ThoseDeafMutes
Member
Jesus Australian netflix is awful for films. I keep checking to see whether movies from other people's lists are on it and 99.9% are not.
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31 Days of Horror 7 |OT| The October Movie Marathon
- Thread starter ThirstyFly
- Start date
Same for Finnish Netflix.
Pretty sure I saw The Host on there yesterday, though. After mariachi's positive post above and the fact that it is indeed from the director of Memories of Murder (which is easily one of my favorite Asian movies), I'll definitely check it out tonight.
That is good to hear, I really do think the film is so much better than a lot of slashers out there that get 100x the praise.
And I just learned that the film had extensive reshoots(like half of the film apparently) to make it more 'Prom Night' centric, which would explain some of the tonal wonkiness and odd bits like
Mary Lou's spirit is connected somehow to a trunk in the school's basement, this trunk did hold her crown and sash and whatnot but watching the film there is a distinct disconnect between Mary Lou, vengeful Prom Queen and this trunk that is found amidst the props and sets of the school's theater program.
Prior to watching I was planning on diving into Part 3 right away, intending to just burn through them both and move on but now I'm not sure I'll tackle it all. There is no way it is as good as Hello Mary Lou and I'm not sure I'm in the mood for the new love of my life to immediately get the diminishing returns treatment.
edit: And I just read this: "De Palma Daydreams: On Hello Mary Lou Prom Night II", which I think makes too big of a deal of Carrie's influence on Hello Mary Lou, not that it isn't there but it is definitely far down on the list of influences I would say. Anyways, I brought this up because it makes a stellar observation that really helped to clarify just why this film resonated with me so much:
An amazing insight 'cause it really does feel exactly like a less 'pre- to early teen' approved Fear Street.
edit #2: Man oh man, and Hello Mary Lou came out in 1987, the greatest year in film just got better. Some lucky so-and-so out there got to sit down and watch A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and Hello Mary Lou on the big screen in the same year. That must be what heaven is like.
excelsiorlef
Member
4. Misery 1990
Another brilliant adaptation of a King novel. Bates should just be in all of them. Her ability to switch between sweet and horrific as easy we we flick on a light switch cannot be commended enough. She's so damn likeable and that's what makes her turns to madness to terrifying.
It is clear to me that the best King movies are those in which the monsters are natural rather than supernatural. The sight of Caan's mangled legs and bruised and swollen, beyond recognition, feet are far more horrific than Jason's machete or Myers' butcher knife or Leatherface's chainsaw.
Good shit. Highly recommend.
Another brilliant adaptation of a King novel. Bates should just be in all of them. Her ability to switch between sweet and horrific as easy we we flick on a light switch cannot be commended enough. She's so damn likeable and that's what makes her turns to madness to terrifying.
It is clear to me that the best King movies are those in which the monsters are natural rather than supernatural. The sight of Caan's mangled legs and bruised and swollen, beyond recognition, feet are far more horrific than Jason's machete or Myers' butcher knife or Leatherface's chainsaw.
Good shit. Highly recommend.
Tobe Hooper's filthy, terrifying, unrelenting, and expertly shot piece of horror lunacy, will likely never be surpassed by any of the countless films it's inspired. Considering how unbelievably well this holds up, who really cares.
Perfection.
https://letterboxd.com/kinggroin/film/the-texas-chain-saw-massacre/1/
J-Roderton
Member
Good time to finally break into my Evil Dead collector's edition.
1. Eraserhead
2017 has been the Year of David Lynch for me. I've spent the last nine months going through three seasons of Twin Peaks, Fire Walk with Me, Blue Velvet, a rewatch of Mullholland Drive, and the new doc The Art Life. So kicking off this year's horror marathon with Lynch's first film seemed fitting.
I feel like having gone through so much of Lynch's work this year, I've gotten a good feel for his quirks and mannerisms, but even with all that stuff under my belt, this is a pretty hard movie to parse; even by Lynch standards, it's pretty abstract and incoherent. On the plus side, it's a huge visual and audio accomplishment, particularly for a first-time filmmaker, and it's interesting to see the origin of so many images and noises -- down to the hum of electricity and the photos of atomic bomb explosions -- that would recur throughout his career.
6/10
2. Martin
Pretty disappointing. This has been held up as Romero's best non-zombie movie (and Romero himself called it his favorite of his films), and maybe it is, but if so that reflects pretty poorly on the rest of his non-zombie filmography. Just wasn't feeling any of it. Didn't like the kid, didn't like any of the other actors, it's slow as hell and just fucking boring for so much of the time. There's a sequence here that's reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange but it's not nearly as good as that sounds. If it weren't for the occasional nudity this would've probably been featured on MST3K at some point, it fits in so well with the movies they mock.
But..
All that said... the ending is fucking great. I was shocked. It's so abrupt, but the abruptness is what gives it so much of its power. When I watched it I thought to myself, holy shit did that really just happen?, and had to go back and watch it three more times. :lol It makes me wonder if Romero was just checked out until the last two minutes of the film. I didn't like the movie overall but I would almost recommend it to others purely on the strength of its ending.
4/10
2017 has been the Year of David Lynch for me. I've spent the last nine months going through three seasons of Twin Peaks, Fire Walk with Me, Blue Velvet, a rewatch of Mullholland Drive, and the new doc The Art Life. So kicking off this year's horror marathon with Lynch's first film seemed fitting.
I feel like having gone through so much of Lynch's work this year, I've gotten a good feel for his quirks and mannerisms, but even with all that stuff under my belt, this is a pretty hard movie to parse; even by Lynch standards, it's pretty abstract and incoherent. On the plus side, it's a huge visual and audio accomplishment, particularly for a first-time filmmaker, and it's interesting to see the origin of so many images and noises -- down to the hum of electricity and the photos of atomic bomb explosions -- that would recur throughout his career.
6/10
2. Martin
Pretty disappointing. This has been held up as Romero's best non-zombie movie (and Romero himself called it his favorite of his films), and maybe it is, but if so that reflects pretty poorly on the rest of his non-zombie filmography. Just wasn't feeling any of it. Didn't like the kid, didn't like any of the other actors, it's slow as hell and just fucking boring for so much of the time. There's a sequence here that's reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange but it's not nearly as good as that sounds. If it weren't for the occasional nudity this would've probably been featured on MST3K at some point, it fits in so well with the movies they mock.
But..
All that said... the ending is fucking great. I was shocked. It's so abrupt, but the abruptness is what gives it so much of its power. When I watched it I thought to myself, holy shit did that really just happen?, and had to go back and watch it three more times. :lol It makes me wonder if Romero was just checked out until the last two minutes of the film. I didn't like the movie overall but I would almost recommend it to others purely on the strength of its ending.
4/10
RumbleHumble
Banned
DAY 3: LAKE MUNGO
This one's been talked up for quite some time. I'd see it on lists, I'd see it on forums, I'd see it all over Reddit, I'd even see it here. So after some time, I've finally decided to take the plunge knowing nothing about it other than that everyone told me it was great or "the only thing to ever truly scare me".
First thing out of the way: This movie is not really scary. It's spooky occasionally, creepy, and often effective, but I never felt truly threatened by what I was exposed to once, so, you know, that's a bit of a bummer considering the hype.
Second thing out of the way: For those who didn't know, it's a faux-documentary. There's no written dialogue. Instead actors are prompted by questions from the director/interviewer and he provided them with an outline of the events. It's actually quite remarkable how effective this technique is. Everyone is entirely believable in their responses in a way that I doubt would ever get scripted by line-for-line dialogue. They also avoid the showboating, meandering, and repetition common in improvised films (I'M LOOKING AT YOU Blair Witch Project!)
