Sangre, cuchillos, y tetas --- Horror Film Discussion

[Ivan Drago]

They don't make synapse-imploding crap like they used to.

I saw Zombi3 (was this the first movie to set the trend of putting numbers inside words?) as a part of a 12-hour movie marathon hosted by my favorite theater here in town, and this statement couldn't be more true today.

It does get repetitive, yes, but it's glorious.

[Dead & Messed Up]

The plane crash in the original Final Destination is about 1 min 22 seconds.

The bridge crash in the fifth Final Destination film is 4 min 33 seconds.

Over three times as long, and with each death segmented into its own extreme violence moment, including: death by sailboat impalement, death by bus defenestration, death by spike-head impalement, death by bisection, death by boiling hot paving tar, death by falling car (in that the car falls directly on her head), and death by impalement followed by concrete impact.

It's like you can mathematically calculate the level of Flanderization.

[Dukefrukem]

We need more Final Destination films.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Dario Argento's Inferno - B

Gorgeous and surreal throughout, although it loses something in the middle once you realize the film operates on a repetitive story pattern of person wanders around / person finds a clue / shrouded figure kills person. And the final image of the villain made me laugh, not scream. Camp may be the point, but I doubt it, and the image is needless. But for real, the first hour delighted me. The colors, the architecture, the perfectly-framed images of open-faced women in wrecked rooms lit up in purples and blues and greens. Among the most beautiful horror films I've ever seen. That makes it worth it. But for a spell there, I liked this more than Suspiria, and then the film kept on going. Somewhere in this 107-minute movie is an 80-minute masterwork.

[Scar]

Former poster Spun recommended an Argentinian flick called Terrified. Might just have to track that one down.

[StanleyK]

Watched Halloween yesterday because it was Halloween, and I gotta say, I didn't care for it very much. It starts out strong, and the final 20 minutes or so are decent, but the middle section is a slog in which the plot spins its wheels without going anywhere. The numerous times where Laurie spots Michael or Michael almost kills Annie were more tedious than scary. I was also annoyed by the musical stings whenever Michael moves in the background (akin to a jumpscare, but not quite that) and by the repetitiveness of the soundtrack. One final nitpick: towards the end, Dr. Loomis notices the car that Michael stole, which means he was posted up by the Myers house for hours before happening to look in that direction. Very implausible.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Watched Halloween yesterday because it was Halloween, and I gotta say, I didn't care for it very much. It starts out strong, and the final 20 minutes or so are decent, but the middle section is a slog in which the plot spins its wheels without going anywhere. The numerous times where Laurie spots Michael or Michael almost kills Annie were more tedious than scary. I was also annoyed by the musical stings whenever Michael moves in the background (akin to a jumpscare, but not quite that) and by the repetitiveness of the soundtrack. One final nitpick: towards the end, Dr. Loomis notices the car that Michael stole, which means he was posted up by the Myers house for hours before happening to look in that direction. Very implausible.

This is a new kind of opinion, and my first instinct is no no no no no no, but I respect you being forthright when discussing an established classic.

[MadMan]

Former poster Spun recommended an Argentinian flick called Terrified. Might just have to track that one down.

Its on Shudder, a service I heavily used this October. I also used TubiTV cause its free. Netflix's horror selection streaming wise is crap.

[Grouchy]

Former poster Spun recommended an Argentinian flick called Terrified. Might just have to track that one down.
Yeah, I need to see that. It has good press indeed.

[StanleyK]

This is a new kind of opinion, and my first instinct is no no no no no no, but I respect you being forthright when discussing an established classic.

If there's one place where someone can safely disagree with a consensus, it's Match Cut.

[Skitch]

If there's one place where someone can safely disagree with a consensus, it's Match Cut.

The only consensus on Match Cut is that there IS no consensus. Thats why MC is so great.

[transmogrifier]

The only consensus on Match Cut is that there IS no consensus. Thats why MC is so great.

I don't agree with that.

[Skitch]

I don't agree with that.

SEE??? :D

[Dead & Messed Up]

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

[MadMan]

The only consensus on Match Cut is that there IS no consensus. Thats why MC is so great.

MC great? Eh....

Horrorfest 2018 (https://letterboxd.com/madman/list/horrorfest-2018/)

8 films seen during August/September, 32 in October.

[Dukefrukem]

Anyone ever see David Twohy's Below?

[Dead & Messed Up]

Anyone ever see David Twohy's Below?

Yeah, I remember it being slight but decent.

[Skitch]

Yeah, I remember it being slight but decent.

Yep good flick. My first intro to Zach Galifinackis.

[Morris Schæffer]

Anyone ever see David Twohy's Below?

I recall it not being all that spooky, as if ghost story intertwined with Submarine was just merely good on paper.

Gotta say I prefer Twin of Echoes.

[Ezee E]

Great idea on paper, but boring in execution.

[Irish]

meg, what are your top 5 horrors for the year?

[megladon8]

meg, what are your top 5 horrors for the year?

I haven’t seen a movie in the theatre since The Last Jedi, so I’m not the best to ask.

I’d be happy to give you my top 5 horrors first viewed this year if you’re interested! :)

[Irish]

Either way! Theatrical, VOD, streaming, whichever.

(Doesn't have to be this year but I'm also curious about your reaction to this list (https://filmschoolrejects.com/best-horror-movies-of-2018/).)

[Dukefrukem]

Either way! Theatrical, VOD, streaming, whichever.

(Doesn't have to be this year but I'm also curious about your reaction to this list (https://filmschoolrejects.com/best-horror-movies-of-2018/).)

I've only seen four of those, but Annihilation is not horror.

[Skitch]

I've only seen four of those, but Annihilation is not horror.

I wouldn't say its strict horror, but it definitely has horror elements. IMDB agrees.

[Peng]

It’s not wholly horror, but that “bear” scene is as pure a horror scene as there is this year.

[Skitch]

It’s not wholly horror, but that “bear” scene is as pure a horror scene as there is this year.

Also carving the dudes guts up and theyre moving like snakes.

[Scar]

I’d say Annhilation is sci-fi horror.

[Skitch]

Its still my #1 of the year so far.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I'd say it qualifies as horror. I'm through assigning percentages to films. Annihilation is a horror film that's also a sci-fi film that's also a very weird sort of dreamlike psychological wandering.

One of my favorites of the year, maybe even my favorite full-stop.

Though there's a lot left to watch.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Its still my #1 of the year so far.

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Skitch again."

[Scar]

"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Skitch again."

I got ‘em.

[Skitch]

Oh I'm splooging rep all over all of us.

[megladon8]

Either way! Theatrical, VOD, streaming, whichever.

(Doesn't have to be this year but I'm also curious about your reaction to this list (https://filmschoolrejects.com/best-horror-movies-of-2018/).)

The only movie I’ve seen on that list is Annihilation (which I loved).

But the list is full of stuff I want to see!

[Peng]

No. 2 on that list, One Cut of the Dead, is that good, but I feel like it’s barely horror though, more of a meta-cinema dramedy, although it riffs on Z-grade zombie film in its opening 40-minute long-take.

