LFMartins´s 31 Days Of Horror - The Final Day
Started the marathon with an anthology so it is fitting that I should ended it with another anthology. Tales Of Halloween is a collection of 10 stories that happen during the same Halloween night, just like Trick ´R Treat (probably the ultimate Halloween movie). Tales isn´t particularly scary as it goes more after humor than creepiness, a bit like the old Tales From The Crypt.
They got some interesting directors for this project like Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II-IV), Neil Marshall (The Descent, Dog Soldiers), Lucky McKee (The Woman) and Andrew Kasch (Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy).
There was also a few great cameos from horror legends like John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Joe Dante (Gremlins 1 & 2) and John Carpenter´s former wife Adrienne Barbeau who acts as the narrator.
While there were a couple of weaker segments, there were 4 that really stand out for me :
The Night Billy Raised Hell - A young boy gets a lesson in pranking from the master.
Friday the 31st - A Jason Vorhees type finally meets his match in an hilarious intergalactic confrontation.
The Ransom of Rusty Rex - A kidnapping goes wrong in the most unusual of scenarios.
Bad Seed - Man eating pumpkin terrorizes the streets and it´s up to a badass female detective to stop it.
In general, I found it to be an hilarious addition to the genre and one movie that will be now part of my Halloween selection, although Trick ´R Treat is better just because of the wonderful Sam. The little alien came close to being as adorable but it lacked the creepy factor.
And with that, my 2015 October horror marathon is over. Thanks everyone for following my adventure and I´ll hopefully do it again next year.
All the write ups are on this IMDB list.
Started the marathon with an anthology so it is fitting that I should ended it with another anthology. Tales Of Halloween is a collection of 10 stories that happen during the same Halloween night, just like Trick ´R Treat (probably the ultimate Halloween movie). Tales isn´t particularly scary as it goes more after humor than creepiness, a bit like the old Tales From The Crypt.
They got some interesting directors for this project like Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II-IV), Neil Marshall (The Descent, Dog Soldiers), Lucky McKee (The Woman) and Andrew Kasch (Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy).
There was also a few great cameos from horror legends like John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Joe Dante (Gremlins 1 & 2) and John Carpenter´s former wife Adrienne Barbeau who acts as the narrator.
While there were a couple of weaker segments, there were 4 that really stand out for me :
The Night Billy Raised Hell - A young boy gets a lesson in pranking from the master.
Friday the 31st - A Jason Vorhees type finally meets his match in an hilarious intergalactic confrontation.
The Ransom of Rusty Rex - A kidnapping goes wrong in the most unusual of scenarios.
Bad Seed - Man eating pumpkin terrorizes the streets and it´s up to a badass female detective to stop it.
In general, I found it to be an hilarious addition to the genre and one movie that will be now part of my Halloween selection, although Trick ´R Treat is better just because of the wonderful Sam. The little alien came close to being as adorable but it lacked the creepy factor.
And with that, my 2015 October horror marathon is over. Thanks everyone for following my adventure and I´ll hopefully do it again next year.
All the write ups are on this IMDB list.
LFMartins86 is the real MVP. Gonna add that IMDB link to the OP.
Didn't quite make it to 31, but here is the list:
1. Pay The Ghost
2. The Hive
3. The Hidden
4. Unfriended
5. Ouija
6. Nightlight
7. All the colors of the dark
8. Coraline
9. The Final Girls
10. Knock Knock
11. The Omega Man
12. Paranorman
13. Aliens
14. Alien
15. The Green Inferno
16. The Diabolical
17. The Hallow
18. A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
19. City of The Living Dead
20. Bone Tomahawk
21. Eyes Without A Face
22. Annabelle
23. The Conjuring
24. Carnival of Souls - (1962)
What a creepy film. Sinister atmosphere builds with evil sounding chords from an organ. Character interaction goes from mildly odd to weird as fuck in no time. There is one character that is a bit, "sign of the times" (and you could pick him out blindfolded...), but it's well acted. The entire premise of the film is pretty dope and I can definitely spot the influence it's had over certain titles like...(don't read if you haven't seen it)Silent Hill.
Candace is a dope character. Even among the madness, she's trying to figure her shit out (at a rather brisk pace), while dropping bars on some of the others.
Def gonna watch it again to see what I missed.
That death scene in Bone Tomahawk still has me shook. Like...damn.
I didn't really put myself through the ringer this year. Last year was filled with stuff like Martyrs, Cherry Tree Lane, Livid, Cannibal Holocaust, and Inside.
Didn't quite make it to 31, but here is the list:
1. Pay The Ghost
2. The Hive
3. The Hidden
4. Unfriended
5. Ouija
6. Nightlight
7. All the colors of the dark
8. Coraline
9. The Final Girls
10. Knock Knock
11. The Omega Man
12. Paranorman
13. Aliens
14. Alien
15. The Green Inferno
16. The Diabolical
17. The Hallow
18. A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night
19. City of The Living Dead
20. Bone Tomahawk
21. Eyes Without A Face
22. Annabelle
23. The Conjuring
24. Carnival of Souls - (1962)
What a creepy film. Sinister atmosphere builds with evil sounding chords from an organ. Character interaction goes from mildly odd to weird as fuck in no time. There is one character that is a bit, "sign of the times" (and you could pick him out blindfolded...), but it's well acted. The entire premise of the film is pretty dope and I can definitely spot the influence it's had over certain titles like...(don't read if you haven't seen it)Silent Hill.
Candace is a dope character. Even among the madness, she's trying to figure her shit out (at a rather brisk pace), while dropping bars on some of the others.
