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

[Dead & Messed Up]

See, this is what I was getting at, and maybe you felt the same way. The slapstick comedy was absolutely horrid. The jock-guy slipping and sliding on the floor covered in blood, the incompetent police officer falling down the stairs to land on a corpse. Those bits were awful.

I cannot remember what compelled me to watch past the undead rapping. It was either extreme fortitude or a brief case of below-zero dumbness.


And I thought the make-shift shotguns were actually kind of neat.

I thought they were neat until I realized they were shotguns in a different outfit, if that makes any sense. It quacks like a duck...

[Raiders]

Hey, look what's online:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re5xpf2j94E&feature=channel

[Dukefrukem]

I thought Undead was all right, although the one guy overused "fuck" so much it started to become grating. They needed to reel that guy in some. It was pretty impressive what special effects they accomplished with their own home computers.

It's one of those camping fun movies. Love the fish in the boat scene. :lol:

[Dead & Messed Up]

I've been rewatching The Last Winter, and I forgot how excellent the score is. When Michael's frozen body is found, there's this lovely little piano piece that presents what's happening as tragedy - no exploitation for drama.

The CGI also seems a little better, if only because the first couple of instances aren't as pointless as the final one, when the deer do a little stomp on Perlman's face. I actually kinda like that one shot where the enormo-deer dwarfs the two men. Reminds me of the huge beastie at the end of The Mist.

Right now, the pick's toe-to-toe with Habit for me. Intelligent, unnerving stuff.

[megladon8]

The Wicker Man is pretty much brilliant. A scathing commentary of not only Christianity but of all religions, with some fantastic performances.

Beautifully shot, too.

The one I have seen twice now (and own) is the "American Theatrical Version" which runs at 88 minutes. Apparently there's a cut out there that's 100 minutes. Has anyone seen that cut, and is it significantly better/worse than this one?

[Pop Trash]

The Wicker Man is pretty much brilliant. A scathing commentary of not only Christianity but of all religions, with some fantastic performances.

Beautifully shot, too.

The one I have seen twice now (and own) is the "American Theatrical Version" which runs at 88 minutes. Apparently there's a cut out there that's 100 minutes. Has anyone seen that cut, and is it significantly better/worse than this one?

I really want to see that cut, and is the only caveat for me not owning this. If they ever release that on Region 1 in the states, it's mine!

[Rowland]

I own an old SE of The Wicker Man which included both cuts, and while I've seen some argue that the shorter cut is superior, I find the longer cut a significant improvement, especially in terms of pacing and structure. It's just unfortunate that the restored footage was discovered in pretty cruddy shape, so even after attempting to remaster the scenes, they appear in noticeably worse quality than the rest of the movie.

[Raiders]

Yeah, there's a R1 two-disc edition that has both versions. Not in print anymore, but amazon is showing a used copy for 20 bucks.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000JVT1U0 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000JVT1U0/imdb-button/)

[jenniferofthejungle]

Hey, look what's online:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re5xpf2j94E&feature=channel

My heart....

[Spun Lepton]

My heart....

Hey, if there were ever a film that belonged on YouTube, it's Ax'Em.

[D_Davis]

I just remembered a movie I hate more than Undead:

Evil Aliens

[megladon8]

I just remembered a movie I hate more than Undead:

Evil Aliens


Rep.

Evil Aliens was a steaming pile of shit masked as some sort of witty alien horror movie.

What a disgrace that was. I paid $6.99 for it and I felt ripped off.

I know Scar isn't its biggest fan, but anyone looking for some good low-budget alien horror should check out 2007's Altered. By one of the guys who did The Blair Witch Project, and co-stars the guy who played Mike.

It's pretty good stuff. Very cool spaceship design, and is one of the more disturbing portrayals of the "little green men" aliens that we've seen so often.

[Spun Lepton]

I was sad to hear pretty much from every direction that Evil Aliens was a pile. I thought Undead was a mild success, and I thought it showed that the directors had some promise. Oh well.

[D_Davis]

Rep.

Evil Aliens was a steaming pile of shit masked as some sort of witty alien horror movie.



Yeah - it was so terrible. One of the most mean spirited and down right hateful films I've ever seen. I felt bad while watching it.

[D_Davis]

I was sad to hear pretty much from every direction that Evil Aliens was a pile. I thought Undead was a mild success, and I thought it showed that the directors had some promise. Oh well.

Undead did show some promise, that is true. There were a few very creative moments, and they did a lot of neat things with their budget. The thing that ruined it for me was the characters and the score. I think in these kinds of horror-comedies, you really need a character to root for, a character like Ash or Lionel. In Undead, I really wanted to slap everyone. And the score! Man, it never shut up, and it was mixed really loud. It really bugged me.

[Spun Lepton]

Yeah - it was so terrible. One of the most mean spirited and down right hateful films I've ever seen. I felt bad while watching it.

Spoil it for me. What was hateful about it?

[D_Davis]

Spoil it for me. What was hateful about it?

It was really all about the characters attitudes towards one another, and the way that the movie treated them. It's hard to put into words. They were just really ugly people - and not in looks. It's been a few years since I've seen it, so I don't really remember it. I was just reading over some of my old reviews and came across that one. I think it was the first really negative review I wrote for Genrebusters.

[D_Davis]

I thought the part in Undead where they discover the big wall was very inspired. That was definitely a highlight.

[jenniferofthejungle]

Hey, if there were ever a film that belonged on YouTube, it's Ax'Em.

But you can't watch it on FF!!!



I'm watching City of the Living Dead tonight. It's been a while.


They were giving the horrific Halloween 4 and 5 on AMC, hosted by Rob Zombie, just in time for his promotion of H2. I really find him likable, and he does have good style, but I hate his movies so much it hurts. Lose the wife, get a co-writer, stop hiring people who can't act...

[megladon8]

I still really like House of 1,000 Corpses, though it cannot be said enough that Rob Zombie needs to stop letting his wife act. She is horrid.

That laugh of hers makes me want to run up to the nearest living creature and strangle it to death.

[The Mike]

They were giving the horrific Halloween 4 and 5 on AMC, hosted by Rob Zombie, just in time for his promotion of H2. I really find him likable, and he does have good style, but I hate his movies so much it hurts. Lose the wife, get a co-writer, stop hiring people who can't act...If you didn't see it in the H2 thread, I'm resigned to think I'd recommend Tina Williams and her neon heart 1000 times before recommending Zombie's H2.

[Spun Lepton]

Entertainment Weekly's list of the Top 20 Best/Worst Horror Movie Villains.

Pretty much what you'd expect EW to choose. Two of their picks for Worst made me want to punch my monitor.

Here's their formula:
Pick 15 villains from the most popular franchises of the last 20 years for the "best." Pick 1 "classic" horror movie villain. Add 1 relatively recent horror moive villain. Then, pick 5 random and/or obscure villains for the "worst." One of the worst isn't even a horror movie villain.

EW's Piece of Shit List (http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20246950_20263257_20300293, 00.html)

[The Mike]

Hmmm...worst list includes Pumpkinhead and Leprechaun. The Mike says "Hey, Entertainment Weekly...you suck at life."

[Spun Lepton]

Hmmm...worst list includes Pumpkinhead and Leprechaun. The Mike says "Hey, Entertainment Weekly...you suck at life."

I was pretty peeved at Pumpkinhead and Audrey II. Just because the word "horrors" is in the title, EW, doesn't mean it's actually a horror movie.

[Scar]

Pumpkinhead? PUMPKINHEAD? Did those dumb cocksuckers ever watch the fucking movie?

[Raiders]

I will say that I agree Pumpkinhead is pretty lame. Decent creature design, but it's a pretty terrible film.

[Scar]

I will say that I agree Pumpkinhead is pretty lame. Decent creature design, but it's a pretty terrible film.

Shoo.

[Raiders]

What's the appeal? It isn't scary, it wastes Lane Henriksen, many scenes (based on my memory) were rather poorly lit and in general I really found it pretty laughable.

I read somewhere once that the film, in the hands of a great silent film director like Murnau, could have been brilliant and I agree; there is a great bit of expressionism that seems inherent to the film's landscape (not to mention the visual parallels it could make between Henriksen's anger as Pumpkinhead). But as it is, there's nothing much there besides the creature FX.

[Scar]

What's the appeal? It isn't scary, it wastes Lane Henriksen, many scenes (based on my memory) were rather poorly lit and in general I really found it pretty laughable.

I read somewhere once that the film, in the hands of a great silent film director like Murnau, could have been brilliant and I agree; there is a great bit of expressionism that seems inherent to the film's landscape (not to mention the visual parallels it could make between Henriksen's anger as Pumpkinhead). But as it is, there's nothing much there besides the creature FX.

I find it to be a great little vengeance fairy tale.

Of course, I find Phantasm to be a complete pile, outside of one nifty kill.

[Grouchy]

I find it to be a great little vengeance fairy tale.
I agree with you. I think it's a great film with a solid and unusual storyline and motivation behind its monster. Lance Henriksen gives a very good performance, he's hardly wasted. Poor cinematography? Did we watch the same thing?

[Dead & Messed Up]

Watched some of Candyman again last night. Has there ever been a horror movie that sounded better? I'm not sure. Phillip Glass's score is lovely and haunting, and Tony Todd, with that amazing, deep bass voice...it feels like my walls shudder when he talks.

[Pop Trash]

Rewatched Fright Night, which I hadn't seen in at least a decade. Despite the required level of 80s cheese for most horror movies made around this time, it still holds up well. Most people mention Roddy McDowall's performance as being really good (and it is) but Chris Sarandon is quite awesome in this movie. In fact both he and his "assistant" (a possible gay lover? hmm perhaps) are pretty great. It has quite a bit of proto Scream self-reference, but it never lays it on too thick. Also some of the SFX are kinda awesome, even by today's standards.

[Rowland]

Oh, you're soo COOL, Brewster!!

I thought Fright Night was pretty lame, like a glorified Are You Afraid of the Dark episode.

[megladon8]

Oh, you're soo COOL, Brewster!!

I thought Fright Night was pretty lame, like a glorified Are You Afraid of the Dark episode.


I see nothing wrong with this descriptor.

"Are You Afraid of the Dark?" is awesome. I got more scares from that show as a kid than I have from all the horror movies I've seen in my adult life.

[Rowland]

I see nothing wrong with this descriptor.

"Are You Afraid of the Dark?" is awesome. I got more scares from that show as a kid than I have from all the horror movies I've seen in my adult life.Have you watched any of those old episodes recently? Don't.

[megladon8]

Have you watched any of those old episodes recently? Don't.


Yeah, I have the season 1 DVD set.

I'll admit I'm biased due to nostalgia. I can see they're hoaky as hell, but they're still fun.

I can't ever hold anything against the series that almost single-handedly turned me into a horror hound.

[Ivan Drago]

EW's Piece of Shit List (http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20246950_20263257_20300293, 00.html)

Gingerdead Man = lolwut

[Pop Trash]

Oh, you're soo COOL, Brewster!!