[Dead & Messed Up]

The only movie I’ve seen on that list is Annihilation (which I loved).

But the list is full of stuff I want to see!

Now here's some rep I can give.

[megladon8]

I love that it came out at a time where everyone is (rightfully) pushing for more strong female lead films.

Here comes a movie with the entire lead cast consisting of females who are intelligent and strong, not sexualized at all.

No one gave a shit.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I love that it came out at a time where everyone is (rightfully) pushing for more strong female lead films.

Here comes a movie with the entire lead cast consisting of females who are intelligent and strong, not sexualized at all.

No one gave a shit.

I wish it'd had a different release plan. It had that weird theater dump / Netflix Int'l distribution deal that was just terrible for its potential word of mouth.

Critic Matt Zoller Seitz was organizing screening parties for the film in New York, trying to get everyone he could to see the film and talk about the film.

[transmogrifier]

I love that it came out at a time where everyone is (rightfully) pushing for more strong female lead films.

Here comes a movie with the entire lead cast consisting of females who are intelligent and strong, not sexualized at all.

No one gave a shit.

I'm in the minority, but I thought it just wasn't that good.

Support the Girls is a much better all-female-led 2018 film.

[MadMan]

I love that it came out at a time where everyone is (rightfully) pushing for more strong female lead films.

Here comes a movie with the entire lead cast consisting of females who are intelligent and strong, not sexualized at all.

No one gave a shit.

It came out during a period where folks like myself are gearing up for Oscar time and catching up on the previous year's films that I missed. I will have to rent it.

Manaic (1980) is more psychological than I expected. I prefer The New York Ripper in terms of 1980s NYC slasher films, but I still was engaged throughout. Was NYC really this gritty in the 1980s? Probably.

Christmas Evil is part mental head case drama, part evil Santa goes on a crime murder spree in a van. The last act is nuts.

[Grouchy]

Manaic (1980) is more psychological than I expected. I prefer The New York Ripper in terms of 1980s NYC slasher films, but I still was engaged throughout. Was NYC really this gritty in the 1980s? Probably.
I love that movie. I hear the remake is worth it for entirely different reasons.

[Skitch]

I love that movie. I hear the remake is worth it for entirely different reasons.

I have the anchor bay tin of it. Only watched once. I'm long overdue for rewatch. The remake is fucking A creepy. Frodo went dark.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Yeah, the remake is a tough watch, but it's Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer eerie in how it forces you to consider the emotional life of a serial killer. The POV camera throughout should be a distraction, but it's liquid-smooth and never feels "found footage."

[megladon8]

FFS I had this big long post I was working on for Irish with my favorite horror movies seen this year and lost it all.

[Irish]

Oh man that sucks!! Appreciate the effort, though, meg!

[Grouchy]

Truth be told, I've only seen Annihilation and Mandy.

[megladon8]

Oh man that sucks!! Appreciate the effort, though, meg!

Long and short of it:

The Ritual
The Vampire Doll (1970)
Annihilation
Burial Ground

Those are the four that stick out in my mind. I had write ups for each but like I said, all gone.

If you want any specific thoughts or have questions feel free to ask :)

[Irish]

Coooooool. Thanks, meg.

How did you see "Vampire Doll" and "Burial Ground"? Those look like they may be hard to track down.

[megladon8]

Both were blind buys as gifts for Jen!

The Vampire Doll came in “The Bloodthirsty Trilogy”. All three films are good, but the first was definitely our favorite. Some real creepiness to it, beautifully shot, just great stuff. These three films were Japan’s attempt at replicating the Hammer formula, and it worked well.

“Burial Ground” I got for Jen for Christmas last year. It’s demented, gory, exploitative trash in the best way possible.

If you have trouble tracking either down I’d be happy to mail them to you to watch.

[Irish]

Holy shit, "Burial Ground" is on Shudder! https://www.shudder.com/movies/watch/burial-ground/2989548


https://i.imgur.com/Y032UJu.jpg?1


lol, I need to see this now.

I'll let you know if I have any luck with "Vampire Doll."

Thanks again, Meg!

[MadMan]

My review of Burial Ground (https://madman731.wordpress.com/2018/11/07/horrorfest-2018-presents-burial-ground-aka-the-nights-of-terror-1985-andrea-bianchi/). I watched it last October on Shudder.

[MadMan]

I have the anchor bay tin of it. Only watched once. I'm long overdue for rewatch. The remake is fucking A creepy. Frodo went dark.

I love that movie. I hear the remake is worth it for entirely different reasons.

I will have to track down the remake.

[MadMan]

Yeah, the remake is a tough watch, but it's Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer eerie in how it forces you to consider the emotional life of a serial killer. The POV camera throughout should be a distraction, but it's liquid-smooth and never feels "found footage."
Sounds good. Henry is a great horror flick.

I watched Amsterdamned recently, and its a fun cop movie. However I find it to be more of a thriller than a pure giallo, even though a scuba diver killer was a neat touch.

Also I finished the Phantasm series because of Joe Bob Briggs' marathon of all of them save for II on Friday night. III I have to still review from October, IV is good because it goes back to basics, and V was a mess.

[Dukefrukem]

Now I need to watch this.

[MadMan]

Joe Bob Briggs covered all of the Phantasm movies last Friday night in a marathon that lasted until 5:30 am. I like the series but only 1 and 2 are near great. III is decent/solid at best and IV is good in a low budget creepy, expand the series kind of way. V was a mess.

[megladon8]

Another to add to the list, Irish...

Ghost Stories (2017) - Really liked this one. Had flaws (main one being it doesn’t quite stick its rushed ending), but man oh man did this have some tension and scares!
It’s sort of an anthology horror, in that it goes through 3 stories of supposed supernatural encounters, bookended by the story of a debunker trying to prove these things couldn’t have happened.
The three stories are genuinely chilling. Each one builds tensions beautifully, as well as having some good jumps and visceral scares.
The weakest point is the aforementioned ending, which not only seems rushed in closing everything off and tying it all together, but the exposition is just too much. Let the audience figure some of it out and put some of the clues together themselves. It could have been more satisfying a closure that way.
But yeah, liked it. If you have Netflix, check it out.

[Irish]

very cool! thanks meg & happy new year!!

[Irish]

Another to add to the list, Irish...

Ghost Stories (2017) - Really liked this one. Had flaws (main one being it doesn’t quite stick its rushed ending), but man oh man did this have some tension and scares!
It’s sort of an anthology horror, in that it goes through 3 stories of supposed supernatural encounters, bookended by the story of a debunker trying to prove these things couldn’t have happened.
The three stories are genuinely chilling. Each one builds tensions beautifully, as well as having some good jumps and visceral scares.
The weakest point is the aforementioned ending, which not only seems rushed in closing everything off and tying it all together, but the exposition is just too much. Let the audience figure some of it out and put some of the clues together themselves. It could have been more satisfying a closure that way.
But yeah, liked it. If you have Netflix, check it out.

Yeah. Just watched and agree about the ending.

