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

[balmakboor]

A writeup about Martyrs just got posted on The House Next Door. Sounds grisly.

[Dukefrukem]

A writeup about Martyrs just got posted on The House Next Door. Sounds grisly.

It's not an easy movie to watch. The acting makes the scenes very convincing.

[Dead & Messed Up]

A writeup about Martyrs just got posted on The House Next Door. Sounds grisly.

More importantly, it's relentlessly cruel.

[Spun Lepton]

More importantly, it's relentlessly cruel.

Michael Haneke cruel or Rob Zombie cruel?

[Bosco B Thug]

Michael Haneke cruel or Rob Zombie cruel?
I'd say, in regards to their cruel violence, a combination of Zombie's restraint and Haneke's respect for his audience. ;)

[Spun Lepton]

I'd say, a combination of Zombie's restraint and Haneke's respect for his audience. ;)

So, we're talking something on the level of August Underground's Mordum, here?

[Bosco B Thug]

So, we're talking something on the level of August Underground's Mordum, here? Heh, nah (although wait, I haven't seen the Mordum films). Martyrs tries its best to be both cerebral and restrained, and succeeds to a degree. The story is pretty much about the enduring of extreme brutality, so it just makes a point to make its pain even more upsetting and arduous than other extreme horror flicks, and not even in a gory splatter way.

[Dead & Messed Up]

...and not even in a gory splatter way.

Although there's some of that, too.

[megladon8]

I expect nothing but disappointment from Martyrs whenever I get around to seeing it.

I've read so many people talking about how brutally disturbing and horrifying it is that there's no way it will live up to the level it's at in my head.

It's exactly what happened with Hostel. That film was freaking infamous when it came out as being some borderline snuff-film level of disturbing violence and torture. When I saw it I was left thinking "yeah, there was some gross stuff...but THAT was what people have been puking in theatres over??"

[Rowland]

That THND article gets at what's so brilliant about Martyrs. It's a real meta horror movie, interested in cutting to the core of the genre rather than playing it for laughs a la Craven's amusing but empty Scream. It isn't just cruel, but it's explicitly about cruelty, which is rarer than you'd think.
I expect nothing but disappointment from Martyrs whenever I get around to seeing it.

I've read so many people talking about how brutally disturbing and horrifying it is that there's no way it will live up to the level it's at in my head. If you saw it, I'd hope it's because you expect to see a good movie, not just for horrific brutality or whatever. Go into it expecting the best Clive Barker movie not based on his material. As FFC's Walter Chaw writes in his near-definitive review of Martyrs, it's like a film conceived and executed by a Cenobite.

[megladon8]

Yes of course I would hope that it's a good film. But honestly I've heard more bad about it than good - I know a few people on here loved it.

[Dead & Messed Up]

As FFC's Walter Chaw writes in his near-definitive review of Martyrs, it's like a film conceived and executed by a Cenobite.

Do you have a link to this review? I tried searching that site, but either the search function's shit or it's not listed there.

[Rowland]

Do you have a link to this review? I tried searching that site, but either the search function's shit or it's not listed there.It's only available in their latest published Annual.

[Dead & Messed Up]

It's only available in their latest published Annual.

Bah! Foiled again.

[Rowland]

Bah! Foiled again.Most of the points he makes are ones I'll discuss in my eventual piece on the film (after I watch it again, being the masochist that I am).

[Rowland]

I was initially going to give House on Haunted Hill a negative score, on account of its campiness, a number of gaping logic holes that render much of it utter nonsense, several grating performances by its lead cast, and significant downtime in the middle act, but in retrospect I find myself dwelling more on Price's delightful performance, the barbed banter between him and his conniving wife, the reasonably atmospheric direction, and how some of the scares hold up surprisingly well. The climax is utterly daft, but memorably so, especially since I'm tempted to read it as Castle's meta-admission of his own string-pulling machinations. So all in all, not exactly good, but amusing, and certainly superior to Castle's far duller, largely inept 13 Ghosts.

[Raiders]

I have never been impressed at all by a William Castle film. I actually prefer Malone's update of House on Haunted Hill.

[Rowland]

I have never been impressed at all by a William Castle film. I actually prefer Malone's update of House on Haunted Hill.Yeah, I wouldn't say I was impressed by this either, but it has its charms. As for Malone's remake, I'm on the fence even as I enjoy elements of it myself, despite the bombastic tone, cribbed imagery, Rush's obnoxious Vincent Price impersonation, Kattan being Kattan, and an increasingly wearying second-half that deflates into its excessively spectacle-dominant climax. I do give Malone credit for staging several nifty set pieces, especially during the promising first half, and at least having good taste in his magpie-ish instincts, an observation affirmed by his decent contribution to the first season of MoH. Plus it's far superior to Jan De Bont's abominable remake of The Haunting.

I'll follow your lead by stating that the Thirteen Ghosts remake is superior to Castle's crappy original. For the sort of slick mainstream shlock these films seem to have been going for though, I'm partial to Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight.

[Grouchy]

Yes of course I would hope that it's a good film. But honestly I've heard more bad about it than good - I know a few people on here loved it.
Count me in as one of those who love it. It's hard to say if it's Haneke or Zombie cruelty - it's elaborate, sadistic gruesomeness, but treated in a very psychological way.

I know I hate animals, but trust me on this - it's a good movie.

http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/5640/pdvd000zt8.png

The People Under the Stairs is a very enjoyable movie - almost a minor classic of some sort, but some things tampered with my appreciation of it. For example, the thing just feels too damn long. I feel the second detour into the house, after Fool first breaks out of it, is weird and unnecessary to the plot of the film. In my mind, the movie ended long before it reached its climax. I also felt it was weird how Craven almost deliberately kept some moments from reaching its full fright potential, almost as if he was looking to make a TCM-like actioner more than a straight scary movie. For example, the pale-skinned hands of the people crawling out of the creeks of the house were a pretty creepy sight during the first half of the film and they were very underused. Other than that, I loved it. Nice to see the freaky couple from Twin Peaks re-united on the screen, and Ving Rhames and the kid made for very compelling victims because the film sets up their predicament very well. And the social themes were well realized.

By the way, that kid is awesome. He's the goddamn Batman. I want to be like him when I grow up.

[Kurosawa Fan]

For the sort of slick mainstream shlock these films seem to have been going for though, I'm partial to Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight.

One of my childhood faves. Haven't visited it in awhile, but I love Zane in that role, and I remember it being fun as hell.

[Rowland]

One of my childhood faves. Haven't visited it in awhile, but I love Zane in that role, and I remember it being fun as hell.Last I watched it a few years back, I thought it held up well. Come to think of it, I should pick it up, can't cost more than a few bucks.

[Kurosawa Fan]

Last I watched it a few years back, I thought it held up well. Come to think of it, I should pick it up, can't cost more than a few bucks.

I bought it about 6 or 7 years ago for $5 in a discount bin.

[Rowland]

* Dumplings (Chan 04) - 8.5
Awesome. I'd probably cite it as one of the most expressively textured of any horror film this decade. As a formal exercise alone, it's a stunner.

[Dukefrukem]

Night of the Creeps is fantastic 80s camp!!!!!!!!

[dreamdead]

Awesome. I'd probably cite it as one of the most expressively textured of any horror film this decade. As a formal exercise alone, it's a stunner.

Yeah, I took all the praise that was heaped onto Dumplings and actually only watched the full-feature version of that, skipping Park and Miike's contributions. No idea if it was a wise decision to skip the other two, but Dumplings just had a meticulous mise en scene and fatalistic structure that enabled it to just get under my skin. One of the great horror films from this decade...

[Dead & Messed Up]

Bought Let the Right One In for $9.99 US from Target today. Despite the store's best efforts, it's a great movie at a good price.

[MadMan]

Night of the Creeps is fantastic 80s camp!!!!!!!!Hell yeah it is. Already entrenched in my Top 20 Horror Films list, and highly entertaining. Tom Atkins FTW. "THRILL ME!"

Also I rather like Castle, although I need to see more from him. House on Haunted Hill (1958) has always been one of my favorite horror movies, and one of the earliest ones I watched as a kid. Prince rules in it, but he rules in everything he's in.

[Spun Lepton]

Bought Let the Right One In for $9.99 US from Target today. Despite the store's best efforts, it's a great movie at a good price.

Is there more to this you're not telling?

[The Mike]

Bought Let the Right One In for $9.99 US from Target today. Despite the store's best efforts, it's a great movie at a good price.

Was it the right version of the DVD?

[Dead & Messed Up]

Was it the right version of the DVD?

Shit. I'm not sure. I'll have to check when I get home.

[Bosco B Thug]

Awesome. I'd probably cite it as one of the most expressively textured of any horror film this decade. As a formal exercise alone, it's a stunner.

Yeah, I took all the praise that was heaped onto Dumplings and actually only watched the full-feature version of that, skipping Park and Miike's contributions. No idea if it was a wise decision to skip the other two, but Dumplings just had a meticulous mise en scene and fatalistic structure that enabled it to just get under my skin. One of the great horror films from this decade... Dumplings is great. It's beautiful, subversive, and eccentric, and there's lots of social/political/socio-economic textures there that I'd love to see an extensive analysis on. My one problem with the film (so to speak) is I feel I wanted more of a sense of where the film's opinions lay on certain things, considering how loaded the subject matter is with the issue of abortion and stem cell usage and women's rights. At the end, I felt like it was too much about the individual characters and their particular moralities/immoralities. Although the sight of Auntie Mei sort of falling into a time warp with that last shot of her is one of my favorite things in the movie.

[Scar]

Just fired up Drag Me To Hell....

[Kurosawa Fan]

Just fired up Drag Me To Hell....

:pritch:

[Scar]

:pritch:

Demonic Goat FTW!

:lol:

[Dukefrukem]

Demonic Goat FTW!

:lol:

:cool:

[Kurosawa Fan]

Demonic Goat FTW!

:lol:

Hell. Yes.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Was it the right version of the DVD?

It says "Subtitles: English (theatrical)," so I think I'm good to go.

[The Mike]

It says "Subtitles: English (theatrical)," so I think I'm good to go.

Yay! :pritch:

[balmakboor]

Was it the right version of the DVD?

What's the wrong version of Let the Right One In? Just in case I see it at Walmart of something some time.

[The Mike]

What's the wrong version of Let the Right One In? Just in case I see it at Walmart of something some time.The DVD that was originally released had different subtitles than the original theatrical version, which were a base translation that left out detail in dialogue. The newer release looks the same, but has the original theatrical subtitles that have more depth (You have to check the back of the package for "English (Theatrical)" under subtitles. Both versions are still in stores)

http://iconsoffright.com/news/2009/03/let_the_wrong_subtitles_in_to. html

[Grouchy]

I forgot to mention I saw Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead. If you already like Troma, you'll like this movie. If you don't, it won't change your mind. Both the chicken costumes and musical numbers are above average for Kaufman's usual budgets, though.

I also saw a wonderful horror movie last night, but it deserves more extended thoughts.

[megladon8]

I couldn't stand Poultrygeist, and I really enjoy other Troma features.

The musical numbers killed it for me.

[Rowland]

I forgot to mention I saw Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead. If you already like Troma, you'll like this movie. If you don't, it won't change your mind. Both the chicken costumes and musical numbers are above average for Kaufman's usual budgets, though.

I also saw a wonderful horror movie last night, but it deserves more extended thoughts.This was filmed in my city. Oh, Buffalo...

[megladon8]

You're from Buffalo, NY?