What this movie does get right about horror is its bravery in lingering on moments. There's another horror movie, They Look Like People, that's largely devoid of any major scare moments. It opens on a man sitting in bed staring at his partner while she sleeps, her face obscured. The shot lingers in silence. It's a very unnerving technique commonly utilized throughout Lake Mungo. You've never going to get jumpscared, but you will be staring into monotonous footage for long stretches with the same repetitive noises in the background. It's an effective technique that gives the viewer the ability to determine whether or not what they're seeing is frightening rather than simply forcing the fear down your throat with a loud noise and sudden screen flash.
The plot structure is excellent. A suburban 16 year old girl's died in Lake Mungo. The documentary chronicles the grieving process of the family. Along the way, the family discovers more about whatever life she may have led without their knowledge while what may or may not be her ghost haunts them along the way. It all feels very real, not only because the documentary style and shots do an excellent job of grounding the movie, but because the performances are generally solid. You don't feel like you're watching actors. You feel like you're watching regular, flawed people react to events around them that they don't understand. There's a couple of hokey moments here and there, but for the most part, the film maintains that key sense of realism.
Even more important, director Joel Anderson remembers that none of this works without a sense of empathy. You spend the vast majority of time focused of grieving, not on the supernatural. You grow a sense of who this girl is, what her life with her family was, how her siblings felt about her, how much her parents miss her. It's a movie less about crazy shit happening and much more about the void left when someone is gone. The theory is "Every person is a world." Lake Mungo is an excellent demonstration.
Also this was shot for less than $100,000.00. And you'd never know.
All in all, I recommend it, but, as with most horror recommendations, know what to expect going in. This is no frightfest. But it is a solid little meditation on the loss of life and the impact on those around it.
This one's been talked up for quite some time. I'd see it on lists, I'd see it on forums, I'd see it all over Reddit, I'd even see it here. So after some time, I've finally decided to take the plunge knowing nothing about it other than that everyone told me it was great or "the only thing to ever truly scare me".
First thing out of the way: This movie is not really scary. It's spooky occasionally, creepy, and often effective, but I never felt truly threatened by what I was exposed to once, so, you know, that's a bit of a bummer considering the hype.
Second thing out of the way: For those who didn't know, it's a faux-documentary. There's no written dialogue. Instead actors are prompted by questions from the director/interviewer and he provided them with an outline of the events. It's actually quite remarkable how effective this technique is. Everyone is entirely believable in their responses in a way that I doubt would ever get scripted by line-for-line dialogue. They also avoid the showboating, meandering, and repetition common in improvised films (I'M LOOKING AT YOU Blair Witch Project!)
What this movie does get right about horror is its bravery in lingering on moments. There's another horror movie, They Look Like People, that's largely devoid of any major scare moments. It opens on a man sitting in bed staring at his partner while she sleeps, her face obscured. The shot lingers in silence. It's a very unnerving technique commonly utilized throughout Lake Mungo. You've never going to get jumpscared, but you will be staring into monotonous footage for long stretches with the same repetitive noises in the background. It's an effective technique that gives the viewer the ability to determine whether or not what they're seeing is frightening rather than simply forcing the fear down your throat with a loud noise and sudden screen flash.
The plot structure is excellent. A suburban 16 year old girl's died in Lake Mungo. The documentary chronicles the grieving process of the family. Along the way, the family discovers more about whatever life she may have led without their knowledge while what may or may not be her ghost haunts them along the way. It all feels very real, not only because the documentary style and shots do an excellent job of grounding the movie, but because the performances are generally solid. You don't feel like you're watching actors. You feel like you're watching regular, flawed people react to events around them that they don't understand. There's a couple of hokey moments here and there, but for the most part, the film maintains that key sense of realism.
Even more important, director Joel Anderson remembers that none of this works without a sense of empathy. You spend the vast majority of time focused of grieving, not on the supernatural. You grow a sense of who this girl is, what her life with her family was, how her siblings felt about her, how much her parents miss her. It's a movie less about crazy shit happening and much more about the void left when someone is gone. The theory is "Every person is a world." Lake Mungo is an excellent demonstration.
Also this was shot for less than $100,000.00. And you'd never know.
All in all, I recommend it, but, as with most horror recommendations, know what to expect going in. This is no frightfest. But it is a solid little meditation on the loss of life and the impact on those around it.
Day 1: Gerald's Game
Loved it, great acting by Gugino but was a bit surprised by the 'Wat a Twist!' ending. Not a bad one though, just a bit of a 90 degree turn.
7/10
Sleepy Hollow: Almost forgot how much I loved SH and what a great job it does at putting you in a Halloween mood. A bit uneven though and definitely a big slowdown in the middle.
7/10
Day 2:
They Live: not sure it counts as 'horror' or even 'scary', but damn if its social commentary isn't as chilling as it ever was, and the Aliens are still F'ing gross looking. The fist fight scene remains legendary, and the score by Carpenter is legit (and unmistakable) though probably not among his best work.
7/10
Loved it, great acting by Gugino but was a bit surprised by the 'Wat a Twist!' ending. Not a bad one though, just a bit of a 90 degree turn.
7/10
Sleepy Hollow: Almost forgot how much I loved SH and what a great job it does at putting you in a Halloween mood. A bit uneven though and definitely a big slowdown in the middle.
7/10
Day 2:
They Live: not sure it counts as 'horror' or even 'scary', but damn if its social commentary isn't as chilling as it ever was, and the Aliens are still F'ing gross looking. The fist fight scene remains legendary, and the score by Carpenter is legit (and unmistakable) though probably not among his best work.
7/10
Violence Jack
Member
#4 - A Blade In The Dark (FTV)
I found this one to be a solid giallo with a few decent death scenes, but I had the killer pegged from the start. That was mostly due to my knowledge of Italian horror actors from the late 70s-early 80s period (one name stood out as the star of the film), and the fact that Shudder gave a clue to their identity in their short synopsis. Also, this has to have been one of the worst dub jobs I've ever seen. It was absolutely terrible (who the hell says "you are a female, you are a female" as a kid teasing another kid?). However, it had a nice Goblin-esque soundtrack.
Rating - 7 bloody box cutters out of 10.
I found this one to be a solid giallo with a few decent death scenes, but I had the killer pegged from the start. That was mostly due to my knowledge of Italian horror actors from the late 70s-early 80s period (one name stood out as the star of the film), and the fact that Shudder gave a clue to their identity in their short synopsis. Also, this has to have been one of the worst dub jobs I've ever seen. It was absolutely terrible (who the hell says "you are a female, you are a female" as a kid teasing another kid?). However, it had a nice Goblin-esque soundtrack.
Rating - 7 bloody box cutters out of 10.
ThirstyFly
Member
I took the day off yesterday because there is enough horror in real life, but I'm back on track today.
Sitting down to some Bava right now.
Sitting down to some Bava right now.
The Culture Vulture
Member
If Wikipedia is to be believed the team behind the IT remake want to remake Pet Semetary next after IT Chapter 2 is completed.
Day Three: The Host
Thoroughly entertaining and easily the best movie so far.
Surprised how well the visuals held up. Of course the monster is very obvious CGI, but for the most part its movements felt realistic and weighty enough to be believable and actually threatening. Otherwise the movie looked great too, as expected, I suppose. Lots of great shots, only brought down by the fact that the version of the movie on Netflix was barely DVD quality. Really bad.
I'm not sure how to put it in words, but I really liked the sort of exaggerated physicality of the acting. Everyone moved and emoted a lot, with a lot of sweeping and over-the-top gestures and motions. What I'm talking about was probably most prominent during moments with a ton of people on screen. Masses of people really move like masses of people, with this interestingly organic and believable look to it, not just like a bunch of extras clearly focusing on only making their own running or falling down or whatever look good. I guess it's more of an Asian film thing, cause I've noticed it a lot of times with Korean and Japanese movies and never really with western movies.
