a way that really helped for me. The frame of the movie is the typical anthology wrapper, but here it is the two leads acting things out rather than cutting to isolated segments, and they are damn good with it. It's fairly minimal with special effects, so when they are storytelling you might see creeping shadows or something based on the moment that provides a visual element, as well as hearing sounds. It works well to bring the stories to life in a clever way. I ended up rather liking it.
We watched this as well last night. It's a very interesting movie. We quite enjoyed it as well, and agree with pretty much everything you said. In some ways, it feels almost like a stage play. One issue I have with the movie though was
the ending. Didn't care for having the main character die kinda randomly. He was being a drunk creep at the end but my interpretation was that he was just trying to actually scare Fanny but went about it in a terrible way. Having him then get killed felt kinda random and mean.
Overall highly recommended though for something unique.
#2: Shivers (1975)
Cronenberg movie about parasites that turn their victims to sexual perverts. It's pretty much what you would expect, not his best work but enjoyable compact movie.
3 / 5
#3: Zombie for Sale (2019)
First surprise of the month. More of an comedy than horror, but for such an saturated genre as zombie movies are this one is pretty unique and feels like labor of love. If you're looking for some horror comedies with zombies I can recommend this one! (also One Cut of the Dead)
4 / 5
#4 Confession of Murder (2012)
Well this was an interesting one. I was expecting something like Se7en, but the first half of the movie felt like an comedic Mission Impossible and not in a good way. I was kinda giving up with the movie at the half-point, but the second half was so much better with great twists and turns that in the end it won me over.
3.5 / 5
#5 Creepshow 2 (1987)
It was okay. Not much to say about this one expect that the rape scene in the second story felt totally out of place and gross.
2.5 / 5
Cronenberg movie about parasites that turn their victims to sexual perverts. It's pretty much what you would expect, not his best work but enjoyable compact movie.
3 / 5
#3: Zombie for Sale (2019)
First surprise of the month. More of an comedy than horror, but for such an saturated genre as zombie movies are this one is pretty unique and feels like labor of love. If you're looking for some horror comedies with zombies I can recommend this one! (also One Cut of the Dead)
4 / 5
#4 Confession of Murder (2012)
Well this was an interesting one. I was expecting something like Se7en, but the first half of the movie felt like an comedic Mission Impossible and not in a good way. I was kinda giving up with the movie at the half-point, but the second half was so much better with great twists and turns that in the end it won me over.
3.5 / 5
#5 Creepshow 2 (1987)
It was okay. Not much to say about this one expect that the rape scene in the second story felt totally out of place and gross.
2.5 / 5
This is my favorite in the trilogy. The eeriest Gothic vibes given unique cultural tweaks that make them feel fresh and weird31 Days of Horror #4: The Vampire Doll (1970)
This mixture of western gothic horror and Japanese horror makes for a combination that's simultaneously cozy and eerie, watching well worn tropes get reconfigured and recontextualized in new surroundings and cultural mores. It's bizarre to see a western style mansion, in sickly faded hues of white and turquoise, in the lush Japanese countryside, for example.There's just enough strangeness, that when coupled with the quiet and unhurried atmosphere, makes for some genuine uneasiness at times. It also helps that The Vampire Doll isn't really a traditional vampire film at all, but more of a haunted house film that's propped up by family tragedy and Japanese history. It all serves to keep you slightly off balance even among all the warmness of those Hammer-esque flourishes. Despite some satisfyingly gruesome money shots towards the end, and the creepy and distinct portrayal of the "vampire", there's a sense that the film ends before it really gets going though. The film movie finds plenty of room to breathe despite being barely over an hour in length, but the ending feels rushed, particularly because we get some exposition dumps that feature one of the more confounding uses of hypnotism as a plot device, making the ending feel more muddled than it aught to. Muddling be damned, though, The Vampire Doll is all about the vibes.
3. The Innocents (1961)
Really gorgeously shot. Felt plodding and stuffy for a while, but accelerates into a tense climax. The kid who plays Miles is sensationally creepy, definitely the standout performance of the bunch. Anyone else think Deborah Kerr too easily figured out what was going on with the kids? Actually now that I think of it, I'm not too sure of it myself...