I actually liked that guy's coked out performance. Him and Crispin Glover should have starred in an 80s buddy cop comedy. Did you know he later became a gay porn star? Fun fact.

[megladon8]

I cannot for the life of me remember the title of this little indie-horror/thriller I rented on VHS about 8-10 years ago.

I believe it was from somewhere between 1997 and 2000. It was American, and it had a multi-word title that had something to do with Satan or the Devil.

I'm also like 99.9999% sure it was an Alliance Atlantis release.

:frustrated: This is driving me nuts!!

[Winston*]

I cannot for the life of me remember the title of this little indie-horror/thriller I rented on VHS about 8-10 years ago.

I believe it was from somewhere between 1997 and 2000. It was American, and it had a multi-word title that had something to do with Satan or the Devil.

I'm also like 99.9999% sure it was an Alliance Atlantis release.

:frustrated: This is driving me nuts!!

Devil in the Flesh? (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0143213/)

If so, I'm awesome.

[megladon8]

Devil in the Flesh? (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0143213/)

If so, I'm awesome.


Nope :sad:. I don't think it really had anyone in it - I would remember if it had Rose McGowan.

[Raiders]

Nope :sad:. I don't think it really had anyone in it - I would remember if it had Rose McGowan.

Could be Devil in the Flesh 2. That was released by Alliance Atlantis.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217086/

[megladon8]

Could be Devil in the Flesh 2. That was released by Alliance Atlantis.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217086/


Nope.

I wish I could remember more of the plot. I remember the main character was a guy.

:lol:

[Grouchy]

Nope.

I wish I could remember more of the plot. I remember the main character was a guy.

:lol:
Heh. That's like Monty Burns when he's trying to place what Bart and Lisa remind him of. "That guy... who has to legs... and walks". "Don King?" "THAT'S RIGHT, DON KING! They look just like little Don Kings".

[Raiders]

Using Alliance Atlantis and your timeframe as a tool, all I could really find was Lost Souls which deals heavily with Satan. It does star Winona Ryder though.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160484/

Sorry, couldn't find anything else that seemed to fit.

[megladon8]

Thanks, Raiders. I appreciate the effort.

Unfortunately it's not Lost Souls. I'm starting to think maybe it was a Canadian production or something, so info. wouldn't be readily available on American sites.

Thanks to everyone for trying to help :)

[jenniferofthejungle]

I was bored last night and borrowed a movie from my sister. Unfortunately for me that movie was The Uninvited, the extremely bland and generic remake of A Tale of Two Sisters. I actually confused the title with The Unborn, which is another POS I'd probably watch on another boring night.

The movie was dreadful. It is beautifully filmed, though it has none of the beauty or imagery of the original. There is no sense of drama or mystery here, nothing to try to figure out or even ponder later on, no haunting imagery or any of the thrills of the original. The only mystery for me was wondering how or why the lovely Elizabeth Banks signed on to do this film. She deserves better. We deserve better.

Anyway, it was a terrible movie, but watching terrible movies isn't a tragedy, it's just a waste of time.




I really need to watch Drag Me to Hell and Splinter. It's been a rough month of crap movies for me.

[Spun Lepton]

I will say that I agree Pumpkinhead is pretty lame. Decent creature design, but it's a pretty terrible film.

I could create a list of really stupid horror movie villains and I'm sure you could agree that they're far worse that Pumpkinhead. The monster design alone makes him far better than somebody like Torgo from Manos: the Hands of Fate or the parasite from Corman's 3D shlock-fest Parasite. Or the killer tongue from Killer Tongue. Or the killer condom from Killer Condom. Or the goblins in Troll 2.

I mean, if they're pulling the "look at how obscure we can be" card by naming straight to DVD schlock The Gingerdeadman, then they shouldn't pussy out by naming relatively well-known villains, too. Just shows how little fucking research they actually did. (As if you could expect anything more from EW.)

[Dukefrukem]

I was bored last night and borrowed a movie from my sister. Unfortunately for me that movie was The Uninvited, the extremely bland and generic remake of A Tale of Two Sisters. I actually confused the title with The Unborn, which is another POS I'd probably watch on another boring night.

The movie was dreadful. It is beautifully filmed, though it has none of the beauty or imagery of the original. There is no sense of drama or mystery here, nothing to try to figure out or even ponder later on, no haunting imagery or any of the thrills of the original. The only mystery for me was wondering how or why the lovely Elizabeth Banks signed on to do this film. She deserves better. We deserve better.

Anyway, it was a terrible movie, but watching terrible movies isn't a tragedy, it's just a waste of time.




I really need to watch Drag Me to Hell and Splinter. It's been a rough month of crap movies for me.

Yes the drama is lost is in the Uninvited because the focus is too concerned with the mystery of the people invading the house. And how/why they are so organized. And weird. There's no real inventive or interesting way the movie is presented. It's just sorta, people appear... and walk slowly through and around the house while two people scramble to figure out what's going on. The ending, although terrorizing, is senseless and pointless.

And yes Jenn, you really really do need to watch Drag me to Hell. Splinter was fun too.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Four more months till we hit 2010. What are some gems from the past decade that I should watch?

[Bosco B Thug]

I was bored last night and borrowed a movie from my sister. Unfortunately for me that movie was The Uninvited, the extremely bland and generic remake of A Tale of Two Sisters. I actually confused the title with The Unborn, which is another POS I'd probably watch on another boring night.

The movie was dreadful. It is beautifully filmed, though it has none of the beauty or imagery of the original. There is no sense of drama or mystery here, nothing to try to figure out or even ponder later on, no haunting imagery or any of the thrills of the original. The only mystery for me was wondering how or why the lovely Elizabeth Banks signed on to do this film. She deserves better. We deserve better.

Anyway, it was a terrible movie, but watching terrible movies isn't a tragedy, it's just a waste of time. The Uninvited was awful awful awful.

I must admit, I do kinda like the slightly altered twist, though...

Emily Browning as seriously repressed psycho brat, undermining Banks' every attempt to become respectable just because she's somewhat a skank.

[MadMan]

HorrorFest 2009 Lineup. Whether or not I'll get to all of these remains to be seen, though:

1. Christine (1983, Carpenter)
2. The Mist (2007)
3. The Brood (1977, Cronenberg)
4. Scream (1996, Craven)-2nd viewing
5. Call of Chullhu (2005)
6. Scanners (1981, Cronenberg)
7. Children of the Corn (1984)
8. Cujo (1988)
9. Phantasm (1979)
10. The Shining (1980, Kubrick)-2nd viewing
11. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
12. Black Christmas (1974, Clark)
13. Fido (2006)
14. Carrie (1976, De Palma)
15. Masters of Horror: Cigarette Burns (2006, Carpenter)
16. Masters of Horror: Homecoming (2005, Dante)
17. Dead and Breakfast (2004)
18. Hatchet for the Honeymoon (1988, Bava)
19. Dusk Til Dawn (1995, Rodrieguez)
20. Frankenstein (1932, Whale)
21. The Wolfman (1941)

[Philosophe_rouge]

I actually managed to see nearly all of my horror must sees last year, hopefully I can do it again this time! I only choose ten, though I end up seeing far more. I like achievable goals! So up until October 31st I'd like to see as many of these as possible;

The Night of the Demon (1957)
The Wolf Man (1941)
Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)
Death Laid an Egg (1968)
Candyman (1992)
Videodrome (1983)
Alice, Sweet, Alice (1976)
Evil Dead II (1987)
Carrie (1976)
House on Haunted Hill (1959)

[MadMan]

Nice list, Rouge. Night of the Demon is awesome, as is The Evil Dead II, and House on Haunted Hill is a favorite of mine. I'm watching Videodrome this week, actually. The rest I haven't seen, but I will try to get to Carrie also. And if its possible I'll finally view Legend of Hell House, which everyone on IYPC seemed to be talking about sometime in the past 7 months.

[Philosophe_rouge]

I'm a huge fan of The Legend of Hell House, and I'd like to think I'm a large part of why so many people have recently watchd it.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Netflix is probably slow down my plans, but I'd love to see the following before October ends:

Ju-on: The Grudge
The Orphanage
Frontiers
The Host
Dark Water
Uzumaki
Re-Cycle
Rogue

[The Mike]

Y'all making me urge. Need to formulate a list ASAP.

I do have the original Dawn of the Dead sitting behind me, and don't expect it to stay there through tomorrow. I'm due for a rewatch.

[Grouchy]

http://pasionporelcine.es/files/2008/12/aparecidos-4.jpg

So, I watched this movie The Appeared. It's a Spanish and Argentina co-production, filmed here with the two lead actors playing brothers from Spain who cross over to take care of their father's will. The best I can say about it is that it really means well. The story is Horror and it deals with ghosts and memories, but what it really is about is the over 30.000 "disappearances" during the period of military dictatorship. Now, I don't have a problem per se about mixing those dark historical facts with supernatural stuff like ghosts - but it's not really well done here. The director Paco Cabezas sort of chooses to split the movie into scenes that deal with the ghosts and a cursed diary and the political, dramatic scenes. This is specially evident when the brothers themselves go their separate ways and appear in those two different movies.

Overall, nothing specific is badly done in the movie - good actors, good direction, scenery and surprisingly good special effects. But nothing really gels together. Stuff which the audience guesses early on the film is later portrayed as a surprise. The two brothers reactions and behavior during the movie are hilariously stupid, unrealistic and confirm everything that has ever been said about Horror clichés. A scene where a torture survivor tells his story to the sister is weirdly out of place and adds nothing to the movie. So, I guess if we have to put the blame somewhere, it's the script which killed this otherwise good movie for me.

[The Mike]

If you're gonna watch a recent SyFy Original, I say watch Wyvern. It was good on their scale.

[Dead & Messed Up]

IIf you're gonna watch a recent SyFy Original, I say watch Wyvern. It was good on their scale.

Similarly, if you're gonna take a hammer to your own body, I say aim for the sternum.

[Rowland]

Alice, Sweet, Alice (1976)
Carrie (1976)First-time viewings? These are two of my favorite horror movies. Raiders is the only person I can think of who has seen Alice Sweet Alice besides myself around here, and I recall him responding with indifference, but I was absolutely haunted by it.

[Gabe L]

The Night of the Demon (1957)
The Wolf Man (1941)
Videodrome (1983)
Carrie (1976)
House on Haunted Hill (1959)

I've seen these.

NIGHT OF THE DEMON - I liked this, but not as much as its reputation. I think Tourneur went over my head a bit when I watched several of his film 5-6 years ago, so it's due for a rewatch.

WOLF MAN and HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL are solid, campy fun more than anything else.

VIDEODROME is awesome; classic twisted Cronenberg with some fantastic imagery. It's one of my favorites of his.

Just rewatched CARRIE and really liked it, though it's not that scary anymore...De Palma edits it very well, and the entire prom sequence is pretty amazing.

[MadMan]

For the time being, all I can say about Videdrome is body horror FTW. The FX still holds up for being more than 20 years old, and like The Shining and the original Omen its a pure nighmare. I'm also sure that it helped inspire the rather underrated, creepy descent into hightened moments of awareness movie Altered States, released 4 years later.

