To this day, Robert Wise's "The Haunting" reigns supreme as the definitive haunted house movie. It has paved the way for such memorable classics as "The Innocents," "Burnt Offerings," and "The Others." However, not many people seem to remember a 1973 flick that came out months before "The Exorcist," a film called "The Legend of Hell House."
Dr. Lionel Barrett is a physicist who is hired by an old man named Rudolph Deutsch to find the answer to one question: Is there life after death? This isn't particularly his job, but since he is getting paid 100,000 bucks, he is glad to take it. But he isn't all for the choice of area in which he'll be studying the subject assigned to him: the Belasco House, aka Hell House.
Known to many as the "Mount Everest of haunted houses," Barrett takes the job, and brings with him three people: Ann, his wife, Florence Tanner, a mental medium, and Benjamin Fischer, the one and only survivor of the previous experiments in Hell House. The owner of the house, Emeric Belasco, was a madman, a sadist obsessed with everything shockingly violent, ranging from cannibalism to murderous alcoholism. So, if any house in England is truly haunted, it's quite obvious that this would be it. And once the team is inside the house, the supernatural occurrences start right away. Lionel, Ann, Florence, and Ben will find out that the Belasco mansion is truly a Hell House.
"The Legend of Hell House" was scripted by Richard Matheson, who wrote the novel that inspired the film as well as "I Am Legend," "Duel," and "The Box." I have read "Hell House" and while the movie follows the book very closely, it is not nearly as graphic or disturbing as the novel. That is totally understandable. If Matheson included everything from the novel, the film would have been X-rated.
While the movie doesn't include all of the sexuality and the violence of the book, it manages to be a very effective ghost story. Like "The Haunting," "Hell House" chooses to abandon most special effects and terrify the viewer through the imagination. No ghosts are seen here, but there's plenty of activity. Matheson has weaved a story that lets your imagination go wild, and I personally think it is his best novel.
The thing that is most fascinating about this haunted house is that one way it haunts the occupants is by digging into what gets to them most. Lionel's wife, Ann, is sexually repressed, and when she expects love from her husband, he turns away, and Ann exhibits her activeness in one of the creepiest sleepwalking scenes ever filmed.
When we first enter the Belasco House, we know instantly that we should turn away and never come back. But our mind tells us not to and to go in to find the answers to the supernatural phenomena that occurred there.
The cast is well-chosen. Clive Revill is good as the non-believing Lionel, as well as Gayle Hunnicutt as Ann. But Pamela Franklin(of "The Innocents," and "And Soon the Darkness") and Roddy McDowall("Fright Night," and "Planet of the Apes") give the best performances here as Florence and Benjamin, who firmly believe that the house is haunted.
Direction went to John Hough, who had directed "Escape to Witch Mountain" and several episodes of "The Avengers." Hough knows that what you don't see is scarier than what you do see, and proves himself worthy as a horror film director.
The ending is sort of a letdown, but the rest of the movie remains flawless. It's not as great as "The Haunting," but it is a worthy follow-up that is atmospheric, eerie, and shocking, and pushes the boundaries beyond what we think a haunted house movie really is. Never does it come off as campy, and if "The Legend of Hell House" doesn't give you the creeps, than you don't know what horror is.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Good, Old-Fashioned, Black And White Horror!
Sometimes, we need to take a break from the more recent horror movies of our time. If you're a real fan of the genre, check out this piece on some of the greatest black and white horror films of all time.
1) Carnival of Souls (1962)- Herk Harvey directed this tale of a woman named Mary Henry, who gets into a car accident with her friends after a failed drag race. She survives the accident, and doesn't remember anything. A while after the accident occurred, Mary leaves her town and heads over to an area where she will take the job of a church organist. Soon, she begins to experience hallucinations and see ghostly apparitions that constantly haunt her. "Carnival of Souls" is certainly a B-movie. The acting is just so bad it's good. However, as B-grade as it is, there is just something about it. The atmosphere is tremendous and inescapable, and there are moments of undeniable creepiness, especially when we see that creepy man with the wide eyes that is haunting Mary Henry. The acting isn't all that, but if you're looking for something that is ambiguous and strange, you've found it here.
2) The Phantom of the Opera (1925)- Lon Chaney shines in this silent film adaptation of Gaston Leroux's novel about a deformed figure that demands love from the opera singer that he is obsessed with. Chaney doesn't need to speak for this movie. It's all about his body language and facial expressions. He can project any emotion instantly, making him a genious performer. And the face revelation scene is still one of the most haunting and shocking moments in horror cinema. It's a classic tale and an equally classic movie.
3) Nosferatu (1922)- Before the suave and lovesick Dracula, there was this movie. Directed by F.W. Murnau, "Nosferatu" is basically "Dracula" under a different name(Murnau was almost sued for not getting the film rights for Stoker's novel from his widowed wife), but through the power of suggestion and atmosphere, it is a triumphant horror film. Realtor Knock hires his best man Hutter to travel to Transylvania to sell a house to the mysterious Count Orlok. Leaving his wife, Ellen, behind, Hutter takes the trip and finds himself caught up in a horrific and vampiric nightmare. Easily one of the ugliest and creepiest vampires on film, Max Schreck's Orlok is a performance that will creep you out even after the film is finished. You don't want this guy knocking on your door.
4) The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919)- Another German expressionist horror film that has to be seen to be believed.
5) The House on Haunted Hill (1959)- Aided by the performance of Vincent Price and the showmanship of horror master William Castle, "The House on Haunted Hill" is classic B-movie fun about a millionaire who chooses a couple of people to spend the night in a supposedly haunted mansion. Whoever survives gets 100, 000 smackers. It's one of Price's best performances and the movie oozes with love for the genre.
6) Dracula (1931)- Don't need to say much about this Universal must, only that it's the movie that made Bela Lugosi a hit in the horror genre.
