Category Archives: Horror

2013 Films, Alexandra Daddario, Gunnar Hansen, Horror, John Dugan, John Luessenhop, Marilyn Burns, Slasher

Texas Chainsaw 3D-2013

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Texas Chainsaw 3D-2013

Director John Luessenhop

Starring Alexandra Daddario, Dan Yeager

Scott’s Review #145

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Reviewed July 31, 2013

Grade: B-

If you are a horror buff (as I am) the reality that one must accept is that classic horror films will be remade or some incarnation of them will be made over time.

That is the harsh reality. They will never hold a candle to the originals. That is also a reality. One can either accept them for what they are or resist them.

Once again, another version of the classic 1974 Texas Chainsaw Massacre comes upon us.

It is present times (2013), and the main character, Heather (Daddario), takes a road trip with her friends to Texas to collect an inheritance from a long-lost Grandmother she has never known.

An interesting twist is the film begins where the original left off- the fact that sequels were made in between seems to be forgotten.

I enjoyed how the film picks up where the original left off and brings history to the story.

Unfortunately, the timeline makes no sense and is a complete impossibility- the heroine would chronologically be thirty-nine years old, but the character is in her early twenties.

In typical horror fashion, the characters are all one-dimensional (sex-starved), and a token minority is thrown in for good measure, which has become standard in modern horror.

The Texas police are portrayed as corrupt.

Happily, there are brief cameos by two original cast members (Gunnar Hansen and Marilyn Burns) from the 1974 version, which is a great touch.

Otherwise, this is a by-the-numbers modern horror film and quite forgettable, yet enjoyable for the ninety-minute length.

Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013) does not hold a candle to the original, but what would?

1981 Films, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Horror, Horror-Camp, Sam Raimi

The Evil Dead-1981

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The Evil Dead-1981

Director Sam Raimi

Starring Bruce Campbell

Scott’s Review #144

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Reviewed July 31, 2014

Grade: B+

For its time The Evil Dead was a unique, creative, visually impressive horror classic and far different from the wave of mediocre slasher films from this time (1981).

In the story, five teenagers head to a remote cabin in Tennessee for spring break.

From the beginning of the trip, there is trouble- they are almost killed in a head-on collision, their car almost falls into a rickety bridge, and finally, at the cabin, they stumble upon a haunted book.

From this point, even stranger events begin to develop and the haunting, crazy action begins.

Director Sam Raimi does an excellent job from a visual standpoint- the camera racing through the woods from the demon’s point of view is very effective and scary.

The ambiance is creepy- fog, mist, smoke, and the lighting are great.

The film has all the elements- darkness, remote cabin, and woods coming alive for a genuinely scary horror flick.

Yes, the film seems a bit campy to watch now, but at the time the special effects were brilliant.

My personal favorite is the long shot of the twitching dismembered body and the various, hysterically funny chattering and gibberish among the demons.

The ending of the film is very well done.

2008 Films, Gideon Raff, Gore, Horror, Thora Birch

Train-2008

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Train-2008

Director Gideon Raff

Starring Thora Birch

Scott’s Review #140

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Reviewed July 28, 2014

Grade: C-

Train (2008) is a horror, torture film that has very similar elements to Hostel (Americans alone in an eastern country- in this case, northern Russia) and plotted films that were all the rage at this time.

The premise is fairly interesting- the college wrestling team misses a train in northern Russia due to late-night partying and has to take another one where they are systematically accosted, tortured, and dismembered by a strange Russian gang and have their body parts implanted in needy people who are passengers on said train.

However, the film fails on many levels. The bottom line is the film is not very compelling. It is purely plot-centered and has no character development.

Who are the athletes? What do they care about?

In the horror genre, one can make the argument that who cares about the characters, but it would have been nice to have a little background on them.

Also with horror, suspension of disbelief is mandatory, and I can almost buy the villains legitimately doing the surgical transplants for money (one bad guy’s claims that they are torturing the athletes to help save people is silly), but why they rape and torture the athletes before removing their body parts is never explained.

The film has an incredible amount of plot holes- why is the wrestling team male and female? Why do they perform the transplants on a train? How can an eye transplant recipient need no recovery time before he can inexplicably walk around with perfect eyes?

The list goes on and on.

I will give props to the torture scenes, which are cringe-worthy in their gross-out aspect. I didn’t think Thora Birch was successful as the lead actress in the film- a shame since she had so much career promise in American Beauty in 1999.

Train (2008) is a pale retread of the Hostel franchise, but nowhere near as interesting.

2013 Films, Ethan Hawke, Horror, James DeMonaco, Lena Headey

The Purge-2013

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The Purge-2013

Director James DeMonaco

Starring Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey

Scott’s Review #128

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Reviewed July 23, 2014

Grade: A-

On paper, the premise of the film The Purge (2013) is very intriguing. It immediately caught my attention and I was compelled to see it.

