"Halloween II" starts right where the first film left off. Laurie Strode has just been attacked by The Shape, and after he is shot six times, she is taken to Haddonfield Memorial Hospital to recover. However, the residents of Haddonfield don't know that Michael is very much alive, and he's on his way to Haddonfield Memorial to find his sister and finish what he started earlier that night. On the prowl is Dr. Sam Loomis, Michael's doctor, who hopes to God that he can catch Michael before more people are killed.
After I saw "Halloween," I was scared to death of Michael Myers. He's the original boogeyman of horror cinema. So I immediately got a hold of "Halloween II," my expectations low due to how much people hate sequels. However, Part 2 came as a very big surprise. It's actually quite entertaining. It doesn't have the tremendous amount of tension the first movie had, but I didn't expect that coming from the sequel. What it does have is plenty of suspense built up to the climax and enough gore to satisfy any horror hound.
Returning for Part 2 are Donald Pleasence, always a pleasure, as Dr. Loomis, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie and Charles Cyphers as Sheriff Brackett. The rest of the cast includes Lance Guest as Jimmy, Pamela Susan Shoop as Karen, Tawny Moyer as Jill and more. Michael Myers, this time around, is played by stuntman Dick Warlock. He isn't Nick Castle, but he's still pretty scary as The Shape.
So what if it isn't the first film? "Halloween 2" is still a fun, scary, and entertaining sequel that I reccomend for everybody who's a fan of the franchise. Check it out.
Monday, January 18, 2010
John Carpenter's Halloween: An Everlasting Slasher Masterpiece
“I met him fifteen years ago. I was told there was nothing left. No conscious, no reason, no understanding. Even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, good or evil, right or wrong. I met this six year old child with this blank, pale, emotionless face…and the blackest eyes…the devil’s eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because I realized that what was living behind that boy’s eyes was purely…and simply…evil.”
-Dr. Sam Loomis
It is dark and cold. A young woman is cowering in the corner of the closet as a shadow glides across the camera. A madman enters with a large kitchen knife as she screams. Can you guess what movie you’re in? That’s right. You’re in "Halloween." Even though there were movies before it that captured gut-wrenching terror, such as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Black Christmas," Halloween is the film that started it all. It was scary, suspenseful, and nightmarish, and it still is to this day. It gave birth to countless imitators, a legion of dedicated fans, over 9 movies, including a remake, and a movie villain that would forever haunt us….a villain by the name of Michael Myers.
In 1963, a little boy named Michael Myers murders his promiscuous sister, Judith, on Halloween night with a sharp knife. He is then confined to Smith’s Grove Sanitarium for 15 years. Fast forward to 1978, and right before October 31st, he escapes and returns to his ordinary hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois. While his psychologist, Dr. Sam Loomis, struggles to find his dangerous patient, the madman sets his sights on three teenage girls: Laurie Strode, an innocent, sweet young lady, and her party-animal pals Annie Brackett and Lynda van der Klok. Tonight is Halloween, and Laurie and Annie are scheduled to babysit while Lynda decides to mess around with her boyfriend, Bob. What the teens don't know is that a phantom is in their midst, and he has plans for them tonight. This is one Halloween nobody is going to forget.
Roger Ebert has called "Halloween" "a movie so scary, I'd compare it to Psycho." I couldn't agree more. This classic gem is effective, terrifying, suspenseful, and downright creepy. And you get all of those words when you have John Carpenter at the camera. Carpenter's style is fresh and smart, and he makes sure that "Halloween" never reaches the point of campiness.
Michael Myers has always been a marketing icon. Kids wear costumes resembling the masked slasher, and everyone knows who he is. Until they watch "Halloween" for the first time, and find out that this monster is a lot more than an icon. Michael Myers really is the most terrifying boogeyman in the history of horror films. Why? Well, first off, he has no motive. A villain is so much scarier when he or she doesn't have a reason for the way they are. When Michael attacks, he doesn't hesitate. He gets right down to business. Second of all, he is unstoppable. You can shoot him six times, poke his eye out, stab him to death, etc., and this guy still keeps coming back. He also blends in with the setting. He appears when you never think he can. And third of all, his mask is one of the creepiest masks in horror history. The mask has no expression, and when you look into his eyes, you see nothing. Only blackness. For these reasons, he is called The Shape.
Donald Pleasence, who went on to star in other "Halloween" movies, stars as Dr. Loomis, and this role is the one that everyone remembers. Screw the James Bond movies! It's all about Dr. Loomis. Never, absolutely never, does Pleasence's performance come off as hammy or exaggerated. He plays this character with subtlety, which is why his performance is so great. Jamie Lee Curtis, in the role that made her famous, is perfect as Laurie. They don't call her The Scream Queen for nothing. When Jamie Lee has to scream, she gets it right. But her performance as Laurie is one of the best in her career. She makes this character human and real, persuading the audience to care. Nancy Loomis and P.J. Soles are great fun to watch as Annie and Lynda. And Charles Cyphers is very good as Sheriff Leigh Brackett, Annie's father.
And last but not least, the music is so effective. John Carpenter's music shows a sign of utter dread and fear. As Alan Howarth(composer for "Halloween 2," "Halloween 4," "Halloween 5" and "Halloween 6")once said, "it signifies terror. It signifies that something is coming." Tyler Bates did a good job with the music for the remake, but it's always been about Carpenter's unforgettable score, which brings chills to the spine without needing to watch the film.
At a low budget of only $300,000, John Carpenter and his partner, Debra Hill, had the least expectations for "Halloween." After getting panned by critics, Carpenter caught wind of an upcoming success with the film after hearing that it got re-reviewed by The Village Voice. Sooner or later, the film brought in over 55 million, making it the highest-grossing independent film until the release of "The Blair Witch Project."
With a great cast, scares throughout, a simple story done in a great way, one of the most notorious villains in cinema, superb direction and music that is probably as scary as the movie itself, "Halloween" will always be a genre-defining classic. It still holds up 30 years later, and it certainly shows no sign of aging.
-Dr. Sam Loomis
It is dark and cold. A young woman is cowering in the corner of the closet as a shadow glides across the camera. A madman enters with a large kitchen knife as she screams. Can you guess what movie you’re in? That’s right. You’re in "Halloween." Even though there were movies before it that captured gut-wrenching terror, such as "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Black Christmas," Halloween is the film that started it all. It was scary, suspenseful, and nightmarish, and it still is to this day. It gave birth to countless imitators, a legion of dedicated fans, over 9 movies, including a remake, and a movie villain that would forever haunt us….a villain by the name of Michael Myers.
In 1963, a little boy named Michael Myers murders his promiscuous sister, Judith, on Halloween night with a sharp knife. He is then confined to Smith’s Grove Sanitarium for 15 years. Fast forward to 1978, and right before October 31st, he escapes and returns to his ordinary hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois. While his psychologist, Dr. Sam Loomis, struggles to find his dangerous patient, the madman sets his sights on three teenage girls: Laurie Strode, an innocent, sweet young lady, and her party-animal pals Annie Brackett and Lynda van der Klok. Tonight is Halloween, and Laurie and Annie are scheduled to babysit while Lynda decides to mess around with her boyfriend, Bob. What the teens don't know is that a phantom is in their midst, and he has plans for them tonight. This is one Halloween nobody is going to forget.
Roger Ebert has called "Halloween" "a movie so scary, I'd compare it to Psycho." I couldn't agree more. This classic gem is effective, terrifying, suspenseful, and downright creepy. And you get all of those words when you have John Carpenter at the camera. Carpenter's style is fresh and smart, and he makes sure that "Halloween" never reaches the point of campiness.
Michael Myers has always been a marketing icon. Kids wear costumes resembling the masked slasher, and everyone knows who he is. Until they watch "Halloween" for the first time, and find out that this monster is a lot more than an icon. Michael Myers really is the most terrifying boogeyman in the history of horror films. Why? Well, first off, he has no motive. A villain is so much scarier when he or she doesn't have a reason for the way they are. When Michael attacks, he doesn't hesitate. He gets right down to business. Second of all, he is unstoppable. You can shoot him six times, poke his eye out, stab him to death, etc., and this guy still keeps coming back. He also blends in with the setting. He appears when you never think he can. And third of all, his mask is one of the creepiest masks in horror history. The mask has no expression, and when you look into his eyes, you see nothing. Only blackness. For these reasons, he is called The Shape.
Donald Pleasence, who went on to star in other "Halloween" movies, stars as Dr. Loomis, and this role is the one that everyone remembers. Screw the James Bond movies! It's all about Dr. Loomis. Never, absolutely never, does Pleasence's performance come off as hammy or exaggerated. He plays this character with subtlety, which is why his performance is so great. Jamie Lee Curtis, in the role that made her famous, is perfect as Laurie. They don't call her The Scream Queen for nothing. When Jamie Lee has to scream, she gets it right. But her performance as Laurie is one of the best in her career. She makes this character human and real, persuading the audience to care. Nancy Loomis and P.J. Soles are great fun to watch as Annie and Lynda. And Charles Cyphers is very good as Sheriff Leigh Brackett, Annie's father.
And last but not least, the music is so effective. John Carpenter's music shows a sign of utter dread and fear. As Alan Howarth(composer for "Halloween 2," "Halloween 4," "Halloween 5" and "Halloween 6")once said, "it signifies terror. It signifies that something is coming." Tyler Bates did a good job with the music for the remake, but it's always been about Carpenter's unforgettable score, which brings chills to the spine without needing to watch the film.
At a low budget of only $300,000, John Carpenter and his partner, Debra Hill, had the least expectations for "Halloween." After getting panned by critics, Carpenter caught wind of an upcoming success with the film after hearing that it got re-reviewed by The Village Voice. Sooner or later, the film brought in over 55 million, making it the highest-grossing independent film until the release of "The Blair Witch Project."
With a great cast, scares throughout, a simple story done in a great way, one of the most notorious villains in cinema, superb direction and music that is probably as scary as the movie itself, "Halloween" will always be a genre-defining classic. It still holds up 30 years later, and it certainly shows no sign of aging.
"The House On Sorority Row:" A House Worth Visiting!
"The House On Sorority Row" is above your average slasher flick. It's up there with "Halloween's" followers like "Friday the 13th," "Prom Night," "My Bloody Valentine" and "Sleepaway Camp." Unlike most slice-and-dice movies, "The House On Sorority Row" actually has a plot, some good acting from the cast, a mysterious killer, and it's not that bloody.
The plot revolves around the 7 girls of Theta-Pi sorority: Katey, Vicki, Liz, Diane, Stevie, Jeanie and Morgan. At the end of their college days, the Thetas decide to have one last fling before they go. However, their evil house mother, Mrs. Slater, is willing to do anything to stop the festivities. But that doesn't mean that the Thetas don't have a plan of their own. They decide to pull a very cruel prank on Mrs. Slater, which is guaranteed to work perfectly. But the prank goes too far, and it results in Mrs. Slater's death. Afraid that the police will suspect them, the girls hide Mrs. Slater's body in the pool. They will have their party and will get rid of the corpse in the morning. Unfortunately, somebody knows what they did, and that person decides that they're going to make the girls of Theta-Pi pay for what they did.
"The House On Sorority Row" is very similar to "Prom Night" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer." However, "Prom Night" and its successor were there before the 1997 box-office smash.
The cast is well-chosen with Kate MacNeil as Katey, Eileen Davidson as Vicki, and the rest of the sorority girls are not bad.
"The House On Sorority Row" does have its flaws, but they are only minor. One of the girls has almost zero lines of dialogue, the film drags just a little bit, and it's so obvious that Lois Kelso Hunt's(who played Mrs. Slater) voice is entirely dubbed, since director Mark Rosman says that her voice was not scary enough for the role. But I did not pay attention to these issues, and I really enjoyed the movie.
The result: Sometimes, what a slasher fan needs is a little bit more than just a hack-em-up film. Some genre fanatics might look for a slasher-thriller. "The House On Sorority Row" is that movie. It offers suspense, a little bit of gore, some of the inevitable female nudity, good characters and a creepy villain. Not to be missed.
The plot revolves around the 7 girls of Theta-Pi sorority: Katey, Vicki, Liz, Diane, Stevie, Jeanie and Morgan. At the end of their college days, the Thetas decide to have one last fling before they go. However, their evil house mother, Mrs. Slater, is willing to do anything to stop the festivities. But that doesn't mean that the Thetas don't have a plan of their own. They decide to pull a very cruel prank on Mrs. Slater, which is guaranteed to work perfectly. But the prank goes too far, and it results in Mrs. Slater's death. Afraid that the police will suspect them, the girls hide Mrs. Slater's body in the pool. They will have their party and will get rid of the corpse in the morning. Unfortunately, somebody knows what they did, and that person decides that they're going to make the girls of Theta-Pi pay for what they did.
"The House On Sorority Row" is very similar to "Prom Night" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer." However, "Prom Night" and its successor were there before the 1997 box-office smash.
The cast is well-chosen with Kate MacNeil as Katey, Eileen Davidson as Vicki, and the rest of the sorority girls are not bad.
"The House On Sorority Row" does have its flaws, but they are only minor. One of the girls has almost zero lines of dialogue, the film drags just a little bit, and it's so obvious that Lois Kelso Hunt's(who played Mrs. Slater) voice is entirely dubbed, since director Mark Rosman says that her voice was not scary enough for the role. But I did not pay attention to these issues, and I really enjoyed the movie.
The result: Sometimes, what a slasher fan needs is a little bit more than just a hack-em-up film. Some genre fanatics might look for a slasher-thriller. "The House On Sorority Row" is that movie. It offers suspense, a little bit of gore, some of the inevitable female nudity, good characters and a creepy villain. Not to be missed.
The Fog: Suspenseful, Creepy, Scary! Another Masterpiece From The Master of Horror!
After the wonderful success of the 1978 classic "Halloween," John Carpenter and his pal, Debra Hill, decided to set up another horror movie. But this time, it would be an old-fashioned ghost story titled "The Fog." To this day, "The Fog" is one of the most impressive ghost stories ever made.
Enter the nice, quiet coastal town of Antonio Bay. Today is the town's 100th anniversary. A group of residents are celebrating, including sexy radio DJ Stevie Wayne, normal local Nick Castle, the sweet hitchhiker Elizabeth Solley, and the priest Father Malone. Even though it is Antonio Bay's birthday, nothing is right. Under this celebration lies a terrible secret. And it begins to show when an ominous fog bank begins to envelop the town with terror. What is in the fog? What does it want? And can it be stopped?
You can't compare "The Fog" to "Halloween" because Carpenter builds you up differently with it. Instead of evil in the form of a human being, Carpenter takes inspiration from the tales of classic horror authors, such as H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, dealing with an otherworldly force that isn't human. This is a tale of revenge brought upon by a supernatural force that will not go away until it gets what it wants. As long as you don't compare it to "Halloween," "The Fog" is perfect.
The acting is rock-solid. Adrienne Barbeau("Creepshow" and "Someone's Watching Me"), gives a terrific performance as Stevie, and Jamie Lee Curtis is always a pleasure in horror, and she gives another great performance as Elizabeth. The rest of the cast is great, including Tom Atkins("Night of the Creeps," "Creepshow" and "My Bloody Valentine 3D"), Janet Leigh("Psycho"), Hal Holbrook("Creepshow"), and Nancy Loomis("Halloween").
And you can't review "The Fog" without saying that John Carpenter is flawless directing this movie. He offers plenty of suspense and scares, and not too much gore, and frankly, that's how I prefer it. He did it with "Halloween," and he does it again in this movie.
"The Fog" still holds up 30 years later. It's still scary, creepy, and suspenseful. They didn't call John Carpenter a master of horror for nothing. If you love good, old-fashioned tales of revenge, supernatural forces, and towns struggling to survive that force, then "The Fog" is highly recommended. It's a classic.
Enter the nice, quiet coastal town of Antonio Bay. Today is the town's 100th anniversary. A group of residents are celebrating, including sexy radio DJ Stevie Wayne, normal local Nick Castle, the sweet hitchhiker Elizabeth Solley, and the priest Father Malone. Even though it is Antonio Bay's birthday, nothing is right. Under this celebration lies a terrible secret. And it begins to show when an ominous fog bank begins to envelop the town with terror. What is in the fog? What does it want? And can it be stopped?
You can't compare "The Fog" to "Halloween" because Carpenter builds you up differently with it. Instead of evil in the form of a human being, Carpenter takes inspiration from the tales of classic horror authors, such as H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe, dealing with an otherworldly force that isn't human. This is a tale of revenge brought upon by a supernatural force that will not go away until it gets what it wants. As long as you don't compare it to "Halloween," "The Fog" is perfect.
The acting is rock-solid. Adrienne Barbeau("Creepshow" and "Someone's Watching Me"), gives a terrific performance as Stevie, and Jamie Lee Curtis is always a pleasure in horror, and she gives another great performance as Elizabeth. The rest of the cast is great, including Tom Atkins("Night of the Creeps," "Creepshow" and "My Bloody Valentine 3D"), Janet Leigh("Psycho"), Hal Holbrook("Creepshow"), and Nancy Loomis("Halloween").
And you can't review "The Fog" without saying that John Carpenter is flawless directing this movie. He offers plenty of suspense and scares, and not too much gore, and frankly, that's how I prefer it. He did it with "Halloween," and he does it again in this movie.
"The Fog" still holds up 30 years later. It's still scary, creepy, and suspenseful. They didn't call John Carpenter a master of horror for nothing. If you love good, old-fashioned tales of revenge, supernatural forces, and towns struggling to survive that force, then "The Fog" is highly recommended. It's a classic.
