Saturday 15 November 2014

Halloween

Throughout the month of October, I tend watch mostly horror, being a massive horror genre fan. I usually aim for a minimum of one a day, so here I am going to do a short quickfire review of each so that I can fit them all in. 
Forgive the briefness of some of the reviews, I simply don't have the time to go into too much detail on all of them. Some of the better ones I am sure to watch again so they may in the future get a much more detailed review.



Evil Dead

Remake/Re-imagining of the classic horror. In a long line of remakes of classic horror movies, this stands as one of the better efforts. More a re-imagining than a remake, it takes the original concept of evil released from evil book, but ups the gore and brutality. Ok, so the original had a more comic twist to parts of it but this goes for shock and gore, but does it right. The story is solid, the acting reasonable for a horror movie and the gore and effects are top notch in my opinion. I genuinely hope a sequel is made!!
Rating: 4/5




Oculus

I did not like this. The story was boring and badly handled, the acting is terrible and it was boring, really boring. I have heard a few defenses of the movie but just can see any redeeming factors.
Rating: 1/5







Alien Abduction

I was worried about watching this as it sounded more sc-fi than horror, but I was gladly proved wrong. Found footage, when done right, can be effective and terrifying and here for the most part its was. The story of a family on holiday caught up in an alien abduction attempt. The justification for the camera is a little weak but I've heard worse. Any fans of found footage should love this, tense and unnerving through most especially the tunnel scene. 
Rating: 3.5/5



Trick 'r Treat

This is one of my favorite Halloween movies, and is in annual rotation at this time of year. It has a bit of everything, creepy stories, humour, gore and fun. Anthology movies are a bit hit and miss but this just works. Usually with anthology, at least one secion is weak but not with this. Next time I watch this I will do a bigger more in depth review.
Rating: 4/5






Shadow Of The Vampire

Interesting film on an alternative making of the classic Nosferatu. The most interesting parts of this were the look at how silent era movies were made and Willem Defoe''s performance as Max Shrek/Orlof. Not a terrible movie but by no means a masterpiece, it is a movie I will watch again, maybe as a double bill with Nosferatu.
Rating: 3/5


Dead Silence

Creepy ventriloquist dummy's. Should have work, but really doesn't. Maybe I was tired or not paying attention but I was bored throughout. I have recently read a rather glowing review of this from some whose opinion I trust and respect so I may revisit and see if I was missing something the first time round!
Rating: 0.5/5





Stake Land

Jim Mickles much anticipated follow up to Mulberry Street did not disappoint. A distopian future where a vampire epidemic has destroyed the land. A young boy takes up with a vampire killer to get to a safe haven. Mickles creates a bleak world but one that is richly developed and his confident direction forms a tense and truly enjoyable vampire tale.
Rating: 3.5/5




Silent Hill: Revelation

I enjoyed the first, even though it wasn't great. It brought the atmosphere of the game to the screen, and that is the overall aim, is it not? The sequel is pretty much the same, enjoyed it while it was on but forgot it once it was off.
Rating: 1/5







Shivers

Interesting early Cronenberg, filled with sexual weirdness, shocking body horror and strange story. An isolated tower blocked comes under attack from a parasitic worm that turns the hosts into sexual predators, so to speak. Cronenberg's confidence in his vision for his movies is clearly evident, he has his vision and goes for it, while not the best looking film it is creepy and disturbing in equal measure throughout.
Rating: 3/5




The Town That Dreaded Sundown

I have in the past heard good things about this, so when it popped up on Netflix I gave it a go. A little more thriller than horror, it is the story of a town terrorised by a masked killer. 
A typical serial killer style movie, a news cast-esque narration lends the film a more realistic quality and brings a strange style to it making it far more enjoyable than it should be. 
The movie has been remade recently and  admit to being curious about the remake.
Rating: 2.5/5



The Cabin In The Woods

I cant say enough good things about this movie. Joss Whedon created a great, fun horror whilst also poking fun at the genre and maintaining a level of respect at the same time. This is another movie that gets regular viewings so no doubt I will be doing a bigger and better review before too long.
Rating: 4.5/5





Life After Beth

A romantic comedy featuring a teenage zombie, sounds familiar, strangely. Last year we got Warm Bodies, this year we get Life After Beth.  Whilst similar in places, Life After Beth goes for the more indie comedy route. Simple yet solid story, great script and great performances from both Aubrey Plaza and Dane Dehaan. Not the most original but a refreshingly clever and funny take on the zombie genre.
Rating: 3.5/5




