Michael Myers is one of the original "Boogeymen" and this film is rightly considered to be a classic for its style and the influence it's had on so many other slasher films. I appreciate the simple cinematography and camera work - the way it moves in Michael's point of view as he stalks the neighborhood. The score and music cues are iconic as well. I might go to a midnight showing of the new film tonight.
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!
PREVIOUSLY WATCHED IN OCTOBER
[Show spoiler]
Dark Night Of The Scarecrow (1981) 1/2 Started off October with a fun one. Not exactly a classic, but quite good for a 1981 TV movie. Lots of effective moments and a good story over-all. Surprisingly good blu-ray too. The Fly (1958) Hadn't seen this in a few years -- what a great movie! Watched the remake in September, and I have to admit, I prefer the original. The remake starts off incredibly well, but it gets lost in the gore. This movie, while cheesier, is just fun all the way through, and it really is well-constructed. The mystery framework is well done. I imagine audiences in the 50's did a lot of screaming at the big reveal and at the famous "help me!" scene. Favorite moment: When the cat disappears and you can still hear its "disembodied cat atoms" yowling. Bucket Of Blood (1960) 1/2 Campy, ultra low-budget fun from Roger Corman. This was one of his early quickies (and it shows) but it's quite enjoyable with a strong sense of humor. Dick Miller is great. Spider Baby (1967) 1/2 If ever a film deserved to be called a cult classic, it's Spider Baby. Lon Chaney is actually quite good, as are Jill Banner, Sid Haig and Beverly Washburn. Funny, sleazy, sexy and creepy all at once. No other film is quite like this. * Frankenstein (2004) 1/2 Really interesting TV adaptation of Mary Shelly's novel, supposedly the most faithful version. I've never read the book, so I enjoyed seeing how much it differed from the classic Karloff film. A few weak spots, and the monster is too normal looking for the horrified reactions he gets in the film, but it's a great story. Well worth watching. Straitjacket (1964) I had forgotten how cheesy this is! Fun, though. Over the hill Joan Crawford camping it up for William Castle, with severed heads-a-flyin'. What's not to love? A Game Of Death (1945) 1/2 Really interesting double feature last night -- the original Most Dangerous Game, and this film - it's remake, made 13 years later, by the same studio, even using quite a bit of the same footage! It's a very close remake, with one interesting plot change in the middle. It's was directed by Robert Wise at the beginning of his career. Pretty good! In fact I was going to give it 4 skulls ... until we watched the original afterwards: The Most Dangerous Game (1932) Very, very similar to it's remake ... but just better. More tightly paced, punchier, more style to the direction ... and it has the lovely Fay Wray. I liked the character of the brother better in the remake, but otherwise this version was the clear winner. An all-time classic thriller. Creepshow (1982) 1/2 Fun anthology that really captures that comic book feel. Steven King is very funny in it, and Hal Holbrook and Adrienne Barbeau are amusing too. Their story, The Crate, is the best in the film, although all the tales work well. Not as good a movie as Dead Of Night or Ghost Stories, but it's much more tongue in cheek than those and it's very successful at what it does. One of the better horror anthologies. Masque Of The Red Death (1964) What a great movie! Probably Roger Corman's best film. Price is wonderful, and the sets are fantastic. Great blu-ray too, with fantastic color. Might be a little padded in the middle (I'm talking to you, dream sequence) but it's still too good to get less than 5 skulls. It Follows (2015) 1/2 Whaddya know? An original idea in a horror movie! Very enjoyable - and creepy - film, with some interesting quirks to mull over. For example, when is this set? The kids watch old black and white movies on CRT TV's, phones have cords, and only one cell phone is ever seen but it seems contemporary in other ways. It's got a number