The government, fed up with the overwhelming crime and prison overcrowding, decides to initiate a once-a-year purge, where anything goes.

It’s like Christmas for the criminals and the insane.

All emergency and police will shut down on this night and citizens are left to their own devices as a way to purge the violent and aggressive instincts from human systems.

An affluent family, led by a security systems genius (Ethan Hawke), nestles in their lavish home.

Of course, events go awry and chaos ensues.

The film contains suspense, thrills, frights, and a bit of humor, containing questions of class distinction and raises societal questions- Why are the wealthy better off than the poor? Do they deserve to be?

I enjoyed the setting of the wealthy, gated Los Angeles community and the eerily Stepford wife-like atmosphere of the neighborhood where housewives delivered casseroles and other dishes to each other for the big night.

Throughout this sunny environment, the viewer could sense a too-good-to-be-true cheerfulness and the darkness to follow anticipated as sunset emerged.

I found this film to be unpredictable and the edge of your seat and the film delved into a home invasion thriller, which was effective.

I could not predict what might happen next and that is incredibly entertaining.

I am unsure if some of the humor in the film was intentional or not- some of the kills were over the top and contained one-liners, but The Purge (2013) is a crisp, fun, summer popcorn horror film.

1960 Films, Anna Massey, British, British Horror, Horror, Karlheinz Böhm, Maxine Audley, Michael Powell, Moira Shearer, Scott's Top 100 Films, Scott's Top 20 Horror Films, Shirley Anne Field

Peeping Tom-1960

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Peeping Tom-1960

Director Michael Powell

Starring Nigel Davenport

Top 100 Films #60     Top 20 Horror Films #16

Scott’s Review #127

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Reviewed July 22, 2014

Grade: A

Peeping Tom is a brilliant horror film from 1960 directed by Michael Powell.

It is a British film released the same year as Psycho. The two films resemble each other in that both have more character-driven villains than many other contemporary horror films.

Both feature male killers with a sympathetic (to them) female.

Set in London, it tells the story of an assistant cameraman who kills his victims by using a camera with a spike on the end of it as he is videotaping the fear in their eyes, which he later plays back for his own psychological needs.

The killer has emotionally damaged himself, and the film explores this aspect in depth; his father tormented him as a child with weird, traumatic experiments used on the boy for research.

I love this aspect of the film compared with other films of the genre, where the killer typically has no sympathetic aspects and whose motivations are usually explored minimally.

The audience has sympathy for this killer, which, strangely, is absurd and shocking.

Ahead of its time, viewers were initially turned off by the film at the time of release. Director Michael Powell’s (ironically playing the terrible father in videotape scenes) career was ruined.

Anna Massey (later to appear in the Hitchcock masterpiece Frenzy, 1972) plays the sweet-natured girl next door who develops a crush on the killer. Her blind and boozy mother is a fascinating character as she suspects and strangely bonds with the killer.

The film has an erotic and voyeuristic quality that has been unmatched in horror.

Peeping Tom (1960) is now considered a masterpiece, and I agree with that assessment. It is one of the most interesting and unique horror films ever made.

1984 Films, Bruce Mahler, Corey Feldman, Crispin Glover, Horror, Jason Voorhees, Kimberly Beck, Slasher, Tom Savini

Friday the 13th: Part 4: The Final Chapter-1984

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Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter-1984

Director Joseph Zito

Starring Kimberly Beck, Corey Feldman

Scott’s Review #125

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Reviewed July 21, 2014

Grade: B

Being the 4th chapter in the popular Friday the 13th saga, and the shameless marketing of this installment as being the final chapter, obviously a fib since the ending of the film sets up another sequel, I have a soft spot for this Friday the 13th sequel.

If I am being honest, with each viewing I realize more and more it’s not nearly as good as the first three.

From a storyline and technical perspective, it is a crappy movie.

It now seems incredibly dated and of its time- the acting is mediocre at best but fans of the franchise will love it.

It’s predictable, much like eating at McDonald’s, you know exactly what you will get and that is fine for a certain audience.

A gathering of horny, pot, and beer-induced teens flock to Camp Crystal Lake for a weekend of revelry. Apparently not knowing, or caring, that dozens of other teens have been slaughtered there before, they begin their partying.

For horror fans, there is comfort in this film. We know the youths will be killed- we just don’t know how or when. That’s the fun and beauty of it.

Will someone be decapitated? Lose a limb? Will the murder weapon be an ax or a machete? Who will be the last remaining victim?

The introduction of the twins is a nice touch and a very young Crispin Glover appears.

The addition of Corey Feldman to this one adds child feistiness. Otherwise, it’s pretty formulaic, and not much separates it from any of the others. Fans of the franchise will love Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984), all others stay away.

