tl;dr - we should have more art house theatres that do retrospectives so people can experience the magic of their favorites on actual film.
Yes, the local art house or Alamo Drafthouse represent the best way to screen a film other than new blockbusters, where Dolby Cinema gets my money.
We're lucky in here in metro NYC to have a wealth of options, e.g., Quad (they are screening Dead of Night today if you are still in town; wish I could make it!) for 35mm prints, although it's still a challenging business model due to the real estate costs.
Our local Alamo (Yonkers) is supported by students from nearby Sarah Lawrence, so they do a very good business – tonight the Yonkers Film Club is screening a 35mm print of The Pope Of Greenwich Village.
"My face frightens me. My mask frightens me even more."
Eyes Without A Face [1960; Re-watch (2013 Criterion Blu-ray)]
Rating:
Analysis: An unsettling descent to a place unreal yet supremely realistic, populated by humans behaving unbelievably inhumanly, yet very believable.
I just watched this last night for the first time! Rented it on iTunes, trying to decide if I should buy the Criterion Blu while it's still on sale. How are the special features? I liked it on the first time through, had some incredible cinematography, but didn't love it.
I just watched this last night for the first time! Rented it on iTunes, trying to decide if I should buy the Criterion Blu while it's still on sale. How are the special features? I liked it on the first time through, had some incredible cinematography, but didn't love it.
Glad you liked it, but it is a slow and deliberate descent. The standout special feature is an early short by Franju:
Quote:
Blood of the Beasts - Georges Franju's short documentary Le sang des betes a.k.a Blood of the Beasts (1949) offers a fascinating but quite disturbing look at Paris' abattoirs. The film is presented with two tracks: the original French soundtrack (Dolby Digital 1.0) and an English dub (Dolby Digital 1.0). With optional English subtitles. (23 min, 1080p).
The extras are also all in French with subtitles, so YMMV.
9/7 - The Nun (Theater Showing)
9/8 - Day of the Dead: Bloodline
9/10 - Verónica
Documentaries:
TV Shows:
9/8 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 1 - What Is America?
9/10 - Fear The Walking Dead: Season 4 - Episode 13 - Blackjack
9/11 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 2 - Take What's Yours
9/13 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 1 - The End
9/18 - Fear The Walking Dead: Season 4 - Episode 14 - MM54
9/18 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 3 - The Urge to Purge
9/24 - Fear The Walking Dead: Season 4 - Episode 15 - I Lose People
9/24 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 2 - The Morning After
9/25 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 4 - Release the Beast
The Orphanage (2007) A well-made, creepy, slow burn Spanish horror film. Very effective, and surprisingly moving at the end. This got our annual MonsterFest off to a great start! Village Of The Damned (1960) Hadn't seen this in a few years. I forgot how very well-made and effective it is. Terrific movie, and a great looking new blu-ray from Warner Archive. *The Devil's Daughter (1973) 1/2 (YouTube) My wife and I are old enough to have seen a lot of silly 70's TV movies as kids and we have a soft-spot for them. This is a completely predictable "Rosemary's Baby" rip-off -- campy, and a LOT of nostalgic fun. Decent cast too, with Shelly Winters, Joseph Cotton and a post "Dark Shadows" Jonathon Frid. We liked it ... but if you grew up after the '70's, you'll want to knock a couple of skulls off. The Dead Zone (1983) Easily my favorite SK adaptation -- great story, great cast. Brooke Adams is beautiful! A favorite. Imported the Australian blu-ray. A little disappointing. The audio is definitely an upgrade, and the picture is too, but it's subtle. Ghost Story (1981) 1/2 Another old favorite. I'm a sucker for slow-burn, well-crafted ghost stories ... and this one has those qualities in spades. Cool to see these old-time actors -- the cast is excellent -- along side Alice Krige, who is perfection as Eva/Alma. Loses half a star for over-reliance on shock cuts to gooey dead faces. They get a bit repetitive after a while, and they're not necessary in this movie -- it's strength is "eerie", not shock. *The Little Stranger (2018) theatrical Gee, I wanted to love this. It looked like the kind of subtle ghost story that's right up my alley, but I guess even subtle can be overdone. EVERYTHING is laid between the lines, to the point that I really didn't understand what happened in the film. Had to read about it afterwards to figure out what I missed. Good premise, well made and well acted ... but it needs at least a LITTLE