7) Frankenstein (1931)- Mary Shelley's novel about the creation of monsters is turned into one of the most iconic horror films ever made, thanks to the casting of Boris Karloff as the monster. "IT'S ALIVE!!!"
8) Cat People (1942)- A black and white horror film that, if you pay close attention, is all about sexual repression. Bosnia native Irena falls in love with everyman Oliver Reed in New York. The bad news is that if she becomes sexually excited, the creature inside of her will take over and attack! The Val Lewton productions were all about suggestion. There are no transformation scenes, but plenty of terror!
9) Night of the Living Dead (1968)- People locked in farmhouse. Hungry, flesh-eating ghouls attack. George Romero's film is simple, but the jaded aficionado will find it most effective due to the controversial social commentary littered throughout the movie.
10) Repulsion (1965)- "Black Swan" is obviously inspired by this Roman Polanski-directed psychological chiller about a sexually repressed woman that stays alone in her apartment for days, and slowly goes over the edge of sanity. It's weird, bizarre, frightening, and definitely one of the biggest "WTF?" films of the 60's.
1) Carnival of Souls (1962)- Herk Harvey directed this tale of a woman named Mary Henry, who gets into a car accident with her friends after a failed drag race. She survives the accident, and doesn't remember anything. A while after the accident occurred, Mary leaves her town and heads over to an area where she will take the job of a church organist. Soon, she begins to experience hallucinations and see ghostly apparitions that constantly haunt her. "Carnival of Souls" is certainly a B-movie. The acting is just so bad it's good. However, as B-grade as it is, there is just something about it. The atmosphere is tremendous and inescapable, and there are moments of undeniable creepiness, especially when we see that creepy man with the wide eyes that is haunting Mary Henry. The acting isn't all that, but if you're looking for something that is ambiguous and strange, you've found it here.
2) The Phantom of the Opera (1925)- Lon Chaney shines in this silent film adaptation of Gaston Leroux's novel about a deformed figure that demands love from the opera singer that he is obsessed with. Chaney doesn't need to speak for this movie. It's all about his body language and facial expressions. He can project any emotion instantly, making him a genious performer. And the face revelation scene is still one of the most haunting and shocking moments in horror cinema. It's a classic tale and an equally classic movie.
3) Nosferatu (1922)- Before the suave and lovesick Dracula, there was this movie. Directed by F.W. Murnau, "Nosferatu" is basically "Dracula" under a different name(Murnau was almost sued for not getting the film rights for Stoker's novel from his widowed wife), but through the power of suggestion and atmosphere, it is a triumphant horror film. Realtor Knock hires his best man Hutter to travel to Transylvania to sell a house to the mysterious Count Orlok. Leaving his wife, Ellen, behind, Hutter takes the trip and finds himself caught up in a horrific and vampiric nightmare. Easily one of the ugliest and creepiest vampires on film, Max Schreck's Orlok is a performance that will creep you out even after the film is finished. You don't want this guy knocking on your door.
4) The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919)- Another German expressionist horror film that has to be seen to be believed.
5) The House on Haunted Hill (1959)- Aided by the performance of Vincent Price and the showmanship of horror master William Castle, "The House on Haunted Hill" is classic B-movie fun about a millionaire who chooses a couple of people to spend the night in a supposedly haunted mansion. Whoever survives gets 100, 000 smackers. It's one of Price's best performances and the movie oozes with love for the genre.
6) Dracula (1931)- Don't need to say much about this Universal must, only that it's the movie that made Bela Lugosi a hit in the horror genre.
7) Frankenstein (1931)- Mary Shelley's novel about the creation of monsters is turned into one of the most iconic horror films ever made, thanks to the casting of Boris Karloff as the monster. "IT'S ALIVE!!!"
8) Cat People (1942)- A black and white horror film that, if you pay close attention, is all about sexual repression. Bosnia native Irena falls in love with everyman Oliver Reed in New York. The bad news is that if she becomes sexually excited, the creature inside of her will take over and attack! The Val Lewton productions were all about suggestion. There are no transformation scenes, but plenty of terror!
9) Night of the Living Dead (1968)- People locked in farmhouse. Hungry, flesh-eating ghouls attack. George Romero's film is simple, but the jaded aficionado will find it most effective due to the controversial social commentary littered throughout the movie.
10) Repulsion (1965)- "Black Swan" is obviously inspired by this Roman Polanski-directed psychological chiller about a sexually repressed woman that stays alone in her apartment for days, and slowly goes over the edge of sanity. It's weird, bizarre, frightening, and definitely one of the biggest "WTF?" films of the 60's.
Friday, January 7, 2011
The Last Exorcism: A Big, Super-Creepy Surprise!
After seeing "Paranormal Activity," I decided to take a break from the "found footage" horror film. That's right. I decided to skip "The Last Exorcism" when it was in theaters. However, the critical praise poured in and the hype started to build. So, I finally watched the film on DVD. And I gotta say, I was so surprised.
Reverend Cotton Marcus is an evangelist minister. He's done his fair share of exorcisms, but he sees them as a bunch of bull. Cotton gets a letter to come down to another part of Louisiana to perform an exorcism. He accepts, and decides to bring a camera crew with him to film the footage of what is to be his last exorcism. Enter the farm of the Sweetzer family: Religious father Lewis, his weird and rude son Caleb, and his sweet 16 year old daughter, Nell. Nell is the one that is supposedly possessed and could be the one killing the livestock. Cotton sees Nell's actions, and he dismisses them as the behavior of an insane, abused young girl. But what if he's wrong?
We've had plenty of possession flicks, ranging from the profane and disturbing classic "The Exorcist" to the recently well-done court drama/horror film "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." Going into this one, the audience gets a feel that they've seen this before. How wrong they were. "The Last Exorcism" is a possession flick, but it's so much more well-done than you'd expect it to be. And it's scarier too.
