Blair Witch Project - Lisa's Review

This is a movie I actually managed to get my hands on before it hit the cinemas in the UK.  It was a Japanese import.  I think because I saw the movie before the hype (an American friend who had seen it and liked it sent me a copy) and knew pretty much nothing about it, it enabled me to enjoy it more than folks who went in with expectations of being scared shitless.

I'm going to assume that anyone reading a movie blog will be aware of this movie and will know the rough detail.  In short, Blair Witch is a 'found footage' movie.  One of the best known earlier ones before the craze took off.  Of course there were others, but this movie really rocketed the genre through the roof.  It is shot in black and white in a documentary format on a shaky camera.  We follow Heather (of the famous snotty nosed movie poster), Joshua and Michael who travel to Burkittsville to film the urban legend that is the Blair Witch.

Week 186 - Blair Witch Project

Reviews / Author Comments due: long overdue

Position on Timeout list: 36

More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB

DVD: Link

Trailer

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) - Lisa's Review

This is a movie I remember watching with my dad as a child.  I don't remember much about it apart from remembering feeling a bit overwhelmed and freaked out by it and dreaming about it for many nights afterwards.  I Watched it again, maybe in my teens and remember thinking it was quite lame and laughable....  Having watching it again for this review, I have to admit my child brain seemed to have this one down much better than my judgemental 'modern-movie effects loving' teenage one.  Sure it is a B movie, which I generally abhor, but this one I do have a special place for.  This movie has been remade several times, but in my opinion, the original is most definately the best.  So, to a scant premis if you've lived your life under a rock.

The movie starts with a hysterical Dr Miles Bennell relating his story to bemused Psychiatrist Dr Hill.  We view the happenings by way of his flashbacks.   In the town of Santa Mira where Dr Bennell is a local GP, patients start to come in reporting very odd occurances.  They seem to be under the impression that their loved ones are acting so strangely that they must certainly have been replaced by imposters.   Dr Bennell, like with any sensible family doctor put the increasing number of consults down to mass hysteria.    He is even unconvinced when ex girlfriend Becky returns to town and reports a family member having the same tall story.  Appointments with previously hysterical patients all being cancelled is also not convincing enough for him.  Dr Bennell unfortunately discovers that there actually is more to these stories.  Something much, much worse than mass hysteria.

Week 185 - Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Reviews / Author Comments due: long overdue

Position on Timeout list: 37

More Info: wikipedia, IMDB

DVD: Link

Trailer

The Descent - Lisa's Review

The Descent is a movie I have seen numerous times.  One I was lucky enough to see at the cinema in the days where I went to see pretty much everything that was on.  I went to see this one not knowing much about it and it was an incredibly lucky call to see it on the big screen given the awesome cinematography and how well it translates on a larger screen.

As I said, I have watched it numerous times since and I've enjoyed it every time.  It was released in the same year as a movie called The Cave.  Both movies were set predominantly underground in equally impressive cavernous chambers, but they were actually worlds apart in quality.  The Descent winning hands down.  It is a UK release and unbelievably the fantastic cavern shots set underground were actually actually filmed using sets in the studio as actual caving was deemed too dangerous.  After having watched the movie, I have to say I concur whole heartedly.

We follow a group of friends - Beth, Sarah, Sam, Juno and Rebecca as they set off together caving, in something of a reunion for them.  The previous year Sarah, Beth and Juno had been white water rafting when Sarahs husband and daughter were tragically killed in a car accident.  Sarah hasn't been dealing well with the loss and the girls feel the trip may be good for her.

The relationships between the women are convincing and believable, but the movies main strength is revealed when the girls get into the massive caverns below ground.

Carnival of Souls (1962) - Lisa's Review

*** SPOILERS ***

So we're back to the 60's in this Herk Harvey movie.  His only movie it should be added.  Herk Harvey worked making Educational Films, something which he went back to after directing, producing and starring in Carnival Of Souls.

The movie was made with a tiny budget of approximately $33,000.  There were only 6 actors (hence Harvey playing a key, albeit non-speaking role) himself.  The only professional actress hired was Candace Hilligoss who played the lead role Mary Henry.  She was paid $2,000 for her work on the movie, which she felt was a fortune.  So, to the movie itself.