I really enjoyed the hell out of it, from individual performances to the production design, up until the last 5 or 10 minutes. Right before that it was getting wonderfully weird.

Didn't break new ground but the individual stories were well formed, lotsa creepy images, and the jump scares really got me. (I jumped in my chair when the goat-man-thing appeared in the car window.)

But anyway this was a good pick and it's definitely in my top 5? 10? for 2018 horrors.

[Dead & Messed Up]

John Carpenter Presents Body Bags

...

...not so much.

[MadMan]

I liked Body Bags. Review is in my blog, etc...

[Dukefrukem]

Body Bags isn't too good.

[megladon8]

Yeah. Just watched and agree about the ending.

I really enjoyed the hell out of it, from individual performances to the production design, up until the last 5 or 10 minutes. Right before that it was getting wonderfully weird.

Didn't break new ground but the individual stories were well formed, lotsa creepy images, and the jump scares really got me. (I jumped in my chair when the goat-man-thing appeared in the car window.)

But anyway this was a good pick and it's definitely in my top 5? 10? for 2018 horrors.


Glad you dug it!!

I would be very curious to see the stage play it’s based on. I wonder if the change in format helps the ending at all.

[Irish]

I'm watching Argento's "Suspiria" for the first time in decades. English dub, standard def, on an ad-supported service:

https://tubitv.com/movies/326260/suspiria

I remember almost nothing about this film.

10 minutes in and still WORLDS better than what I've seen of Guadagnino's remake.

[Skitch]

Love tubiTV. They have Pulse on there, I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.

[Irish]

Love tubiTV. They have Pulse on there, I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.

Cool! I'll give it a watch.

I'd never tried Tubi before --- apparently, it's the only streaming service that offers "Susperia" in the U.S. right now!

[MadMan]

Yes TubiTV is a good free resource. I don't mind the ads when I am not paying anything.

[MadMan]

Happy Death Day is a fun slasher fantasy comedy. I missed out on it in theaters but I think I will go see the sequel.

[Irish]

Love tubiTV. They have Pulse on there, I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.

THANKS A LOT FOR THE REC, SKITCH

I'M NEVER FLIPPING A LIGHT SWITCH IN A DARK ROOM EVER AGAIN

;)

[Skitch]

THANKS A LOT FOR THE REC, SKITCH

I'M NEVER FLIPPING A LIGHT SWITCH IN A DARK ROOM EVER AGAIN

;)

Perfect :D

[Scar]

THANKS A LOT FOR THE REC, SKITCH

I'M NEVER FLIPPING A LIGHT SWITCH IN A DARK ROOM EVER AGAIN

;)

Sounds like I need to re visit this.

[Dead & Messed Up]

::red tape intensifies::

[Irish]

omg looky looky what I found

https://tubitv.com/movies/414062/the_color_out_of_space

[MadMan]

Cool. I will check that out.

The last horror movie I viewed on Tubi was Chopping Mall. The last non horror I saw was the awesome Samurai Cop.

[Skitch]

Cool. I will check that out.

The last horror movie I viewed on Tubi was Chopping Mall. The last non horror I saw was the awesome Samurai Cop.

Ha last time I watched those movies it was on there too.

[Morris Schæffer]

Absolutely baffling thing I learned today: Ennio Morricone's score for The Thing was nominated for a Razzie.

[megladon8]

Absolutely baffling thing I learned today: Ennio Morricone's score for The Thing was nominated for a Razzie.

Yeah, that’s nuts. The music in that movie is so perfect.

Reminds me of the story of John Williams showing Steven Spielberg the Jaws theme, and how Spielberg fell over laughing, convinced Williams was pulling his leg.

[Morris Schæffer]

Yeah I know that story Meg. :D

[megladon8]

I always forget how much darn fun Creepshow is. It also shows Romero at the top of his craft.

Jody Verrell (sp?) is the indisputable weak link, but it’s also the shortest tale so no harm no foul.

Everyone seems to be having such fun. I imagine it was a hoot to make this one.

[Irish]

I love "Creepshow." I think it's one of the best horrors of the 80s. The story with Ted Danson still gets to me --- its ending is my worst nightmare.

Agree with you about the Jordy Verrill bit. I think it might have worked if they had cast a real actor. Watching King bumble his way through the segment is painful.

[Dukefrukem]

I like Creepshow. The Crate being the best right? And The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill being the worst? (the one that Stephen King tries to act in)

Edit: Whoops. I totally made this post without fully reading both your posts about Jordy Verrill. Yes. It's the worst.

[MadMan]

I love Creepshow. I also liked the second one, even if it wasn't as good. I believe Shudder is making a Creepshow series.

[Skitch]

I don't remember what short was in what movie, but the Box one and the killer tar on the pond are my two favorites. Both legitimately scare the shit out of me.

[MadMan]

The box is the first flick. The killer tar is the second one.

[Irish]

Has anyone here seen Alone in the Dark, 1982?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083542/

"A quartet of murderous psychopaths break out of a mental hospital during a power blackout and lay siege to their doctor's house."

Stars Donald Pleasance, Jack Palance, Martin Landau.

Weird, weird fucking movie.

[Dukefrukem]

No and now I want to.

I've seen the crappy video game movie though. A for effort?

[megladon8]

Yes. It’s pretty good.

It’s no Raw Meat, but it’s good.

[megladon8]

I love Phantom of the Paradise.

[MadMan]

I love Phantom of the Paradise.

So do I. Horror rock opera musical alright.

[Morris Schæffer]

Has anyone here seen Alone in the Dark, 1982?

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083542/

"A quartet of murderous psychopaths break out of a mental hospital during a power blackout and lay siege to their doctor's house."

Stars Donald Pleasance, Jack Palance, Martin Landau.

Weird, weird fucking movie.

Written by Robert Shaye who was instrumental in getting lord of the rings made. Incidentally, this is helmed by Jack Sholder, who also made The Hidden a few years later for New Line.

[Yxklyx]

Has anyone here seen Alone in the Dark, 1982?...

I've seen it and I gave it a 1/10 and I LOVE Pleasance, Landau, and Palance so it must have been absolutely horrible.

[MadMan]

Horror Noire was a pretty cool look at African-Americans in cinema. Great doc on Shudder, although it was a bit too short. It also inspired me to revisit Ganja & Hess, one of the most underrated vampire cult films ever.

[Irish]

Adrienne Barbeau will appear in the "Creepshow" reboot:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/creepshow-star-adrienne-barbeau-joins-series-reboot-1199056

Wth? It's a series and exclusive to Shudder. I had no idea this was happening.

[MadMan]

Yeah that is pretty cool. Shudder also brought back Joe Bob Briggs again for a weekly series.

[Irish]

Joe Bob Briggs is hard right and regularly writes for a website that publishes Anne Coulter and Gavin McInnes (among others), and is funded by a billionaire who has publicly endorsed Golden Dawn, a neo-Nazi movement in Greece. Joe Bob isn't a Nazi or white nationalist, as far as I can tell from his articles, but he's sure as hell Nazi adjacent.