Annabelle

Genuinely atmospheric and creepy. Didn't go for the easy creepy doll moving, actually took the time to explain and show what is 'moving' the doll. While it's done in the same vein as The Conjuring, which is understandable, but it relies a little too heavy on the same type of atmosphere and scares. But it worked for me and I enjoyed it.
Rating: 3.5/5






The Serpent And The Rainbow

One of Wes Craven's most ambitious movies, part horror, part psychological thriller, a quite in depth look at the practice of voodoo. Most movies concerning voodoo don't go into the detail of the practice and that's why this stands out. Weird, psychedelic in places and extremely enjoyable. One of Cravens best.
Rating: 3/5





An American Werewolf In London

Another classic, not much I can say on this that hasn't already been said, so I will just say that this is how you make a horror movie!!
Rating: 5/5









Hell Baby

I have watched this twice now and have enjoyed it both times. Its silly but fun. Its proper spoof horror, and doesn't just go for the cheap easy jokes like the Scary Movie franchise. And as always Rob Cordrey is the best part.
Rating: 2/5








In Fear

Simple story of a couple driving in rural Ireland and being terrorised by an unseen foe or foes. And its the simplicity that makes it effective. As the couple get more and more lost and night closes in the atmosphere and tension builds. Solid cast, simple but good story and plenty of atmosphere make for an enjoyable and tense watch.
Rating: 3.5/5





The Bell Witch Haunting

Average found footage movie. A few interesting shots but everything is pretty much by the numbers. f you are going to make a found footage haunted movies then you need to do something different to stand out from the rest.
Rating: 2.5/5








Saw: The Final Chapter

I wouldn't recommend watching g this if you haven't seen a lot of the franchise. Simply for the fact that it relies to much on previous movie knowledge.
Forced 3D shots and below par effects along with a confusing and wannabe over elaborate plot along with the straight to video 90' look to the movie is simply a terrible way to round out a franchise.
Rating: 0.5/5





Frankenweenie

Tim Burton's reward from Disney, a full length version of his short of the same name. Has plenty of heart, plenty of horror movie references to keep people watching.
Simple story and good visuals make this a thoroughly enjoyable movie. Classic but safe stuff from Burton.
Rating: 3.5/5







Stalled

Great concept, janitor stuck in a bathroom stall as a zombie outbreak occurs at the office Christmas party. Low budget works to the advantage of the intimate setting. A great blend of horror and comedy. 
Rating: 3/5








The Lair Of The White Worm

Can honestly say I don't know what to think of this, in parts its good but in others its terrible dated. Interesting visuals and story, but definitely needs a re-watch.
Rating: 2.5/5









Hellboy

A fantastic comic book adaptation. The tone and feel of the characters are captured perfectly by Del Toro, while also bringing his own style to the Hellboy world.
Every time I watch this or the sequel I just hope an d pray for a third one to round out a trilogy!!
Rating: 4/5







Hellbound: Hellraiser II

Inferior sequel, tries to up the gore and shock of the first but forgets to put an interesting story in there and give justice to Barker's original concept. Was going to watch a few more of the sequels again, but then I remembered that they don't get any better. But there are talks of a reboot in the works, so fingers crossed.
Rating: 2/5






Candyman

Not the best horror movie out there, or the most original but there is something that keeps me coming back to this movie. It descends at time into typical 90's slasher flick but I think its the performance from Tony Todd and Virginia Madsen that make it watchable and re-watchable.
Rating: 3/5







American Mary

Shock and body horror take center stage in this fantastic revenge (of sorts) movie. The Soska sisters certainly know how to tell a disturbing story in a compelling way. I wasn't the biggest fan of Dead Hooker In A trunk but could see the potential there and that was clearly realised in this. I still haven't seen See No Evil 2 but it doesn't seem like it is a logical move after this.
Rating: 4/5



Young Frankenstein

Another classic, and another movie that has a yearly rotation. I have watched this so many times that I know most of it by heart, but still enjoy it and find it funny and even hilarious in places.
Rating: 5/5








A Haunted House 2

Worse than A Haunted House, in the same vein as the Scary Movie franchise. Its a mirror of said franchise, a string of obvious, crass and unfunny jokes. While I did snigger maybe once or twice, overall it just doesnt work for me. But maybe I am not the audience or it.
Rating: 0.5/5