So yeah, definitely recommended. I'm not typically much of a monster movie guy, so if you're like me and thinking of watching one or two monster movies tops during this thing, you definitely wouldn't go wrong with The Host.
Tomorrow... Maybe Gerald's Game. I keep seeing it on Netflix and it doesn't look half bad.
Thoroughly entertaining and easily the best movie so far.
Surprised how well the visuals held up. Of course the monster is very obvious CGI, but for the most part its movements felt realistic and weighty enough to be believable and actually threatening. Otherwise the movie looked great too, as expected, I suppose. Lots of great shots, only brought down by the fact that the version of the movie on Netflix was barely DVD quality. Really bad.
I'm not sure how to put it in words, but I really liked the sort of exaggerated physicality of the acting. Everyone moved and emoted a lot, with a lot of sweeping and over-the-top gestures and motions. What I'm talking about was probably most prominent during moments with a ton of people on screen. Masses of people really move like masses of people, with this interestingly organic and believable look to it, not just like a bunch of extras clearly focusing on only making their own running or falling down or whatever look good. I guess it's more of an Asian film thing, cause I've noticed it a lot of times with Korean and Japanese movies and never really with western movies.
So yeah, definitely recommended. I'm not typically much of a monster movie guy, so if you're like me and thinking of watching one or two monster movies tops during this thing, you definitely wouldn't go wrong with The Host.
Tomorrow... Maybe Gerald's Game. I keep seeing it on Netflix and it doesn't look half bad.
1. Silence of the Lambs - pretty great!
I was worried if it was going to be transphobic, but for whatever it's worth, they actually have a whole scene about Buffalo Bill not being trans and that trans people are not violent. On a slight negative, I wonder if there are any crime thrillers that don't make the investigators seem a bit incompetent.
As a bonus, it featured the Goldberg Variations.
2. American Werewolf in London - I rewatched this with a friend who hadn't seen it, still a classic.
3. Rosemary's Baby - It was pretty good. I definitely was not expecting it to be what it was.
I've also started watching the anthology XX on Netflix, but the first one was pretty lame so I don't know if I'll bother with the rest.
I was worried if it was going to be transphobic, but for whatever it's worth, they actually have a whole scene about Buffalo Bill not being trans and that trans people are not violent. On a slight negative, I wonder if there are any crime thrillers that don't make the investigators seem a bit incompetent.
As a bonus, it featured the Goldberg Variations.
2. American Werewolf in London - I rewatched this with a friend who hadn't seen it, still a classic.
3. Rosemary's Baby - It was pretty good. I definitely was not expecting it to be what it was.
I've also started watching the anthology XX on Netflix, but the first one was pretty lame so I don't know if I'll bother with the rest.
Day Two: Silent Hill. Saw this years ago, but was drunk at the time and only have so-so memories of it. Starts off really strong and somewhat faithful to the games, though some of the character motivations are a bit muddled at times; by the end it had kind of fallen apart, but the nice visuals and some key moments made up for it. Kind of a middling choice, but much better than its sequel.
Not sure if we'll watch something else tonight, as the MLB postseason is starting.
Not sure if we'll watch something else tonight, as the MLB postseason is starting.
JigglesBunny
Banned
DAY 2 BONUS - Cult of Chucky
This dark atmosphere is due in part to the tone as Cult is a decidedly darker installment that doesnt shy away from using the
While the narrative implication here is impactful on its own, its the way that revelations like this service Chucky as a character and make him intimidating again, something the franchise hasnt managed to do successfully since ditching the Childs Play moniker. Another way the film indulges in pushing the boundaries of what came before is the amount of gore present even in the rated cut that I had watched.
Theres a newfound viciousness in the violence, moments like
Some of the gore borders on Saw territory, over the top to the point of being comedic, though once again - its a Chucky movie. Thats practically the mission statement. I also found the
Despite those positives, there were a handful of issues I took with the film, primarily in the way it handles new characters and one particular returning character.
The new setting of a mental rehabilitation institution offers an onslaught of new characters who seemingly alternate between attempted comedic relief and murder fodder, though thats more problematic than positive in the end. The depiction of mental illness is ridiculous and over the top, insultingly so, but then again, the Chucky franchise isnt exactly known for its tact. I had expected nothing less than cheap jokes made at the expense of mentally ill characters and sure enough, there was a plentiful amount. I must admit, some of them land and managed to bring humor to some otherwise intense moments, but the vast majority of these jokes - moreover the characters delivering them - felt exploitative. Another issue with the film is the cast itself - Fiona Dourif hands in a great performance much like with Curse, though what ultimately becomes of her character in the narrative is unsatisfying and bleak.
Jennifer Tilly returns in a semi-prominent role, though her line delivery is pitiful. Had I not known any better, I would guess that she was pulling a Brando and receiving her lines on the fly via an earpiece. Tilly never really was all that great in the previous films especially compared to Brads always incredible performance, though she really stood out as one of the worst aspects of the film along with, unfortunately, Alex Vincent.
The return of Andy was a major piece of the marketing for the film and unfortunately, it falls entirely flat because of Alexs performance. You can tell that he is trying his best to shake the rust off as his filmography indicates that he hasnt done much outside of small independent films since Childs Play 2 in 1990 but he just cannot give his lines for the life of him. It cant be pinned entirely on Alex as it seems that the goal of his character was to deliver bad ass one-liners that may have read well on a page but sound terrible when spoken though his limp performance doesnt elevate the already poor material he was given, it only makes it worse.
To wrap up, Cult is an entertaining sequel, but its flawed depiction of the mentally ill and some really poor performances bog it down. The implications that the events of the film will have on the inevitable sequel will be interesting to see, though as it stands now, Cult manages to be an entertaining entry that keeps the train of competency rolling from Curse.
7/10.
The sixth film in the series, Cult of Chucky easily ranks as the most violent and thematically dark entry to date. Set four years after the events of Curse of Chucky, the majority of the film is set within the mental asylum that Nica was placed in following Curses ending. The setting is one of the biggest positives here, a visually interesting setting that the franchise hasnt explored until now. The hallways are neon white and sterile, offering a palpable sense of claustrophobia and eeriness that persists throughout.
This dark atmosphere is due in part to the tone as Cult is a decidedly darker installment that doesnt shy away from using the
murder of Curses resident child character, Alice, as a punchline later in the film. Of course, Chucky mentions that not only was she murdered, but she was in fact under Chuckys control and being used as a murder pawn in his cult, having only met her demise when someone managed to fight back and kill her.
Theres a newfound viciousness in the violence, moments like
the possessed Nica stomping on the doctors face until he was an indistinct pile of skin and blood and Malcom being stabbed through the eye while pleading for forgiveness and mercy.
twist to be an interesting way to evolve the franchise. The scene where the three present Chucky dolls discuss who gets to kill Andy was hysterical while the attack on the male nurse was repugnant and horrifying. Its that balance of comedy and horror that the franchise is all about and the opportunities for more of these moments in the inevitable sequel are exciting, so long as they dont use this newly established power as an infinite well from which to pull new contrived ways for him to resurrect himself for endless sequels. Restraint will be the key here going forward, though if the sequel manages to follow the understated path of Curse and Cult without veering back into Seed of Chucky territory, this new narrative development could have great application.
The new setting of a mental rehabilitation institution offers an onslaught of new characters who seemingly alternate between attempted comedic relief and murder fodder, though thats more problematic than positive in the end. The depiction of mental illness is ridiculous and over the top, insultingly so, but then again, the Chucky franchise isnt exactly known for its tact. I had expected nothing less than cheap jokes made at the expense of mentally ill characters and sure enough, there was a plentiful amount. I must admit, some of them land and managed to bring humor to some otherwise intense moments, but the vast majority of these jokes - moreover the characters delivering them - felt exploitative. Another issue with the film is the cast itself - Fiona Dourif hands in a great performance much like with Curse, though what ultimately becomes of her character in the narrative is unsatisfying and bleak.