7/10
4. The Sixth Sense (1999)
Speaking of great kid performances, Haley Joel Osmont really is fantastic in this; an incredible turn from a 10-year-old. While this movie is largely defined in people's minds by its twist + "I see dead people," it's actually pretty good on its own merits. While not outright horror, it has a really well-cultivated sense of steadily creeping dread. And even knowing the twist ahead of time I think makes for a better experience; you don't feel like the story has been ruined for you knowing what'll come out of it, and if anything makes it more interesting to follow (yes I'll tag this)
7/10
Really gorgeously shot. Felt plodding and stuffy for a while, but accelerates into a tense climax. The kid who plays Miles is sensationally creepy, definitely the standout performance of the bunch. Anyone else think Deborah Kerr too easily figured out what was going on with the kids? Actually now that I think of it, I'm not too sure of it myself...
She diagnoses the kids as being possessed by the ghosts of the previous governess + driver, but it seemed more like they were influencing them from beyond the grave than outright possessing them? Like Miles was still technically himself, he was just becoming more of a little shit because of Quint's influence. Right?
4. The Sixth Sense (1999)
Speaking of great kid performances, Haley Joel Osmont really is fantastic in this; an incredible turn from a 10-year-old. While this movie is largely defined in people's minds by its twist + "I see dead people," it's actually pretty good on its own merits. While not outright horror, it has a really well-cultivated sense of steadily creeping dread. And even knowing the twist ahead of time I think makes for a better experience; you don't feel like the story has been ruined for you knowing what'll come out of it, and if anything makes it more interesting to follow (yes I'll tag this)
Bruce Willis' journey through the story, making him feel more like his own character than just a sounding board for Osmont's.
A stage play is a great way to describe it. I agree that he started out just trying to do another scare, but in his drunkenness he became too despondent and the man he was trying to move beyond resurfaced and he took it too far, calling back to him saying a restraining order was put against him by his ex (Fanny should have politely noped out then and there). I'm not sure if I would prefer him to live or die, I'd be curious to see how they would change the ending moments.
Maybe...or
she imagined the supernatural influence because she is so sexually repressed she goes nuts and creates a ghostly explanation for why she's attracted to an overly precocious child
I loved the blend, but I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the other two go harder on the straight up Dracula influence as well.
Very interesting. That makes a lot of sense then, I'll likely give it a watch after the silent version has had a chance to work through my head a bit, thanks!
#4 - Fade To Black (1980) (FTV)
Don't you just hate it when the idea for a movie is much better than the one they put on screen?
That was my first thought after watching Fade To Black: A 1980 film that is so all over the place that it's hard to place it within a genre. It has all the pieces of a standard slasher film, but there are performances that make you think this was either intended to be comedic, satire, or drama. Maybe it was meant to be all of those things. Who knows?
Eric Binford was a lonely recluse with a go nowhere job, an abusive aunt, and fodder for bullies. But the one thing Eric did have was his passion regarding movies. Every day, Eric was either taking in several movies at the theater or in his room much to his aunt's dismay. He became obsessed with them, and his knowledge about films was unparalleled. He was a walking, talking, movie encyclopedia. One day, he spots a beautiful woman that looks very much like Marilyn Monroe that he asks out to a movie. The woman accidentally forgets to meet up with him, and this sends Eric spiraling downward towards madness. So what happens when a man who is obsessed with old films decides he's had enough of being pushed around? Eric begins to embody the characters from films of yore to enact his revenge!
The premise of this film attracted me more than anything else. I thought it was a very original concept to have a man use old films as a way of murdering people. It's almost like a slasher film where someone dressed up as Freddy Krueger makes their own knifed glove and quotes all of Freddy's one liners before gutting them. But, out side of the main character, the acting is so hokey and terrible that their performances made me laugh out loud at many points. How are we supposed to take a film seriously when each supporting character goes so over the top in their roles that it ends up feeling more like satire than a serious attempt at making a straight forward horror film? Even Mickey Rourke has a part in this where he plays a stereotypical bully that is way more corny and hamfisted than other characters of this type in previous films. The aunt is your typical crazy, mean spirited old lady who heaps on the cheese with her dialogue. She's like a less serious Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane played up for comedic effect. Also, the shifts in tone this movie takes is absolutely jarring while shoehorning in some horribly inept cops tracking down Eric after he's gone insane.