We start the movie with 3 pretty girls in a car (Mary Henry being one).  They are challenged to a drag race by a car full of guys.  They seem to be holding their own, but as they cross an unsafe bridge (with clear warning signs) driving alongside one another, the womens car plunges over the side and into the river below.  The drop and subsequent sinking meant inevitable death, but inexplicably Mary staggers up the bank from the river, unkempt and muddy, but completely dry and uninjured.

Peeping Tom - Lisa's Review

*** SPOILERS ***

We remain in the world of early movies this week for 1960 offering 'Peeping Tom'.  A story about a rather, awkward, shy but disturbing young man called Mark who loves nothing more than to film beautiful women.

He works on a movie set by day and takes soft porn photographs at night in a room above the local corner shop, which sells the images under the counter on the hush hush (and even packages them in a brown bag labelled 'Educational Books').  We become aware very quickly though, that Mark isn't just your normal pervert as the title would suggest, but someone with a penchant for something a little more.... painful.

The Tenant - Lisa's Review

*SPOILERS*

After last weeks offering of Hour of the Wolf, I really wanted something good to watch and review.  If not good, at least understandable.  After watching this Roman Polanski movie (directed and starred in) I have to say, they have maybe made it a teeny bit more understandable, but not much.

My viewpoints however on this weeks movie and last weeks is pretty much exactly the same. Although it had some dark, creepy imagery in places that made me feel a bit freaked out, on the whole, I found it quite difficult to get to the end of this one.  It was dull to watch (visually and mentally) and I pretty much didn't like anyone in the entire movie.  Kind of a difficult mix.

Hour of the Wolf (1968) - Lisa's Review

I've had a couple of attempts to watch this movie.   Viruses in the Davy household has made it difficult as it's not a movie to watch to pass time when you want to relax.  This is a swedish movie directed by infamous Ingmar Bergman.

I have had a great deal of difficulty with the movie, in understanding it, in working out what was going on and why.  In separating dream sequences from reality and in trying to understand what the movie was trying to tell me.

Nothing Left to Fear (2013) - Lisa's Review

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have boon given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

For the most part watching movies of my choice has been a good experience this October, but this one would rank amongst the worst movies I have ever sat through.  Let me make that clear from the start.  There is NOTHING positive to say about this movie.  No redeeming features.  There is nothing to be achieved by watching it.  There you go.  I won't make you suffer even reading this review if the only reason you're reading it is to see if this movie is maybe worth watching.  Let me save you the trouble.  It isn't.

So that cleared up, I suppose I best give you a premise of sorts.  Although can I say, that even though I had absolutely NO idea what was going on until the movie was over, I still had to wiki the movie to get a clear idea of what I just watched.

Pastor Dan, his wife, his 2 beautiful teenage daughters and his young son move from their city life to a small town in Kansas as the pastor is taking a new job there.  We have the usual getting to know the family, seeing the new house, settling in and pleasantries with neighbours.  Quite early on, the elder of the daughters, Rebecca becomes quite enamored by a local boy Noah.  Now this is the ONLY thing of note in the movie.  This boy happens to be Gregory Pecks grandson and his voice is amazing.   So there you go, there is actually something positive to say about the movie!  Who'd have thought!

So Rebecca digs Noah, even though he is VERY wierd.  It becomes very clear to the viewer that there is something f*cked up about this town and its inhabitants  In fact everything is a bit wierd.  Problem is, it never tells us what, so we're looking in all the time wondering what the hell is going on.  We see odd behaviours and we know some people are fundamentally bad and some are just odd and 'in on' whatever it is that's going on.  I'm sorry to appear so vague, but honestly I had no idea what was going on throughout and saying anything more would give away what small piece of storyline there actually is.

Something that did surprise me though is that the effects in the movie are big budget.  They are quite similar to what you'd expect in Japanese horror.  Effects that have passed over to American horrors in the last 5-10 years.  I'm thinking 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' as somewhere I saw similar effects.

So, we plod wearily on and the familys other daughter Mary is suddenly very ill.  This blows out of all proportion overnight and we are thrown from "WTF is going on?" to our final 20 minutes or so and the big reveal of what's been happening.  We end somewhat as we start with the mindless, unexplained cycle repeating itself.

So, there you have it.  Good effects.  Crap movie.  BIG FAT AVOID.