The Burning: A Slasher To Remember!
Put together the genius effects of gore-master Tom Savini, a creepy killer, gratuitous nudity, and a likable cast, including the debuts of very popular actors, and what do you get? You get "The Burning," a slasher movie no fan can resist.
After a prank goes wrong, Cropsy, the sadistic drunk caretaker, is horribly disfigured after being burned alive. Five years go by, and since skin grafts aren't working out for the caretaker of Camp Blackfoot, the hospital has to let Cropsy go. As Cropsy goes back out into the world, his feelings for revenge are more wild than ever. He heads to a new summer camp, Camp Stonewater, where it's all about having fun, making friends, and doing all the no-nos in the slasher book. A group of fresh-faced teens(including Todd, Michelle, Glazer, Sally, Eddie, Karen, and Alfred) are taking a trip to Devil's Creek, which is on the other side of the camp. As expected, kids have sex, smoke some pot, you get it. Well, too bad for the campers of Camp Stonewater, because they're very close to the old remains of Camp Blackfoot, and Cropsy is watching them, ready to tear them apart with his large garden shears.
Tom Savini has said that "The Burning" is not a "Friday the 13th" ripoff, even though it has those elements. He says that the Weinstein brothers("The Burning" was their first movie) already had the script for this movie before "F13." That really surprised me, since everybody knows "F13" for being one of the biggest slasher movies ever.
There are so many things that make "The Burning" stand on its own as a great slasher movie. First, there's the excellent effects of Tom Savini, who creates some of the most perfect kills of the 80's slasher trend, including the infamous "raft massacre" sequence.
Next, there's an awesome cast of young, talented teens. Brian Matthews and Leah Ayres are very good as Todd and Michelle, Larry Joshua is so lovably hateful as Glazer, Brian Backer of "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" fame makes a very good outcast as Alfred, Jason Alexander(George of "Seinfeld") is awesome as Dave, and so is a young Fisher Stevens("Short Circuit") as Woodstock, and if you look close enough, Holly Hunter is in there as Sophie. And Lou David is very creepy as Cropsy. The cast is gigantic, so I don't want to drag this paragraph out.
Also, there's the great direction of Tony Maylam, who never made another horror movie after "The Burning." He actually has some style, filming wonderful POV shots, those amazing kills, and he chose the right place to film the movie.
And finally, "The Burning" has a very creative, techno, vintage score by Rick Wakeman, who is popular for being in the hit rock band YES!. His music creates a remarkable sense of dread and tension. God, this guy should do more stuff in horror movies. Coming from "The Burning," he shows a lot of talent.
Although the script is a little bit thin, Tony Maylam's 1981 gore-ific slasher flick is one of the most awesome movies to come out of the genre. As much as I love "Friday the 13th", I'm considering that "The Burning" might be better than its predecessor. They're both equal, so I'm not going to compare them. If you're a true fan, you must have "The Burning" in your collection. This is slasher movie gold!
After a prank goes wrong, Cropsy, the sadistic drunk caretaker, is horribly disfigured after being burned alive. Five years go by, and since skin grafts aren't working out for the caretaker of Camp Blackfoot, the hospital has to let Cropsy go. As Cropsy goes back out into the world, his feelings for revenge are more wild than ever. He heads to a new summer camp, Camp Stonewater, where it's all about having fun, making friends, and doing all the no-nos in the slasher book. A group of fresh-faced teens(including Todd, Michelle, Glazer, Sally, Eddie, Karen, and Alfred) are taking a trip to Devil's Creek, which is on the other side of the camp. As expected, kids have sex, smoke some pot, you get it. Well, too bad for the campers of Camp Stonewater, because they're very close to the old remains of Camp Blackfoot, and Cropsy is watching them, ready to tear them apart with his large garden shears.
Tom Savini has said that "The Burning" is not a "Friday the 13th" ripoff, even though it has those elements. He says that the Weinstein brothers("The Burning" was their first movie) already had the script for this movie before "F13." That really surprised me, since everybody knows "F13" for being one of the biggest slasher movies ever.
There are so many things that make "The Burning" stand on its own as a great slasher movie. First, there's the excellent effects of Tom Savini, who creates some of the most perfect kills of the 80's slasher trend, including the infamous "raft massacre" sequence.
Next, there's an awesome cast of young, talented teens. Brian Matthews and Leah Ayres are very good as Todd and Michelle, Larry Joshua is so lovably hateful as Glazer, Brian Backer of "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" fame makes a very good outcast as Alfred, Jason Alexander(George of "Seinfeld") is awesome as Dave, and so is a young Fisher Stevens("Short Circuit") as Woodstock, and if you look close enough, Holly Hunter is in there as Sophie. And Lou David is very creepy as Cropsy. The cast is gigantic, so I don't want to drag this paragraph out.
Also, there's the great direction of Tony Maylam, who never made another horror movie after "The Burning." He actually has some style, filming wonderful POV shots, those amazing kills, and he chose the right place to film the movie.
And finally, "The Burning" has a very creative, techno, vintage score by Rick Wakeman, who is popular for being in the hit rock band YES!. His music creates a remarkable sense of dread and tension. God, this guy should do more stuff in horror movies. Coming from "The Burning," he shows a lot of talent.
Although the script is a little bit thin, Tony Maylam's 1981 gore-ific slasher flick is one of the most awesome movies to come out of the genre. As much as I love "Friday the 13th", I'm considering that "The Burning" might be better than its predecessor. They're both equal, so I'm not going to compare them. If you're a true fan, you must have "The Burning" in your collection. This is slasher movie gold!
Carrie: Classic King!
Based on the best-selling novel by master of horror Stephen King, who also wrote "The Shining" and "Christine," and from director Brian De Palma, director of "Dressed To Kill" and "The Black Dahlia," "Carrie" is a brilliant horror movie, but it is also a lot more than that. It's a very moving movie.
Carrie White is the outcast at Bates High. She is tormented excessively by her peers and her religious psycho mother. But one day, Carrie is given hope when Tommy Ross, the most popular boy in school, asks her to join him to the senior prom. They are even crowned king and queen. It is supposed to be a dream come true, until another prank is pulled, a terrible prank, and everybody begins to laugh, just like always. Tonight, Carrie has had enough. They don't know that she has a special power to make things move with her mind, and she's more than happy to use it tonight. Carrie will have her revenge, and they will all pay for what they did to her.
Most of "Carrie" is a disturbing drama. Carrie is a character you can relate to. You feel her pain, and how long she's suffered. And when prom night turns into a nightmare, you gladly cheer her on. Also, the material going on between her and her mother is extremely powerful stuff. But once "Carrie" turns into a horror film, you are on the edge of your seat, waiting for more.
The cast is flawless. Sissy Spacek gives a perfect performance in the role that made her a star. Piper Laurie has said that she performed Margaret White as a satirical approach. What her performance comes off as is definitely not satirical. The other kids are also very believable, including Nancy Allen and a young John Travolta as the main bad-asses of the movie.
Brian De Palma shows a ton of skill in "Carrie," including the split-screen moments at the prom. He loved the book, and he makes this movie as believable as possible.
"Carrie" is one of Stephen King's favorite movie adaptations, and it is also a favorite of mine. It stays relatively close to the book, and makes you feel for the characters. With a great atmosphere, and a blood-curdling third act, "Carrie" is recommended not just for Stephen King fans, but for everybody.
Carrie White is the outcast at Bates High. She is tormented excessively by her peers and her religious psycho mother. But one day, Carrie is given hope when Tommy Ross, the most popular boy in school, asks her to join him to the senior prom. They are even crowned king and queen. It is supposed to be a dream come true, until another prank is pulled, a terrible prank, and everybody begins to laugh, just like always. Tonight, Carrie has had enough. They don't know that she has a special power to make things move with her mind, and she's more than happy to use it tonight. Carrie will have her revenge, and they will all pay for what they did to her.
Most of "Carrie" is a disturbing drama. Carrie is a character you can relate to. You feel her pain, and how long she's suffered. And when prom night turns into a nightmare, you gladly cheer her on. Also, the material going on between her and her mother is extremely powerful stuff. But once "Carrie" turns into a horror film, you are on the edge of your seat, waiting for more.
The cast is flawless. Sissy Spacek gives a perfect performance in the role that made her a star. Piper Laurie has said that she performed Margaret White as a satirical approach. What her performance comes off as is definitely not satirical. The other kids are also very believable, including Nancy Allen and a young John Travolta as the main bad-asses of the movie.
Brian De Palma shows a ton of skill in "Carrie," including the split-screen moments at the prom. He loved the book, and he makes this movie as believable as possible.
"Carrie" is one of Stephen King's favorite movie adaptations, and it is also a favorite of mine. It stays relatively close to the book, and makes you feel for the characters. With a great atmosphere, and a blood-curdling third act, "Carrie" is recommended not just for Stephen King fans, but for everybody.
An American Werewolf In London: The Best Horror Comedy Ever!
After such infamous comedies as "National Lampoon's Animal House" and "The Kentucky-Fried Movie," who would have thought that John Landis would do a movie like "An American Werewolf In London?" I would never have known about John Landis's love for horror movies. This movie came as a gigantic surprise. This is what a horror-comedy should be.
Two backpackers, David and his roommate Jack, are walking along the moors of London when Jack is slaughtered by some kind of rabid animal. While Jack is dead, David gets off easy, only horribly bitten by the animal. Waking up in a hospital, David tries desperately to explain what attacked him. It could've been a giant dog. But then, David gets visits from Jack, his body disintegrating into a skeleton. Jack tells David repeatedly that he was bitten by a werewolf, and before a full moon approaches, he'd better kill himself. David doesn't believe Jack, until he really does turn into a werewolf, stalking the town.
The origin for "American Werewolf" is very interesting. Like David and Jack, John Landis was on the moors of London, when he saw a few gypsies burying a body feet first. The reason they buried the body feet first was so he couldn't get up and cause trouble. "Well, what if he did get up?" Landis said.
Landis does an awesome job of blending horror with gut-busting comedy, especially with scenes such as the porno theater and the nude transformation scene. He also offers some horror movie references, such as the original werewolf movie, "The Wolf Man." But the real star of the movie is Rick Baker's amazing makeup effects. They are very believable and they look so real. They didn't give Baker an Oscar for nothing.
The cast is very good, including David Noughton as David, Girffin Dunne as Jack and Jenny Agutter as Alex, David's love interest.
John Landis really is a master of horror. "An American Werewolf In London" shows how a horror-comedy should be done: with a black sense of humor, fantastic effects, plenty of nudity and very fun horror.
Two backpackers, David and his roommate Jack, are walking along the moors of London when Jack is slaughtered by some kind of rabid animal. While Jack is dead, David gets off easy, only horribly bitten by the animal. Waking up in a hospital, David tries desperately to explain what attacked him. It could've been a giant dog. But then, David gets visits from Jack, his body disintegrating into a skeleton. Jack tells David repeatedly that he was bitten by a werewolf, and before a full moon approaches, he'd better kill himself. David doesn't believe Jack, until he really does turn into a werewolf, stalking the town.
The origin for "American Werewolf" is very interesting. Like David and Jack, John Landis was on the moors of London, when he saw a few gypsies burying a body feet first. The reason they buried the body feet first was so he couldn't get up and cause trouble. "Well, what if he did get up?" Landis said.
Landis does an awesome job of blending horror with gut-busting comedy, especially with scenes such as the porno theater and the nude transformation scene. He also offers some horror movie references, such as the original werewolf movie, "The Wolf Man." But the real star of the movie is Rick Baker's amazing makeup effects. They are very believable and they look so real. They didn't give Baker an Oscar for nothing.
The cast is very good, including David Noughton as David, Girffin Dunne as Jack and Jenny Agutter as Alex, David's love interest.
John Landis really is a master of horror. "An American Werewolf In London" shows how a horror-comedy should be done: with a black sense of humor, fantastic effects, plenty of nudity and very fun horror.
Hell Night: Fun, Scary, Bloody, Atmospheric, Very Underrated!
"Hell Night." What an unbelievably cheesy title for a horror film. And a very delightful one too. This 1981 slasher ride could have been another carbon copy of all the other films that were taking over the 80s. But surprise, surprise..."Hell Night" is one of the best slasher films to come out of the 80s, along with "Friday the 13th," "Prom Night," "Terror Train," "The Burning," "He Knows You're Alone" and "Halloween II."
The plot is simple: Alpha Sigma Rho is having a blast with their new pledges. There are four of them: the sweet, fragile Marti, the calm and protective Jeff, the surfer dude Seth, and party girl Denise. The festivities are only the beginning of the four teens' transition to Alpha Sigma. In order to become a member, they must spend a night in the ominous Garth Manor, where Raymond Garth supposedly slaughtered his entire family and then committed suicide. No problem, right? Wrong! What starts out as a fun little prank slowly transforms into a fight for survival. Because Marti, Jeff, Seth and Denise are not alone in Garth Manor. Underneath the mansion, there is a disfigured maniac who doesn't enjoy having unwelcome guests in his house.
Like I said before, "Hell Night" could have been your average slasher film. But there are a lot of things going for it.
First off, the atmosphere is perfect. Garth Manor provides an unsafe, inescapable tone to it, and becomes quite a creepy place. Points for that!
Next up, you have a surprisingly good cast. It's always a joy to see Linda Blair in a horror film. Yep, I'm talking about the terrifying, possessed little girl named Regan from "The Exorcist." Blair can really scream and she's a very good crier. Peter Barton("Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter") does a good job as Jeff. Vincent Van Patten seemed a little bit uncomfortable playing Seth, and therefore, his performance does not come off as sympathetic, but a little bit unbelievable. However, he provides several funny moments, and in the end, he's not terrible. Suki Goodwin made a very nice party girl playing Denise. She had an elegant British accent, and I enjoyed her performance. And Kevin Brophy, Jenny Neumann, and Jimmy Sturtevant were entertaining in the roles of Peter, Scott, and May, the pranksters from Alpha Sigma, whose prank backfires violently.
Secondly, the music is awesome. It made me reminisce about John Carpenter's classic score for the 1978 masterpiece "Halloween." Techno and piano mix together perfectly for the music of the film.
And thirdly, at times, the movie was scary. The killer was weird and creepy, and although "Hell Night" was a slasher movie, it had the elements of a wonderful haunted house tale, like the 1958 schlock classic "The House on Haunted Hill." Garth Manor reminded me very much of that house, only "House on Haunted Hill" didn't have the scares that this movie did. Some of the kills and "BOO!" moments came out of unpredictability and excitement. I especially enjoyed the gore. Even more points for that!
There you have it. Despite a few flaws, including Vincent Van Patten's performance and just a little bit of slow pacing, "Hell Night" was a great surprise for me. So many trashy movies came out of 1981, and this movie showed that there was still life in a disreputable genre. It was atmospheric, scary, gory, and entertaining. I enjoyed every minute of it. "Hell Night" is a nifty little haunted house-style/slasher romp that puts movies like "Graduation Day" and "Girl's Nite Out" to shame. Slasher wannabees, eat your heart out.
P.S. Looking for another fun monster-slasher? Then Tobe Hooper's "The Funhouse" will go perfectly with "Hell Night."
The plot is simple: Alpha Sigma Rho is having a blast with their new pledges. There are four of them: the sweet, fragile Marti, the calm and protective Jeff, the surfer dude Seth, and party girl Denise. The festivities are only the beginning of the four teens' transition to Alpha Sigma. In order to become a member, they must spend a night in the ominous Garth Manor, where Raymond Garth supposedly slaughtered his entire family and then committed suicide. No problem, right? Wrong! What starts out as a fun little prank slowly transforms into a fight for survival. Because Marti, Jeff, Seth and Denise are not alone in Garth Manor. Underneath the mansion, there is a disfigured maniac who doesn't enjoy having unwelcome guests in his house.
Like I said before, "Hell Night" could have been your average slasher film. But there are a lot of things going for it.
First off, the atmosphere is perfect. Garth Manor provides an unsafe, inescapable tone to it, and becomes quite a creepy place. Points for that!
Next up, you have a surprisingly good cast. It's always a joy to see Linda Blair in a horror film. Yep, I'm talking about the terrifying, possessed little girl named Regan from "The Exorcist." Blair can really scream and she's a very good crier. Peter Barton("Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter") does a good job as Jeff. Vincent Van Patten seemed a little bit uncomfortable playing Seth, and therefore, his performance does not come off as sympathetic, but a little bit unbelievable. However, he provides several funny moments, and in the end, he's not terrible. Suki Goodwin made a very nice party girl playing Denise. She had an elegant British accent, and I enjoyed her performance. And Kevin Brophy, Jenny Neumann, and Jimmy Sturtevant were entertaining in the roles of Peter, Scott, and May, the pranksters from Alpha Sigma, whose prank backfires violently.
Secondly, the music is awesome. It made me reminisce about John Carpenter's classic score for the 1978 masterpiece "Halloween." Techno and piano mix together perfectly for the music of the film.
And thirdly, at times, the movie was scary. The killer was weird and creepy, and although "Hell Night" was a slasher movie, it had the elements of a wonderful haunted house tale, like the 1958 schlock classic "The House on Haunted Hill." Garth Manor reminded me very much of that house, only "House on Haunted Hill" didn't have the scares that this movie did. Some of the kills and "BOO!" moments came out of unpredictability and excitement. I especially enjoyed the gore. Even more points for that!