1985 Films, Corey Feldman, Horror, Jason Voorhees, Slasher

Friday the 13th: Part V: A New Beginning-1985

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Friday the 13th: Part V: A New Beginning-1985

Director Danny Steinmann

Starring Melanie Kinnaman, John Sheperd

Scott’s Review #118

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Reviewed July 17, 2014

Grade: B

The fifth installment of the seemingly never-ending Friday the 13th franchise, Part V (1985) offers viewers a twist, one that sadly did not go over well with horror audiences.

Hardly high art, and hated by myself initially, I have grown a fondness for this film over the years after repeated viewings.

Originally, I was not crazy about the twist at the end of the film, but I now recognize, for this type of film, an appreciation for trying something different.

The lighting is brighter and more modern than its predecessor, Part IV, despite being made only a year later.

There is greater comedy in this one- the hillbillies are laugh-out-loud funny and the waitress scene is howlingly awful in the acting department most of the acting is atrocious and can be laughed at, but a much-needed change of setting away from Camp Crystal Lake works and seems refreshing.

The final victim is, for a change, not a teenager, but a mature, intelligent young woman.

Released smack dab in the middle of the 1980s, the film has a jarring dated look to it, which doesn’t do the film any favors in the longevity department.

The film cannot compare to the original or even the first three installments (the best in my opinion), but more experimental than any of the others, which deserves some credit.

1980 Films, Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, Horror, Jason Voorhees, Kevin Bacon, Scott's Top 100 Films, Scott's Top 20 Horror Films, Slasher, Steve Miner, Tom Savini

Friday the 13th-1980

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Friday the 13th-1980

Director Sean S. Cunningham

Starring Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King

Top 100 Films #18     Top 20 Horror Films #6

Scott’s Review #115

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Reviewed July 17, 2014

Grade: A

Friday the 13th (1980) is one of my favorite films (horror and otherwise) of all time as I have such fond and scary memories of watching at too young an age!

My highlight is in later years watching this film alongside star Betsy Palmer herself in a movie theater.

I can watch this film countless times and never tire of it. Is it high art? Hardly. Is it brilliant filmmaking? Not a chance. But for whatever reason, this film is very close to my heart and I love it.

The premise involves seven young adults, all squeaky clean and All-American looking, who flock to Camp Crystal Lake for a summer involving counseling, partying, and frolicking around the lake.

They engage in strip poker, smoke pot, and play jokes on each other, but share a good spirit.

Through flashbacks, we learn that two brutal camp counselor killings occurred years ago and the camp has been unsuccessful at reopening since that time due to strange events like bad water.

The residents of the town are convinced that there is a curse involving the lake and warn the teenagers to stay far away, specifically, one loony townsperson named Ralph, who frequently shows up proclaiming messages from god and other rants of doom.

Inevitably, the teens begin to be systematically hacked to bits one by one in creative fashion such as a slit throat, ax to the head, a dagger through the neck, and other good, old-fashioned horror kills.

The film has many standard horror elements- a dark, ominous storm, a mysterious hidden killer lurking in the shadows, giving first-time viewers a suspenseful whodunit.

Could the killer be crazy Ralph, one of the counselors? Or Steve Christie, the man opening the camp?

As each victim is killed one begins to narrow down the remaining suspects to the crimes and at least one red herring comes into play, which leads us to try to figure out the conclusion, which, critically speaking, is an enormous surprise.

The looming killer, whose feet and arms/hands are the only parts shown throughout is successfully ominous. As the killer angrily watches the counselors swim and goof around, one of them gets a sixth sense of being watched and is sure she sees someone in the trees, but quickly shrugs it off.

Another ominous scene involves one counselor setting up an archery game for the kids as another counselor jokingly shoots an arrow nearby.

They both laugh, but the foreshadowing of what is to come is fantastic.

Betsy Palmer and Adrienne King add so much to this film, which would not be nearly as good if not for them.

The conclusion involving a knockdown drag-out, mud fight is my favorite sequence, in addition to the final thirty-minute chase scene around the camp and its vicinity.

The final character hides in closets, storerooms, and bushes, and a cat-and-mouse game climaxes. Great stuff.

The big twist at the end almost rivals, and is very similar to, the shocking ending to the 1976 horror classic Carrie.

The sound effects are spectacular- the distant loons and the creepy sound effects add a ton to making Friday the 13th a classic fright-fest.

The line “kill her mommy, she can’t hide” is undoubtedly permanently etched in horror fan’s minds.

Friday the 13th (1980) has successfully held the test of time and is now a highly regarded classic within the horror genre.

A highly entertaining, mainstream, cut above the rest, and a fun must-see for all horror fans.

