* = first viewing
Theme for 1st - 6th: Intro to October (Anything)
October 1st:
*The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) =
[Show spoiler]
Defiantly see why it's consider a masterpiece of horror, the violence is minimal and yet made me wince just because of how it's presented. You feel the same emotions that Sally feels because her actress really gives it her all with her fear, her desire to live, it's amazing. The family is probably the best hillbilly villains in horror cinema. If you haven't seen this classic yet, like I before, do yourself a favor and see it, it's fantastic.
October 2nd:
Tusk =
[Show spoiler]
Kevin Smith's second horror film (I'll be doing the first soon), and...(sigh) I'm really sad to give this just a 3, The acting is fantastic (besides one, I'll get to that in a little bit), the writing is amazing, there are some amazing monologues in this film that are truly enthralling and I love (or love to hate) most of the characters (there's that one I flat out don't like that I'll mention soon), it was also kind of brilliant, a parody of films like The Human Centipede, but done in such a tongue-in-cheek way that's still very creepy and disturbing, with the genius technique of implied violence (most of the surgery isn't shown), but it's also funny. Plus it has an ending the wouldn't be too out of place in something like Tales from the Crypt, although it's bit more dramatic then Crypt, which I liked, and it's with another great monologue from a surprise performance from Genesis Rodriguez. So, what brought this down to a 3...the second half. So there's a "surprise" cameo during around the end of act 2, and it's Johnny Depp (it's not really a surprise if you're familiar with Depp) and to put it simply of how out of place this character is, well, it's like putting 20 minutes of The Pink Panther into The Human Centipede, he is that out of place, and there's another thing that makes this character hard to sit through, this is a BAD Depp performance, hands down. Of course that's not the only problem with this second half, when Depp comes in, the whole movie goes way too over the top at that point and it pisses me off because there is an amazing Horror-Comedy-Drama in all these rough points. But because of those rough points I can only give it a 3, but I find myself still liking it because of how much good it has. I recommend a rental for the curious and a buy for the brave. I think Smith has shown to be a good horror director, he just needs to tighten his scripts a bit better for his future horror films. Sorry for this long review, but I needed to really get my thoughts on this film out.
October 3rd:
Daybreakers =
[Show spoiler]
Some really nasty gore, really interesting universe, smart satire, great acting, gorgeous cinematography, and some clever dark humor; but I feel that it's too short, but that's probably my love of this world talking. This isn't the best vampire movie out there but it's still one of the most creatively original vamp films in the genre.
October 4th:
*The Crazies (2010) =
[Show spoiler]
Haven't seen the original, so I can't compare. However, this film is intense (any scene involving military puts me on the edge of my seat), creepy, greatly acted, beautifully filmed, and brilliantly satirical. Even if you're not a zombie fan, it changes up the formula enough to be refreshing, I highly recommend it.
October 5th:
Orphan =
[Show spoiler]
Great surprise twist, fantastic acting with Isabelle Fuhrman being the obvious show stealer as Esther (adorable in one instance, flat out terrifying in the next, she's great), great cinematography, enough intensity to put you on the edge of your seat, some pretty brutal kills, and some very good psychological intrigue. However there are some problems, unnecessary jump scares (though very few), the evil child story obviously nothing new, and the son is an annoying little s#!t (almost as bad as the bully girl). However, with that said, this is still a very good movie. I hope the director stops with the Liam Neeson action films (Run All Night, Non-Stop) and goes back to horror because this was very well made.
October 6th:
Jacob's Ladder =
[Show spoiler]
Amazing psychological horror, intriguing themes about government conspiracies, PTSD, afterlife, grief and more. Some great disturbing imagery (the hospital scene is stuff of legend), the acting is amazing, and the fact that this was one of the inspirations for the Silent Hill series and has been referenced in many other horror products is a testament to it's staying power, it's defiantly one of my favorites.
Theme for 7th - 18th: Family Appropriate Horror (To celebrate the release of Goosebumps)
October 7th:
The Addams Family (1991) =
[Show spoiler]
Great and creative production values, perfectly cast (though Llyod is a bit too over the top and that's saying something), and fantastic dark humor makes this film a good time for children and adults.