There you have it. Despite a few flaws, including Vincent Van Patten's performance and just a little bit of slow pacing, "Hell Night" was a great surprise for me. So many trashy movies came out of 1981, and this movie showed that there was still life in a disreputable genre. It was atmospheric, scary, gory, and entertaining. I enjoyed every minute of it. "Hell Night" is a nifty little haunted house-style/slasher romp that puts movies like "Graduation Day" and "Girl's Nite Out" to shame. Slasher wannabees, eat your heart out.
P.S. Looking for another fun monster-slasher? Then Tobe Hooper's "The Funhouse" will go perfectly with "Hell Night."
The Exorcist: Still Terrifying 35 Years Later!
Very rarely will a good horror film not depend on excessive special effects, have flawless performances, and a story that will hit you hard. So many horror movies are scary and fun, but "The Exorcist" isn't fun. It's positively one of the most terrifying, disturbing, and upsetting horror movies of the modern era.
Chris MacNeil is an actress. She lives in a very nice house in Washington with her adorable 12-year-old daughter Regan. All is well until Regan begins to display strange behavior. Soon, the behavior becomes creepy, and then it hits the point of being absolutely horrifying. Chris depends on faith and looks to Father Damien Karras for help. With the assistance of Father Merrin, the two come to a conclusion that the most demented force in the world is possessing Regan, and they must perform an exorcism in order to save her.
"The Exorcist" is scary because it goes where no movie has gone before. Stuff happened in the film that audiences had never seen, filling their minds with shock and disturbance. This is the most violent depiction of possession you will ever lay eyes on.
We feel sympathy for Chris, but our heart goes out most of all to Regan. This poor girl has done nothing wrong, and this demonic force inside her is putting her through Hell and back. And the way Regan's face changes is absolutely nerve-shattering. She displays so many obscene things that we begin to think that Regan no longer exists.
The movie is filmed in a very realistic way, almost like an actual documentary of an exorcism. It is done with hardly any special effects, despite the iconic "vomit," "crucifix masturbation," and "head-turning" scene. Director William Friedkin depends on characters and imagination to scare you, and he achieves all goals required for the film.
So much controversy revolves around "The Exorcist." Not only did it send religious people back to their church and cause many to try and sue Friedkin, but the movie, like "The Omen," has a so-called curse. Cast members Jack MacGowran and Lee J. Cobb died the year after the film, and reports of fire on the set shattered many. These are all just coincidences, and do not change anything about the film.
The cast is absolutely perfect. The role of Chris is the role that Ellen Burstyn will be remembered most for, and Linda Blair deserves an Oscar for her disturbing portrayal of Regan. The exorcists are also great. Father Karras is played by Jason Miller with emotion. Karras is a priest who is losing his faith, and this exorcism challenges him extremely. And Max von Sydow is excellent as Father Merrin.
"The Exorcist" is based on a best-selling novel by William Peter Blatty. Sure, the book was scary, but it's much more terrifying when something is seen on screen. This film remains a truly disturbing and eerie classic that always shocks me each time I watch it. It's essential for any fan of the genre. If you're a horror fan and you still haven't seen "The Exorcist," shame on you! "What an excellent day for an exorcism!"
Chris MacNeil is an actress. She lives in a very nice house in Washington with her adorable 12-year-old daughter Regan. All is well until Regan begins to display strange behavior. Soon, the behavior becomes creepy, and then it hits the point of being absolutely horrifying. Chris depends on faith and looks to Father Damien Karras for help. With the assistance of Father Merrin, the two come to a conclusion that the most demented force in the world is possessing Regan, and they must perform an exorcism in order to save her.
"The Exorcist" is scary because it goes where no movie has gone before. Stuff happened in the film that audiences had never seen, filling their minds with shock and disturbance. This is the most violent depiction of possession you will ever lay eyes on.
We feel sympathy for Chris, but our heart goes out most of all to Regan. This poor girl has done nothing wrong, and this demonic force inside her is putting her through Hell and back. And the way Regan's face changes is absolutely nerve-shattering. She displays so many obscene things that we begin to think that Regan no longer exists.
The movie is filmed in a very realistic way, almost like an actual documentary of an exorcism. It is done with hardly any special effects, despite the iconic "vomit," "crucifix masturbation," and "head-turning" scene. Director William Friedkin depends on characters and imagination to scare you, and he achieves all goals required for the film.
So much controversy revolves around "The Exorcist." Not only did it send religious people back to their church and cause many to try and sue Friedkin, but the movie, like "The Omen," has a so-called curse. Cast members Jack MacGowran and Lee J. Cobb died the year after the film, and reports of fire on the set shattered many. These are all just coincidences, and do not change anything about the film.
The cast is absolutely perfect. The role of Chris is the role that Ellen Burstyn will be remembered most for, and Linda Blair deserves an Oscar for her disturbing portrayal of Regan. The exorcists are also great. Father Karras is played by Jason Miller with emotion. Karras is a priest who is losing his faith, and this exorcism challenges him extremely. And Max von Sydow is excellent as Father Merrin.
"The Exorcist" is based on a best-selling novel by William Peter Blatty. Sure, the book was scary, but it's much more terrifying when something is seen on screen. This film remains a truly disturbing and eerie classic that always shocks me each time I watch it. It's essential for any fan of the genre. If you're a horror fan and you still haven't seen "The Exorcist," shame on you! "What an excellent day for an exorcism!"
The Mist: Stephen King Does It Again!
"Carrie." "The Shining." "Cujo." "Christine." "The Dead Zone." "Salem's Lot." "Misery." Such famous horror titles come from genre master Stephen King. Some have been hits, and some have been bombs. What we needed was a Stephen King movie that scared the daylights out of you, like so many of the original films from the 70's and 80's. The King subgenre needed new life. And that one movie that brought new life to that subgenre was "The Mist," a 2007 film that had all the ingredients for a perfect Stephen King film. The film isn't a hit...it's a BANG!
David Drayton, his son Billy and other locals of the town take a trip to the supermarket after a really bad storm takes place. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Dan Miller comes running into the store screaming "Something in the mist!" People are worried while others think it's a hoax. But soon, it becomes no joke once a swirling mist envelops the town, and the locals begin to see things in the mist, things beyond comprehension. Led by David, the locals must try and find a way to stay alive and escape whatever is attacking them.
This film reminded me very much of John Carpenter's "The Fog." "The Fog" is a classic horror film, but with "The Mist," Stephen King has crafted what might be the best monster movie ever made. That's right. I believe that it beats out films like "Cloverfield" or "The Blob." The film never becomes campy or cheesy, and it only has as much gore as the story requires.
The fear this film focuses on is the classic formula that author H.P. Lovecraft uses, and that is "fear of the unknown." Very rarely will we see what is inside the mist, and when we do, it is terrifying, especially when the monsters get into the supermarket.
Frank Darabont has written a wonderful script and does a great job directing, as he has done with Stephen King's earlier film "The Shawshank Redemption." He has filled the film with scares and atmosphere. Not a single character mutters a campy or cliched line of dialogue, and the monsters come out of the mist when they are least expected. It is an unpredictable and fresh film.
But the precise reason why I love the film as much as all of the other reasons why I love it is the acting is stellar. Thomas Jane does a great job as David, and the same goes for such people as Laurie Holden as Amanda, Andre Braugher as Brent, Toby Jones as Ollie, William Sadler as Jim, Frances Sternhagen as Irene, and Jeffrey DeMunn as Dan. The real star of the movie, though, is Marcia Gay Harden as religious nutcase Mrs. Carmody. You thought Piper Laurie was scary in King's first film "Carrie?" Ha! Wait until you see this woman. Mrs. Harden gives the best performance of her career and she is absolutely spine-tingling.
"The Mist" is the film that puts Stephen King back in the game. It has been named one of the best horror films of the decade by Dread Central and Horrorhound Magazine, and it has been critically acclaimed by many. This film has it all: scares, gore, atmosphere, great acting, a wonderful script and some of the most shocking monsters ever seen on film. Mr. King must be so proud of what Frank Darabont has done. "The Mist" is great horror!
David Drayton, his son Billy and other locals of the town take a trip to the supermarket after a really bad storm takes place. Everything seems to be going smoothly until Dan Miller comes running into the store screaming "Something in the mist!" People are worried while others think it's a hoax. But soon, it becomes no joke once a swirling mist envelops the town, and the locals begin to see things in the mist, things beyond comprehension. Led by David, the locals must try and find a way to stay alive and escape whatever is attacking them.
This film reminded me very much of John Carpenter's "The Fog." "The Fog" is a classic horror film, but with "The Mist," Stephen King has crafted what might be the best monster movie ever made. That's right. I believe that it beats out films like "Cloverfield" or "The Blob." The film never becomes campy or cheesy, and it only has as much gore as the story requires.
The fear this film focuses on is the classic formula that author H.P. Lovecraft uses, and that is "fear of the unknown." Very rarely will we see what is inside the mist, and when we do, it is terrifying, especially when the monsters get into the supermarket.
Frank Darabont has written a wonderful script and does a great job directing, as he has done with Stephen King's earlier film "The Shawshank Redemption." He has filled the film with scares and atmosphere. Not a single character mutters a campy or cliched line of dialogue, and the monsters come out of the mist when they are least expected. It is an unpredictable and fresh film.
But the precise reason why I love the film as much as all of the other reasons why I love it is the acting is stellar. Thomas Jane does a great job as David, and the same goes for such people as Laurie Holden as Amanda, Andre Braugher as Brent, Toby Jones as Ollie, William Sadler as Jim, Frances Sternhagen as Irene, and Jeffrey DeMunn as Dan. The real star of the movie, though, is Marcia Gay Harden as religious nutcase Mrs. Carmody. You thought Piper Laurie was scary in King's first film "Carrie?" Ha! Wait until you see this woman. Mrs. Harden gives the best performance of her career and she is absolutely spine-tingling.
"The Mist" is the film that puts Stephen King back in the game. It has been named one of the best horror films of the decade by Dread Central and Horrorhound Magazine, and it has been critically acclaimed by many. This film has it all: scares, gore, atmosphere, great acting, a wonderful script and some of the most shocking monsters ever seen on film. Mr. King must be so proud of what Frank Darabont has done. "The Mist" is great horror!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Friday the 13th Is Classic Slasher Fare!
*Warning. This review contains spoilers.*
John Carpenter's masterpiece "Halloween" is the movie that invented the slasher genre. Modern horror films wouldn't be as popular if it wasn't for the film's scary premise, great casting, and its iconic villain, Michael Myers. After "Halloween," a gigantic batch of slasher films came along, and the first one up was Sean S. Cunningham's horror favorite "Friday the 13th."
The plot: Ever since the terrible coincidences in 1958, Camp Crystal Lake has been shut down and hidden for years. Now, it is finally being reopened, and for Alice, Bill, Jack, Marcie, Brenda, Ned and Annie, it's going to be a dream come true being the counselors at the camp. But they didn't listen to the locals when they warned them that they were all doomed if they didn't get out. And today is Friday the 13th. And an unknown assailant is stalking the campsite, killing the counselors one by one. Who could it be? What do they want? And can anybody stop them?
Everybody remembers "Friday the 13th" for being the movie that spawned slasher icon Jason Voorhees. And as much as I love most of the sequels, what makes the first film a classic is the fact that Jason isn't the killer. It's really his mother, Pamela Voorhees, who is out to get all of the counselors that were off boning each other while her poor mongoloid son was drowning. "Mrs. Voorhees is the perfect mother," says actress Betsy Palmer, who starred as the killer. "Not only will she kill for her son. She'll die for him."
What set "Friday the 13th" apart from "Halloween" was that it was more graphicly violent than its predecessor. Thanks to makeup genius Tom Savini, this film has some of the coolest deaths ever.
"Friday the 13th" created the classic horror cliches that everyone should know by now. Repeat after me: "If you have sex, you die." "If you drink or do drugs, you die." "If you're curious about what's behind a door, you probably shouldn't open it." You get it.
The movie is gory, but unlike other 80's slashers, it has the ability to be scary when needed. Some of the death scenes made me jump, especially Kevin Bacon's famous demise. I was absolutely stunned when that arrow came up through the bed. Jason's eerie echoing still creeps me out, and aficionados love that ending.
The acting is decent, the deaths are great, and the scares are well-timed. Basically, "Friday the 13th" is a classic.
John Carpenter's masterpiece "Halloween" is the movie that invented the slasher genre. Modern horror films wouldn't be as popular if it wasn't for the film's scary premise, great casting, and its iconic villain, Michael Myers. After "Halloween," a gigantic batch of slasher films came along, and the first one up was Sean S. Cunningham's horror favorite "Friday the 13th."
The plot: Ever since the terrible coincidences in 1958, Camp Crystal Lake has been shut down and hidden for years. Now, it is finally being reopened, and for Alice, Bill, Jack, Marcie, Brenda, Ned and Annie, it's going to be a dream come true being the counselors at the camp. But they didn't listen to the locals when they warned them that they were all doomed if they didn't get out. And today is Friday the 13th. And an unknown assailant is stalking the campsite, killing the counselors one by one. Who could it be? What do they want? And can anybody stop them?
Everybody remembers "Friday the 13th" for being the movie that spawned slasher icon Jason Voorhees. And as much as I love most of the sequels, what makes the first film a classic is the fact that Jason isn't the killer. It's really his mother, Pamela Voorhees, who is out to get all of the counselors that were off boning each other while her poor mongoloid son was drowning. "Mrs. Voorhees is the perfect mother," says actress Betsy Palmer, who starred as the killer. "Not only will she kill for her son. She'll die for him."
What set "Friday the 13th" apart from "Halloween" was that it was more graphicly violent than its predecessor. Thanks to makeup genius Tom Savini, this film has some of the coolest deaths ever.
"Friday the 13th" created the classic horror cliches that everyone should know by now. Repeat after me: "If you have sex, you die." "If you drink or do drugs, you die." "If you're curious about what's behind a door, you probably shouldn't open it." You get it.
The movie is gory, but unlike other 80's slashers, it has the ability to be scary when needed. Some of the death scenes made me jump, especially Kevin Bacon's famous demise. I was absolutely stunned when that arrow came up through the bed. Jason's eerie echoing still creeps me out, and aficionados love that ending.
The acting is decent, the deaths are great, and the scares are well-timed. Basically, "Friday the 13th" is a classic.
The Stepfather: Great Acting and An Interesting Story Make It A Horror/Thriller Gem!
After two sequels and a remake, "The Stepfather" still holds up to this day as a very cool and creepy thriller. When I first saw it, for me, it was just decent. Then I watched it a second time, and it had gotten so much better. This movie is one of the best sleeper hits of the 80's.
Jerry Blake is the perfect family man. He has a great job in American Eagle realty, has a wonderful new wife, Susan, and a misunderstood daughter, Stephanie. Susan adores Jerry, but Stephanie is extremely awkward and weirded out by him. Right now, Jerry is close to having his perfect vision of "family." Until Stephanie catches wind of the man who cut his family into little pieces in another town. And other people begin to catch on to the fact that Jerry isn't at all what he seems to be. That's when Jerry really begins to snap. And if he can't have the American Dream, then he's going to make sure that he gets it, at all costs.
"The Stepfather" works very well not just as a horror film, but also as a thriller. It is extremely well-written, and the acting is perfection. It could have been a disaster, but it has tons of energy and when it's supposed to be scary, it is.
But the main attraction of the movie is Terry O' Quinn's disturbing performance as Jerry, before he went on to star in the hit TV series "Lost." He makes this character so believable and frightening and weird. When it came to Jerry boasting about having the perfect job, perfect family and the perfect life, he definitely came off as weird. But I never thought that he could actually kill someone. That's what makes O' Quinn so believable: You never suspect him of doing anything wrong. And when he has his first meltdown, in the iconic "basement" scene, you are on the edge of your seat, wondering when this guy is going to completely lose it.
The film was inspired by the real murders of John List, who had killed his family, and left his town in search of another one. He had disappeared for 18 years until he was discovered on "America's Most Wanted." This is a very interesting and original idea for a thriller, and Donald E. Westlake provides a very suspenseful script.
Despite some extremely cheesy music and some unnecessary but inevitable nude scenes, "The Stepfather" is an 80's gem that I enjoy very much. When the remake came out, I had known several people who still remember the original 1987 classic and O' Quinn's chilling portrayal of a madman. If you haven't seen the remake yet, you might want to wait until it comes out on DVD, and give the original "Stepfather" a try. It's worth it!
Jerry Blake: "Wait a minute....Who am I here?"
Jerry Blake is the perfect family man. He has a great job in American Eagle realty, has a wonderful new wife, Susan, and a misunderstood daughter, Stephanie. Susan adores Jerry, but Stephanie is extremely awkward and weirded out by him. Right now, Jerry is close to having his perfect vision of "family." Until Stephanie catches wind of the man who cut his family into little pieces in another town. And other people begin to catch on to the fact that Jerry isn't at all what he seems to be. That's when Jerry really begins to snap. And if he can't have the American Dream, then he's going to make sure that he gets it, at all costs.
"The Stepfather" works very well not just as a horror film, but also as a thriller. It is extremely well-written, and the acting is perfection. It could have been a disaster, but it has tons of energy and when it's supposed to be scary, it is.
But the main attraction of the movie is Terry O' Quinn's disturbing performance as Jerry, before he went on to star in the hit TV series "Lost." He makes this character so believable and frightening and weird. When it came to Jerry boasting about having the perfect job, perfect family and the perfect life, he definitely came off as weird. But I never thought that he could actually kill someone. That's what makes O' Quinn so believable: You never suspect him of doing anything wrong. And when he has his first meltdown, in the iconic "basement" scene, you are on the edge of your seat, wondering when this guy is going to completely lose it.