But MonsterVision is cool tho'. I really dug it back in the day.

Not trying to shit on anyone's good time but once I found this out the whole "Joe Bob" redneck persona creeps me the fuck out. I've been screaming about him in my head ever since he landed the job at Shudder and horror twitter won't stop gushing about it.

[MadMan]

Huh that's weird, as I have read many of his articles and not gottten that vibe. Also he has bashed Trump as an idiot during several Last Drive In episodes, plus in one of his articles.

[Irish]

*shrug* He's a free speech absolutist who frequently defends the alt-right.

(Which makes me curious why he's publishing under the "Joe Bob" persona. In any event, it's unlikely he's ignorant of the site owner's politics, or the politics of the other columnists.)

[MadMan]

Not saying he isn't, but if he is he has a weird way of going about it on Twitter considering he has bashed Trump. I don't know any alt-righters who do anything other than praise the hell out of him.

Also he already did a recent interview explaining why he goes by Joe Bob Briggs.

[Irish]

Not saying he is alt-right, but that he's extremely fine hanging out with them.

So I get hung up in a Chris Rock sorta way: What do you call 10 guys who hang out with a Nazi? (https://twitter.com/chrisrock/status/897593239703834626)

I'm also saying it doesn't make sense to publish political essays under the "Joe Bob" name because there's no connection between schlock horror and conservative politics, regardless of what John Bloom says in an interview.

[megladon8]

Any other fans of Full Moon stuff here?

[Irish]

You mean, like these guys? https://tubitv.com/channels/full_moon_features

[megladon8]

Uhhhh I don’t know, that link isn’t available in Canada.

They’re the DTV guys who were at their peak in the 90s.

Puppet Master, Subspecies, Dollman, tons of junk that’s total schlock but fun.

[Irish]

You forgot GINGERDEAD MAN, starring Gary Busey and a shitty puppet :D

ETA: I have a soft spot for the "Puppet Master" movies because they're so over the top, but beyond that I've never really got into anything by Full Moon. Any recommendations?

[MadMan]

Any other fans of Full Moon stuff here?

Yes.

[StanleyK]

I wanted to watch some recent scary movies so I saw The Babadook, It Follows, The Witch, It Comes at Night and A Quiet Place. Over a combined running time of 7.5 hours I was scared/unnerved for maybe 10 minutes total. Is this stuff really the best that modern horror has to offer? They're all relatively well-made, but totally devoid of tension or staying power, and their endings are unsatisfying.

[Skitch]

I would agree 4/5. The Witch is awesome tho.

[megladon8]

Yes.

Any faves?

[Dukefrukem]

I wanted to watch some recent scary movies so I saw The Babadook, It Follows, The Witch, It Comes at Night and A Quiet Place. Over a combined running time of 7.5 hours I was scared/unnerved for maybe 10 minutes total. Is this stuff really the best that modern horror has to offer? They're all relatively well-made, but totally devoid of tension or staying power, and their endings are unsatisfying.

:rollseyes:

[Grouchy]

I've seen The Witch, It Follows and A Quiet Place. Loved the first two and was ambivalent towards the last one, but I'd like to offer the opinion that being scared or unnerved is not really the end-all goal of Horror films. I was watching Hellraiser when I was 14/15. What can you really expect after that?

[Dukefrukem]

I just think someone who makes that kind of statement either doesn't really like horror movies to begin with or doesn't fully commit to the movie. Kind of like watching a broadway show on DVD. Sure you watched it, but did you really experience it? I suppose I could ask "what DO you find scary?" but it's all subjective anyway.

[Irish]

I think they very definitely mean to unnerve the audience ... otherwise what would be the point in calling them horror?

But scary is personal, just like what makes you laugh or turns you on.

[Grouchy]

I think they very definitely mean to unnerve the audience ... otherwise what would be the point in calling them horror?

But scary is personal, just like what makes you laugh or turns you on.
Obviously, but for example, while The Witch unnerved me, It Follows is a movie I could play in the background anytime for reasons that have nothing to do with tension - the smartness of the writing, the staging, the themes... There's a lot to admire and enjoy besides the scares. Same with Get Out, just to name another example.

[Irish]

Yeah. I'm saying being scared / creeped out / unnerved is the point of horror, and if a film isn't actively attempting to do that then it isn't part of the genre.

You may have seen "It Follows" enough to watch it casually and walk away nonplussed, but that doesn't mean the film isn't trying to be scary. (I mean, just look at the imagery and consider the jumpscares; unnerving the audience is the film's goal. Everything else it's doing is in addition to that.)

[Grouchy]

I know. I guess what I'm trying to say it's that it shouldn't be the only measurement for a Horror film's quality. StanleyK's beef with the five highly praised films he watched in a row (way to marathon, by the way) was that they needed more scares. Well, that and the endings.

[StanleyK]

I know. I guess what I'm trying to say it's that it shouldn't be the only measurement for a Horror film's quality. StanleyK's beef with the five highly praised films he watched in a row (way to marathon, by the way) was that they needed more scares. Well, that and the endings.

Well it wasn't my only beef (I also didn't watch them in a row, it was spread out over a couple of weeks), but probably the main one. But yeah, I do think it's essential for a horror movie to be scary, just like comedy needs to be funny, action exciting, etc. I feel like a movie is successful if it makes the audience feel like it intends them to, and a film that attempts to scare me (which I believe all these movies do) and doesn't, then it is unsuccessful.

For what it's worth, the one other recent horror movie I've seen, Get Out, was great and did scare/unnerve me. If Under the Skin counts (I think it does), that one's even better.

[MadMan]

Any faves?

Castle Freak and Puppet Master (1989) off the top of my head.

[MadMan]

I wanted to watch some recent scary movies so I saw The Babadook, It Follows, The Witch, It Comes at Night and A Quiet Place. Over a combined running time of 7.5 hours I was scared/unnerved for maybe 10 minutes total. Is this stuff really the best that modern horror has to offer? They're all relatively well-made, but totally devoid of tension or staying power, and their endings are unsatisfying.

I love all of those save for The Witch. I thought The Babadook and It Follows were scary. The others were merely creepy at best. I saw It Follows, It Comes At Night, A Quiet Place and The Witch on the big screen.

[megladon8]

Watching Lord of Illusions for the first time since I was very young.

Holy moly this movie is gay.

[Dukefrukem]

Is that the one with the Quantum Leap guy?

[megladon8]

Scott Bakula, yeah.

[MadMan]

Watching Lord of Illusions for the first time since I was very young.

Holy moly this movie is gay.

Heh. Pretty good flick that is beyond messed up and is even goofy gory fun at times. The line about wanting to murder the world cracks me up and creeps me out at the same time.

[Ivan Drago]

So.......Cannibal Holocaust.

What's the forum's consensus on it?

[Dukefrukem]

So.......Cannibal Holocaust.

What's the forum's consensus on it?

Worst horror movie ever. (http://matchcut.artboiled.com/showthread.php?536-Cannibal-Holocaust&highlight=Holocaust)

[Grouchy]

I like it a lot.