After such movies as "The Blair Witch Project," "Quarantine," and "Paranormal Activity," "The Last Exorcism" does follow the "found footage" formula like those before it. Like Oren Peli, director Daniel Stamm has a keen and sensational visual eye, offering up a healthy dose of suspense, terrifying "BOO!" moments, and the gut-wrenchingly violent and frightening behavior of Nell Sweetzer.
Screenwriters Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland have written a script that avoids the classic horror movie clichés and pulls out all the stops. Once the story gets going, there's no stopping it. Nell's actions start off strange and grow increasingly more horrific as the movie goes on. I don't know if Hitchcock was a fan of demonic horror, but he would be proud with the story Botko and Gurland have weaved.
Next to the "found footage" concept, what elevates "The Last Exorcism" above others is its music. Usually, in order to achieve the raw "home camera" feel, there is never any music in a horror film like this. However, Nathan Barr composes some truly creepy music that gets under your skin as equally as the movie does.
A mostly unknown cast of actors give performances to remember, especially Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell as Cotton and Nell. Sure, Cotton has faith, but he doesn't believe in the devil. The character could have come off as extremely obnoxious. But Fabian gives the role a fantastic third dimension that allows you to care about Cotton. Bell's portrayal of Nell Sweetzer is absolutely unbelievable. Like Jennifer Carpenter in "Emily Rose," playing a possessed teen is not easy. Bell gives the role all of the layers it needs to look real. She is sweet when she has to be, and the same goes for when she's pure evil. Also, Nell's body-cracking movements don't come off as CGI. It looks like Bell is doing all the work, making her performance just as good.
During the movie, I chose not to compare it to "Paranormal Activity," and it works better that way. "The Last Exorcism" and Oren Peli's film equal each other out. This film doesn't offer up a slow build up, and just sends you on a roller coaster ride unlike any other. "The Last Exorcism" is one of the best nail-biters of 2010, and call me crazy, but it comes pretty close to being the "Exorcist" of our generation. It is incredibly scary, and for a PG-13 horror movie, it gets away with a lot of stuff. It will stay with you long after you've left the theater or turned off your DVD player, and it will leave you with questions. Was God anywhere when needed? Was Nell really possessed or just crazy? You'll soon find out. And I don't care what anybody says. The ending is a stunner!
Reverend Cotton Marcus is an evangelist minister. He's done his fair share of exorcisms, but he sees them as a bunch of bull. Cotton gets a letter to come down to another part of Louisiana to perform an exorcism. He accepts, and decides to bring a camera crew with him to film the footage of what is to be his last exorcism. Enter the farm of the Sweetzer family: Religious father Lewis, his weird and rude son Caleb, and his sweet 16 year old daughter, Nell. Nell is the one that is supposedly possessed and could be the one killing the livestock. Cotton sees Nell's actions, and he dismisses them as the behavior of an insane, abused young girl. But what if he's wrong?
We've had plenty of possession flicks, ranging from the profane and disturbing classic "The Exorcist" to the recently well-done court drama/horror film "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." Going into this one, the audience gets a feel that they've seen this before. How wrong they were. "The Last Exorcism" is a possession flick, but it's so much more well-done than you'd expect it to be. And it's scarier too.
After such movies as "The Blair Witch Project," "Quarantine," and "Paranormal Activity," "The Last Exorcism" does follow the "found footage" formula like those before it. Like Oren Peli, director Daniel Stamm has a keen and sensational visual eye, offering up a healthy dose of suspense, terrifying "BOO!" moments, and the gut-wrenchingly violent and frightening behavior of Nell Sweetzer.
Screenwriters Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland have written a script that avoids the classic horror movie clichés and pulls out all the stops. Once the story gets going, there's no stopping it. Nell's actions start off strange and grow increasingly more horrific as the movie goes on. I don't know if Hitchcock was a fan of demonic horror, but he would be proud with the story Botko and Gurland have weaved.
Next to the "found footage" concept, what elevates "The Last Exorcism" above others is its music. Usually, in order to achieve the raw "home camera" feel, there is never any music in a horror film like this. However, Nathan Barr composes some truly creepy music that gets under your skin as equally as the movie does.
A mostly unknown cast of actors give performances to remember, especially Patrick Fabian and Ashley Bell as Cotton and Nell. Sure, Cotton has faith, but he doesn't believe in the devil. The character could have come off as extremely obnoxious. But Fabian gives the role a fantastic third dimension that allows you to care about Cotton. Bell's portrayal of Nell Sweetzer is absolutely unbelievable. Like Jennifer Carpenter in "Emily Rose," playing a possessed teen is not easy. Bell gives the role all of the layers it needs to look real. She is sweet when she has to be, and the same goes for when she's pure evil. Also, Nell's body-cracking movements don't come off as CGI. It looks like Bell is doing all the work, making her performance just as good.
During the movie, I chose not to compare it to "Paranormal Activity," and it works better that way. "The Last Exorcism" and Oren Peli's film equal each other out. This film doesn't offer up a slow build up, and just sends you on a roller coaster ride unlike any other. "The Last Exorcism" is one of the best nail-biters of 2010, and call me crazy, but it comes pretty close to being the "Exorcist" of our generation. It is incredibly scary, and for a PG-13 horror movie, it gets away with a lot of stuff. It will stay with you long after you've left the theater or turned off your DVD player, and it will leave you with questions. Was God anywhere when needed? Was Nell really possessed or just crazy? You'll soon find out. And I don't care what anybody says. The ending is a stunner!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Black Swan: A Beautiful and Frightening Bird
Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of Darren Aronofsky's previous film, "The Wrestler." So, I was at first hesitant to see Aronofsky's latest film, "Black Swan." But as soon as the praise started tumbling in, I decided that I HAD to see it. So far, I'd call "Black Swan" the best movie of the year.