Def gonna watch it again to see what I missed.
That death scene in Bone Tomahawk still has me shook. Like...damn.
I didn't really put myself through the ringer this year. Last year was filled with stuff like Martyrs, Cherry Tree Lane, Livid, Cannibal Holocaust, and Inside.
It's a mini series rather than a tv series, but I am here to spread the good word of Riget. It is made by Lars von Trier, before he got obsessed with the idea of making every movie and series he makes, about how women are the devil.
You might have seen the terrible American remake at some point, called The Kingdom, and you should avoid it like meth heads on the subway. It all takes place in Denmarks biggest hospital called Riget (a real hospital) and follows the people working there, it's 2 seasons, but only 4 episodes in each. Which makes it about 8 hours of run time. It's scary and funny at the same time, a bit of a twin peaks vibe going but much more horror. There's a main story about a girl, who due to a botched surgery at he hospital, is in a vegetative state. Doesn't sound too crazy, but trust me, it gets out there. The real greatness of the show is all the sideplots however, imo. Like:
There's lots of black humor in it, there's not really any character who isn't fucked up and hilarious in some way or the other. Especially the Swedish neurosurgeon who every night stands on top of the hospital, looking towards Sweden (you can see Sweden from Copenhagen) and yells "DANISH SCUM"
Intro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VijlYkLFdAk
and... To show you what a woman working at the hospital gives birth to later on in the show, a baby she calls "little brother" (played by Udo Kier), where little brother attempts to convince his mom, to let him die. This is just a few weeks after birth. :lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJSULjfycXo
Several times every episode, there is two cleaning workers, with downs, talking about what is going on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yusFM7G5M8
It's weird as fuck. But I recommend searching for it, easy enough to find downloads of it.
You might have seen the terrible American remake at some point, called The Kingdom, and you should avoid it like meth heads on the subway. It all takes place in Denmarks biggest hospital called Riget (a real hospital) and follows the people working there, it's 2 seasons, but only 4 episodes in each. Which makes it about 8 hours of run time. It's scary and funny at the same time, a bit of a twin peaks vibe going but much more horror. There's a main story about a girl, who due to a botched surgery at he hospital, is in a vegetative state. Doesn't sound too crazy, but trust me, it gets out there. The real greatness of the show is all the sideplots however, imo. Like:Pathologist Dr. Bondo attempts to convince the family of a man dying from liver cancer to donate his liver to the hospital for his research. (In fact, he wants it as a trophy, it being the second largest hepatosarcoma ever recorded.) When his request is denied, Bondo has the cancerous liver transplanted into his own body (the patient having signed an organ donor form), so that the cancer will become his personal property and can be kept within the hospital.
There's lots of black humor in it, there's not really any character who isn't fucked up and hilarious in some way or the other. Especially the Swedish neurosurgeon who every night stands on top of the hospital, looking towards Sweden (you can see Sweden from Copenhagen) and yells "DANISH SCUM"
Intro:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VijlYkLFdAk
and... To show you what a woman working at the hospital gives birth to later on in the show, a baby she calls "little brother" (played by Udo Kier), where little brother attempts to convince his mom, to let him die. This is just a few weeks after birth. :lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJSULjfycXo
Several times every episode, there is two cleaning workers, with downs, talking about what is going on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yusFM7G5M8
It's weird as fuck. But I recommend searching for it, easy enough to find downloads of it.
I loved Riget. The greatest black humor scenes I've ever seen involved Udo Kier being "reborn" near the end of Riget
Coming in 2016 (unless…)I'll try and keep this updated and add trailers to titles when they become available. If there is anything that I should add, drop a line and it shall be done. This is pretty Merica centric, so if there is a foreign film that should be added, plz let me know.
31
A Man In The Dark
Amityville: The Awakening
Baskin
Before I wake
The Blob
The Boy
Cell
The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist
A Cure for Wellness
The Disappointments Room
Don't Hang Up
The Forest - OUT NOW
Green Room
Holidays
Jeepers Creepers 3: Cathedral
Leatherface
Lights Out
Martyrs
The Neon Demon
The Other Side of the Door
Ouija 2
Phantasm: Ravager
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
The Purge 3
Resident Evil: Final Chapter
Rings
Southbound
Spectral
Underworld: Next Generation
Viral
Visions
The Witch
Outside of the states:
The Ring vs The Grudge
I've been on an 80s horror binge recently. Watched The Monster Squad which I thought was good.
The Burning is next on my list.
The Burning is next on my list.
EldritchTrapStar, Friday The 13th won´t be coming out this year. It was slated for January 13 of 2017 but even that seems unlikely given the tumultuous development. Can´t wait for The Witch, heard great things about it. Will this be finally the year we get to watch the new Phantasm? It was supposed to come out in 2014.
Japan will give us The Ring vs The Grudge this year.
Japan will give us The Ring vs The Grudge this year.
I'm not super invested in Paranormal Activity as a series. I've only seen 1, might have seen 2, The Marked Ones, and Ghost Dimension. I respect the fuck out of 1 and think that The Marked Ones is great, so, going into Ghost Dimension I wasn't as invested in the series as others might have been. You mean to tell me, that they built up all of this super cool shit in The Marked Ones and Ghost Dimension (and the others) and...this is the actual final film? So much was introduced and left unresolved and that's all we got? I like the movie well enough, but damn.
Nothing about the special camera (I really would watch a movie/short about it).
Nothing about Tobey getting human form.
Nothing about the other brothers/princes of darkness.
Nothing about what's going to happen to the kids/whomever.