Jennifer Tilly returns in a semi-prominent role, though her line delivery is pitiful. Had I not known any better, I would guess that she was pulling a Brando and receiving her lines on the fly via an earpiece. Tilly never really was all that great in the previous films especially compared to Brads always incredible performance, though she really stood out as one of the worst aspects of the film along with, unfortunately, Alex Vincent.
The return of Andy was a major piece of the marketing for the film and unfortunately, it falls entirely flat because of Alexs performance. You can tell that he is trying his best to shake the rust off as his filmography indicates that he hasnt done much outside of small independent films since Childs Play 2 in 1990 but he just cannot give his lines for the life of him. It cant be pinned entirely on Alex as it seems that the goal of his character was to deliver bad ass one-liners that may have read well on a page but sound terrible when spoken though his limp performance doesnt elevate the already poor material he was given, it only makes it worse.
To wrap up, Cult is an entertaining sequel, but its flawed depiction of the mentally ill and some really poor performances bog it down. The implications that the events of the film will have on the inevitable sequel will be interesting to see, though as it stands now, Cult manages to be an entertaining entry that keeps the train of competency rolling from Curse.
7/10.
RumbleHumble
Banned
This review is ON POINT. Cult is great, but definitely doesn't hit the highs of Child's Play 2 and Curse of Chucky for exactly the reasons mentioned. I do appreciate that they go to some weird places with this one at least.
afternoon delight
Member
I won't be able to commit unfortunately (too busy writing a horror movie, lol) but I always love reading and writing impressions! I think I'll probably get through at least twenty this year, supplementing my usual diet.
1. Fright Night (1985)
So goddamn enjoyable from beginning to end, an absolute pleasure. One of those horror films that really feels "sophomoric" in the sense that it caters to the pulpier aspects we all crave- horny teenagers, blood, comedy, and curiosity. An expert example of a vampire movie that sends up other vampire movies.
2. The Blob (1988)
In the same "camp" as above- just an infinitely enjoyable, pulpy ride with angsty teens, a monster with voracious appetites, and villains that are more enjoyable than ghastly. Totally subversive and conservative at the same time. INCREDIBLE special effects.
Got tickets to see 35mm prints of both Suspiria and Evil Dead 2 this month, I'm so fucking psyched!
1. Fright Night (1985)
So goddamn enjoyable from beginning to end, an absolute pleasure. One of those horror films that really feels "sophomoric" in the sense that it caters to the pulpier aspects we all crave- horny teenagers, blood, comedy, and curiosity. An expert example of a vampire movie that sends up other vampire movies.
2. The Blob (1988)
In the same "camp" as above- just an infinitely enjoyable, pulpy ride with angsty teens, a monster with voracious appetites, and villains that are more enjoyable than ghastly. Totally subversive and conservative at the same time. INCREDIBLE special effects.
Got tickets to see 35mm prints of both Suspiria and Evil Dead 2 this month, I'm so fucking psyched!
So far I have
1. Bram Stoker's Dracula - I don't know where/when I originally saw this.. Sometime around release.. It was either the theater, or laserdisc shortly after release.. Anywho, my opinion on it was enough to really have interest in seeing it again.. though I can't tell you if it's because it was bad or just unmemorable. Anywho, as part of me watching 4K HDR movies, iTunes has this up so I grabbed it and... it's actually really friggin good. Not outright horror until the end, but the layering of Dracula, Van Helsing, Lucy, etc. The story and visuals were incredible.. Really really enjoyed it.
2. Halloween H20 - I saw this in the theater and really liked it. I may have seen it like once or twice since then. So I still like it.. but I've now noticed how much "inspiration" it takes from Scream. There is still enough Halloween to have it stand above all of the other Scream copycats.. but once you notice that.. it does take away a little
3. Halloween 2 - I don't know that I've ever watched this. It is... ok. It's a pretty by the numbers 80s horror movie. It actually sort of ruins so much about what was great about the original.. but it's not a bad movie per se.. watched it with my daughter and even she commented on how it seemed like Michael Meyers was like a peeping Tom pervert in 90% of the scenes.. like a "where's mikey" game of trying to find him on screen.
4. Halloween 3 - I know I've never seen this before.. and what a crying shame. As a huge fan of 80s schlock horror, this is honestly up there with the best of them. Now when I say "schlock horror".. by no means am I talking about masterpieces.. we are talking about pretty poorly made low budget horror movies with serviceable stories, lots of gore, cheap scares, and all in all that period of time in the late 70s to mid-80s where horror was largely treated as b-movie throw away crap that you could maybe make double your $1M investment back from the diehards.. With that being said, this movie hits ALL of those buttons perfectly.. and the soundtrack is in fact amazing (I have to believe Carpenter handled the vast majority of it, even though the credits are highly ambiguous).. easily the second best Halloween movie, despite being lied to all while growing up that it was categorically the worst of the sequels.. LIARS!!
edit - prior to the first I also had annual rewatches of Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow and the original Fright Night. This year I do want to see the remake of Fright Night though, having heard great things about it.
1. Bram Stoker's Dracula - I don't know where/when I originally saw this.. Sometime around release.. It was either the theater, or laserdisc shortly after release.. Anywho, my opinion on it was enough to really have interest in seeing it again.. though I can't tell you if it's because it was bad or just unmemorable. Anywho, as part of me watching 4K HDR movies, iTunes has this up so I grabbed it and... it's actually really friggin good. Not outright horror until the end, but the layering of Dracula, Van Helsing, Lucy, etc. The story and visuals were incredible.. Really really enjoyed it.
2. Halloween H20 - I saw this in the theater and really liked it. I may have seen it like once or twice since then. So I still like it.. but I've now noticed how much "inspiration" it takes from Scream. There is still enough Halloween to have it stand above all of the other Scream copycats.. but once you notice that.. it does take away a little
3. Halloween 2 - I don't know that I've ever watched this. It is... ok. It's a pretty by the numbers 80s horror movie. It actually sort of ruins so much about what was great about the original.. but it's not a bad movie per se.. watched it with my daughter and even she commented on how it seemed like Michael Meyers was like a peeping Tom pervert in 90% of the scenes.. like a "where's mikey" game of trying to find him on screen.
4. Halloween 3 - I know I've never seen this before.. and what a crying shame. As a huge fan of 80s schlock horror, this is honestly up there with the best of them. Now when I say "schlock horror".. by no means am I talking about masterpieces.. we are talking about pretty poorly made low budget horror movies with serviceable stories, lots of gore, cheap scares, and all in all that period of time in the late 70s to mid-80s where horror was largely treated as b-movie throw away crap that you could maybe make double your $1M investment back from the diehards.. With that being said, this movie hits ALL of those buttons perfectly.. and the soundtrack is in fact amazing (I have to believe Carpenter handled the vast majority of it, even though the credits are highly ambiguous).. easily the second best Halloween movie, despite being lied to all while growing up that it was categorically the worst of the sequels.. LIARS!!
edit - prior to the first I also had annual rewatches of Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow and the original Fright Night. This year I do want to see the remake of Fright Night though, having heard great things about it.
afternoon delight
Member
More_Badass
Member
King has the master of horror reputation, but he can write a mean thriller, no supernatural stuff needed. Hes a master at establishing character (which is why his best adaptations are the character-driven thrillers and dramas like Stand By Me and Misery), and at building tension.