October 8th:
Dark Shadows (2012) =
[Show spoiler]
This is probably the most harsh of family horror (in terms of content), quite a few deaths, there's a surprising amount of blood shed (at least for a 2012 PG-13), and it has quite a bit of sexual content, but the humor makes the violence not as harsh and the fact the blood looks cartoonish helps too. However, the film is pretty funny, there are some creepy bits (Barnabas's attack on the construction workers), you can't deny that Burton's production values are fantastic, and the cast is having the time of their lives with this film (especially the lovely Eva Green as the villain). But the stuff with a werewolf is dropped on us with little explanation, the drama isn't played too well, and the homages to other films of this nature, like Beetlejuice, Casper, etc., first feel like cool homages, until they keep happening so much that you can tell that Burton is trying too hard to be like those films. Still this is a fun film, I would recommend parents be cautious of this one though, while this would be something I could handle when I was 4, other kids may not be ready for this until they're much older.
October 9th:
Casper (1991) =
[Show spoiler]
If you have a young one who is feeling brave, but you want to start them soft with spooky movies, this is a fantastic place to start. There are some very light frights, great production design, pretty funny comedy, surprisingly well done character development, and it gets generally touching. Sure, it's not nightmare inducing, but it's a great family film for adults and kids, provide some foul language won't upset you. I will say one thing though, the lip movements on the ghosts, besides Casper, is pretty bad.
October 10th:
Paranorman =
[Show spoiler]
Laika is proving to be a force in animation, even Boxtrolls, though not as good as Coraline or this, was good. And let me just say this right now, this is a new family classic, the writing is mature, but understandable for kids, it's scary, but there's enough jokes to keep it from being to intense, most of the characters are well written and developed, the animation is breathtaking, the loving homages to horror are great, and it has a great message that even some adults need to be taught. What keeps this from being a 5 star film is Alvin, he wasn't really funny, he didn't really help in the plot, and he was just f%#king annoying, I love Christopher Mintz-Plasse, but not in this. With that said, everything else in the film I love, and if you haven't seen it yet, go see it now, it's fantastic. I love Coraline, but it was this film that made me excited for any future projects from Laika.
October 11th:
Ghostbuster (1984) = :
[Show spoiler]
A classic, hilarious, enough spooks to give you some memorable frights, great characters, top notch effects, memorable creature designs, and great action. If you don't mind the language, then this is an amazing Supernatural Comedy for the whole family.
October 12th:
Ghostbusters 2 =
[Show spoiler]
A bit too similar to the first, but I like the villain way better in this one, still enough memorable scary moments (that severed head scene was pretty graphic and startling), the humor was still great, characters too, the climax is great, and the creature designs are still top notch. If the language doesn't bother you and you think your kid can handle the darker moments (this is defiantly darker then the first), then this another great film for the family.
October 13th:
Corpse Bride =
[Show spoiler]
Creative, touching, some good songs (with "Remains of the Day" stealing the film), some creepy parts, some good humor, decent character development, okay villain, and of course beautifully animated. Also, this is the first full length film from Laika, and it's defiantly a great start for the company.
October 14th:
Beetlejuice =
[Show spoiler]
A perfect supernatural comedy, some spooky moments to give you memorable imagery, hilariously written, very creative, and on point performances. Fair warning to parents, the language is pretty harsh (one F-bomb is dropped), and some the imagery is pretty gross and frightening, but if your kid is mature enough, this is perfect dark comedy for the whole family.
October 15th:
Coraline =
[Show spoiler]
This film goes right next to Poltergeist (1982) and Return to Oz as the most terrifying family film that's been made. Amazing story, creative and creepy imagery, mature and intense without going too violent, and greatly acted. If you think your kids can handle this, it really does depend on the child, then watch this and be terrified together. I'm not the biggest fan of the changes from the book, but that's the sacrifice that has to happen when bringing page to screen.
October 16th:
Gremlins =
[Show spoiler]
Great characters, great effects, hilarious comedy, great scares, and probably one of the best horrific Christmas set movies made. Now, while I was fine with this film at a young age, your children may not be, so be cautioned. Also realize that the violence and horror in this film is one of the causes that created the PG-13 rating, so please know that going in.
October 17th:
Gremlins 2: The New Batch =
[Show spoiler]
Sillier and less violent then the first one, this sequel gives us a new, creative place for havoc to take place, the film if f#%king hilarious (from inside horror gags to making fun of parents complaints of the first film), the set pieces are fun and some even scary (spider Gremlin is a very intense moment), and the different types of Gremlins created throughout the film are very creative.