The film is about Nina Sayers, a young ballerina living with her mother Erica, a former ballerina herself. Nina strives to be the best in her New York ballet company. Her director, Thomas Leroy, announces his production of Swan Lake(a classic ballet), and since legendary Beth McIntyre is retiring, Nina is given the role of the Swan Queen(aka The White Swan). However, she must also portray the Swan Queen's evil twin, The Black Swan. As of now, Thomas knows that the Swan Queen will be no problem for Nina, but she struggles immensely with the Black Swan. In comes competition by the name of Lily, a woman who is strong, carefree, and very sexually expressive. As Nina strives for perfection, she experiences pain, sexuality, paranoia, and obsession that slowly drives her to the edge.
Now, here is a story that could have been riddled with clichés. But no. The script, written by Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, and John McLoughlin, is extremely well-written and filled with surprises. At times, we aren't sure if what we see through Nina's eyes is true. Of course, her slow loss of sanity is visible. But is Lily really out to get Nina? Is Thomas really exploiting his dancers sexually?
"Black Swan" is definitely a horror film, and that may be hard for other people to view it as such. Nina's descent is nightmarish and truly horrific. When I watched the film, I recalled the styles of early Roman Polanski(i.e. "Repulsion" and "Rosemary's Baby"), David Cronenberg(i.e. "Shivers" and "The Fly"), and even Dario Argento("Suspiria"). Nina's paranoia is like that of Catherine Deneuve, and her bodily horror certainly brings to mind that of the early Cronenberg films. Several horror fans will think of "Suspiria" right away when they watch "Black Swan," knowing that Argento's film is also about ballet. But Aronofsky's film is also beautiful and lavish, like Argento's style.
The character of Nina fascinates me. In our eyes, she is a frightened little girl in a woman's body. She is afraid to express any sexuality, mostly because of her controlling mother. She wants to be perfect, and reach higher than those of her cutthroat partners. Perfection and pressure leads to her madness, and it is heartbreaking as well as shocking.
Of course, the script and the direction are key to the film's effect, but it is the cast that, to me, makes the movie. Natalie Portman's performance as Nina is absolutely stunning. Portman has done many roles that never allow her to grow as an actress. "Black Swan" shows that she can do anything, and she has grown into her own. Thomas is played by Vincent Cassel, and he gives a very memorable performance. Barbara Hershey is also outstanding as Erica. It is told to us that Erica gave up ballet to have Nina. Nina has grown a bit, and Erica is afraid to see that. So when she sees her daughter struggle for perfection, she represses her a lot of the time. Hershey captures that to a T. You will also see a nice performance from Winona Ryder as Beth. For the time she has on screen, Ryder is quite good. But the big surprise here is Mila Kunis as Lily. Known more for crude and light-hearted fare(TV's "That 70's Show" and "Family Guy," and the hit film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall), you would never expect Kunis in a role like this. She is not the voice of little Meg Griffin anymore. She is an actress, and her performance here equals that of Portman.
Director Aronofsky has given us what could be his most ambitious and beautiful film yet. He has worked with a flawless script to form a truly amazing film. "Black Swan," in itself, is an intense drama about the pressure and struggles of the ballet art. However, it is definitely, and maybe not to some people, a psychological horror film, and a great one at that. If anybody deserves the Best Actress Oscar this year more than anyone, it's Natalie Portman. Hell, this could even be up for Best Picture. "I just want to be perfect," says Nina. Poor Nina's pressure makes her suffer, but the movie sure doesn't. "Black Swan" IS perfect.
The film is about Nina Sayers, a young ballerina living with her mother Erica, a former ballerina herself. Nina strives to be the best in her New York ballet company. Her director, Thomas Leroy, announces his production of Swan Lake(a classic ballet), and since legendary Beth McIntyre is retiring, Nina is given the role of the Swan Queen(aka The White Swan). However, she must also portray the Swan Queen's evil twin, The Black Swan. As of now, Thomas knows that the Swan Queen will be no problem for Nina, but she struggles immensely with the Black Swan. In comes competition by the name of Lily, a woman who is strong, carefree, and very sexually expressive. As Nina strives for perfection, she experiences pain, sexuality, paranoia, and obsession that slowly drives her to the edge.
Now, here is a story that could have been riddled with clichés. But no. The script, written by Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, and John McLoughlin, is extremely well-written and filled with surprises. At times, we aren't sure if what we see through Nina's eyes is true. Of course, her slow loss of sanity is visible. But is Lily really out to get Nina? Is Thomas really exploiting his dancers sexually?
"Black Swan" is definitely a horror film, and that may be hard for other people to view it as such. Nina's descent is nightmarish and truly horrific. When I watched the film, I recalled the styles of early Roman Polanski(i.e. "Repulsion" and "Rosemary's Baby"), David Cronenberg(i.e. "Shivers" and "The Fly"), and even Dario Argento("Suspiria"). Nina's paranoia is like that of Catherine Deneuve, and her bodily horror certainly brings to mind that of the early Cronenberg films. Several horror fans will think of "Suspiria" right away when they watch "Black Swan," knowing that Argento's film is also about ballet. But Aronofsky's film is also beautiful and lavish, like Argento's style.
The character of Nina fascinates me. In our eyes, she is a frightened little girl in a woman's body. She is afraid to express any sexuality, mostly because of her controlling mother. She wants to be perfect, and reach higher than those of her cutthroat partners. Perfection and pressure leads to her madness, and it is heartbreaking as well as shocking.