The Crazies (2010) - Will's Review

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have boon given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

Opening with a wrecked town, demolished and burning, we cut to 2 days ago, and see the soon-to-be destroyed Ogden Marsh, as thean idealic, quiet, town it has always been... But something started infecting the residents, making them irrational and violent. The first of these "crazies" is shot by the police after walking onto a baseball pitch, apparently drunk, sporting a shotgun. Before   first shot is even fired, we see that someone is watching the town via satellite.

Week 179 - Nothing Left to Fear (2013) / The Crazies (2010)

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have been given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

Lisa's Pick	Will's Pick
Comments due: 25/10/2014 More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB DVD: Link TRAILER:	Comments due: 25/10/2014 More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB DVD: Double Pack with 1973 version TRAILER:

Carrie (2013) - Lisa's Review

I chose this movie to watch for Shocktober as it was one I hadn't seen as yet and as it was a remake of a favourite of mine, I thought I'd give it a go.

Growing up, I watched A LOT of horror movies.  My dad was a big Stephen King fan, so we had a lot of VHS copies of his movies.  Before school (secondary school), I would pass half an hour or so watching bits of the movies, until I had been through the collection time and time again.  Being of a certain age, Carrie really resonated with me and still today remains amongst my favourites.  So what of the remake?

I'm not going to talk about a premise, as if you haven't see the 1976 version of Carrie, what the hell are you doing reading a blog dedicated to horror movies?  Instead I'll discuss my feelings about this movie, which I'm afraid means inevitably I'll be comparing it to the original movie.

For the first 20 minutes or so, I was pleasantly surprised by the attention to detail with the scenes and how they replicated the original movie.  Even subtle hand gestures and specific strong sections of dialogue are kept identical.  Something I noticed early on though, was that Chloe Grace Moretz just wasn't going to portray the complex character of Carrie with enough depth.  The sweetness and frightening innocence is lost and replaced by a misfit that's a bit shy.

Let the Right One In - Will's Review

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have been given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

ADDENDUM: Due in large part to idiocy, Will reviewed a movie which was already on the TimeOut 100 as his "reviewers Choice" movie. In Penance, He owes you a review of the remake, and this shall stand as his Week 193 review.

This isn't my type of movie at all. Although one of its main characters is a vampire, it has very few horror elements; indeed, it could only be called a Horror Film in the very loosest definition of the sense. Mostly, it's a romance; the leads may be 12 years old, but it's clear early on that their relationship is destined to go beyond friendship, into romantic love. And yet, I was blown away by this film.

If you haven't seen this movie, go and watch it. Although the following review qualifies as spoiler-free, I implore you not to watch it. Don't read the DVD case,  don't read anything, just obtain and watch this movie. I went in blind, knowing only that it's a vampire movie, and I strongly recommend that you do the same.

I have friends who read my reviews, but don't actually like horror movies; if you are one of those people don't be put off; go and watch this movie anyway.

Week 178 - Carrie (2013) / Let the Right One In (2008)

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have been given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

Lisa's Pick	Will's Pick
Comments due: 18/10/2014 More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB DVD: Link TRAILER:	AKA: Låt den Rätte Komma In Comments due: 18/10/2014 More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB DVD: Link TRAILER:

Antisocial (2013) - Lisa's Review

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have been given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

This weeks movie is one I hadn't seen as it has been sitting on my shelves for a while sent over from Australia by a friend of the hubbys. A need for a multi-region player meant it has sat there for a few weeks. So is it any good?

Antisocial comes to us from little known director Cody Calahan.  It follows a group of friends who gather together in one of their homes to celebrate New Year.  The movie predominantly follows Sam, who has been dealing with a less than enthusiastic boyfriend.  She seems very subdued and almost aloof as we start the movie, but as it goes on we realise why she seems preoccupied.  We publicly see her boyfriend announce his new status of singledom on a social media site, here called Redroom, but clearly a parody of Facebook.

*** Mild Spoilers ***

Rage (2010) - Will's Review

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have been given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

While parking his car, Dennis inadvertently cuts up a biker. It proves to be a far bigger mistake than he could have guessed.
Starting with childish baiting, and working his way up, the baker spends the day stalking and terrorising Dennis from behind his tinted visor, taking a simple disagreement way beyond road rage, and turning it into a terrifying ordeal.