I had no idea. You're really not too far away at all.

[Grouchy]

[Rec]2 was... kind of a disappointment. The schtick of the first movie sort of gets old fast, and since this sequel reunites footage from many different sources, the first segment (the SWAT police squad) is... not very interesting. It's not until the second part with some street kids that the movie gains interest. La Niña de Medeiros, not so scary the second time around. The script develops possibilities only hinted at in the first film, namely

that these aren't "zombies" (although they are - heh) but people possessed by the Devil
and although that angle is interesting at first, it quickly becomes silly, and in fact the hand-held camera in those scenes reminded me of the mock exorcism TV show in Day of the Beast, which is not a good thing for a serious Horror movie. Not everything is bad and this movie still manages to be an enjoyable shoot-em-up, and mercifully short too. It was just unnecessary and not comparable to the gut reaction the first one gave me. The lameness is increased with the news that a third part is on the way.

[Spun Lepton]

[Rec]2 was... kind of a disappointment. The schtick of the first movie sort of gets old fast, and since this sequel reunites footage from many different sources, the first segment (the SWAT police squad) is... not very interesting. It's not until the second part with some street kids that the movie gains interest. La Niña de Medeiros, not so scary the second time around. The script develops possibilities only hinted at in the first film, namely

that these aren't "zombies" (although they are - heh) but people possessed by the Devil
and although that angle is interesting at first, it quickly becomes silly, and in fact the hand-held camera in those scenes reminded me of the mock exorcism TV show in Day of the Beast, which is not a good thing for a serious Horror movie.

Maybe silly to heathen Americans, but for a country so steeped in the Catholic church, completely acceptable and somewhat expected.

That said, I haven't seen it. :P

[KK2.0]

Paranormal Activity was disappointing, so many more interesting stuff that could develop from the premise, the medium was used just for the girl's forced exposition scene, but i did like the deliberate, slow progression and a few of the scares, but after so much build up, the conclusion was borderline silly, as was the

ouija scene

both were ruined by the cheap special effects imo.

REC remains my top favorite "we found footage" horror (yes, i like it better than Cannibal Holocaust)

[Spun Lepton]

REC remains my top favorite "we found footage" horror (yes, i like it better than Cannibal Holocaust)

Cannibal Holocaust is a piece of shit.

[Dukefrukem]

Cannibal Holocaust is a piece of shit.

FUCK yes it is.

[Grouchy]

Maybe silly to heathen Americans, but for a country so steeped in the Catholic church, completely acceptable and somewhat expected.

That said, I haven't seen it. :P
Well, I'm not American and I can understand what you're saying, but... you have to see how it's played in the movie. A bunch of sub-Exorcist scenes with shaky cam.

[KK2.0]

Good to hear that, a lot of people like to hype it up like "you're not TRUE if you don't like Cannibal Holocaust" this type of bs. :lol:

[Dead & Messed Up]

A lot of people also say that about Craven's Last House on the Left. It's best to disregard anyone who equates loving all of horror with loving one particular movie of their own designation.

[megladon8]

Re-watched Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer last night and liked it more than I ever have. In fact I kind of loved it.

Like my re-visit of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre last month, I was surprised at how Henry is still shockingly brutal and disturbing today. Henry and Otis are a horrifying pair.

Have mixed feelings about the ending, but overall I found it a well-made, impressively acted little character study of a malevolent man.

[Rowland]

A Tale of Two Sisters (Kim, 2004) **

I rewatched this for the first time since 2005 when I blind purchased it, and it still rubs me the wrong way. Granted, there are praises to be sung here, most in relation to its technical accomplishments and artful rendering, as well as how fully it embodies its subtext of female sexual awakening, but as a narrative contruct it's clunky and increasingly disconcerting in a manner less evocative than just awkward, the twists are alternatively obvious and gimmicky, and even its last few minutes are needlessly abstruse, doing as much to clarify as they do further mystify. Granted, I'm one to champion ambiguities when I feel they are successfully conveyed and organic, but here it just plays like a mess. In the end, a string of solid shocks tethered by lots of deliberately obscure reality shifting that amounts to little while pulling too much attention away from what works about the movie, and lord, enough with all the shrill shrieking!

EDIT: You know what I noticed while reading over this? My little blurb here could easily be applied to Silent Hill as a negative rebuke to my recent praise by someone who didn't appreciate that movie, and yet I enjoy it a great deal. Funny how that works.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Heh. I'm eager to rewatch that one, since I was somewhat cold to it on an initial viewing.

Last night, I watched The Orphanage for the first time, and it kinda wrecked me. It was a superior Gothic exercise, and then the ending arrived, and the tears came. Wow.

[megladon8]

Last night, I watched The Orphanage for the first time, and it kinda wrecked me. It was a superior Gothic exercise, and then the ending arrived, and the tears came. Wow.


YES!!!

Jen saw it, adored it, then got me to see it, and I adored it as well.

A wonderful movie.

[Scar]

Heh. I'm eager to rewatch that one, since I was somewhat cold to it on an initial viewing.

Last night, I watched The Orphanage for the first time, and it kinda wrecked me. It was a superior Gothic exercise, and then the ending arrived, and the tears came. Wow.

I love The Orphanage, I find it more sad than scary.

The Bluray is stellar, too.

No waterworks, but still excellent.

[megladon8]

I love The Orphanage, I find it more sad than scary.

The Bluray is stellar, too.

No waterworks, but still excellent.


Agreed on everything you wrote here.

Jen got me the BluRay - it's actually the first BluRay I saw in full. It was great.

[Dead & Messed Up]

A wonderful movie.


No waterworks, but still excellent.

Something about that ending just hit me hard.

First thing I thought was that life can be so cruel, with these kids dying as young as they did. Second thing I thought was that it's even worse that they're stuck like this for however long ghosts last. Third thing I thought was that, for the maternal main character, this is her heaven.

Then they brought it back to Peter Pan, and my eyes moistened, and I said, "Fuck you, movie."

[jenniferofthejungle]

Heh. I'm eager to rewatch that one, since I was somewhat cold to it on an initial viewing.

Last night, I watched The Orphanage for the first time, and it kinda wrecked me. It was a superior Gothic exercise, and then the ending arrived, and the tears came. Wow.


I have been planning a rewatch of A Tale of Two Sisters for a while now. I think it came to me when I saw the pitiful remake a few weeks ago. The only thing that will make me sad will be the fact that it won't scare me as much as it did the first time.

While cleaning my DVD shelf I came across Pan's Labyrinth which made me want to watch The Orphanage. Weird, I know, but I can't think of one without the other. I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed it, Jim.

[Rowland]

Alright, I'm gonna try to contribute a number of blurbs for Vampyr, The Window, The Cabinent of Dr. Caligari, and even The Exorcist if I can get around to it. I'll try to make it one massive, thematically related post, so wait for it.

[MadMan]

Vampyr is pretty damn good, maybe even great. Loved the atmospheric touches, the creepy shadows, and the great use of black and white. I almost bought it on Criterion, but maybe it can wait until next time.

As for The Cabinent of Dr. Caligari, after 25 minutes I lost interest and gave up on it; however I did the same previously with Carnival of Souls, and after three viewings that's one of my favorite horror movies. So there is hope.

Um, never seen the, uh, The Exorcist. *Runs*

[Dukefrukem]

I've been slackin in my movie watchin lately.

[The Mike]

I just got 4th place out of over 22,000 on Xbox Live's 1 vs. 100 Horror edition! So proud of my nerdism. :pritch:

[megladon8]

That's so awesome, dude.

Congrats!

[Grouchy]

http://remingtons.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/poster-giallo-dario-argento.jpg

Argento's Giallo is... okay? I guess. It wins points only because it's so traditional. As its title implies, it follows the genre's rules one by one. Except Argento's giallos during the '70s and '80s weren't this fucking predictable. I think his awkward character interactions work better when the movie is decidedly fantastic and outlandish like The Mother of Tears. I felt that movie was having fun with itself. This one is almost a throwaway torture porn flick and, at times, the shots are so badly lit they lose their purpose - at one instance I had to rewind to find what exactly had Adrien Brody's character seen, because the composition of the 2-second shot was simply too difficult to understand.

The movie's two most bizarre things?

1. The killer has ictericia, so his skin is literally yellow.

2. Adrien Brody plays both the detective and the yellow-skinned killer, credited as "Byron Diedra".

Otherwise, most of us have been there and seen that already.

[Grouchy]

You guys seen this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VDvgL58h_Y) before?

I found this bar yesterday, they do "Horror Tuesdays" where they show bizarre bad flicks. Yesterday was the last one of the year, so it was pretty crowded and they gave us a free drink with our ticket. They showed that short and a Mexican exploitation flick called El Violador Infernal (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0368410/usercomments). If you're really into rape humor, this is the greatest movie you could ever see. This guy is killed in the electric chair and brought back to life by a Demon Mistress of some sort who commands him to rape and kill just about everything that moves to keep his side of the bargain. The movie is reiterative, mostly the guy raping people (that he befriends at a hairdresser's where he apparently goes every day) and doing a lot of drugs. But it's unbelievably funny and offensive.

Plus the place was filled with creamy goth chicks.

[The Mike]

You guys seen this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VDvgL58h_Y) before?

Hey, I has those spoons. 6 for a dollar at Wal-Mart.

[KK2.0]

That Giallo poster is pretty cool, but the last Argento i saw was "Sleepless/Non ho Sonno" which i didn't enjoyed at all. It was occasionally campy/laughable but mostly boring and dull.


I've been slackin in my movie watchin lately.

i've been slackin in my movie watching all year! :sad:

[Dukefrukem]

I watched Dark Country with Thomas Jane and Ron Perlman last night... crazy little paranormal thriller that Jane actually directed himself... Anyone catch this?

[megladon8]

I watched Dark Country with Thomas Jane and Ron Perlman last night... crazy little paranormal thriller that Jane actually directed himself... Anyone catch this?


Nope, but I want to see it :)

[Dukefrukem]

Nope, but I want to see it :)

The synopsis really doesn't really make much sense and the ending makes you go... "huh?"... but its a weird viewing as you try to untangle what's going on.

[megladon8]

The synopsis really doesn't really make much sense and the ending makes you go... "huh?"... but its a weird viewing as you try to untangle what's going on.


I've read mixed reviews, but I love Thomas Jane, so I'll see it just for that.

I also really want to see Killshot, the one with Jane, Diane Lane and Mickey Rourke.

[Dukefrukem]

Thomas Jane rules.

[megladon8]

Thomas Jane rules.


Both Jen and I have the same dilemma - we imagine Thomas Jane in about 80% of comic book hero roles out there. He would have been perfect in Josh Hartnett's role in 30 Days of Night.

[The Mike]

Any movie is/could be better with Thomas Jane.

[megladon8]

Any movie is/could be better with Thomas Jane.


Agreed.

I want a movie starring Thomas Jane, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Idris Elba and Chow Yun Fat.

[Spun Lepton]

Both Jen and I have the same dilemma - we imagine Thomas Jane in about 80% of comic book hero roles out there. He would have been perfect in Josh Hartnett's role in 30 Days of Night.

An ape would've been better than Hartnet. Something that could convey emotion. Something not made of wood would have been better, like a damp sponge or a hankerchief on a stick. All of Hartnet's scenes could have been improved if he had simply not been there, and the actors pretended he was.

The ending was lame without him, but his presence made it a joke.