Of course, the script and the direction are key to the film's effect, but it is the cast that, to me, makes the movie. Natalie Portman's performance as Nina is absolutely stunning. Portman has done many roles that never allow her to grow as an actress. "Black Swan" shows that she can do anything, and she has grown into her own. Thomas is played by Vincent Cassel, and he gives a very memorable performance. Barbara Hershey is also outstanding as Erica. It is told to us that Erica gave up ballet to have Nina. Nina has grown a bit, and Erica is afraid to see that. So when she sees her daughter struggle for perfection, she represses her a lot of the time. Hershey captures that to a T. You will also see a nice performance from Winona Ryder as Beth. For the time she has on screen, Ryder is quite good. But the big surprise here is Mila Kunis as Lily. Known more for crude and light-hearted fare(TV's "That 70's Show" and "Family Guy," and the hit film "Forgetting Sarah Marshall), you would never expect Kunis in a role like this. She is not the voice of little Meg Griffin anymore. She is an actress, and her performance here equals that of Portman.
Director Aronofsky has given us what could be his most ambitious and beautiful film yet. He has worked with a flawless script to form a truly amazing film. "Black Swan," in itself, is an intense drama about the pressure and struggles of the ballet art. However, it is definitely, and maybe not to some people, a psychological horror film, and a great one at that. If anybody deserves the Best Actress Oscar this year more than anyone, it's Natalie Portman. Hell, this could even be up for Best Picture. "I just want to be perfect," says Nina. Poor Nina's pressure makes her suffer, but the movie sure doesn't. "Black Swan" IS perfect.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Paranormal Activity 2: A Miracle Sequel
For those who loved "Paranormal Activity," get ready. We now get the 2010 sequel, "Paranormal Activity 2," and the good news is that it brings the same shivers of the first film to full circle. The bad news...well, there's no bad news at all.
"PA2" follows Katie's sister, Kristy, and her family: Daniel, her husband, Ally, her stepdaughter, and Hunter, Kristy's one year-old baby. After they come home one day to find their house has been trashed and they suspect a burglary, Daniel sets up six security cameras around the house to record everything that goes on at night. It turns out that this was no burglary.
Oren Peli's "Paranormal Activity," the indie fright fest that was demanded in theaters across the nation, is one of my favorite horror films of 2009. I've only watched it twice: the first time in a theater, the second time at home. Ever since, I have been afraid to watch it a third time. It is a film that has the same horrifying impact each time you watch it.
Just months after the first film's success, rumors of a sequel started spreading. That was cause for the skeptics to flock. We know how sequels like "Blair Witch 2" can go. "Blair Witch 2" was big on budget, low on scares, and high on stupidity. "Paranormal Activity 2" could have been a big-budget bomb that completely ruined the greatness of the first film. But, no. Believe it or not, "Paranormal Activity 2" accomplishes everything the first film did. In a way, it's better than the original.
Most "PA" fans will remember the classic scenes of Katie and Micah's bedroom, and being on the edge of the seat with suspense, just waiting for something to strike. The sequel doesn't limit itself to just one room, but six areas of the house: the pool, the kitchen, the living room, outside the front door, the stairs, and baby Hunter's bedroom. The ability to have more cameras in the sequel heightens the tension much more. Once again, you are just waiting, looking at the different cameras, hoping that you will see something.
"Paranormal Activity 2" is almost exactly like the first film due to familiarity. But familiarity is part of the fun of the sequel. Just ask Dread Central.com: "Knowing what this family is up against makes things so much scarier." You WILL see slamming doors and creeping shadows, and hear rumblings and footsteps in the film's nighttime setting. But, wait. The sequel actually has more shocks than the first movie. What you see in "PA2" will scare you, indubitably.
I won't give anything away, but the sequel offers a great backstory and a wonderful freshness. You see, "Paranormal Activity 2" is more of a prequel, bringing events back over a week before the original film's incidents. You get to know Katie's family more and you're given time to care.
And like the first one, the acting in the sequel doesn't feel like acting...not at all. We get the feeling that we are looking at a real family suffer. And Katie Featherston returns in a great and effective supporting role.
Oren Peli takes the role of producer this time around, and in the directing chair is Tod Williams, who is completely uninvolved with the first film. With 3 million dollars, a slightly bigger budget compared to the $11,000 budget Peli had, Williams knows what to do. He avoids special effects and goes for the same formula of the first movie, letting the audience engage themselves in another wonderfully psychological and horrifying genre film. Be proud, Oren Peli, that direction for the sequel was in the right hands.
Now, not everyone loved the first "Paranormal Activity." So it's safe to say that if you didn't like the first film, don't see the second. However, if you're a big fan, like I am, the sequel's a match made in horror heaven. If you couldn't sleep after the first movie, if you had to keep your lights on when you were alone in your room, you ain't seen nothing yet. "Paranormal Activity 2" is the "Aliens" of the decade. Sweet dreams, everybody.
"PA2" follows Katie's sister, Kristy, and her family: Daniel, her husband, Ally, her stepdaughter, and Hunter, Kristy's one year-old baby. After they come home one day to find their house has been trashed and they suspect a burglary, Daniel sets up six security cameras around the house to record everything that goes on at night. It turns out that this was no burglary.
Oren Peli's "Paranormal Activity," the indie fright fest that was demanded in theaters across the nation, is one of my favorite horror films of 2009. I've only watched it twice: the first time in a theater, the second time at home. Ever since, I have been afraid to watch it a third time. It is a film that has the same horrifying impact each time you watch it.
Just months after the first film's success, rumors of a sequel started spreading. That was cause for the skeptics to flock. We know how sequels like "Blair Witch 2" can go. "Blair Witch 2" was big on budget, low on scares, and high on stupidity. "Paranormal Activity 2" could have been a big-budget bomb that completely ruined the greatness of the first film. But, no. Believe it or not, "Paranormal Activity 2" accomplishes everything the first film did. In a way, it's better than the original.
Most "PA" fans will remember the classic scenes of Katie and Micah's bedroom, and being on the edge of the seat with suspense, just waiting for something to strike. The sequel doesn't limit itself to just one room, but six areas of the house: the pool, the kitchen, the living room, outside the front door, the stairs, and baby Hunter's bedroom. The ability to have more cameras in the sequel heightens the tension much more. Once again, you are just waiting, looking at the different cameras, hoping that you will see something.