1978 Films, Best Film of the Year, Charles Cyphers, Donald Pleasance, Horror, Independent, Independent Horror, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Carpenter, Kyle Richards, Michael Meyers, Nancy Loomis, Nancy Stephens, P. J. Soles, Scott's Top 100 Films, Scott's Top 20 Horror Films, Slasher

Halloween-1978

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Halloween-1978

Director John Carpenter

Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence

Top 100 Films #4     Top 20 Horror Films #3

Scott’s Review #114

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Reviewed July 16, 2014

Grade: A

 Halloween is an iconic horror film from 1978 that set the tone for the barrage of slasher films to follow throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s.

Today, the film continues to hold up incredibly well and I am proud to list it as not only one of my favorite horror films (which I religiously watch every Halloween) but one of my favorite films of all time.

The focus is on style and substance over gore (the film contains little) and the score is one of the scariest and most effective in cinema history.

The premise of the film is simple- a homicidal maniac is on the loose in a sleepy little town named Haddonfield, Illinois, targeting three female babysitters one crisp Halloween night.

The audience knows that the six-year-old little boy dressed as a clown on a dark Halloween night years ago, and who butchered his older sister to death, is the now grown-up culprit.

What we do not know, nor should we, is what his (Michael Meyers) motivation is.  This confusion only adds to the impact.

Subsequent remakes have added complexities to the character, needlessly so, but in the original, we see a seemingly happy child with stable parents and a good life.

Similar stories have been told over time in film history. But Halloween is simply one of the greatest horror films ever made.

As simple as the story is, the way the film is made makes it a masterpiece. Everything about Halloween is mesmerizing- the lighting is perfect, the ambiance, the scary musical score brilliant, the battle between good and evil, and the feeling of a chilly Halloween night.

Highly unusual for its time, the point of view of the killer and heavy breathing are prevalent throughout the film, which will startle and scare the viewer. The opening shot is through the eyes of a masked six-year-old kid wearing a clown mask.

The unique technical aspects go on and on.

Director John Carpenter had a vision for this film and thankfully no studio influence ruined it since it was an independent film on a shoestring budget.

The Hitchcock influences are evident in the character names- Sam Loomis and many scenes involving someone watching the action or peeking around a corner, or through a window, making the viewer anxious and nervous.

Set in the small-town USA, a frightening element of the film is that it could happen anywhere and the location is ingenious. There is very little blood, let alone gore. It is needless. It is the creepiness that makes the film brilliant.

The three teenagers are perfectly cast- Jamie Lee Curtis is the serious bookworm, P.J. Soles and Nancy Keyes are the flirtatious bad girls, but the chemistry is great and the audience buys them as best friends.

The jump-out-of-your-seat moments are incredibly well-timed and it is one of the few genuinely scary films.

Forget solely the horror genre- Halloween (1978) is one of the greatest films ever made.

2013 Films, Andy Muschietti, Horror, Jessica Chastain

Mama-2013

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Mama-2013

Director Andres Muschietti

Starring Jessica Chastain

Scott’s Review #112

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Reviewed July 15, 2014

Grade: C

Mama is a horror film from 2013, surprisingly starring Jessica Chastain, who one might assume is too high-brow for horror given her recent Oscar nominations.

Mama tells the story of two little girls, involved in a car accident, who survive on their own for years until finally rescued and raised by Chastain.

This film had both positives and negatives.

The beginning sequence involving the girls’ troubled father and the drive through the countryside to the car wreck is realistically done and compelling.

The snow and the drifts have a picturesque and haunting beauty to them.

Throughout the film, some unique, effective visuals create a mysterious ambiance.

However, the primary negative of the film belongs to Chastain.

A top-notch actress, I did not for an instant buy her as a short-haired raven-dyed, rocker chick with tattoos and a tough-girl persona.

It did not work at all.

The story as a whole was convoluted and when the final credits rolled, made no sense to me at all.

As a whole, Mama (2013) was not scary (sadly rated PG-13) but had some nice moments.

2013 Films, Chloë Grace Moretz, Gabriella Wilde, Horror, Judy Greer, Julianne Moore, Kimberly Peirce, Portia Doubleday, Stephen King

Carrie- 2013

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Carrie-2013

Director Kimberly Peirce

Starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Julianne Moore

Scott’s Review #110

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Reviewed July 15, 2014

Grade: C-

Carrie is a 2013 remake of the classic 1976 horror masterpiece of the same name directed by Brian De Palma and adapted from the Stephen King novel.

Comparing the two is difficult since the original is brilliant. The remake of Carrie showed some potential in the first half as the set-up was developed and is overall only fairly entertaining.

Carrie White is a bullied, outcast teenager who has telekinetic powers. She can make things move, usually when angry.

Her mother, played by Julianne Moore, is a repressed Christian woman with issues about sex (among other things).