[MadMan]

So.......Cannibal Holocaust.

What's the forum's consensus on it?

9/10 (https://wp.me/pRBID-2ik)

[Skitch]

An interesting experiment that I had some issues with. 6.5/10

[Grouchy]

You asked that question and YouTube suggested I watch this trailer:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrO3b86kKjU

[Scar]

So.......Cannibal Holocaust.

What's the forum's consensus on it?

Horse shit.

[megladon8]

Horse shit.

Tell us how you really feel!

[Scar]

Tell us how you really feel!


Extra stinky horse shit.

[Ezee E]

Unsure if it's considered horror, because I don't think it is, but Wake in Fright is good in a nightmare/living in hell situation. Plus, can't say that I've ever seen a movie set in the Australian desert that isn't Mad Max.

[Dukefrukem]

Unsure if it's considered horror, because I don't think it is, but Wake in Fright is good in a nightmare/living in hell situation. Plus, can't say that I've ever seen a movie set in the Australian desert that isn't Mad Max.

Wolf Creek

[megladon8]

Unsure if it's considered horror, because I don't think it is, but Wake in Fright is good in a nightmare/living in hell situation. Plus, can't say that I've ever seen a movie set in the Australian desert that isn't Mad Max.

Never even heard of this before now. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks!

[Ezee E]

Wolf Creek

Good one. Definitely a different horror movie.

Picnic at Hanging Rock takes place in Australia too. I can't really remember anything about that one.

[Skitch]

The Rover was pretty desolate.

[Grouchy]

Isn't Pumpkinhead also set in the desert?

[Scar]

Isn't Pumpkinhead also set in the desert?

More rural, southern America. More swampy at times than desert.

[MadMan]

Good one. Definitely a different horror movie.

Picnic at Hanging Rock takes place in Australia too. I can't really remember anything about that one.

Picnic At Hanging Rock is a great dreamy tragic quasi horror drama film. I haven't seen Wolf Creek or The Rover yet.

Hmm Pumpkinhead was mostly American southwest. Good horror flick.

[Grouchy]

Aaaah I remembered it as an Australian film but I was confusing it with Razorback.

[Scar]

Aaaah I remembered it as an Australian film but I was confusing it with Razorback.

Without resorting to Google, I’m going to guess Razorback involves a large pissed off hog?

[Skitch]

Birthday present of VHS tapes. Children of the Corn 2: The Final Sacrifice contains some dodgy CGI scene that I guess wasnt on later releases. Also, film is better than part one. Now I have to own them all.

[Grouchy]

Without resorting to Google, I’m going to guess Razorback involves a large pissed off hog?
That it does.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/movie-monster/images/1/1a/Razorback.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20180327005106

[Scar]

Worth checking out?

[MadMan]

Birthday present of VHS tapes. Children of the Corn 2: The Final Sacrifice contains some dodgy CGI scene that I guess wasnt on later releases. Also, film is better than part one. Now I have to own them all.

I still haven't seen that one.

[Grouchy]

Worth checking out?
I've seen it long enough to get it completely confused with another movie so I don't really remember the plot. I gave it 73/100 on Criticker, though!

[megladon8]

15 minutes into The Green Inferno and this is some of the worst crap I’ve ever seen. Worse than DTV.

How does Eli Roth continue to have a career?

Oh yah, shmoozing. I forgot.

[Dukefrukem]

I've had that movie sitting on my shelf since it was available and I've been fearing to watch it. I'm not surprised at all it's terrible but for some reason I remain curious.

Should I do it?

[megladon8]

No. Just ended.

It’s complete and utter trash from the opening minute.

There’s nothing good in it - not one scene, not an idea, nothing.

Waste of time.

[Scar]

I may have made it a third of the way though that one before shutting it off.

[Dukefrukem]

Ok. Throwing in the trash.

[Irish]

How does Eli Roth continue to have a career?

What's weird is that the dude is very obviously stuck in a 70s and 80s horror groove and that's about as far away from the current zeitgeist as you can get.

He just did some pseudo-doc about the history of horror, too.


I may have made it a third of the way though that one before shutting it off.

Same. I heard Roth mirrored "Cannibal Holocaust" almost beat for beat. I haven't seen that one, but there was nothing to "Inferno" outside a lotta gore.

[megladon8]

His friendship with QT is the only reason he has a lasting career.

He also seems to think that he is the QT of the horror world, which is delusional.

[MadMan]

I thought Hostel was good, but I have not seen anything else from him.

[Skitch]

I thought Hostel was good, but I have not seen anything else from him.

You've missed nothing.

[MadMan]

I heard nothing but awful things about Cabin Fever.

[Ezee E]

I didn't realize he's directed three other movies this decade. Haven't seen any of them.

[megladon8]

We are lucky he warned us all of the dangers of gorgeous 20-something women throwing themselves at rich middle aged married men.

He truly has our backs.

[Skitch]

I heard nothing but awful things about Cabin Fever.

I absolutely hated the movie in theaters. Last year I was convinced to give it another go by a horror-loving friend. Having seen many more 60s-70s Italian slashers and such since then...I get what Roth was doing. I'm not saying I like the movie now, just that I understand. He was paying loads of homage to a sub-genre I'm not a superfan of. In that respect, I see where he succeeded (that movie has a hell of a cult following and is one of the MC list of constant argue).

[megladon8]

And I don’t understand the existence of the remake.

[Grouchy]

I like Cabin Fever, Hostel and Knock Knock​ a great deal. They're all fine films. And what Irish dislikes about Roth (his insistence on referencing / remaking '70s exploitation) is precisely what I like about him. Someone has to do it.

The Green Inferno is pretty bad, though. We can agree on that.

[Ezee E]

When I lived in California, I had bought tickets at the AFI Fest for the Green Inferno, and planned to go after work.

Got out of work early, and decided to blow it off, and drove home instead to Orange County, about a hour away from Hollywood Blvd

Made the right choice I guess.

[Grouchy]

Mind you, it's not offensively bad. It's just that you'd be better off watching a real vintage Italian cannibal movie if you're curious about the genre.

[MadMan]

I also like Zombie Holocaust, which is a ridiculous and fun rip off of Cannibal Holocaust. The 1980s had some wonderfully silly gory foreign films that are still worth a view.

[Dukefrukem]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vlya92LZqZw

[MadMan]

That trailer is cool. I hope the movie ends up being good.

[megladon8]

It supposedly got an R rating. Which is encouraging.

[Dukefrukem]

It supposedly got an R rating. Which is encouraging.

I think it's PG-13,

http://collider.com/scary-stories-to-tell-in-the-dark-rating/

[megladon8]

I think it's PG-13,

http://collider.com/scary-stories-to-tell-in-the-dark-rating/

Aaaaaand interest gone.

[MadMan]

That's a bummer. I still want to see it, but an R rated Scary Stories would have been way cooler.

[Scar]

Aaaaaand interest gone.

I have zero problem with this being rated PG-13. I read the books in elementary school, met the illustrator in elementary school, and he signed my copies of the book.