Week 177 - Antisocial (2013) / Rage (2010)

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have boon given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

Lisa's Pick	Will's Pick
Comments due: 11/10/2014 More Info: No Wikipedia Entry, IMDB DVD: Link TRAILER:	Comments due: 11/10/2014 More Info: No Wikipedia Entry, IMDB DVD: Link TRAILER:

Afflicted - Lisa's Review (2013)

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have boon given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

So, in this break from the lists of movies we review.  The first choice of this month for me is canadian movie 'Afflicted'.  This movie follows friends Derek and Clif (who just so happen to have directed this movie as their directorial debut) as they set off on a venture for their "Ends of the Earth" web travel series.  For this reason most of the movie is done in that ever popular 'Camcorder style'. They set off on the journey against the advice of Dereks doctor.  He is suffering from (wait.... must google) an AVM (cerebral arteriovenous malformation) which could end his life at any moment.  They don't know enough about it to understand what could happen to him and how they will cope with any unexpected developments.

Curfew (1989) - Will's Review

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have boon given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

2 brothers on death row escape from prison and decide to punish the men they hold responsible for their sentence.
They quickly dispatch the psychiatrist who testified against them, and the judge who passed down the sentence, but for the District attorney, they have bigger plans.
Stephanie, the DAs daughter, gets home just in time to be embroiled in the brothers' violent revenge.

If I'd been aware of this one, I'd I've probably scheduled it as part of our "Beyond Nasty" season of banned or controversial movies; it was banned by the BBFC from release in 1989 until 2002, when it was passed uncut.

Week 176 - Afflicted (2013) / Curfew (1989)

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have boon given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

Lisa's Pick	Will's Pick
Review / Lisa's Comments due: 04/10/2014 More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB DVD: Link TRAILER:	Review / Will's Comments due: 04/10/2014 More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB DVD: Link TRAILER:

Deep Red - Will's Review

For my money, Deep Red is Dario Argento's best, certainly his most accessible, movie. 

It highlights everything good about Argento's work; great cinematography, a killer soundtrack by Goblin, and a good dose of suspense, while eschewing some of his more off-putting trademarks; the story, for one thing, is fairly straight forward (which isn't to say dull or simplistic), and the weird coloured lighting isn't present.  

Deep Red - Lisa's Review

So, as I started the movie for this weeks review, I did so with much sighing and a feeling of resignation.  Deep Red is an Italian Giallo movie, originally Profundo Rosso.  It was released in the year of my birth - 1975, the reason for my lack of excitement?  It's a Dario Argento movie.  I think Argento is one of those directors that you either love or hate and I'm afraid I would be in the latter camp with what I've seen so far.  So let me end this little introductory paragraph with a stunning revelation... I actually ENJOYED this movie!  There is an Argento movie I can honestly say I like!  I am somewhat stunned, but pleased by that.  So to the movie...

Deep Red follows Marcus Daly (David Hemmings) after he witnesses the murder of a psychic.  This music teacher takes it upon himself to start his own investigation.  He feels that deep in the recesses of his brain he may hold an important clue in that a picture he saw on the wall of the psychics apartment had disappeared when the police arrived.  However by becoming involved in the case, Marcus puts his own life in danger.

Week 175 - Deep Red (1975)

AKA: Profondo Rosso, The Hatchet Murders
Reviews / Author Comments due: 27/09/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 45
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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The Devils - Lisa's Review

*** SPOILERS ***

I started this one with relatively high expectations as the hubby said he had watched it and enjoyed it. I'm sort of torn with how to review it.  I'll come out right away - I hated it.  Does that mean everyone will hate it?  I guess not.

So to the premise.  We are in 17th century France, all the fortifications are being torn down by King Louis XIII under the advice of Cardinal Richelieu, to prevent the Protestants uprising.  That is as much history as you're going to get.   One towns walls however remain intact -  Loudon, which is now governed by a revered priest Urbain Grandier (Oliver Reed) following the death of the town Governer.  Loudon seems to be full of corrupt members of the church (no surprise there) and sexually frustrated nuns who are members of an enclosed convent.

The Devils - Will's Review

This week's movie would have been well suited to our season of controversial films, Beyond Nasty, being riddled with a near constant barrage of sex, violence, and blasphemy. It's no surprise that this movie had problems with the censors in almost every country it was released in. In fact, it was so badly shredded by various censorship boards, that parts of it are lost forever, still more parts still missing from most home releases; even the version we watched featured a shortened orgy, and is missing a masturbation scene.