[Spun Lepton]

Looks like I'm watching Drag Me to Hell again tonight at a friend's house. Maybe then, Up. I'm really looking forward to Drag Me to Hell, though, in its proper aspect ratio. When I rented it off of PPV, it was 1.33:1, and that pissed me off right at the beginning.

[Dead & Messed Up]

The Eye holds up well on a repeat viewing. I saw it four or five years ago, and watching it again was quite fun. The film's story is more overt in its borrowed elements, but the Brothers Pang are so good at staging and maintaining suspense that I don't really care. Additionally, the ending plays better, now that I look at it poetically instead of narratively. Between this and Re-Cycle, I'm a big fan of the bros.

Also, couldn't get to sleep last night, so I popped in Creepshow. "I can hold my breath for a looooong time!"

[Dead & Messed Up]

A Tale of Two Sisters (re-viewing) is more beautiful than I remember, but about as incoherent and frustrating as it was the first time around. The double feint of the finale leaves a majority of the previous scenes complete fakeouts, and much of the mystery unsolved. Were the film presenting itself as a twisted Lynchian nightmare, I'd be more receptive to the switcheroos, but the narrative plays it straight for most of the runtime. Still, I can't really say it's a bad film, what with its lovely use of color and careful attention to framing. For the first hour or so, it's a deliberate, involving film.

B-

I found X - the Man with X-Ray Eyes (re-viewing) for seven bucks at a used DVD place, and a rewatch was very kind. It's easily one of Corman's best, and this time, I noticed how the religious ending isn't that abrupt - from the start, the story is about the morality of his choices. How he looks through clothes, how he helps those in need, how he thieves a casino...and his final speech is terrifying.

A-

Shutter (first viewing) is a well-crafted ghost story that repeats most of the beats you'd expect, but comes up with a couple good moments on its own. Not enough to really merit a viewing, especially if you've seen enough ghost stories of this kind, but hey. Whatever.

C+

[Raiders]

A Tale of Two Sisters (re-viewing) is more beautiful than I remember, but about as incoherent and frustrating as it was the first time around. The double feint of the finale leaves a majority of the previous scenes complete fakeouts, and much of the mystery unsolved. Were the film presenting itself as a twisted Lynchian nightmare, I'd be more receptive to the switcheroos, but the narrative plays it straight for most of the runtime. Still, I can't really say it's a bad film, what with its lovely use of color and careful attention to framing. For the first hour or so, it's a deliberate, involving film.

Alright. I'm definitely re-watching this. I don't remember it having as many issues as you all seem to keep "finding."



I found X - the Man with X-Ray Eyes (re-viewing) for seven bucks at a used DVD place, and a rewatch was very kind. It's easily one of Corman's best, and this time, I noticed how the religious ending isn't that abrupt - from the start, the story is about the morality of his choices. How he looks through clothes, how he helps those in need, how he thieves a casino...and his final speech is terrifying.I also need to see this again. Really liked it (love Milland) the first time around, though I remember considering it a notch below the heights of Bucket of Blood and The Intruder.

[megladon8]

Shutter (first viewing) is a well-crafted ghost story that repeats most of the beats you'd expect, but comes up with a couple good moments on its own. Not enough to really merit a viewing, especially if you've seen enough ghost stories of this kind, but hey. Whatever.

C+


Yeah, this one was a disappointment, but Jen and I both loved the reveal at the end when you find out why he has such bad neck pains.

That shit was awesome.

[Rowland]

Alright. I'm definitely re-watching this. I don't remember it having as many issues as you all seem to keep "finding."
You all being Damu and I? ":P"

Seriously though, I hope you enjoy it no less than you did the first time around, you'll be in equally good company with Bosco. My overly (and reluctantly) negative perspective seems to be in the vast minority anyway.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Yeah, this one was a disappointment, but Jen and I both loved the reveal at the end when you find out why he has such bad neck pains.

That shit was awesome.

That's one of the "good moments" I was thinking of.

[Spun Lepton]

Drag Me to Hell remains a solid 7/10 for me. Enjoyable enough to recommend, but not something I'm wild about. Lohman's performance this time around seemed uneven, occasional micro-expressions gave away a smile beneath some of her "serious" expressions. Long was merely all right.

The anvil scene still doesn't work, too cartoony, and Ganush was no longer much of a threat, so having her re-appear seemed like filler. The hankerchief attack was redeemed, though. It fit as a nice lead-in to the graveyard scene.

The seance is still my favorite part. I loved the squealing gate that would announce the Lamia's arrival, very effective. Still managed to startle me.

I still think the most brilliant scene is Ganush's slow reveal in the back of the car. That moment is perfection. My friends never noticed her sitting there until she leaned into the light a little bit. Sleight-of-hand for the screen.

[Dukefrukem]

Looks like I'm watching Drag Me to Hell again tonight at a friend's house. Maybe then, Up. I'm really looking forward to Drag Me to Hell, though, in its proper aspect ratio. When I rented it off of PPV, it was 1.33:1, and that pissed me off right at the beginning.

haha I watched it Fri night. Still great.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Drag Me to Hell remains a solid 7/10 for me. Enjoyable enough to recommend, but not something I'm wild about.

Yeah, it's lowered in my estimation since that initial viewing, when I would've given it an A or A+. I think half of that was the pure pleasure of seeing my crowd played like a piano.

Now, it's more of a B+ flick.


Lohman's performance this time around seemed uneven, occasional micro-expressions gave away a smile beneath some of her "serious" expressions. Long was merely all right.

Long was generally likable, but he acts perfectly in one crucial scene:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v179/deadandmessedup/20-DragMetoHell-Moment.jpg

[Spun Lepton]

Long was generally likable, but he acts perfectly in one crucial scene:

No argument.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I suspect that my recent overdose on "Asian Wave" horror, coupled with my viewing of the remake some years ago, impeded my admiration for Hideo Nakata's Dark Water. It's well-crafted and atmospheric for much of its runtime, as Nakata revels in the desaturated apartment and twitchy side characters. But the lead is too shrill and too unhinged to begin with, which makes much of the suspense inert. There were far too many times when I was thinking, "Wait, you left your kid again?" and "Just leave the flippin' apartment already!" Nice coda, though. Also, after this and The Eye, I think horror movie characters should stick to the stairs and pass on the elevators.

B-

Another bone to pick:

Okay, so this missing girl was waiting for someone to pick her up, wandered off on her own, went up seven flights, decided to climb a water tower and then leaned in super-close? She should be haunting her parents for giving her dumbass genes.

Fun Fact: I knew the long-black-haired lady ghost thing had some cultural significance, so I double-checked after the flick, and it turns out that they're called "onryo," and they're based on classical vengeful ghosts of Japanese Noh theater. Sorry if I'm behind everyone else on this one.

[megladon8]

I really think Drag Me To Hell is a new horror classic.

[Dukefrukem]

whoa.. anyone see I Sell the Dead?



Fun Fact: I knew the long-black-haired lady ghost thing had some cultural significance, so I double-checked after the flick, and it turns out that they're called "onryo," and they're based on classical vengeful ghosts of Japanese Noh theater. Sorry if I'm behind everyone else on this one.

Never knew that. Thanks for sharing.

[Grouchy]

whoa.. anyone see I Sell the Dead?
Yeah, me. Pretty cool, huh?

Trick 'R Treat was ok, fun stuff although nothing I'd watch again. Of all the stories, I think my favorite is the Sam one because of its simplicity and because most of the others, while attempting to challenge typical perceptions of what's going to happen from die-hard Horror fans, end up being pretty predictable all the same in the end. At least the character of Sam is left mostly unexplained. That being said, the werewolf scene everyone was talking about was a blast. I think it's nice that classic Horror anthologies like this are still being made and meet with their share of success, at least with the Horror crowd. Dylan Baker was awesome in his small but memorable story.

[Grouchy]

Heh, I knew Bad Hat Harry Productions had taken its name from the quote in Jaws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSo5fNkNKlw&feature=related). I've only seen Jaws for the first time (maybe I'd seen it as a kid, but I didn't remember any of it) this year, and I laughed my ass off with that line.

Back in the '70s, even Spielberg had a healthy sense of humor. Or maybe it was all Roy Schneider.

[Rowland]

The Exorcist (Friedkin, 1973) ***½

Primarily remembered in the popular culture for its possessed child scenes, this is really a film about the struggle to preserve faith against the inexorable tide of entropy through which society, and by extension the universe, is governed, as embodied by the crisis of faith Father Karras suffers through; Regan's demonic child represents the inability of faith to definitively regulate our innate nature, in the form of a puberty metaphor. Fascinatingly, this is complicated through the suggestion that the cold, terrifying sterility of science and its technological advances offer no more spiritual guidance, represented here by the scenes of Regan being tested through remarkably unsettling means by increasingly baffled doctors. In the end, contrary to what I'd been led to believe, the film doesn't confirm religiosity (just consider Father Merrin's fate, himself likened to a dusty relic staring time in the face during the foreboding prologue), but rather it suggests that self-awareness and sacrifice are our only tenable beacons of light in this short, slippery existence. Handsomely mounted, tensely constructed, thematically dense, and soberly performed by its ensemble; if the investigation subplot had been excised, Fathers Karras and Merrin had been given a bit more screen time at Regan's expense, and the shufflings in the attic (a Jungian metaphor for repressed female sexuality) had paid off with more than a jump scare, I'd probably consider this a masterpiece.

[Bosco B Thug]

The Exorcist (Friedkin, 1973) ***½

Primarily remembered in the popular culture for its possessed child scenes, this is really a film about the struggle to preserve faith against the inexorable tide of entropy through which society, and by extension the universe, is governed, as embodied by the crisis of faith Father Karras suffers through; Regan's demonic child represents the inability of faith to definitively regulate our innate nature, in the form of a puberty metaphor. Fascinatingly, this is complicated through the suggestion that the cold, terrifying sterility of science and its technological advances offer no more spiritual guidance, represented here by the scenes of Regan being tested through remarkably unsettling means by increasingly baffled doctors. In the end, contrary to what I'd been led to believe, the film doesn't confirm religiosity (just consider Father Merrin's fate, himself likened to a dusty relic staring time in the face during the foreboding prologue), but rather it suggests that self-awareness and sacrifice are our only tenable beacons of light in this short, slippery existence. Handsomely mounted, tensely constructed, thematically dense, and soberly performed by its ensemble; if the investigation subplot had been excised, Fathers Karras and Merrin had been given a bit more screen time at Regan's expense, and the shufflings in the attic (a Jungian metaphor for repressed female sexuality) had paid off with more than a jump scare, I'd probably consider this a masterpiece. I think Friedkin is a fabulous director, and The Exorcist shows his skill for dramatic texture, but I don't find The Exorcist so thematically dense.

So the ones you've picked up on are interesting, and I could definitely see them coming out of the story... The need for religiously-backed resolutions, our slipping hold on that comfort... Self-awareness called for, as well? Karras' secular habits are good. So are the mother's, although one of my biggest complaints against the film is its clunky separation of attention between those two characters, and how Burstyn kind of fades away going towards the last act.

Maybe I ought to give it another try, although my most recent rewatch is relatively fresh (yet I've forgotten a good deal of it).

[Dead & Messed Up]

The Devil's Backbone was a rewatch I wasn't especially looking forward to, as the initial viewing left me with a "Is that all there is?" attitude. But it's stronger the second time around, mostly because I moved past the my expectation of suspense and scares. It's really more of a historical melodrama with supernatural elements, as the dominant focus is the generational strife between the old man, the young rebel, and the mischievous children. Their conflicts (which become surprisingly engrossing) feature a backdrop of successful mood and eerie goings-on. And the whole thing works as a sly metaphor, as the Spanish Civil War's reach extends even to this modest orphanage, which also splits apart into a bitter struggle.