I was amazed by how great TCM was. The raw relentless atmosphere and the sheer speed that the plot moves at, and how terrifying OG Leatherfacs is compared to the remake. Its not even that violent but it feels incredibly brutal.
John Rabbit
Banned
"All the filthy things you brought here...you're responsible for it all."
Movie 2 - A Tale of Two Sisters
As a completely arbitrary challenge this year, I'm going to format my reviews in ≤280 and ≤140 character "tweets".
280
Somewhat fumbled storytelling about a family's dark secrets (and darker house) leaves a lot to be desired in terms of providing a cohesive narrative. Slow, mood-building cinematography and a strong (borderline hammy) ensemble cast keep things engaging and creepy if not confusing.
140
A beautifully shot, baleful, creepy and slow-moving portrayal of family dysfunction that sets up too many questions and not enough answers.
Liked:
- The cinematography
- Strong cast, the titular sisters were very likable and evocative
- Great pacing for slow-burn horror
- Some good creeps, few jump scares
Did not like:
- Too many "one-off" scenes that contributed little to nothing to the story
- The lack of exposition over some of the movie's key scenes/plot points
- The dye job on dad's hair
3 omnious wardrobes out of 5
--
I really wanted to like this movie, but it just didn't give me enough to sink into it.
Movie 2 - A Tale of Two Sisters
As a completely arbitrary challenge this year, I'm going to format my reviews in ≤280 and ≤140 character "tweets".
280
Somewhat fumbled storytelling about a family's dark secrets (and darker house) leaves a lot to be desired in terms of providing a cohesive narrative. Slow, mood-building cinematography and a strong (borderline hammy) ensemble cast keep things engaging and creepy if not confusing.
140
A beautifully shot, baleful, creepy and slow-moving portrayal of family dysfunction that sets up too many questions and not enough answers.
Liked:
- The cinematography
- Strong cast, the titular sisters were very likable and evocative
- Great pacing for slow-burn horror
- Some good creeps, few jump scares
Did not like:
- Too many "one-off" scenes that contributed little to nothing to the story
- The lack of exposition over some of the movie's key scenes/plot points
- The dye job on dad's hair
3 omnious wardrobes out of 5
--
I really wanted to like this movie, but it just didn't give me enough to sink into it.
also for anyone looking for a "pick it for me!!!" horror fix, Mubi (a service I actually love) is running Prelude to Halloween. If you're not familiar with the service, quite simply every day one movie gets added, and one movie gets removed. There are only ever 30 movies on the service at any given time, with a new one being added and another being removed every day.
So needless to say.. We now have a bunch of horror movies being added up through Halloween
https://mubi.com/specials/167
Currently
Night of the Living Dead
Trouble Every Day
Coming
Angst
Rabbid
The Driller Killer
Evil Dead II
$6 for October (and a free trial) and it supports all major streaming platforms aside from consoles.
So needless to say.. We now have a bunch of horror movies being added up through Halloween
https://mubi.com/specials/167
Currently
Night of the Living Dead
Trouble Every Day
Coming
Angst
Rabbid
The Driller Killer
Evil Dead II
$6 for October (and a free trial) and it supports all major streaming platforms aside from consoles.
Ivan A Nguyen
Member
2. Gerald's Game
This thread brought this movie to my attention. I didn't read anything about it a head of time so I was a bit put off by the ending. It seemed like it was just trying really hard to not be
. Let's explain this
It only really goes to say they were
the entire time. I'll also admit I skipped a little bit of the eclipse scene. I don't need that in my life.
3. Here Alone
I am a fan of low budget passion projects. I think outbreaks in the woods are always a good backdrop for these stories. The inclusion of an infant really touched home for me and my own 4 month old. Sometimes I think, 'How the hell is a kid suppose to survive?' and another part of me thinks, 'Well, humans survived for a really long time before modern society.' And another part of me thinks, "What am I having for dinner?". Because I spent more time thinking about dinner while watching this movie I can't give it too high of a rating.
4 bed posts out of 5
This thread brought this movie to my attention. I didn't read anything about it a head of time so I was a bit put off by the ending. It seemed like it was just trying really hard to not be
supernatural
weird dude that shows up in such a small part of the movie.
super serious
3. Here Alone
3 totally not zombies out of 5
I am a fan of low budget passion projects. I think outbreaks in the woods are always a good backdrop for these stories. The inclusion of an infant really touched home for me and my own 4 month old. Sometimes I think, 'How the hell is a kid suppose to survive?' and another part of me thinks, 'Well, humans survived for a really long time before modern society.' And another part of me thinks, "What am I having for dinner?". Because I spent more time thinking about dinner while watching this movie I can't give it too high of a rating.
J-Roderton
Member
4. Haunter
Kinda like a spoopie Groundhog Day.
Kinda like a spoopie Groundhog Day.
SillyEskimo
Member
Childs Play 5-7 down and a few more Simpson Treehouse if Terrors.
Im happy to be through the Chucky movies.
Im happy to be through the Chucky movies.
I think you're getting your wires crossed with those John Carter films, because John Carpenter is fucking great. The Fog is alright but you should watch some of his other films like The Thing, They Live, Prince of Darkness, In The Mouth of Madness, Halloween... and so on.
Coincidentally I am starting off my horror binge tonight with The Thing (2011), only because I will be watching JC's the Thing (1982) anyway, so may as well watch that one first.
More_Badass
Member
6) Halloween (1978)
Watching Halloween makes you wish this was the style that slasher films and other horror movies took to heart. I hadnt seen it in quite some time, and I had forgotten how...patient it is. Michael doesnt kill someone till nearly an hour in, and all the famous scenes with Laurie dont happen till the last 15-20 minutes. Instead we get a slow tense thriller, where Michael isnt a classic slasher but a silent intelligent presence. Much of the movie frames him as this eerie indistinct figure in the distance, an unsettling aberration among this suburban neighborhood, just barely visible in the background, watching, stalking, or cloaked in shadows once night falls. He never speaks a word, but the sound of his guttural breathing is ever present, more predator than man.
If anything, Halloween is too much build-up. While the daytime moments of stalking were effective, as are many of those at night, Halloween can be feel quite subdued at times. Youd never guess while watching that this movie would spawn such a big franchise.
The score really stands out; besides the classic theme, much of the soundtrack is simple piano tracks reminiscent of Jaws, that add to the tension much like Dunkirks recent ticking clock.
Watching Halloween makes you wish this was the style that slasher films and other horror movies took to heart. I hadnt seen it in quite some time, and I had forgotten how...patient it is. Michael doesnt kill someone till nearly an hour in, and all the famous scenes with Laurie dont happen till the last 15-20 minutes. Instead we get a slow tense thriller, where Michael isnt a classic slasher but a silent intelligent presence. Much of the movie frames him as this eerie indistinct figure in the distance, an unsettling aberration among this suburban neighborhood, just barely visible in the background, watching, stalking, or cloaked in shadows once night falls. He never speaks a word, but the sound of his guttural breathing is ever present, more predator than man.
If anything, Halloween is too much build-up. While the daytime moments of stalking were effective, as are many of those at night, Halloween can be feel quite subdued at times. Youd never guess while watching that this movie would spawn such a big franchise.
The score really stands out; besides the classic theme, much of the soundtrack is simple piano tracks reminiscent of Jaws, that add to the tension much like Dunkirks recent ticking clock.
I got to see this in theaters last year; quite the experience. The always present feeling of dread and danger, ugh, man it's tense as fuck. You know a horror film is working when even daytime scenes offer no reprieve.