of plot holes (like how does the first guy know what's going on when he thinks he "must have gotten it" from a one-night stand, who obviously didn't tell him) but it certainly works. One of the better horrors in recent years. * Magic (1978) (Amazon streaming) I actually saw this back in the 70's(!) when I was in high school, but I didn't remember any of it -- so I'm calling it a first time viewing. Good film! Anthony Hopkins is great. I expected this to be one of those "evil doll is really alive" films, but that's not what it is at all. A terrific, slow-burn suspense thriller. Well worth seeing -- I won't wait another 40 years to watch it again! Tales From The Crypt (1972) One of the best of the old Amicus anthologies. Every story is a winner. Joan Collins was quite the eyeful back in the day! Fun, fun movie -- and an excellent blu-ray! *Horror At 37,000 Feet (1973) (YouTube) Capt Kirk, Jed Clampett, the Rifleman, the Professor from Gilligan's Island and a few other out-of-work TV actors battle some oozing, chanting Druid glop on an airliner that's stuck in mid-air. Quality cheese! I can't help myself with these campy 70's TV horrors. Worth watching just to see the Shat as an alcoholic former priest who finds his faith again just in time to get thrown out of the airplane. * The Spiral Staircase (1945) 1/2 A first viewing, and I bet I will like it even better next time. It has style and atmosphere to spare, and a great gothic mood. Unfortunately, the story wasn't quite as impressive - after a wonderful opening not a lot happens until the end. Still, this was so well done that it was very enjoyable. Great PQ too! BTW - why this called The Spiral Staircase? There is one in the house, but it's certainly not central to the plot. The Vampire's Ghost (1945) 1/2 A fun little obscure B from the 40's. Really different for a vintage vampire movie -- it's set in the wilds of Africa, the vampire wears white, runs a bar and walks around in the daylight wearing sunglasses! Some low-budget shortcomings - mostly the acting from some of the supporting cast - but a good, and very original film. A nice change of pace, and a really beautiful blu-ray. War Of The Worlds (1953) (DVD) A wonderfully well-made film with a smart script, fine performances, great color and fantastic special effects. I don't care that you can see the wires -- the ship design is ultra-cool and the models of Los Angeles are flawless. It's of it's time (especially the main female role -- she's there to be pretty and get rescued) but it's still full of wonder, and miles ahead of the Spielberg remake. I can't imagine how amazing this must have been in 1953. WHERE IS THE BLU-RAY?! * WNUF Halloween Special 1987 (Amazon streaming) (2013) Well, that was different! Probably only deserves 2 skulls as entertainment, but I give it one extra for originality and the convincing look of a small-time 80's TV broadcast. Too long, and the actual "story" ends pretty weak, but it's amazing what can be done by people with no money (supposedly a $1,500 budget!) and a lot of creativity. Love the commercials! Trilogy Of Terror (1975) 1/2 If you grew up in the 70's, that creepy little doll is seared indelibly into your brain. Of course, the third segment is great and why the film is remembered, but it's all enjoyable. The first story is fairly good, the second is pretty obvious. What I had forgotten - and what is surprising for 70's TV - is how sleazy some of it is! Subtle (and some not so subtle) references to date rape, masochism and gang rape. The entire first story makes you squirm in this in these days of Cosby and the #MeToo movement.
Angel Heart (1987) (Amazon streaming) 1/2 This is another almost first viewing ... it's been over 30 years and I remembered next to nothing about it. A disappointment. Great cast, wonderful look, but it wears out it's welcome, and it's so convoluted that a character at the end has to make a long speech explaining everything that happened. It certainly had it's moments, but it's less than the sum of its parts ... and it has a sex scene so ridiculously over the top that even Michael Douglas must have rolled his eyes.