"Paranormal Activity 2" is almost exactly like the first film due to familiarity. But familiarity is part of the fun of the sequel. Just ask Dread Central.com: "Knowing what this family is up against makes things so much scarier." You WILL see slamming doors and creeping shadows, and hear rumblings and footsteps in the film's nighttime setting. But, wait. The sequel actually has more shocks than the first movie. What you see in "PA2" will scare you, indubitably.
I won't give anything away, but the sequel offers a great backstory and a wonderful freshness. You see, "Paranormal Activity 2" is more of a prequel, bringing events back over a week before the original film's incidents. You get to know Katie's family more and you're given time to care.
And like the first one, the acting in the sequel doesn't feel like acting...not at all. We get the feeling that we are looking at a real family suffer. And Katie Featherston returns in a great and effective supporting role.
Oren Peli takes the role of producer this time around, and in the directing chair is Tod Williams, who is completely uninvolved with the first film. With 3 million dollars, a slightly bigger budget compared to the $11,000 budget Peli had, Williams knows what to do. He avoids special effects and goes for the same formula of the first movie, letting the audience engage themselves in another wonderfully psychological and horrifying genre film. Be proud, Oren Peli, that direction for the sequel was in the right hands.
Now, not everyone loved the first "Paranormal Activity." So it's safe to say that if you didn't like the first film, don't see the second. However, if you're a big fan, like I am, the sequel's a match made in horror heaven. If you couldn't sleep after the first movie, if you had to keep your lights on when you were alone in your room, you ain't seen nothing yet. "Paranormal Activity 2" is the "Aliens" of the decade. Sweet dreams, everybody.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Eleven Best Ghost Stories
1) The Haunting (1963)- Four people head over to the infamous Hill House to record a little paranormal activity, and they get a hell of a lot more than they bargained for. Robert Wise crafts the perfect tale of supernatural horror that is psychologically horrifying. Not a single ghost in sight. With "The Haunting," it's all about sound effect. That banging on the door and the cackling still gives me the creeps. Perfectly cast, well-written, and flawlessly directed, "The Haunting" is THE definitive ghost story.
2) Poltergeist (1982)- From the director of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and a story by Steven Spielberg, "Poltergeist" brings us to the suburban town of Cuesta Verde, where the Freeling family soon experience traumatizing ghostly events, including the disappearance of their 5 year-old daughter, Carol-Anne. From then on, all hell breaks loose. A perfect blend of subtle horror and tremendous "BOO!" scares, with wonderful effects(Industrial Light and Magic!), a great cast of actors(gotta love Zelda Rubinstein as Tangina), and a truly startling story. "They're heeere."
3) The Others (2001)- Nicole Kidman. Old dark mansion. Ghostly activity. Best words to describe the movie. Alejandro Amenabar's spooky "Haunting-style" tale will satisfy anybody who loves slow-burn horror.
4) The Innocents (1961)- Based on Henry James's "The Turn of the Screw," this ghost story is more sophisticated than you'd believe. Deborah Kerr stars as Miss Giddens, a nanny looking over young Miles and Flora at the Blye estate. When she begins to see apparitions around the mansion, she gets a gut-wrenching feeling that there is something that Miles and Flora are not telling her. You're not really sure what to believe after you watch "The Innocents." Are there really ghosts at Blye? Could it be the paranoia or sexual repression of Miss Giddens? It could be either. Eerie, atmospheric, and very disquieting, "The Innocents" will not let you down. It's truly one of the creepiest horror films of the 1960's.
5) The Fog (1980)- John Carpenter followed up "Halloween" with this nifty little campfire story about the island of Antonio Bay, which is struck by a surrounding fog on its 100th birthday. It is not taken seriously at first. But then it's no joke. A great build-up of suspense and horror backed up by an all-star cast and frightening music from good old Mr. Carpenter.
6) The Entity (1981)- Inspired by the real-life case of Doris Bither and based on the novel by Frank De Felitta, this is one of the more bizarre and very shocking ghost stories to appear over the years. Happily living her life with her three children, all is well with single mother Carla Moran until she is repeatedly beaten and raped by an unseen force over several nights. Psychologists can't understand what is happening, and Carla is slowly dismissed as insane. But you and I both know that an entity is attacking Carla, and the film is her struggle for survival and help. The ghostly rape scenes certainly aren't fun, but "The Entity" is a great and underrated movie that deserves more attention. Barbara Hershey is well-cast as Carla, and so is Ron Silver as Dr. Sneiderman.
7) The Amityville Horror (1979)- Another movie inspired by a true story, this film takes us to Amityville, Long Island, where George and Kathy Lutz and their three children move into the lovely 412 Ocean Avenue home. What begins as a dream come true turns into 28 days of horror. There are a couple of cheesy moments, but it's no doubt that "The Amityville Horror" is a classic haunted house movie due to its publicized story and several genuine creep-out moments.
8) The Sixth Sense (1999)- Dr. Malcolm is a child psychologist whose next patient is young Cole, who says he sees dead people. The bad news is he's right. More of a tragic ghost drama than a horror film, to me, "The Sixth Sense" was M. Night Shyamalan's breakout movie. It made Haley Joel Osment a star, and it gave us insight into why the ghosts in the film were there. Several moody and creepy moments highlight the film, especially young Osment in the red tent.
9) Paranormal Activity (2009)- Katie believes there is something in her and boyfriend Micah's new house. So Micah sets up a camera in their bedroom to film whatever happens when they sleep. The results will terrify you. Delayed for two years and finally demanded by moviegoers everywhere, this is a simple haunted house story that induces major goosebumps. Is "Paranormal Activity" for everyone? No. But for those who are into slow tension will love it. As the movie promises, it will make you afaid to go to sleep with the lights off for a long time.