Following a cruel encounter in the locker room, one of the popular girls, feeling guilty, talks her boyfriend into taking Carrie to the prom.

Chloe Grace Moretz is okay as Carrie but hardly seems nerdy or homely enough to completely pull it off. She could easily have portrayed one of the popular girls.

Julianne Moore is too sympathetic an actress to be believable as the crazy Mrs. White so that doesn’t completely work either.

Finally, the actresses playing Sue Snell (Gabriella Wilde) and Chris (Portia Doubleday) should be reversed. Chris is a despicable character, comfortable as the queen bee, but Doubleday plays her as awkward and insecure.

Meanwhile, Wilde feels better suited to play a vicious, bitchy character.

So, there are issues with the casting.

In the original, the audience feels Carrie’s rage and cheers along with her revenge, but that does not happen in this version. There was not as much justification to warrant the revenge.

And since when did having telekinesis result in being able to fly?

Carrie circa 2013 is a pale imitation of the classic 1976 horror film, but I suppose not a complete dud either.

1987 Films, Dario Argento, Horror, International, International Horror, Italian, Italian Horror

Opera-1987

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Opera-1987

Director Dario Argento

Starring Cristina Marsillach, Ian Charleson

Scott’s Review #104

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Reviewed July 11, 2014

Grade: B+

Opera is a 1987 Italian horror film directed by Dario Argento.

The story revolves around a theatrical production of Verdi’s “Macbeth” as the understudy takes on the lead role of Lady Macbeth after the star is hit by a car, and strange and horrific events begin to occur.

The film contains traditional Argento elements- stylistic, extreme close-ups, and weird camera angles.

Members of the cast are systematically murdered as the killer forces the film’s heroine to watch- aided by a device which, if she blinks, sharp nails will go through her eyes.

The ending is killer- no pun intended. I love surprise endings in horror films and this one was dynamite.

My main criticism of the film is the horrendous dubbing, which distracted me a great deal. It has a muffled, hard-to-hear quality to it and no subtitles.

I’d rather it have been available in Italian with English subtitles. The film needs to be upgraded to Blu-ray ASAP.

Another odd aspect of the film is the mixture of operatic music with heavy metal music with each kill. It did not seem to fit the film at all.

Not Argento’s best- Suspiria (1977) and Deep Red (1975) have that honor, but a very good, enjoyable cinematic horror film.

2013 Films, Horror, James Wan, John R. Leonetti, Lili Taylor, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Vera Farmiga

The Conjuring-2013

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The Conjuring-2013

Director James Wan

Starring Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga

Scott’s Review #102

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Reviewed July 10, 2014

Grade: A-

The Conjuring (2013) is one of the best horror films I have seen in recent years.

It tells the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson respectively, who are paranormal investigators and come to the aid of a haunted farm family, the Perrons, led by Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor.

The film is set in Rhode Island, circa 1971, and is loosely based on true events. Typically in modern horror films, one is treated to a) gore or b) attempted scares that are seen a mile away.

The Conjuring is a classic ghost story with genuine frights. A big difference from other standard horror films is that the audience cares about the characters. One believes they are a family being terrorized by demons and sympathizes with them.

The phrase “based on a true story” is meaningless.

Who cares? It’s a scary film with likable characters.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are the standouts for me as well as one refreshing child actor who can act without the cutesy-ness or overacting too often found in child actors today.

The costume/set designers do an excellent job as the film has a genuine early 1970’s look which was tremendously effective.

The Conjuring (2013) is an eerie, frightening, jump-out-of-your-seat, fun time.

1963 Films, Connie Mason, Gore, H.G. Lewis, Horror, Horror-Camp, Independent, Independent Horror, William Kerwin

Blood Feast-1963

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Blood Feast-1963

Director H.G.Lewis

Starring Thomas Wood, Connie Mason

Scott’s Review #100

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Reviewed July 10, 2014

Grade: B-

Blood Feast (1963) is the debut film by horror master H.G. Lewis, who invented the gore genre.

The film is simplistic and makes his later films almost seem a big budget.

This film is not meant to be taken seriously. Anyone who does is completely missing the point. It is exploitation but completely over-the-top, with wooden performances for laughs, specifically by Connie Mason, who stinks.

The story involves a demented caterer hired by a mother to cater an Egyptian-themed dinner party. He uses genuine body parts to complete the meal, is obsessed with some silly curse, and owns a female Egyptian statue that talks to him.

The kills are laughing out loud in their basic shock value, and all the victims are women.

One victim’s tongue is torn out, as another is whipped to death, which, in a more modern film like Saw (2004), would be horrific. But the kills are so comedic, and the gore blood so amateurish that the audience cannot help but chuckle.

The highlight for me was the intentionally (let’s hope) horrendous acting by all involved.