October 18th:
*Goosebumps =
[Show spoiler]
The grand finale of this theme, was it worth the celebration? Yes, very much so. Jack Black is enjoyable as R.L. Stine but is fantastic as Slappy, the characters are very likable with very good development, the acting is pretty good, the humor gets pretty funny, there's enough creepiness here to get kids spooked, the effects are very good (practical when possible, CGI when needed), the twists are pretty obvious but very well played (and are honestly set up better then some twists from the book series), the love letter to fans is nostalgic and wonderful (especially during the credits). But I will say that it could of used a bit more monsters, however with the movie clocking at 1 hour and 43 minutes, it would of probably been too much and too exhausting, plus they could use them for the sequel, so it's not a totally bad thing, but I can see fans being disappointed. The beginning is pretty slow, I'm glad that they took so much time for character development, especially since it's rare for a family film to develop characters so thoroughly, but impatient viewers could be turned off quick by the slow beginning. All in all, Goosebumps was better than I hope it would be, and is definitely a must see, it's a mix of films like Jumanji and Hocus Pocus that's fun for all ages, weather your Goosebumps fans or not.
Theme for 19th-24th: Horror Musicals:
October 19th:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show =
[Show spoiler]
The fact that a lot of people don't realize this is a parody astounds me (a lot of people I know think it's fun because it's such a crappy film). This is the most genius parody I've seen, it's making fun of the 50's Sci-Fi/Horror but it is also a big love letter to the same type of films (the fact it's made fun of like those films shows the genius of this). Everyone is on their A-game, they all work so great together and have some of the best comedic timing in film. The soundtrack is f#&king awesome ("There's a Light" and "Hot Patootie" being my favorites). If you haven't seen this film, do yourself a favor, check it out right now, it's a must see.
October 20th:
Little Shop of Horrors: The Director's Cut =
[Show spoiler]
Another love letter to the cheesy 50's Sci-Fi/Horror films, like Rocky Horror, but there's something it does different from Rocky Horror. Rocky Horror was just an amazing, loving parody; Little Shop uses the silliness of 50's B-movies (of which this is a remake of) to tell a very dark morality tale (at least in this cut). Fantastic performances (Steve Martin and Levi Stubbs eat their villainous roles up, the other actors are all great in their roles too), the soundtrack kicks a$$ (I like too many songs to really have a favorite), the puppetry is perfection (especially this cut's ending), and the story is darkly hilarious and tragic. What makes this version perfection is the closer to Broadway ending, this brings the Faustian complexity of the story back, Seymour made a deal with the devil and must have to face the consequences for those actions, this is what makes this such an original movie, the Theatrical Cut is my childhood, but this Director's Cut is my preferred version as it brings the real depth of the story back. If there is one thing I don't like about this cut, it's that the destruction in the end goes on a bit too long, but it's still great none the less.
October 21st:
Repo: The Genetic Opera =
[Show spoiler]
I love this world, the soundtrack is fantastic ("Legal Assassin" and "Night Surgeon" being two of my favorites), the acting is on point (for the most part), the creativity is amazing, and the gore is nasty. If there is a few thing I don't like, it's Luigi, Bill Moseley is a good actor and guy, but he just isn't good in this (his singing is so poor), and I do see the style being super annoying for some people (I love it). Still a great film, and I hope it keeps getting recognized.
October 22nd:
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street =
[Show spoiler]
The dark humor is on point, the style is beautiful, the music is fantastic (Thanks Sondheim. I really don't have a favorite), the actors all fit there roles incredibly, the kills are over the top nastiness, and the tragedy of this story is one that can't be topped. This was Burton's last great film.
October 23rd:
The Devil's Carnival =
[Show spoiler]
Criminally short, but the soundtrack is great ("Beautiful Stranger" and "Grief" being my favorites), the acting is pretty good, for such a cheaply made film, it looks amazing, the creativity is so on point that you'll be begging for more. With a creative way to tell the stories, it's a fantastic film.
October 24th:
*Shock Treatment =
[Show spoiler]
The satire was ahead of it's time (with it hitting more to home in this reality show dominated generation), the soundtrack is good ("Shock Treatment" and "Duel Duet" being my favorites), the actors are great (Cliff De Young being fantastic in a double role). There are a few things wrong though, you can tell the strike limitations were really an issue, however it made them get more creative with the sets. It is a bit trying too hard to hit the same gold that Rocky did, when they should of just try hard to make a fun film without worrying about surpassing a high point. It's still a fun ride, but it isn't something I'd probably rewatch too many times.
Theme for 25th - 31st: Outro to October (Anything)
October 25th:
Tales from the Crypt presents: Demon Knight =
[Show spoiler]
The story is simple, but feels epic with high stakes, the characters are very well written, with an amazing cast to make them even better (Billy Zane is just a riot here, he makes the film better then it all ready is). Fantastic effects. Scary set pieces, hilarious dark humor, nasty gore, and intriguing mythology, this is a cult classic in every sense of the word. Check this out immediately.