Nothing about anyone being able to do anything against Tobey's OP ass.
Nothing…
That's disappointing as fuck man. :(
Oh damn. Halloween got hit with license fuckery and now that has issues too? yikes.
Super excited for The Witch. Everything about it seems right up my alley.
Kinda hyped for The Purge 3 as well. 2 was one of my pleasant surprises when it came out and I am super curious as to where they take the story.
Nah. I liked it too. One of the few "found footage" (really first person) horror movies that I've enjoyed.
The only part that was throwing me was the kids having a Mark 3 or whatever, because they found it in a "bargain bin" or some shit. Liars. lmao. That and those expensive ass tripods.
Nothing about the special camera (I really would watch a movie/short about it).
Nothing about Tobey getting human form.
Nothing about the other brothers/princes of darkness.
Nothing about what's going to happen to the kids/whomever.
Nothing about anyone being able to do anything against Tobey's OP ass.
Nothing…
That's disappointing as fuck man. :(
By LFMartins86 Go To PostEldritchTrapStar, Friday The 13th won´t be coming out this year. It was slated for January 13 of 2017 but even that seems unlikely given the tumultuous development. Can´t wait for The Witch, heard great things about it. Will this be finally the year we get to watch the new Phantasm? It was supposed to come out in 2014.
Japan will give us The Ring vs The Grudge this year.
Oh damn. Halloween got hit with license fuckery and now that has issues too? yikes.
Super excited for The Witch. Everything about it seems right up my alley.
Kinda hyped for The Purge 3 as well. 2 was one of my pleasant surprises when it came out and I am super curious as to where they take the story.
By Elchele Go To PostI liked 'The Visit'
Am I insane?
Nah. I liked it too. One of the few "found footage" (really first person) horror movies that I've enjoyed.
The only part that was throwing me was the kids having a Mark 3 or whatever, because they found it in a "bargain bin" or some shit. Liars. lmao. That and those expensive ass tripods.
Teaser trailer for The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist
Day 1.
After this, I hope he does something with one of the items from a different culture in that room...
Day 1.
After this, I hope he does something with one of the items from a different culture in that room...
The cinematography in The Conjuring was really nice in some sequences. The long tracking shot that first introduces us to the house was good. It reminded me of a similar shot at the beginning of Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice. There are some other nice cinematic touches here and there too. I like the general languid, free-form movement of the camera overall. I'm not sure so much about how it helps the film function as horror, since I don't find horror movies scary, but I certainly found its roaming curiosity interesting. It opened up a little space for some artistic play outside of the strict confines of its narrative. And in any case, it's not something you see a lot of in Hollywood cinema.
Apart from that, the film is pretty bad. I was holding back laughs most of the film. It's made worse when the horror mythology borders on outright sexist anti-intellectualism. Although the film somewhat attempts to subvert the role of the patriarchal power structure in Catholicism by having Farmiga's character play the crucial role in the exorcism, it lazily and casually invokes the Salem witch trails to cast the demon that haunts Lily Taylor as a hysterical, devil-worshiping witch without any level of self-awareness about the systematic misogyny underwriting that historical event. In general, the entire film does it best to flatter the Catholic institution with only occasional moments of light, critical snark and essentially nothing to question the role its mythology has played in the systematic oppression of women.
Apart from that, the film is pretty bad. I was holding back laughs most of the film. It's made worse when the horror mythology borders on outright sexist anti-intellectualism. Although the film somewhat attempts to subvert the role of the patriarchal power structure in Catholicism by having Farmiga's character play the crucial role in the exorcism, it lazily and casually invokes the Salem witch trails to cast the demon that haunts Lily Taylor as a hysterical, devil-worshiping witch without any level of self-awareness about the systematic misogyny underwriting that historical event. In general, the entire film does it best to flatter the Catholic institution with only occasional moments of light, critical snark and essentially nothing to question the role its mythology has played in the systematic oppression of women.
By Elchele Go To PostI liked 'The Visit'I...I just can't. I cannot defend this Shama-lunatic anymore. He might as well start wearing pink angora sweaters while directing at this point.
Am I insane?
Cult horror icon, Angus Scrimm, died this weekend. Scrimm was known for the role of The Tall Man in the Phantasm franchise. His last appearance as the supernatural undertaker with the deadly balls of steel, Phantasm : Ravager, will be out this year (hopefully).
"Boy" never sound so scary as in this scene.
"Boy" never sound so scary as in this scene.
R.I.P. Mr. Scrimm
Honestly, I don't know why I can't really think of many long takes in horror, in general. You'd think that for a genre that is built off of suspense, you'd be able to have a list a mile long.
Off of the top of my head, there is "Silent House", but it's whole thing is that it's been filmed in one take. The chase scene in "Mama". The shot in the Conjuring. Welles' "A Touch Of Evil" and of course "The Shining"...
and I'm drawing a blank. I could probably find more if I did the research, but that's kind of a problem too. Nothing really stands out the way the scenes in Children of Men do, or the panic inducing escape in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, or Rope, or the one in True Detective, etc...
They aren't exactly the easiest thing to pull off, so that might be one reason. I dunno. Haven't really gave it any thought until just now, so I haven't even tried to approach the topic academically or whatever.
By Das Go To PostThe cinematography in The Conjuring was really nice in some sequences. The long tracking shot that first introduces us to the house was good. It reminded me of a similar shot at the beginning of Joe Wright's Pride and Prejudice. There are some other nice cinematic touches here and there too. I like the general languid, free-form movement of the camera overall. I'm not sure so much about how it helps the film function as horror, since I don't find horror movies scary, but I certainly found its roaming curiosity interesting. It opened up a little space for some artistic play outside of the strict confines of its narrative. And in any case, it's not something you see a lot of in Hollywood cinema.