Week 174 - The Devils (1971)

Reviews / Author Comments due: 20/09/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 46
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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Les Diaboliques - Will's Review

Movie legend has it that when director Henri-George Clouzot bought the film rights to the novel Celle qui n’était plus (She Who Was No More) by Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac, he beat Alfred Hitchcock to the punch by mere hours. While Clouzot undoubtedly made a fine movie, I'd love to see a version from an alternates inverse where Hitchcock got there first...

CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS

Les Diaboliques - Lisa's Review

I start this weeks movie with a surprise announcement!  I enjoyed a movie from 1955!!  There are of course a few old movies I love, but in general this is not the rule.  It's a great thing to have another movie to challenge my norm.

So, the movie.  Les Diaboliques as I'm sure you have already gathered is a french movie.  It is directed by Henri-Georges Clouzot.  Rather than put this movie in the 'horror' section, I would err more to the side of thriller.  There is a suggestion of the paranormal within the movie, but not so much as to pull it away from the realms of thriller.

The movie follows the story of a love triangle.  Maybe I should say hate triangle.  The setting is a boarding school for boys, run by the horrid misogynistic Michel Delassalle, but owned by his impossibly beautiful, but very ill wife Christina.  Making up the triangle is Michels mistress Nicole Horner who teaches at the school.

Michel is a violent, abusive, angry man who not only mentally and physically abuses his wife, but also his mistress Nicole.  He stays with his frail and sickly wife, who has a heart condition only to wait for her death so he inherits the school she owns,  Together, his wife and mistress, tired of the abuse, decide that they will get rid of him, by any means necessary.

Kwaidan - Will's Review

Says Wiki:

Kaidan (怪談) (sometimes transliterated kwaidan) is a Japanese word consisting of two kanji: 怪 (kai) meaning “strange, mysterious, rare or bewitching apparition" and 談 (dan) meaning “talk” or “recited narrative.”

In other words "Ghost Stories", which is what we have here; a collection of 4 short films based on stories by Lafcadio Hearn. 

Kwaidan - Lisa's Review

This is probably the hardest movie I've ever had to review.  I'm still sitting here wondering how I'm going to review it.  I'll be honest, I fell asleep again and again and again.  I don't know if that is particularly fair to the movie, as I'm not sure whether the repetitive sleeping was due to the movie or lack of sleep.

Kwaidan is a 1964 movie directed by Masaki Kobayashi, made up of 4 folks tales by Koizumi Yakumo... yup another oldie, but you know what?  I honestly don't think there was ANYTHING about the movie that would alert you to the fact that it is actually that old.  It looked like many Japanese movies I have watched.  They seem timeless in their style.  This movie looks wonderful.

Week 173 - Les Diaboliques

Reviews / Author Comments due: 13/09/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 47
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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Week 172 - Kwaidan (1964)

AKA: Kaidan, Ghost Stoies
Reviews / Author Comments due: 06/09/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 48
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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Vampyr - Will's review

A real tough review this week; Vampyr is remarkably well made, and would no doubt be a wonderful movie to study... But thoroughly failed to entertain me.

I'd like to be able to put my lack of appreciation down to it not having aged well, but sadly it received very poor reviews on release, and has only relatively recently come to be appreciated; proof f proof were needed that it is appreciated more for its technical excellence than it's value as a piece of entertainment.

Vampyr - Lisa's Review

*** SPOILERS ***

Back to the 30's this week.  When this movie started, I thought that, despite my general dislike of old movies that we were maybe on to something special, but nah... sadly not.

The general 'feel' and spooky atmosphere for the first half hour or so made me feel kind of unsettled, which when you're watching a horror, is a good thing.  Sadly the spooky feel turned into a getting ever more bored and desperately trying to work out what the hell is going on.  A case of "Is this actually happening or is it a dream/vision?".  As time went on, I cared less and less what was going on, which is sad as this one started out with everything it needed to be impressive.

Week 171 - Vampyr (1932)

Reviews / Author Comments due: 30/08/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 50
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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Switchblade Romance - Will's Review

Marie travels with her best friend Alex, to stay with Alex's family for the weekend and study. During the night a serial killer enters the family home and kills everyone except Marie (who avoids detection) and Alex (who the man kidnaps). Marie takes off after the psychopath to save her best friend, and both women endure a night of terror at his hands.