Day 3 of my Universal trawl::
5) The Old Dark House (1932)
Kudos to the most sarcastic opening scene of the 30s. Quite a small scale locked house film, but this makes the most of its limited setting with an energetic, snappy script, with entertainingly lively characters and a fine cast including two future Oscar winners in Melvin Douglas and Charles Laughton. Karloff once against plays a character with no dialogue other than grunts but he does what he can, looking a little bit like Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot. There isn't any great plot to speak of but I very much enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it, a hidden gem among the major Universal monster films.
Also a shoutout to this terrific bump
6) The Mummy (1932)
Hey, Karloff finally has dialogue! And there's a music score for the first time so far.
Despite Karloff's commanding presence and a pleasant Egyptian aesthetic, a lot of this felt recycled from Dracula, featuring a deep voiced supernatural villain with hypnotism powers pursuing a woman to be his immortal bride, and some bland good guys to oppose him. They even have Van Helsing's actor. I wonder if this was a result of the film not having a specific source material it was based on beyond just general Egyptian things.
It sounds like I'm very down on this one, but while it is not on the level of Dracula or Frankenstein, it still has a good atmosphere and a solid villain (with some excellent makeup work).
5) The Old Dark House (1932)
Kudos to the most sarcastic opening scene of the 30s. Quite a small scale locked house film, but this makes the most of its limited setting with an energetic, snappy script, with entertainingly lively characters and a fine cast including two future Oscar winners in Melvin Douglas and Charles Laughton. Karloff once against plays a character with no dialogue other than grunts but he does what he can, looking a little bit like Daniel Day Lewis in My Left Foot. There isn't any great plot to speak of but I very much enjoyed this one and would highly recommend it, a hidden gem among the major Universal monster films.
Also a shoutout to this terrific bump
Have a potato.
6) The Mummy (1932)
Hey, Karloff finally has dialogue! And there's a music score for the first time so far.
Despite Karloff's commanding presence and a pleasant Egyptian aesthetic, a lot of this felt recycled from Dracula, featuring a deep voiced supernatural villain with hypnotism powers pursuing a woman to be his immortal bride, and some bland good guys to oppose him. They even have Van Helsing's actor. I wonder if this was a result of the film not having a specific source material it was based on beyond just general Egyptian things.
It sounds like I'm very down on this one, but while it is not on the level of Dracula or Frankenstein, it still has a good atmosphere and a solid villain (with some excellent makeup work).
I've decided to get a few ideas from Svengoli's broadcast. The last two weekends, Frankenstein and The Wolf Man aired, but I decided to wait until the start of the Horror Marathon to start watching on my own accord.
I'm planning to do all Universal Monster films and then end my viewings with Texas Chainsaw Massacre and both the original Night of the Living Dead and remake (Tony Todd carries that movie just as Duane Jones in the classic). And then fit in Gojira and Shin Godzilla in b/w as done other gaffer suggested.
1. Frankenstein
I see why this is a classic. I don't recall seeing this recently or all the way through. Just love the sound design and effects. The creation scene alone is glorious. And even some funny bits. Tossing the little girl into the lake was comedy.
2. The Wolf Man
Lon Chaney Jr. performance as Lawrence Talbot is good. You can see the tortured person behind the monster.
I'm planning to do all Universal Monster films and then end my viewings with Texas Chainsaw Massacre and both the original Night of the Living Dead and remake (Tony Todd carries that movie just as Duane Jones in the classic). And then fit in Gojira and Shin Godzilla in b/w as done other gaffer suggested.
1. Frankenstein
I see why this is a classic. I don't recall seeing this recently or all the way through. Just love the sound design and effects. The creation scene alone is glorious. And even some funny bits. Tossing the little girl into the lake was comedy.
2. The Wolf Man
Lon Chaney Jr. performance as Lawrence Talbot is good. You can see the tortured person behind the monster.
pitcairn55
Member
October 03
Film #4
Gerald's Game
I really loved so much about this film. Carla Gugino is always pretty great, but she is absolutely fantastic in this, and I think Bruce Greenwood puts in the best performance I've seen from him too. Director Mike Flanagan also proves once again that he knows what he's doing - I'm really excited for his next Netflix collaboration, an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House.
I know I really enjoyed Gerald's Game the novel, but I read it a long time ago, and there was very little of the story I could remember (aside from
that was seared in my memory!). As is often the case, bits of the story did come back to me as the film went along, but what I still don't recall from when I read the book is whether I was supremely pissed off by the ridiculous ending.
The finale has been criticised already in this thread, and for me it comes close to ballsing the whole film up. The really infuriating thing is that it doesn't need to be there: the last fifteen minutes add nothing of value to the movie, in fact they do the exact opposite. The film would have been better if it finished just after
That would have been so much more satisfying to me.
Verdict: A fantastic 90 minute movie that unfortunately has a runtime of an hour and three-quarters. Definitely worth watching though.
Tomorrow's viewing: We Go On
Films I've watched so far
Film #4
Gerald's Game
I really loved so much about this film. Carla Gugino is always pretty great, but she is absolutely fantastic in this, and I think Bruce Greenwood puts in the best performance I've seen from him too. Director Mike Flanagan also proves once again that he knows what he's doing - I'm really excited for his next Netflix collaboration, an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House.
I know I really enjoyed Gerald's Game the novel, but I read it a long time ago, and there was very little of the story I could remember (aside from
the way Jessie gets free from the handcuffs
The finale has been criticised already in this thread, and for me it comes close to ballsing the whole film up. The really infuriating thing is that it doesn't need to be there: the last fifteen minutes add nothing of value to the movie, in fact they do the exact opposite. The film would have been better if it finished just after
the car crash, when you see people coming to Jessie's aid. Leave some ambiguity around the moonlight man, the bloody footprint, the wedding ring, the whole 'supernatural' element...
Verdict: A fantastic 90 minute movie that unfortunately has a runtime of an hour and three-quarters. Definitely worth watching though.
Tomorrow's viewing: We Go On
Films I've watched so far
mariachi507
Member
I've got a lot of love for it, but not enough compared to the love I have for the original. Halloween 2 has its merits though. I really dig the depiction of Michael. It's almost as if he's evolved since the finale in the first and continuously evolves over the course of the sequel into this demonic presence. The slow walking antagonist chasing the protagonist trope in the slasher genre has been the butt of jokes for years now, and rightfully so for the most part. That being said, they don't get any slower than Michael Myers in Halloween 2 and he still ends up being scary as hell. The chase scene is one of my favorites in the genre. It features this incredible remix of the Halloween 1 chase theme and it's shot and sequenced well (kudos to Dean Cundey). It becomes laughable when you really think about how Michael doesn't catch Laurie despite her being trapped in an elevator just a couple of feet in front of him. Despite the absurdity of the scene, I tense up everytime.
Day 3 so here's movie three:
3. It Follows
I've sorta grouped It Follows along with other massivley hyped horror films of the past few years (stuff like The Witch or The Babadook) and I think that out of the bunch this one's the best or at the least the most enjoyable for me. The atmosphere is pitch perfect and has a beautiful finish that the soundtrack provides that makes it feel timeless. I like that the film is open to interepertations of what the monster is supposed to represent, and I think you can still get a kick out of it even if you take it at face-value (the monster is an STD, or death, or growing up, etc). Isn't really "scary" upfront but the tension is there because the characters feel like a group of people we either are or have been with. They're real. Good movie.
3. It Follows
I've sorta grouped It Follows along with other massivley hyped horror films of the past few years (stuff like The Witch or The Babadook) and I think that out of the bunch this one's the best or at the least the most enjoyable for me. The atmosphere is pitch perfect and has a beautiful finish that the soundtrack provides that makes it feel timeless. I like that the film is open to interepertations of what the monster is supposed to represent, and I think you can still get a kick out of it even if you take it at face-value (the monster is an STD, or death, or growing up, etc). Isn't really "scary" upfront but the tension is there because the characters feel like a group of people we either are or have been with. They're real. Good movie.