October 26th:
Tales from the Crypt presents: Bordello of Blood =
[Show spoiler]
Nowhere near as good as Demon Knight, but this is still a very fun film. The cast tries to have as much fun as possible (Chris Sarandon as a televangelist is just the most amazing thing I've seen, Aubrey Morris and Corey Feldman are just devouring the scenery, and Miller is funny [but I like sarcastic humor]), the effects are good (all things consider), and it has the best use of Ballroom Blitz I've seen. I find it very enjoyable, but I can see why people hate it, especially if you've already seen From Dusk Till Dawn.
October 27:
Cabin in the Woods =
[Show spoiler]
Funny, greatly acted, creative creature designs, turns genre cliches on the head in the most loving of ways, and is very intense when it's needed. If there's one thing bad about this film, is that it is a bit too obvious with it's twist before we even get to the "big reveal. It's still great none the less.
October 28th:
Casper Meets Wendy =
[Show spoiler]
I was suppose to watch The Frighteners, but got tricked into watching this. You know, there are some films that you love as a kid that are great films, but then there are films you watch as a kid that you like but your mind represses the memory of it's actual s#!tty quality...this is the latter. The only enjoyment I found in this film was making fun of it, Hilary Duff is adorable (but not enough to make her writing seem good), and the villain, he is acting like Tim Curry and Vincent Price were combined in one but someone sucked away the good acting of those two but kept all the scene chewing ham, he is amazing, like Nic Cage levels of hilarity. Besides that, this film SUCKS; awful humor, terrible acting (with Pauly Shore to help cement it even further), bad effects, and writing that's the equivalent to waving keys in your kids face. It's a bit better then Casper: A Spirited Beginning, but not that much, because they have astonishing similarities, like Pauly Shore being a helper to the villain, Ben Stein cameo, boring credits (mostly black backgrounds with very little happening), etc.; it didn't work for Spirited Beginning, what made you think it was going work for this? The biggest problem with this film and Spirited Beginning is that they decided to cash in on the popularity of the 1995 Casper film but they forgot that the 95 film worked because it took a more darker edge then anything the Casper character had been involved in before, which gave a creepier tone, tragic character development, and more adult humor, so it's enjoyable for the whole family. This and Spirited Beginning are the complete opposite and it shows, they're so disgusting light in tone (with no scares, childish humor, and bad slapstick), and characters that are so one dimensional that I swear I was watching a movie with paper cut outs; with that said, I have now put Casper Meets Wendy (plus Spirited Beginning) on my "Will Never Expose To My Kids" list, it's that bad, it's even worse when it's a 90 minute movie and it feels like it was 2 hours long. Unless you want something to make fun of with your friends for Halloween, AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
October 29th:
The Frighteners Director's Cut =
Right before Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson made one of the biggest horror films at the time (Budget for Jackson, effects for movies in general); this box office bomb has multiple points of memorization, for this being Michael J. Fox's last live action leading role in film, the fact the effects technology used in this film help lead Jackson to his next film "Lord of the Rings", and that this film required more digital effect shots then any movie before. With such important stuff behind it, how isn't a full classic like Beetlejuice or Ghostbusters...poor marketing, with a subpar trailer and a (albeit cool looking) poster that said nothing what the film was about, add to the fact Universal had a poor release strategy, an unfair R rating, and you realize why this film bomb hard and is now the amazing cult classic it is now. The acting is amazing, with the actors having great chemistry with a perfect balance of comedy and seriousness. The fact that it's laugh out loud funny for half it and then the other half is terrifying, tragic, and even violent is fantastic, it's the rare mix of comedy and horror working together so perfectly, Jackson is such a master at this that I want him to come back to horror. The effects, while some looking dated (The Reaper), are fantastic. There are a few flaws: Dammers gets annoying in a few places, the full removal of comedy in the 3rd act my not sit well for some people (I love it), and the very dark jokes this film has could be off putting. With that said this is a fantastic film and I make sure I watch it every Halloween. Now, if you think your kids can handle a pretty graphic (albeit fake looking) head explosion and the more intense parts at the end, I recommend this for families, had the MPAA wasn't being complete tools rating the movie (remove the head explosion [which was originally intended to be a chest shot, Jackson added the more graphic death after the MPAA wouldn't budge] and the film is perfectly fine for a PG-13).
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Seriously though, Jigsaw is a great villain, Wan does an excellent job blending the claustrophobia with the rising tension and still has a jump scare or two. Charlie Clouser's score is excellent and then you cap it all off with one of the best endings ever! Always gets me amped! "Game over!" 
JohnnyBoy's 31 Days of Horror
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