The film was inspired by the real murders of John List, who had killed his family, and left his town in search of another one. He had disappeared for 18 years until he was discovered on "America's Most Wanted." This is a very interesting and original idea for a thriller, and Donald E. Westlake provides a very suspenseful script.
Despite some extremely cheesy music and some unnecessary but inevitable nude scenes, "The Stepfather" is an 80's gem that I enjoy very much. When the remake came out, I had known several people who still remember the original 1987 classic and O' Quinn's chilling portrayal of a madman. If you haven't seen the remake yet, you might want to wait until it comes out on DVD, and give the original "Stepfather" a try. It's worth it!
Jerry Blake: "Wait a minute....Who am I here?"
Saturday, January 9, 2010
When A Stranger Calls: A Terrifying Horror/Thriller That Will Make You Sleep With The Lights On!
"When A Stranger Calls" is one of the creepiest movies I've ever seen. It's so scary, I get the chills just thinking about it. Two reasons why it's so scary is that it could happen and the film's opening is extremely intense.
The first act: Ordinary girl next door Jill Johnson is babysitting for the Mandrakis family. The children are upstairs, tucked safely into their beds. And Jill is able to make herself feel right at home. Until the calls start. At first, Jill isn't worried. But then the caller asks her "Have you checked the children?" over and over again. Scared out of her wits, Jill calls the police and has them trace the call. Jill is shocked when she finds out that the calls have been coming from inside the house!!!! The second act: After seven years, private detective John Clifford is hired to catch Curt Duncan, the stranger from that fateful night. Curt now roams the street, taunting a high-strung woman named Tracy. After Tracy has her encounter with Duncan, he disappears. The third act: Jill is now a mother of two kids and a loving wife to her husband, Stephen. She has forgotten about that night seven years ago, and is living a happy life. Until Curt Duncan tracks Jill down and the calls start all over again.
The original "When A Stranger Calls" is very underrated. Some have said that the movie falls downhill after the opening. But that's where they're wrong. The first act is absolutely bone chilling. I was biting my nails, it was so scary. The second act is very suspenseful. Not scary, but suspenseful. Then, the third act returns to the wonderful effectiveness of the first act.
One of the things that makes the opening of "When A Stranger Calls" work so well is the setting. We watch in fear as Jill sits on that couch, the light dimmed on her, and the rest of the house pitch-black. The first act becomes more and more claustrophobic as it progresses, leaving our nerves fried and wondering where the calls are coming from.
The cast is amazing, especially Carol Kane as Jill. Her eyes are so wide and her screams are so gut-wrenching. She should've gotten an Oscar. Charles Durning is very good as John Clifford and so is Colleen Dewhurst as Tracy. And Tony Beckley is really frightening as Curt Duncan.
Another thing that keeps the movie scary is its amazing score by Dana Kaproff. The music is so foreboding and adds a lot more tension and dread to the movie.
Director Fred Walton would go on to make "April Fool's Day," an 80's slasher bomb. It's too bad, because here, he has a lot of talent. "When A Stranger Calls" is very well-made, and Walton knows that every horror director should never let the viewer breath.
People need to realize that there's a lot more to "When A Stranger Calls" then just a fantastic opening. It stands on its own as a great thriller with tons of suspense, a remarkable cast, and a disturbing score. Avoid the remake at all costs. "When A Stranger Calls" is the invention of a masterful modern horror/thriller.
The first act: Ordinary girl next door Jill Johnson is babysitting for the Mandrakis family. The children are upstairs, tucked safely into their beds. And Jill is able to make herself feel right at home. Until the calls start. At first, Jill isn't worried. But then the caller asks her "Have you checked the children?" over and over again. Scared out of her wits, Jill calls the police and has them trace the call. Jill is shocked when she finds out that the calls have been coming from inside the house!!!! The second act: After seven years, private detective John Clifford is hired to catch Curt Duncan, the stranger from that fateful night. Curt now roams the street, taunting a high-strung woman named Tracy. After Tracy has her encounter with Duncan, he disappears. The third act: Jill is now a mother of two kids and a loving wife to her husband, Stephen. She has forgotten about that night seven years ago, and is living a happy life. Until Curt Duncan tracks Jill down and the calls start all over again.
The original "When A Stranger Calls" is very underrated. Some have said that the movie falls downhill after the opening. But that's where they're wrong. The first act is absolutely bone chilling. I was biting my nails, it was so scary. The second act is very suspenseful. Not scary, but suspenseful. Then, the third act returns to the wonderful effectiveness of the first act.
One of the things that makes the opening of "When A Stranger Calls" work so well is the setting. We watch in fear as Jill sits on that couch, the light dimmed on her, and the rest of the house pitch-black. The first act becomes more and more claustrophobic as it progresses, leaving our nerves fried and wondering where the calls are coming from.
The cast is amazing, especially Carol Kane as Jill. Her eyes are so wide and her screams are so gut-wrenching. She should've gotten an Oscar. Charles Durning is very good as John Clifford and so is Colleen Dewhurst as Tracy. And Tony Beckley is really frightening as Curt Duncan.
Another thing that keeps the movie scary is its amazing score by Dana Kaproff. The music is so foreboding and adds a lot more tension and dread to the movie.
Director Fred Walton would go on to make "April Fool's Day," an 80's slasher bomb. It's too bad, because here, he has a lot of talent. "When A Stranger Calls" is very well-made, and Walton knows that every horror director should never let the viewer breath.
People need to realize that there's a lot more to "When A Stranger Calls" then just a fantastic opening. It stands on its own as a great thriller with tons of suspense, a remarkable cast, and a disturbing score. Avoid the remake at all costs. "When A Stranger Calls" is the invention of a masterful modern horror/thriller.
The House of the Devil: 80's Style Horror That Rocks!
*Warning: This review may contain spoilers.*
2009 has been the greatest year for horror flicks, and some of the best ones at that. "Drag Me To Hell" marked Sam Raimi's return to horror, "My Bloody Valentine 3D" brought the 80's back, "The Last House on the Left" was a remake that was better than the original, and "Friday the 13th" gave us the debut of a scarier, more intimidating Jason. There are a lot more, but I don't want to drag out the review. Last night, I watched a great little gem called "The House of the Devil." The film had only gotten a limited release, but all the sites I go on(Bloody-Disgusting, Dread Central, Fangoria, Fearnet) all called it one of the most surprising horror movies in a while. I'm gonna have to agree with them on that.
The film is about a college girl named Samantha, who has just bought a house near her dorm. The deposit is 300 dollars, money that Samantha is very low on. An eclipse is coming along, and Samantha needs something to keep her busy. As she is walking outside her dorm, an ad for a babysitter catches her eye. Interested, Samantha takes the job. However, this is not your average babysitting job. The Ullman's live out in the middle of nowhere, the family is very strange, and there isn't even a child. Instead, Mr. and Mrs. Ullman have a mother who is old and an invalid. They just need Samantha to stay in the house and make sure she is alright. And the Ullman's are offering 400 dollars, which is enough for Samantha to pay for her new house. It's a pretty easy job: Just sit around the house, watch TV, order some pizza. Until there are strange noises in dark places, and when Samantha checks on the old woman, there is no response. What is going on with the Ullman's? And what is the real reason Samantha is there tonight? These people want her for a Satanic ritual, and it's pretty unlikely that Samantha will be able to get out alive.
"The House of the Devil" really surprised me because it is a horror movie that doesn't overdo things. There aren't any CGI effects and gore is very minimal. The one thing the film wants is to creep you out, and isn't that what horror movies are supposed to do?
The movie is made with a classic 80's feel. It doesn't feel like a movie that was made in 2009. There are the very cheesy opening credits with wacky techno music, the hairstyle, the setting, and there are no ipods. It all reminds me of the early 80's, which is one of the reasons why I love it so much.
"The House of the Devil" is a very creepy "things that go bump in the night" flick. It has the creepiness of "When A Stranger Calls," the smarts of a Polanski-esque horror film, and the fun of a "Tales From The Crypt" episode all combined. There will be moments when the camera zooms in on a kitchen sink with water dripping or a telephone that just keeps on ringing. Some of the best horror films use your sense of sound to the greatest ability to keep you on edge, and this film has that ability.
The cast is mostly unknown with a few entertaining cameos. Jocelin Donahue gives a wonderful performance as Samantha. She isn't like all of the other blonde bimbos in the "torture porn" genre. She is just vulnerable and at times strong. That's why I like her character so much. Tom Noonan and Mary Woronov are also very good as Mr. and Mrs. Ullman. Creepy religious freaks don't get any creepier than this. And keep an eye out for a cameo from Dee Wallace as the landlady.
When a movie like "The House of the Devil" is done with originality and skill, it's uncommon. It is a movie with tons of suspense, leading you up to a nerve-shattering finale. I loved the cast, I loved the score, and I loved the approach. "The House of the Devil" is a Satanic movie that for once in a while doesn't suck.
2009 has been the greatest year for horror flicks, and some of the best ones at that. "Drag Me To Hell" marked Sam Raimi's return to horror, "My Bloody Valentine 3D" brought the 80's back, "The Last House on the Left" was a remake that was better than the original, and "Friday the 13th" gave us the debut of a scarier, more intimidating Jason. There are a lot more, but I don't want to drag out the review. Last night, I watched a great little gem called "The House of the Devil." The film had only gotten a limited release, but all the sites I go on(Bloody-Disgusting, Dread Central, Fangoria, Fearnet) all called it one of the most surprising horror movies in a while. I'm gonna have to agree with them on that.
The film is about a college girl named Samantha, who has just bought a house near her dorm. The deposit is 300 dollars, money that Samantha is very low on. An eclipse is coming along, and Samantha needs something to keep her busy. As she is walking outside her dorm, an ad for a babysitter catches her eye. Interested, Samantha takes the job. However, this is not your average babysitting job. The Ullman's live out in the middle of nowhere, the family is very strange, and there isn't even a child. Instead, Mr. and Mrs. Ullman have a mother who is old and an invalid. They just need Samantha to stay in the house and make sure she is alright. And the Ullman's are offering 400 dollars, which is enough for Samantha to pay for her new house. It's a pretty easy job: Just sit around the house, watch TV, order some pizza. Until there are strange noises in dark places, and when Samantha checks on the old woman, there is no response. What is going on with the Ullman's? And what is the real reason Samantha is there tonight? These people want her for a Satanic ritual, and it's pretty unlikely that Samantha will be able to get out alive.
"The House of the Devil" really surprised me because it is a horror movie that doesn't overdo things. There aren't any CGI effects and gore is very minimal. The one thing the film wants is to creep you out, and isn't that what horror movies are supposed to do?
The movie is made with a classic 80's feel. It doesn't feel like a movie that was made in 2009. There are the very cheesy opening credits with wacky techno music, the hairstyle, the setting, and there are no ipods. It all reminds me of the early 80's, which is one of the reasons why I love it so much.
"The House of the Devil" is a very creepy "things that go bump in the night" flick. It has the creepiness of "When A Stranger Calls," the smarts of a Polanski-esque horror film, and the fun of a "Tales From The Crypt" episode all combined. There will be moments when the camera zooms in on a kitchen sink with water dripping or a telephone that just keeps on ringing. Some of the best horror films use your sense of sound to the greatest ability to keep you on edge, and this film has that ability.
The cast is mostly unknown with a few entertaining cameos. Jocelin Donahue gives a wonderful performance as Samantha. She isn't like all of the other blonde bimbos in the "torture porn" genre. She is just vulnerable and at times strong. That's why I like her character so much. Tom Noonan and Mary Woronov are also very good as Mr. and Mrs. Ullman. Creepy religious freaks don't get any creepier than this. And keep an eye out for a cameo from Dee Wallace as the landlady.
When a movie like "The House of the Devil" is done with originality and skill, it's uncommon. It is a movie with tons of suspense, leading you up to a nerve-shattering finale. I loved the cast, I loved the score, and I loved the approach. "The House of the Devil" is a Satanic movie that for once in a while doesn't suck.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Zombie's Halloween: Underrated And Fun, But Strictly For The Fans With An Open Mind
Some fans loved Rob Zombie's vision of the classic 1978 scare show while some absolutely hated it. Lucky for me, I'm one of the people who loved it, and I still do 2 years later. 2007's "Halloween" is very scary, filled with tension, has plenty of violence and gore and it has the most nudity I've seen for a horror film in years.
What Zombie does with his "Halloween" is he makes it his own. The 45-minute prologue introducing Michael as a child was unexpected and fun to watch. The rest of the movie was what Zombie would've done if he copied the original. However, he adds new elements to the last act that are original and frightening.
Tyler Mane dons the white mask this time around, and he depicts the scariest Michael in years. He's stronger and more angry than in any of the sequels he's been in. And he's tall, too. Michael slowly closes in on the camera, which creates tremendous claustrophobia. Points for that, Rob.
And this "Halloween" has a great, well-rounded cast of young and old stars. Malcolm MacDowell is always a pleasure to watch, and he's wonderful here as Dr. Loomis. I enjoy the new portrayal of Laurie Strode, which is played by the great Scout Taylor-Compton. She creates a different character from Jamie Lee Curtis's iconic heroine, and adds some spunk to her. And man, can Scout scream! And whenever you have Danielle Harris in a "Halloween" movie, it's a dream come true for the fans. Harris is awesome as Annie. The rest of the cast is perfect with Kristina Klebe as the bad girl Lynda, Sheri Moon Zombie(who, for once, is playing someone normal) as Michael's mom, Deborah, William Forsyth as Ronnie White, and Daeg Faerch is very believable as young Mikey. Along with those guys, Zombie adds some very famous horror stars that you never imagined would be in this. All in all, a perfect cast.
Zombie's vision of "Halloween" is never going to be the original, but then again, it wasn't intended to be. The 1978 film remains a classic. And for a movie of its time, 2007's "Halloween" couldn't be any more fun or scary. This one is no trick. It's a bona-fide treat!
What Zombie does with his "Halloween" is he makes it his own. The 45-minute prologue introducing Michael as a child was unexpected and fun to watch. The rest of the movie was what Zombie would've done if he copied the original. However, he adds new elements to the last act that are original and frightening.
Tyler Mane dons the white mask this time around, and he depicts the scariest Michael in years. He's stronger and more angry than in any of the sequels he's been in. And he's tall, too. Michael slowly closes in on the camera, which creates tremendous claustrophobia. Points for that, Rob.
And this "Halloween" has a great, well-rounded cast of young and old stars. Malcolm MacDowell is always a pleasure to watch, and he's wonderful here as Dr. Loomis. I enjoy the new portrayal of Laurie Strode, which is played by the great Scout Taylor-Compton. She creates a different character from Jamie Lee Curtis's iconic heroine, and adds some spunk to her. And man, can Scout scream! And whenever you have Danielle Harris in a "Halloween" movie, it's a dream come true for the fans. Harris is awesome as Annie. The rest of the cast is perfect with Kristina Klebe as the bad girl Lynda, Sheri Moon Zombie(who, for once, is playing someone normal) as Michael's mom, Deborah, William Forsyth as Ronnie White, and Daeg Faerch is very believable as young Mikey. Along with those guys, Zombie adds some very famous horror stars that you never imagined would be in this. All in all, a perfect cast.
Zombie's vision of "Halloween" is never going to be the original, but then again, it wasn't intended to be. The 1978 film remains a classic. And for a movie of its time, 2007's "Halloween" couldn't be any more fun or scary. This one is no trick. It's a bona-fide treat!
The Thing: Another Winner From Master of Horror John Carpenter
Putting "The Thing" into my DVD player, I knew that I was in for a great horror film. After all, it's John Carpenter, the man who brought us such classics as "Halloween" and "The Fog." My expectations were correct, and this 1982 spook-fest wound up being one of the creepiest horror films of the 80s.
Doing a special project in Antarctica, R.J. MacReady and his crew discover something hidden beneath the snow. It's what appears to be some kind of a ship, something believed to be dated more than 100,000 years old. MacReady and the others should have stayed away from the remains of that ship. Because now, there is an evil, alien force lurking around the base, taking form of the crew. The Thing could be anybody, and it's up to MacReady to find out who the next victim is.
"Halloween" has always been John Carpenter's scariest movie. What sets his other movies apart from his masterpiece is that they focus more on creeping the audience out than officially scaring them. No doubt, "The Thing" is a very frightening film. But why is it so frightening? There's plenty of gore in it, but Carpenter also wants to make the viewer very uncomfortable. Instead of scaring them, he creates the most horrific sense of paranoia anybody could imagine. The Thing could be me or your friend, and I found myself guessing who would be the next to fall prey to the alien force. The movie is very unpredictable, and I was on the edge of my seat.
The cast is very well-chosen, with great performances by Kurt Russell, Keith David, Richard Masur, and more. These are sympathetic characters, and I never wanted any of them to die.
One word I can say for Rob Bottin's special effects and makeup is: amazing. The moments when The Thing attacked were strangely believable, and I could feel the effects. Points to Bottin for creating superior effects.
An awesome cast, a great story, a terrifying sense of paranoia, and remarkable special effects make 1982's reimagining of "The Thing" another winner from the master of horror.
Doing a special project in Antarctica, R.J. MacReady and his crew discover something hidden beneath the snow. It's what appears to be some kind of a ship, something believed to be dated more than 100,000 years old. MacReady and the others should have stayed away from the remains of that ship. Because now, there is an evil, alien force lurking around the base, taking form of the crew. The Thing could be anybody, and it's up to MacReady to find out who the next victim is.