I prefer H.G. Lewis’s later films, but Blood Feast (1963) is a blueprint and a nice introduction.

1979 Films, Harry Dean Stanton, Horror, Ridley Scott, Science Fiction, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright

Alien-1979

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Alien-1979

Director Ridley Scott

Starring Sigourney Weaver

Scott’s Review #94

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Reviewed July 5, 2014

Grade: A-

Alien is a science-fiction success from 1979 that began a long-running franchise and made Sigourney Weaver a household name.

It has the brilliant direction of Ridley Scott, who sets up the atmosphere and camera angles perfectly.

Arguably in the horror genre as well as science-fiction, the film is riveting from start to finish.

Weaver stars as Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley, a member of a spaceship returning to Earth. The ship picks up a distress signal and is ordered to investigate. They discover an alien existence.

From this point, the film certainly has a horror element to it as the members of the doomed spacecraft are knocked off one by one in pure horror fashion, but the brilliant part is you do not know when or how and many of the deaths come out of nowhere.

The captivating visual effects in this film take it to another level and the narrow spacecraft tunnels and hallways are stunning.

The villain of the film, the alien, is masterful as it is mysterious to the audience. The fact that it is only sporadically seen only adds to the tension.

Alien (1979) is a memorable classic that is high up there on the sci-fi genre list of excellent films.

Oscar Nominations: 1 win-Best Art Direction, Best Visual Effects (won)

2013 Films, Crystal Reed, Holt McCallany, Horror, Lucas Till, Malik Bader, Sarah Bolger, Thriller

Crush-2013

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Crush-2013

Director Malik Bader

Starring Lucas Till, Sarah Bolger

Scott’s Review #87

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Reviewed July 2, 2014

Grade: C-

Crush (2013) tells a story that has been told since almost the beginning of cinematic history, that of the stalker.

It’s a teen stalker film similar to  Swimfan (2002) and The Roommate (2011), which I admit to having seen and enjoyed as guilty pleasures.

A teen soccer jock injures his knee and decides to break up with his girlfriend to focus on rehab. From this point, someone begins to stalk him and leave secret admirer notes.

Several red herrings ensue and a twist is contained in the final thirty minutes that, unfortunately, if one bothers to look at the cover art on the DVD, the stalker is revealed.

This particular genre is a guilty pleasure of mine so it’s tough to be completely objective.

On the surface Crush is a terrible movie- it is by the numbers, no character development, but just plain old fun.

I suppose it is loosely a remake of the Alicia Silverstone film from the 1990s.

In any event, the appeal (good or bad) was that the filmmakers played this film seriously instead of fessing up to a poor script and playing it for laughs.

The acting is awful, the teen outcasts look like they could easily be the popular kids and made up to appear nerdy, and the film has a Hallmark television movie of the week badness.

But in a goofy, trashy way I enjoyed Crush (2013).

1980 Films, Drew Barrymore, George Gaynes, Horror, Ken Russell, Science Fiction, William Hurt

Altered States-1980

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Altered States-1980

Director Ken Russell

Starring William Hurt

Scott’s Review #82

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Reviewed July 1, 2014

Grade: B-

Altered States (1980) is a trippy, strange horror/sci-fi hybrid film (William Hurt’s debut film) that is visually quite impressive, but the story is too far-fetched and implausible to be taken seriously.

It feels like an earlier version of The Fly, but inferior to that particular film.

Hurt plays an abnormal psychology professor obsessed with experimental schizophrenic hallucinatory drugs, which he takes, causing him to ultimately experience episodes of being half man, half ape through the use of a sensory deprivation tank, and a strange Indian tribe comes into play.

It’s a very silly premise but somehow is believable to a point, especially in the first act.

The ending of the movie proved ridiculous and uninteresting to me and seemed extremely disjointed as an entire film.

There were lots of behind-the-scenes troubles with this film, which could explain the unbalanced feeling.

Otherwise, the sporadic weird colors and patterns during the scientist’s episodes were effective.

Drew Barrymore’s first film (she plays a toddler).

Oscar Nominations: Best Original Score, Best Sound

1986 Films, Bill Paxton, Horror, James Cameron, Paul Reiser, Science Fiction, Sigourney Weaver

Aliens-1986

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Aliens-1986

Director James Cameron

Starring Sigourney Weaver

Scott’s Review #80

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Reviewed June 29, 2014

Grade: B+

Aliens (1986) takes away the rawness of the original Alien (1979) and infuses a glossier, slick look to the film franchise.

The film was made eight years later, but story-wise, it is set fifty-seven years into the future when Ripley, played to perfection by Sigourney Weaver, awakens.

To her horror, she discovers that the aliens have colonized and she is forced to return to prevent havoc. The militia is in tow, adding a helping of masculinity that supports the film throughout.

This scenario perfectly sets up what is to become an excellent sci-fi adventure story.

