31 Days of Halloween Movies (2018) - Horror Fans Unite!!!!!!

[Blu Balls]

I got lit last night, and watched An American Werewolf in London. Great flick!

[oilers73]

John Dies at the End Like a lot of Don Coscarelli movies, this doesn't make much sense. But, like most Coscarelli movies, it's great fun to watch. The entire cast is just right.

[demonknight]

Gonna start on the first with Neil Jordan’s High Spirits.

[u2popmofo]

I have no idea why, but I've always avoided watching this. I don't think I liked the look of the count in the trailers back when the movie was releasing, and managed to talk myself out of seeing it for 26 years. It showed up on the Shock Wave podcast's top 100 horror movies list earlier this year, and I decided I should finally check it out. Happened to be at Best Buy a few weeks back, and they had the 4K UHD on sale for $15, bought it on a whim. Finally fired it up tonight, and loved it from the beginning. Fantastic movie, I'm ashamed of my 26 years of ignorance! Great movie for the Halloween season.

[october27]

Originally Posted by u2popmofo

I have no idea why, but I've always avoided watching this. I don't think I liked the look of the count in the trailers back when the movie was releasing, and managed to talk myself out of seeing it for 26 years. It showed up on the Shock Wave podcast's top 100 horror movies list earlier this year, and I decided I should finally check it out. Happened to be at Best Buy a few weeks back, and they had the 4K UHD on sale for $15, bought it on a whim. Finally fired it up tonight, and loved it from the beginning. Fantastic movie, I'm ashamed of my 26 years of ignorance! Great movie for the Halloween season.

One of my all time favorites and will definitely be one I watch for the marathon this year. This was one of the first 4K titles I bought and it makes an already visually stunning movie look even more impressive.

[october27]

23. PROMETHEUS
This is a pretty decent relaunching of the Alien series. It's almost a remake of the original with a crew of unsuspecting scientists making a discovery on a remote planet and then trying to get away as quickly as they can. I like the cast ok and Michael Fassbender is very good as the robot David. The new alien designs are pretty cool and overall it has enough action and horror and suspense to keep me coming back for multiple rewatches. I probably rate this one somewhere in the middle of the Alien films.

[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
19. THE PURGE ANARCHY
20+21. FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3+4
22. THE THING 2011

[MassiveMovieBuff]

9/29
You're Next
The Last House on the Left (2008)

[MJD64]

As you're pretty, so be wise
Wolves may lurk in every guise
Now as then, 'tis simple truth
Sweetest tongue has sharpest tooth

Rewatched one of my favorite werewolf films this Sunday morning, Neil Jordan's 1984 The Company of Wolves. This is a dreamy and surreal little gem rife with symbolism and sexual metaphors. The visuals are tantalizingly inviting in the manner of a fairy-tale, yet there is an ominous sense of menace underneath it all: That childhood security most of us feel is about to be upended with the coming of sexuality and adulthood...and it's downright lycanthropic! Jordan regular Stephen Rea, David Warner, beguiling newcomer Sarah Patterson and Angela Lansbury as one of the creepier grandmothers in film anchor a fine cast (and watch for that Terence Stamp cameo). George Fenton provides an eerie beauty of a score.

Still no domestic Blu for this, though I've heard Scream is attempting to acquire it for release; here's hoping.

[kingdoxie]

Evil Dead1.jpg

The Evil Dead

[filmbuffTX]

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)





This was my first viewing. It might be an otherwise mediocre movie, but Kristy Swanson is great in the lead role and Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman) is unrecognizable in the film.


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*
The Nun*
He's Out There*
Jurassic Park: 25th Anniversary
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom 3D
The House with a Clock in It's Walls* w/Thriller - IMAX
Slither*
The House with a Clock in It's Walls w/ Thriller - IMAX
Buffy the Vampire Slayer*

*first-time viewing

[charlieray1]

The September Warm Up is over! We'll be at Knott's Halloween Haunt tonight, so no movie on the 30th. Next up ... October 1st, and the Main Event! Here's everything my wife and I watched this month


SEPTEMBER WARM-UP

Blue = blu-ray, * = first time viewing

Previously Watched Films:

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.
The Undying Monster (1947) The first 15 minutes of this are so good, and so atmospheric and so well shot that it could easily give the best Universal horrors a run for their money. Unfortunately, it settles into a talky mystery film. It perks up near the end, but it never lives up to the promise of those wonderful opening scenes.
Black Sabbath (Italian version - 1963) This is absolutely one of the best (and scariest!) anthology films ever made ... and the original Italian version is the way to see it. The American version completely rewrites one of the stories (The Telephone) to remove the lesbian element of the story. They did a clever editing job, but it's not the same story, and not as good. In the original, all three stories are really strong, and surprisingly creepy. The dead witch in A Drop Of Water is still frightening after all these years. Karloff is great as a Wurdalack (Romanian vampire) preying on his family.