Honestly, I don't know why I can't really think of many long takes in horror, in general. You'd think that for a genre that is built off of suspense, you'd be able to have a list a mile long.
Off of the top of my head, there is "Silent House", but it's whole thing is that it's been filmed in one take. The chase scene in "Mama". The shot in the Conjuring. Welles' "A Touch Of Evil" and of course "The Shining"...
and I'm drawing a blank. I could probably find more if I did the research, but that's kind of a problem too. Nothing really stands out the way the scenes in Children of Men do, or the panic inducing escape in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, or Rope, or the one in True Detective, etc...
They aren't exactly the easiest thing to pull off, so that might be one reason. I dunno. Haven't really gave it any thought until just now, so I haven't even tried to approach the topic academically or whatever.
Watched these "back to back" in reverse order:
On it's own, I think the remake is fine. It largely follows the same storyline, until the end of act 2 and the beginning of the huge tonal shift that the first Martyrs is largely remembered more for. From that point on, the movie subtracts a fair amount of the absolute darkness the original walks it's way through. If you've never seen the original, you'll probably be fine. If you have (and like the movie), then there is a huge chance that you'll find the remake to be lacking teeth and not having anywhere near the amount of presence the first film has. Some of the changes were made for the better, and some feel like they were done just to make the movie less dark and more "American", and that hurts it.
As it stands, I liked it. Even with the hope that it gives the audience, I still found it to be mean spirited in a way that I don't usually see, as of recent. Before writing it off totally, I'd rent it.
As for the og Martyrs, the rewatch gave me a stronger appreciation for the first two acts (the movie in general really). It's a home invasion film with a supernatural element and an air of mystery to it. It's perfectly paced. I don't think it gets nearly enough credit for that. Everyone only talks about the last 30 or so minutes and the "open ending."
On it's own, I think the remake is fine. It largely follows the same storyline, until the end of act 2 and the beginning of the huge tonal shift that the first Martyrs is largely remembered more for. From that point on, the movie subtracts a fair amount of the absolute darkness the original walks it's way through. If you've never seen the original, you'll probably be fine. If you have (and like the movie), then there is a huge chance that you'll find the remake to be lacking teeth and not having anywhere near the amount of presence the first film has. Some of the changes were made for the better, and some feel like they were done just to make the movie less dark and more "American", and that hurts it.
As it stands, I liked it. Even with the hope that it gives the audience, I still found it to be mean spirited in a way that I don't usually see, as of recent. Before writing it off totally, I'd rent it.
As for the og Martyrs, the rewatch gave me a stronger appreciation for the first two acts (the movie in general really). It's a home invasion film with a supernatural element and an air of mystery to it. It's perfectly paced. I don't think it gets nearly enough credit for that. Everyone only talks about the last 30 or so minutes and the "open ending."
I watched a weird horror comedy from 1966 called The Undertaker and His Pals the other night. I uploaded it to youtube. It's only an hour long and is just bizarre.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3IL473plmI
It's not scary or anything, but it does have some genuinely shocking scenes of violence and grossness played so casually that you can't even believe what you're seeing. I found it at my library on a grindhouse DVD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3IL473plmIIt's not scary or anything, but it does have some genuinely shocking scenes of violence and grossness played so casually that you can't even believe what you're seeing. I found it at my library on a grindhouse DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2596476/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_11
As a massive fan of Pontypool I've always wanted to watch Hellmouth. Same lead actor and writer but for whatever reason I can barely find anymore info on it. I was wondering if any of you has checked it out, and if so, should I bother?
As a massive fan of Pontypool I've always wanted to watch Hellmouth. Same lead actor and writer but for whatever reason I can barely find anymore info on it. I was wondering if any of you has checked it out, and if so, should I bother?
By Kikarian Go To PostI've been on an 80s horror binge recently. Watched The Monster Squad which I thought was good.
The Burning is next on my list.
Love The Burning. The formula for a slasher hadn't really been codified yet, so it ends up being this fairly unique slasher because it doesn't follow most of the rules you're expecting.
Also watched The Visit. It was mostly meh. Felt very... cheap in terms of production values. Kids were irritatingly precocious like cut rate Haley Joel Osments.
Saw Green Inferno. Silly and pointless even if I do enjoy gory movies.
Bone Tomahawk was a pleasant surprise. Liked the tone, lack of score, performances and the threat in the movie was suitably unpleasant.
Saw Green Inferno. Silly and pointless even if I do enjoy gory movies.
Bone Tomahawk was a pleasant surprise. Liked the tone, lack of score, performances and the threat in the movie was suitably unpleasant.
The Ring vs The Grudge
The setup for this is amazing. These assholes decided to watch the cursed tape in Kayako's house. lmao. Even if they didn't believe in the curses, they're going in the top 5 WOAT group in a horror movie, off the strength. Will watch however far it is down the line.
The setup for this is amazing. These assholes decided to watch the cursed tape in Kayako's house. lmao. Even if they didn't believe in the curses, they're going in the top 5 WOAT group in a horror movie, off the strength. Will watch however far it is down the line.