There are wonderful special effects that were quite extraordinary when the film was shot-1986. The tunnels and spacecraft are perfectly lit and designed, giving it a bright and fun setting and the audience knows that doom is lurking.

The actual aliens are visually frightening and, compared to the original, are more plentiful.

Sigourney Weaver takes center stage and leads this film successfully.

I’m not sure many other actresses could pull off her level of authentic toughness and give no sex appeal in the process and successfully get away with it.

The only detraction to the film is it seems a bit dated in a purely 1980s film way. It has an 80’s look to it and that’s not a positive.

Not on par with the excellent original Alien, but otherwise, a well-made, supernatural, thrill ride.

Oscar Nominations: 2 wins-Best Actress-Sigourney Weaver, Best Original Score, Best Sound Effects Editing (won), Best Sound, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Visual Effects (won)

1964 Films, Connie Mason, Gore, H.G. Lewis, Horror, Horror-Camp, Independent, Independent Horror, William Kerwin

Two Thousand Maniacs-1964

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Two Thousand Maniacs-1964

Director H.G.Lewis

Starring William Kerwin, Connie Mason

Scott’s Review #79

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Reviewed June 28, 2014

Grade: B

Two Thousand Maniacs is a 1964 offering by gore director H.G. Lewis set in the South.

The premise surrounds a southern town, ironically named Pleasant Valley, slaughtered and destroyed during the Civil War. It is resurrected every one hundred years to enact revenge on northerners who are unlucky enough to stumble upon their town.

Local townspeople dupe five nice-looking, fashionable tourists headed to Atlanta into making a wrong turn and given the hero’s welcome by the town folk for a festive centennial celebration.

The welcome is, of course, a guise for a sinister plot to dismember and barbeque the tourists as part of the feast of the celebration.

The film takes a bit to get going, there is no killing until thirty minutes into it then excels into high gear as some of the most graphic, brutal deaths ensue.

A woman is tied to a platform as one townsperson after another attempt to hit a bullseye so that an enormous boulder falls, carnival dunk-tank style, stoning her to death.

Another victim has each limb tied to a horse as they gallop in different directions, thus dismembering him.

Still, another is forced into a barrel laced with nails and sent rolling down a hill.

Another has her thumb and arm chopped off and served for dinner.

These are gruesome deaths.

A film like this is done for fun, thus the term horror comedy, but it undoubtedly heavily influenced other macabre films that followed, such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and Deliverance (1972).

The southern rednecks are played to the hilt by mostly actual townspeople, and the cheerful song “The South will rise again” sticks in the viewer’s mind long after the film ends.

The tone is bright and cheerful, and the townspeople, on the surface, seem happy-go-lucky and warm. They even kill with charm.

Two Thousand Maniacs (1964) is a fun, splatter film from one of the genre’s most revered filmmakers.

2011 Films, Buddy Giovinazzo, Douglas Buck, Horror, Jeremy Kasten, Karim Hussain, Richard Stanley, Tom Savini

The Theatre Bizarre-2011

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The Theatre Bizarre-2011

Director Tom Savini, Douglas Buck

Starring Udo Kier, Lena Kliene

Scott’s Review #77

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Reviewed June 28, 2014

Grade: B+

The Theatre Bizarre is a little-known horror treat from 2011 that was only shown in horror festivals upon its release and is otherwise, shamefully unknown.

Horror buffs must give this film a chance.

The main story centers on a young woman’s attraction to an odd theater in her neighborhood and her hesitant pursuit of the theater. Once she musters the courage to enter, she is treated to six stories told by the strange owner of the theater, who is a wax figure.

The audience also experiences the stories in one-by-one vignettes.

The stories range from the morbidly gruesome (A bitter, angry woman castrates her cheating boyfriend. An unstable woman serves her boyfriend to her friends for dinner), to poetic, (a young girl and her mother discuss the process of death upon witnessing a deadly motorcycle crash).

The first vignette (Mother of Toads) was not one of the best, but the subsequent stories fascinated me.

The ambiance, especially inside the theater, is dark, dream-like, and surreal, which adds much atmosphere to the film.

It reminded me quite a bit of Masters of Horror, a popular series on Showtime in the mid-2000s.

Highly recommended gem for horror fans.

2002 Films, Gore, H.G. Lewis, Horror, Horror-Camp, Independent, Independent Horror, John Waters, Slasher

Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat-2002

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Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat-2002

Director H.G. Lewis

Starring J.P. Delahoussaye, Christy Brown

Scott’s Review #65

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Reviewed June 24, 2014

Grade: B

Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat (2002) is a sequel to the original Blood Feast from over thirty years ago.

It is not necessary to see the original before seeing this film (I hadn’t). The original killer’s grandson is the gruesome caterer/maniac in this installment.