"Halloween" has always been John Carpenter's scariest movie. What sets his other movies apart from his masterpiece is that they focus more on creeping the audience out than officially scaring them. No doubt, "The Thing" is a very frightening film. But why is it so frightening? There's plenty of gore in it, but Carpenter also wants to make the viewer very uncomfortable. Instead of scaring them, he creates the most horrific sense of paranoia anybody could imagine. The Thing could be me or your friend, and I found myself guessing who would be the next to fall prey to the alien force. The movie is very unpredictable, and I was on the edge of my seat.
The cast is very well-chosen, with great performances by Kurt Russell, Keith David, Richard Masur, and more. These are sympathetic characters, and I never wanted any of them to die.
One word I can say for Rob Bottin's special effects and makeup is: amazing. The moments when The Thing attacked were strangely believable, and I could feel the effects. Points to Bottin for creating superior effects.
An awesome cast, a great story, a terrifying sense of paranoia, and remarkable special effects make 1982's reimagining of "The Thing" another winner from the master of horror.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Bizarre, Disturbing, Terrifying, Classic!
Tobe Hooper is one of the most respected directors of the horror genre. He has created many classics, including "Poltergeist," and the hip slasher/monster movie "The Funhouse." But Hooper began his career with a low-budget film that many had called gruesome, obscene, and unwatchable. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" may not be the most fun movie to watch, but it most certainly is a classic horror film.
The plot is extremely simple. Five teens are traveling through Texas. The teens are Sally Hardesty, her wheelchair-bound bro Franklin, Kirk, Pam and Jerry. After picking up one wacko hitchhiker, it's pretty clear that the worst is yet to come for Sally and her friends. After their van runs out of gas, Kirk and Pam go looking for help and stumble upon a backwoods house. They don't come back, so Kirk goes looking for them. Kirk doesn't come back either. Now Sally and Franklin are left all alone with no sign of help. Tonight, Sally will be put through hell and back as she is brutally terrorized by a depraved group of cannibals, led by the iconic Leatherface, who uses a chainsaw to kill his victims.
Tobe Hooper's non-stop fright-fest was released in a time where horror directors were considered insane. Films like "The Last House on the Left" and "The Hills Have Eyes" were two of those kind. But "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is where it was done best. So, what makes TCM a piece of essential horror?
First off, the movie is extremely eerie and filled with tension and scares. It felt like you were watching some twisted documentary on some of the most brutal crimes in history. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is known for being the goriest movie of its kind. That is not all true. While the movie sure has its violent moments, a lot of the kills are off-screen, which just makes it scarier.
Second of all, the acting feels so incredibly real. Marilyn Burns, Sally, was put through so much torture with TCM. All that running and getting hurt. I feel sorry for her just thinking about it. The rest of the teens are also very good. But the movie's demented clan of butchers are pretty damn believable. I thought they were actual criminals. You also gotta give props to Gunnar Hansen and Edwin Neal as Leatherface and The Hitchhiker. They are very good actors.
Third of all, the movie's main villain, Leatherface, is so enormously scary. But he also is interesting to watch when he's not killing. Leatherface is not very intelligent, and he is pretty shocked when Sally and company appear at his house. But when he's on the job, he's a brilliant villain. The fact that this guy ran after his victims and you couldn't get away from him makes him creepy.
"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" will always be the most gruesome and claustrophobic horror film of the 70s. This one isn't for the faint of heart and if you get nightmares easily, TCM's definitely not for you. You'll feel like taking a shower after this movie. It's that effective.
The plot is extremely simple. Five teens are traveling through Texas. The teens are Sally Hardesty, her wheelchair-bound bro Franklin, Kirk, Pam and Jerry. After picking up one wacko hitchhiker, it's pretty clear that the worst is yet to come for Sally and her friends. After their van runs out of gas, Kirk and Pam go looking for help and stumble upon a backwoods house. They don't come back, so Kirk goes looking for them. Kirk doesn't come back either. Now Sally and Franklin are left all alone with no sign of help. Tonight, Sally will be put through hell and back as she is brutally terrorized by a depraved group of cannibals, led by the iconic Leatherface, who uses a chainsaw to kill his victims.
Tobe Hooper's non-stop fright-fest was released in a time where horror directors were considered insane. Films like "The Last House on the Left" and "The Hills Have Eyes" were two of those kind. But "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is where it was done best. So, what makes TCM a piece of essential horror?
First off, the movie is extremely eerie and filled with tension and scares. It felt like you were watching some twisted documentary on some of the most brutal crimes in history. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" is known for being the goriest movie of its kind. That is not all true. While the movie sure has its violent moments, a lot of the kills are off-screen, which just makes it scarier.
Second of all, the acting feels so incredibly real. Marilyn Burns, Sally, was put through so much torture with TCM. All that running and getting hurt. I feel sorry for her just thinking about it. The rest of the teens are also very good. But the movie's demented clan of butchers are pretty damn believable. I thought they were actual criminals. You also gotta give props to Gunnar Hansen and Edwin Neal as Leatherface and The Hitchhiker. They are very good actors.
Third of all, the movie's main villain, Leatherface, is so enormously scary. But he also is interesting to watch when he's not killing. Leatherface is not very intelligent, and he is pretty shocked when Sally and company appear at his house. But when he's on the job, he's a brilliant villain. The fact that this guy ran after his victims and you couldn't get away from him makes him creepy.
"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" will always be the most gruesome and claustrophobic horror film of the 70s. This one isn't for the faint of heart and if you get nightmares easily, TCM's definitely not for you. You'll feel like taking a shower after this movie. It's that effective.
The Strangers: A Terrifying Home-Invasion Horror Film
There were so many horror movies through the '000s that completely sucked. I'm talking about crap like "The Ring," "The Grudge," and more boring PG-13 trash. What we needed was a real horror movie. There's no problem with fun and campy horror, but some horror movies aren't meant to be fun. They're meant to be disturbing, shocking, and quite scary. After so much hype, I was able to see "The Strangers" in the comforts of my own home. The results equal one of the best, and scariest, horror movies of recent memory, next to films like "Paranormal Activity," "The Last House on the Left," and "Drag Me To Hell."
The film is about a young couple, James Hoyt and his life-long sweetheart Kristen. They are coming from a wedding to spend the night in James's father's cabin in the woods. Kristen has refused a proposal from James, and the couple find it extremely hard to talk to each other. Suddenly, somebody knocks loudly on their door. It is a mysterious blonde asking if "Tamara is home." James says that she's got the wrong house, and the girl leaves. But later in the night, there are more knocks on the door. And the terror heightens when knocks on the door transition to strangers in terrifying masks bursting into the house. Can James and Kristen make it through the night?
"The Strangers" is one of the most terrifying movies I've ever seen. It is a movie that really scares you for all the right reasons.
It is a very suspenseful film, provided with several major "BOO!" scares and almost no gore. The movie wants to mess with your mind until you can't take it anymore. It has so much tension that you are way beyond the edge of your seat. You might just jump out of it.
The movie becomes progressively more scary each time The Strangers appear in the house and take things farther. They show up at times that you'd never expect them to. That is key in horror movies, to have scares that you never see coming.
Also, the atmosphere is perfect. The other reason this movie is so scary is because of the environment that James and Kristen are in. This could have been my house or your house. And like it is explained in the ending, The Strangers were there simply "because they were home." They didn't have a motive, which makes them that much more real and frightening.
The performances are unbelievable. I never thought I'd live to see the day that Liv Tyler was in a horror movie. That finally happened, and damn, she's great in this film! And my God, can she scream! Scott Speedman is also flawless as James. As for The Strangers...well, let's just say that they will give you nightmares.
First-time writer and director Bryan Bertino proves that there is still so much life left in the horror genre. "The Strangers" is highly recommended for those not looking for gore, but to have the daylights scared out of you psychologically. This is a perfect horror film.
The film is about a young couple, James Hoyt and his life-long sweetheart Kristen. They are coming from a wedding to spend the night in James's father's cabin in the woods. Kristen has refused a proposal from James, and the couple find it extremely hard to talk to each other. Suddenly, somebody knocks loudly on their door. It is a mysterious blonde asking if "Tamara is home." James says that she's got the wrong house, and the girl leaves. But later in the night, there are more knocks on the door. And the terror heightens when knocks on the door transition to strangers in terrifying masks bursting into the house. Can James and Kristen make it through the night?
"The Strangers" is one of the most terrifying movies I've ever seen. It is a movie that really scares you for all the right reasons.
It is a very suspenseful film, provided with several major "BOO!" scares and almost no gore. The movie wants to mess with your mind until you can't take it anymore. It has so much tension that you are way beyond the edge of your seat. You might just jump out of it.
The movie becomes progressively more scary each time The Strangers appear in the house and take things farther. They show up at times that you'd never expect them to. That is key in horror movies, to have scares that you never see coming.
Also, the atmosphere is perfect. The other reason this movie is so scary is because of the environment that James and Kristen are in. This could have been my house or your house. And like it is explained in the ending, The Strangers were there simply "because they were home." They didn't have a motive, which makes them that much more real and frightening.
The performances are unbelievable. I never thought I'd live to see the day that Liv Tyler was in a horror movie. That finally happened, and damn, she's great in this film! And my God, can she scream! Scott Speedman is also flawless as James. As for The Strangers...well, let's just say that they will give you nightmares.
First-time writer and director Bryan Bertino proves that there is still so much life left in the horror genre. "The Strangers" is highly recommended for those not looking for gore, but to have the daylights scared out of you psychologically. This is a perfect horror film.
The Last House On The Left: Stick With The Remake! Part 2
You’ll be surprised to know that this version of Wes Craven’s cult classic is, in many ways, better than the original. How? Well, the way the movie is made is done with slickness and style, the acting is pitch-perfect, the violence is toned down and set aside for some pure suspense, and the Collingwood family’s revenge is one that will make you stand up and cheer.
First of all, the movie is very well-made. There are beautiful visuals here, especially when it comes to scenes in the woods. It is bright in different places, but then the sky turns to gray, making the sequences of terror have an even bigger sense of dread. Director Dennis Illiadis chooses the perfect places to shoot the movie. There is no production design here. Every setting you see on film is real.
Another thumbs-up to Illiadis for toning down the violence. What made the original film so well-known was how Craven and his partner, Sean Cunningham(director of Friday the 13th), didn’t hold back on gore. Once again, Last House’s violence is hardcore, but what you see in this remake is nothing compared to what the original did. After watching the 1972 Last House, I was disgusted. I needed a shower after I watched it. And it didn’t even have an ounce of suspense. What Illiadis does is pack on as much suspense as he does carnage. And frankly, that’s how I prefer the film. The Last House On The Left unfolds with an unbearable tension, a tension that will have you biting your nails and covering your eyes for safety. Bloody-Disgusting.com says “Illiadis films the movie with enough suspense that would make Hitchcock proud.”
None of the scenes in the movie are as painful and disturbing as Mari’s rape scene. I wasn’t freaked out by it because I was wondering what my mom was thinking during that scene, but it was how real it felt. It was so real that I could almost feel it. Even though you don’t see much, what Illiadis does is zoom in on Mari’s face while she begs for mercy. Mari was an easygoing, virginal teenager before, and this is the moment when Krug gets her at her most vulnerable point, horribly deflowering her and subjecting us to Mari’s pain.
When John and Emma discover that their daughter has been raped, the audience roots for them. I remember myself thinking “Come on. Give them a taste of real pain. Get revenge. Kill them already!”
You’d think that Last House would be a very graphic horror film. But I’ll be honest: it’s not as much a horror movie as it is a very brutal crime thriller. But the ending of the film gives the viewer a chance to breath. It is a great moment that takes a thriller and brings a touch of horror to it. I won’t give it away, but you will never think the same about microwaves again.
What affected me the most about The Last House On The Left was that it felt like it could happen to you. It deals with a parent’s worst fears for their child. What if your kid didn’t pick up the phone when you tried to call them? Or what if they borrowed the car for the day and never came back? It’s a very intellectual subject, and for fans of the genre or even the parents whose kids are begging them to see this, the movie is going to hit you hard.
Sure, the violence was believable, but the acting was just as much. Illiadis has chosen a cast that is more than competent, and their performances feel real. To start off, Sara Paxton is great as Mari. Here is a 21-year-old woman that has done films that are very family-friendly, such as Sydney White and Aquamarine . This movie was a gigantic step up in her career. “I’m always looking for something that will challenge me as an actress,” says Paxton. “When I came upon this script, it was very well-written and it was definitely a challenge making the film. And it’s Wes Craven. How can you refuse, since he’s such an icon in this genre? I liked Mari because she wasn‘t your average dumb blonde that you always see in horror movies. She was strong, and she fought back. That was why I enjoyed playing this character.” What I really wanted to know was how hard it was for Paxton to shoot her assault scene. “Well, I was definitely concerned at the beginning,” she explains. “And when the day came to shoot that scene, I was feeling terrible. I was sick, and covered in dirt, and more nervous than ever. Luckily, Garrett is such a great guy and we all bonded. I knew that I could trust him. So, in the end, it all worked out fine.”
I was kind of hoping that Paige would be a bigger character, but that’s only a minor flaw. Martha MacIsaac, who became famous through the role of Becca in Superbad, gives a job well-done as Paige, Mari’s pot-smoking pal. I loved MacIsaac in Superbad, and when it came time to watch her death scene, I was absolutely shaken.
Then, there are the psychopaths. These characters are played creepily, especially with the performance of Garrett Dillahunt as Krug. He is not like Michael or Jason, but he feels like an actual human being. He has no motive. He just has a craving for murder. And I absolutely hated him during the torture sequences. The other performances are very good, with Aaron Paul as Francis(who gets a less-violent and more crowd-pleasing death that is not as disgusting as the original character’s demise. But believe me, his death is a major ouch-moment.), Riki Lindhome as Sadie, who gives plenty of unneeded but inevitable nudity, and Spencer Treat Clark as Justin.
And last but not least, Tony Goldwyn(Tarzan and Ghost) and Monica Potter(Saw, Patch Adams and Along Came A Spider) are terrific as John and Emma. In the original film, John and Emma(Estelle in the 1972 version) go through a situation that also was projected in Craven’s later film, 1977’s The Hills Have Eyes, in which after a family gets revenge on bloodthirsty mutants, they become just as crazy as the villains. I think I enjoy the new family’s revenge a lot more than the original family’s. It’s cleaner and smarter. The audience will rave over Goldwyn and Potter when these wackos get their comeuppance.
Oh, just one more thing that makes Last House ‘09 better than the original: the music is better by a mile. The 1972 score by David Hess(who played Krug in the film) did not fit at all with the movie. Bluegrass music does not match with terror. The composer for this version is named John Murphy, who was chosen wisely after doing such films as 28 Days Later and Sunshine. I actually find Murphy’s score to induce chills up the spine, which I haven’t felt since Carpenter’s score for Halloween. The music is subtle and quiet. With such favorites of mine as “The Boathouse” and “Opening Titles,” John Murphy creates music that brings even more disturbance and dread to the film.
Fangoria Magazine has said that "the new Last House On The Left shows that you can tone down the blood and guts and still get under the skin." This remake surpasses the original, and in the end, it’s what a crime thriller/horror film nowadays should be. “I think people should go see this,“ says Martha MacIsaac, “because it is as disturbing and terrifying as a scary movie is supposed to be. People are really going to like it.” If you want a great, not good, rape-revenge flick, than you have to check out this film. “It will be as big a masterpiece as the original was,“ says Wes Craven proudly. “By far, better.” The Last House On The Left is a remake that will stand the test of time. You remember the tagline, right? Say it with me: To avoid fainting, keep repeating: It’s only a movie….it’s only a movie….it’s only a movie.
First of all, the movie is very well-made. There are beautiful visuals here, especially when it comes to scenes in the woods. It is bright in different places, but then the sky turns to gray, making the sequences of terror have an even bigger sense of dread. Director Dennis Illiadis chooses the perfect places to shoot the movie. There is no production design here. Every setting you see on film is real.
Another thumbs-up to Illiadis for toning down the violence. What made the original film so well-known was how Craven and his partner, Sean Cunningham(director of Friday the 13th), didn’t hold back on gore. Once again, Last House’s violence is hardcore, but what you see in this remake is nothing compared to what the original did. After watching the 1972 Last House, I was disgusted. I needed a shower after I watched it. And it didn’t even have an ounce of suspense. What Illiadis does is pack on as much suspense as he does carnage. And frankly, that’s how I prefer the film. The Last House On The Left unfolds with an unbearable tension, a tension that will have you biting your nails and covering your eyes for safety. Bloody-Disgusting.com says “Illiadis films the movie with enough suspense that would make Hitchcock proud.”
None of the scenes in the movie are as painful and disturbing as Mari’s rape scene. I wasn’t freaked out by it because I was wondering what my mom was thinking during that scene, but it was how real it felt. It was so real that I could almost feel it. Even though you don’t see much, what Illiadis does is zoom in on Mari’s face while she begs for mercy. Mari was an easygoing, virginal teenager before, and this is the moment when Krug gets her at her most vulnerable point, horribly deflowering her and subjecting us to Mari’s pain.
When John and Emma discover that their daughter has been raped, the audience roots for them. I remember myself thinking “Come on. Give them a taste of real pain. Get revenge. Kill them already!”