Overall, the film was entertaining but lacking. I don't say this often, but I felt like this story could only have been done justice by having a bigger budget, or by being more disciplined in their direction. If you want to make a horror-comedy with bits of drama sprinkled in, there have been more than enough examples of this being done by the time this movie was being made that they could have used for inspiration. I give it all the props in the world for being an original premise. However, shoddy direction, horribly laughable performances outside of the main character, and some unintentionally hilarious scenes takes away from its intended impact. Here's a film that could really use a modern day remake (something else I thought I would never say).
5 Bela Lugosi Draculas chasing a prostitute out of 10.
Don't you just hate it when the idea for a movie is much better than the one they put on screen?
That was my first thought after watching Fade To Black: A 1980 film that is so all over the place that it's hard to place it within a genre. It has all the pieces of a standard slasher film, but there are performances that make you think this was either intended to be comedic, satire, or drama. Maybe it was meant to be all of those things. Who knows?
Eric Binford was a lonely recluse with a go nowhere job, an abusive aunt, and fodder for bullies. But the one thing Eric did have was his passion regarding movies. Every day, Eric was either taking in several movies at the theater or in his room much to his aunt's dismay. He became obsessed with them, and his knowledge about films was unparalleled. He was a walking, talking, movie encyclopedia. One day, he spots a beautiful woman that looks very much like Marilyn Monroe that he asks out to a movie. The woman accidentally forgets to meet up with him, and this sends Eric spiraling downward towards madness. So what happens when a man who is obsessed with old films decides he's had enough of being pushed around? Eric begins to embody the characters from films of yore to enact his revenge!
The premise of this film attracted me more than anything else. I thought it was a very original concept to have a man use old films as a way of murdering people. It's almost like a slasher film where someone dressed up as Freddy Krueger makes their own knifed glove and quotes all of Freddy's one liners before gutting them. But, out side of the main character, the acting is so hokey and terrible that their performances made me laugh out loud at many points. How are we supposed to take a film seriously when each supporting character goes so over the top in their roles that it ends up feeling more like satire than a serious attempt at making a straight forward horror film? Even Mickey Rourke has a part in this where he plays a stereotypical bully that is way more corny and hamfisted than other characters of this type in previous films. The aunt is your typical crazy, mean spirited old lady who heaps on the cheese with her dialogue. She's like a less serious Bette Davis in Whatever Happened to Baby Jane played up for comedic effect. Also, the shifts in tone this movie takes is absolutely jarring while shoehorning in some horribly inept cops tracking down Eric after he's gone insane.
Overall, the film was entertaining but lacking. I don't say this often, but I felt like this story could only have been done justice by having a bigger budget, or by being more disciplined in their direction. If you want to make a horror-comedy with bits of drama sprinkled in, there have been more than enough examples of this being done by the time this movie was being made that they could have used for inspiration. I give it all the props in the world for being an original premise. However, shoddy direction, horribly laughable performances outside of the main character, and some unintentionally hilarious scenes takes away from its intended impact. Here's a film that could really use a modern day remake (something else I thought I would never say).
5 Bela Lugosi Draculas chasing a prostitute out of 10.
Evil of Dracula is full-blast vermin-Lee menace, brides, brawls, and blood. Super fun blend of Hammer Gothic and J-Horror occult
The Human Centipede...just meh. It's actually boring and nothing really happens. Sticks 3 people together, arse-to-moufh, they look distressed (as you would unless you got to go at the front) and that's it. The mad surgeon looks moody and mental, the patients are understandably upset and there's a lot of crawling about. I think I'll stop there with the series. Will check out Feed next.
Tosh.0 had a Spoiler Mode of him talking about The Human Centipede for like 25 minutes and it was one of the funniest things I've ever watched. For some reason you can't find the 25 minute version anywhere online anymore which sucks because the entire thing is hilarious.
