I know, I know. Not everybody's a fan of remakes. But I sure am. Here's a list of my top 10 favorite horror remakes of all time:
1) The Fly (1986)- The 1958 Vincent Price favorite was one of the cheesiest movies I had ever seen. The 1986 reimagining directed by David Cronenberg is anything but cheesy. Seth Brundle is a scientist who has created a stroke of genius in his new teleportation machine. And with the help of his journalist lover, Veronica Quaife, he seeks out to improve his invention by teleporting himself. The bad news is that a fly gets caught in the machine with Brundle, and therefore, this man slowly turns into a terrifying insect. Next to stellar casting, especially Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis as Brundle and Veronica, and slowly built tension, the movie is guaranteed to shock any viewer, especially when we get to see Brundle transform.
2) The Thing (1982)- I have never seen the original film, but John Carpenter's remake is definitely one of the best out there. Kurt Russell and his comrades are doing a project in Antarctica when they discover a ship believed to be 1000 years old. Russell and company should have kept away from the ship, because an alien being has stumbled into the base, taking on the form of any man there and attacking the next. What Carpenter does with his version of "The Thing" is bring a terrible sense of paranoia to the viewer. We never know who is The Thing and who is human, which is what makes the movie so scary. Also, atmosphere is big here. You are in the middle of nowhere with a huge problem on your hands, and no matter how loud you scream, nobody is going to be there to help. Overall, a winner from the director of "Halloween," "The Fog," and "Christine."
3) My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009)- The original 1981 slasher flick is a cult favorite, and personally, the remake is possibly just as good. It's been ten years since Harry Warden savagely killed people in the Hanniger Mines, and Tom Hanniger is finally returning to his hometown of Harmony to sell the mine, only to discover that everything has changed and his girlfriend Sarah has married his nemesis, Sheriff Axel Palmer. As Valentine's Day approaches, other people are brutally murdered with a pickaxe. Could it be that Harry Warden is alive and back for revenge? "MBV3D" is just one great time at the movies, and is best seen in 3D. Filled with blood, guts, a great cast(including Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, and Kerr Smith), an original story, and one of the most gratuitous and hilarious nude scenes of all time, "My Bloody Valentine 3D" will not break your heart.
4) The Last House on the Left (2009)- This remake is better than Wes Craven's original film by far. "Last House" is brutal and terrifying, and brings a realistic tone to a frightening plot. When teenage girl Mari Collingwood and her friend Paige befriend a soft-spoken boy named Justin in a hotel room, they are thrust into a death trap with three maniacal criminals who rape and torture the two girls. After Mari is left for dead, the criminals hide out in the home of John and Emma, Mari's parents! And When John and Emma find their half-dead daughter at their door, they gather all of their strength to make these people pay for what they've done. Nicely directed, and perfectly cast, especially Tony Goldwyn as John, Monica Potter as Emma, Garrett Dillahunt as Krug, and Sara Paxton as Mari. Brace yourself!
5) Halloween (2007)- You know the story of Michael Myers. Many have hated it, but I really like Rob Zombie's vision of a classic film, which takes an original and odd approach to this iconic boogeyman. If you don't compare it to John Carpenter's "Halloween," then you and Zombie fans will definitely like this.
6) Halloween 2 (2009)- Actually, this one isn't a remake. Rob Zombie's sequel to his 2007 vision is his own movie completely. Scout Taylor Compton actually improves on her version of Laurie Strode in this one, bringing a tragic and weird side to the character. And it's always a pleasure to see Malcolm MacDowell(Alex De Large of "A Clockwork Orange") and Danielle Harris, "Halloween" heroine extraordinaire. If you want a fresh and completely different take on Michael Myers, then you have hit the jackpot with "H2."
7) The Hills Have Eyes (2006)- My first horror movie experience in the theater, this one was unbearable to watch, but in a good way. It's a pretty simple story: Family gets stuck in the middle of the desert, and are attacked overnight by a group of psychotic cannibals. After the attack, the family fights back and decides to cash the check on these freaks. Intense and gruesome, this is the second hit remake in Wes Craven's repertoire. Not for the faint of heart.