B+

[Grouchy]

One of my favorite movies. The kind I could rewatch over and over. Even though that one is still very good, I prefer it to Pan's Labyrinth.

[Dead & Messed Up]

One of my favorite movies. The kind I could rewatch over and over. Even though that one is still very good, I prefer it to Pan's Labyrinth.

Honestly, I find it the least satisfying out of De Toro's cross-generational dark fantasy "trilogy," but when a film this good holds that distinction, you're dealing with one hell of a director.

Del Toro's one of the very few directors I've yet to see a bad film from. Scorsese's the only other one I can think of offhand.

[Adam]

Mimic has a few snazzy moments here and there, but it's pretty terrible, overall

[Dead & Messed Up]

Mimic has a few snazzy moments here and there, but it's pretty terrible, overall

Boo. It's shlocky goodness.

[Ezee E]

Wow. A Christmas Tale is pretty damn good.

[Dukefrukem]

Mimic has a few snazzy moments here and there, but it's pretty terrible, overall

I remember seeing it in theaters and being so disappointed with the ending.

[megladon8]

Honestly, I find it the least satisfying out of De Toro's cross-generational dark fantasy "trilogy," but when a film this good holds that distinction, you're dealing with one hell of a director.

Del Toro's one of the very few directors I've yet to see a bad film from. Scorsese's the only other one I can think of offhand.


I feel the same.

Though I straddle the line with Hellboy II. What a disappointing movie. Not bad, just...ugh, so disappointing.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I feel the same.

Though I straddle the line with Hellboy II. What a disappointing movie. Not bad, just...ugh, so disappointing.

Heh. This was the one movie I had to think about before posting that opinion. Like you say, it's not bad, but it sure ain't what it could've been. I especially have trouble with the villain's plot, which blandly repeats Blade 2.

[megladon8]

Heh. This was the one movie I had to think about before posting that opinion. Like you say, it's not bad, but it sure ain't what it could've been. I especially have trouble with the villain's plot, which blandly repeats Blade 2.


Yet Blade 2 is f'ing AWESOME.

That is one of those movies I could throw on at any time and have a great time. I'm sure I've seen it more than 50 times.

[KK2.0]

I also loved Blade 2.

it gives me that great b-movie vibe, something like out of a good old Carpenter flick.

[Dead & Messed Up]

The Reapers are one of the coolest movie monsters of the past decade.

http://inadawords.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/blade-2-reaper.jpg

Agghhh!

:lol:

[megladon8]

AAHHH! Fanged vagina face!!

[Grouchy]

Mimic is the only Del Toro I flat-out didn't like. Blade II is the awesome.

So, anyone here also seen The Deaths of Ian Stone? Bad movie. Maybe it develops some intrigue at first, but once the reason why this guy is getting killed over and over is revealed, there is no reason to keep watching... and it goes on for a good half an hour or more. The cinematography and editing couldn't be any blander, and the main characters are totally unengaging. In fact, I was rooting for Jaime Murray most of the time because she was so sexy and cruel as the main villain - the discovery of this actress at least gives me a reason to watch Dexter.

[Spun Lepton]

Mimic is the only Del Toro I flat-out didn't like. Blade II is the awesome.

So, anyone here also seen The Deaths of Ian Stone? Bad movie. Maybe it develops some intrigue at first, but once the reason why this guy is getting killed over and over is revealed, there is no reason to keep watching... and it goes on for a good half an hour or more.

Spoiler it. I want to know the reason. I was probably never going to see it, anyway. :D I'm wary of those After Dark movies. Been burned by at least two of them, and the one that didn't burn was passable at best.

[Grouchy]

Spoiler it. I want to know the reason. I was probably never going to see it, anyway. :D I'm wary of those After Dark movies. Been burned by at least two of them, and the one that didn't burn was passable at best.
Well, he's part of a race of so-called Harvesters, who can take a human form but are in fact shadowy creatures, like the Twins in Matrix but all black and with skulls. He has been banned by the race because he fell in love with a woman, and the Harvesters feed on fear and can only be defeated by the Power of Love.

He has no memory of being a Harvester, so he just keeps waking up in different realities (as a college hockey player, a heroin junkie, an office drone) where he's hunted down and killed by the Harvesters EVERY SINGLE FUCKING DAY. But he hasn't forgotten the girl he's in love with, so he keeps dragging her into the different lives, although she's not his girl in all of them.

[Spun Lepton]

Well, he's part of a race of --

This is as much as I needed to know. Bleh.

[MadMan]

Well I put Pontypool on the Netflix Queue, but its not avaliable at the moment, which is lame. So I'll have to wait.

[Ezee E]

Blade 2 is fantastic until the WWE scenes.

[Dukefrukem]

Mimic is the only Del Toro I flat-out didn't like. Blade II is the awesome.

So, anyone here also seen The Deaths of Ian Stone? Bad movie. Maybe it develops some intrigue at first, but once the reason why this guy is getting killed over and over is revealed, there is no reason to keep watching... and it goes on for a good half an hour or more. The cinematography and editing couldn't be any blander, and the main characters are totally unengaging. In fact, I was rooting for Jaime Murray most of the time because she was so sexy and cruel as the main villain - the discovery of this actress at least gives me a reason to watch Dexter.

Yeh I saw it during the festival. I wrote a review on it because I hated it so much. IT's like a pseudo-Matrix-Saw-Hostel mess.

[Grouchy]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ9t6TeKkc/SsDC6vCnl0I/AAAAAAAABdc/sM2Q0Rabj2c/s1600/2340681230_b8a0b030b5.jpg

Robert Siodmak's The Spiral Staircase has the best opening of almost any other movie I can think of. While our mute protagonist is enjoying a projection of a Griffith film set to Beethoven piano sonatas, there's a murder in the room above which, although bloodless, is so grotesque and surprising it makes the whole sequence border on surrealism. From then on, the film rarely recaptures those heights, but stays engaging. One thing that surprised me is how closely the plot structure resembles the giallo genre of filmmaking, more than 20 years before it was created. I mean, I know it's supposed to be a whodunit, but the obsession with women in peril, the unrealistic finale, even the black gloves and the elaborate murder sequence reminded me strongly of Argento.

Overall, every Horror fan and any person even marginally interested in great cinematography should watch this.

[megladon8]

Yep, glad you enjoyed it Grouchy.

Jen and I watched it as part of our 30 Days of Terror, and for both of us it was one of the best viewings of the month.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Spiral Staircase is good times. Eerie film with luscious production design and camerawork.

On another note, I'm psyched - I'm getting Rogue tomorrow from Netflix, Ju-on: The Grudge thereafter, and Wolf Creek after that. And then I can safely say I've seen all the horror I want to see from the 2000's.

I counted, and I've seen nearly 150 horror films from the past decade. I'm sure some of you fools have seen more, but that's plenty for me.

[Spun Lepton]

Wolf Creek

Bleh.

[Dukefrukem]

I counted, and I've seen nearly 150 horror films from the past decade. I'm sure some of you fools have seen more, but that's plenty for me.

150 is a lot. Might be way more than me.

[megladon8]

Both Wolf Creek and Rogue are great. The latter surprisingly so - I really didn't have any interest in any "giant crocodile" movies and thought it was a pretty stupid sub-genre. Well, actually, I still do on both accounts...but Rogue is a pretty great exception.

[Winston*]

Rogue has a good first 2 acts. It gets a bit stupid towards the end. Greg McLean is a great horror director.

[Scar]

I rather enjoyed Wolf Creek, but I'm not a fan of Rogue.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I figure I should give McLean a shot - I deliberately avoided him because Wolf Creek seemed like something I might not be able to stomach. But if I can make it through Martyrs (barely) and Frontieres, then I can probably handle Wolf Creek.

[megladon8]

I figure I should give McLean a shot - I deliberately avoided him because Wolf Creek seemed like something I might not be able to stomach. But if I can make it through Martyrs (barely) and Frontieres, then I can probably handle Wolf Creek.


Absolutely.

Haven't seen Martyrs, but Frontiere(s) is much more brutal than Wolf Creek.

[Raiders]

Yeah, Wolf Creek is among the most surprisingly great and effective horror films I have ever seen. It shows a remarkable use and understanding of the environment.

Rogue actually had many of the same strengths and for a giant killer croc film, it was pretty damn deft.

[Bosco B Thug]

I'm pretty indifferent to it, but I think I have more appreciation for Wolf Creek than any of the modern French horror films I've seen; I feel as if it has just as much ability to gut punch, and like to remember it as having a superior sense of artistry (that may be wrong, but it must have its supporters for a reason).

I was unimpressed by Rogue, though, a much more recent viewing, which I thought was a bit hack-ishly crafted in the first half drama (but gained its footing as it went along and became a monster flick, I recall).

Re-watch of Shutter. It tries to tell a provocative story and speak to something or other theoretics about picture-taking, but Shutter has such a tin ear for so many aspects of good moviemaking and storytelling, it hurts watching it at times. It has no sense of pacing, build-up, character development, etc. - it's just a string of slick scares that aren't scary. It's like Hollywood didn't even have to remake it because this movie already is exactly like a bad Hollywood supernatural horror flick.

[Dukefrukem]

Yeah, Wolf Creek is among the most surprisingly great and effective horror films I have ever seen. It shows a remarkable use and understanding of the environment.


Prob has the best cinematography in the last 20 years for horror films.

[Grouchy]

Man, I love Frank Henenlotter or however it's spelled. Crazy bastard. Basket Case should be obligatory viewing for everyone studying to be an independent filmmaker - it's cheaply made, but the special effects are so convincing in their own crude way that the movie sometimes equals the gross-out factor of Cronenberg. Besides the story is just awesome and, although I prefer the drug-related Brain Damage, a nice metaphor for sexual confusion and schizophrenia. For those of you who are overly critical of the formal polish of a film, this one might not appeal to you as much - the acting is generally poor and you can at times perceive that the locations are in real life nothing like what they're supposed to be - but if you're able to overlook that stuff and get to the heart of a film, then Basket Case is highly recommended. Henenlotter also infused this with a street-wise, New York feel that's unusual in Horror films. His characters, although the thespians involved might not be the best, simply have a will of their own.

Oh, and if you have the Something Weird DVD, don't return it without watching the original theatrical trailer. Short, funny, to the point and doesn't spoil anything while leaving you with a world of intrigue if you haven't seen the movie already.

[Spun Lepton]

Last night, a friend came over and we put 3 Extremes up from Netflix instant. We watched 2 episodes before he said he needed to leave, so I've only seen two of the stories.

Dumplings -- Good. Enjoyed it. Thought the whole "crunch-crunch" noise when the lead chewed was overdone, but not a big deal. Some of the plot changes could've use a little more development (like the woman coming around and accepting what she's eating), but given the time-limits, again, not a big deal.

Cut -- It was like somebody took two hamhocks and banged them together repeatedly for 40 minutes. The initial idea managed to be bland and yet pretentious, and the execution flip-flopped between laughable and boring. I adore Park's Oldboy, but this was terrible. Every twist should've come with a side of gravy, and they were piled on so thick that after a while I grew tired of it all.

Still have yet to watch Miike's entry. Hopefully I'll see it sooner than later.