[Show spoiler]9/06/18: The Little Stranger * (2018):
9/07/18: The Nun * (2018):
9/10/18: Predator (1987):
9/11/18: Predator 2 (1990):
9/12/18: Predators (2010):
9/14/18:The Predator * (2018):
9/21/18: Fade To Black * (1980):
9/23/18: The Hidden (1987):
9/24/18: Season Of The Witch * (1972):
9/25/18: Assassination Nation * (2018):
9/27/18: Thriller (1983): The House With A Clock In Its Walls * (2018):
10/01/18: Night School * (1981): Body Bags * (1993): Pumpkinhead * (1988):
10/02/18: Raising Cain (1992): Split (2017):
10/03/18: Eyes Of A Stranger * (1981): Hell Fest * (2018): Someone's Watching Me! (1978):
10/04/18: Misery (1990):
10/05/18: X: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes * (1963): Body Parts * (1991):
10/06/18: Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2011): Island Claws * (1980): The Bride * (1985):
10/07/18: Carrie (1976): The Fury (1978): Jennifer * (1978):
10/08/18: Twice-Told Tales * (1963): All The Boys Love Mandy Lane * (2006): Hideaway * (1995):
10/09/18: Dracula (Spanish version, 1931): Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992):
10/10/18: ParaNorman (2012): Dr. Giggles * (1992): The Cabin In The Woods (2012):
10/11/18: The Omen (1976): Damien: Omen II (1978): The Final Conflict: Omen III (1981):
10/12/18: Corpse Bride (2005): Hush (2016): A Quiet Place (2018):
10/13/18: Trick ‘r Treat (2009): Ghost Stories * (2018):
10/14/18: The Mephisto Waltz * (1971): Dark Shadows (2012):
10/15/18: Night Of The Creeps (1986): Slither (2006):
10/16/18: Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954): The Monster Squad (1987):
10/17/18: The Island Of Dr. Moreau * (1977): The Relic (1997): The Lift * (1983):
10/18/18:
Man, Thor’s Dad has some issues…
-Magic (1978):
-The Silence Of The Lambs (1991):
A double-dose of Anthony Hopkins insanity today. 1978’s Magic was billed as “A Terrifying Love Story”, and stars Hopkins as an aspiring magician, Corky Withers, who has little luck on the amateur circuit with the usual card tricks…until he introduces “Fats” into his act, a Howdy Doody-style puppet who engages him on the stage in frequently profane patter. Corky’s agent, Ben Greene (Burgess Meredith), is thrilled with how many sold-out shows he’s been getting, and wants to sign him onto a lucrative network contract…but Corky balks at the required physical examination, and retreats to his childhood home town in a fit of panic, renting a cabin from his unrequited childhood crush, Peggy Ann Snow (Ann-Margret) and wooing her with the help of his bag tricks. But Corky isn’t well, and “Fats” keeps insinuating himself into Corky’s life and mind, twisting it into fits of mania…and possibly murder. Directed by Richard Attenborough and adapted from his own novel by screenwriter William Goldman, Magic is a superior psychological thriller, with Hopkins doing a superb double act as the meek, hesitant Corky and as the jovial and sinister “Fats” and with composer Jerry Goldsmith providing one of his classiest scores (including an incredibly disturbing use of a harmonica).
And as for The Silence Of The Lambs…what else could be written about it at this point? One of the greatest and most iconic thrillers ever made, Director Jonathan Demme keeps the tension at full-throttle throughout in this adaptation of the Thomas Harris novel. Both Jodie Foster and Hopkins won well-deserved Oscars for their portrayals of rookie FBI agent Clarice Starling and imprisoned madman Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter, respectfully, in this wildly suspenseful account of the hunt for a serial killer, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine), and how Starling elicits Lecter’s assistance from inside his maximum security cell in sussing out the killer’s true nature and motivations before he strikes again. The film has its share of ghoulish shocks, and yet it’s the mind games between Foster (with her woeful physical delicacy and shining inner strength) and Hopkins (all feral, grinning intelligence) that linger the longest in the viewer’s imagination. Set to a mournful , powerful score by Howard Shore, Silence remains the high water mark in Demme’s career (earning huge box office and the Best Picture award at the Oscars, back in the day when commerce and quality could walk hand-in-hand), and not even the franchise-ization of the Lecter character (leading to an awful 2001 sequel, Hannibal, a so-so 2002 prequel, Red Dragon – both with Hopkins reprising his role to diminishing returns -- and the surprisingly excellent NBC series Hannibal, with a suave Mads Mikkelsen making the role of Lecter his own) can diminish this film’s power to unsettle and disturb. Enjoy with a plate of fava beans and a nice chianti.
Rounded up a bit, not bothering with half skulls. (Probably deserves an extra star for the Janet Leigh cameo, anyways.)