8) Friday the 13th (2009)- Ch, ch, ch, ch. Ah, ah, ah, ah. Jason fans, rejoice! This homage to the first four "Friday" is pure gold. On our trip back to Camp Crystal Lake, we are introduced to a much more intimidating and frightening Jason Voorhees and a cast of teens partying down by the lake. Lots of nudity, good kills, a little bit of stoner comedy, and a creepy killer all highlight this entry that is the complete opposite of what its title suggests.
9) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)- Michael Bay's first horror trip is not the original, but it almost equals it. Kids driving through Texas to catch a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert stumble upon an old house, belonging to our good friend Leatherface, a serial killer who skins his victims and uses their faces for masks. The cast does a good job, including "7th Heaven" star Jessia Biel and the frightening R. Lee Ermey, the chainsaw is used to the hilt, and there's plenty of scares and gore for the fans.
10) A Nightmare On Elm Street (2010)- Nine, ten, he's back again. Freddy's back to stalk a few Springwood teens on Elm Street in their dreams. If you die in your dreams, you die in reality, and it's up to Nancy to stop Freddy once and for all. With the interesting concept of micro-naps, there are times when you don't know whether a character is dreaming or not, making the movie scarier. As for Freddy, star Jackie Earle Haley("Breaking Away," "Little Children," "Watchmen," and "Shutter Island") fits the role perfectly, eliminating some of Englund's stale wisecracks from the sequels and trading it in for dead-on creepiness. Directed by music video vet Samuel Bayer, this trip down Elm Street should be taken more than once. It's that good!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Jaws: Remembering My First Horror Movie
"You're gonna need a bigger boat."
-Martin Brody
The horror genre is one that is much maligned in the film industry. Some people just don't like being scared. That's their opinion, but here's mine. Being scared is very primal and relatable, which is why several horror movies have such a great effect on the viewer. I can remember my first real horror film, which I watched when I was 5 years old. I was familiar with Steven Spielberg's "Jaws," but had never seen the film. As I sat in front of my TV set, I had no clue what I was getting into. What followed was a life-long fear of going to the beach. "Jaws" has been dissected many times. This review will describe my undying passion for this film, and how great it is.
The plot takes us to Amity Long Island, a New England resort that brings happiness and joy to many islanders. Police chief Martin Brody, his wife Ellen, and their sons Michael and Sean are fairly new to Amity, and are liking it immensely. Then, along comes Martin's next job when he discovers the mutilated body of a teenage girl on the beach. Could it have been an axe murderer or a boating accident? No. Martin can tell right away that this was a shark attack, and it is important that he closes the beaches. But thanks to the idiotic mayor, things take a turn for the worse when islanders are attacked by a shark on July 4th. With the help of marine biologist Matt Hooper and the strange fisherman Quint, Martin takes a boat out into the middle of the ocean to kill the fish. But it turns out that their problem is much bigger than expected. This predator is a 25-foot long, 3-ton Great White, and it's ready for its next meal.
I feel that "Jaws" is a film that we can all relate to. We want to know what is in the depths of the ocean below us as we swim, but many people know that as common as shark attacks are, they are at times accidental. But this movie portrays the ultimate fear of a Great White shark that just won't go away. I think this is one of the reasons why "Jaws" holds up 35 years later.
The film is based on a best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, which I frankly believe has nothing on the movie. It's a good book, but certainly a flawed one as it focuses more on Martin and Ellen's marriage than it does on the attacks. Carl Gottlieb's script holds the viewer on the edge of their seat, waiting for the creature to strike.
Thanks to production failures, keeping the beast in the dark until the final act was the best way to go. Spielberg's mechanical shark, nicknamed Bruce, didn't work at times during filming, which led to the idea of not showing the shark. Instead, most of the film gives us POV shots from the shark's perspective, placing the viewer right smack in the middle of the action. When we aren't seeing things from the shark's point of view, we are in suspense for the rest of the movie until the shark finally appears, a classic scene that takes us completely by surprise.
The first scene in the film, the death of Chrissie Watkins, is still terrifying as we are thrust into the first attack. I remember watching that scene for the first time and being so shocked that my jaw was dropped for at least 10 minutes. I still get scared of that moment all these years later.
Another of my favorite moments in the film is when Quint recounts his experience on the U.S.S. Indianappolis. Written by Robert Shaw himself, this monologue is the most unnerving and creepy soliloquy I have ever heard. Hearing it brings chills down my spine each time I watch the film, and I'm sure it has the same effect on every other viewer.