[Russ]

..the acting is generally poor and you can at times perceive that the locations are in real life nothing like what they're supposed to be - but if you're able to overlook that stuff and get to the heart of a film, then Basket Case is highly recommended. Henenlotter also infused this with a street-wise, New York feel that's unusual in Horror films.
Huh? Henenlotter pretty much filmed everthing "on location" (which gave it that street-wise, New York feel to which you refer). The Welfare Hotel in Times Square was a stand-in for the film's Broslin Hotel, and those cheap, cardboard-quality rooms and hallways were the real thing. I don't think it exists anymore, as it became part of NY city history when it (along with many of the film's other exteriors) was demolished during the "cleanup" of Times Square (ie, the porno and grindhouse theaters that infested 42nd Street). Hennenlotter gives a very interesting and informative commentary on the Basket Case DVD where he discusses filming on these locations and the pressure they were under to complete filming before the bulldozers demolished their "sets".

[Grouchy]

Huh? Henenlotter pretty much filmed everthing "on location" (which gave it that street-wise, New York feel to which you refer). The Welfare Hotel in Times Square was a stand-in for the film's Broslin Hotel, and those cheap, cardboard-quality rooms and hallways were the real thing. I don't think it exists anymore, as it became part of NY city history when it (along with many of the film's other exteriors) was demolished during the "cleanup" of Times Square (ie, the porno and grindhouse theaters that infested 42nd Street). Hennenlotter gives a very interesting and informative commentary on the Basket Case DVD where he discusses filming on these locations and the pressure they were under to complete filming before the bulldozers demolished their "sets".
Well, excuse the fuck out of me, then. The truth is, I was mainly talking about the medicine hallways where the guy taunted his victims. I assumed those were just some empty flat and not a doctor's office. The hotel looked real alright, and the quirks and boredom of the tenants are the human factor the movie's made of.

The movie was very inspirational. I'd like to go back to NYC now I'm not 18 years old anymore. My memories of that brand of insanity get hazier each year.

[Grouchy]

By the way, I was in NYC in January 2006 and Times Square still sported a lot of sex shops and peep shows. It was crazier before or Giuliani did some "clean up" since I last visited?

[megladon8]

By the way, I was in NYC in January 2006 and Times Square still sported a lot of sex shops and peep shows. It was crazier before or Giuliani did some "clean up" since I last visited?


It was crazier before.

There's nothing illegal about sex shops, and by "peep shows" I'm sure you mean some of the more risqué strip clubs which are, again, not illegal.

There was a time when you couldn't walk 3 steps without being propositioned by hookers and drug dealers.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Ju-On: The Grudge was meh. Started off strong, then essentially repeated itself for the rest of its runtime, replacing the overall concept (person unwarily walks into haunted house, incurs wrath of cat-boy and frog-girl), with differing characters. Furthermore, the timeline of the film leaps around in a confusing manner, and some plot points are maddening in their vagary. It looks good, and it sounds good, but it's not good.

C

[MadMan]

Ju-On: The Grudge was meh. Started off strong, then essentially repeated itself for the rest of its runtime, replacing the overall concept (person unwarily walks into haunted house, incurs wrath of cat-boy and frog-girl), with differing characters. Furthermore, the timeline of the film leaps around in a confusing manner, and some plot points are maddening in their vagary. It looks good, and it sounds good, but it's not good.

CYou abandoned GD Chat for that? For shame! :P

*Has actually not seen Ju-On*

[Rowland]

Ju-On: The Grudge was meh. Started off strong, then essentially repeated itself for the rest of its runtime, replacing the overall concept (person unwarily walks into haunted house, incurs wrath of cat-boy and frog-girl), with differing characters. Furthermore, the timeline of the film leaps around in a confusing manner, and some plot points are maddening in their vagary. It looks good, and it sounds good, but it's not good.

CJu-On: The Grudge 2 is far superior.

[Rowland]

GD chat? Is there a secret chat room to which I'm not privy?

[Dead & Messed Up]

GD chat? Is there a secret chat room to which I'm not privy?

Not really. It's a Rotten Tomatoes chat room (http://tinychat.com/rtgd) that's used every now and again.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Rogue was pretty damn fun. The first twenty minutes or so nearly make a movie unto itself, with the deliciously photographed Australian scenery. Thing plays like a brochure. Then a big crocodile rams a tourist boat. From there on out, the suspense is admirable, and the characters low-key. I was expecting a tone similar to Tremors or Anaconda, but this film plays things seriously, which makes the whole affair both better and worse. Better because these actors shouldn't be playing broad, comic caricatures. Worse, because there's not a lot of reason to come back after the first viewing, 'cept to appreciate how good-looking this country is.

B

[Bosco B Thug]

Rogue was pretty damn fun. The first twenty minutes or so nearly make a movie unto itself, with the deliciously photographed Australian scenery. Thing plays like a brochure. Exactly. This was what bugged me about the opening act of the film.

[Raiders]

Exactly. This was what bugged me about the opening act of the film.

Isn't the travelogue feel of the opening kinda the point though? They are on a sight-seeing boating trip and McLean through both films has worked very intricately on developing a dichotomous feel between the opening act and when the shit hits the fan.

[Philosophe_rouge]

Ju-On: The Grudge was meh. Started off strong, then essentially repeated itself for the rest of its runtime, replacing the overall concept (person unwarily walks into haunted house, incurs wrath of cat-boy and frog-girl), with differing characters. Furthermore, the timeline of the film leaps around in a confusing manner, and some plot points are maddening in their vagary. It looks good, and it sounds good, but it's not good.

C

I feel the exact same way

[Dead & Messed Up]

The opening of Rogue didn't bother me at all. In fact, it may have been my favorite part. It reminds me of Carter Smith's lovely images he captures in The Ruins, prior to all the bickering and mutilation. I love horror movies that take place in the jungle. They're naturally imposing locations, and they mirror the reduction to primal needs that are elemental to so many horror pictures.

[megladon8]

I thought the opening really capitalized on that seductive beauty inherent to the Australian outback.

I'd say a good 8/10 people with whom I have that "where would you most love to travel to?" conversation say "Australia". Hell, even I would love to go there at some point.

McLean shows us that wondrous side of the country, then eclipses it with slow-boiling dread.

It's like what Hostel did for Eastern Europe, but much more classy and clever.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I thought the opening really capitalized on that seductive beauty inherent to the Australian outback.

I'd say a good 8/10 people with whom I have that "where would you most love to travel to?" conversation say "Australia". Hell, even I would love to go there at some point.

McLean shows us that wondrous side of the country, then eclipses it with slow-boiling dread.

It's like what Hostel did for Eastern Europe, but much more classy and clever.

I agree with everything except for the last comment.

[megladon8]

You don't see/agree with the comparison I'm making, or you thought Hostel was classy and clever?

[Dead & Messed Up]

You don't see/agree with the comparison I'm making, or you thought Hostel was classy and clever?

I see your point about how both films paint their environs, and it's a worthwhile comparison...but I think "classy" is a term that Hostel has no use for, and I think it is a clever film.

[megladon8]

I see your point about how both films paint their environs, and it's a worthwhile comparison...but I think "classy" is a term that Hostel has no use for, and I think it is a clever film.


Then I guess we kind of agree, then.

My point was that "classy" Hostel is not.

And I do think it has clever elements to it. But both of McLean's films are more clever-er. :)

[Grouchy]

I have seen one of the best movies ever made for the first time. It is Horror (at least in theory) and it is from the '90s.

Guesses? You have until I finish my review.

[Dead & Messed Up]

The 90's is a pretty broad clue, but horror "in theory" could point toward dark thrillers like The Silence of the Lambs or Seven. Or maybe The Vanishing.

One of those cats would be my guess. Probably the third one.

[Grouchy]

http://www.amoeba.com/dynamic-images/blog/Eric_B/DellamorteDellamore

Dellamorte Dellamore
Michele Soavi, 1994

The reasons why some films gain international recognition while others stay in relative obscurity have more to do with chance, climate and even critical prejudice than with their actual quality. Here's a film which has nothing to envy from most Horror classics, could teach some more "serious" dramas and art films more than a few lessons and yet, if it has any reputation, it's that of being an extremely bizarre movie, instead of a brilliant one.

Although some blurbs of the film claim it's adapted from the Tiziano Sclavi Dylan Dog comics - possibly because the character was already visually inspired by Rupert Everett - , it's in fact based on a novella by the same author. It's about Francesco Dellamorte, a caretaker in an Italian villa cemetery whose mysteriously referred to as an "engineer" by the folks in town. We learn in the first scene that Francesco's cemetery has a peculiarity - in it, the dead constantly come back to life and have to be shot down and reburied by Francesco's speech-challenged assistant Gnagi. From there onwards, the movie's plot twists and the protagonist's state of mind change so constantly it's difficult to provide a synopsis. A key fact occurs when he meets a widow (played by Anna Falchi, too beautiful to be alive) he falls in love with.

It's easy to see why an unusual movie like this, if overlooked, can be condemned to the trash pile. After all, it's about zombies, it has tons of gore and violence, delirious scenes and sex. But anyone with a trained eye can recognize this is far from being exploitation or even a bonafide B movie. This is a work of love and care, with every image being carefully composed and photograph to fit into the film's erratic, melancholic mood. More than a few of them, in fact, are mirror images of the German Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich - the tall pine trees and the graveyard's opening arch being the most obvious examples. Another, very erotic, image plays off René Magritte's famous The Lovers.

The film is one of the few 20th Century stories or work of art in general which takes Romanticism seriously. Francesco is the ultimate Romantic hero, cast away from society (at one point it's revealed he even fabricates rumors about his own sexual impotence), troubled, introspective and hopelessly in love with a dead woman - the Spanish title of this movie being My Girlfriend is a Zombie. His strange road leads to apparent insanity and disconnection with reality, but then again, the opening scene already had him shooting down re-animated corpses. Where did fantasy start and stop for Francesco Dellamorte? The last scene, which I will not reveal here, is equal parts brilliant and frustrating and seems visually inspired by yet another Friedrich painting, the Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog. Yet in this case it's not just the visual quote, but the solving of a dichotomy that's present in the painting. Is it a painting about a person standing tall above the landscape or being shamed by its enormity?

To keep with this film's enormous misfortune, it seems doomed to have awful foreign titles. It's known in English as Cemetery Man, which I guess it's better than My Girlfriend is a Zombie but it's also too pragmatical. Dellamorte Dellamore is a pun with no translation (literally meaning "of the death of love" while also being, as revealed late into the film, the full name of the character's mother. At least the Australians gave it a try.

[Rowland]

Dellamorte Dellamore is a difficult film to process, but it's no doubt memorably idiosyncratic, and flat-out gorgeous as visual spectacle. I found some of the black humor lacking, which distracted from the romanticism of the piece, and I recall feeling that Soavi began spinning his wheels on the homestretch, but otherwise it's an odd, endearing film.

Also, if you haven't seen it, check out Soavi's Deliria (Stagefright), which is a much less ambitious effort, but as vaguely meta giallo/slashers go, it's pretty spectacular, particularly during its ingenious finale.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Also, you might get something out of the occasionally inventive The Church, which has some fantastic imagery buried in the preposterous story.

[Spun Lepton]

Ju-On: The Grudge was meh. Started off strong, then essentially repeated itself for the rest of its runtime, replacing the overall concept (person unwarily walks into haunted house, incurs wrath of cat-boy and frog-girl), with differing characters. Furthermore, the timeline of the film leaps around in a confusing manner, and some plot points are maddening in their vagary. It looks good, and it sounds good, but it's not good.