[Bosco B Thug]

First-time viewings? These are two of my favorite horror movies. Raiders is the only person I can think of who has seen Alice Sweet Alice besides myself around here, and I recall him responding with indifference, but I was absolutely haunted by it. Oh, I've seen Alice, Sweet Alice. It's super.

Juon: The Grudge and Dark Water are both piffles, but they're interesting, sometimes even fascinating ones, both determined to really wring out mopey tales about disproportionate burdens put on mousy female central characters.

[Dukefrukem]

It's Alive remake redband trailer (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/17340)

[MadMan]

It's Alive remake redband trailer (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/17340)While I'm not sure if it will be as good as the original (which was fairly solid, featured some really awesome gory moments, and was kind of creepy), the remake may have some promise. At the very least I'm interested in seeing how they've updated the entire story, and if they kept the whole theme about how the baby was mutated thanks to different chemicals, other things in the air, etc.

[megladon8]

Slither is so great.

BILL: Hell, if he had a 'gina, you'd'a married him too.

KID: What's a "'gina"?

BILL: Uh...it's a country. You know, where Ginese people come from.

[megladon8]

This new horror movie Paranormal Activity (http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/11/telluride-review-paranormal-activity/) is one I really want to see.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I'm pecking away at a thread idea about the top horrors of the decade, so I've been re-watching a lot of films. Most recently, I started watching Dawn of the Dead again, and it hasn't aged terribly well. The director's cut improves things, but I just find myself perplexed by CJ (the villain with neither motivation nor conviction) and Snyder's strange, arbitrary use of slow motion (now a sign of what was to come). And what's with Anna getting minimized? She kinda disappears during the middle of the picture.

Fun, though. Ty Burr gives the film a welcome kick of personality, and Jake Weber's perf is remarkably real.

[The Mike]

Man, couldn't agree more about those two performances. They make the film.

[megladon8]

I'm pecking away at a thread idea about the top horrors of the decade, so I've been re-watching a lot of films. Most recently, I started watching Dawn of the Dead again, and it hasn't aged terribly well. The director's cut improves things, but I just find myself perplexed by CJ (the villain with neither motivation nor conviction) and Snyder's strange, arbitrary use of slow motion (now a sign of what was to come). And what's with Anna getting minimized? She kinda disappears during the middle of the picture.

Fun, though. Ty Burr gives the film a welcome kick of personality, and Jake Weber's perf is remarkably real.


Agree with everything here. I really should re-watch this one soon.

I quite liked it, but I'm open to what you said about it not aging well.

[Dead & Messed Up]

So far, I've rewatched The Last Winter, The Mist, and now Dawn of the Dead.

Winter's about as good as I remember, maybe a smidge better. The sucky stuff at the very end hurts more, but the good stuff (the acting and vibe) previous to that is better.

Mist is better. The repeated divisions between the shoppers is especially well-rendered, and the ending feels more cohesive with each viewing. The only scene I don't like is the scene between the soldier and the grocer. It's awfully cliched, and it doesn't add much emotion to either character's journey. The soldier could just as easily be affected by his fellow soldiers.

I've got the following movies bumped to the front of my queue, all unseen:

Inside
Uzumaki
Rogue
Wolf Creek
One Missed Call
Re-Cycle
Frontiers
Ju-on: The Grudge
Shiver
The Orphanage
The Card Player
Dark Water
Premonition
Them
Versus
Shutter
The Host
Trouble Every Day

[megladon8]

I've got the following movies bumped to the front of my queue, all unseen:

Uzumaki
Rogue
Wolf Creek
The Orphanage
Them
Versus
Shutter
The Host



Have fun with these!!

[The Mike]

DaMU, have you checked out Splinter? It's well worth seeing, mostly for the Rob Bottin-esque effects work.

[MadMan]

DaMU, have you checked out Splinter? It's well worth seeing, mostly for the Rob Bottin-esque effects work.Are you refering to this movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1031280/

Because I saw it this year, and it was merely decent at best. Sure there were some cool moments, but overall it wasn't enough to offset its weaknesses. Also it felt really, really short and not fully fleshed out enough.

[Dead & Messed Up]

DaMU, have you checked out Splinter? It's well worth seeing, mostly for the Rob Bottin-esque effects work.

I have. The effects work was damn good. My original thoughts from earlier in the thread.


Splinter
Stupidity in the last act nearly kills what is otherwise a fun variation on that old horror standby where enemies join forces in an isolated location against a greater threat. This time, the threat is a spiky fungus that turns animals (and men) into undead "splinter" monsters. The movement of splintered victims is eerie and frightening, and there are a few requisite gore moments that should result in winces. In their wisdom, the filmmakers kept this film eighty minutes long, which is just enough time for the premise to deliver on its goals without overstaying its welcome. It's cheap fun, so why complain? B-

For those who saw Splinter:

Why in the HELL would Seth try to freeze himself instead of waiting a few hours for daylight, when the temperature would easily top 100 degrees? And why would he freeze himself when they were so successfully distracting the monster with fire? Why not just, I don't know, light a big fucking fire?

And if I never see the "guy-hides-his-death-wound-from-the-others" scene again, it'll be too soon.

[Scar]

Rogue - Not much of a fan of this one. The ending killed it. Make sure you watch Wolf Creek FIRST.
Wolf Creek - Love this movie, makes me want to go camping. And make sure to watch for when someone tries to load a gun, it's the little things that make a movie.
Ju-on: The Grudge - I actually don't mind the American version
The Orphanage - More sad then scary, but a great movie
Dark Water - Not too shabby
Shutter - Nothing original here, but features some of the best jump scares around. Rather enjoy it, (as long as we're not talking about the remake)
The Host - Need to watch it again. Was a tad underwhelmed the first time.

[Ezee E]

What are you talking about with the loading of the gun Scar?

[Scar]

What are you talking about with the loading of the gun Scar?

When the chick gets loose, she gets a hold of a revolver and tries to load it. First she tries to load it with rifle ammo, and then I think she tries another type of pistol ammo before she gets it right.

[Rowland]

Silent Hill holds up very well. There are still assorted elements I have problems with, but its many pleasures are too numerous and boldly realized for those flaws to prove all that detrimental. The first two games are still much better, but it's very fine as a film adaption with its own ambitious vision. If only most horror films had as many aspirations in their breadth of sights and ideas.

[megladon8]

Does anyone know what this shot is from?

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3418/1252801688402.jpg

[Winston*]

It's from an episode of Doctor Who.

[megladon8]

It's from an episode of Doctor Who.


Is the episode related to Cthulhu mythos? Or did they just use Cthulhu as a basis for the creature design?

[Winston*]

Is the episode related to Cthulhu mythos? Or did they just use Cthulhu as a basis for the creature design?

Just basis for the design. Those dudes were good guys in the episode, I think.

You should watch that show IMO, you'd dig it.

[megladon8]

Just basis for the design. Those dudes were good guys in the episode, I think.

You should watch that show IMO, you'd dig it.


Yeah I'd totally check it out if I knew where the hell to start.

Seems like a maze to find an appropriate starting point for the series.

[MadMan]

The current Dr. Who series is awesome. I'm also a fan of the old school, original series that ran from the 1950s to the early 1990s. Tom Baker=Best Doctor, ever.

[Dukefrukem]

So far, I've rewatched The Last Winter, The Mist, and now Dawn of the Dead.

Winter's about as good as I remember, maybe a smidge better. The sucky stuff at the very end hurts more, but the good stuff (the acting and vibe) previous to that is better.

Mist is better. The repeated divisions between the shoppers is especially well-rendered, and the ending feels more cohesive with each viewing. The only scene I don't like is the scene between the soldier and the grocer. It's awfully cliched, and it doesn't add much emotion to either character's journey. The soldier could just as easily be affected by his fellow soldiers.

I've got the following movies bumped to the front of my queue, all unseen:

Inside
Uzumaki
Rogue
Wolf Creek
One Missed Call
Re-Cycle
Frontiers
Ju-on: The Grudge
Shiver
The Orphanage
The Card Player
Dark Water
Premonition
Them
Versus
Shutter
The Host
Trouble Every Day

I'm really interested to see what you think of Orphan. It's prob the best Dark Castle film to date.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I'm really interested to see what you think of Orphan. It's prob the best Dark Castle film to date.

That's way off my radar right now. As for Dark Castle, everything post-Haunted Hill has been a complete disappointment.

[Dukefrukem]

That's way off my radar right now. As for Dark Castle, everything post-Haunted Hill has been a complete disappointment.

Oh I completely agree, which is why Orphan caught me by surprise. I love the tension on it.

[megladon8]

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/7874/stanhelsingr1artworkpic.jpg

[Dead & Messed Up]

Wait...Stan Helsing? What a delightful reversal!

[Winston*]

Yeah I'd totally check it out if I knew where the hell to start.

Seems like a maze to find an appropriate starting point for the series.

Just start with the Christopher Eccleston season. That's where the new Doctor Who begins.

[Dukefrukem]

i want to see that

[Grouchy]

People, you gotta check out the most fucked up thing I've seen in some time, a movie called The Baby. To tell exactly what it's about would be spoiling a little of the surprise, but let's just say it's about a social worker and a family with a very special baby, and it's the sort of fucked up thing which could only be shot in the '70s. We're in the realm of sexploitation here, so the movie isn't the most polished piece of work you're going to find - it has wooden acting, weird framing and, to make matters worse, the original soundtrack is lost and the entire movie has been dubbed over years afterwards. But the ludicrous story, twists and turns and the perversity of it all are what make this watchable, not its actual quality.

The director, Ted Post, is more famous for Clint Eastwood vehicles like Magnum Force and Hang 'Em High and for Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

[megladon8]

Sounds awesome, Grouchy.

I'll try to see it.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I'm about to give Marebito another shot. I hated it the first time, but certain posters told me it was great.

Then again, posters told me I was wrong for hating Versus, and I know I'm right about that one sucking.

[megladon8]

I'm about to give Marebito another shot. I hated it the first time, but certain posters told me it was great.

Hope you like it this time. Great Lovecraftian story.



Then again, posters told me I was wrong for hating Versus, and I know I'm right about that one sucking.

No.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Hope you like it this time. Great Lovecraftian story.

Okay, so I guess I've gone from seething hatred to mild disapproval, which is some sort of progress. But I still agree with my original assessment that the film's Lovecraftian touch is window dressing for a shockingly dull vampire picture. The first half hour is intriguing, but once F shows up, the movie gets progressively boring.

While I was watching, I was trying to understand why I disengaged, and my best answer is the following. Supposedly the guy's looking for transcendant terror. But then he takes a few weeks off to nurse a young adult, without ever explaining through thought or action why such an activity is worth his time.

I will give Shimizu credit for banging out this thing in eight days (!). The fact that it's even comprehensible deserves some recognition.


No.

Yeah. Shrillest movie I've seen. That's one I plan to never revisit.