Got the chance to see a 35mm print of Suspiria yesterday. The only annoying part was a segment towards the end, where the print really showed it's age by having a huge vertical line obscuring some of the characters during the witch exposition scene, at the hotel/conference. Aside from that, it was fucking great. I've seen the movie dozens of times, but being in the theater to hear the audience react to some of the violence was ace. When the barbed wire scene happened, the entire crowd (it was packed) let out shrieks and super loud gasps. They weren't ready for how mean spirited it was. There were some laughs when the bat scene occurred, but then everyone let out groans when she smashed it to oblivion with the seat. Lots of claps when it was finished
The soundtrack is sooooo fucking great. Hearing it in that setting. man. Uncomfortable noises always.
I'm always fascinated how this film does not give a single fuck about logic, when it comes to color. Everything pops and every shot has texture. Patterns are everywhere at all times. Lines parallel and then decide to go perpendicular around portraits. Shapes seem otherworldly and inviting. Architecture makes you feel like you stepped into an evil version of Oz, with nobody to save you.
I fucking love this film. The only thing I wish I did differently was smoke before I went to see it. lol
The soundtrack is sooooo fucking great. Hearing it in that setting. man. Uncomfortable noises always.
I'm always fascinated how this film does not give a single fuck about logic, when it comes to color. Everything pops and every shot has texture. Patterns are everywhere at all times. Lines parallel and then decide to go perpendicular around portraits. Shapes seem otherworldly and inviting. Architecture makes you feel like you stepped into an evil version of Oz, with nobody to save you.
I fucking love this film. The only thing I wish I did differently was smoke before I went to see it. lol
I so love Suspiria. It's a shame the rest of the Three Mothers Trilogy isn't anywhere near as good as it.
To be fair, I don't remember it well as it's been 8 years since I watched it but I remember being very underwhelmed by it.
Women's history month - Directors
So, I'm not going to have time to do a 31 Days of Women's History month gauntlet, but I figured that I would try to point out some films that I have seen that have been directed by women, as well as look into some that I haven't (so many films). The “start” of this is actually "Honeymoon", which I just watched for the first time yesterday. The others I have seen before already. I'll also highlight some of my favorite rolls that have been played by women, but that comes later. This is focused on directors.
Directors
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night – Ana Lily Amirpour
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2326554/?ref_=nv_sr_2
Amer – Helene Cattet (and Bruno Forzani)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1426352/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
American Mary – Jen Soska & Sylvia Soska
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1959332/?ref_=nv_sr_1
American Psycho – Mary Harron
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144084/?ref_=nv_sr_1
The Babadook – Jennifer Kent
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2321549/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Pet Semetary – Mary Lambert
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098084/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Silent House – Laura Lau (and Chris Kentis)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767382/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Ravenous – Antonia Bird
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129332/?ref_=nv_sr_1
****************
Honeymoon – Leigh Janiak
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3177316/?ref_=nv_sr_1
I enjoyed the mystery angle of this a lot. It felt like the movie was about watching a loved one lose themselves to something akin to Alzheimers. It was awesome see the wife doing her best to keep her husband safe throughout the entire film, even when he was spiraling out of control, while dealing with her problem. The last act is really sad. I guess witnessing some of the behavior in the film, first hand, let it reach me a bit more than usual.
Keeping this brief. The two leads had good chemistry together. The camera work kept things feeling really intimate and like the world was closing in on them. While I had no problem with it, the ending is sure to piss people off. lol
On my list to watch:
-In My Skin
-The Hitch-Hiker
-Messiah of Evil
-The Mafu Cage
-Near Dark
So, I'm not going to have time to do a 31 Days of Women's History month gauntlet, but I figured that I would try to point out some films that I have seen that have been directed by women, as well as look into some that I haven't (so many films). The “start” of this is actually "Honeymoon", which I just watched for the first time yesterday. The others I have seen before already. I'll also highlight some of my favorite rolls that have been played by women, but that comes later. This is focused on directors.
Directors
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night – Ana Lily Amirpour
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2326554/?ref_=nv_sr_2Amer – Helene Cattet (and Bruno Forzani)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1426352/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1American Mary – Jen Soska & Sylvia Soska
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1959332/?ref_=nv_sr_1American Psycho – Mary Harron
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144084/?ref_=nv_sr_1The Babadook – Jennifer Kent
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2321549/?ref_=nv_sr_1Pet Semetary – Mary Lambert
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098084/?ref_=nv_sr_1Silent House – Laura Lau (and Chris Kentis)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1767382/?ref_=nv_sr_1Ravenous – Antonia Bird
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0129332/?ref_=nv_sr_1****************
Honeymoon – Leigh Janiak
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3177316/?ref_=nv_sr_1I enjoyed the mystery angle of this a lot. It felt like the movie was about watching a loved one lose themselves to something akin to Alzheimers. It was awesome see the wife doing her best to keep her husband safe throughout the entire film, even when he was spiraling out of control, while dealing with her problem. The last act is really sad. I guess witnessing some of the behavior in the film, first hand, let it reach me a bit more than usual.
Keeping this brief. The two leads had good chemistry together. The camera work kept things feeling really intimate and like the world was closing in on them. While I had no problem with it, the ending is sure to piss people off. lol
On my list to watch:
-In My Skin
-The Hitch-Hiker
-Messiah of Evil
-The Mafu Cage
-Near Dark
pretty good video on the overdone "boo" scares, contains spoilers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igDRu0RqS-E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igDRu0RqS-E
I forgot we are going to have a new Pinhead this hear.
I hope it doesn't suck as much as the first one but that image doesn't give me much hope.
I hope it doesn't suck as much as the first one but that image doesn't give me much hope.
By Lambda Go To Postpretty good video on the overdone "boo" scares, contains spoilers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igDRu0RqS-E
I really enjoyed Unfriended, but damn did that final jump scare almost take away any good will it had with me. Without that scare, that movie's ending would have been a hell of a lot more truthful about what happens when people get caught up in that type of fuckery. The ghost didn't have to do shit at that point.
