I wouldn't rate Body Double nearly that high, though. I've always found it the weakest of De Palma's "peak-era" thrillers.
Yeah I figured they'd make a great double feature.
The first time I saw Body Double I enjoyed it but I also didn't think it was one of his best. However, with repeat viewings I've really gone on to loving it now.
[Show spoiler] hannibal tv series complete.
season 1 and 2 - 4.25 of 5 stars
season 3 - 3.75 of 5 stars
perfect blue - 5/5
predator 2 - 3/5 truth or dare 2018 - .25/5 slice - 3/5 the sorority house massacre - 1.75/5
halloween II - 2/5 vampire clay - 4.5/5 mandy 2018 - 5/5 the predator - 2.75/5 mom and dad 4.5/5
it stains the sand red - 4.5/5
a lot of people have zombie fatigue, and that's understandable. you can't get away from them. but this is a low budget movie that actually tackles it in a new way. the first 25 minutes might cause you tune out. but it is actually just setting things up for later on in the film. I really dug it by the end. this is a movie that seemed to come out but didn't get a huge advertising push, so it got lost in the sea of content.
the great alligator - 4/5
I love italian exploitation flicks from the 70s and 80s. this is one from sergio martino. this is a fun jaws knock off. now, the special effects aren't great, but that shouldn't be expected on such a low budget. its like the last shark level. but I was personally into the movie and didn't care at all. worth a look. currently on amazon prime.
prom night 3 - the last kiss 1.5/5
this is really bad. like frustratingly so, because they have this crazy awesome evil dead force type shot at the beginning. but this really all comedy and no horror. it's comedy with some terrible fx, but it doesn't really have any impact because the tone seems to be made not with love for the genre, but a teasing or poking finger. and prom night II is so good because it takes the material seriously, which really makes this feel worse by comparison. if you are a weird slasher franchise completist, there is a poor quality copy on youtube. but other than that, you can pass.
#3
Sisters (1972)*
Clearly, DePalma was heavily influenced by Hitchcock here. The score was even done by Bernard Herrmann. With that AIP logo in the opening credits though, I just knew this was going to be the best kind of trash. If you’re up for
[Show spoiler]murder, conjoined twins, bizarre plot twists, and psychedelic imagery,
I enjoyed this and consider it my second favorite Predator movie just above Predators (2010).
My personal ranking:
Predator 4.5/5
The Predator 3.5/5
Predators 3.5/5
Predator 2 2.5/5
Alien vs. Predator - I didn't care for Sanaa Lathan as the lead in this.
Alien vs. Predator: Requium - I barely remember it, I just know it wasn't good. Due for a rewatch.
September
[Show spoiler] Fade to Black*
Slaughter High*
Truth or Dare*
The Howling*
Cult of Chucky*
Maximim Overdrive*
Predator 2
My Boyfriend's Back*
The Predator*
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
What a hot mess this one was. The first movie wasn't anything to write home about, but this one was just awful. The story was dumb and barely made any sense. It's only saving grace was the gore.
Oh, the horror so far this year:
[Show spoiler]Drag Me to Hell*: The Boy*:: Last Shift*:1/2 Little Evil*:
The Orphanage (2007) A well-made, creepy, slow burn 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. Sound is definitely an upgrade, 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/Anna. 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 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.
Last edited by charlieray1; 09-17-2018 at 06:29 PM.
The King Kong films would fit into the same category. I consider them along with Jurassic Park to be more so action-adventure films; but if people include them with thier horror/Halloween watching it’s because they are monster movies. I think they’re more fitting than Predator films, but the last Predator film is actually set during Halloween.
The King Kong films would fit into the same category. I consider them along with Jurassic Park to be more so action-adventure films; but if people include them with thier horror/Halloween watching it’s because they are monster movies. I think they’re more fitting than Predator films, but the last Predator film is actually set during Halloween.
totally agree...the old King Kong could get away with horror i guess but the new one is asction/adventure...
10. THE PURGE
This one is ok but I like it the least of the series. It's a cool concept but the plot just goes in a different direction from where I thought the story would go. I may try it again in the future but for now I strongly prefer the sequels to this original. I'm going to try and watch all 4 entries for my marathon this year.
11. LAND OF THE DEAD
I like Dennis Hopper but the other survivors are just ok. Excellent zombie effects. I sometimes overlook this because I think the Dawn of the Dead remake from the previous year is much better but it's still worth checking this one out.
[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
All countries
Argentina
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Hong Kong
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Iceland
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Philippines
Poland
Portugal
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South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
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Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
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.
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