Movie 1 - Dracula (1931) [NEW]
Movie 2 - Dracula 2000 [NEW]
Movie 3 - Dracula (1979) [NEW]
Movie 4- The Creature from The Black Lagoon [NEW]
Movie 5 - Dracula's Daughter [New]
Movie 6 - Son of Dracula [New]
Movie 7 - El Bar [New]
I just was Netflixing a movie to watch after work and only after I begun realized it was in Spanish, but the concept seemed fun so I stuck with it. And mostly happy that I did. It's a confined space thriller with a handful of folks stuck in a bar and trying to come to terms with what's going on around them. They slowly start to turn on each other and then the killing begins.
Really fine movie until like the final 10 mins or so with some questionable GoPro shots and a villain who is a bit too comical for what was a fairly straight thriller.
Movie 2 - Dracula 2000 [NEW]
Movie 3 - Dracula (1979) [NEW]
Movie 4- The Creature from The Black Lagoon [NEW]
Movie 5 - Dracula's Daughter [New]
Movie 6 - Son of Dracula [New]
Movie 7 - El Bar [New]
I just was Netflixing a movie to watch after work and only after I begun realized it was in Spanish, but the concept seemed fun so I stuck with it. And mostly happy that I did. It's a confined space thriller with a handful of folks stuck in a bar and trying to come to terms with what's going on around them. They slowly start to turn on each other and then the killing begins.
Really fine movie until like the final 10 mins or so with some questionable GoPro shots and a villain who is a bit too comical for what was a fairly straight thriller.
More_Badass
Member
Been thinking about it some, and I used to like the Halloween remake, but seeing the original again really highlighted what that one did so wrong. As for what it did right, I really liked Myers' hulking frame and dirty aged mask.
But the original Halloween is so lean and such a small and contained story, and leaves so much unsaid or unexplained. It doesn't try to explain Michael or add some tragic backstory. It explicitly paints him as less than human, a primal force in the shape of man, and his silence and his blank face of a mask and his methodical cunning nature all helps support that. In the remake, Michael is an abused psychopath traumatized by his childhood and by hospital guards, he's a mindless slaughtering brute, and everyone besides the main character is so over-the-top or despicable that you want them to die. Everything that made him scary as hell in the original is gone. Michael is more than a mask and a blade and Zombie didn't understand that at all
But the original Halloween is so lean and such a small and contained story, and leaves so much unsaid or unexplained. It doesn't try to explain Michael or add some tragic backstory. It explicitly paints him as less than human, a primal force in the shape of man, and his silence and his blank face of a mask and his methodical cunning nature all helps support that. In the remake, Michael is an abused psychopath traumatized by his childhood and by hospital guards, he's a mindless slaughtering brute, and everyone besides the main character is so over-the-top or despicable that you want them to die. Everything that made him scary as hell in the original is gone. Michael is more than a mask and a blade and Zombie didn't understand that at all
More_Badass
Member
7) The Fog (1980)
I didn't realize it when I was ordering my list, but The Fog was Carpenter's follow-up to Halloween. And having just seen Halloween earlier today, The Fog feels like a misstep. It starts so promisingly: the campfire folktale opening, establishing the atmosphere and setting of the town, and then the fog comes. The build-up throughout the first 30 minutes is well-done and creepy; I was surprised by how quickly the movie was getting to the meat of its premise and how well-done the pacing was. It was the same kind of ratcheting of suspense that Halloween did so well.
And then...it's the next day and we're in for 30-40 minutes of dull plot stuff and boring characters and mystery with answers the audience already knows and whatnot, until the fog comes back for the grand finale. It's such a whiplash in tone and pacing and the movie never really recovers that sense of menace and looming dread.
If there's one commendable thing besides that opening half-hour, it's how great the imagery of the undead sailors was. Much like Michael in the first Halloween, they feel like an unstoppable force, less ghosts or demons but an otherworldly reckoning.
I didn't realize it when I was ordering my list, but The Fog was Carpenter's follow-up to Halloween. And having just seen Halloween earlier today, The Fog feels like a misstep. It starts so promisingly: the campfire folktale opening, establishing the atmosphere and setting of the town, and then the fog comes. The build-up throughout the first 30 minutes is well-done and creepy; I was surprised by how quickly the movie was getting to the meat of its premise and how well-done the pacing was. It was the same kind of ratcheting of suspense that Halloween did so well.
And then...it's the next day and we're in for 30-40 minutes of dull plot stuff and boring characters and mystery with answers the audience already knows and whatnot, until the fog comes back for the grand finale. It's such a whiplash in tone and pacing and the movie never really recovers that sense of menace and looming dread.
If there's one commendable thing besides that opening half-hour, it's how great the imagery of the undead sailors was. Much like Michael in the first Halloween, they feel like an unstoppable force, less ghosts or demons but an otherworldly reckoning.
1. The Fly (first viewing)
I'm not sure how I've missed seeing this one over the years, but I don't recall anything about it, so I guess I did miss it.
The thing I liked best about this movie is Jeff Goldblum himself, and how he portrayed the main character, Seth. I loved the light hearted humour scattered throughout; I laughed more than I would have expected going into a movie with such a dark premise.
The Fly 2 (first viewing)
I went into this one mostly blind, and was surprised to see that it picked up almost exactly where the original left off.
As a standalone movie, I think this is structured better than the original, however, I still slightly prefer the original.
Highlight of the movie for me, and a good laugh :
I'm not sure how I've missed seeing this one over the years, but I don't recall anything about it, so I guess I did miss it.
The thing I liked best about this movie is Jeff Goldblum himself, and how he portrayed the main character, Seth. I loved the light hearted humour scattered throughout; I laughed more than I would have expected going into a movie with such a dark premise.
I felt like the romantic relationship was a bit forced, although, I understand that it was required to drive other main plot points in the movie, and its sequel. I loved the last ~30 min, and thought it was gloriously gory!
The Fly 2 (first viewing)
I went into this one mostly blind, and was surprised to see that it picked up almost exactly where the original left off.
As a standalone movie, I think this is structured better than the original, however, I still slightly prefer the original.
Highlight of the movie for me, and a good laugh :
that failed experiment of a dog being left alive (barely) in specimens. Seriously,
wtf! Those eyeballs! 😂
wtf! Those eyeballs! 😂
JigglesBunny
Banned
Alright, about to crack into Invasion of the Body Snatchers (78) for the first time. I have seen the 1956 original but that was ages ago, I think I was nine at the time so I have no recollection whatsoever.
Ill probably have my review up in three hours or so.
Ill probably have my review up in three hours or so.
ThirstyFly
Member
Speaking of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, how similar are the '56 original and the '78 remake?
I'm trying to decide if I want to watch them back-to-back this year, or do one now and then one next year. If they're too much alike I'm worried I may find '78 boring so I'd rather pad them out in that case.
I've only ever seen the '93 re-remake. And that was back in '93 (or '94).
I'm trying to decide if I want to watch them back-to-back this year, or do one now and then one next year. If they're too much alike I'm worried I may find '78 boring so I'd rather pad them out in that case.
I've only ever seen the '93 re-remake. And that was back in '93 (or '94).
Fancy Clown
Member
After a brief soujorn into Transylvania, I return to finish off the demon inducing cinema of:
3. Demons 2 (Lamberto Bava, 1986)
Demons goes full on Gremlins 2 for this more is more sequel, (although without a fraction of the wit of course). We got dog demons, baby demons, and even angsty teenage birthday demons up in here. But what it adds in insane demon antics and one-off nail biter sequences, it loses in atmosphere and general sort of coherence and even competence at times (not that its precursor was particularly flush with coherence).