I guess it's ultimately the publisher's choice (I don't actually know), but the video is right in that it's way overdone, even if it makes all of the sense in the world to do. I guess, part of the blame can be placed on consumers as well.
I hope they start to get a bit more creative with the end scare. It Follows messes around with that concept, but it isn't as in your face about it (don't even ask me how) as the others.
Baskin is a hyper stylish and surreal Turkish thrill ride with cosmic reaching, that unfortunately doesn't grasp space, due to the over reliance on the grotesque, instead of it's stronger cerebral elements. When it's constantly pushing you down the gore filled rabbit hole, it's at it's best. The minute it pauses and gives you time to focus on certain plot elements (the cult), not even the great practical effects can keep it from dragging. This happens right before the finish, causing the resolution to feel rushed. That in itself is a shame, because I thought it caused some of the cooler details and concepts to get skimmed over. I really enjoyed the story when it felt like foreign Silent Hill lite and Inception and less like something out of the European Extreme films. There was a balance throughout the majority of the film and then it tapers off. Others might not have that problem.
The movie feels like a mix of Lovecraft, with Italian photography, Fulci's touch in The Beyond, as well as bits of The Outer Limits. The cinematography, sound design, and score all borrow heavily from Giallo of old and new. The camera bounces between perspectives, while the framing stays tight enough to actually earn scares that come from things shuffling amongst the shadows. The colors are very vibrant and a pleasant to look at. The sfx wasn't over done and the sound track was the variety of creepy retro electronic tunes that have come back in to play, as of recent. The cast does a great job of going from a team of experienced, trash talking police officers (minus the rookie) to cracking when things inevitably go awry. Up until the end the pacing was practically perfect.
Honestly, my only problems with the movie stem from it giving me questions and speed talking through some of the damn answers at 4x speed, while completely negating to bother with accounting for some of the dope ideas that it tosses out at you in the last act. Aside from that, it's good. Some might call it great. I just can't help but feel disappointment though, due to the last 25-30 minutes. The end of The Beyond made me feel like, “shit is fucked up”, here it was slight indifference...and that really didn't feel like it should have been the case.
I've seen Conjuring 2. It's good. Can't say anything else besides that. If you enjoyed the first one I would go watch this in June.
By EldritchTrapStar Go To PostSaw The Invitation. Dope. That ending is pretty wild.I really liked The Invitation, bearded Trey Atwood (I wonder if anyone is going to get this) was quite good on it.
Speaking of good...
This was great. It did some clever things playing around with some usual tropes of the genre. It´s a deadly cat and mouse game that´s thrilling to watch and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Don´t watch any trailers, just go blind into this. I even cropped the credits from the poster because, although it happens earlier, I was surprised to find out who was playing the killer as I´m not used to seeing him in this kind of role.
With around 80 minutes of runtime, there´s not much "dead" time on screen and things move at a quick pace. Only complaint I might have was the "tease", oh how I wished they had the balls to kill the main character with around 20 minutes of the movie left.It´s on Netflix and you should definitely check it out.
I don´t know what´s going on but this looks so ridiculous. Can´t wait.
Hush really was good. Maddie was all star status. I would have been mad af if that tease wasn't one. lol. That would have been two movies of his that would have left me speechless.
I wasn't ready for that music change in the trailer. Fuckery is on 5000. Should be a good time.
Hype.
I wasn't ready for that music change in the trailer. Fuckery is on 5000. Should be a good time.
By Apollo Go To PostI've seen Conjuring 2. It's good. Can't say anything else besides that. If you enjoyed the first one I would go watch this in June.
Hype.
In af. I enjoyed the Evil Dead remake, so I'm down for more work from him. Apparently, this is just as mean spirited.
Watched "The Witch". I feel like I need to digest it more, but on first viewing, it's one of the most effective horror movies that I've seen in a while. What a bleak and oppressive film. Wasn't expecting that level of a depressingly dark atmosphere from it. Some of the images in it are burned into memory.
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By Apollo Go To PostSo the purge movies are good?
The Purge 1...hell no. It's a bad home invasion film that wastes the premise as well as it's own talking points(how veterans are treated, class, etc...). Outside of the antagonist being dope, it did have a cool moment with Ethan Hawk though. Still not enough to save it...
The Purge: Anarchy, comes from John Carpenter (Assault on Precinct 13 / Escape from...) DNA, while having Frank Grillo give his best Punisher impersonation. It beats you over the head with it's message (though some people still miss it (how sway)) and still manages to be a fun watch. Not a masterpiece, but it's good.
Speaking of John Carpenter, they are remaking Halloween again and while Carpenter isn´t directing it, he is the executive producer and is working on it with the director to make sure it doesn´t make the same mistakes as Zombie´s version. Carpenter said while announcing the deal that "Michael Myers is not a character. He's not a person. He's a force of nature. He's one part human and one part supernatural.".
Bloomhouse is producing it with Miramax and they are trying to get Carpenter to do the score.
Bloomhouse is producing it with Miramax and they are trying to get Carpenter to do the score.
One of the most talented young voices in modern horror, Adam Wingard (The Guest, You're Next) has a new horror movie coming out in September called The Woods.
It already was shown a few times and it's creating quite a buzz, seems like it could be great.
OK, I´m going to talk about a potential big spoiler so be warned because, while it is only a rumor at this point, it could be a terrific reveal in the movie.