You’d think that Last House would be a very graphic horror film. But I’ll be honest: it’s not as much a horror movie as it is a very brutal crime thriller. But the ending of the film gives the viewer a chance to breath. It is a great moment that takes a thriller and brings a touch of horror to it. I won’t give it away, but you will never think the same about microwaves again.
What affected me the most about The Last House On The Left was that it felt like it could happen to you. It deals with a parent’s worst fears for their child. What if your kid didn’t pick up the phone when you tried to call them? Or what if they borrowed the car for the day and never came back? It’s a very intellectual subject, and for fans of the genre or even the parents whose kids are begging them to see this, the movie is going to hit you hard.
Sure, the violence was believable, but the acting was just as much. Illiadis has chosen a cast that is more than competent, and their performances feel real. To start off, Sara Paxton is great as Mari. Here is a 21-year-old woman that has done films that are very family-friendly, such as Sydney White and Aquamarine . This movie was a gigantic step up in her career. “I’m always looking for something that will challenge me as an actress,” says Paxton. “When I came upon this script, it was very well-written and it was definitely a challenge making the film. And it’s Wes Craven. How can you refuse, since he’s such an icon in this genre? I liked Mari because she wasn‘t your average dumb blonde that you always see in horror movies. She was strong, and she fought back. That was why I enjoyed playing this character.” What I really wanted to know was how hard it was for Paxton to shoot her assault scene. “Well, I was definitely concerned at the beginning,” she explains. “And when the day came to shoot that scene, I was feeling terrible. I was sick, and covered in dirt, and more nervous than ever. Luckily, Garrett is such a great guy and we all bonded. I knew that I could trust him. So, in the end, it all worked out fine.”
I was kind of hoping that Paige would be a bigger character, but that’s only a minor flaw. Martha MacIsaac, who became famous through the role of Becca in Superbad, gives a job well-done as Paige, Mari’s pot-smoking pal. I loved MacIsaac in Superbad, and when it came time to watch her death scene, I was absolutely shaken.
Then, there are the psychopaths. These characters are played creepily, especially with the performance of Garrett Dillahunt as Krug. He is not like Michael or Jason, but he feels like an actual human being. He has no motive. He just has a craving for murder. And I absolutely hated him during the torture sequences. The other performances are very good, with Aaron Paul as Francis(who gets a less-violent and more crowd-pleasing death that is not as disgusting as the original character’s demise. But believe me, his death is a major ouch-moment.), Riki Lindhome as Sadie, who gives plenty of unneeded but inevitable nudity, and Spencer Treat Clark as Justin.
And last but not least, Tony Goldwyn(Tarzan and Ghost) and Monica Potter(Saw, Patch Adams and Along Came A Spider) are terrific as John and Emma. In the original film, John and Emma(Estelle in the 1972 version) go through a situation that also was projected in Craven’s later film, 1977’s The Hills Have Eyes, in which after a family gets revenge on bloodthirsty mutants, they become just as crazy as the villains. I think I enjoy the new family’s revenge a lot more than the original family’s. It’s cleaner and smarter. The audience will rave over Goldwyn and Potter when these wackos get their comeuppance.
Oh, just one more thing that makes Last House ‘09 better than the original: the music is better by a mile. The 1972 score by David Hess(who played Krug in the film) did not fit at all with the movie. Bluegrass music does not match with terror. The composer for this version is named John Murphy, who was chosen wisely after doing such films as 28 Days Later and Sunshine. I actually find Murphy’s score to induce chills up the spine, which I haven’t felt since Carpenter’s score for Halloween. The music is subtle and quiet. With such favorites of mine as “The Boathouse” and “Opening Titles,” John Murphy creates music that brings even more disturbance and dread to the film.
Fangoria Magazine has said that "the new Last House On The Left shows that you can tone down the blood and guts and still get under the skin." This remake surpasses the original, and in the end, it’s what a crime thriller/horror film nowadays should be. “I think people should go see this,“ says Martha MacIsaac, “because it is as disturbing and terrifying as a scary movie is supposed to be. People are really going to like it.” If you want a great, not good, rape-revenge flick, than you have to check out this film. “It will be as big a masterpiece as the original was,“ says Wes Craven proudly. “By far, better.” The Last House On The Left is a remake that will stand the test of time. You remember the tagline, right? Say it with me: To avoid fainting, keep repeating: It’s only a movie….it’s only a movie….it’s only a movie.
The Last House On The Left: Stick With The Remake! Part 1
Going into a theater to see My Bloody Valentine 3D, I was enraptured when I saw a preview for an upcoming remake. No, I’m not talking about Friday the 13th. I already knew that movie was coming, so I was excited way before the trailer came out. It was the trailer for The Last House On The Left that excited me. I remember seeing the original movie when I was 13 years old. It was a graphic, disturbing, shocking experience that director Wes Craven said was a movie that he never wanted to revisit. “Last House was one of the heritage pieces of American horror films when it came out,” says Craven. “It became a fun idea: Let’s get a good director and let’s remake it.” So, does this version of the film live up to Craven’s expectations? Is it a movie that deserves to be seen? Yes, it is.
Enter the Collingwood family: John, his beautiful wife Emma, and their 17-year-old blonde sweetheart, Mari. About a year ago, John and Emma tragically lost their son, Ben. So, in order to patch things up, the Collingwood’s go on vacation, and they arrive at a comfortable lake house where they used to go during the summer. Mari takes the car for the day and goes into town to visit her good friend Paige. When a young man named Justin comes into Paige’s store and offers the teens some good marijuana, Paige, of course, takes the chance. Too bad for them, because Mari and Paige then wind up in the clutches of recently escaped convicts who are extremely dangerous. The maniacs immediately believe that Mari and Paige will go to the police and tell them where they are. Krug, Justin’s father, Sadie, Krug’s girlfriend, and Francis, Krug’s brother, kidnap the two girls and drag them into the woods, where they are raped and tortured. Paige is slain and Mari is left for dead. Later that night, during a terrible rainstorm, the nut jobs take shelter in the home of John and Emma, Mari’s parents! When John and Emma discover their daughter at the door, who has been shot and raped, they plan a merciless revenge. Krug, Sadie and Francis will curse the day that they knocked on the door to The Last House On The Left!
Enter the Collingwood family: John, his beautiful wife Emma, and their 17-year-old blonde sweetheart, Mari. About a year ago, John and Emma tragically lost their son, Ben. So, in order to patch things up, the Collingwood’s go on vacation, and they arrive at a comfortable lake house where they used to go during the summer. Mari takes the car for the day and goes into town to visit her good friend Paige. When a young man named Justin comes into Paige’s store and offers the teens some good marijuana, Paige, of course, takes the chance. Too bad for them, because Mari and Paige then wind up in the clutches of recently escaped convicts who are extremely dangerous. The maniacs immediately believe that Mari and Paige will go to the police and tell them where they are. Krug, Justin’s father, Sadie, Krug’s girlfriend, and Francis, Krug’s brother, kidnap the two girls and drag them into the woods, where they are raped and tortured. Paige is slain and Mari is left for dead. Later that night, during a terrible rainstorm, the nut jobs take shelter in the home of John and Emma, Mari’s parents! When John and Emma discover their daughter at the door, who has been shot and raped, they plan a merciless revenge. Krug, Sadie and Francis will curse the day that they knocked on the door to The Last House On The Left!
The Haunting Defines What Ghost Stories Are All About!
Based on the deliciously frightening novel "The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson, "The Haunting" was directed by film genius Robert Wise, director of such amazing films as "West Side Story" and "The Sound of Music." Coming from such a jubilant genre, you wouldn't think that Wise would step up to direct a horror film. "The Haunting" is a perfect 10 and brings chills to the spine each time you watch it, especially at night.
Eleanor "Nell" Lance, Theodora, and Luke Sanderson have been invited to join Dr. John Markway in an investigation of paranormal activity. Where? The infamous Hill House, the home of the ill-fated Crain family. Hill House is described as "a house that was born bad." And the group is there to find out if it really is a haunted house. Out of all four people, Eleanor is the one that feels that she belongs in Hill House, as if the mansion was calling her name all along. Soon, the group's questions will be answered...in frightening ways!
"The Haunting" works so well because it's what great ghost stories are all about. First off, there's atmosphere. When we first see Hill House, we are immediately creeped out and thrown into a nightmare from which there is no escape.
Next up, you got a perfect psychological horror movie formula: What you don't see is scarier than what you do see. And Wise aims to keep that formula throughout the film. You never see any ghosts, and there is very little on-screen violence. The movie is done through shadow, and noises, including the infamous "bedroom" scene which still freaks me out every time, and there is the "breathing door" sequence that is enough to give you nightmares for weeks.
Finally, there's suspense. The movie unfolds slowly as each supernatural event gets more bizarre and terrifying each time, and that is how you do a great psychological horror film.
The cast give jobs well-done. Julie Harris is remarkable as Eleanor. You're not quite sure if the character is descending into madness or if she really is experiencing this supernatural phenomena. Claire Bloom is also very entertaining as the feisty and sexy Theodora. Russ Tamblyn is fine as Luke, and the same goes for Richard Johnson as Markway.
"The Haunting" proves that you don't need special effects to scare the hell out of the viewer. Just put them in a dark place, start them off with a few strange noises, and you've got them frightened for life. Avoid the monstrosity of a remake, and stick with this wonderfully old-fashioned ghost story that is sure to stick with you. I'll close it off with a classic quote from the film.
Dr. John Markway: "Hill House stood for 90 years, and might stand for 90 more...and whatever walked there walked alone."
Eleanor "Nell" Lance, Theodora, and Luke Sanderson have been invited to join Dr. John Markway in an investigation of paranormal activity. Where? The infamous Hill House, the home of the ill-fated Crain family. Hill House is described as "a house that was born bad." And the group is there to find out if it really is a haunted house. Out of all four people, Eleanor is the one that feels that she belongs in Hill House, as if the mansion was calling her name all along. Soon, the group's questions will be answered...in frightening ways!
"The Haunting" works so well because it's what great ghost stories are all about. First off, there's atmosphere. When we first see Hill House, we are immediately creeped out and thrown into a nightmare from which there is no escape.
Next up, you got a perfect psychological horror movie formula: What you don't see is scarier than what you do see. And Wise aims to keep that formula throughout the film. You never see any ghosts, and there is very little on-screen violence. The movie is done through shadow, and noises, including the infamous "bedroom" scene which still freaks me out every time, and there is the "breathing door" sequence that is enough to give you nightmares for weeks.
Finally, there's suspense. The movie unfolds slowly as each supernatural event gets more bizarre and terrifying each time, and that is how you do a great psychological horror film.
The cast give jobs well-done. Julie Harris is remarkable as Eleanor. You're not quite sure if the character is descending into madness or if she really is experiencing this supernatural phenomena. Claire Bloom is also very entertaining as the feisty and sexy Theodora. Russ Tamblyn is fine as Luke, and the same goes for Richard Johnson as Markway.
"The Haunting" proves that you don't need special effects to scare the hell out of the viewer. Just put them in a dark place, start them off with a few strange noises, and you've got them frightened for life. Avoid the monstrosity of a remake, and stick with this wonderfully old-fashioned ghost story that is sure to stick with you. I'll close it off with a classic quote from the film.
Dr. John Markway: "Hill House stood for 90 years, and might stand for 90 more...and whatever walked there walked alone."
The Blair Witch Project: Claustrophobic, Atmospheric, Creepy, And Well-Acted Are All Words To Describe This Terrifying Chiller!
The first time I saw "The Blair Witch Project" was when I was 13. I had fallen asleep within the first 45 minutes. I had been extremely disappointed. Now, I had heard about how "Paranormal Activity" is one of the creepiest horror movies of the year. I thought that if I'm going to see "Paranormal Activity," then I'd better watch this movie again in order to know what I'm in for. After a second viewing, I admit that "The Blair Witch Project" is absolutely one of the creepiest horror movies I've ever seen.
Shot like real footage, "BWP" follows three student filmmakers shooting a documentary: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Mike Williams. Heather is the head director of a documentary about the infamous Blair Witch of Blair, Maryland. After many strange and eerie stories of the witch, including the tales of over seven children being kidnapped and found dead, the three teens are pretty skeptical that there really is any witch living in the woods of Burkitsville. As they venture into the woods to shoot their film, strange things happen, things that they never thought would happen. Things that are going to tear them apart emotionally. Heather, Josh, and Mike discover that the Blair Witch might be more than just a legend.
"The Blair Witch Project" opens as a seemingly ordinary documentary-style horror movie. But there is plenty to love about it. As the movie progresses, it unfolds with a horrifying tension, with an event just as frightening as the one before it. Also, the Burkitsville woods are a perfect atmosphere for the movie. The camera kept closing in on the cast, and it produced a strong feeling of claustrophobia. Whenever I heard a noise in the background, and one of the filmmakers would scream "What the **** was that?!", I kept turning my head back and forth to see if there was anything there. "The Blair Witch Project" is a very good example of "What you don't see is scarier than what you do see."
The movie gives excellent performances by Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Mike Williams. The most iconic moment of the movie is when Heather turns on the camera and makes a tearjerking apology to her family and the others. It is one of the most heartbreaking moments of the movie.
"The Blair Witch Project" was a movie with a very low budget of 100,000 dollars. And after a lot of hype, audiences ran to the theaters and were scared out of their wits, bringing in over 5, million dollars in a weekend. The movie had beaten out the box-office record that was held by the horror classic "Halloween." This movie takes a rather simple premise and goes a long way with it. It's scary, eerie, claustrophobic, and leaves you on the edge of your seat. "The Blair Witch Project" is perfect psychological horror.
P.S. Don't watch it at night. Plus, the climax is gut-wrenching.
Shot like real footage, "BWP" follows three student filmmakers shooting a documentary: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Mike Williams. Heather is the head director of a documentary about the infamous Blair Witch of Blair, Maryland. After many strange and eerie stories of the witch, including the tales of over seven children being kidnapped and found dead, the three teens are pretty skeptical that there really is any witch living in the woods of Burkitsville. As they venture into the woods to shoot their film, strange things happen, things that they never thought would happen. Things that are going to tear them apart emotionally. Heather, Josh, and Mike discover that the Blair Witch might be more than just a legend.
"The Blair Witch Project" opens as a seemingly ordinary documentary-style horror movie. But there is plenty to love about it. As the movie progresses, it unfolds with a horrifying tension, with an event just as frightening as the one before it. Also, the Burkitsville woods are a perfect atmosphere for the movie. The camera kept closing in on the cast, and it produced a strong feeling of claustrophobia. Whenever I heard a noise in the background, and one of the filmmakers would scream "What the **** was that?!", I kept turning my head back and forth to see if there was anything there. "The Blair Witch Project" is a very good example of "What you don't see is scarier than what you do see."
The movie gives excellent performances by Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Mike Williams. The most iconic moment of the movie is when Heather turns on the camera and makes a tearjerking apology to her family and the others. It is one of the most heartbreaking moments of the movie.
"The Blair Witch Project" was a movie with a very low budget of 100,000 dollars. And after a lot of hype, audiences ran to the theaters and were scared out of their wits, bringing in over 5, million dollars in a weekend. The movie had beaten out the box-office record that was held by the horror classic "Halloween." This movie takes a rather simple premise and goes a long way with it. It's scary, eerie, claustrophobic, and leaves you on the edge of your seat. "The Blair Witch Project" is perfect psychological horror.
P.S. Don't watch it at night. Plus, the climax is gut-wrenching.
Suspiria: Gore+Atmosphere=A Masterpiece!
From the mind of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento, director of "Phenomena," "Deep Red," and "Tenebre," comes his most famous work, 1977's "Suspiria," a wonderful horror film that is unique, scary, and absolutely gore-ific!
Jessica Harper stars as Suzy Bannyon, an American ballet student who has come to Europe to study at the greatest dance school in the area. But right from the start, nothing of good nature is going on and Suzy becomes more vulnerable to the ominous environment in which she has entered. And while strange things happen in the school, outside, people involved are horrifically murdered. Who or what is the culprit of these eerie occurrences? And will Suzy find out what is going on?
"Suspiria's" plot is a little bit hard to follow. At one time are we given a hint as to what is going on, but it doesn't matter. This movie is scary! Not only is the film extremely creepy and filled with "BOO!" scares, but it shows what Dario Argento is known best for: his uncontrollable use of on-screen gore! Argento's murder sequences are a cut above most slasher movies because all of Argento's characters die in creative and surprisingly beautiful ways. Each kill is filmed with lavish colors ranging from blue to orange in the background. And the blood that flows is so red. And all of the murders are shameless and right in your face, always making the viewer extremely on edge.
Even though it gains points for being "gore-gous," as director Eli Roth describes, "Suspiria" is a lot more than just a slasher movie. It's quite frightening. A lot of the movie is shot in the dark, and Argento constantly makes sure that you're never far away from a good "BOO!" The movie is deeply atmospheric, almost like a very mature fairy tale. We are thrown into a nightmare that leaves you on the edge of your seat. People get very uncomfortable while watching "Suspiria," just like I did when I first saw it.
Jessica Harper is very good as Suzy. She shows a sign of vulnerability that is believable and sympathetic. The rest of the cast also give jobs well-done, especially Stefania Casini as Sarah, Joan Bennett as Madame Blanc and Alida Valli as Ms. Tanner.
Dario Argento has said that he got the inspiration for "Suspiria" from Walt Disney's "Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs," and it shows. Alan Jones has called the film "a Walt Disney-style horror movie." Only Walt Disney would never be this ferociously creepy. The first time I saw "Suspiria," I was very entertained and creeped out, and that reaction remains the same each time I watch it. It's a classic horror movie that deserves the status, and I recommend it to all horror fans. A must! "The only thing more terrifying than the last 12 minutes of this film are the first 92!"