Solid continuation of the "Earth-1" Michael Myers story. Feels almost like a Dimension greatest hits disc, lots of familiar names in those opening credits.
I remember watching this when it first came out and thinking it was kinda cool. Watching it now, there is no movie here. Nothing. Just people walking around. No scares. No plot. Awful special effects. Just awful all the way around. I know this is kinda crude but all I thought of while watching this movie is playing the f*$k marry kill game with the 3 main actresses.
Ali Larter - F*$K
Bridgette Wilson - KILL
Famke Jannsen - MARRY
Scarecrows I first rented this on VHS(!) at Blockbuster Video (!!) in the Summer of 1991 (!!!). This low-budget shocker isn't perfect, but it's genuinely frightening. Highly recommended.
16. Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (Producer's Cut) -
First time seeing either version of the film. I like how they attempted to link it back to the first film but the cult story-line absolutely ruined it for me. Plus I could not stand the story with the baby. I felt like it was distasteful and an insult to the franchise. I did like the look of Myers in this one though.
15. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers -
This had so much potential with how the last movie ended but it was wasted. I hated Jamie's telepathic abilites, the cult story-line, and the Myers house being so different.
[Show spoiler]14. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers -
I have seen this so many times now (thanks AMC ) but the ending is still so effective. I hate Myer's mask in this movie though.
13. Halloween II -
Every time I watch this film, I find more stuff in it that makes me want to roll my eyes. It is still good but doesn't get anywhere near the original.
12. The Town That Dreaded Sundown -
I saw the original movie and read a book about the real life murders called "The Phantom Killer" (which I recommend reading) a couple of years ago. I guess the movie was decent but in the back of my head I kept thinking that it was kind of distasteful.
11. Halloween -
Still a classic and the best horror movie ever. I was also impressed with the 4K transfer. The outdoor scenes especially looked stunning.
10. Where The Dead Go To Die - ZERO
I can usually stand watching crappy movies, but this trash reached a whole other level. Stopped watching it after 25 minutes.
9. Blood Fest -
Really good homage to the horror genre. My only complaint is that I wished they could have spent some more time in the park before things turned south. They did a good job with their limited budget but I wonder what else they would have done if they had a bigger budget.
8. The First Purge -
Decent entry but ultimately more of the same. So if you liked the last 2 movies you will probably get some enjoyment out of this one as well.
7. The Lodgers -
I'm usually a fan of gothic horror but this one was very mediocre.
6. Hallows' Eve -
Bad acting, an awful script, and unoriginal kills. Also I know they are on a limited budget but it is very unrealistic that at all the attractions except for one there is nobody else at them except for the main characters.
5. Hereditary -
The first hour was excellent but I hated the direction they went for the rest of the movie.
4. Unsane -
First half of the movie showed a lot of promise but then I felt it started to lose its suspense and my interest as well. It's a shame as well as I was really looking forward to watching this movie after seeing the trailer a few months ago.
3. Cellar Dweller -
Only things going for this movie is the nice monster design and the movie's short runtime.
2. Paranormal Activity -
Found it to be pretty boring at times and not scary at all but I appreciate what they did with the budget that they had.
1. Leatherface -
Not what I was expecting but still enjoyable and serves as a good prequel.
9/7 - The Nun (Theater Showing)
9/8 - Day of the Dead: Bloodline
9/10 - Verónica
9/28 - Killer Klowns from Outer Space
9/29 - BEDEVILED
9/30 - Cabin Fever (2016)
10/1 - All Hallows' Eve
10/2 - The Diabolical
10/3 - The First Purge
10/4 - Slaughter High
10/5 - Tales from the Hood
10/6 - Hell Fest (Theater Showing)
10/7 - Malevolent (2018 Netflix original movie)
10/8 - X-Ray
10/9 - Schizoid
10/10 - Hereditary
10/11 - Mischief Night (2013)
10/12 - Demonic
10/13 - Halloween (1978)
10/14 - 47 Meters Down
10/15 - The Sentinel (1977)
10/16 - Visions
10/17 - Hack-o-Lantern
Documentaries:
10/6 - Haunters: The Art of the Scare
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
9/26 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 3 - Forbidden Fruit
10/1 - Fear The Walking Dead: Season 4 - Episode 16 - ... I Lose Myself
10/3 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 5 - Rise Up
10/7 - American Horror Story: Season 8 - Episode 4 - Could It Be... Satan?