Unlike many of the inferior follow-ups, the cast in "Jaws" is absolutely perfect. Every performance is never cheesy and every character is written three-dimensionally. We care about what happens to Martin and everyone else. Roy Scheider does a great job as Martin, and the same goes for Richard Dreyfuss as Hooper. Robert Shaw's performance as Quint is at times funny and odd and other times very memorable. Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton also do very well with their roles as Ellen Brody and Mayor Larry Vaughn.
The standout part of the film, other than the cast and Spielberg's direction, is John William's undeniably haunting score, signalling the coming of the shark. It brings tremendous dread to the viewer, and it didn't win an Oscar for nothing.
"Jaws" is, was, and ever shall be the classic shark movie. For a PG-rating, it is one of the scariest movies I've ever seen and it has the guts to avoid the gore and predictability that only a few other horror movies suffer from. When it comes to the 70's, Spielberg was a modern-day Hitchcock. Boasting a delightful cast, psychologically unnerving suspense and terror, and one of the greatest musical scores of all time, "Jaws" is not only a perfect horror film, but simply a perfect film all the way. I will never forget that fin gliding across the water, the terrifying music crescendoing.
-Martin Brody
The horror genre is one that is much maligned in the film industry. Some people just don't like being scared. That's their opinion, but here's mine. Being scared is very primal and relatable, which is why several horror movies have such a great effect on the viewer. I can remember my first real horror film, which I watched when I was 5 years old. I was familiar with Steven Spielberg's "Jaws," but had never seen the film. As I sat in front of my TV set, I had no clue what I was getting into. What followed was a life-long fear of going to the beach. "Jaws" has been dissected many times. This review will describe my undying passion for this film, and how great it is.
The plot takes us to Amity Long Island, a New England resort that brings happiness and joy to many islanders. Police chief Martin Brody, his wife Ellen, and their sons Michael and Sean are fairly new to Amity, and are liking it immensely. Then, along comes Martin's next job when he discovers the mutilated body of a teenage girl on the beach. Could it have been an axe murderer or a boating accident? No. Martin can tell right away that this was a shark attack, and it is important that he closes the beaches. But thanks to the idiotic mayor, things take a turn for the worse when islanders are attacked by a shark on July 4th. With the help of marine biologist Matt Hooper and the strange fisherman Quint, Martin takes a boat out into the middle of the ocean to kill the fish. But it turns out that their problem is much bigger than expected. This predator is a 25-foot long, 3-ton Great White, and it's ready for its next meal.
I feel that "Jaws" is a film that we can all relate to. We want to know what is in the depths of the ocean below us as we swim, but many people know that as common as shark attacks are, they are at times accidental. But this movie portrays the ultimate fear of a Great White shark that just won't go away. I think this is one of the reasons why "Jaws" holds up 35 years later.
The film is based on a best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, which I frankly believe has nothing on the movie. It's a good book, but certainly a flawed one as it focuses more on Martin and Ellen's marriage than it does on the attacks. Carl Gottlieb's script holds the viewer on the edge of their seat, waiting for the creature to strike.
Thanks to production failures, keeping the beast in the dark until the final act was the best way to go. Spielberg's mechanical shark, nicknamed Bruce, didn't work at times during filming, which led to the idea of not showing the shark. Instead, most of the film gives us POV shots from the shark's perspective, placing the viewer right smack in the middle of the action. When we aren't seeing things from the shark's point of view, we are in suspense for the rest of the movie until the shark finally appears, a classic scene that takes us completely by surprise.
The first scene in the film, the death of Chrissie Watkins, is still terrifying as we are thrust into the first attack. I remember watching that scene for the first time and being so shocked that my jaw was dropped for at least 10 minutes. I still get scared of that moment all these years later.
Another of my favorite moments in the film is when Quint recounts his experience on the U.S.S. Indianappolis. Written by Robert Shaw himself, this monologue is the most unnerving and creepy soliloquy I have ever heard. Hearing it brings chills down my spine each time I watch the film, and I'm sure it has the same effect on every other viewer.