My point is, the books were read by most in elementary school.

[MadMan]

That is also true.

[Irish]

@RareHorror had a nasty public meltdown: http://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/rare-horrors-twitter-meltdown-ignites-debate-over-artist-rights.php

It's an ugly story with a happy ending --- every once in awhile the horror community reminds me exactly how fucking cool it can be.

[Skitch]

Stupid question: I've heard you guys mention "film twitter" several times recently. Are you referring to a thing specifically of just accounts on Twitter that talk about film in general?

[Dukefrukem]

@RareHorror had a nasty public meltdown: http://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/rare-horrors-twitter-meltdown-ignites-debate-over-artist-rights.php

It's an ugly story with a happy ending --- every once in awhile the horror community reminds me exactly how fucking cool it can be.

They deleted it


Thank a mob of trolls who decided to bash us because we posted some etsy art that went viral and made sales for the artist. Our intentions were good.

1141022945650847746

[megladon8]

Yeah, RareHorror definitely came across like total scum.

[Grouchy]

Stupid question: I've heard you guys mention "film twitter" several times recently. Are you referring to a thing specifically of just accounts on Twitter that talk about film in general?
I also wonder about this.

[Dukefrukem]

It's the same thing when you hear people say "black twitter" or "sports twitter"; It's just a group of people on twitter generically classified in the topics they are discussing.

[megladon8]

What do you MEAN “black twitter”?!?!

Fuckin cracker.

[Grouchy]

I assume they are a group of people dissing each other in Twitter rap battles and discussing the quality of watermelons. Not racist at all (?).

[MadMan]

@RareHorror had a nasty public meltdown: http://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/rare-horrors-twitter-meltdown-ignites-debate-over-artist-rights.php

It's an ugly story with a happy ending --- every once in awhile the horror community reminds me exactly how fucking cool it can be.

I must have missed the whole thing. Wow. Also Rare Horror deleted their account. Whoever ran it was an asshole.

[Ezee E]

Yeah, just a group of bloggers, critics, film enthusiasts, festival goers that have a pretty good ratio of following each other. Similar topics tend to trend in their discussions... Hive mind too... Mute the politically insane people and it's usually pretty good. It'd be like Match Cut/RT a few years ago, but live?

[Dukefrukem]

Hive mind is very apt.

[Ezee E]

Hive mind is very apt.

I'd say a lot of the bloggers get to sit on an imaginary pedestal on twitter that doesn't exist outside of social media. With that, a lot of their followers are beckoning to get their attention by either having crazier opinions to get noticed, or forcibly saying something to trigger others. With that, if someone disagrees, it's a dogpile.

I've met some of the bloggers in person, many at Telluride, and while most are good people, it's definitely a persona they put on.

[Peng]

Um, you know black twitter is just a description, right, and a real thing? Like, so many of the most viral memes actually come from there?

[Dukefrukem]

Um, you know black twitter is just a description, right, and a real thing? Like, so many of the most viral memes actually come from there?

https://media.giphy.com/media/AJwnLEsQyT9oA/giphy.gif

[megladon8]

I was making a joke, guys.

C’mon.

[Morris Schæffer]

Just bought The Blob 1988 on Blu-ray. Love that movie. :cool:

[megladon8]

Just bought The Blob 1988 on Blu-ray. Love that movie. :cool:

Me too.

It’s great stuff. Pretty shocking, too.

[Irish]

Just bought The Blob 1988 on Blu-ray. Love that movie. :cool:

One of the most underrated horrors from that decade. Great movie.

[Scar]

I watched Bone Tomahawk again before I went out to the middle of no where South Dakota.

Think I’ll make that an annual thing, especially since some of the landscapes are strikingly similar.

[megladon8]

I haven’t been able to watch it a second time.

It left me shook for days.

[Dukefrukem]

Just bought The Blob 1988 on Blu-ray. Love that movie. :cool:

My favorite death scene in all of horror.

https://i1347.photobucket.com/albums/p707/Bangstard/blob03_zpslj6zoxsn.gif

[MadMan]

The 1988 The Blob is better than the original. The 1980s had so many cool horror remakes.

Also Bone Tomahawk is really brutal.

[Dukefrukem]

The 1988 The Blob is better than the original.

Agreed (https://letterboxd.com/dukefrukem/list/remake-adaptations-reboots-better-than-the/).

[megladon8]

Kevin Dillon’s mullet should have received its own billing and paycheck.

[Morris Schæffer]

Alexandre Aja's Crawl is getting pretty nice reviews.

[Ezee E]

Alexandre Aja's Crawl is getting pretty nice reviews.

Looks fun to me. There's been at least one horror movie a summer the last few years that ends up being way better than the cheesy trailer puts out there.

[TGM]

Looks fun to me. There's been at least one horror movie a summer the last few years that ends up being way better than the cheesy trailer puts out there.

I just got out if it. This ain’t that movie.

[Dukefrukem]

Why the fuck doesn't Sam Raimi direct something?

[Skitch]

Why the fuck doesn't Sam Raimi direct something?

For real. How hard could it possibly be for him to put together 30 mill for Evil Dead 4 at this point? Common response probably, "he doesn't want to do it". Well do something, for fucks sake.

[Ezee E]

Please. no more Evil Deads.

[Skitch]

Please. no more Evil Deads.

Oh I'm not saying that I want it, I'm just saying in the computation of the Hollywood machine, thats free money.

[Grouchy]

But more of Drag Me to Hell type Horror. More of that, please.

[Irish]

How hard could it possibly be for him to put together 30 mill for Evil Dead 4 at this point? Common response probably, "he doesn't want to do it". Well do something, for fucks sake.

Raimi produced the "Ash vs Evil Dead" show...? Each season was essentially a 5 hour "Evil Dead" movie.


Please. no more Evil Deads.

Can't remember the details but I swear there was something new in the works recently.

[Skitch]

But more of Drag Me to Hell type Horror. More of that, please.

Please god no.

[Dukefrukem]

But more of Drag Me to Hell type Horror. More of that, please.

Is it weird, that actress went on do basically do nothing else? She was excellent.

[Dukefrukem]

Can't remember the details but I swear there was something new in the works recently.

There is. Raimi said something (https://www.indiewire.com/2019/07/sam-raimi-next-evil-dead-movie-planned-1202156835/)during his promotion of Crawl.

[megladon8]

Oh I'm not saying that I want it, I'm just saying in the computation of the Hollywood machine, thats free money.

It’s not, though.

They’re cult successes, not big commercial hits.

Even the TV show got moved around repeatedly due to low viewership before finally being cancelled.

Horror fanatics eat it up, but standard movie goers have no clue who Ash is.

[Yxklyx]

Just rewatched Blair Witch Project. I noticed the producer is Gregg Hale - and there's a Gilligan's Island reference. I have to think this guy is related to Alan Hale Jr from that show. Anyway, I think the movie stands up. I've never seen anything else like it still. When I saw it in the premier my knees were shaking while we were talking about it afterwards in the cinema lobby even though we all knew it wasn't real.

