Every Universal Studios monster has been resurrected for remakes, ranging from Dracula to Frankenstein. But the one monster that wasn't brought back to life was The Wolfman, one that I had wanted to see again for a very long time. The 1941 film is classic horror, and when it was announced that 2010 would see the rebirth of this wonderful film, I was quite excited. After nearly two years of anticipation and news, the final product of "The Wolfman" is a fun little surprise with humor, energy, and plenty of scares and gore.
After the gruesome death of of his brother, actor Lawrence Talbot returns to Blackmoor, England after many years to make peace with his father, Sir John Talbot, and help his brother's fiancee, Gwen Conliffe, find out what killed his sibling. Many believe that the attacker was simply a madman who enhanced the injuries of his victim to make it seem that an animal is the culprit. But one night, Lawrence is attacked by a savage beast, perhaps a rabid dog. Lawrence's wounds are harsh, but then his wounds heal quite quickly, and things happen to him that take over his mind, his senses, and his personality. Nothing can save him, not even psychological treatment or the love of Gwen. For in a matter of 28 days, Lawrence will become a monstrous being that feeds on other life every time the moon is full.
"The Wolfman" is a very fun and stylish horror film that fans of old-school horror should love. For what reasons does this film gain my critical acclaim?
First, the acting is great. Benicio Del Toro is very good as Lawrence, and it is a performance that the great Lon Chaney Jr. would be proud of. Del Toro provides a tone of sympathy and sadness to this character that I don't think others could have done with the role. You care about Lawrence, and you ask yourself "Why him?" That is the reason why Del Toro's performance works. Anthony Hopkins, as always, is awesome as Sir John. When you have Hannibal Lecter(Hopkins's character in "The Silence of the Lambs" for which he won an Oscar in 1991) in a horror film, you can't go wrong. Hopkins is creepy in this role, and you begin to feel suspicious about Sir John right from the beginning. When we first meet him, we begin to wonder if he is hiding something from his son, and if so, we are anxious to discover what it is. But Sir John is also charming and witty in his diabolical ways. Way to go, Anthony! As for the role of Gwen Conliffe, Emily Blunt is properly cast. While she is sultry, Blunt makes you care about Gwen, something that other heroines have a problem with in other horror films nowadays. British actor Hugo Weaving is entertaining as Inspector Aberline, making us laugh at times. And last but not least, the gypsy Maleva is played by Geraldine Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin's daughter. Chaplin adapts the gypsy accent well, and although she doesn't have as much screen time as the gypsy in the original film, she is good with what she is given.
Another aspect of the film I admire is the production design by Rick Heinrichs. One reason we go to the movies is to be immersed in the experience, to be taken away into the film's world. And while I was watching "The Wolfman," I felt like I was in 1800's England. The setting brings an eerie Gothic feel that has a certain authenticity.
A problem with some monster movies, such as the abominable "Van Helsing," is the effects come off as cartoonish, especially when a person has to transform into a monster. Another reason I love "The Wolfman" is because the makeup effects are fantastic. Why, you ask? Because the man behind it all is mastermind Rick Baker, known best for his notorious makeup in "An American Werewolf In London." Now, the transformations here are not as painful and weirdly realistic as the ones in AAWIL. But when Del Toro transforms, it is anything but campy. It is, at times, painful to watch the transformation, while it is also in the style of a classic B-movie.
And for those of you who love a little bit of gore in your horror movies, you won't be disappointed here. The movie is quite scary, but is also extremely bloody when it has to be. The gore isn't as over-the-top as it is in other genre flicks, but when this werewolf attacks, he is not a tame dog.
Music in a horror film is crucial. Either the movie sucks without it or it can be very disturbing with it. After going through many composers, director Joe Johnston chose the music of the ingenious Danny Elfman, who provided very effective music for a lot of Tim Burton's films. Elfman's score for "The Wolfman" is essential in that it sets the tone for an old-school scary movie. I'll be damned if Elfman's music for this film isn't praised.
I think every monster movie has a moral or metaphor hidden in it. It's no doubt that "The Wolfman" has a recognizable meaning. The story represents the bad side of human nature, how insanely violent and angry we can be. It is a metaphor for man's primal animalistic tendencies. While several other films can explore this metaphor, it is evident that "The Wolfman" boasts the best example of it.
Of greatest significance, "The Wolfman" is directed greatly by Joe Johnston, director of such films as "The Rocketeer," "Jumanji" and "Jurassic Park III." While the film went through serious development problems, the biggest predicament was finding the right director. After bouncing from Mark Romanek("One Hour Photo") to Brett Ratner("Red Dragon"), it seemed the best person to handle the material was Mr. Johnston, and what a great decision that was. His direction is stellar as he handles the film the right way, with care.
Overall, "The Wolfman" could have been an epic failure after the many challenges it faced to make it. But this year has been the best year for horror flicks, and this film joins the list of one of the best. It remains true to the original "Wolfman," but doesn't copy it. Instead, it stands on its own as a nifty little horror film that I believe many will be satisfied with. Not since "Ginger Snaps" have we had a good werewolf movie, and "The Wolfman" proves that there is still life in the subgenre. Instead of subjecting yourself to the senseless "Valentine's Day," get your dose of monster madness with this awesome film. Thank you, Universal Studios, for bringing back a classic cinematic monster.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Rick Rosenthal's Halloween 2: A Very Good Sequel!
"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.
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.
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.
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