Unlike many of the inferior follow-ups, the cast in "Jaws" is absolutely perfect. Every performance is never cheesy and every character is written three-dimensionally. We care about what happens to Martin and everyone else. Roy Scheider does a great job as Martin, and the same goes for Richard Dreyfuss as Hooper. Robert Shaw's performance as Quint is at times funny and odd and other times very memorable. Lorraine Gary and Murray Hamilton also do very well with their roles as Ellen Brody and Mayor Larry Vaughn.
The standout part of the film, other than the cast and Spielberg's direction, is John William's undeniably haunting score, signalling the coming of the shark. It brings tremendous dread to the viewer, and it didn't win an Oscar for nothing.
"Jaws" is, was, and ever shall be the classic shark movie. For a PG-rating, it is one of the scariest movies I've ever seen and it has the guts to avoid the gore and predictability that only a few other horror movies suffer from. When it comes to the 70's, Spielberg was a modern-day Hitchcock. Boasting a delightful cast, psychologically unnerving suspense and terror, and one of the greatest musical scores of all time, "Jaws" is not only a perfect horror film, but simply a perfect film all the way. I will never forget that fin gliding across the water, the terrifying music crescendoing.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
A Nightmare On Elm Street 2010: An Absolutely Essential Nightmare!
Unlike many other people, I am actually a big fan of producer Michael Bay's horror remakes. I really enjoyed "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "The Amityville Horror," and "Friday the 13th." And although they were kind of unnecessary, they always pulled through, in my opinion. So, did I enjoy the 2010 edition of "A Nightmare on Elm Street?" I more than enjoyed it. I loved it!
For those of you who don't know the plot, here's a summary: The movie revolves around five friends: Kris, Jesse, Dean, Quentin, and Nancy. All of them are having terrible dreams of a burnt man in a red-and-green sweater, wearing a fedora hat and knives for fingers. After they start to die in their sleep, one by one, all that is left is Nancy and Quentin. And they will discover that the boogeyman of their dreams is real, and if you fall asleep, you die in reality.
1984's "A Nightmare On Elm Street" introduced one of the most iconic slashers of all time, Freddy Krueger. The original film is wonderfully atmospheric and scary, but then came the sequels. After parts 2 and 3, Freddy turned into a comedian. He slowly lost his scare factor, until Wes Craven revived the true Freddy in "New Nightmare." Did I think a remake was well-deserved? Frankly, yes. And you wanna know something? In some ways, this remake might surpass the original.
First off, the movie was, without a doubt, very scary. A real horror movie wouldn't give you a chance to breathe. In "Nightmare," you get plenty of "BOO!" moments.
Also, this adaptation actually delves a lot more into the origins of Freddy, and makes you question whether or not he was innocent or very much a psychopath.
Third, the dreams are terrifying. And while Freddy is hacking up teens in their sleep, we get a new and original element: micro-naps. At times, I wasn't sure if a character was dreaming or not, which made it very suspenseful.
"A Nightmare On Elm Street" is directed by Samuel Bayer, the music video vet most famous for making the iconic video for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Bayer shows tremendous style throughout the film and pays close attention to the characters. I look forward to many more projects directed by Bayer, as it is obvious that he knows how to make a horror movie.
The acting in "Nightmare" is actually better than the original. The teens are nicely cast. Katie Cassidy does a great job as Kris, and her death was amazing. The same goes for Thomas Dekker as Jesse, Kyle Gallner as Quentin, and Kellan Lutz as Dean. Then, there's Nancy, played by Rooney Mara. You can disagree with me if you want to, but I dug the new Nancy. She was a sad, sympathetic, dark character that I cared about. Mara's Nancy is very different from Heather Langenkamp's Nancy, but both are very good performances. Langenkamp would be very proud of Ms. Mara. Nancy and Quentin's parents are played by Connie Britton and Clancy Brown, who both give great performances.
And last but not least, there is Freddy. The new Krueger is played by the fantastic Jackie Earle Haley. After films like "Breaking Away" and "Bad News Bears," Haley made a comeback with his Oscar-nominated performance as a convicted sex offender in "Little Children." And now, everyone knows him as Rorshach from last year's hit "Watchmen." It is time for people to let go of Robert Englund. His performance was great, but he can't be known as Freddy for the rest of his life. Therefore, Haley IS Freddy! I think the new version of the gloved maniac is more sadistic and terrifying than Freddy's ever been, and Haley's one-liners are much darker than as portrayed in the sequels. The real Freddy I loved was the one in Part 1, the unforgiving, monstrous ghoul that took great delight in killing these teens. Haley heightens the viciousness and fright of the original Freddy, and his performance WILL creep you out.