10/7 - The Walking Dead: Season 9 - Episode 1 - A New Beginning
10/10 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 6 - The Forgotten
10/16 - The Walking Dead: Season 9 - Episode 2 - The Bridge
10/17 - The Purge: Season 1 - Episode 7 - Lovely Dark and Deep
Non-Horror Halloween:
9/29 - G.I. Joe: Season 3 - Episode 18 - The Phantom Brigade
9/29 - Duck Tales: Season 1- Episode 26 - Curse of Castle McDuck
This is a great horror franchise. It maintains the same high level of production and entertainment value through 4 films. I had never seen Scream 4 and Scream 3 was almost like a first viewing since I hadn't seen it in many years and forgot how it ended.
What I've Watched So Far:
[Show spoiler]
September
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
October
Scream
Scream 2
Village of the Damned (1960)
Graveyard Shift*
Silver Bullet*
The Dead Zone*
Rampage 3D
The Lost Boys
Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters 3D*
The Faculty
Disturbing Behavior
The City of the Dead*
Cujo
The Last House on the Left (1972)* dead2:
The Last House on the Left (2009)*
Brain Dead*
WolfCop*
Another WolfCop*
House at the End of the Street*
Jacob's Ladder*
The Blair Witch Project
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon*
The Crazies* (1973)
The Crazies* (2010)
Wolf*
One Missed Call (2008)*
Shaun of the Dead
Halloween (1978)
Scream 3
Scream 4
Supposedly one of the original progenitors of the Italian cannibal genre. Was surprised to find that most of this was less about killing and eating as it was more focused on the character gradually integrating with the jungle tribe. Some gruesome scenes, but at this point I've seen worse. Big plus for this film is Me Me Lay, for obvious reasons.
Quite the slow burn, until the halfway point. One big turning event hits so hard it's a gut-punch. Then the scares kept piling up, mostly subtle but highly unsettling. Even long after its bewildering finale, I lay in bed and couldn't sleep as certain scenes replayed and I couldn't stop thinking about spirits, demons, and evil taking over bodies. The film successfully crept under my skin, and I'm still in awe over it.
Yeah, the maddest story ever told is pretty mad. It's well-filmed, weird, and campy, so of course I like it. Chances are I'll grow to love it more in time, but for now...
32 Films, 1 anime OVA, and 1 TV season
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09/03: Village of the Damned (1960)
09/03: Frankenstein (1931)
* 09/03: Son of Frankenstein
09/22: The Wolf Man (1941)
* 09/22: Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man
* 09/22: House of Frankenstein
* 09/22: House of Dracula
* 09/26: Happy Death Day
09/27: Slaughter High
* 09/30: Hotel Transylvania 3
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10/01: House on Haunted Hill (1999)
* 10/01: Flatliners (2017)
* 10/02: Beyond Re-Animator
* 10/02 - 10/03: Devilman OVA
* 10/03: Incarnate
10/04: Van Helsing
* 10/05: Deep Rising
* 10/05: The Ruins
10/06: The Invisible Man (1933)
* 10/06: The Invisible Man Returns
* 10/06: The Invisible Woman
10/07: Hollow Man
* 10/01 - 10/07: Ash vs Evil Dead Season 1
10/08: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
10/09: Insidious
* 10/10: Insidious Chapter 2
* 10/10: Insidious Chapter 3
* 10/10: Insidious: The Last Key
10/10: A Nightmare on Elm Street
* 10/10: A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
* 10/11: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
* 10/11: A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
* 10/11: A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
* 10/12: Revenge (2017)
* 10/13: Yongary: Monster from the Deep
* 10/13: The Phantom Carriage
* 10/14: Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
10/14: Annihilation
* 10/15: New Nightmare
10/15: Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
* 10/16: Sacrifice!