10) Burnt Offerings (1976)- A super-simple "family rents house for the summer and finds that it's haunted" movie. But what makes it better than the PG-13 dreck you see nowadways are the subtle and quiet scares that build through the movie. The horror builds to a great sense of dread. Put together the star power of Karen Black, Oliver Reed, Bette Davis, Burgess Meredith, and Eileen Heckart, the direction of Dan Curtis(creator of the hit show "Dark Shadows"), and remarkable tension, and you get "Burnt Offerings." P.S. The devilish grin of The Chauffeur brings chills to the spine.
11) The Shining (1980)- Jack Nicholson with an axe. A large hotel. Some extremely frightening ghosts, including those damn twins. If you haven't seen Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece based on Stephen King's novel, watch it or be ashamed that you didn't.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Best Movies To Watch On Halloween Night!
As All Hallow's Eve 2010 approaches, I, HorrorMovieBuff, have decided to make another list. Put on that costume, pop that popcorn, and pig out on that awesome candy. These are the best movies to chill your spine on Halloween.
1) Halloween(1978)- Now, this one is a no-brainer. "Halloween" is a movie I watch constantly, whether it is or isn't October 31st. John Carpenter's classic tale tells the story of the masked murderer Michael Myers returning to Haddonfield to stalk Laurie Strode and her friends. Damn creepy, with a terrifying villain, a perfect music score, and flawless acting from Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, and the ensemble cast. I've said it enough. "Halloween" is THE horror film that will last forever.
2) The Exorcist(1973)- Okay. This is one of the scariest movies of all time, no doubt about it. William Friedkin directs this Satanic frightfest about a 12 year-old girl posessed by the devil and the priest and exorcist that try to save her soul. Not only unbearably eerie and shocking(Love that 360-degree head turn and Linda Blair's disgusting language), but also an intense drama that takes a look into the tragic and tortured life of the priest and the pain that he goes through. If you haven't seen "The Exorcist," then you're not even a horror fan. This is pure horror!
3) Psycho(1960)- Your mother would be ashamed of you(pun intended) if you didn't watch this classic. Alfred Hitchcock orchestrates one of the perfect and essential thrillers that will leave you terrified to take a shower.
4) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(1974)- It's so much more than just a slasher film. Director Tobe Hooper sparked his career with this truly disturbing horror film about five teens that come face to face with backwoods cannibals, led by chainsaw-wielding, skin-ripping Leatherface. Known for being the bloodiest movie of all time? I don't think so. Tobe Hooper lets your imagination go to work, which leads to the graphic thoughts that the movie will leave you with. Clasutrophobic, horrifying, and not fun at all. But it's definitely a classic!
5) A Nightmare on Elm Street(1984)- Listen to the nursery rhyme, and then tell me that it doesn't creep you out: 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. Wes Craven's 80's horror masterpiece gives you good reason to not go to sleep.
6) The Omen(1976)- Another Satanic tale that is smart and eerie. Ambassador Robert Thorn adopts a baby in Rome after his wife, Katherine, has a miscarriage. The child seems to be doing well until he's 5 years old. After that, the Thorn family's life is all downhill from there. Do us all a favor: When you give birth and name the kid Damien, check his scalp for any signs of the Antichrist. P.S. "The Omen" has the best decapitation ever put on film.
7) Jaws(1975)- It's flawless! Perfect casting, perfect direction, and a horrifying and iconic musical score. Thank God that mechanical shark didn't work.
8) Rosemary's Baby(1968)- Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse buy a new apartment at the Bramford, which leads to all hell breaking loose. Mia Farrow's performance is amazing, showing emotions of paranoia, innocence, and fear. It's a classic film, period. The cradle still rocks.
9) Night of the Living Dead(1968)- Several people lock themselves into a halfway house that is soon to be surrounded by flesh-hungry ghouls. One of the first real zombie movies that, even though it was made on a low budget, still looks extremely well-made. George A. Romero offers up lots of social commentary that just make the movie more controversial and out there. "They're coming to get you, Barbara..."
10) Friday the 13th(1980)- The movie that invented the gory slasher genre that you see so often. Betsy Palmer is to die for as Mrs. Voorhees. Ch, ch, ch. Ah, ah, ah.
11) Child's Play(1988)- Tom Holland directs the story of Karen Barclay and her son Andy, a boy obsessed with Good Guy dolls. He owns the pajamas, the sneakers, all kinds of memorabilia. Andy's birthday is coming up, and Karen surprises her son with his very own Good Guy doll. His name is Chucky, and he swears that he and Andy will be "friends till the end." That is, until a person gets killed, and Andy becomes a suspect. But Karen knows who the real suspect is...Chucky. The doll is alive, and mighty pissed off! I know, I know. It sounds like an ultra-sleazy B-movie. But "Child's Play" is a very dark horror film with great acting, especially from Brad Dourif as the voice of Chucky, and one uber-creepy doll.
12) Scream(1996)- Scripted by Kevin Williamson and directed by master of fright Wes Craven, "Scream" is one of the perfect Halloween party movies. It offers up a healthy dosage of horror, comedy, and drama. A year after Sidney Campbell's mother has died, people begin to get phone calls from a serial killer, whose knowledge of horror movies is pretty diabolical. After one girl gets murdered, it becomes a game of cat and mouse for Sidney, the tabloid with a heart Gale Weathers, dumb but sweet Dewey Riley, and Sidney's friends from school. If you're a horror cinephile, get some friends together and have a ball with this nifty and clever horror classic that is filled to the brim with awesome movie references.
13) The Evil Dead(1981)- The ultimate "cabin in the woods/demon posession/slice and dice" flick. Watch it.