Jessica Harper stars as Suzy Bannyon, an American ballet student who has come to Europe to study at the greatest dance school in the area. But right from the start, nothing of good nature is going on and Suzy becomes more vulnerable to the ominous environment in which she has entered. And while strange things happen in the school, outside, people involved are horrifically murdered. Who or what is the culprit of these eerie occurrences? And will Suzy find out what is going on?
"Suspiria's" plot is a little bit hard to follow. At one time are we given a hint as to what is going on, but it doesn't matter. This movie is scary! Not only is the film extremely creepy and filled with "BOO!" scares, but it shows what Dario Argento is known best for: his uncontrollable use of on-screen gore! Argento's murder sequences are a cut above most slasher movies because all of Argento's characters die in creative and surprisingly beautiful ways. Each kill is filmed with lavish colors ranging from blue to orange in the background. And the blood that flows is so red. And all of the murders are shameless and right in your face, always making the viewer extremely on edge.
Even though it gains points for being "gore-gous," as director Eli Roth describes, "Suspiria" is a lot more than just a slasher movie. It's quite frightening. A lot of the movie is shot in the dark, and Argento constantly makes sure that you're never far away from a good "BOO!" The movie is deeply atmospheric, almost like a very mature fairy tale. We are thrown into a nightmare that leaves you on the edge of your seat. People get very uncomfortable while watching "Suspiria," just like I did when I first saw it.
Jessica Harper is very good as Suzy. She shows a sign of vulnerability that is believable and sympathetic. The rest of the cast also give jobs well-done, especially Stefania Casini as Sarah, Joan Bennett as Madame Blanc and Alida Valli as Ms. Tanner.
Dario Argento has said that he got the inspiration for "Suspiria" from Walt Disney's "Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs," and it shows. Alan Jones has called the film "a Walt Disney-style horror movie." Only Walt Disney would never be this ferociously creepy. The first time I saw "Suspiria," I was very entertained and creeped out, and that reaction remains the same each time I watch it. It's a classic horror movie that deserves the status, and I recommend it to all horror fans. A must! "The only thing more terrifying than the last 12 minutes of this film are the first 92!"
Poltergeist: Terrifying 80s Ghostly Fun!
The plot: Enter the nice, suburban town of Cuesta Verde, and the home of the Freeling family: Diane, her husband Steven, their son Robbie, their oldest daughter Dana, and their cute-as-a-button little girl Carol-Anne. The Freelings live a normal everyday life, until strange disturbances occur and Carol-Anne begins to make contact with eerie voices in their TV set. Then things get scary when Diane and Steven discover that Carol-Anne has been whisked into another dimension, one of terror, pain, and fear. The Freelings are being terrorized by ghosts, and extremely ferocious ones at that.
"Poltergeist" is one of the most perfect haunted house movies ever made. It's filled with scares, a witty sense of humor, and enough goo for the fans. It gives you a few chances to breath, but when the horror begins, there's no stopping it. And all of this came out of the mind of Steven Spielberg, director of "Jaws." One of the reasons "Poltergeist" works so well is the setting. This family is living in a normal home, lending the viewer the idea that this can happen to anybody. Not until "Paranormal Activity" have I seen such terrifying supernatural events in a horror film. The movie is plenty creepy. Sometimes, there won't be anything happening during a scene, then Diane will turn around and all the table chairs are stacked up. The movie psychologically plays with you, and only throws in special effects when they're most needed.
The acting is stellar. The entire cast comes off as pure and real, especially the Freeling family. JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson have wonderful chemistry as the parents, Beatrice Straight creates a great parapsychologist who is not the only one who is stunned by this ghostly activity, and Heather O' Rourke is to die for as Carol-Anne. And don't miss out on an awesome performance by Zelda Rubinstein as psychic Tangina.
Nobody quite knows who directed "Poltergeist" the most: Steven Spielberg himself or his partner Tobe Hooper, the dude who brought us the classic "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Most of the movie comes off as Spielberg's, and I think the scenes of the special effects are probably Hooper's material. Until we hear it from Spielberg and Hooper, we won't know.
It's been nearly 30 years, and "Poltergeist" still has the ability to scare you, to make you jump, to amaze you, and to make you laugh. This is one 80s haunted house movie that everyone remembers, and we still love Carol-Anne's classic line: "They're heeeere." P.S. If you're horrified of clowns, check this out.
"Poltergeist" is one of the most perfect haunted house movies ever made. It's filled with scares, a witty sense of humor, and enough goo for the fans. It gives you a few chances to breath, but when the horror begins, there's no stopping it. And all of this came out of the mind of Steven Spielberg, director of "Jaws." One of the reasons "Poltergeist" works so well is the setting. This family is living in a normal home, lending the viewer the idea that this can happen to anybody. Not until "Paranormal Activity" have I seen such terrifying supernatural events in a horror film. The movie is plenty creepy. Sometimes, there won't be anything happening during a scene, then Diane will turn around and all the table chairs are stacked up. The movie psychologically plays with you, and only throws in special effects when they're most needed.
The acting is stellar. The entire cast comes off as pure and real, especially the Freeling family. JoBeth Williams and Craig T. Nelson have wonderful chemistry as the parents, Beatrice Straight creates a great parapsychologist who is not the only one who is stunned by this ghostly activity, and Heather O' Rourke is to die for as Carol-Anne. And don't miss out on an awesome performance by Zelda Rubinstein as psychic Tangina.
Nobody quite knows who directed "Poltergeist" the most: Steven Spielberg himself or his partner Tobe Hooper, the dude who brought us the classic "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Most of the movie comes off as Spielberg's, and I think the scenes of the special effects are probably Hooper's material. Until we hear it from Spielberg and Hooper, we won't know.
It's been nearly 30 years, and "Poltergeist" still has the ability to scare you, to make you jump, to amaze you, and to make you laugh. This is one 80s haunted house movie that everyone remembers, and we still love Carol-Anne's classic line: "They're heeeere." P.S. If you're horrified of clowns, check this out.
Four Reasons Why Paranormal Activity Is A Pure Horror Movie!
"The Blair Witch Project" was a box-office hurricane due to its frightening, realistic vibe. And after movies that followed in its wake, such as "Cloverfield" and "Quarantine," we finally get a horror movie in the tradition of the 1999 creepshow. "Paranormal Activity" is a haunted house movie in the vein of "Blair Witch." This is the phenomenon that many people have demanded in their city. Brace yourself, because this movie is the most suspenseful, creepy, and absolutely terrifying ghost story since "The Haunting."
Katie and her boyfriend Micah have just moved into a house in San Diego, California. Katie is all but well. For years, she has been haunted by something, and she's afraid that "something" might still be with her, in their house, waiting for them. So, Micah, being the obnoxious skeptic he is, buys a video camera and sets it up in their upstairs bedroom so he can record any strange events while they sleep. What goes on is a lot more than strange. It's downright traumatizing.
"Paranormal Activity" is the most effective horror movie in years, maybe even decades. Why?
1) Well, first off, it's so damned suspenseful. Director Oren Peli begins the film with a slowly building tension. Then the tension gets higher and higher, and, therefore, becomes unbearable to handle. Even the strongest horror movie buff might find it hard to sit through. Every time Katie and Micah go to sleep, you are paralyzed in fear, hoping that whatever's haunting them will leave them the hell alone.
2) "The Blair Witch Project" never showed the witch, but left it up to your imagination to figure out what was happening. Although that's a smart move, "Paranormal Activity" shows all of the supernatural phenomena that it's supposed to. A lot of the times I was screaming at the screen, and hurling myself into the edge of my seat. Never, and I mean never, has that happened to me that often in a horror movie.
3) It feels real. The movie begins and ends with no credits, almost like it's actual footage of real ghostly encounters. I believed in the movie, and so will you.
4) Finally, the acting is perfect. Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat are so believable on the screen because they don't look like they're acting. This feels like an actual couple who really are experiencing weird stuff in their house. You felt for them.
Overall, "Paranormal Activity" might be better than "The Blair Witch Project." It's definitely one of the scariest horror movies I've ever seen. Even if I did see it during the day, it still leaves a profound impact on you for a long time to come. It's amazing what you can do with just 11,000 dollars. What did Oren Peli do? He created a masterpiece. This is one movie that is not for the faint of heart, and not for people who just expect gore. This is for those who love psychological horror movies like "The Haunting" and "The Others." You won't be able to sleep for days. And most of all, you must never see it alone. This is the one we've been waiting for.
Katie and her boyfriend Micah have just moved into a house in San Diego, California. Katie is all but well. For years, she has been haunted by something, and she's afraid that "something" might still be with her, in their house, waiting for them. So, Micah, being the obnoxious skeptic he is, buys a video camera and sets it up in their upstairs bedroom so he can record any strange events while they sleep. What goes on is a lot more than strange. It's downright traumatizing.
"Paranormal Activity" is the most effective horror movie in years, maybe even decades. Why?
1) Well, first off, it's so damned suspenseful. Director Oren Peli begins the film with a slowly building tension. Then the tension gets higher and higher, and, therefore, becomes unbearable to handle. Even the strongest horror movie buff might find it hard to sit through. Every time Katie and Micah go to sleep, you are paralyzed in fear, hoping that whatever's haunting them will leave them the hell alone.
2) "The Blair Witch Project" never showed the witch, but left it up to your imagination to figure out what was happening. Although that's a smart move, "Paranormal Activity" shows all of the supernatural phenomena that it's supposed to. A lot of the times I was screaming at the screen, and hurling myself into the edge of my seat. Never, and I mean never, has that happened to me that often in a horror movie.
3) It feels real. The movie begins and ends with no credits, almost like it's actual footage of real ghostly encounters. I believed in the movie, and so will you.
4) Finally, the acting is perfect. Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat are so believable on the screen because they don't look like they're acting. This feels like an actual couple who really are experiencing weird stuff in their house. You felt for them.
Overall, "Paranormal Activity" might be better than "The Blair Witch Project." It's definitely one of the scariest horror movies I've ever seen. Even if I did see it during the day, it still leaves a profound impact on you for a long time to come. It's amazing what you can do with just 11,000 dollars. What did Oren Peli do? He created a masterpiece. This is one movie that is not for the faint of heart, and not for people who just expect gore. This is for those who love psychological horror movies like "The Haunting" and "The Others." You won't be able to sleep for days. And most of all, you must never see it alone. This is the one we've been waiting for.
Rob Zombie's Halloween 2 Is Original, Bizarre, and Fun!
When I first saw this 10th Michael Myers outing, I thought it was just OK and nothing more. I believed it to be a small disappointment. But now that I think about it, "Halloween II" is better than I thought it was, at first. Now, I realize that this movie has a lot going for it, despite a few flaws.
The plot revolves around the damaged lives of some of the residents of Haddonfield. Laurie Strode is now living with her friend, Annie, and her father, sheriff Lee Brackett. Physically, Laurie is fine, but mentally, part of Laurie's mind is destroyed because of what happened on Halloween night in 1978. She has terrible nightmares, and can't bear to think about her psychopathic brother, Michael. Laurie keeps reminding herself that The Shape is dead and gone, never to come back again. But she's very, very wrong. Michael Myers is very much alive, and he's coming back to Haddonfield to claim his sister. And anybody who gets in his way...will suffer his painful wrath.
2007's "Halloween" tapped into the twisted icon's psychosis, and then it went on to be a remake of the original, only with new, original touches. "Halloween II" is actually not a remake. It is Rob Zombie's own movie, a truly different film for a slasher hero like Michael Myers. Zombie has crafted an original story and several characters you believe in.
You know what really surprised me? "Halloween II" is not as bloody as the first. Well, at least after the second act. Zombie shoots most of his kill scenes in very shadowy environments, keeping the tension amped up and the claustrophobia settled in perfectly. Michael could have gone farther, but he went far enough.
The one thing that I probably admired the most about "Halloween II" is how much the character of Laurie Strode changed. She is almost bipolar, but then again, wouldn't you be if someone like Michael Myers attacked you? Zombie creates a very accurate vision of a traumatized, sympathetic teenager who finds out terrible things about who she really is. And Scout Taylor Compton has always been the perfect girl to play Laurie. She did an awesome job in the first movie, and she does it again here. This is a wonderful and believable actress who can really scream her guts out!
Now, here's where the movie had its flaw: I was like all the other "Halloween" fans, asking myself "What the hell happened to Dr. Loomis?" He pretty much became a jerk, obsessed with publicity and success. Whatever happened to Loomis making sure that his patient was dead? But if you're willing to not study the character too much, Malcolm MacDowell's performance is quite entertaining.
I enjoy the new Michael Myers look: the dirty, hooded coat, a brand-new knife, and the classic William Shatner mask is nearly torn in half, revealing part of The Shape's face. But if they're going to bring Michael back for another "Halloween" movie, they should probably just stick with black overalls and the regular mask. There's always a costume store that Michael can sneak into. He did it in "Halloween 4."
The cast is well-rounded. Like I said before, Scout Taylor Compton is great as Laurie. Malcolm MacDowell is back as Dr. Loomis, Brad Dourif is very good as Sheriff Brackett, and it's always a joy to see Danielle Harris as Annie. Along with those guys are more cameos from stars such as Margot Kidder, Weird Al Yankovic, Howard Hesseman, and Caroline Williams. Also back from the first movie is Sheri Moon Zombie as the illusive Deborah Myers, complete with a creepy look and a white horse. And Tyler Mane is awesome, as always, as Michael.
The music is composed, once again, by Tyler Bates. This time, he doesn't use much of the original score by John Carpenter. Instead, he creates his own music, setting an even bleaker tone for the movie.
I know that "Halloween II" wasn't so well-received when it came out. And I understand how people feel about it. It does have its flaws, including a script that is a little bit thin. But, I went into this movie with the right expectations, knowing that this wasn't going to be like Rob Zombie's first outing with Michael Myers. So, "Halloween II" is more than OK. I realize now that it's a very unique, original, and bizarre entry in the franchise that is soon to develop a cult status. Consider "Halloween II" booked on my DVD shelf.
The plot revolves around the damaged lives of some of the residents of Haddonfield. Laurie Strode is now living with her friend, Annie, and her father, sheriff Lee Brackett. Physically, Laurie is fine, but mentally, part of Laurie's mind is destroyed because of what happened on Halloween night in 1978. She has terrible nightmares, and can't bear to think about her psychopathic brother, Michael. Laurie keeps reminding herself that The Shape is dead and gone, never to come back again. But she's very, very wrong. Michael Myers is very much alive, and he's coming back to Haddonfield to claim his sister. And anybody who gets in his way...will suffer his painful wrath.
2007's "Halloween" tapped into the twisted icon's psychosis, and then it went on to be a remake of the original, only with new, original touches. "Halloween II" is actually not a remake. It is Rob Zombie's own movie, a truly different film for a slasher hero like Michael Myers. Zombie has crafted an original story and several characters you believe in.
You know what really surprised me? "Halloween II" is not as bloody as the first. Well, at least after the second act. Zombie shoots most of his kill scenes in very shadowy environments, keeping the tension amped up and the claustrophobia settled in perfectly. Michael could have gone farther, but he went far enough.
The one thing that I probably admired the most about "Halloween II" is how much the character of Laurie Strode changed. She is almost bipolar, but then again, wouldn't you be if someone like Michael Myers attacked you? Zombie creates a very accurate vision of a traumatized, sympathetic teenager who finds out terrible things about who she really is. And Scout Taylor Compton has always been the perfect girl to play Laurie. She did an awesome job in the first movie, and she does it again here. This is a wonderful and believable actress who can really scream her guts out!
Now, here's where the movie had its flaw: I was like all the other "Halloween" fans, asking myself "What the hell happened to Dr. Loomis?" He pretty much became a jerk, obsessed with publicity and success. Whatever happened to Loomis making sure that his patient was dead? But if you're willing to not study the character too much, Malcolm MacDowell's performance is quite entertaining.
I enjoy the new Michael Myers look: the dirty, hooded coat, a brand-new knife, and the classic William Shatner mask is nearly torn in half, revealing part of The Shape's face. But if they're going to bring Michael back for another "Halloween" movie, they should probably just stick with black overalls and the regular mask. There's always a costume store that Michael can sneak into. He did it in "Halloween 4."
The cast is well-rounded. Like I said before, Scout Taylor Compton is great as Laurie. Malcolm MacDowell is back as Dr. Loomis, Brad Dourif is very good as Sheriff Brackett, and it's always a joy to see Danielle Harris as Annie. Along with those guys are more cameos from stars such as Margot Kidder, Weird Al Yankovic, Howard Hesseman, and Caroline Williams. Also back from the first movie is Sheri Moon Zombie as the illusive Deborah Myers, complete with a creepy look and a white horse. And Tyler Mane is awesome, as always, as Michael.
The music is composed, once again, by Tyler Bates. This time, he doesn't use much of the original score by John Carpenter. Instead, he creates his own music, setting an even bleaker tone for the movie.
I know that "Halloween II" wasn't so well-received when it came out. And I understand how people feel about it. It does have its flaws, including a script that is a little bit thin. But, I went into this movie with the right expectations, knowing that this wasn't going to be like Rob Zombie's first outing with Michael Myers. So, "Halloween II" is more than OK. I realize now that it's a very unique, original, and bizarre entry in the franchise that is soon to develop a cult status. Consider "Halloween II" booked on my DVD shelf.