more overt storytelling. A big disappointment. *Cronos (1993) :1/2 This didn't do much for me either. Some nice moments early on, but mostly gooey and pointless. *sigh* *Cat Creature (1973) youtube 1/2 OK, I knew this wasn't going to be good, but I thought it would be entertaining. As I said (see: The Devil's Daughter) I have a fondness for campy 70's TV movie horror. I don't mind if they're silly, over-acted, unbelievable ... but this one was dull. How do you take a plot about a 2,000 year old cat creature stalking Los Angeles and make it boring? Simple: all "cop investigation" and very little cat. Interesting cast though -- Peter Lorre Jr? Who knew? (NOTE: OK, this is weird! Peter Lorre Jr wasn't related to Peter Lorre! Check this out: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0521137/bio) The Grudge (2004) 1/2 The best of the 4 we saw this weekend ... and the only one I had seen before. Not a great movie by any means, but fun and entertaining. (Are you listening, Cat Creature?) The Fog (1980) A favorite, and IMO, one of JC's best films. However, I might skip this one for the next few years. No fault of the movie, but I've seen it many times and it's become so familiar that it didn't do as much for me this year. Still, it earns it's 4 skulls. Asylum (1972) Boy, did I enjoy this! Never had the DVD, so I hadn't seen it since the VHS days. I love all the old Amicus anthologies, and although I had forgotten some of it, this is one of the best. The wrap around story is much better than most, and each tale worked quite well. Decent blu-ray too -- some nice extras. Silence Of The Lambs (1991) What a powerful movie this is. Jody Foster and, especially, Anthony Hopkins are so perfect in their roles. Controlled, understated, underplayed and completely chilling. Also, for a film with such gruesome subject matter, it's surprisingly restrained -- it's dark and oppressive, but most of the violence is off-screen. A smart, well-made, grim thriller. My wife and I tend to stick to lighter, "fun" horror movies, but this one is too good to miss. *Ghost Stories (2018) 1/2 I can't stop thinking about this movie! Too many jump scares perhaps, but there is a lot more here than shock. This film demands to be watched closely with no distractions, and the closer you watch, the more you'll get out of it. Plus, it's a lot of fun! I hate it when people say "You didn't get it" if you don't like a certain movie. However, in this case, if all you see is what's in plain sight ... you didn't get it. Or at least you missed the best part. A new classic. Trick Or Treat (2007) 1/2 I love the way this movie looks, and the way the stories intertwine. I like the Sam character, and all the Halloween iconography too. It's a fun film, that loses half a skull for me for being a bit too sleazy in spots. (Really don't enjoy hearing a 10 year old say "butt-f***.") Still, very enjoyable. The Funhouse (1981) 1/2 This gets off to a really lunk-headed start -- dumb characters, cheesy dialogue -- but once they get inside the funhouse and the main story starts, it really goes! We see the "monster" close enough and long enough to realize that it's an immobile mask, but this works as a fun, simple horror movie. Captures the whole garish carnival atmosphere nicely too. Turn off your brain and go for a ride. *Unsane (2018) (Amazon streaming) 1/2 This has ... *ahem* ... a few problems. It's impossible to like the main character -- she's obnoxious -- and it's really, really far-fetched. Unless, of course, she imagined the whole thing (which I tend to believe. She's obviously nuts.) I like the ambiguity of the ending, but this was pretty "meh.". The most impressive thing was that the whole movie was shot on an iPhone! Looked pretty good too. Near Dark (1987) I've always liked this one -- it's a really cool reworking of the whole vampire mythology. Great cast -- Lance Henriksen is amazing. So is Bill Paxton -- first time I've seen it since he died. Funny that neither of the leads, Adrian Pasdar (Caleb) or Jenny Wright (Mae), went on to much movie success. They're both quite good -- and she was gorgeous! A favorite ... even if the whole
[Show spoiler]"vampires are cured by a transfusion" idea