[MadMan]

Sam Raimi doesn't have to direct anything if he doesn't want to. The Ash vs Evil Dead show was great and a fun end to Campbell playing the character.

Crawl looks decent-I'll probably rent it.

[MadMan]

Just rewatched Blair Witch Project. I noticed the producer is Gregg Hale - and there's a Gilligan's Island reference. I have to think this guy is related to Alan Hale Jr from that show. Anyway, I think the movie stands up. I've never seen anything else like it still. When I saw it in the premier my knees were shaking while we were talking about it afterwards in the cinema lobby even though we all knew it wasn't real.

The Blair Witch Project is a really good horror flick, and is one of those films that fits in with fall very well. I also remember people wondering if the movie was real.

[Dukefrukem]

Sam Raimi doesn't have to direct anything if he doesn't want to.

Thanks I didn't realize in America you were allowed to not do things you didn't want to do.

[Skitch]

It’s not, though.

They’re cult successes, not big commercial hits.

Even the TV show got moved around repeatedly due to low viewership before finally being cancelled.

Horror fanatics eat it up, but standard movie goers have no clue who Ash is.

Wow, I guess you're right. Box Office Mojo confirms. I guess I spend too much time in my bubble groups :D.

That being said, Raimi should pretty well have free reign to direct whatever he wants, right? After Spider-Man? Maybe not 100 mill + budgets, but surely he could secure medium budgets on his name alone?

[MadMan]

Thanks I didn't realize in America you were allowed to not do things you didn't want to do.

Well people seem to forget that. Film people especially.

[Grouchy]

It’s not, though.

They’re cult successes, not big commercial hits.

Even the TV show got moved around repeatedly due to low viewership before finally being cancelled.

Horror fanatics eat it up, but standard movie goers have no clue who Ash is.
Yeah, I would agree with this. Few people outside film buff circles value Evil Dead or Raimi in general.

[Ezee E]

Isn't Ash going to be in Mortal Kombat?

[TGM]

Well people seem to forget that. Film people especially.

Wishing a director would do something isn’t the same thing as demanding they do something though. No one’s forcing him back into the director’s chair against his will. *shrug*

[Peng]

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQOg3fIsqy4i DKwMvFs2xwlXSrXvNUTD7T4IhJ2ilN fLLcYLMsD

"I died for you...Why shouldn't you return the favor?"

Deathdream (1974) both updates and retains The Monkey's Paw's simple devastating power with some heady and pointed Vietnam allegory, as brazenly unsubtle as a film released in the tail end of that era can get (away) in conveying its rage and grief. All wrapped in Bob Clark's unpolished, unnervingly raw horror filmmaking, as effective as it is in his more famous Black Christmas the same year. The film also somehow manages to modernize that short story's ending into its own kind of heartbreaker, different but haunting and lingering in the same way. 8/10

Between The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Bob Clark's two films, 1974 is turning out to be quite a nice turnout for American horrors.

[Pop Trash]

Has anyone watched Eli Roth's History of Horror on AMC? It's pretty cool. Breaks horror down into subgenres w/ one per episode except slashers which gets two episodes, the second episode going into '90s serial killers and meta commentary slashers (read: Scream) and '00s so-called torture porn. The other subgenres are zombies, demonic possession, killer creatures / monsters, vampires, and ghosts. Interviews with a ton of various filmmakers and academics (Tarantino, John Landis, Joe Dante, Jordan Peele, Rob Zombie, among others). Say what you want about Eli Roth's movies, but the guy is a true blood horror fan and keeps things entertaining. Most of it is post 1970 stuff, and it tends to gloss over a lot of the classic Universal period of horror, but given Roth's age and fandom, it's understandable that there's a lot of '80s and '90s stuff here. Occasionally has strange choices (30 Days of Night is featured but no Near Dark for vampires?).

[Irish]

‘Don’t Breathe’ Director Fede Ã�lvarez Producing Next ‘Texas Chainsaw’ Film

"Ã�lvarez and Legendary are in talks to revisit Tobe Hooper's 1974 slasher-that-started-them-all with a direct sequel to the film, Ã* la the recent "Halloween" and "Terminator" films."

https://www.indiewire.com/2019/09/fede-alvarez-texas-chainsaw-massacre-sequel-1202175010/

Well he did a decent enough job with the "Evil Dead" remake but otoh ... nothing ever good comes from another "Texax Chain Saw."

[Skitch]

Hes becoming the new Alexander Aja.

[Dukefrukem]

Time to rewatch all the Leatherface films.

[Ezee E]

Time to rewatch all the Leatherface films.

Just remember that TCM: The Next Generation features Oscar-winners Matthew McConaughey and Renee Zelwegger in this and that there's discussion that Leatherface is part of an Illuminati-cult that helped assassinate JFK.

[Dukefrukem]

Just remember that TCM: The Next Generation features Oscar-winners Matthew McConaughey and Renee Zelwegger in this and that there's discussion that Leatherface is part of an Illuminati-cult that helped assassinate JFK.

On second thought...

[Ezee E]

What can one do with a Leatherface sequel that is interesting though?

Outside of the survivor, 45 years later... Now 61? Tells stories to her grandchildren who go there to see if the family still exists... Same result, except Leatherface has Amazon Nest closing doors and shit.

[Irish]

ALERT: New "Creepshow" anthology premieres tonight on Shudder.

12 episodes. Trailer looks good but then I am a sucker for horror anthologies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inzsKlVR_N8

[Scar]

The way this football game is going, I may check it out tonight.

[Scar]

ALERT: New "Creepshow" anthology premieres tonight on Shudder.

12 episodes. Trailer looks good but then I am a sucker for horror anthologies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inzsKlVR_N8

Episode one: The first story was a decent opener, but nothing worth bragging about. However, the second story is so damn good. I’m not going to say much, except it’s definitely worth your time.

[Irish]

Episode one: The first story was a decent opener, but nothing worth bragging about. However, the second story is so damn good. I’m not going to say much, except it’s definitely worth your time.

Yep. I couldn't get through the first episode but the second! One of the best horror shorts I've seen in a long while and definitely the weirdest. JFC who thought that up.

This week's episodes are lighter in tone, more straight up horror comedy, but a lotta pulpy fun. The second one with DJ Qualls had me howling.

[Dukefrukem]

Anyone doing any Halloween marathon runs? Wife and I have been able to do pretty well so far. This year franchise run was Child's Play. Last year we did Nightmare on Elm Street, year before we did Hellraiser, year before that we Paranormal Activity, year before we did Halloween.

23 Trick 'r Treat
22 Cult of Chucky
21 Cabin Fever 2016
20 The Crazies
19 Scream
19 Curse of Chucky
18 Seed of Chucky
17 Bride of Chucky
16 Child's Play 3
15 Child's Play 2
14 Child’s Play 1988
13 Suspiria 2018
12 Ma
11 Crawl
10 Child's Play 2019
09 The Fanatic
08 Rogue
02 Midsommar

[Irish]

Anyone doing any Halloween marathon runs?