There are a few brief scenes in here that not only dont go anywhere or connect to anything else, but have glaring technical faults like a camera shaking like theres an earthquake or something because they clearly forgot to lock the tripod down or something (and it wasnt a tense scene either). Im not even sure how this connects to the first one or what the rules of this demon-virus-movie thing are anymore. It even builds up to what seems to be a reveal and then a final showdown and sort of just says nah to both of those and ends.
At least Lamberto is aware of how cool his glowing eyed, silhouetted demons looks as they peer down a massive spiral staircase and run in slow motion, because there are a shitload of those shots. The mans certainly got style, Ill give him that.
3. Demons 2 (Lamberto Bava, 1986)
Demons goes full on Gremlins 2 for this more is more sequel, (although without a fraction of the wit of course). We got dog demons, baby demons, and even angsty teenage birthday demons up in here. But what it adds in insane demon antics and one-off nail biter sequences, it loses in atmosphere and general sort of coherence and even competence at times (not that its precursor was particularly flush with coherence).
There are a few brief scenes in here that not only dont go anywhere or connect to anything else, but have glaring technical faults like a camera shaking like theres an earthquake or something because they clearly forgot to lock the tripod down or something (and it wasnt a tense scene either). Im not even sure how this connects to the first one or what the rules of this demon-virus-movie thing are anymore. It even builds up to what seems to be a reveal and then a final showdown and sort of just says nah to both of those and ends.
At least Lamberto is aware of how cool his glowing eyed, silhouetted demons looks as they peer down a massive spiral staircase and run in slow motion, because there are a shitload of those shots. The mans certainly got style, Ill give him that.
afternoon delight
Member
3. In the Mouth of Madness
John Carpenter, Sam Niel, HP Lovecraft lore, quasi detective film- pure uncut bliss. Do yourself a favor and seek out one of the best horror films of the 90s.
John Carpenter, Sam Niel, HP Lovecraft lore, quasi detective film- pure uncut bliss. Do yourself a favor and seek out one of the best horror films of the 90s.
The Final Terror If one was to redo Deliverance and swap the ass raping hillbillies for a slasher type killer you would end up with the Final Terror. It was pretty enjoyable to see the forested scenery and the characters interact but the downside was that the kills were kind of sparse and not really bloody. If this were a few years newer it would most likely have been full tilt bloodbath but it just didn't quite get there and you really want it to because its so close...but so far.
I give it three pig squeals.
I give it three pig squeals.
I...don't remember this movie being so, imbalanced? Granted it's been a few years, and my memory is quickly turning to shit, but I could have sworn it was stronger than this. It's still thoroughly entertaining, features some disturbingly iconic moments, and moves along at a nice pace, but the overacting, goofy flashbacks, and sometimes bizarre audio mixing, dull a lot of the intended impact. So not as good as it once was to me, but a solid film nonetheless, and great way to close the curtains on my 3rd day of this month-long horror-film Bonanza
Edit: Damn, that off-tv camera pic came out good. Ha.
Roronoa Zoro
Gold Member
Just watched Friday the 13 the final chapter so I guess Im done with the sequels. Whats that Im only 3/7 done with the sequels?
These Friday the 13th recaps get longer each time. Jason is putting on weight now and has settled into the mask thing though its funny it wasnt until 2.5 films in that we got the iconic look
Getting a little slasher burnt out but I think Ill ride it out and enjoy the idiocy as I get through these till part 8
PS: the exploding title cards make me laugh every time
These Friday the 13th recaps get longer each time. Jason is putting on weight now and has settled into the mask thing though its funny it wasnt until 2.5 films in that we got the iconic look
Getting a little slasher burnt out but I think Ill ride it out and enjoy the idiocy as I get through these till part 8
PS: the exploding title cards make me laugh every time
mariachi507
Member
4. Brain Damage
I figured it was time to class this thing up a little so I relied on good ole Frank Henenlotter to bring to goods. This is the third of his self described "exploitation" films that I've seen with the other two being Basket Case and Frankenhooker. I wasn't let down by those two experiences and Brain Damage kept the pattern going. The plot is basically Henenlotter's take on the anti-drug movement that was occuring on television and cinema during the Reagan era. As a result we're left with a tale about drug addiction that involves a phallic looking brain parasite named Aylmer (Elmer) who supplies the before mentioned drug by injected the brain with an ink-like substance. The effect on the subject receiving the dose is one of complete euphoria and appears to be like an acid trip x10. As most good addicts know though, the better the high the worse the withdrawal symptoms. Now what could a brain parasite want in return for his feel-good juice? It boggles the mind really.
Production wise I would say it's a step up from Basket Case despite still being obviously low budget. Like Basket Case though, even when the effect comes across badly it does so with a level of charm that makes the flaws easy to overlook. Elmer himself is great. He's basically a rubber sculpture that includes minor mechanisms to give movement, but when brought to life in conjunction with his voice it just works. It probably helps that his voice is the least expected sound I figured I'd hear come out of his mouth and is hilarious as a result. If Elmer wasn't a success the film wouldn't have had a chance. Of course with this being a Henenlotter flick there is plenty of tastelessness here. There is one death scene in particular that was in such bad taste I really didn't know whether I should have been repulsed or amazed. It was probably a combination of both to be honest.
I believe I'll keep the Henenlotter tradition alive by including him in next year's marathon as well. I've got a couple of Basket Case sequels sitting on my shelf that are begging to have the chance to offend/entertain.
Verdict: 7.5/10
I figured it was time to class this thing up a little so I relied on good ole Frank Henenlotter to bring to goods. This is the third of his self described "exploitation" films that I've seen with the other two being Basket Case and Frankenhooker. I wasn't let down by those two experiences and Brain Damage kept the pattern going. The plot is basically Henenlotter's take on the anti-drug movement that was occuring on television and cinema during the Reagan era. As a result we're left with a tale about drug addiction that involves a phallic looking brain parasite named Aylmer (Elmer) who supplies the before mentioned drug by injected the brain with an ink-like substance. The effect on the subject receiving the dose is one of complete euphoria and appears to be like an acid trip x10. As most good addicts know though, the better the high the worse the withdrawal symptoms. Now what could a brain parasite want in return for his feel-good juice? It boggles the mind really.
Production wise I would say it's a step up from Basket Case despite still being obviously low budget. Like Basket Case though, even when the effect comes across badly it does so with a level of charm that makes the flaws easy to overlook. Elmer himself is great. He's basically a rubber sculpture that includes minor mechanisms to give movement, but when brought to life in conjunction with his voice it just works. It probably helps that his voice is the least expected sound I figured I'd hear come out of his mouth and is hilarious as a result. If Elmer wasn't a success the film wouldn't have had a chance. Of course with this being a Henenlotter flick there is plenty of tastelessness here. There is one death scene in particular that was in such bad taste I really didn't know whether I should have been repulsed or amazed. It was probably a combination of both to be honest.
I believe I'll keep the Henenlotter tradition alive by including him in next year's marathon as well. I've got a couple of Basket Case sequels sitting on my shelf that are begging to have the chance to offend/entertain.
Verdict: 7.5/10
#5 Return of the Living Dead
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A goofy send up (with a call out no less) of the Romero movies set in an 80s dance punk world. I've always enjoyed Frank the most and that remains the case (goes out like a boss).
Not as violent as I remember, but easily the first example of running undead zombies. Quirky and entertaining, and also leads me into 2 and three, which I've never seen before.
Totals 80s and totally enjoyable.
A goofy send up (with a call out no less) of the Romero movies set in an 80s dance punk world. I've always enjoyed Frank the most and that remains the case (goes out like a boss).
Not as violent as I remember, but easily the first example of running undead zombies. Quirky and entertaining, and also leads me into 2 and three, which I've never seen before.
Totals 80s and totally enjoyable.