is a little unconvincing! Repulsion (1965) 1/2 This movie takes its time -- there's a lot of mundane details of our main character's life. But there's also a growing sense of unease, the sense that things are not right. By the final third of the movie, she has left all reality behind and what happens is all the more shocking because the first half of the film is so restrained. Maybe not a "fun" movie -- but a disturbing and effective portrait of mental illness. Very chilling. Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) I've seen this many times, but I still have such mixed emotions about it! It's fun to watch, and as eye-candy it's an easy 5 skulls, but as an adaptation of Dracula ... well, it's far more concerned with over-the-top style than substance. It's fun (and occasionally very good, when it calms down a bit) but I wish more of the talent and money had been aimed at the story instead of the flash. (Although it's fun to watch Keanu's hair constantly change color!) The Fly (1986) 1/2 Watching this last night, I was really admiring it -- it has a literate, witty script, great performances and incredible make-up. I always forget how good it really is. Then the final act hits and pulls me out of the movie. All the sympathy the film has built for the characters is forgotten under a ton of (incredibly well-done) gore. It's still fun in a "Ewww! Look at that!" way, but it's so much more than that before the ick hits the fan. A 5 skull movie that loses 1 and 1/2 under the glop. (Fun fact: I never noticed before that Jeff G says "Help Me, please help me" to Geena D -- that must be a nod to the original film.) A Quiet Place (2018) 1/2 Who would have thought that a PG-13 film with no profanity, no gore, and no nudity would become such a big hit -- and be so intense? When this came out last spring it was a real breath of fresh air, and it plays just as well at home. Incredibly fun old-school monster movie with an amazing sound design. Yeah, it's got a few plot holes ... but who cares? The most fun I've had at a monster movie in ages. Psycho (1960) Not a lot to say about this movie, except that it still holds up. Big time. It doesn't matter that everyone knows the reveal -- the acting, the cinematography, the tight construction all really work. Why on earth didn't Tony Perkins get nominated for an Oscar? A classic that I admire more every time I see it. *Psycho IV (1990) A first time watch, and a disappointing one. The worst of the sequels by a long shot, and surprisingly, where it fails most is the writing. Joseph Stefano, who did the original Psycho script, also wrote this, but it has some truly cringe-worthy dialogue. ("That's all that thing of yours is for, making wee-wee!") Sadly there was potential here, and a few decent ideas, and even a decent moment or two, but it never takes off. It's always good to see Anthony Perkins as Norman, and it's worth owning just for that, but Tony AND Norman both deserved a far better farewell. City Of The Dead (1960) Quick! Name the movie: a 1960 black and white thriller with a pretty blonde that stays in a lonely hotel, and disappears from the movie halfway through after being
[Show spoiler]stabbed to death by the owner.
The second half of the film has her sibling searching for her and finding out the shocking truth about the innkeeper. Psycho, you say? Nope. City Of The Dead! A fun, old school horror movie with fantastic atmosphere, and Christopher Lee to boot. A low-budget, but very effective and eerie little film, with an especially chilling prologue set in the 1700's. A real Halloween treat, and a great blu-ray too!
Fade To Black (1980) : (Amazon Prime) I'm tempted to call this a first viewing -- it's been over 30 years, and I didn't remember much of it ... if I had, I wouldn't have watched again. There's actually a very good idea here: a movie obsessed kid, killing his enemies in the style of characters from films. There are several cool movie clips, movie references and memorabilia, plus a few nice shots. And Dennis Christopher is pretty good. But everyone else is awful, and the script is a complete mess. A missed opportunity, but at least it was fun to watch.
Yes, the local art house or Alamo Drafthouse represent the best way to screen a film other than new blockbusters, where Dolby Cinema gets my money.
We're lucky in here in metro NYC to have a wealth of options, e.g., Quad (they are screening Dead of Night today if you are still in town; wish I could make it!) for 35mm prints, although it's still a challenging business model due to the real estate costs.
Our local Alamo (Yonkers) is supported by students from nearby Sarah Lawrence, so they do a very good business – tonight the Yonkers Film Club is screening a 35mm print of The Pope Of Greenwich Village.
i lived in nyc ten years ago but left before this new wave of arthouse theatres. and it really makes me want to move back. I wish I could remember the name of the theatre, but I remember seeing black book by myself when it came out someone where around 14th st.
I thought about dead of night. the quad has the most comfortable seats. I found another couple movies at two theatres though.
Species Laughable dialogue, poor acting...this is one or two steps above the kind of movie you'd find on MST3K. It's saving graces are a great performance by a young Michelle Williams, and excellent creature work by H.R. Giger and Steve Johnson.