C

Agreed, but I think it worked better than Ju-on: The Curse.

[Raiders]

It looks like after returning from taking care of his son, he did a bunch of Italian TV and has just directed last year a new film (Blood of the Losers), but no telling if we'll ever get to see it.

[Grouchy]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I'd never heard of Michele Soavi before, it's nice to know this is not his only interesting movie.

[Spun Lepton]

Also, you might get something out of the occasionally inventive The Church, which has some fantastic imagery buried in the preposterous story.

There was a story?

[Dead & Messed Up]

There was a story?

I think there was.

Maybe.

[megladon8]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I'd never heard of Michele Soavi before, it's nice to know this is not his only interesting movie.


It's definitely his best. By far. And I'm not even one of the great lovers of the film - I'd probably give it a 6.5 or a 7.

As far as I'm concerned, The Church is one of those "so bad it's good" movies.

[Spun Lepton]

As far as I'm concerned, The Church is one of those "so bad it's good" movies.

The Church is Soavi in Fulci Mode. Heavy on atmosphere, nonsensical "story," and a reliance on shock and gore.

[megladon8]

The Church is Soavi in Fulci Mode. Heavy on atmosphere, nonsensical "story," and a reliance on shock and gore.


It's also utterly hilarious.

Those knight costumes at the beginning are straight out of Monty Python.

[Spun Lepton]

It's also utterly hilarious.

Those knight costumes at the beginning are straight out of Monty Python.

The part that made me laugh the hardest was their discovery of the subway.

[Bosco B Thug]

Isn't the travelogue feel of the opening kinda the point though? They are on a sight-seeing boating trip and McLean through both films has worked very intricately on developing a dichotomous feel between the opening act and when the shit hits the fan. That would've been a great formal construct, but I just remember thinking, "Why is the directing so formless and gawky in a DTV-ish way when Wolf Creek showed so much promise?"

[Dukefrukem]

"From the Producers of Dog Soldiers" ... does that have any merit? Judging by this posted.... Probably not.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/photosizer/timthumb.php?src=/photosizer/upload/13hours121209.jpg&w=560&zc=0

Trailer here. (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18377?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+bloody-disgusting+(Bloody+Disgusting+ Horror+News)&utm_content=Google+Reader)

[Spun Lepton]

"From the Producers of Dog Soldiers" ... does that have any merit? Judging by this posted.... Probably not.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/photosizer/timthumb.php?src=/photosizer/upload/13hours121209.jpg&w=560&zc=0

Trailer here. (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18377?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+bloody-disgusting+(Bloody+Disgusting+ Horror+News)&utm_content=Google+Reader)

Bloody Disgusting is blocked at my workplace. WHAT IS THIS?? I must know!!

[Dead & Messed Up]

Bloody Disgusting is blocked at my workplace. WHAT IS THIS?? I must know!!

Nothing of importance.

[Spun Lepton]

Nothing of importance.

Gah! Now I MUST know!

:D

[Rowland]

No, it's really nothing.

Producer credits really amount to nothing, particularly when they're marketed in obviously disingenuous ways.

[Dukefrukem]

Gah! Now I MUST know!

:D

If you're still at work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kvQpJnaNs0

[Grouchy]

Has anyone else seen an '80s movie called Superstition? Nothing to do with Stevie Wonder, it's actually a neat little witchcraft flick with some less than stellar acting. Although most of it is standard fare with the added value of a lavish production, specially notable in the flashback scenes and the really high class gore, the last 15 minutes or so, where the witch actually appears, are so awesome compared to what came before that it really forces me to recommend it. Plus, it has nudity, commentary on priesthood and lust, and a crazy old lady.

[Spun Lepton]

If you're still at work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kvQpJnaNs0

That looks terrible.

Synopsis from IMDb doesn't make it sound much better...

As five underworld heavies settle in for an all night stay at an abandoned warehouse and former film studio, a series of bizarre and unsettling occurrences quickly lead them to believe they are not alone. It was supposed to be a simple night of babysitting a single hostage, but when a series of numbers began to appear on the walls things soon took a dark turn. Later, after the hostage escapes, the perplexed thugs not only learn that there is a rat in the ranks, but also discover the unsettling nature of the films that were shot in the warehouse. Now, as terror takes hold, the thieves are about to discover that they are being stalked from the shadows and that their odds of living to see daybreak are shrinking with each passing minute.

[megladon8]

I've come to the conclusion that Tobe Hooper is just not a good filmmaker at all.

Of his fairly large filmography, only about three of his films are actually any good, and another 2 or so watchable. Pretty much everything else is just terrible.

[Bosco B Thug]

I've come to the conclusion that Tobe Hooper is just not a good filmmaker at all.

Of his fairly large filmography, only about three of his films are actually any good, and another 2 or so watchable. Pretty much everything else is just terrible. Perhaps my Hooper fandom is not as ubiquitous as I thought, but reeeally? You had to express this thought? Did you perhaps watch something to bring these hurtful, hurtful words on?

You can ignore me. I'm sorry, I couldn't just leave this post to sit. :P

[Dead & Messed Up]

Perhaps my Hooper fandom is not as ubiquitous as I thought, but reeeally? You had to express this thought? Did you perhaps watch something to bring these hurtful, hurtful words on?

You can ignore me. I'm sorry, I couldn't just leave this post to sit. :P

I agree. And it broke my heart when I heard that Kiyoshi Kurosawa, one of my favorite horror directors, loves Tobe Hooper, who's one of my least favorite horror directors.

I've seen TCM, Poltergeist, "The Damned Thing," 'salem's Lot, TCM 2, Lifeforce, The Mangler, and "Dance of the Dead," and I like them in that order, and I only like the first two, and I really don't even buy that Poltergeist is his movie.

[Bosco B Thug]

I agree. And it broke my heart when I heard that Kiyoshi Kurosawa, one of my favorite horror directors, loves Tobe Hooper, who's one of my least favorite horror directors.

I've seen TCM, Poltergeist, "The Damned Thing," 'salem's Lot, TCM 2, Lifeforce, The Mangler, and "Dance of the Dead," and I like them in that order, and I only like the first two, and I really don't even buy that Poltergeist is his movie. Yes, yes. I know. :P

I reeaaaally didn't care for "The Damned Thing." Despite the occasionally pretty deep-focus-heavy cinematography. Nothing happens in it!

[Dead & Messed Up]

I reeaaally didn't care for "The Damned Thing." Despite the occasionally pretty deep-focus-heavy cinematography. Nothing happens in it!

You can't tell me that Ted Raimi as a priest killing people randomly, a man clawing his face off with the back of a hammer, and a ridiculous big black oil-slick monster tornado are nothing.

[Bosco B Thug]

You can't tell me that Ted Raimi as a priest killing people randomly, a man clawing his face off with the back of a hammer, and a ridiculous big black oil-slick monster tornado are nothing. Pants is what they are. The Ted Raimi character was underutilized.

[Rowland]

The Funhouse is his second best after TCM, and Toolbox Murders is worth a rental.

[megladon8]

Perhaps my Hooper fandom is not as ubiquitous as I thought, but reeeally? You had to express this thought? Did you perhaps watch something to bring these hurtful, hurtful words on?

You can ignore me. I'm sorry, I couldn't just leave this post to sit. :P


The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - 10
The Funhouse - 6.5
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - 6
Salem's Lot - 5.5
Lifeforce - 4
Invaders From Mars - 3.5
Toolbox Murders - 3
Dance of the Dead - 2.5
Spontaneous Combustion - 2


As much as I find it ignorant and offensive to say that a filmmaker had a "fluke", I feel almost compelled to say that about Hooper and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

And similar to what DaMU said, I have yet to see any concrete evidence that Hooper truly deserved the directing credit for Poltergeist (which is an 8.5, by the way). EVERYTHING about it is Spielberg through and through. It's like Spielberg told him what to shoot and how to shoot it, then Hooper just reiterated the orders to his crew.

[MadMan]

I'm one to dissent that Hooper really didn't "do" anything on Poltergeist. If anything, I feel that he brought out Spielberg's dark side on the project, and although I've only seen that and TCM from him I thought his touch was considerably there. Which brings me to another point: is War of the Worlds the closest Spielberg has come to bringing back the less friendly, more nasty side of his direction that we saw in Jaws and Poltergeist, and to a lesser extent Duel (which I need to see all of)? Strangely Spielberg is on the list of directors that I would like to see make another horror film, with Jackson also featured as well.

PS: Bosco I imagine once I dig into Hooper's filmography, I'll like what I see. He sounds more like someone up my alley for some reason.

[Qrazy]

TCM - F

I"ll be getting to Poltergeist in the race with soitgoes.

[Bosco B Thug]

PS: Bosco I imagine once I dig into Hooper's filmography, I'll like what I see. He sounds more like someone up my alley for some reason. I am nervous and appreciative of your gesture of support.

[Raiders]

TCM - F

'F' for 'Fantabulous!', amirite?

[Scar]

'F' for 'Fantabulous!', amirite?

More like Fab-U-lous!

http://www.hollow-hill.com/sabina/images/fabulous-dude.jpg

[Spun Lepton]

TCM - F

F for fuckin' terrific. Given the material and the setting, the no-budget handheld look really worked in its favor. The muddy, grainy texture gave everything a sinister feeling -- but, I'm skeptical if that was a DECISION on Hooper's part, rather than a simple limitation due to its budget. And that's why I sometimes refer to it as a "lucky masterpiece."

[megladon8]

Jen and I are going to be watching Dead Snow tonight.

Looking forward to it :)

[MadMan]

I am nervous and appreciative of your gesture of support.I plan to tackle him next Halloween season, and continue my exploration of Bava and Argento's works as well. I think next October should be interesting, as I'll try and focus more so on horror movie directors rather individual movies. And of course maybe I'll finally get to The Exorcist and other classics.

[Dukefrukem]

Jen and I are going to be watching Dead Snow tonight.

Looking forward to it :)

That's the one with Nazi Zombies? I fell asleep during it. :-/

[megladon8]

Dead Snow was pretty crappy.

[Dukefrukem]

Dead Snow was pretty crappy.

I was disappointed with it too.

[jenniferofthejungle]

I agree. And it broke my heart when I heard that Kiyoshi Kurosawa, one of my favorite horror directors, loves Tobe Hooper, who's one of my least favorite horror directors.

I've seen TCM, Poltergeist, "The Damned Thing," 'salem's Lot, TCM 2, Lifeforce, The Mangler, and "Dance of the Dead," and I like them in that order, and I only like the first two, and I really don't even buy that Poltergeist is his movie.


Seen The Funhouse, Jim?

[jenniferofthejungle]

Dead Snow was pretty crappy.

It was very crappy. :D

[Dead & Messed Up]

Seen The Funhouse, Jim?

Nop.

[megladon8]

I really can't believe how badly they messed up such a great premise with Dead Snow.

But hey, I found out it's by the same writer/director as that horrible Norwegian Kill Bill spoof, so I guess it's not that surprising.

An actual line of dialogue from that film's trailer...

GIRL: I feel like there's something between us.

GUY: Relax! It's just my big dick!

[Spun Lepton]

Have there been any nazi zombie movies that have been worth a damn? I remember one really corny one from the 80s about a bunch of underwater nazi zombies on an island that was about as interesting as watching flies fuck.

No, it wasn't Zombi 2.

[Grouchy]

Outpost wasn't bad.