4. Train to Busan
After hearing the hype for years, and being pestered by countless friends to watch it, I finally got around to this one. Miraculously, it didn't disappoint! After coming away from #Alive a bit skeptical of praise for zombie films trying something "new", Busan really, truly felt like a breath of fresh air in a genre I thought impossible to do so. A quick (and really well done, with impressively economical storytelling) leads directly into a non-stop series of inventive, constantly escalating sequences and set pieces. The train setting was novel, but giving it all the credit would be a disservice to the quality script, character building, and acting on display. I can see myself watching this once every year or two, will be happy to revisit it. And despite hearing that Peninsula is wildly different and not quite as good, I'm still excited to watch this month.
I only have two beefs with Train to Busan
- Effects were overall great, but a couple instances of poor CG, and especially weak green screen stood out
- The final confrontation was weak. They do such a good job of building it up, I was disappointed by how weightless and lame it went down
Still, not enough to detract from an overall excellent film
After hearing the hype for years, and being pestered by countless friends to watch it, I finally got around to this one. Miraculously, it didn't disappoint! After coming away from #Alive a bit skeptical of praise for zombie films trying something "new", Busan really, truly felt like a breath of fresh air in a genre I thought impossible to do so. A quick (and really well done, with impressively economical storytelling) leads directly into a non-stop series of inventive, constantly escalating sequences and set pieces. The train setting was novel, but giving it all the credit would be a disservice to the quality script, character building, and acting on display. I can see myself watching this once every year or two, will be happy to revisit it. And despite hearing that Peninsula is wildly different and not quite as good, I'm still excited to watch this month.
I only have two beefs with Train to Busan
- Effects were overall great, but a couple instances of poor CG, and especially weak green screen stood out
- The final confrontation was weak. They do such a good job of building it up, I was disappointed by how weightless and lame it went down
Still, not enough to detract from an overall excellent film
Also check out I Am A Hero for another top-notch Asian zombie film that has its own fresh flair
#5 - The Old Dark House (1932) (FTV)
I'm keeping this one short and simple. I didn't like it. The film felt too boring, rambling, and lacking focus. I also didn't think it really had many scares or disturbing scenes until the last 10 minutes. I know it's a classic starring the legendary Boris Karloff, but this just didn't work for me. I can't even muster up one of my witty ratings for it. Took everything I had just to stay awake through the film.
4.5/10
I'm keeping this one short and simple. I didn't like it. The film felt too boring, rambling, and lacking focus. I also didn't think it really had many scares or disturbing scenes until the last 10 minutes. I know it's a classic starring the legendary Boris Karloff, but this just didn't work for me. I can't even muster up one of my witty ratings for it. Took everything I had just to stay awake through the film.
4.5/10
I think I might like "Haunted House" horror films, often featuring ghosts, the most. You know, films where some of the best scares comes simply from doors suddenly closing.
Films in this category that I've enjoyed would be stuff like Hereditary, The Changeling, Poltergeist, The Conjuring.
Doesn't seem like a terribly popular sort of horror film nowadays though (aside from the Conjuring making it big). Does anyone have any recommendations for other haunted house ghost movies?
Films in this category that I've enjoyed would be stuff like Hereditary, The Changeling, Poltergeist, The Conjuring.
Doesn't seem like a terribly popular sort of horror film nowadays though (aside from the Conjuring making it big). Does anyone have any recommendations for other haunted house ghost movies?
If you haven't seen The Haunting from 1963, that's definitely one of the genre essentials.
Here are some newer ones that I have enjoyed: A Tale of Two Sisters, The Orphanage, Under the Shadow and The Autopsy of Jane Doe.
Seconding The Haunting. The Innocents is more subdued but is amazing as well, and you should try and track down Ghostwatch for a pretty novel found footage/mockumentary approach to the genre.
I can't second Ghostwatch enough. Even if you aren't British and can't get every single BBC-related thing it pulls off with its format of choice, it's a legitimately terrifying movie all the same with so much TLC given to its plausibility and premise.
