19. THE PURGE ANARCHY
Much better than the first one. I like that this moves over the city instead of being confined to just one home. I thought there were maybe too many twists at the end but otherwise I enjoyed it. I don't know if I like it enough to call it a favorite yet but I've seen it more than once and wouldn't mind checking it out again some time.
[Show spoiler]
1. 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE
2. THE MUMMY 1959
3. SALEM'S LOT
4+5. FRIDAY THE 13TH 1+2
6. THE MUMMY 1932
7. THE THING 1982
8. SHAUN OF THE DEAD
9. FREDDY VS. JASON
10. THE PURGE
11. LAND OF THE DEAD
12. RAMPAGE
13-15. POLTERGEIST 1+2+2015
16. ALIEN VS. PREDATOR
17. THE MEG
18. DAWN OF THE DEAD 2004
hell fest - .5/5
with a classic, everything works and every choice made is the right choice. this is the opposite. nothing works. and it's from top to bottom. in fact, the only thing that really isn't bad is the production design. but even that is almost ruined by the poor acting. now this wasn't as bad as say truth or dare, but this had probably one of the stupidest endings I can recall in recent memory. this feels like the kind of horror movie made by someone who doesn't like or understand horror movies. like a terrible dtv mess, but with better production. ugh.
The premise alone in Hell Fest is irresistible...and I think there are other movies that touch on it (Funhouse). But can production designers get a shout-out from time to time? Damn. Setting a scene makes the actors that much more comfortable in a movie, and Michael Perry (production designer), you sir are a true stage setter.
But...we got some problems here people. The characters are (you guessed it) thin. Really thin. But for a slasher movie, they are serviceable. Bex Tayler-Klaus (Taylor) is the real stand-out...and I adored her as Audrey in the Scream TV series.
But my biggest issue is the "meh" factor here...especially where the killer is concerned. Let's call the spade...he's pretty much a Myers ripoff, but without the mystique. Just bland. And we can't credit him for his amazing kills, because most of them are pretty stock.
Hell Fest is fun though. I think the biggest compliment I can give it is the setting, which is irresistible for a horror fan...especially one that recently visited Halloween Horror Nights, like myself.
14 Sep - Summer of 84* 1/2
16 Sep - Rob Zombie's Halloween 1/2
17 Sep - Sorority Row
20 Sep - The Nun*
23 Sep - Alice Sweet Alice* 1/2
24 Sep - Mandy* 1/2
26 Sep - Drag Me To Hell
27 Sep - Hell Fest
Not going to do a "complete" spooktacular due to being busy with life + catching up with other non horror releases buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut I do have a line up ready and waiting for when October rolls around. In alphabetical order:
A Cure For Wellness. Event Horizon. The Exorcist III (Theatrical Cut). Hellraiser. Hereditary. Trick 'R Treat. The Witch.
Might also see if I can squeeze in the new Halloween while I'm at it. Only problem I might have is trying to figure out which one to save for Halloween night. I'm considering doing Hereditary but my friends say I should go with Trick 'R Treat instead. Both are great choice but I'm not sure.
Been traveling for work a lot this month but this is my month so far. Leans towards Action/thriller/horror.
9/10/18 The Endless
9/11/2018 Hot Fuzz
9/13/2018 Super 8
9/23/2018 Kill List
9/25/2018 The Guest
9/26/2018 Underworld:Evolution
9/27/2018 The Stuff Growing up I had always seen this iconic vhs cover in the video stores. Finally got around to watching it. Goofy, horrible editing but subtly smart and pretty entertaining.
Getting close to the main event -- just a couple more films for my September warm-up!
SEPTEMBER WARM-UP
Blue = blu-ray, * = first time viewing
Previously Watched Films:
[Show spoiler]
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. The House That Dripped Blood (1971) Another old Amicus anthology movie ... but one of the lesser ones. The best story is probably the third, about Christopher Lee and his voo-doo practicing daughter, but none of the four tales have quite the punch of the stories in Asylum, or Tales From The Crypt. Still, a good time ... and a wonderful blu-ray. Great colors on all those cheesy 70's era ascots that everyone wears in this.
The Sentinel (1977) 1/2 Geez, what an incoherent mess! Very campy movie (with an amazing cast!) that tries really hard to horrify ... and misses. A few decent moments, but mostly silly. HOWEVER: If you've always wanted to see Beverly D'Angelo as a mute, nude, cymbal-playing, brain-eating lesbian from Hell ... this film gets my highest recommendation.
Last edited by charlieray1; 09-28-2018 at 06:02 PM.
I really like this one. It's a little slow at times and there's absolutely no character development, but it's entertaining. While you don't get to know the characters, at least they're all at least likable and you feel for them when they're killed in gory fashion. I must admit, too, that even though I know the twist, it is set up very well throughout the movie.
Oh, the horror so far this year:
[Show spoiler]Drag Me to Hell*: The Boy*:: Last Shift*:1/2 Little Evil*: The Collection*:1/2 A Quiet Place*:1/2 As Above, So Below:1/2 It (2017):1/2 Thriller: The House With a Clock in Its Walls*: Dreamcatcher: Hereditary*: The Village:1/2
Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter - There isn't one likable character in the entire movie. Savini's work is lit and shot by Joseph Zito in such a way that almost every makeup effect looks phony. And don't even get me started with the "Jason Hunter" and head-shaving with a disposable razor. I will never understand why this film is so beloved by horror fans. Only parts 5 and 7 are worse Friday films.
I read "There isn't one likable character in the entire movie" and automatically thought you were talking about 5 before reading it over again, ha! I enjoy both greatly, I think that The Final Chapter has the most atmosphere out of all of them, but I do agree that it doesn't have the strongest cast of all the films.
I read "There isn't one likable character in the entire movie" and automatically thought you were talking about 5 before reading it over again, ha! I enjoy both greatly, I think that The Final Chapter has the most atmosphere out of all of them, but I do agree that it doesn't have the strongest cast of all the films.
isn't that a good thing in a slasher film? This way you don't have enjoyment taken away being sorry for the characters!
isn't that a good thing in a slasher film? This way you don't have enjoyment taken away being sorry for the characters!
But they also have to be tolerable. The characters in that Sorority Row remake were so f***ing irritating, I couldn't wait for them to get sliced to shreds.
isn't that a good thing in a slasher film? This way you don't have enjoyment taken away being sorry for the characters!
You raise a good argument, but a strong balance needs to be maintained. You want your characters to be unlikable, but not so unlikable they aren't fun to watch even when they aren't being killed. Part 5 does that pretty well, that chocolate bar scene is gold!
But they also have to be tolerable. The characters in that Sorority Row remake were so f***ing irritating, I couldn't wait for them to get sliced to shreds.
that was the one with Carrie Fisher? I haven't seen that one in a long time and I remember being pretty underwhelmed by it...
All countries
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Hong Kong
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Portugal
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Taiwan
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Turkey
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United Arab Emirates
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.
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