I think the ones who will love the new "Nightmare On Elm Street" will be those who refuse to compare it to the original. Going into this, I knew what I was in for: just a great time at the movies. And that's what I got. The "Nightmare" redux was everything I hoped it would be: scary, creepy, fun, bloody, and creative. With a great cast, especially the performance of Haley as Krueger, a cool new story, great deaths, and endless jump scares, this is one trip down Elm Street that I will cherish forever. "One, two, Freddy's coming for you...."
For those of you who don't know the plot, here's a summary: The movie revolves around five friends: Kris, Jesse, Dean, Quentin, and Nancy. All of them are having terrible dreams of a burnt man in a red-and-green sweater, wearing a fedora hat and knives for fingers. After they start to die in their sleep, one by one, all that is left is Nancy and Quentin. And they will discover that the boogeyman of their dreams is real, and if you fall asleep, you die in reality.
1984's "A Nightmare On Elm Street" introduced one of the most iconic slashers of all time, Freddy Krueger. The original film is wonderfully atmospheric and scary, but then came the sequels. After parts 2 and 3, Freddy turned into a comedian. He slowly lost his scare factor, until Wes Craven revived the true Freddy in "New Nightmare." Did I think a remake was well-deserved? Frankly, yes. And you wanna know something? In some ways, this remake might surpass the original.
First off, the movie was, without a doubt, very scary. A real horror movie wouldn't give you a chance to breathe. In "Nightmare," you get plenty of "BOO!" moments.
Also, this adaptation actually delves a lot more into the origins of Freddy, and makes you question whether or not he was innocent or very much a psychopath.
Third, the dreams are terrifying. And while Freddy is hacking up teens in their sleep, we get a new and original element: micro-naps. At times, I wasn't sure if a character was dreaming or not, which made it very suspenseful.
"A Nightmare On Elm Street" is directed by Samuel Bayer, the music video vet most famous for making the iconic video for Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Bayer shows tremendous style throughout the film and pays close attention to the characters. I look forward to many more projects directed by Bayer, as it is obvious that he knows how to make a horror movie.
The acting in "Nightmare" is actually better than the original. The teens are nicely cast. Katie Cassidy does a great job as Kris, and her death was amazing. The same goes for Thomas Dekker as Jesse, Kyle Gallner as Quentin, and Kellan Lutz as Dean. Then, there's Nancy, played by Rooney Mara. You can disagree with me if you want to, but I dug the new Nancy. She was a sad, sympathetic, dark character that I cared about. Mara's Nancy is very different from Heather Langenkamp's Nancy, but both are very good performances. Langenkamp would be very proud of Ms. Mara. Nancy and Quentin's parents are played by Connie Britton and Clancy Brown, who both give great performances.
And last but not least, there is Freddy. The new Krueger is played by the fantastic Jackie Earle Haley. After films like "Breaking Away" and "Bad News Bears," Haley made a comeback with his Oscar-nominated performance as a convicted sex offender in "Little Children." And now, everyone knows him as Rorshach from last year's hit "Watchmen." It is time for people to let go of Robert Englund. His performance was great, but he can't be known as Freddy for the rest of his life. Therefore, Haley IS Freddy! I think the new version of the gloved maniac is more sadistic and terrifying than Freddy's ever been, and Haley's one-liners are much darker than as portrayed in the sequels. The real Freddy I loved was the one in Part 1, the unforgiving, monstrous ghoul that took great delight in killing these teens. Haley heightens the viciousness and fright of the original Freddy, and his performance WILL creep you out.
I think the ones who will love the new "Nightmare On Elm Street" will be those who refuse to compare it to the original. Going into this, I knew what I was in for: just a great time at the movies. And that's what I got. The "Nightmare" redux was everything I hoped it would be: scary, creepy, fun, bloody, and creative. With a great cast, especially the performance of Haley as Krueger, a cool new story, great deaths, and endless jump scares, this is one trip down Elm Street that I will cherish forever. "One, two, Freddy's coming for you...."
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