* 10/17: Wolf Guy
* 10/17: Hereditary
* 10/18: Spider Baby
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) 28/09 - Phase IV (1974, Saul Bass) 29/09 - Revenge (2018, Coralie Fargeat) 30/09 - Hold the Dark (2018, Jeremy Saulnier) 30/09 - The Funhouse (1981, Tobe Hooper)
————— 01/10 - Confessions (2010, Tetsuya Nakashima) 01/10 - The Blob (1958, Irvin Yeaworth & Russell Doughten) 02/10 - Dead Ringers (1988, David Cronenberg) 02/10 - Sleepwalker (1984, Saxon Logan) 03/10 - Venom (2018, Ruben Fleischer) 04/10 - Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986, John McNaughton) 06/10 - Creepshow (1982, George A. Romero) 06/10 - Shocker (1989, Wes Craven) 07/10 - The Toxic Avenger (1984, Lloyd Kaufman & Michael Herz) 07/10 - Street Trash (1987, James M. Muro) 08/10 - Kill, Baby...Kill! (1966, Mario Bava) 09/10 - The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963, Mario Bava) 09/10 - The Cat O’Nine Tails (Dario Argento, 1971) 10/10 - Black Sunday (Mario Bava, 1960) 13/10 - Black Sabbath (Mario Bava, 1963) 14/10 - The Haunting (Robert Wise, 1963) 15/10 - Spider Baby (Jack Hill, 1967) 15/10 - Night of the Demon (Jacques Tourneur, 1957) 16/10 - The Baby (Ted Post, 1973) 16/10 - Quatermass and the Pit (Roy Ward Baker, 1967) 16/10 - The Thing From Another World (Christian Nyby, 1951) 17/10 - Apostle (Gareth Evans, 2018) 18/10 - Maniac Cop (1988, William Lustig) 18/10 - J.D.’s Revenge (1976, Arthur Marks)
I can't say that this is better than the original, but I still enjoy it. I like that the location doesn't look any different from the original and I find the whole bringing a character to the cabin for an intervention believable. It helps it to make sense when things start going downhill. The movie is also unbelievably gory which is a good and bad thing. Sometimes I felt like it could be a little excessive. Also, none of the actors have the screen presence of Bruce Campbell, but that doesn't mean I didn't find them ok. The girl who played Mia did a pretty good job.
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 (1980): Hell Fest*:1/2 Chernobyl Diaries:1/2 Before I Wake*: Fright Night (2011)*: Van Helsing: I Know What You Did Last Summer: I Still Know What You Did Last Summer:1/2 Wishbone: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: Tales of Halloween*:1/2 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning:1/2 Children of the Corn*: The VVitch*: Unfriended: Dark Web*:1/2 Friday the 13th Part 2: Friday the 13th Part III:1/2 Goosebumps:1/2 Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween*: Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter: Slither: Friday the 13th: A New Beginning: Halloweentown: The Thing (1982):1/2 The Thing (2011): Halloween (1978):
#15
Alucarda (1977)*
The most scream filled demonic possession/“Satanic panic” film I’ve ever seen! Not that I’ve seen a lot, mind you, but I really don’t think any others will top this one for pure insanity. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, something even nuttier happens. Then, there’s the big climax. It has to be seen to be believed. This is not any sort of masterpiece by any stretch, but it IS how low budget exploitation horror should be done.
#14_Coraline (2009)* #13_Amityville II: The Possession (1982)* #12_Suspiria (1977) #11_Killer Workout (1987)* #10_Prophecy (1979)* #9__The Prowler (1981)* #8__Revenge of the Blood Beast (1966)* #7__Mr. Boogedy (1986) #6__Nightmare Castle (1965)* #5__Tourist Trap (1979)* #4__Crimson Peak (2015)* #3__Sisters (1972)* #2__Prince of Darkness (1987)* #1__The Fog (1980)
All countries
Argentina
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
China
Colombia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Denmark
Finland
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Ukraine
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.
) but the ending is still so effective. I hate Myer's mask in this movie though.
31 Days Of Horror 
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