[Rowland]

Marebito didn't really work for me either, but there was plenty that I admired about it. Still, when I think of Shimizu's best, Ju-On: The Grudge 2 comes to mind. For being a later entry in the series, it's quite effective. Reincarnation has some really creepy moments as well, and one hell of a climactic set piece.

[Dukefrukem]

Night Of The Living Dead: Origins


Yet another remake of George Romero's classic zombie movie Night Of The Living Dead is being prepped by Simon West Productions with director Zebediah de Soto at the helm and Simon West and Jib Polhemus producing. The catch this time? It'll actually be a 3D CGI interpretation depicting a new origins storyline.

[Grouchy]

My girlfriend blind bought Marebito a while ago and she really hated it. That's probably why I never saw it despite its availability to me.

Versus is a great, great movie.

[megladon8]

While I was watching, I was trying to understand why I disengaged, and my best answer is the following. Supposedly the guy's looking for transcendant terror. But then he takes a few weeks off to nurse a young adult, without ever explaining through thought or action why such an activity is worth his time.



Isn't it implied that she is his daughter, and all the Lovecraft, finding a city underneath the sewers stuff was just him being totally nutso?

[Dead & Messed Up]

Isn't it implied that she is his daughter, and all the Lovecraft, finding a city underneath the sewers stuff was just him being totally nutso?

That's a possibility, but if that's the truth, that'd kinda piss me off even more. The dreaded "It's a schizophrenic's nightmare" ending that capped off Secret Window and Identity.

[megladon8]

That's a possibility, but if that's the truth, that'd kinda piss me off even more. The dreaded "It's a schizophrenic's nightmare" ending that capped off Secret Window and Identity.



It wasn't the ending, though. The "mother" is brought in less than halfway through, if I remember correctly. And even after he's presented with what may be the facts of the situation - that he is pretty much molesting his own daughter - he continues to do so, convinced in his mind that she is some kind of beast from a Lovecraftian netherworld.

[Dead & Messed Up]

It wasn't the ending, though. The "mother" is brought in less than halfway through, if I remember correctly. And even after he's presented with what may be the facts of the situation - that he is pretty much molesting his own daughter - he continues to do so, convinced in his mind that she is some kind of beast from a Lovecraftian netherworld.

Well, shit. I really don't want to watch it again, so I'll defect to you on the proper interpretation. Even then, I still think it's dull.

[MadMan]

Versus is really awesome. I liked it even more when I revisited it last October. The fight scenes are utterly fantastic, and its just a really fun, entertaining movie. Plus zombies! With guns!

[Dead & Messed Up]

Oh, and earlier when I said Versus, I was brain-farting. I haven't seen Versus (it's on my queue). I was thinking of Bio-Zombie.

[Dukefrukem]

People, you gotta check out the most fucked up thing I've seen in some time, a movie called The Baby. To tell exactly what it's about would be spoiling a little of the surprise, but let's just say it's about a social worker and a family with a very special baby, and it's the sort of fucked up thing which could only be shot in the '70s. We're in the realm of sexploitation here, so the movie isn't the most polished piece of work you're going to find - it has wooden acting, weird framing and, to make matters worse, the original soundtrack is lost and the entire movie has been dubbed over years afterwards. But the ludicrous story, twists and turns and the perversity of it all are what make this watchable, not its actual quality.

The director, Ted Post, is more famous for Clint Eastwood vehicles like Magnum Force and Hang 'Em High and for Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

added to queue!

[Dukefrukem]

Oh, and earlier when I said Versus, I was brain-farting. I haven't seen Versus (it's on my queue). I was thinking of Bio-Zombie.

Versus rules.

[megladon8]

Oh, and earlier when I said Versus, I was brain-farting. I haven't seen Versus (it's on my queue). I was thinking of Bio-Zombie.


OK, good.

I thought Bio Zombie was awful, too. But Versus is so much damn fun it's a crime.

Look for a gun straight out of "Unreal Tournament".

[Dead & Messed Up]

I'm watching Three Extremes again, as per my project to re-acquaint myself with favorite horrors from the decade.

I got through the first part, "Dumplings," last night, and while the DVD edition has the full-length version available, I don't know if I'd be able to handle it. The short version is still terribly affecting - those final two shots are among the most haunting I've ever seen.

I was watching carefully to make sure that the film's not just shock value, because that's the one criticism that I felt I could level against it. But it's definitely not. This is first and foremost a story about avarice and pride, taken to the absolute limit.

[megladon8]

It's a great one, DaMU. I've been meaning to watch the full-length version myself.

I also think Miike's short, "Box", is one of the best things he's ever done.

[Spun Lepton]

I enjoy Versus, but I think it suffers from being overlong. After a while all of the mayhem starts to get a little tiresome and I find myself saying, "Get on with it!!"

[bac0n]

I enjoy Versus, but I think it suffers from being overlong. After a while all of the mayhem starts to get a little tiresome and I find myself saying, "Get on with it!!"

I was rather underwhelmed with Versus, for the same reasons you listed above. But that was over five years ago, and the DVD I had was sorta shitty. I need to revisit this movie.

[Rowland]

I'm partial to the full-length version of Dumplings. It feels so much more fleshed out, and the ending is superior.

[Dead & Messed Up]

It feels so much more fleshed out...

Ugh. See, you use words like that and make me want to never watch the thing again.

[jenniferofthejungle]

I've got the following movies bumped to the front of my queue, all unseen:


Uzumaki
Rogue
Wolf Creek
One Missed Call
Frontiers
Ju-on: The Grudge
The Orphanage
Dark Water
Premonition
Versus
Shutter
The Host



Uzumaki--weird, but good. I'd suggest reading the books, too. They have gorgeous artwork and it helps to make sense of everything. You don't have to read them to understand the film, but it was nice to know what they were doing.

Rogue - I liked it a hell of a lot, but yeah, the ending was too over the top. It's still the best damned crocodile movie I've ever seen.

Wolf Creek - excellent

One Missed Call - I hope you mean you're watching the original and not the truly horrid remake? I haven't seen the original, but the remake was a crapfest.

Frontiers - need to see it again. I liked a few things about it, but apparently not enough to remember the damned movie.

Ju-On: The Grudge - I liked both versions. A lot.

The Orphanage - awesomeness. That's all.

Dark Water - the remake is bad, but the original did scare the hell out of me and also made me cry. I'll ask you a few things once you've watched it.

Premonition - it's a great one, Jim.

Versus - fun

Shutter - I was one of the few who apparently didn't find it all that scary.

The Host - damned good. I like it more every time I see it.


----------------

I saw 1408 again and I have some trouble with that one. I love the cast, I like the original story, and I like the film, but something is a bit off. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something wrong with this movie. It doesn't allow me to fully love it.

[jenniferofthejungle]

Ugh. See, you use words like that and make me want to never watch the thing again.


Jim, I'd love it if you'd add Memories of Murder to your queue. Trust me. if you haven't seen it yet you really need to.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Jim, I'd love it if you'd add Memories of Murder to your queue. Trust me. if you haven't seen it yet you really need to.

Added. And thanks for the thoughts on everything. If it weren't clear, I'm only watching the originals for those that have been remade.

I never made my pronouncement official, but I swore off horror remakes at the beginning of this year, on principle. The only exception's been Zombie's Halloween.


I saw 1408 again and I have some trouble with that one. I love the cast, I like the original story, and I like the film, but something is a bit off. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something wrong with this movie. It doesn't allow me to fully love it.

The first half's much better than the second, which becomes more assaultive than insinuating. The creepiest stuff was with the treats on the bed, the folded toilet paper, etc. It switches to "fun" later on, rather than scary, and while it keeps the film moving, I think the film could've been more unnerving.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I got out today after six hours of work! That never happens, so I'm going to celebrate with Re-Cycle and probably The Host.

Netflix Instant-Watch is my hero.

[Dead & Messed Up]

RE-CYCLE
What attracted me to this was the Pang Brothers, who directed one of my favorite "Asian Wave" features, The Eye. And while that film was full-on horror, this film aims for dark fantasy, centering its story on an author whose abandoned creations spring to life and demand justice. She then falls into a Wonderland and, surprise, she finds a little Alice down there too. Re-Cycle is beautiful, to be sure, but it falls into the classic trap of similar "wonderland" films, in that its world is too arbitrary to ever feel truly involving. As a result, an ending that strives to be meaningful ends up feeling overextended and overwrought. But the final twist is cute, and Angelica Lee (Oxide Pang's wife, star of The Eye) convinces as an author lost in her own landscapes. B-

PS: Some stills from the film. Fans of "wonderland" movies like Labyrinth, Mirror Mask, and The Cell will find much to appreciate.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/deadandmessedup/Recycle3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/deadandmessedup/Recycle2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/deadandmessedup/Recycle1.jpg

[Dead & Messed Up]

I passed on The Host and lept into...

THEM

The couple in Them faces an assault. So They go outside to investigate. They split up three or four times. They frequently drop their weapons for reasons unknown. They have the high ground twice and willfully relinquish it. They leave their house when They should know the layout better than Their assailants. They say things like "I'll be right back" and "Who's out there?" Simply put, They're idiots. Their attackers, Them, have an interesting identity, but Them's identity is never explored or considered. Consequently, Them feel like a trick, effective for some brief suspense but ultimately exploitative and shallow. So They are stupid, Them are cheap, and Them, despite its relative craft, is a seventy-seven minute film that feels about one hour too long. C-

[Raiders]

I passed on The Host

Lame.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm watching Three Extremes again, as per my project to re-acquaint myself with favorite horrors from the decade.

I got through the first part, "Dumplings," last night, and while the DVD edition has the full-length version available, I don't know if I'd be able to handle it. The short version is still terribly affecting - those final two shots are among the most haunting I've ever seen.

I was watching carefully to make sure that the film's not just shock value, because that's the one criticism that I felt I could level against it. But it's definitely not. This is first and foremost a story about avarice and pride, taken to the absolute limit.

Dumplings is fantastic!


Lame.

agreed

[megladon8]

I'm at the point where I'm about ready to declare Phantasm a piece of shit.

There's absolutely nothing good about it.

Yet for some reason, it's compulsively watchable.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Lame.

Oh, hush. I was tired and Them was forty minutes shorter.

The Host'll probably happen on Saturday.


I'm at the point where I'm about ready to declare Phantasm a piece of shit.

There's absolutely nothing good about it.

Yet for some reason, it's compulsively watchable.

It ain't great in any traditional sense, but I do really like how it actually feels like a nightmare. It's got a twisted stream-of-consciousness attitude that comes very close to duplicating dream logic.

[megladon8]

It ain't great in any traditional sense, but I do really like how it actually feels like a nightmare. It's got a twisted stream-of-consciousness attitude that comes very close to duplicating dream logic.


Hmmm...I just thought it was terribly edited to the point of being nigh-incoherent.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm at the point where I'm about ready to declare Phantasm a piece of shit.

There's absolutely nothing good about it.

Yet for some reason, it's compulsively watchable.