Getting Dragged To Hell Was Never This Much Fun!
Known to many for making the block-buster "Spiderman" series, Sam Raimi began in his career in 1981 with a wonderful little gem called "The Evil Dead." The 1981 horror classic featured everything a good horror movie is supposed to be: scary, gory, at times weirdly funny, and entertaining. When I saw "The Evil Dead," I wondered if Raimi would ever return to horror again. 2009's "Drag Me To Hell" is the answer that was given. Raimi has finally gotten a chance to leave the "Spiderman" franchise and actually do something that old fans would remember him by. There's only three words to describe "Drag Me To Hell" and those words are: A PERFECT MOVIE!
Alison Lohman stars as Christine Brown, a woman who is living a happy life with her boyfriend Clay, and she has a great job at the bank. But when an old gypsy woman, Sylvia Ganush, comes to Christine, begging for another extension on her mortgage payment, Christine is faced with a challenging decision. Will she impress her boss and win the assistant manager position or will she help Mrs. Ganush out and never be able to make tough decisions? Christine goes for the first choice. Bad mistake, because Mrs. Ganush puts a curse on Christine. It is the curse of the Lamia, a furious demon that tortures its victims for three days until it finally drags you to hell to burn for eternity. Can Christine be able to find a way to stop the curse before it's too late?
Despite its PG-13 rating, "Drag Me To Hell" is a superior horror film with nonstop scares, gratuitous gross-out moments, a very dark sense of humor, and it's fun to watch. Raimi doesn't just put Christine through hell, but he does it with the audience too. I was jumping in my seat so many times, talking to the screen, and I actually felt my adrenaline pumping, stuff that hasn't happened to me in a long time in a horror movie. It makes you remember classic horror film rules: If a disgusting gypsy woman with bad dentures, a blind eye, leper fingernails and endless phlegm coming out of her mouth needs your help, you don't ignore her. You help that woman out!
There are plenty of slashers and haunted house movies, but there aren't so many people getting cursed. Raimi's horrific story is just a little bit formulaic, but he takes it and makes it his own. Gypsy curses have never been this violent or scary.
The cast obviously had a good time making the movie because their performances are awesome. I really enjoyed watching Alison Lohman play Christine. I haven't watched a lot of her movies, but this one shows that she's very underrated and deserves bigger roles. Great job, Lohman! Justin Long has starred in another very popular horror movie called "Jeepers Creepers." He is also very good here as Christine's boyfriend Clay, the dude who is always telling her that everything is okay and nothing is coming for her. Hah! Welcome back to horror, Mr. Long. David Paymer is very funny as Christine's boss. Dileep Rao makes a very good psychic as Rham Jas. And Lorna Raver shines as Ganush. Raimi has created the most disgusting gypsy ever.
Sam Raimi directs "Drag Me To Hell" with such energy and love for the genre. This is the guy who obviously always loved horror movies. He never holds back on scares and gross-outs. And the effects here are remarkable. Thank God Raimi has returned to horror.
Peter Travers has called "Drag Me To Hell" "horror movie heaven," which it very well is. You'll completely forget that it's rated PG-13 and you'll have a fantastic time jumping in your seat, screaming, and laughing. "Drag Me To Hell" stands as one of 2009's best horror movies in line with "My Bloody Valentine 3D," "The Last House on the Left" and "Friday the 13th." Now, let's see what "Sorority Row" and "Jennifer's Body" can do.
Alison Lohman stars as Christine Brown, a woman who is living a happy life with her boyfriend Clay, and she has a great job at the bank. But when an old gypsy woman, Sylvia Ganush, comes to Christine, begging for another extension on her mortgage payment, Christine is faced with a challenging decision. Will she impress her boss and win the assistant manager position or will she help Mrs. Ganush out and never be able to make tough decisions? Christine goes for the first choice. Bad mistake, because Mrs. Ganush puts a curse on Christine. It is the curse of the Lamia, a furious demon that tortures its victims for three days until it finally drags you to hell to burn for eternity. Can Christine be able to find a way to stop the curse before it's too late?
Despite its PG-13 rating, "Drag Me To Hell" is a superior horror film with nonstop scares, gratuitous gross-out moments, a very dark sense of humor, and it's fun to watch. Raimi doesn't just put Christine through hell, but he does it with the audience too. I was jumping in my seat so many times, talking to the screen, and I actually felt my adrenaline pumping, stuff that hasn't happened to me in a long time in a horror movie. It makes you remember classic horror film rules: If a disgusting gypsy woman with bad dentures, a blind eye, leper fingernails and endless phlegm coming out of her mouth needs your help, you don't ignore her. You help that woman out!
There are plenty of slashers and haunted house movies, but there aren't so many people getting cursed. Raimi's horrific story is just a little bit formulaic, but he takes it and makes it his own. Gypsy curses have never been this violent or scary.
The cast obviously had a good time making the movie because their performances are awesome. I really enjoyed watching Alison Lohman play Christine. I haven't watched a lot of her movies, but this one shows that she's very underrated and deserves bigger roles. Great job, Lohman! Justin Long has starred in another very popular horror movie called "Jeepers Creepers." He is also very good here as Christine's boyfriend Clay, the dude who is always telling her that everything is okay and nothing is coming for her. Hah! Welcome back to horror, Mr. Long. David Paymer is very funny as Christine's boss. Dileep Rao makes a very good psychic as Rham Jas. And Lorna Raver shines as Ganush. Raimi has created the most disgusting gypsy ever.
Sam Raimi directs "Drag Me To Hell" with such energy and love for the genre. This is the guy who obviously always loved horror movies. He never holds back on scares and gross-outs. And the effects here are remarkable. Thank God Raimi has returned to horror.
Peter Travers has called "Drag Me To Hell" "horror movie heaven," which it very well is. You'll completely forget that it's rated PG-13 and you'll have a fantastic time jumping in your seat, screaming, and laughing. "Drag Me To Hell" stands as one of 2009's best horror movies in line with "My Bloody Valentine 3D," "The Last House on the Left" and "Friday the 13th." Now, let's see what "Sorority Row" and "Jennifer's Body" can do.
Cujo: Another Classic Stephen King Adaptation!
Next to "Carrie," "The Shining," "Christine" and "Misery," "Cujo" is another one of my favorite Stephen King film adaptations.
The movie revolves mostly around the Trenton family: Housewife Donna, her advertiser husband Vic, and their little boy Tad. Donna is going through a rough time with Vic, since she is just ending an affair with another man. Meanwhile, the Trentons meet the Cambers, a very dysfunctional family with a beautiful Saint Bernard named Cujo. What the Trentons and the Cambers don't know is that Cujo is very sick. He has been bitten by a rabid bat, and has become a violent killing machine. So, when Donna and Tad take their 1958 Pinto to the Camber house to get it fixed, signs of leaving are minimal, since Cujo is extremely angry and has them trapped in the car, fighting for their lives.
Stephen King movies are either a hit or miss. But, despite "Misery," the earliest King films are the best ones. "Carrie," "The Shining," "Christine..." those movies were genuine and really scared you. "Cujo" is another hit in the King album. This could have been another "killer animal" movie, just the same as "Christine" could have been another "killer car" flick. But there are a lot of things going for "Cujo" that make it classic King.
"Cujo" is not a movie that has tons of "BOO!" scares. It is a film that unfolds with a slowly building tension, leaving the viewer completely on edge. While people think the scariest part of the film is seeing Cujo deteriorate, for me, the scariest part of the film is watching Donna and Tad try to escape this dog. It becomes a very emotional movie, and the characters gain your complete sympathy. I cared abut Donna and Tad, and I wanted to see them get out alive.
This film has a tremendous sense of claustrophobia. Just the idea of being in a small space while being attacked by an evil being just sends chills up the spine. I felt like Cujo was getting into the car and clawing at me. It felt that real.
The acting is magnificent. The performances of the cast come off as very believable, especially Dee Wallace and Danny Pintauro as Donna and Tad.
"Cujo" is a very well-made film. It has tons of great shots, thanks to director Lewis Teague, and what great cinematography by Jan De Bont. Another intelligent aspect of the movie was me questioning whether the dog was real or not. According to Danny Pintauro, there were many different versions of the dog, including a real Saint Bernard and a man in a dog suit. And the only way to get the dog to attack the car would be to throw a plastic mouse in that had some sort of a scent.
Stephen King should be proud of the way his material was handled on film. King movies are meant for one thing only: to scare the crap out of you. And "Cujo" does that. It is a violent film, but it is also very suspenseful and smart. You'll think twice before you buy a Saint Bernard after watching this movie. In the entire collection of Stephen King hits, "Cujo" is another one for the books. Highly recommended.
The movie revolves mostly around the Trenton family: Housewife Donna, her advertiser husband Vic, and their little boy Tad. Donna is going through a rough time with Vic, since she is just ending an affair with another man. Meanwhile, the Trentons meet the Cambers, a very dysfunctional family with a beautiful Saint Bernard named Cujo. What the Trentons and the Cambers don't know is that Cujo is very sick. He has been bitten by a rabid bat, and has become a violent killing machine. So, when Donna and Tad take their 1958 Pinto to the Camber house to get it fixed, signs of leaving are minimal, since Cujo is extremely angry and has them trapped in the car, fighting for their lives.
Stephen King movies are either a hit or miss. But, despite "Misery," the earliest King films are the best ones. "Carrie," "The Shining," "Christine..." those movies were genuine and really scared you. "Cujo" is another hit in the King album. This could have been another "killer animal" movie, just the same as "Christine" could have been another "killer car" flick. But there are a lot of things going for "Cujo" that make it classic King.
"Cujo" is not a movie that has tons of "BOO!" scares. It is a film that unfolds with a slowly building tension, leaving the viewer completely on edge. While people think the scariest part of the film is seeing Cujo deteriorate, for me, the scariest part of the film is watching Donna and Tad try to escape this dog. It becomes a very emotional movie, and the characters gain your complete sympathy. I cared abut Donna and Tad, and I wanted to see them get out alive.
This film has a tremendous sense of claustrophobia. Just the idea of being in a small space while being attacked by an evil being just sends chills up the spine. I felt like Cujo was getting into the car and clawing at me. It felt that real.
The acting is magnificent. The performances of the cast come off as very believable, especially Dee Wallace and Danny Pintauro as Donna and Tad.
"Cujo" is a very well-made film. It has tons of great shots, thanks to director Lewis Teague, and what great cinematography by Jan De Bont. Another intelligent aspect of the movie was me questioning whether the dog was real or not. According to Danny Pintauro, there were many different versions of the dog, including a real Saint Bernard and a man in a dog suit. And the only way to get the dog to attack the car would be to throw a plastic mouse in that had some sort of a scent.
Stephen King should be proud of the way his material was handled on film. King movies are meant for one thing only: to scare the crap out of you. And "Cujo" does that. It is a violent film, but it is also very suspenseful and smart. You'll think twice before you buy a Saint Bernard after watching this movie. In the entire collection of Stephen King hits, "Cujo" is another one for the books. Highly recommended.
A Nightmare On Elm Street: The Greatest Nightmare In The Series
After such gruesome drive-in flicks as "The Last House on the Left" and "The Hills Have Eyes," master of horror Wes Craven wanted to make a movie that would bring the slasher genre back to life, since the genre was clouded by untalented, unoriginal films that shouldn't have been made. So, along came "A Nightmare on Elm Street." To this day, Craven's masterpiece of modern horror is the movie that elevated the horror genre. Avoid the awful sequels that followed it. The first "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie is still the scariest and most effective movie in the series.
The story revolves around four teens in the town of Springwood: Nancy Thompson, Tina Gray, Rod Lane and Glen Lantz. All four have had horrifying dreams involving a terribly burnt boogeyman in a red and green sweater and a brown fedora on his head with extremely sharp blades for fingers. Sure, they're just dreams. But not until Tina is graphically murdered in her sleep. No weapon was found, but there were four long cuts in Tina's chest. The rest of the group soon finds out that it is the Springwood maniac Freddy Krueger that is haunting their dreams. None of them are safe. If they fall asleep, they will meet their gruesome demise. Now it's up to Nancy to stop Freddy once and for all. But how can she stop somebody that isn't supposed to be real?"
A Nightmare on Elm Street" created a terrifying villain, a plot that is very original, and a group of characters that you care about. Everybody knows who Freddy is, just like everyone knows who Michael Myers is, or Jason Voorhees, or Leatherface. He is now one of the most iconic slashers in horror cinema.
One of the things that I admire the most is the cast. Heather Langenkamp is an awesome heroine. Nancy is one of the girls in the genre that fought the villain and didn't run. Langenkamp creates a suburban teenage girl that is filled with pizazz and wit, which she has the most of out of all the characters. In a very brief performance, Tina is played by Amanda Wyss of the hit comedy "Fast Times At Ridgemont High." Her character's death is uncomfortable and disturbing to watch. Craven shows no mercy during Tina's death, not having an ounce of the scene edited. He makes you watch all of it, and that creeps the viewer out even more. Nick Corri is a very good rebel. And you'll also notice Johnny Depp in his first big movie as Glen. His death is second best. Nancy's parents, Donald and Marge Thompson, are played by John Saxon of "Black Christmas" and Ronee Blakely of "Nashville." They are the last of the parents on Elm Street to hold a very dark secret about Freddy, something that they aren't telling Nancy or the others. Not such a good idea, since Freddy never seems to leave them alone. I can't imagine anybody else playing Freddy other than Robert Englund. Englund is flawless in the role that made him a star. This is where Englund is scariest as Freddy. In the sequels, Freddy becomes a comedian with rather stale wisecracks. What makes Freddy so scary in the first "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie is how his dark, macabre sense of humor comes off as frightening. And he's always there, wherever you are. "Since he's a dream figure, he can basically do anything," says critic Aviva Briefel. "He can transform into anything. That's what makes him so scary. How can you resist sleep? He's everywhere." If horror movies got nominations, Englund would be first in line to win the award.
Craven's direction is perfect. He films "A Nightmare on Elm Street" with a great amount of flair and he provides plenty of gore that will satisfy gore-hounds and enough scares to make you jump.
The verdict: "A Nightmare on Elm Street" still holds up as one of the scariest horror movies ever made. And people are always going to remember it. When kids are off to summer camp or they want their parents to tell them a scary story before bed, they most likely will hear about Freddy Krueger and his razor-blade glove. Nightmares are guaranteed. "One, two, Freddy's coming for you...Three, four, better lock your door...Five, six grab your crucifix...Seven, eight, gonna stay up late...Nine, ten, never sleep again!"
The story revolves around four teens in the town of Springwood: Nancy Thompson, Tina Gray, Rod Lane and Glen Lantz. All four have had horrifying dreams involving a terribly burnt boogeyman in a red and green sweater and a brown fedora on his head with extremely sharp blades for fingers. Sure, they're just dreams. But not until Tina is graphically murdered in her sleep. No weapon was found, but there were four long cuts in Tina's chest. The rest of the group soon finds out that it is the Springwood maniac Freddy Krueger that is haunting their dreams. None of them are safe. If they fall asleep, they will meet their gruesome demise. Now it's up to Nancy to stop Freddy once and for all. But how can she stop somebody that isn't supposed to be real?"
A Nightmare on Elm Street" created a terrifying villain, a plot that is very original, and a group of characters that you care about. Everybody knows who Freddy is, just like everyone knows who Michael Myers is, or Jason Voorhees, or Leatherface. He is now one of the most iconic slashers in horror cinema.
One of the things that I admire the most is the cast. Heather Langenkamp is an awesome heroine. Nancy is one of the girls in the genre that fought the villain and didn't run. Langenkamp creates a suburban teenage girl that is filled with pizazz and wit, which she has the most of out of all the characters. In a very brief performance, Tina is played by Amanda Wyss of the hit comedy "Fast Times At Ridgemont High." Her character's death is uncomfortable and disturbing to watch. Craven shows no mercy during Tina's death, not having an ounce of the scene edited. He makes you watch all of it, and that creeps the viewer out even more. Nick Corri is a very good rebel. And you'll also notice Johnny Depp in his first big movie as Glen. His death is second best. Nancy's parents, Donald and Marge Thompson, are played by John Saxon of "Black Christmas" and Ronee Blakely of "Nashville." They are the last of the parents on Elm Street to hold a very dark secret about Freddy, something that they aren't telling Nancy or the others. Not such a good idea, since Freddy never seems to leave them alone. I can't imagine anybody else playing Freddy other than Robert Englund. Englund is flawless in the role that made him a star. This is where Englund is scariest as Freddy. In the sequels, Freddy becomes a comedian with rather stale wisecracks. What makes Freddy so scary in the first "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie is how his dark, macabre sense of humor comes off as frightening. And he's always there, wherever you are. "Since he's a dream figure, he can basically do anything," says critic Aviva Briefel. "He can transform into anything. That's what makes him so scary. How can you resist sleep? He's everywhere." If horror movies got nominations, Englund would be first in line to win the award.
Craven's direction is perfect. He films "A Nightmare on Elm Street" with a great amount of flair and he provides plenty of gore that will satisfy gore-hounds and enough scares to make you jump.
The verdict: "A Nightmare on Elm Street" still holds up as one of the scariest horror movies ever made. And people are always going to remember it. When kids are off to summer camp or they want their parents to tell them a scary story before bed, they most likely will hear about Freddy Krueger and his razor-blade glove. Nightmares are guaranteed. "One, two, Freddy's coming for you...Three, four, better lock your door...Five, six grab your crucifix...Seven, eight, gonna stay up late...Nine, ten, never sleep again!"
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