Cécile de France, gives (in the movies first act at least) an understated but brilliant performance as Marie; despite no obvious actions, it is clear that Marie is romantically attracted to Alex long before she peeps on her getting ready for bed (the first overt sign of either the attraction, or Marie's sexuality), and once the horror element kicks in the movie is a fairly standard, if gory and effective slasher.

Week 170 - Switchblade Romance

Aka: High Tension, Haute tension
Reviews / Author Comments due: 23/08/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 51
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

TRAILER:

Switchblade Romance - Lisa's Review

*** SPOILERS ***

Switchblade Romance this week.  This is a sub-titled movie - french, with english subtitles.  It was re-named for a UK audience (why, I have no idea).  The original title was Haute Tension (High Tension).  Personally I think the new title, as slick as it sounds, gives a bit more away than it should.  Then again, who remembers the movie title when you're engaged in the action.

Week 169 - Night of the Demon

Reviews / Author Comments due: 16/08/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 52
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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Night of the Demon - Will's review

In a short introduction a paranormal investigator, Dr. Harringtonton, meets with cult leader Dr Karswell, begging the satanist to "call it off", Karswell makes a half-hearted promise to "do what he can", but the scientist is killed by a demon on his way home. 

Cue the bulk of the movie, in which Dr. Holden, an American scientist and friend of the now diseased investigator, travels to England to look into Harrington's death (which Holden believes to be either an accident), and himself take over the work of exposing Karswell as a fraud. 

Night of the Demon - Lisa's Review

*** SPOILERS ***

Ok, this one took me several attempts, stops and rewinds.  Maybe I've got terrible concentration today and I'm very aware this is a late one from me, or maybe it was just that mind numbingly dull.  Sadly since anyone I know who has seen this movie seems to have enjoyed it, it seems it's my own personal taste this time.  So why didn't I enjoy it?

Week 168 - The Others (2001)

Reviews / Author Comments due: 09/08/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 53
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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The Others - Will's Review

Spanish produced (but English Language) film, Set against the immediate aftermath of The Great War. Grace Stewart (Nicole Kidmen) lives in her mansion home with her two photosensitive children. Her hiring of three new servants co-insides with a series of strange events, leading Grace to believe that there are intruders in her home. 

The Others - Lisa's Reviews

This is a movie that I have watched quite a few times, but one where I forget the finer details, so I watch it with 'almost fresh eyes each time.  So after yet another watch, on to the review.

The Others stars Nicole Kidman as a conservative, religious woman called Grace, widowed by war, who lives in a a large isolated house with her 2 children Anne and Nicholas.  The children suffer from a condition which means they are light sensitive so all the windows and possible sources of light are covered, making for a very dark and dreary home, hence giving us the mood for the movie.

Week 167 - [Rec]

Reviews / Author Comments due: 02/08/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 54
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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[Rec] - Will's Review

Spanish found footage movie: A reporter and her cameraman accompany a fire crew to what should be a routine call-out to an elderly lady apparently trapped in her apartment. Things quickly go awry when the lady appears to be suffering some kind of violent hysteria, and the health department seal everyone inside and declare the apartment complex a quarantine. 

Week 166 - The Wicker Man (1973)

Reviews / Author Comments due: 26/07/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 55
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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The Wicker Man - Will's Review

I'm going to plough ahead carelessly with spoilers and opinions for this one, on the assumption that you've seen it; if you haven't, stop calling yourself a horror fan until you rectify the situation! And if you don't intend to, you may as well skip this one; it'll make little sense, as I'm talking here directly to people that have. 

Kill Baby Kill - Will's review.

As some of you may know I have fallen many weeks behind with my reviews, and with the film stats (props to Lisa for soldering on in my near-absence). I'm not going to bore you with my excuses, but I will let you know that this movie is not making catching up easy. 

You see, I've decided to get up to speed, then publish all of the missing pages in a catch-up week; and having torn through the last three reviews, this one ground me to a four-day halt again. 

Week 165 - Kill, Baby… Kill! (1966)

Reviews / Author Comments due: 07/02/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 56
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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The Old Dark House - Will's review

A flooding and landslides cause a group of strangers to seek shelter at a rundown mansion, inhabited by Horace and Rebecca Femm, an ageing brother and sister, and their mute butler (Karloff). As the night progress, the family's secrets come to torment them, and their unwitting guests.