Species Laughable dialogue, poor acting...this is one or two steps above the kind of movie you'd find on MST3K. It's saving graces are a great performance by a young Michelle Williams, and excellent creature work by H.R. Giger and Steve Johnson.
so, just out of curiosity what would you rate this movie without those things?
Isn't one skull the lowest rating? or is there a solo half skull?
I caught Fade To Black recently on Amazon Prime and was surprised to discover I'd never seen it before, considering its interesting premise (I distinctly remember ads for it as a teen in 1980, as well as reading coverage of it in Fangoria and a review in Cinefantastique). It was ambitious enough to want to be, ahem, a cut above the slasher fare dominant during that period, but the lousy scripting, erratic pacing and terrible acting definitely sink it. Admittedly, it's fun to see Mickey Rourke, Peter Horton and even Tim Thomerson in early roles but Dennis Christopher in the lead is a real liability (and he was so good in Breaking Away); he's laughably earnest in some scenes and utterly over the top in others, and his character is so off-puttingly obnoxious and creepy it's easy to see why nobody likes him (if he's supposed to be somewhat sympathetic, I wasn't feeling it).
Still, that premise holds real potential and it felt like a missed opportunity: time for a remake with Timothee Chalamet? . Oh, and fun fact: Gwynne Gilford as the attractive policewoman who gets involved with Thomerson's character is actor Chris Pine's mom.
Red = Theatrical Blue = Blu-ray Black = Streaming/TV/Other
* = Rewatch
02/09 - Upgrade (2018, Dir. Leigh Whannell) 10/09 - A Quiet Place (2018, Dir. John Krasinski) 11/09 - Ghost Stories (2018, Dir. Jeremy Dyson & Andy Nyman) 12/09 - Resolution (2012, Dir. Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead) 16/09 - The Endless (2018, Dir. Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead) 17/09 - Under the Shadow (2016, Dir. Babak Anvari) 18/09 - Ninja III: The Domination (1984, Sam Firstenberg) 19/09 - Thelma (2017, Joachim Trier) 20/09 - The Crow (1994, Alex Proyas 23/09 - Climax (2018, Gaspar Noe) 24/09 - A Cure For Wellness* (2017, Gore Verbinski) 26/09 - mother!* (2017, Darren Aronofsky)
so, just out of curiosity what would you rate this movie without those things?
Isn't one skull the lowest rating? or is there a solo half skull?
I have always used a scale of zero through five, with no half-numbers. Three levels of good, three levels of not so good. I think the first post in this thread said to use a scale of one through five, but I guess I'm a rebel...
Curtains (on a scale of zero to five) Additional photography under a different director was completed several years after principal photography ended. As such, this movie is a mess. It's an entertaining mess, though. The performances are strong (Lynne Griffin and Samantha Eggar are especially good) and the atmosphere is undeniably creepy.
The Last Drive In with Joe Bob Briggs: Blood Feast 1/2
Not a good movie by any means but it deserves it spot in horror history as one of the first gore films. Joe Bob as usual is a blast and serves up some fun stories.
The Last Drive In with Joe Bob Briggs: Sleepaway Camp This was one of my favoroite episodes so far. The movie is a slasher classic and Joe Bob was as usual, awesome. Angela herself, Felissa Rose sits in and shares stories about the making of the film and you could tell she was having a great time. This made for a great episode in Joe Bob's marathon.
I didn't expect this film to be any good. That's the beauty in film - going in with low or no expectations. I really enjoyed William Castle's direction, and especially the scares. A good film, and recommended.
Note: imo, a not-that-subtle theme of sadism or perhaps sadomasochism (Krull & the leeches). Also, the Baron himself with the ladies (maybe not the scene with the ladies but what he's done in the past hence the fears from the townsfolk). However, are we to dispel that theory, or perhaps more emphasized when the Baron, before entering Maude's room, mentioned that he was not the affectionate type in the morning?
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Pope Mickey
31 Days Of Horror 
Still, it earns it's 4 skulls.
It's impossible to like the main character -- she's obnoxious -- and it's really, really far-fetched. Unless, of course, she imagined the whole thing (which I tend to believe. She's obviously nuts.) I like the ambiguity of the ending, but this was pretty "meh.". The most impressive thing was that the whole movie was shot on an iPhone! Looked pretty good too.
so, just out of curiosity what would you rate this movie without those things?
Haxan 
Christopher Young's score is very good, as well.
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