There's also a big theory around the movie going around that this is actually a sequel to the Blair Witch Project. The stick man figure can be spotted in a couple of frames in the trailer and there a few other details that seem to point to this being part of the Blair Witch universe. The rumor of a new Blair Witch isn't new and the connection between The Woods and Blair Witch first popped up a year ago, way before anyone had seen anything about The Woods. Given that people who saw the movie already claim that there is a big secret which has given even more strength to the rumor.
I would love that to be true.
It already was shown a few times and it's creating quite a buzz, seems like it could be great.
OK, I´m going to talk about a potential big spoiler so be warned because, while it is only a rumor at this point, it could be a terrific reveal in the movie.
There's also a big theory around the movie going around that this is actually a sequel to the Blair Witch Project. The stick man figure can be spotted in a couple of frames in the trailer and there a few other details that seem to point to this being part of the Blair Witch universe. The rumor of a new Blair Witch isn't new and the connection between The Woods and Blair Witch first popped up a year ago, way before anyone had seen anything about The Woods. Given that people who saw the movie already claim that there is a big secret which has given even more strength to the rumor.
I would love that to be true.
That rumor is interesting. I like this style of deceptive marketing, if that turns out to be the case. Feels like a time where one could actually be surprised and not have every single detail ruined via the marketing.
---
The more that I think about The Purge: Election Year, the more disdain I feel towards the writer/s. It's such an angry script, and yet it spits on one of the main groups it was putting a focus on (the marginalized). It has so fucking much to say, and then doesn't fully commit. Why? Are you actually mad, or are you just now doing it, because it seems cool and you can collect that bag? I don't like The Purge 1...at all, really. Even with it being one of the weaker home invasion films that I've seen, it was easily more vocal than the majority of them (maybe all). I honestly give them credit for that.
I don't think I've felt this confused about a movie, in a while. Maybe it's the fact that it borrows way to heavily from reality and my ability to just see it for what it is, is just flat out broken right now. Maybe I expected to much, coming off of the second film and how the poor were treated with care in representation. They were a mix of people (minority and non) all going through the same hell. Most importantly, they all felt as realistic as one could, considering the setting. They were the type of people that you would see on any stroll through any city. Here, it's like he flipped through a fucking history book and borrowed from the more nightmarish images and said fuck all of the context.
The L.A. Riots are revisited through the eyes of Hanna Barbera, with the conflict between minorities glossed over for...a safer and more juvenile conflict between minorities. This time, it isn't media brainwashing, social tensions, or government interference that are the cause. It's a high school girl, rebelling against authority. Well, it would be, if she wasn't an actual thief. She wasn't profiled, or unfairly accused of any crime. She got caught and tried to yell rape. The images from the rooftops in the history book are then recreated and every thing plays out like a music video summary of Assault on Precinct 13, and feminism for the male gaze (though a super badass comes from this), mixed with the depression of that era, without any of the horror..in what was originally a horror franchise. In a movie that is so anti-one percent, anti-gun, anti-nationalism, anti-violence and anti-religious extremism...that was the best use of that moment in time? That's indicative of what the movie does with it's spark-notes of historical atrocities and largely my problem with the film. It's the Assassin's Creed of historical iconography, without the video game backdrop to divert focus from it's lackadaisical camp fire retelling of the horrors that various groups of people faced through-out the ages, or said group's feelings toward it's ruling government.
Terrifying pages from the history books are treated as side distractions in a "haunted" Halloween carnival. Good ideas are given life for a brief moment (The idea that America is a tourist attraction during Purge day is amazing and yet...) and are left to die shortly-there-after. The moments of genuine humor are offset with forced stereotypical prattle (A Crip call is an actual dues ex machina). Though filled with small moments of genuine dread and extreme terror, it largely feels the need to be more cool than horrifying. At times, it goes from satire of the current climate to Escape from L.A. giving a speech in a social studies class. It's tone conflicts with itself at the wrong moments.
-Third Act Spoilers that are major-
I can count on one hand, the number of horror/action horror films that I've seen that have given minority characters the amount of life that this movie/series has. For that, bravo. Even with some of the bullshit stereotypes that pervade it (it being this film and not the others), the minorities were all human (well most of them) So...when what happens to a specific group in the film happens…I couldn't help but feel extreme disappointment. Not because calamity strikes, but the reasoning. Sacrificing both minority leads just so that the white messiahs could go to victory didn't sit right…at all. It's not because I felt like they were off limits, because I don't. They were damn near super heroes. It's more because they both died doing the exact same fucking thing, for the exact same fucking reason (literally). The scenes were fucking identical. Then, the raiding of that specific group is off paneled. All of that build up from the prior movie and all we got is the politician shaking hands and minorities and poor people only getting a W via proxy. I get that that's the only perceived reality, but to not even show the rest of the people fighting back...come on.
-End Spoilers-
And yet, for all of my issues with the movie, I enjoyed my time with it. When it wasn't trying to go beyond the pale with it's satire, it's a fun action romp through a playground of America's worst moments in time. Frank and Elizabeth had good chemistry (even though she was kinda underused). The majority of the acting was good. The characters were all lively and easy to relate to. The director does a good job of selling the universe, while dealing with some of the questions people had about the other films (why don't they just leave the country). While it's handling of it's subject matter is about as subtle as being beaten with a brick, it's effective in it's ostentatious form. The more organic moments of humor gel with the fantastical setting and break apart the constant onslaught of cynicism. It's a movie of great ideas with some spotty execution.
If they continue on with the franchise, I hope they dial back some of the more ridiculous action set pieces and get more creative with the camera work.