At first I thought you were talking about Phantoms! (which is awesome)

[The Mike]

It ain't great in any traditional sense, but I do really like how it actually feels like a nightmare. It's got a twisted stream-of-consciousness attitude that comes very close to duplicating dream logic.Whoa, I just said the same thing the other place Meg posted this.

Good man.

[The Mike]

Hmmm...I just thought it was terribly edited to the point of being nigh-incoherent.

Guess I know how he'll respond.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Hmmm...I just thought it was terribly edited to the point of being nigh-incoherent.

It's not nigh-incoherent. It's straight-up incoherent, and that's really a virtue, in the film's context. I think it's best to view the film as a series of incidents and images, untethered to any strict notion of narrative.

[Spun Lepton]

RE-CYCLE
B-

Ooh, this looks right up my alley.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Ooh, this looks right up my alley.

The first half-hour is superior horror filmmaking, very traditional, and then it acid trips for next ninety minutes. I have to wonder if they knew how misleading they were being - it certainly makes the fantasy-scapes that much more surprising.

[Spun Lepton]

I passed on The Host and lept into...

THEM

This isn't Them!, the giant ant movie, is it??

[Spun Lepton]

The first half-hour is superior horror filmmaking, very traditional, and then it acid trips for next ninety minutes. I have to wonder if they knew how misleading they were being - it certainly makes the fantasy-scapes that much more surprising.

I'll take this as a warning.

[Dead & Messed Up]

This isn't Them!, the giant ant movie, is it??

Do you think a review of a giant ant movie would avoid discussing the giant ants?

::slap::

[Spun Lepton]

I was hoping for a release year or something to give me an idea of what movie you were talking about, that's all. :P I went to IMDb and found out what it was -- yeah, it never struck me as something I'd enjoy.

[megladon8]

It's not nigh-incoherent. It's straight-up incoherent, and that's really a virtue, in the film's context. I think it's best to view the film as a series of incidents and images, untethered to any strict notion of narrative.


With terrible acting and even worse writing - both exposition and dialogue.

Can't look past those, myself, no matter how "dreamy" the whole thing is.

I think it's pretty awful.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I was hoping for a release year or something to give me an idea of what movie you were talking about, that's all. :P I went to IMDb and found out what it was -- yeah, it never struck me as something I'd enjoy.

It struck me as a Scar movie, in that he'd watch it, say it was pretty intense, but that brand of crowbar couldn't penetrate that kind of glass.

[Pop Trash]

Huh, interesting coincidence since I just watched Phantasm aaand...I found it quite baffiling. Anyone want to explain to me what this movie is about exactly?

[Grouchy]

Splinter is a pretty good film. Nothing groundbreaking, but the script is really strong and, ultimately, that's what makes it work so well. Well, that and the state of the art special effects. The monster is smartly never explained, it just "is" and the interaction between the four main characters is interesting enough to sustain the entire movie. I also liked that the writers thought up some stuff that would happen in real life, but rarely happens in movies.

For example, when Seth makes his heroic race to the car (as in Night of the Living Dead) he only realizes he hasn't got the keys once he's inside.

Overall, a satisfactory Horror film for rainy nights.

[Spun Lepton]

What's the word on Pontypool and Dead Snow? Been alerted that they're playing here within the next month.

[Grouchy]

By the way, it's been too long since I saw Phantasm and I was almost certainly very stoned. But I remember it as a fun ride of roadhouse scares and bizarre ideas. Not exactly coherent, but far from a bad movie, at least in my appreciation.

[Spun Lepton]

Huh, interesting coincidence since I just watched Phantasm aaand...I found it quite baffiling. Anyone want to explain to me what this movie is about exactly?

Yeah, it's not the strongest piece of narrative I've seen. I think it won over audiences due to its low-budget weirdness. The flying orbs probably also helped. The 2nd one was made in the wake of Evil Dead 2, and they try to go a similar route. More goofball humor. And just when you think it's all going to make sense at the end, they throw another WTF? ending at you. :)

[Pop Trash]

By the way, it's been too long since I saw Phantasm and I was almost certainly very stoned. But I remember it as a fun ride of roadhouse scares and bizarre ideas. Not exactly coherent, but far from a bad movie, at least in my appreciation.

See I couldn't quite figure out if the nightmarish nonsensicle thing is intentional or not by Coscarelli. I think it might be more of a CYA type of thing by him (as in after the fact saying "oh yeah it's not meant to make total sense, I'm totally influenced by Bunuel dude!") because, according to the DVD extras, this took two years to make and it sounded like he was just kinda making shit up as he went along. The movie seems to reflect that. It's like individual scenes work very well on their own but as a coherent whole, I'm not sure it adds up. Then again, who knows, maybe its brilliant.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Huh, interesting coincidence since I just watched Phantasm aaand...I found it quite baffiling. Anyone want to explain to me what this movie is about exactly?

It is about its own weirdness.

[Spun Lepton]

Then again, who knows, maybe its brilliant.

It's avant-garde.

[Scar]

It's avant-garde.

I prefer the term meh.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Okay, I watched the second segment of Three Extremes again the other night.

"Cut" is still really funny, and it's still very cruel, but the ending completely threw me. It made sense the first time I watched it, but now I'm completely confused. I've come up with a theory, but I'm not sure how much sense it makes:

So the bad guy says he tried to kill his son but just couldn't do it, so he tries to get the director to kill his son. Then his son wakes up, and suddenly the director unknowingly kills his wife. So the son can influence people to do bad things? That seems like the most logical reason for everything.

Still, I love its blend of shock and humor. There's that one amazing moment where he thinks his wife is shaking her head, begging him to not kill the kid, and then the bad guy rips off her gag, and she's just screaming at him to strangle the little bastard.

[Bosco B Thug]

Okay, I watched the second segment of Three Extremes again the other night.

"Cut" is still really funny, and it's still very cruel, but the ending completely threw me. It made sense the first time I watched it, but now I'm completely confused. I've come up with a theory, but I'm not sure how much sense it makes:

So the bad guy says he tried to kill his son but just couldn't do it, so he tries to get the director to kill his son. Then his son wakes up, and suddenly the director unknowingly kills his wife. So the son can influence people to do bad things? That seems like the most logical reason for everything.

Still, I love its blend of shock and humor. There's that one amazing moment where he thinks his wife is shaking her head, begging him to not kill the kid, and then the bad guy rips off her gag, and she's just screaming at him to strangle the little bastard.
Been a while, but I really liked Dumplings, didn't care for Cut, Box is striking but random. Masters Of Horror: Imprint might be a good gage for how you like that one.

Exte: Hair Extensions has the usual Sono attributes going for it. Sono has a knack for appealing cuteness (idiosyncratic cuteness), his drama is genuine and candidly shot, and his vision - his commitment to genre and sensory thrills that address an eccentric and personality-filled, adult and abusive world - is intact here. Don't think Sono's my guy, though. This film is way scattershot, often obnoxious, and I enjoyed the film much more when it was being whimsical to when it was being a horror film with a plot. Redundant; got tired of the cops and the main antagonist really quickly. Chiaki Kuriyama and her hip-hop roommate are really appealing here, though.

[Rowland]

I thought Cut was kinda awful. Incomprehensible, shrill, snide, and over-abundantly slick.

[megladon8]

Incomprehensible?

I don't know why.

[Rowland]

Incomprehensible?

I don't know why.I recall the last few minutes going completely over my head, and not in the evocative sort of way that would suggest the piece works as a whole. Maybe another viewing would change that, but I have no desire to do so.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I recall the last few minutes going completely over my head, and not in the evocative sort of way that would suggest the piece works as a whole. Maybe another viewing would change that, but I have no desire to do so.

Yeah. It takes a leap, but I think the interpretation I took from it makes sense.

Bad Guy's ultimate plan wasn't to make Good Guy bad. It was to try and find a roundabout way of killing Little Boy, who has some sort of mental power. It's suggested that Little Boy made Bad Guy kill his wife, and Bad Guy can't kill Little Boy directly. So Bad Guy tries to get Good Guy to kill him.


Masters Of Horror: Imprint might be a good gage for how you like that one.

I've already watched Three Extremes before. This viewing is solidifying my opinion that it's a fantastic primer for people new to Asian Horror. You got your extreme horror/comedy, your slide into complete repulsion, and your slow-burn chiller.

[MadMan]

Black Sunday is coming in the mail from Netflix. I can't wait.

[Bosco B Thug]

Yeah. It takes a leap, but I think the interpretation I took from it makes sense.

Bad Guy's ultimate plan wasn't to make Good Guy bad. It was to try and find a roundabout way of killing Little Boy, who has some sort of mental power. It's suggested that Little Boy made Bad Guy kill his wife, and Bad Guy can't kill Little Boy directly. So Bad Guy tries to get Good Guy to kill him.



I've already watched Three Extremes before. This viewing is solidifying my opinion that it's a fantastic primer for people new to Asian Horror. You got your extreme horror/comedy, your slide into complete repulsion, and your slow-burn chiller.
Ooh. So Box, it's totally too random.


The Legend of Hell House - I don't like me saying it, since a slap of mundanity is often a good thing and a movie's quality is hardly its ability to leave you in a state of mind blown, but *sigh* I did not like that climax and resolution. I really liked the movie and story up until the point. 'Bout time a haunted house film addressed orgiastic debauchery. I was totally going to give it a solid 6 for Matheson's nicely written play of beliefs clashing, life purposes being asserted, and the fascinating Pamela Franklin character and her awesome subplot involving a needy ghost (revealing how everyday sexual manipulation actually does lie beneath even the most supernaturally PURE EVIL evil), the only slight con being John Hough's solid, interesting, but not anything totally inspiring directing.

But yeah, sorry, the ending. Ehhh.


Black Sunday is coming in the mail from Netflix. I can't wait. That's one of those "Love it or meh it" films.

[Philosophe_rouge]

first horror of the "season"

When a Stranger Calls is nearly a good film. The filmmaking is remarkably strong, and the editing especially is used to create an incredibly eerie tension that sinks deep into your skin, invoking fear and paranoia. Fred Walton’s filmmaking, however, was let down by a very poor script. Though successfully rendered, the film’s opening sequence is incredibly derivative of Black Christmas especially, using similar motifs, revelations and even sound editing in order to get under the audience’s skin. This is not inherently a bad thing, it does however, become an issue when the rest of the film buckle’s under the over-ambition of the narrative. The opening sequence is all but twenty minutes of the film, it’s tense, to the point and it gets under your skin, but suddenly… the tone shifts and everything is turned on it’s head.

The middle sequence is troubling, and though it ushers in an almost fantastic finale… it is still middling. What were the writers thinking? Though occassionally abandoning your protagonist can be successful, especially in horror (I’m looking at you Psycho), it does not work here. It’s really the anonimity of the killer that makes the intro so frightening, and as talented as Curt Duncan may be, our sympathy for him is never allowed to grow… perhaps because his crime is so alienating, or perhaps because that is never the intention. But if it isn’t, then what is the purpose of this plot-turn around? I don’t know…

This middle part, also reveals somewhat cruel casting, as it pits (again, the talented) Charles Durning, in the role of the detective in search of this crazy person. It’s cruel because he is a very fat man, and must do a lot of running. Not just running in a straight line on an 180 degree surface, but up and down flights of stairs, down busy streets and through narrow hallways while food is pummelled at him (one almost expects this sequence to become an homage to the children’s game Hungry, Hungry Hippos… oh how delicious that would be!).