I'll take a look, thanks! might sub it out with something on my list this month
edit. this movie seems incredibly hard to watch legally in Canada haha
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OP
OP
#3: Zombie for Sale (2019)
First surprise of the month. More of an comedy than horror, but for such an saturated genre as zombie movies are this one is pretty unique and feels like labor of love. If you're looking for some horror comedies with zombies I can recommend this one! (also One Cut of the Dead)
4 / 5
Zombie for Sale is fantastic. It needs more exposure, so hopefully others decide to check it out this month as well.
Same with I Am a Hero.
girlfriend isn't with me tonight so i can go wild and revisit a classic with #5 Intruder. although tomorrow we are having a little bonus movie and watching Saw (shes never seen it)
ghostwatch used to be on shudder not sure if it still is (US) also uk shudder era people the excellent WNUF halloween special is available now
5. Doctor Sleep (2019)
Years following the events of Stephen King's The Shining, a now-adult Dan Torrance must protect a young girl with similar powers from a cult known as The True Knot, who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.
I loved the first half of Doctor Sleep. It felt like a perfect extension from The Shining, which I consider a classic. Watching Danny struggle now as an adult, and his encounter with a young girl with the same ability was awesome. The True Knot to me were a silly take on "steam" vampires, but some of the ways they kill were very disturbing. I was not a fan of one scene in particular that involves a kidnapped young boy. The movie takes a more predictable turn in the second half, but Doctor Sleep offers just enough to please fans of both King and Kubrick alike.
👻👻👻 out of 5
Intruder is amazing. I'd put it alongside Demons, The Evil Dead, Re-Animator, and Return of the Living Dead as the ultimate examples of lean mean '80s horror purity. No fat, strong sense of place, low-budget creativity, practical gore to die for, just pure horror fun
5) Exorcist: The Beginning (2004)
Forgive my disbelief.
So, remember when I praised Exorcist III for understanding so well the "whisper in your ear, not yell in your face" style of horror? Of course you do, person surely glued to my overlong reviews. Well, the pendulum swings back, and here's the yell in your face style in full force.
Bizarrely, there are two Exorcist prequels with Stellan Skarsgard as Father Merrin. Paul Schrader made one, the studio didn't like it, and made another one with Renny Harlin. This is that one. It sucks, in that 2000s horror remake/revival way. Slick, dimly lit, bland and laden with lame jump scares (complete with CLANG sound effect in the score). Filling in for a total lack of any atmosphere or suspense is an overreliance on gore, in-your-face edginess and a few spots of dogshit CGI sprinkled on top. The pacing feels turgid, thanks to the shoddy editing and threadbare story. Put it this way, when I thought, or perhaps hoped, that it was approaching the climax, I looked at the time to see there was another hour to go.
It's also really quite impressive to see how makeup and effects can somehow look far inferior to a film 31 years older. Let's see if the other Exorcist prequel can do any better as I wrap up this series tomorrow, though it's not a high bar to clear.
Avoid.
Forgive my disbelief.
So, remember when I praised Exorcist III for understanding so well the "whisper in your ear, not yell in your face" style of horror? Of course you do, person surely glued to my overlong reviews. Well, the pendulum swings back, and here's the yell in your face style in full force.
Bizarrely, there are two Exorcist prequels with Stellan Skarsgard as Father Merrin. Paul Schrader made one, the studio didn't like it, and made another one with Renny Harlin. This is that one. It sucks, in that 2000s horror remake/revival way. Slick, dimly lit, bland and laden with lame jump scares (complete with CLANG sound effect in the score). Filling in for a total lack of any atmosphere or suspense is an overreliance on gore, in-your-face edginess and a few spots of dogshit CGI sprinkled on top. The pacing feels turgid, thanks to the shoddy editing and threadbare story. Put it this way, when I thought, or perhaps hoped, that it was approaching the climax, I looked at the time to see there was another hour to go.
It's also really quite impressive to see how makeup and effects can somehow look far inferior to a film 31 years older. Let's see if the other Exorcist prequel can do any better as I wrap up this series tomorrow, though it's not a high bar to clear.
Avoid.