14) The Silence of the Lambs(1991)- FBI newbie Clarice Starling is assigned the case of capturing and killing serial killer Buffalo Bill. But first, she must get the info she needs from an intelligent madman(pun intended), Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter. The Academy Award-winning film is argued about whether or not it is a horror film. For me, it is. And it's a masterpiece. It builds slowly, but once you're 15 minutes in and you meet our good pal Hannibal Lecter, you'll be creeped out instantly. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins are the perfect creepshow duo. And Ted Levine is so unbearably frightening as Buffalo Bill.
15) The Haunting(1963), Poltergeist(1982), and The Shining(1980)- I've publicized about these movies enough. They're three movies that will keep you up long after the night is over.
1) Halloween(1978)- Now, this one is a no-brainer. "Halloween" is a movie I watch constantly, whether it is or isn't October 31st. John Carpenter's classic tale tells the story of the masked murderer Michael Myers returning to Haddonfield to stalk Laurie Strode and her friends. Damn creepy, with a terrifying villain, a perfect music score, and flawless acting from Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, and the ensemble cast. I've said it enough. "Halloween" is THE horror film that will last forever.
2) The Exorcist(1973)- Okay. This is one of the scariest movies of all time, no doubt about it. William Friedkin directs this Satanic frightfest about a 12 year-old girl posessed by the devil and the priest and exorcist that try to save her soul. Not only unbearably eerie and shocking(Love that 360-degree head turn and Linda Blair's disgusting language), but also an intense drama that takes a look into the tragic and tortured life of the priest and the pain that he goes through. If you haven't seen "The Exorcist," then you're not even a horror fan. This is pure horror!
3) Psycho(1960)- Your mother would be ashamed of you(pun intended) if you didn't watch this classic. Alfred Hitchcock orchestrates one of the perfect and essential thrillers that will leave you terrified to take a shower.
4) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(1974)- It's so much more than just a slasher film. Director Tobe Hooper sparked his career with this truly disturbing horror film about five teens that come face to face with backwoods cannibals, led by chainsaw-wielding, skin-ripping Leatherface. Known for being the bloodiest movie of all time? I don't think so. Tobe Hooper lets your imagination go to work, which leads to the graphic thoughts that the movie will leave you with. Clasutrophobic, horrifying, and not fun at all. But it's definitely a classic!
5) A Nightmare on Elm Street(1984)- Listen to the nursery rhyme, and then tell me that it doesn't creep you out: 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. Wes Craven's 80's horror masterpiece gives you good reason to not go to sleep.
6) The Omen(1976)- Another Satanic tale that is smart and eerie. Ambassador Robert Thorn adopts a baby in Rome after his wife, Katherine, has a miscarriage. The child seems to be doing well until he's 5 years old. After that, the Thorn family's life is all downhill from there. Do us all a favor: When you give birth and name the kid Damien, check his scalp for any signs of the Antichrist. P.S. "The Omen" has the best decapitation ever put on film.
7) Jaws(1975)- It's flawless! Perfect casting, perfect direction, and a horrifying and iconic musical score. Thank God that mechanical shark didn't work.
8) Rosemary's Baby(1968)- Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse buy a new apartment at the Bramford, which leads to all hell breaking loose. Mia Farrow's performance is amazing, showing emotions of paranoia, innocence, and fear. It's a classic film, period. The cradle still rocks.
9) Night of the Living Dead(1968)- Several people lock themselves into a halfway house that is soon to be surrounded by flesh-hungry ghouls. One of the first real zombie movies that, even though it was made on a low budget, still looks extremely well-made. George A. Romero offers up lots of social commentary that just make the movie more controversial and out there. "They're coming to get you, Barbara..."
10) Friday the 13th(1980)- The movie that invented the gory slasher genre that you see so often. Betsy Palmer is to die for as Mrs. Voorhees. Ch, ch, ch. Ah, ah, ah.
11) Child's Play(1988)- Tom Holland directs the story of Karen Barclay and her son Andy, a boy obsessed with Good Guy dolls. He owns the pajamas, the sneakers, all kinds of memorabilia. Andy's birthday is coming up, and Karen surprises her son with his very own Good Guy doll. His name is Chucky, and he swears that he and Andy will be "friends till the end." That is, until a person gets killed, and Andy becomes a suspect. But Karen knows who the real suspect is...Chucky. The doll is alive, and mighty pissed off! I know, I know. It sounds like an ultra-sleazy B-movie. But "Child's Play" is a very dark horror film with great acting, especially from Brad Dourif as the voice of Chucky, and one uber-creepy doll.
12) Scream(1996)- Scripted by Kevin Williamson and directed by master of fright Wes Craven, "Scream" is one of the perfect Halloween party movies. It offers up a healthy dosage of horror, comedy, and drama. A year after Sidney Campbell's mother has died, people begin to get phone calls from a serial killer, whose knowledge of horror movies is pretty diabolical. After one girl gets murdered, it becomes a game of cat and mouse for Sidney, the tabloid with a heart Gale Weathers, dumb but sweet Dewey Riley, and Sidney's friends from school. If you're a horror cinephile, get some friends together and have a ball with this nifty and clever horror classic that is filled to the brim with awesome movie references.
13) The Evil Dead(1981)- The ultimate "cabin in the woods/demon posession/slice and dice" flick. Watch it.
14) The Silence of the Lambs(1991)- FBI newbie Clarice Starling is assigned the case of capturing and killing serial killer Buffalo Bill. But first, she must get the info she needs from an intelligent madman(pun intended), Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter. The Academy Award-winning film is argued about whether or not it is a horror film. For me, it is. And it's a masterpiece. It builds slowly, but once you're 15 minutes in and you meet our good pal Hannibal Lecter, you'll be creeped out instantly. Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins are the perfect creepshow duo. And Ted Levine is so unbearably frightening as Buffalo Bill.
15) The Haunting(1963), Poltergeist(1982), and The Shining(1980)- I've publicized about these movies enough. They're three movies that will keep you up long after the night is over.
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