I will say though, even during this narrative headache, the editing remains strong. The film is not necessarily built on it’s strong visual flair, but there is a powerful consistency in the editing and general composition of the shots. I can’t deny holding my breath during brief sequences, or even gasping with genuine shock at some false-jump scares. The film ends on a strange foot, perhaps because the lead in is so absurd… but there is something so delicate and appealing about Carol Kane, that she grounds the horror and paranoia beautifully. The film is worth recommending, though mildly… I can’t really imagine how good it could have been if it were done properly, well I can… it’s one of my favourite horror films, Black Christmas.

[Spun Lepton]

Ooh. So Box, it's totally too random.


The Legend of Hell House - I don't like me saying it, since a slap of mundanity is often a good thing and a movie's quality is hardly its ability to leave you in a state of mind blown, but *sigh* I did not like that climax and resolution. I really liked the movie and story up until the point. 'Bout time a haunted house film addressed orgiastic debauchery. I was totally going to give it a solid 6 for Matheson's nicely written play of beliefs clashing, life purposes being asserted, and the fascinating Pamela Franklin character and her awesome subplot involving a needy ghost (revealing how everyday sexual manipulation actually does lie beneath even the most supernaturally PURE EVIL evil), the only slight con being John Hough's solid, interesting, but not anything totally inspiring directing.

But yeah, sorry, the ending. Ehhh.

That's one of those "Love it or meh it" films.

I have this on DVD, but it's been a while since I've watched it. I pretty much agree with everything you've said. I remember being a little underwhelmed by the ending, too. I seem to recall that it was similar to the book's ending, but it was missing some key element that made the ending in the book very satisfying. I'm going to have to pop it in again and watch the ending.

[Bosco B Thug]

I have this on DVD, but it's been a while since I've watched it. I pretty much agree with everything you've said. I remember being a little underwhelmed by the ending, too. I seem to recall that it was similar to the book's ending, but it was missing some key element that made the ending in the book very satisfying. I'm going to have to pop it in again and watch the ending. I'm going to read the book in the near future now. Looking forward to comparin' and contrastin'!

This movie was fun, though. Heck, I'm going to say it: they don't make horror movies like this anymore. I wish I lived in the 70s. Good empty calorie horror flicks.

[Rowland]

Anyone see J.T. Petty's The Burrowers? I've heard radically mixed responses, but on the strength of his debut (which I wish someone besides myself has seen), Soft for Digging, and his DTV Mimic 3: Sentinel, which I'd argue is superior to Del Toro's original, I'm excited to give it a shot, probably tonight.

[MadMan]

Right now I'm tearing through more of the Friday the 13th series, if only because its that time of year again. Sure the series is rather generic and mostly average, but there's some entertainment value and Jason is really one of the cooler, more freakier villains in cinema. Part VI is probably the best of the bunch, but I also liked Part VII. I expect nothing but awful though with Part VIII, and I've already seen Jason Goes to Hell, which was quite bad. Jason X looks hilariously awful, so I must see it.


That's one of those "Love it or meh it" films.So I keep hearing.

And Bosco, I too would have loved being around for 70s horror movies. I would have gone to see every single one I possibly could have if I had lived back then.

[Dukefrukem]

Splinter is a pretty good film. Nothing groundbreaking, but the script is really strong and, ultimately, that's what makes it work so well. Well, that and the state of the art special effects. The monster is smartly never explained, it just "is" and the interaction between the four main characters is interesting enough to sustain the entire movie. I also liked that the writers thought up some stuff that would happen in real life, but rarely happens in movies.

For example, when Seth makes his heroic race to the car (as in Night of the Living Dead) he only realizes he hasn't got the keys once he's inside.

Overall, a satisfactory Horror film for rainy nights.

Your spoiler text was also the only thing I had a problem with. Also,

Why didn't they just use the fireworks to begin with and run to the car? I'm sure they would have got to the car before the monster would have realized it.


What's the word on Pontypool and Dead Snow? Been alerted that they're playing here within the next month.

Dead Snow I couldn't sit through.

[Eleven]

Splinter and Pontypool are both pretty cool "trapped in a single-location" movies with good performances and serviceable (especially for their genre) scripts. Pontypool benefits from a much more philosophical and thus interesting outlook, although it's not quite long enough to truly elucidate its repercussions, although it does try. It could have benefited from some of Splinter's mystery and lack of exposition. But Stephen McHattie has one of the great voices in movies right now, and his sonorous shock jock performance is probably the movie's biggest strength.

[Grouchy]

Your spoiler text was also the only thing I had a problem with. Also,

Why didn't they just use the fireworks to begin with and run to the car? I'm sure they would have got to the car before the monster would have realized it.
Actually, what I meant was that I really liked the misstep on spoilers. It occured to me it was an oversight which could have actually happened in real life.

I thought it was implied that couldn't work because body temperature would be more constant than the fireworks so they wouldn't have all gotten to the car alive.

[Dukefrukem]

Actually, what I meant was that I really liked the misstep on spoilers. It occured to me it was an oversight which could have actually happened in real life.

I thought it was implied that couldn't work because body temperature would be more constant than the fireworks so they wouldn't have all gotten to the car alive.

Meh... The way that thing was movin, i would have taken that chance. They were all standing around at the end anyway while the thing staggered into the gas station. Throw fireworks, watch it flip out, run in opposite direction.

[megladon8]

Splinter and Pontypool are both pretty cool "trapped in a single-location" movies with good performances and serviceable (especially for their genre) scripts. Pontypool benefits from a much more philosophical and thus interesting outlook, although it's not quite long enough to truly elucidate its repercussions, although it does try. It could have benefited from some of Splinter's mystery and lack of exposition. But Stephen McHattie has one of the great voices in movies right now, and his sonorous shock jock performance is probably the movie's biggest strength.


This statement should have you banned from this thread and neg-repped into oblivion.

Seriously.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Besides, Splinter's script was pretty average. What kept it moving was the creative monster design and headlong pace.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Oh I completely agree, which is why Orphan caught me by surprise. I love the tension on it.

Just to let you know, Duke, I won't be able to watch this one for a few years - it was just spoiled for me online, and it sounds like the dumbest thing ever.

I'll get to it someday, though.

[megladon8]

Just to let you know, Duke, I won't be able to watch this one for a few years - it was just spoiled for me online, and it sounds like the dumbest thing ever.

It is the dumbest thing ever. :lol:

[Bosco B Thug]

I liked Miike's One Missed Call the first time, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me... so this re-watch was mildly eye-opening. It's an excellent, smart, thoroughly engaging, striking film, that's biggest fault is its being caught up in its nature as a send-up of J-horror films, which results in some stylistic excess. Its biggest attribute is how seriously it actually can take itself considering the story, and its gravitas has Miike's prints all over it - that is, in its consistently exquisite and intricate directing.

And this being a teen horror flick, it's amazing how full in dramatic continuity and logical character actions it is.

The ending rocks too.

[Dead & Messed Up]

It is the dumbest thing ever. :lol:

Oh, I mean it. It sounds like it's legitimately in the running, somewhere between the pet rock and Troy Duffy.

[MadMan]

Hey I actually liked Jason Takes Manhatten. I think it was due to the film's intentional and unintentional humor, the somewhat well done kills, and the film's overall goofy, 80s style. The series was very 70s like in terms of its overall look and feel until The New Blood, and I imagine that's one of the reasons why people hate Manhatten. Aside from the fact that they either don't appreciate its campiness or simply don't care for the characters. I don't really know. The series itself is rather consistant for the most part, and at least Part VIII doesn't suck unlike Jason Goes to Hell. Now to finally watch Jason X.

[Scar]

Jason Goes to Hell >>>>>>>>>>> Manhattan

[Dukefrukem]

Just to let you know, Duke, I won't be able to watch this one for a few years - it was just spoiled for me online, and it sounds like the dumbest thing ever.

I'll get to it someday, though.

Fucking RT!

It sounds lame on paper i know... but I give a lot of credit to the actress. I was convinced.


It is the dumbest thing ever. :lol:

:|

[MadMan]

Jason Goes to Hell >>>>>>>>>>> ManhattanManhattan is decent/average because it seems to know and embrace its campy feel and how silly it really is. Jason Goes to Hell is just stupid all around, even with the interesting dive into Jason's mythology and Duke the badass bounty hunter.

Black Sunday is fairly servicable, and highly reliable in terms of what it accomplishes. While I can't say it deserves anything higher than an 81, its probably the best of the three movies I've seen from Bava so far. The atmosphere is, as par for the course in these types of films, incredibly thick, and often quite creepy. Still the ending was a bit too happy for my liking-I would have prefered something much darker.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Jason Goes to Hell >>>>>>>>>>> Manhattan

Wow. At first I thought you meant the Woody Allen film. But so long as we're sticking to Jason films, I totally agree with this equation.

[Spun Lepton]

Jason Goes to Hell >>>>>>>>>>> Manhattan

Agreed. Both films are really ridiculous as far as story goes. MadMan, you say Manhattan embraces its goofiness, but I didn't fully get that. There are a couple of gags here and there, but overall is just seemed like a lazy effort with attempted jokes to make up for the crappiness. Not to mention there's only maybe fifteen or twenty minutes that actually take place in Manhattan. Oh, and Jason can teleport for some reason. :| They should've called it Jason Takes the Boat that Somehow Sails from Crystal Lake to Manhattan.

Jason Goes to Hell is wildly campy from the get-go, I mean, they explodify Jason in the first 10 minutes. And the unrated cut has some of the goriest kills of the series. The tent-pole impalement, for example, was extremely gruesome. I admit that the story leaves me cringing at times, but it not nearly the sustained 90-minute cringe for Manhattan. I also liked the clumsy nods to other horror movies like Evil Dead and Creepshow.

[Scar]

Wow. At first I thought you meant the Woody Allen film. But so long as we're sticking to Jason films, I totally agree with this equation.

If we were talking the Woody Allen flick, I probably would've removed a couple of the greater than symbols.....

I keed I keed. Can't say I watch Woody Allen movies.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Picked up three horrors today for $16. And they're good ones too.

Horror of Dracula ('57)
The Wicker Man ('73)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers ('78)

One might even say they're great ones.

[megladon8]

Picked up three horrors today for $16. And they're good ones too.

Horror of Dracula ('57)
The Wicker Man ('73)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers ('78)

One might even say they're great ones.


Heck yes.

Have you seen all three before?

[Dead & Messed Up]

Heck yes.

Have you seen all three before?

Oh yeah. They're all varying degrees of awesome. Invasion has that great combination of mystery and naturalism, Wicker Man is so Baroque and twisted, and Dracula is one of the top vampire films ever, and certainly the best Dracula adaptation.