Director H.G. Lewis heavily influenced John Waters, who has a fantastic cameo as a perverted reverend. This movie is so over the top and campy that it is not to be taken at all seriously.

The premise, if one can call it that, involves a lunatic caterer intent on using various female body parts to concoct a scrumptious meal to serve at a wedding.

The film is more of a comedy than a horror film in the traditional sense.

The victims are bubbleheads, mispronouncing words and traipsing around in skimpy outfits (or less) for no reason. The mean-spirited mother of the bride is a delight.

Scenes of taste testing and the presentation of “ladyfingers” are hilariously creative.

Campy in every way and poorly acted, but good late-night fun.

1979 Films, Horror, James Brolin, Margot Kidder

The Amityville Horror-1979

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The Amityville Horror-1979

Director Stuart Rosenberg

Starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder

Scott’s Review #60

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Reviewed June 23, 2014

Grade: B-

The Amityville Horror was undoubtedly more thrilling upon its original release in 1979, but sadly, the time has not been kind to this particular film, as it does not hold up well any longer.

It feels dated, but that is not to say it is at all un-enjoyable.

The atmosphere of the movie and the building tension and sense of dread are effective. The audience knows bad things will eventually occur.

The look of the film is dark and creepy and actors James Brolin and Margot Kidder are adequate in the lead roles.

The main problem with the film is all along there is a feeling that I am watching a pale version of The Exorcist (1973) or The Omen (1976), far superior films, with the religious theme that was heavily used in the horror genre throughout the 1970s.

Also, horror in 1970’s cinema was at its best, and by 1979, horror had shifted into the knife-wielding maniac vein.

Add to this the fact that the supposedly “true story” has since been proven a silly hoax, so it takes away any shred of seriousness.

To be fair, the scene involving the herd of flies is scary, but other scenes seem silly and inconsequential.

The Amityville Horror (1979) is not a bad movie, but similar films are far superior.

Oscar Nominations: Best Original Score

2006 Films, Amber Heard, Brooke Bloom, Horror, Jonathan Levine, Luke Grimes

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane-2006

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All the Boys Love Mandy Lane-2006

Director Jonathan Levine

Starring Amber Heard

Scott’s Review #38

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Reviewed June 18, 2014

Grade: B-

All the Boys Love Mandy Lane is an interesting, experimental type horror meets art film from 2006.

On the surface, it appears to be a by-the-numbers slasher throwback involving a group of teens spending a boozy weekend on a Texas farm, of course, in the middle of nowhere.

They are systematically offed one by one. This sounds standard, but there are some moody, artistic, beautiful scenes mixed in, hence the horror/art-house label.

There is a certain “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” charm to it as well.

The story, however, makes little sense and the protagonist’s motivations are confusing and never explained, so while adventurous in parts, the film ultimately fails based on the story’s inconsistencies.

The characters are also rather unlikable, perhaps intentionally so, as these are the characters the audience enjoys seeing hacked to bits.

2013 Films, Horror, Jemma Dallender, Lowest Rated Films, Steven R. Monroe

I Spit on Your Grave 2-2013

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I Spit on Your Grave 2-2013

Director Steven R. Monroe

Starring Jemma Dallender

Scott’s Review #30

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Reviewed June 17, 2014

Grade: F

I have seen the original I Spit on Your Grave from 1978 and loved it. The 2010 remake was pretty good, but this “sequel”, which has nothing to do with either of the others, is awful.

As horrific as the original was to watch, it was raw, the perpetrator’s motivations were clear, and the subsequent revenge made sense.

In this one the attacker’s torture and abuse for the sake of it with no rhyme or reason and some thinly brushed over “hating Americans” excuse.

Furthermore, the “revenge” pales to what the victim endures so there is no winning moment.

Unsurprisingly, there are plot holes galore, for example, the attackers can transport the victim to another country with no passport, customs, etc.

Fail!

2013 Films, Damien Leone, Horror, Independent, Independent Horror, Katie Maguire

All Hallows’ Eve-2013

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All Hallows’ Eve-2013

Director Damien Leone

Starring Katie Maguire

Scott’s Review #19

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Reviewed March 25, 2014

Grade: B+

All Hallows’ Eve is an above-average, low-budget, independent horror film from 2013 reminiscent of the wonderful Showtime series Masters of Horror (2005-2007).

The film has the main story, then divided into three tales, and finally, all mesh together, which is very effective.

A babysitter and her two charges find an old VHS tape and, of course, watch it. Three short films are on the tape.

The antagonist is a horrific supernatural clown that reminds me of Pennywise from “It”. The motivations of the clown are not explained, nor is that necessary.

One of the three stories feels out of place, but the other two are excellent.

Anyone looking for some late-night fright should watch this creepy little film called All Hallows’ Eve (2013).