Week 164 - The Old Dark House (1932)

Reviews / Author Comments due: 12/07/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 57
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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Poltergeist - Will's Review

As well as having Writing, Story, and Production credits for Poltergeist it's also pretty much an open secret that Spielberg was the real director too. Yes Hooper gets the credit, but it's well known that Spielberg wanted to direct, but legally couldn't because of his E.T. Contract, and all word from everyone on set (besides Hooper and Spielberg themselves) says that Hopper did the setup, but Spielberg made all final adjustments. 

Week 163 - Poltergeist (1982)

Reviews / Author Comments due: 05/07/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 58
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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The Silence of the Lambs - Will's review

Another bone-fide modern classic this week. 

I first saw Silence of the Lambs soon after it's release, which would have put me at 12 or 13 years old; I guess back then expected a bit more killing from my serial killer movies, and a bit less talking, because I never watched the whole thing. 

[REC] - Lisa's Review

It's getting good climbing the Time Out 100 best horrors list... for one thing the movies keep getting better.  It's definately been more positive than negative of late and the same is the case for this weeks movie - [REC].

Weird title I hear you say, and yes, it is.  I'm sure it's something we all recognise as the abbreviation for 'Record'.  The title also has the little red circle which also denotes 'recording'.  As the movie is a 'found footage' movie taken on a video camera by a Spanish TV crew, the title makes sense.  The found footage in question is from the Spanish reality TV show 'While you were sleeping', which tasks itself with following people who make their living while the rest of the world are sleeping.  This movie is taken as the crew follow a Barcelona fire crew; pretty young presenter Ángela (Manuela Velasco) and camera man Pablo (Pablo Rosso).

The Wicker Man (1973) - Lisa's Review

Firstly I will start off by saying, if anyone who is reading a movie blog has never seen The Wicker Man, get yer arse away from the screen and go watch it.  It's one of those movies everyone should have seen.  That is to say the 1973 original, not the travesty that is the 2006 remake.  Although it stars the beautiful Nic Cage, this is still not enough to save it.  Absolutely dire!  What's worse is I paid cinema money to go see it!  Anyways, I digress!

Kill Baby Kill - Lisa's Review

This weeks movie sends us scuttling back to 1966 (who knew something asides from football happened that year!!) and to this offering from Italian Mario Bava.   To start with, for me, I saw a lot of similarities to Dario Argento in the movie.  Although this may sound like a great thing, for me, it most certainly isn't.  I am not a fan at all.

The Old Dark House - Lisa's Review

After a few weeks of movies which rate right up there with me, I couldn't believe my luck.  Then this weeks movie arrived....  I've said it many times, I will say it again.  I'm not a fan of old movies and at 1932 this one was right up there in the midst.  The Old Dark House is based on a 1927 novel by J.B. Priestly - Benighted.  Apparently it is a pretty good translation.  It is directed by James Whale and it boasts Boris Karloff amongst the cast.

Poltergeist - Lisa's Review

*** SPOILERS *** (but who hasn't seen this???)

So to lay my cards on the table straight away.  I LOVE this movie.  I did the first time I saw it as a pre-teen, I did when I watched it umpteen times over the years from then to now and I did when I watch it again before this review.

I suppose I have always been intrigued by the paranormal and supernatural, so it was a subject which was always going to haul me in.  My belief  may have wavered a bit since those early years, but I still find the whole subject interesting and swallow movies about it by the box load.

The Silence of the Lambs - Lisa's Review

This week I had the pleasure of re-watching one of my all time favourite movies.  I first saw this movie in my late teens and I absolutely adored it from the start.  I fell in love with Jodie Foster and she has remained a girl crush to this very day.  It's just a pity she doesn't do as much in movies these days.  A real shame.  Antony Hopkins is still in my top 3 favourite actors all these years later.  It's a movie that has stayed with me and has never wavered from being right at the top.  I would be completely aghast if anyone reading this (again hello?) hadn't seen the movie, but for young'uns who perhaps haven't, I suppose I should talk about storyline for a bit.

week 162 - The Silence of the Lambs

Reviews / Author Comments due: 28/06/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 58
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link

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