The Grey

I mentioned The Grey in a previous post. When this was released it was mocked because of a scene in a trailer of Liam Neeson apparently punching a wolf. Everyone then expected it to be a typical Neeson action movie but it's not. It is a thrilling tale of wilderness survival, but it is also a personal tale of a man's struggle and ultimate acceptance of his wife's death and his own.
From the spectacularly realistic and terrifying plane crash to the beautiful yet bleak, unforgiving landscape. 
While this is not traditional horror, the movie is a thrilling and terrifying portrayal of wilderness survival.
And it was one of, if not my favorite movie of that year. 
Rating: 5/5




The Mist

Stephen King adaptations are generally hit or miss, with the majority of the traditional horror ones failing to bring his brand of horror to the screen. But Darabont nails this one. When an army experiment opens a gateway to another dimension and through an unnatural mist creatures come and attack a small town. A sizable group hold up in a supermarket, but the creatures are not the only treat as their mini society breaks down. 
The tone of the story is captured here perfectly, the performances are great but what makes it a success for me is the atmosphere and that ending!!
Rating: 4/5



Ghostbusters

What can I say, I love this movie, its a classic. This is another classic that I cant really add anything to that hasn't already been said.
Rating: 5/5

Ghostbusters 2

This is the much maligned sequel to the much loved movie. The chemistry that the team have in the original is still there but something else is missing, and I still cant (after numerous viewings) put my finger on it.
The story isn't great but then it didn't need to be. I think maybe the first was lightning in the bottle situation and that the second just missed that spark the first had.
Rating: 2/5




Dawn Of The Dead

As remakes go, this is actually a good one, takes the spirit of the original and goes with it. 
Rating: 3.5/5










Halloween H20: 20 Years Later

Not sure why they decided to return to the franchise at this point, I suppose it was the inclusion of Jamie Lee Curtis. Having her back in the franchise was a real coup and im sure gave the makers validation to make this.
However, the end result is not great, it is another run of the mill slasher horror, and is just another pointless installment.
Rating: 1/5






The Descent

Simple premise, a bunch of friends go cave diving but end up hunted by creatures living in the underground caves. Nothing overly original here, apart from an all female cast, but it just does everything right, builds the tension and keeps it throughout.
What Neil Marshall creates here is a simple horror movie done brilliantly.
Rating: 4/5


The Descent: Part 2

As with the first the second continues the simple but effective horror movie making. Its hard to find much fault with both of these movies.
Rating: 3/5




Citadel

When I first heard about this I was intrigued but from the description I was worried it was another hoody based horror. But there is more to it than that. 
After an attack on his girlfriend resulting in her death during childbirth Tommy, left as a single father, becomes agoraphobic and struggles with caring for his child. But soon those who attacked his girlfriend come back for his child but are more than they first seem.
Putting a twist on hoody horror this film creates a good atmosphere and the twist is something slightly original and helps make the film above average. Solid performance from the lead too.
Rating: 3.5/5




The Monster Squad

The horror answer to The Goonies. A group of friends obsessed with horror and horror creatures find themselves caught up in a monster attack.
This is a childhood favourite of mine and while its not on a level with The Goonies, it is still great fun. Its great to see all the classic universal creatures on the screen together. I particularly like the portrayal of Frankenstein's Monster.
Rating: 4/5




Cam2Cam

This was terrible, silly plot, terrible acting. I found it on a best of the year horror list but for the life of me cant figure out how it got there. It cant decide what it is, starts with creepy stalker killer and then there are hints of supernatural here but they make no sense what so ever. Just terrible.
Rating: 1/5





The Babadook

My final horror movie of the month is the much anticipated and much praised Babadook.. It has been called the best horror of the year and a modern masterpiece in horror.
The story of a single mother, struggling with her son who has difficulties with behavior and an obsession with monsters. After reading a book, The Babadook, something haunts and terrorises them.
I don't agree that this is a masterpiece of modern horror but it is very good.
The performances are what take this above and beyond your normal haunted story. The mother constantly looks on the edge and verge of breaking while I don't think I have ever come across a more annoying kid. 
The atmosphere and scares are spot on and while the story is basic, it is effective and chilling. 
Rating: 4.5/5

No comments:

Post a Comment