Sometimes They Come Back (1991) :1/2 Really enjoyable TV movie. Almost gave it 4 skulls because I really like the story and the film works well for me ...but there's enough cheese in it that 3 1/2 is more realistic. A great way to wrap up September!

[cgpublic]

”Laws can be wrong, and laws can be cruel, and the people who live only by the law are both wrong and cruel.”

Isle of the Dead [1945; First Watch (2016 Warner Archive Collection DVD)]



Rating: 

Analysis: This is a slow but enjoyable watch, especially for Karloff fans. Given the incredible plot, perhaps it’s best to leave it the professionals over at TCM:

Set during the Balkan Wars of 1912, this film has Boris Karloff as a Greek general, Nikolas Pherides, who, after leading his troops in a victorious battle, travels to a nearby island to visit the grave of his wife. He finds that the body has been exhumed and, along with American reporter Oliver Davis (Marc Cramer), begins a search for the remains. The two are aided by Albrecht (Jason Robards, Sr.) who provides a place for them to stay and explains that some locals have taken to grave robbing. Pherides decides to go after the culprits, dismissing fellow houseguest Kyra's (Helene Thimig) peasant superstitions of vrykolakas – Greek vampires. Members of the household are stricken with deadly plague caused by the hundreds of corpses that litter the nearby battlefield. As the disease spreads, madness begins to grip the island, culminating in a premature burial. At this point Pherides has become deranged, believes Kyra's stories and vows to kill the "vampire" Thea (Ellen Drew). As with BEDLAM (’46), producer Val Lewton based this film on a painting, this time a work by Swiss painter Arnold Boecklin.

[cgpublic]

”No pleasure, no pain... no emotion, no heart. Our superior in every way.”

The Thing From Another World [1951; Re-watch (2003 Warner DVD)]



Rating: 

Analysis: The original, and still one of the best sci-fi slash horror films of all-time, all thanks to Howard Hawks; IMHO, second only to Ridley & Alien.

A great end note to September, and the perfect set-up for my first film of October to really kick-off the days, and nights, of Halloween.

[NI-Gunner]

In several hours... it begins!

[sandman slim]

16 & 17:



Both

Zombieland was the big hit, but Scouts Guide is just as good, equal parts laugh out loud & cringe-inducing gore. (Two words:

[Show spoiler]zombie weiner.

)

Great double feature to take my mind off the real horror this weekend: the Cardinals missed the playoffs. Again. Literally,

Bring on October!

[filmbuffTX]

The Craft (1996)





One of the better teen horror/thrillers of the late 90s.

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*
The Nun*
He's Out There*
Jurassic Park: 25th Anniversary
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom 3D
The House with a Clock in It's Walls* w/Thriller - IMAX
Slither*
The House with a Clock in It's Walls w/ Thriller - IMAX
Buffy the Vampire Slayer*
The Craft

*first-time viewing

[Blu Myers]

29 Sep - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers



Had to celebrate the theatrical release anniversary by giving the closing chapter to the Thorn trilogy another watch. 6 is definitely the most controversial because of all the drama from behind the scenes. But sometime chaos creates beauty...and I find a lot of it in 6. An unapologetic Michael (perhaps his scariest portrayal), a rough behind the edges first outing of Paul Rudd, and arguably the most atmosphere out of the whole franchise. It's gained a "cult" following for a reason people. #Thorn4Life

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
28 Sep - Terrifier 1/2
29 Sep - Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers

[Monterey Jack]

Tomorrow...the Halloween Horror Marathon begins in earnest...!

[kingdoxie]

Lagoon1.jpg

Creature from the Black Lagoon

[october27]

24. THE PURGE ELECTION YEAR
This is the best installment of the series so far. It's still the same premise of trying to survive purge night but the characters are a little more interesting. I don't know if I like this enough to call it a favorite yet but it's definitely worth seeing and I 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
19. THE PURGE ANARCHY
20+21. FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3+4
22. THE THING 2011
23. PROMETHEUS