This also gives me impetus to purchase the original Invasion, which is also one of my very favorite horror movies.

[The Mike]

While I like the flick enough, I've never understood what it is about Invasion '78 that people see so much in.

Regardless, Hastings rules. :)

[Dead & Messed Up]

While I like the flick enough, I've never understood what it is about Invasion '78 that people see so much in.

I think the plantation sequence at the end is a waste of time and attention, but everything up to then is tremendously successful. The atmosphere of mystery is wonderful.


Regardless, Hastings rules. :)

I figured a quarter of the used movies there were you abusing that three-used-for-one-new deal they had.

[BuffaloWilder]

Dracula is one of the top vampire films ever, and certainly the best Dracula adaptation.



http://www.movieforum.com/features/festivals/tiff01/images/nosferatu/nosferatu.jpg

Imma bite your face off

[Dead & Messed Up]

http://www.movieforum.com/features/festivals/tiff01/images/nosferatu/nosferatu.jpg

Imma bite your face off

Heh. I brain-farted.

"I'm happy Dracula won, and I'mma let you finish..."

[Spun Lepton]

Fools. Everybody knows that Wes Craven's Vampire in Brooklyn is the greatest vampire movie ever.

Yes, I'm serious.

:| <----- serious

[Adam]

Greatest vampire movie is a five-way, slam-bang tossup between Shadow of the Vampire, Polanski's The Fearless Vampire Killers, Vampire's Kiss, Transylvania 6-5000 and Herzog's Nosferatu

[Philosophe_rouge]

I don't like the Horror of Dracula very much, though, I don't like most screen versions Iv'e seen with the exception of both Nosferatus.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Okay, if I'm gonna respond to Adam properly, then it's vampire list time.

01. Nosferatu
02. Martin
03. Vampyr
04. Horror of Dracula
05. Nosferatu the Vampyre
06. Near Dark
07. Habit
08. Let the Right One In
09. From Dusk Till Dawn
10. Shadow of the Vampire

As is also customary, I feel obligated to say the following: Browning's Dracula sucks.

[Adam]

That's a solid list, for sure, but you know what really makes it sing? The fact that you call out 1931 Dracula as hot zoo garbage. One of the most unsatisfying endings to any movie I've seen and, really, I think it's high time all those classic universal horror flicks got some serious reappraising. I can maybe stomach like The Creature From The Black Lagoon if I'm in the mood on Halloween or something but, jeez-o-man, has anyone sat down and watched like The 1932 fucking Mummy recently? Talk about movies that don't hold up...

[Adam]

Yikes, and apparently The Creature From The Black Lagoon didn't even come out until the '50s, which is surprising to me for some reason. I blame The Monster Squad. It has warped my already limited knowledge of Universal horror

[Philosophe_rouge]

I forgot about Let the Right One In, that rocks.

[The Mike]

Vampire Movies:
1. Fright Night
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
2. The rest of them.

(In serious, I'd add Nosferatu (both versions), From Dusk Till Dawn, and Horror of Dracula up there too.)

[Dead & Messed Up]

That's a solid list, for sure, but you know what really makes it sing? The fact that you call out 1931 Dracula as hot zoo garbage. One of the most unsatisfying endings to any movie I've seen--

They kill him offscreen! You don't do that, goddamnit! It's just stupid!


I can maybe stomach like The Creature From The Black Lagoon if I'm in the mood on Halloween or something but, jeez-o-man, has anyone sat down and watched like The 1932 fucking Mummy recently? Talk about movies that don't hold up...

Whale's flicks hold up. Frankenstein and Bride are still propulsive narratives (even if they don't scare as much), The Old Dark House is a delightful thriller/comedy, and The Invisible Man's effects are just as amazing today.

[Dukefrukem]

hahaha no signal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIZVcRccCx0). double post too.

[Raiders]

Okay, if I'm gonna respond to Adam properly, then it's vampire list time.

Sweet!

1. Martin (1977)
2. Nosferatu (1922)
3. The Addiction (1995)
4. Near Dark (1987)
5. The Reflecting Skin (1990)
6. Blood for Dracula (1974)
7. Nosferatu, the Vampyre (1979)
8. Habit (1997)
9. Horror of Dracula (1958)
10. Vampyr (1932)

[Raiders]

Yikes, and apparently The Creature From The Black Lagoon didn't even come out until the '50s, which is surprising to me for some reason. I blame The Monster Squad. It has warped my already limited knowledge of Universal horror

I love The Creature from the Black Lagoon. I remember the underwater sequences in particular being very elegantly composed. I am a big fan of Jack Arnold in general, actually.

[jenniferofthejungle]

I've been watching Tales from the Darkside episodes and I have to say that most of them really suck. The writing and acting are horrible, even for the time. I must have seen the best ones when I was younger and mistakenly thought the entire series was good.



I haven't seen any vampire movies lately so I can't compile a proper list, but I don't like too many of them.


The Creature from the Black Lagoon is a great movie.

[megladon8]

Herzog's Nosferatu > Murnau's.

The Hammer film Horror of Dracula is a must-see. One of the very best. Perhaps the best straight-up horror take on Stoker's novel.

I also really like Coppolla's film.

[jenniferofthejungle]

Herzog's Nosferatu > Murnau's.

The Hammer film Horror of Dracula is a must-see. One of the very best. Perhaps the best straight-up horror take on Stoker's novel.

I also really like Coppolla's film.


1. I prefer Herzog's too.
2. Is that the one I was supposed to watch?
3. I used to love it, but now i just think it's okay. I'm due for a rewatch.

[Scar]

I also believe that Creature From the Black Lagoon is a great film.

[Spun Lepton]

I also like Creature from the Black Lagoon.

[Grouchy]

1. Let the Right One In
2. Nosferatu
3. Vampyr
4. Cronos
5. Nosferatu ('79)
6. Horror of Dracula
7. Dracula: Prince of Darkness
8. The Fearless Vampire Killers
9. Dracula ('79)
10. Vampires

I still really like most of Universal's classic output. I think The Mummy is a classic movie and it has aged relatively well. The Invisible Man and Bride of Frankenstein are top quality. It's only the original Dracula that I find a very poor film in almost every way.

[megladon8]

Creature From the Black Lagoon may very well be the best of the Universal monster movies.

[Spun Lepton]

Creature From the Black Lagoon may very well be the best of the Universal monster movies.

Sounds like it's time for a remake!

[Scar]

Sounds like it's time for a remake!

I KEEEEL YOU!

[The Mike]

Umm, guys, that remake's been supposed to happen for at least the last three years. Sooner or later, someone will drop the hammer.

[The Mike]

Is it sad that I can picture Rob Zombie's Creature from the Black Lagoon, with a hoodie, pus-filled discharges on his face, and a custom painted death metal themed El Camino?

[Dead & Messed Up]

Is it sad that I can picture Rob Zombie's Creature from the Black Lagoon, with a hoodie, pus-filled discharges on his face, and a custom painted death metal themed El Camino?

It's either that or Michael Bay gives us an oversaturated, lens-flared golden shot of a woman in a bikini top and trousers spraying blood while a heavy-metal chord plays and the Creature looks grittier and dirtier!

EXTREME!

[The Mike]

Guys, I watched Sorority Row. Sorry.

It made me long for the intelligence of Urban Legend 2.

But, that redheaded chick was really hot...in a Bruce Willis kinda way.

[megladon8]

Shit.

I suspect the copy of ils (them) I just purchased may be edited.

It looks like this. 'Tis the Canadian DVD release, by Warner Bros...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418m7ud%2BAuL._SS500_.jpg


And on the back it states the film is 73 minutes.

However, on both IMDb and the American DVD release, the run time is said to be 77 minutes.

Is this just a mistake, or did I get screwed?

[Dukefrukem]

Guys, I watched Sorority Row. Sorry.
.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

explain your experience now!!!!

[The Mike]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

explain your experience now!!!!
I'm usually one to disregard stupid characters, but by god these are among the stupidest. Plus the movie takes shortcuts left and right (at one point a character is trapped in a mine shaft with no rope, next thing you know she's back at the house with the others), includes stupid "modern" touches in plot and dialogue (The line "Friend me on Facebook, I'll totally confirm!" is spoken), and the inevitable twist is as blatant as can be (to be fair, I did guess the wrong motive, but I chalk that up to lazy screenwriting). The final 20 minutes are mind numbingly bad, and bad special effects get thrown into the mix right before a tacked on nonsensical ending. Seriously, I know bimbos take sorority life seriously, but the level to which this takes that is psychotic.

The only moment that I enjoyed (outside of boobs) was when the characters referred to the killer's weapon, a tire iron with a knive somehow welded onto it seamlessly as "pimped out". And that was a pity enjoy.

There were moments when I thought the film might have been succeeding as a parody, but then the script would take a "serious" turn that had me howling. If there were anyone else in the theater, I'd have seriously gotten kicked out for laughing so hard.

OK, ranted ended. It's still better than Zombie's Halloween II.

[megladon8]

Ginger Snaps is still wonderful.

I love it.

And I love the werewolf effects.

Shoddy make-up/animatronics >>>>> shoddy CGI.

[Dukefrukem]

I'm usually one to disregard stupid characters, but by god these are among the stupidest. Plus the movie takes shortcuts left and right (at one point a character is trapped in a mine shaft with no rope, next thing you know she's back at the house with the others), includes stupid "modern" touches in plot and dialogue (The line "Friend me on Facebook, I'll totally confirm!" is spoken), and the inevitable twist is as blatant as can be (to be fair, I did guess the wrong motive, but I chalk that up to lazy screenwriting). The final 20 minutes are mind numbingly bad, and bad special effects get thrown into the mix right before a tacked on nonsensical ending. Seriously, I know bimbos take sorority life seriously, but the level to which this takes that is psychotic.

The only moment that I enjoyed (outside of boobs) was when the characters referred to the killer's weapon, a tire iron with a knive somehow welded onto it seamlessly as "pimped out". And that was a pity enjoy.

There were moments when I thought the film might have been succeeding as a parody, but then the script would take a "serious" turn that had me howling. If there were anyone else in the theater, I'd have seriously gotten kicked out for laughing so hard.

OK, ranted ended. It's still better than Zombie's Halloween II.

Awesome.... rank this movie please and put two movies above and below it....

example:

Quarantine [70]
Venom [60]
Sorority Row [50]
Mirrors [40]
Cabin Fever [15]

[Spun Lepton]

The only moment that I enjoyed (outside of boobs) was when the characters referred to the killer's weapon, a tire iron with a knive somehow welded onto it seamlessly as "pimped out".

Whaaaat?? :|

[Bosco B Thug]

Pumpkinhead's a lot cheesier and laughable than I remember (with one of those awful generic country twangy string scores), but I still think Stan Winston shows some real skill directing, and the film has some ambitions when it comes to art design and technique. Enjoyable, and while cheesy, it's can be pretty scary sometimes. Pumpkinhead's sadistic streak is well-played.

Re-visited Dead and Buried too. Odd, interesting film, classy aura, good effects. Not bad, not great.