[megladon8]

Have there been any nazi zombie movies that have been worth a damn? I remember one really corny one from the 80s about a bunch of underwater nazi zombies on an island that was about as interesting as watching flies fuck.

No, it wasn't Zombi 2.


You're talking about Zombie Lake, right?

AKA, the movie that shows boobs, bush, and a full-on spread-eagle vagina shot within the first 2 minutes.


And yes, Grouchy, Outpost wasn't too bad. Certainly better than Dead Snow.

[Spun Lepton]

You're talking about Zombie Lake, right?

That sounds right ...

[Spun Lepton]

Dunno if anybody here ventures over to the Celeb Obituary thread, but Dan O'Bannon passed today.

[megladon8]

Dunno if anybody here ventures over to the Celeb Obituary thread, but Dan O'Bannon passed today.


Yeah, that sucks big time :sad:

[The Mike]

I am thoroughly sad about Dan O'Bannon. I had recently written on him and Carpenter getting their start with Dark Star, and was really starting to look at his career more.

Also, I recently watched Hostel Part II for the first time....and I think I really enjoyed it. :frustrated:

[Dead & Messed Up]

Also, I recently watched Hostel Part II for the first time....and I think I really enjoyed it. :frustrated:

Goddammit, Mike!

[The Mike]

Goddammit, Mike!:lol:

My biggest complaints against the first were that the characters were unlikeable, the kills were overly gross for the sake of grossness, and it only briefly got interesting when it introduced one of the clients.

I thought the second one fixed all of those problems. :sad:

[Dead & Messed Up]

:lol:

My biggest complaints against the first were that the characters were unlikeable, the kills were overly gross for the sake of grossness, and it only briefly got interesting when it introduced one of the clients.

I thought the second one fixed all of those problems. :sad:

Ah. I thought the characters gradually became likable, only one kill was gross for its own sake. I agree that the businessman scene with Rick Stutterin' Hoffman was the highlight.

My problem was that the sequel duplicated the trio-of-victims-unknowingly-go-towards-their-fate with little variation, and the kills felt more exploitative. I do love the decision to focus more on the businessmen, and I think that if it would've focused on them exclusively, it woulda been great.

I do think the second one looks better than the first.

[Scar]

I plan to tackle him next Halloween season, and continue my exploration of Bava and Argento's works as well. I think next October should be interesting, as I'll try and focus more so on horror movie directors rather individual movies. And of course maybe I'll finally get to The Exorcist and other classics.

For fuck's sake, man. It doesn't need to be October to watch horror movies.

[MadMan]

For fuck's sake, man. It doesn't need to be October to watch horror movies.Yeah. But it usually helps, if only because I'm in the mood to watch horror movies when that time of the year rolls around. Still, I do plan on finishing Inferno either this month or sometime next year.

[Dead & Messed Up]

I've got beer. I've got pretzels. I've got Dog Soldiers in my DVD player, primed for a re-viewing.

...let's do this.

[Rowland]

I've got beer. I've got pretzels. I've got Dog Soldiers in my DVD player, primed for a re-viewing.

...let's do this.Eh. Decent... a bit overestimated, but a promising debut feature.

Dog Soldiers - **½
The Descent - ***
Doomsday - **

I hope Marshall continues to pursue a more serious strain of genre filmmaking, for which I feel he shows more talent than his lighter fare. That said, I would probably have enjoyed Doomsday a lot more if it weren't so ineptly edited.

[Grouchy]

I've got beer. I've got pretzels. I've got Dog Soldiers in my DVD player, primed for a re-viewing.

...let's do this.
Awesome.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Okay, it's pretty much exactly as I remember it. The movie is good, the climax is very good, and Spoon is great.

I do think it's a great example of a horror film genre I've seen frequently but never really been able to place until now. You know the kind: some kind of one-dimensional aggressor pushes people inside a location, and the film climaxes with them trying to escape that location. Night of the Living Dead, Aliens, Splinter, and Dog Soldiers all carry this structure to some degree. Call them "get-in-get-out" pictures.

[Rowland]

Ahh yes, I refer to them as "siege" movies, of which there are countless examples. Assault on Precinct 13 springs to mind as one of my favorites, which is itself modeled after the Howard Hawks siege picture Rio Bravo.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Wolf Creek

I made it through only seventy-five minutes of this film before turning it off. I didn't expect that. I didn't turn it off because it was too vulgar or gory. Instead, I turned it off because the main characters behaved so stupidly, so inanely, that turning it off saved me from enduring more of their awful decision making. I suspect that some would excuse the main characters because of the ostensible "based on a true story" motif, which I thought was unlikely as soon as I read it. Turns out I was right. Like the similar introduction to The Strangers, it's a "true story" inasmuch as it could've happened, at some point, to some people. Maybe. The plus below is for the nice landscapes; their elegance is quickly and efficiently marred by the shaky-cam "grittiness" that horror directors seem to love and I seem to hate.

D+

Regarding those character decisions:

You shoot him and he collapses and you just run away? Really? You don't try to club his face in with the butt of the gun? Or any blunt instrument? You don't think to stab him with the huge knife he just had in his hand?!

But that's not the moment that did me in. Oh, I was in emotional turmoil, but I pressed on, determined to not give up on the movie. And then the two girls split up. They fucking split up. They even try to justify it. "Oh, I'll be much faster without you!"

I was so, so, so mad. It took me back to the post-screening discussion of The Strangers, where I had the misfortune of hearing Bryan Bertino defend splitting up by saying, "Well, sometimes people make bad decisions in real life." Yes, Bryan. One of them is you.

[MadMan]

Dog Soldiers is not only very awesome, but is also better than An American Werewolf in London. I didn't think that after viewing both movies I would come to that conclusion, but I did. I also highly enjoyed The Howling-werewolf movies seem to be up my alley, and I think I prefer them over the vampire subgenre of horror.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Dog Soldiers is not only very awesome, but is also better than An American Werewolf in London.

Wat.

[Winston*]

There's nothing in Dog Soldiers as funny as the cinema scene in AAWIL and there's nothing as tense as the subway scene and there's nothing as impressive as the transformation scene and there's....

[MadMan]

Wat.Yes, you read correctly :P

AAWIL has some great scenes, but its not a great movie. Then again, Dog Soldiers really isn't, either. Both are very good, though. I'd say that I only give the slight edge to Soldiers based on its high entertainment value, and the fact that the tension was upheld throughout. If anything I think AAWIL could have used a bit more comedy, strangely enough.

[Dukefrukem]

Wolf Creek

I made it through only seventy-five minutes of this film before turning it off. I didn't expect that. I didn't turn it off because it was too vulgar or gory. Instead, I turned it off because the main characters behaved so stupidly, so inanely, that turning it off saved me from enduring more of their awful decision making. I suspect that some would excuse the main characters because of the ostensible "based on a true story" motif, which I thought was unlikely as soon as I read it. Turns out I was right. Like the similar introduction to The Strangers, it's a "true story" inasmuch as it could've happened, at some point, to some people. Maybe. The plus below is for the nice landscapes; their elegance is quickly and efficiently marred by the shaky-cam "grittiness" that horror directors seem to love and I seem to hate.

D+

Regarding those character decisions:

You shoot him and he collapses and you just run away? Really? You don't try to club his face in with the butt of the gun? Or any blunt instrument? You don't think to stab him with the huge knife he just had in his hand?!

But that's not the moment that did me in. Oh, I was in emotional turmoil, but I pressed on, determined to not give up on the movie. And then the two girls split up. They fucking split up. They even try to justify it. "Oh, I'll be much faster without you!"

I was so, so, so mad. It took me back to the post-screening discussion of The Strangers, where I had the misfortune of hearing Bryan Bertino defend splitting up by saying, "Well, sometimes people make bad decisions in real life." Yes, Bryan. One of them is you.

Grrrrrrrr Do not agree


Dog Soldiers is not only very awesome, but is also better than An American Werewolf in London. I didn't think that after viewing both movies I would come to that conclusion, but I did. I also highly enjoyed The Howling-werewolf movies seem to be up my alley, and I think I prefer them over the vampire subgenre of horror.

Also do not agree.

[Dukefrukem]

What do you guys think of Bloody's top 20 films (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18447?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+bloody-disgusting+(Bloody+Disgusting+ Horror+News)&utm_content=Google+Reader) of the decade?

I have no complaints about their 1-5 picks. Bolded ones I haven't seen and would love for you guys to recommend to me if i should see them asap. I know I need to see Session 9. Kinda wished to see Slither on the list.


20. Cloverfield
19. American Psycho
18. The Devil’s Backbone
17. May
16. Paranormal Activity
15. Battle Royale
14. Audition
13. Drag Me To Hell
12. Inside
11. [REC]
10. Saw
9. Trick ‘r Treat
8. Dawn of the Dead
7. 28 Days Later
6. The Ring
5. Session 9
4. The Mist
3. The Descent
2. Shaun of the Dead
1. Let the Right One In

[Dead & Messed Up]

What do you guys think of Bloody's top 20 films (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18447?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+bloody-disgusting+(Bloody+Disgusting+ Horror+News)&utm_content=Google+Reader) of the decade?

I have no complaints about their 1-5 picks. Bolded ones I haven't seen and would love for you guys to recommend to me if i should see them asap. I know I need to see Session 9. Kinda wished to see Slither on the list.


20. Cloverfield
19. American Psycho
18. The Devil’s Backbone
17. May
16. Paranormal Activity
15. Battle Royale
14. Audition
13. Drag Me To Hell
12. Inside
11. [REC]
10. Saw
9. Trick ‘r Treat
8. Dawn of the Dead
7. 28 Days Later
6. The Ring
5. Session 9
4. The Mist
3. The Descent
2. Shaun of the Dead
1. Let the Right One In



Stunned by the lack of "Asian Wave" horror. The choices on their list are all pretty good, but I can't get over how American it is.

[Dukefrukem]

Stunned by the lack of "Asian Wave" horror. The choices on their list are all pretty good, but I can't get over how American it is.

Good point. I hate American version of the Ring with a passion. That's about the only movie I'd remove from the list out of the ones I've seen.

[Spun Lepton]

Wolf Creek

I made it through only seventy-five minutes of this film before turning it off.

D+



And the ending is lame and anti-climactic, too.

The guy just GETS AWAY at the end, no fight, no chase, nothing. The Fucking End.

[Spun Lepton]

Yes, you read correctly :P

AAWIL has some great scenes, but its not a great movie.

You are talking out of your ass, MadMan. The Academy created a special make-up effects award specifically because of AAWIL. It was groundbreaking.

[Spun Lepton]

What do you guys think of Bloody's top 20 films (http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18447?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+bloody-disgusting+(Bloody+Disgusting+ Horror+News)&utm_content=Google+Reader) of the decade?

I have no complaints about their 1-5 picks. Bolded ones I haven't seen and would love for you guys to recommend to me if i should see them asap. I know I need to see Session 9. Kinda wished to see Slither on the list.


20. Cloverfield
19. American Psycho
18. The Devil’s Backbone
17. May
16. Paranormal Activity
15. Battle Royale
14. Audition
13. Drag Me To Hell
12. Inside
11. [REC]
10. Saw
9. Trick ‘r Treat
8. Dawn of the Dead
7. 28 Days Later
6. The Ring
5. Session 9
4. The Mist
3. The Descent
2. Shaun of the Dead
1. Let the Right One In



Slither was better than #9, #10, #17 and #20.

[Scar]

I used to think Dog Soldiers was better than London.