Also...Lady / Little Death needs a movie. She's the Snake Plissken of the franchise.
The Purge Nurses also need a film...
And it needs a movie about tourists from other countries coming to Purge and then going back to their foreign lands.
Also about the Founding Fathers coming into power.
So many places to take it, while keeping up the commentary.
---
The more that I think about The Purge: Election Year, the more disdain I feel towards the writer/s. It's such an angry script, and yet it spits on one of the main groups it was putting a focus on (the marginalized). It has so fucking much to say, and then doesn't fully commit. Why? Are you actually mad, or are you just now doing it, because it seems cool and you can collect that bag? I don't like The Purge 1...at all, really. Even with it being one of the weaker home invasion films that I've seen, it was easily more vocal than the majority of them (maybe all). I honestly give them credit for that.
I don't think I've felt this confused about a movie, in a while. Maybe it's the fact that it borrows way to heavily from reality and my ability to just see it for what it is, is just flat out broken right now. Maybe I expected to much, coming off of the second film and how the poor were treated with care in representation. They were a mix of people (minority and non) all going through the same hell. Most importantly, they all felt as realistic as one could, considering the setting. They were the type of people that you would see on any stroll through any city. Here, it's like he flipped through a fucking history book and borrowed from the more nightmarish images and said fuck all of the context.
The L.A. Riots are revisited through the eyes of Hanna Barbera, with the conflict between minorities glossed over for...a safer and more juvenile conflict between minorities. This time, it isn't media brainwashing, social tensions, or government interference that are the cause. It's a high school girl, rebelling against authority. Well, it would be, if she wasn't an actual thief. She wasn't profiled, or unfairly accused of any crime. She got caught and tried to yell rape. The images from the rooftops in the history book are then recreated and every thing plays out like a music video summary of Assault on Precinct 13, and feminism for the male gaze (though a super badass comes from this), mixed with the depression of that era, without any of the horror..in what was originally a horror franchise. In a movie that is so anti-one percent, anti-gun, anti-nationalism, anti-violence and anti-religious extremism...that was the best use of that moment in time? That's indicative of what the movie does with it's spark-notes of historical atrocities and largely my problem with the film. It's the Assassin's Creed of historical iconography, without the video game backdrop to divert focus from it's lackadaisical camp fire retelling of the horrors that various groups of people faced through-out the ages, or said group's feelings toward it's ruling government.
Terrifying pages from the history books are treated as side distractions in a "haunted" Halloween carnival. Good ideas are given life for a brief moment (The idea that America is a tourist attraction during Purge day is amazing and yet...) and are left to die shortly-there-after. The moments of genuine humor are offset with forced stereotypical prattle (A Crip call is an actual dues ex machina). Though filled with small moments of genuine dread and extreme terror, it largely feels the need to be more cool than horrifying. At times, it goes from satire of the current climate to Escape from L.A. giving a speech in a social studies class. It's tone conflicts with itself at the wrong moments.
-Third Act Spoilers that are major-
I can count on one hand, the number of horror/action horror films that I've seen that have given minority characters the amount of life that this movie/series has. For that, bravo. Even with some of the bullshit stereotypes that pervade it (it being this film and not the others), the minorities were all human (well most of them) So...when what happens to a specific group in the film happens…I couldn't help but feel extreme disappointment. Not because calamity strikes, but the reasoning. Sacrificing both minority leads just so that the white messiahs could go to victory didn't sit right…at all. It's not because I felt like they were off limits, because I don't. They were damn near super heroes. It's more because they both died doing the exact same fucking thing, for the exact same fucking reason (literally). The scenes were fucking identical. Then, the raiding of that specific group is off paneled. All of that build up from the prior movie and all we got is the politician shaking hands and minorities and poor people only getting a W via proxy. I get that that's the only perceived reality, but to not even show the rest of the people fighting back...come on.
-End Spoilers-
And yet, for all of my issues with the movie, I enjoyed my time with it. When it wasn't trying to go beyond the pale with it's satire, it's a fun action romp through a playground of America's worst moments in time. Frank and Elizabeth had good chemistry (even though she was kinda underused). The majority of the acting was good. The characters were all lively and easy to relate to. The director does a good job of selling the universe, while dealing with some of the questions people had about the other films (why don't they just leave the country). While it's handling of it's subject matter is about as subtle as being beaten with a brick, it's effective in it's ostentatious form. The more organic moments of humor gel with the fantastical setting and break apart the constant onslaught of cynicism. It's a movie of great ideas with some spotty execution.
If they continue on with the franchise, I hope they dial back some of the more ridiculous action set pieces and get more creative with the camera work.
Also...Lady / Little Death needs a movie. She's the Snake Plissken of the franchise.
The Purge Nurses also need a film...
And it needs a movie about tourists from other countries coming to Purge and then going back to their foreign lands.
Also about the Founding Fathers coming into power.
So many places to take it, while keeping up the commentary.
Does The Blair Witch Project still hold up to this day? Never watched it because I was just a kid when it released
By Elchele Go To PostDoes The Blair Witch Project still hold up to this day? Never watched it because I was just a kid when it released
Still decent, hope you haven't been spoiled though.
Another note, just started seeing The Witch, holy fuck at these dialogue lines.
Can't understand 90% of what they're saying.
BWP is worth a watch. While it might not be as effective as it once was, it's probably the most influential horror movie of the past 20 years.
Being in MD when that movie released was one of those, "you had to be there" experiences. I remember people talking about that forest on the news. Some people were wondering if it was real or not. You had the rumors of what all went down. That happened right before the explosion of the internet. Fun times.