[Grouchy]

This weekend my movie watching consisted entirely of rewatchs of two horror films from the past couple of years I admired.

[Rec] admittedly loses some of its impact on home video. Still a well-made shocker, and the best the "fly in the wall" trend of filmmaking. I refuse to see the remake on moral grounds.

Let the Right One In is a fucking masterpiece. Really, although I'd loved it the first time around, the emotional impact of this film only really got to me on this second viewing. It's amazing. Complex, poetic, unflinching, and it really has some batshit crazy scenes. I think this is on the road to becoming a big personal favorite of some kind. I already think it's the best vampire film ever made.

[Dead & Messed Up]

[Rec] admittedly loses some of its impact on home video. Still a well-made shocker, and the best the "fly in the wall" trend of filmmaking. I refuse to see the remake on moral grounds.

Hah! I also think it's the best of the "fly on the wall" flicks, and I also refuse to see the remake - I'm currently avoiding all horror remakes on principle.


Let the Right One In is a fucking masterpiece. Really, although I'd loved it the first time around, the emotional impact of this film only really got to me on this second viewing. It's amazing. Complex, poetic, unflinching, and it really has some batshit crazy scenes. I think this is on the road to becoming a big personal favorite of some kind. I already think it's the best vampire film ever made.

I'm amazed how quickly it's climbed the ranks, but I can't disagree that it deserves its status. It's easily one of my favorites, but I'd save "best ever" for Nosferatu, Martin, or Vampyr.

[Rowland]

Eh, I liked Martin, but found it a bit overrated. Let the Right One In is no masterpiece either, but I'd watch it over Romero's vampire film almost any day. When it comes to non-Dead '70s Romero films, I'm partial to Jack's Wife. Perhaps another viewing of Martin would change that, it has been several years.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Eh, I liked Martin, but found it a bit overrated. Let the Right One In is no masterpiece either, but I'd watch it over Romero's vampire film almost any day. When it comes to non-Dead '70s Romero films, I'm partial to Jack's Wife. Perhaps another viewing of Martin would change that, it has been several years.

Haven't seen Jack's Wife. I watched The Crazies, and that really turned me off to non-Dead Romero of that era.

[Rowland]

Haven't seen Jack's Wife. I watched The Crazies, and that really turned me off to non-Dead Romero of that era.Jack's Wife is really something else. It's a bit obscure, but I'd say it's probably the most experimental film I've seen by Romero, and by gum, it really works remarkably well. It may not have any sequence as viscerally effective as the house raid smack dab in the middle of Martin, but as a whole, I found it more affecting and interesting. Check it out.

[Dukefrukem]

Hills Run Red Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIvWWdywtCI)

[lovejuice]

Guys, I watched Sorority Row. Sorry.
so does it have enough T&A to justify its existence?

[The Mike]

so does it have enough T&A to justify its existence?

Not really. There's a scene in which one girl brags about having perfect tits and then reveals possibly the ugliest fake tits I've ever seen, which kind of makes sense considering how the movie thinks it's being so hip while using every slasher cliche ever written.

[Philosophe_rouge]

Not really. There's a scene in which one girl brags about having perfect tits and then reveals possibly the ugliest fake tits I've ever seen, which kind of makes sense considering how the movie thinks it's being so hip while using every slasher cliche ever written.
I don't remember them looking fake, they looked pretty real and nice to me :/ They should have held the shot longer though... so I could be more certain in my assessment...

[megladon8]

I'm with Rowland regarding Martin.

It's good, but overrated as hell.

Let the Right One In trumps it on every level, and deserves every bit of praise it gets.

[Bosco B Thug]

Jack's Wife is really something else. It's a bit obscure, but I'd say it's probably the most experimental film I've seen by Romero, and by gum, it really works remarkably well. It may not have any sequence as viscerally effective as the house raid smack dab in the middle of Martin, but as a whole, I found it more affecting and interesting. Check it out. Also bear in mind it's not very much of a horror movie, and more of a character drama than anything else.

Martin's a little dry, I'll admit, but I feel it's made up for greatly.

Season of the Witch (or Jack's Wife, as people are referring to it here...) I like a lot. It's Romero being experimental and extra low-budget, so it is kind of messy and repetitive, but it shows Romero has the capability for electric drama.

I found Let the Right One In good but mostly flat. I could chalk it up to personal taste.

[Dead & Messed Up]

TCM has decided my Halloween plans for me as it will be showing Dead of Night, Diary of a Madman, Murders in the Zoo, and The Body Snatcher on the 31st.

Also coming up for October:

Black Moon
Dragonwyck
The Fearless Vampire Killers
Horror House
Mark of the Vampire
Mystery at the Wax Museum
The Old Dark House
Son of Kong
Thirteen Ghosts
The Tingler
Videodrome

[The Mike]

TCM has decided my Halloween plans for me as it will be showing Dead of Night, Diary of a Madman, Murders in the Zoo, and The Body Snatcher on the 31st.

Also coming up for October:

Black Moon
Dragonwyck
The Fearless Vampire Killers
Horror House
Mark of the Vampire
Mystery at the Wax Museum
The Old Dark House
Son of Kong
Thirteen Ghosts
The Tingler
VideodromeHey, good thing you hit Hastings last week.

They close Wednesday. :sad:

[Dead & Messed Up]

Hey, good thing you hit Hastings last week.

They close Wednesday. :sad:

WHAT?!

:eek:

[Rowland]

Mystery at the Wax Museum
This is one of my favorite classic horror movies, can't wait to read your response.

[Dead & Messed Up]

This is one of my favorite classic horror movies, can't wait to read your response.

I should probably just queue it up on Netflix, since it's on TCM at something like 4:30 in the morning.

[The Mike]

WHAT?!

:eek:

Yep. This town's goin' to hell. :sad:

[megladon8]

Mike, what is your AV from?

I totally know it. It'll probably be a big "D'UH!" moment for me.

[The Mike]

Back on topic, I'm with Rowland on Mystery of the Wax Museum. I think it's possibly better than Price's House of Wax.

I'm gonna use this October to finish up the awesome Hollywood Legends of Horror set (particularly the Doctor X sequel that stars an evil young Bogart), among others. I just picked up a copy of Vampyr and a widescreen copy of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and hope to hit those up soon.

[The Mike]

Mike, what is your AV from?

I totally know it. It'll probably be a big "D'UH!" moment for me.Nightbreed

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/3647/nightbreed3.jpg

[megladon8]

OH YEAH!

That's the character played by David Cronenberg, right?

[The Mike]

OH YEAH!

That's the character played by David Cronenberg, right?
Yup.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Yep. This town's goin' to hell. :sad:

I was really excited to stop by when I was in town. This bums me out. That South Duff stuff is killing the rest of the town.

[Spun Lepton]

Did anybody know that there was a made-for-TV version of Children of the Corn? Did anybody know that it's now available on DVD "uncut and unrated"?

Also, a question for Duke -- spoiler the killer in Sorority Row, please. If you have to explain it, please do. :) I will not be seeing it any time soon.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Did anybody know that there was a made-for-TV version of Children of the Corn? Did anybody know that it's now available on DVD "uncut and unrated"?

Funny story about that.

I'm talking to my college friend Melinda about a year ago, and she says that she's heading back to Iowa for a few weeks. I ask why, and she says she's working as a producer's assistant for a remake of Children of the Corn. I get uber-jealous. Ten months later, Iowa discontinues its tax incentives for film productions. Why? Because the producers of Children of the Corn bought enormously expensive SUV's. And as it turns out, the remake's going to be a TV miniseries on SyFy. My jealousness stops.

What does this have to do with the TV series itself? Not much, but we all know it's gonna lick balls.

[MadMan]

TCM has decided my Halloween plans for me as it will be showing Dead of Night, Diary of a Madman, Murders in the Zoo, and The Body Snatcher on the 31st.

Also coming up for October:

Black Moon
Dragonwyck
The Fearless Vampire Killers
Horror House
Mark of the Vampire
Mystery at the Wax Museum
The Old Dark House
Son of Kong
Thirteen Ghosts
The Tingler
VideodromeI'd be watching TCM that night if my friends and I weren't already planning our own little Halloween marathon. Complete with booze, no less. Cool list, though. Many of those I haven't seen yet.

Also Martin isn't overrated, as its one of the best horror movies ever made. I plan on trying to watch Let The Right One In and Near Dark this October in terms of vampire flicks.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I'd be watching TCM that night if my friends and I weren't already planning our own little Halloween marathon. Complete with booze, no less. Cool list, though. Many of those I haven't seen yet.

Awesome. Let us know what the playlist ends up being.


Also Martin isn't overrated, as its one of the best horror movies ever made. I plan on trying to watch Let The Right One In and Near Dark this October in terms of vampire flicks.

Thank you. I thought I was taking crazy pills.

[MadMan]

Awesome. Let us know what the playlist ends up being.Will do. I think it involved Creepshow and a revisiting of Friday the 13th Part 3, as my friend has the new DVD copy with the 3D glasses (it will actually be in 3D, as it was back in 1982). Awesome. Maybe Hellraiser was another option, and a couple others.


Thank you. I thought I was taking crazy pills.You're welcome. And I'll try and continue my Top 10 thread. I've been quite busy since Wednesday.

[Rowland]

After reading from many sources that the third After Dark Horrorfest was superior to the first two, I thought I'd actually give some of its releases a shot, and after being surprised by The Broken, a very respectable exercise in moody atmospherics, I'm pleased to say that my second exposure to the lineup is an overly passable effort. Perkins' 14 has many amateurish elements, but as far as no-budget horror films are concerned, there is a lot to admire. Anyone see it?

[Dead & Messed Up]

I have invented a word to describe The Host, which I just watched for the first time: hilari-awesome.

Seriously.

What a blast. What a complete blast.

Wow.

[Spun Lepton]

Will do. I think it involved Creepshow and a revisiting of Friday the 13th Part 3, as my friend has the new DVD copy with the 3D glasses (it will actually be in 3D, as it was back in 1982). Awesome. Maybe Hellraiser was another option, and a couple others.

That Friday the 13th 3D sucks ass, dude. It started to give me a headache after a while. I haven't even been able to sit through the 3D movie front-to-back. The ghosting is terrible. It's embarrassing after you see what they managed to do with Coraline and even My Bloody Valentine.

[megladon8]

Tales From the Crypt Presents 'Demon Knight' was awesome fun. Even better than I remembered it (having only seen it once about 10 years ago).

I wish William Sadler had developed a stronger career, because he's quite a good leading man, especially for the anti-hero role he has here.

If the "Dark Tower" series had gone into production 10 years ago, I'd say he should have played Roland. Especially with his ties to Stephen King material already strong at that point, it would have given it another bit of the meta-ness that was so integral to the "Dark Tower" books.

[Dukefrukem]

Also, a question for Duke -- spoiler the killer in Sorority Row, please. If you have to explain it, please do. :) I will not be seeing it any time soon.

It was Mike that saw it. I just really want to see it... in a funny way.