Criterion Channel has 9 of the RKO / Val Lewton pictures available, so I've been enjoying those: Cat People, The Ghost Ship, I Walked with a Zombie, The Leopard Man, The Seventh Victim, Curse of the Cat People, Isle of the Dead, The Body Snatcher, and Bedlam.

[Scar]

I wasn’t much of a fan of last week’s Creepshow. We’ll see what this week has to offer.

[Dukefrukem]

Criterion Channel has 9 of the RKO / Val Lewton pictures available, so I've been enjoying those: Cat People, The Ghost Ship, I Walked with a Zombie, The Leopard Man, The Seventh Victim, Curse of the Cat People, Isle of the Dead, The Body Snatcher, and Bedlam.

Cat People is queued up for me next.

[Irish]

I wasn’t much of a fan of last week’s Creepshow. We’ll see what this week has to offer.

Yeah, tbh, I thought both episodes sucked last week but I'm still digging the series.


Cat People is queued up for me next.

Check out Leopard Man if you can. Some call it the first slasher film.

It has a reaaaaaaally fucked up opening sequence considering the time it was made. I was honestly shocked by it.

[Dukefrukem]

Ohh I might put that at the top of the list then since I'm kind of in a groove for slasher films.

Quick, best slasher film ever? go!

edit: oh damn, only 1 place to watch it https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-leopard-man

[Skitch]

I'm to about 40 for the month, most of them being crap.

[Scar]

This weeks Creepshow was one good long episode, and then a filler gore piece.

[MadMan]

Criterion Channel has 9 of the RKO / Val Lewton pictures available, so I've been enjoying those: Cat People, The Ghost Ship, I Walked with a Zombie, The Leopard Man, The Seventh Victim, Curse of the Cat People, Isle of the Dead, The Body Snatcher, and Bedlam.

The only ones I haven't seen are Bedlam and The Ghost Ship. I saw most of them via TCM back in 2008.

I have seen 24 horror movies this month ranging from really awful to great.

[Dukefrukem]

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is not the masterpiece I remember it.

[Scar]

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is not the masterpiece I remember it.

I really can't argue with this.

Don't get me wrong, I love Leatherface's initial reveal, (hammer to the head), the meat hook sequence, the chainsawing of the dude in the wheel chair, and then the dance at the end. Alot of the other stuff I kind of sit there with an eyebrow raised.

[Irish]

Ya know ... I expect this sort of thing from Duke, but Scar? SCAR?!

WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME, SCAR?!!!

[Scar]

Ya know ... I expect this sort of thing from Duke, but Scar? SCAR?!

WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME, SCAR?!!!

I mean I enjoy it, but it’s not a Masterpiece. Alien is a masterpiece.

[Dukefrukem]

I really can't argue with this.

Don't get me wrong, I love Leatherface's initial reveal, (hammer to the head), the meat hook sequence, the chainsawing of the dude in the wheel chair, and then the dance at the end. Alot of the other stuff I kind of sit there with an eyebrow raised.

You hear a girl screaming for literally the last 20 minutes of the movie.

[Irish]

I mean I enjoy it, but it’s not a Masterpiece. Alien is a masterpiece.

Speaking of which, did you see that "Memory: The Origins of 'Alien'" documentary?

https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/memory-the-origins-of-alien

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/movies/memory-the-origins-of-alien-review.html

(I think "Alien" is a great movie but also vastly overrated, and it's overrated partly because it mirrors contemporary aesthetics and partly because Fox turned it into a successful 40 year franchise. When weirdo superfans push "Alien Day" in late April, you know something has gone horribly wrong.)

[Irish]

In short: LEATHERFACE 4 EVA

[Wryan]

Criterion Channel has 9 of the RKO / Val Lewton pictures available, so I've been enjoying those: Cat People, The Ghost Ship, I Walked with a Zombie, The Leopard Man, The Seventh Victim, Curse of the Cat People, Isle of the Dead, The Body Snatcher, and Bedlam.

I have that collection on DVD I think, tho not connected to Criterion per se.

I was so taken with The Body Snatcher and Bedlam, more so than I thought I'd be. I Walked with a Zombie is also sweet; incredible atmosphere.

[Dukefrukem]

Speaking of which, did you see that "Memory: The Origins of 'Alien'" documentary?

https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/memory-the-origins-of-alien

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/movies/memory-the-origins-of-alien-review.html

(I think "Alien" is a great movie but also vastly overrated, and it's overrated partly because it mirrors contemporary aesthetics and partly because Fox turned it into a successful 40 year franchise. When weirdo superfans push "Alien Day" in late April, you know something has gone horribly wrong.)

I have. I liked it. I get the whole Alien franchise blah blah thing- but that documentary dives deep into how Scott took the concept of early 50s and 60s space exploration films and went in a completely different direction. It goes deep into the set designs and all the Giger stuff too. Because remember, coming out of the 60s, we had Star Trek and 2001: A Space Odyssey as the biggest influences of sci-fi... clean, sleek designed space crafts and living spaces and white everywhere. And Scott decided to make the ships dingy, wet, messy and filled with a bunch of smokers and space truck drivers. Must watch for Alien lovers.

Totally not overrated.

[Irish]

Because remember, coming out of the 60s, we had Star Trek and 2001: A Space Odyssey as the biggest influences of sci-fi... clean, sleek designed space crafts and living spaces and white everywhere. And Scott decided to make the ships dingy, wet, messy and filled with a bunch of smokers and space truck drivers. Must watch for Alien lovers.

*cough*Shivers*cough*
*cough*Soylent Green*cough*
*cough*Star Wars*cough*

Ach, sorry. Something must be stuck in my throat.

ETA: As far as 'masterpiece' goes, I don't think it's fair to compare a well budgeted studio film to the crazy nastiness Hooper turned out with nothing but a camera, some film, and a few friends.

[Irish]

I rewatched both last night.

"Texas Chain Saw" remains brilliant. I dunno what you guys are talking about.

"Alien" is fucking beautiful. Loved it again, except for the last 30 minutes. (I have this problem with "Terminator," too, because I've seen these movies so much that the big action climaxes no longer have any suspense.)

Two things annoyed me:

- "Texas Chain Saw" was originally shot on 16mm yet the print I viewed last night was spotless -- not a speck of grain anywhere. WTF? This movies needs the goddamn grain.

- I remain annoyed at Scott and Cameron for re-editing their movies in 2003. The "special editions" and "director's cuts" are more widely available now than the original theatrical cuts. Which sucks. Scott is the worse of the two, because he fucked with the pacing of "Alien," shaved time off a whole buncha scenes, and then and added material so his film could retroactively be more franchise friendly.

[megladon8]

Alien is indeed a masterpiece.

The greatest movie monster ever created.

[Ivan Drago]

Yeah, Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one of my five favorite horror movies of all time. Seeing a 4K restoration of it earlier this month felt less like watching a movie and more like witnessing the last known footage of those characters. And Leatherface's chainsaw running in full surround sound during the chainsaw dance will never not be haunting. Excellent film.