After multiple viewings of both, London is definitely far better than Dog Soldiers, but Dog Soldiers is still quite fun.

[megladon8]

I used to think Dog Soldiers was better than London.

After multiple viewings of both, London is definitely far better than Dog Soldiers, but Dog Soldiers is still quite fun.


Exactly.

[Bosco B Thug]

I realized the problem with modern horror movies when I was watching Mirrors and came a scene set in a monestary, and this monestary had all the atmosphere and character of a movie set. I suppose if the movie was making a comment on stultifying moral hygienics and the sterility of Catholic nunnery in modern times, but I just made that up and it is clearly not the case.

Mirrors is pretty blah aside from some sturdy suspense set-ups and good old-fashioned theatrical dramatic kitsch, like separated parents coming together through a concerted effort to paint cursed mirrors.

[The Mike]

The Wolf Man.

[/werwolfmovieconversation]

[Dead & Messed Up]

I watched Altered last night, and it was...actually kinda good. The film covers a group of hicks getting their vengeance on an alien that abducted their buddy years ago. On the one hand, I hated the creature design, which was dull as hell and flatly photographed (no shadows? no peek-a-boos?). On the other hand, it hits the ground running, and the actors manage to bring some real sympathy to their good-ol-Southern-boy characters. There are also some ingenious choices here that save on money and build on mystery. And there's intestines. There's lots and lots of intestines.

B-

If you've seen it:

I kept waiting for a moment when the guys would realize their friend became the alien they'd been torturing, but that never happened. That would've been so sweet.

[MadMan]

You are talking out of your ass, MadMan. The Academy created a special make-up effects award specifically because of AAWIL. It was groundbreaking.Heh, this post amuses me. A lot. Because I um, never said that AAWIL didn't have good FX. It does. Far better and superior than Dog Soldiers' FX, in fact. But that doesn't change the fact that for the time being, I give the slight edge to Dog Soliders. Deal with it.

[Dukefrukem]

You guys are gonna LOVE this. (http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/frozen/)

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/6162/frozenb.jpg

[Ezee E]

Hmm... I think blizzards, snow, avalanche are an untouched subject as far as using suspense or thrill tactics. But that poster.......

[megladon8]

Glad you enjoyed Altered, DaMU. Jen and I both really dug it.

I know it's such a minute detail it doesn't really matter, but I keep going back to how much I loved the ship design at the end. It was totally different from anything I'd ever seen before, and a really neat idea.

[Spun Lepton]

I watched Altered last night, and it was...actually kinda good. The film covers a group of hicks getting their vengeance on an alien that abducted their buddy years ago. On the one hand, I hated the creature design, which was dull as hell and flatly photographed (no shadows? no peek-a-boos?).

What's that?

[Spun Lepton]

Heh, this post amuses me. A lot. Because I um, never said that AAWIL didn't have good FX. It does. Far better and superior than Dog Soldiers' FX, in fact. But that doesn't change the fact that for the time being, I give the slight edge to Dog Soliders. Deal with it.

I took umbrage to the "not a great movie" statement. You can put Dog Soldiers over it all you like, even if you are wrong. :P

[Dead & Messed Up]

What's that?

Where you see sudden, buried glimpses. One of those wait-was-that-the-alien?! shocks.

It's a phrase I made up, though.

[MadMan]

I took umbrage to the "not a great movie" statement. You can put Dog Soldiers over it all you like, even if you are wrong. :PWell, neither one is a great movie, and I stand by that statement. I consider "Great" to be 94 and up as far as I'm concerned. Don't care if you think otherwise about which one is better, wanker :P

[MadMan]

Also I'll have to check out Altered sometime. As for Frozen, the trailer was freaky, sure, but I'm skeptical that it will really pan out as a movie.

[Grouchy]

If you've seen it:

I kept waiting for a moment when the guys would realize their friend became the alien they'd been torturing, but that never happened. That would've been so sweet.
Strangely enough, I also liked Altered quite a bit and had the same thought as you midway through it.

[Dead & Messed Up]

Today I was at Hollywood Video, and I saw Rec and Repo: The Genetic Opera, $5 each, and I was like score! My younger brother was there too, and he said he hadn't gotten a gift for me yet, and could he get me those, so I was like, sure.

Then I saw The Innocents for $4, and I couldn't believe that. Insane.

Insane.

[Bosco B Thug]

Let's Scare Jessica to Death is a beautiful and often genuinely unnerving gothic horror film. Really rich filmmaking here. It doesn't amount to much beyond its horror trappings, which it gets too caught up in near the end, and its screenplay is the sort of pretentious that leads it into thinking its fleshed out enough when, no, it's a little half-baked, but this film has almost the soul-stirring low-fi schlockiness of Carnival of Souls. But while that film was charged by 60s modern-art gung-ho, this one is a bit logy with 70s bootstrap filmmaking and realism.

[Grouchy]

Have any of you guys seen Left Bank, the Belgian Horror movie from last year? Very impressive. It's very Polanski-like, about an athlete girl that quickly and passionately moves in with a boyfriend when an accident keeps her from running, and then begins to unfold the mystery of the apartment complex, which is located in the city's wealthy Left Bank. The cinematography is excellent, even breath-taking, and the movie is made with care and a lot of attention to details. It's even genuinely creepy a couple of times, specially during the dream sequences. The only thing I was somewhat disappointed with is an early "investigation" scene which, to me, revealed the whole movie before it was the appropriate time.

But then again, the ending offers a completely new twist which is totally love it or hate it. I liked it a lot, but I have to admit it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. If anyone has seen the movie, I'd like to discuss it in spoilers.

[megladon8]

Saw The Howling for the first time last night and it was really good.

It's sad that it came out the same year as An American Werewolf in London, because that one totally overshadowed it (deservingly so, but still, The Howling was good enough that I think it would have been looked upon more favorably if it had come out without such stiff competition).

The transformation effects are fantastic, and the werewolves themselves look great. Particularly the work on the legs and feet, which is just awesome.

The script is quite smart, too, but uneven. You can really tell where John Sayles had a hand in writing, and even moreso, you can tell where he didn't, and it's these parts that suffer the most.

It was a great werewolf film, with some genre tropes that feel more akin to vampire stories, and this makes it all the more interesting.

[EvilShoe]

Have any of you guys seen Left Bank, the Belgian Horror movie from last year? Very impressive. It's very Polanski-like, about an athlete girl that quickly and passionately moves in with a boyfriend when an accident keeps her from running, and then begins to unfold the mystery of the apartment complex, which is located in the city's wealthy Left Bank. The cinematography is excellent, even breath-taking, and the movie is made with care and a lot of attention to details. It's even genuinely creepy a couple of times, specially during the dream sequences. The only thing I was somewhat disappointed with is an early "investigation" scene which, to me, revealed the whole movie before it was the appropriate time.

But then again, the ending offers a completely new twist which is totally love it or hate it. I liked it a lot, but I have to admit it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. If anyone has seen the movie, I'd like to discuss it in spoilers.
Of course I've seen this!
Rather impressed as well, if only because Belgium doesn't usually tackle this kind of genre cinema.
I must say I was a bit disappointed that there was little of the creepy tunnel between Left Bank and Antwerp.
http://www.op-reis.com/albums/antwerpen/fotos/antwerpen-voetgangerstunnel03.jpg
It's constantly in use, so I guess that makes it hard to film in. Also, Left Bank is actually a poorer area.

Been a while since I've seen it, but about the ending:
I thought it was an unexpectedly poetic way to end the movie, even though it does raise a lot of questions. I remembering wondering to what degree the trainer was involved, for one.

[Grouchy]

Been a while since I've seen it, but about the ending:
I thought it was an unexpectedly poetic way to end the movie, even though it does raise a lot of questions. I remembering wondering to what degree the trainer was involved, for one.
It's confusing because, while poetic and fitting with some themes of reincarnation and the after life stated throughout the movie, it really doesn't answer logically to the plot. What's the meaning of the trainer's wife having the same name as the disappeared woman, for example? Or the mother being the same actress as the nurse? Maybe the girl was reincarnated on another dimension of reality? Even more crucial, what's the ultimate objective of the Dragon Guild? Just to reincarnate people?

There are also A TON of little things left unanswered, such as the meaning of the girl's knee injury mutating and growing hairs. Not that it bothers me that much to have an open ending, but it is frustrating to an extent.

[Grouchy]

Didn't like Paranormal Activity. Or at least, not as much as most of you. I'll admit it's effective, silly closing shot and all. I mean, if you buy into it and watch it on the theater, it works, and that's a big point for it. But otherwise, the movie is kind of amateurish - the characters, the plot contrivance of the camera which I'm beginning to get very tired of, and specially that stupid scene of the psychologist coming back to announce... what? That he can't take care of the demon? The scene was kinda funny but it left me wondering why was that even on the film.

Also, the "real story" angle was really badly done, since

they thank the main characters at the beginning for their collaboration but at the end they're both dead or possessed.
I don't think it will hold up well on repeat viewings.

[EvilShoe]

It's confusing because, while poetic and fitting with some themes of reincarnation and the after life stated throughout the movie, it really doesn't answer logically to the plot. What's the meaning of the trainer's wife having the same name as the disappeared woman, for example? Or the mother being the same actress as the nurse? Maybe the girl was reincarnated on another dimension of reality? Even more crucial, what's the ultimate objective of the Dragon Guild? Just to reincarnate people?

There are also A TON of little things left unanswered, such as the meaning of the girl's knee injury mutating and growing hairs. Not that it bothers me that much to have an open ending, but it is frustrating to an extent.
As I said, been a few months, but
I figured the disappeared woman was the one in labor at the end. I don't remember the mother being the nurse, actually. Even though you're probably right.

I don't think there's an alternate universe at play, but a larger conspiracy. Marie was obviously not satisfied with her life, and wanted something new. She got that chance in the end. The knee injury and growing hairs make sense on a metophorical level (her soul is rotting), but yeah.. little idea what caused them on a literal level.
I agree it's a rather frustrating ending (even though I like it). There's so much new information in those final minutes which the movie doesn't explore.

[Grouchy]

As I said, been a few months, but
I figured the disappeared woman was the one in labor at the end. I don't remember the mother being the nurse, actually. Even though you're probably right.

I don't think there's an alternate universe at play, but a larger conspiracy. Marie was obviously not satisfied with her life, and wanted something new. She got that chance in the end. The knee injury and growing hairs make sense on a metophorical level (her soul is rotting), but yeah.. little idea what caused them on a literal level.
I agree it's a rather frustrating ending (even though I like it). There's so much new information in those final minutes which the movie doesn't explore.
The problem with Helia being the woman in labor is that the date of her disappearance and her present age doesn't match.

Agreed on all counts, though. It's frustrating but I can't help but love it, and like you say about the knee injury, as a whole it's probably best seen as a metaphor than a literal Horror movie.

[megladon8]

Silver Bullet was...okay. I guess. Actually it's kind of bad, particularly after watching both An American Werewolf in London and The Howling fairly recently. Considering Silver Bullet is later than both of those, you'd think it wouldn't have such terrible werewolf effects, but sheesh, it looks more like a man-sized teddy bear.

And strangely, Stephen King wrote the script for the film, and the script is the very worst part. Probably because it sounds like a novel - from the narration to the dialogue, it seems King just felt he could re-format the prose and dialogue from a book and "TA-DA!" have a script.

It wasn't awful, but compared to the two earlier and far superior werewolf films of the '80s, it feels closer to being an episode of "Goosebumps".