Reviews / Author Comments due: forget about it
Position on Timeout List: 4
DVD:Link
Friday 23 October 2015
Psycho (1960) - Will's Review
Once again, I'm going to assume that if you're reading this you have either seen Psycho, or absorbed enough horror knowledge to have had it spoiled for you.
On the off chance that you are in that 0.01% of the population who do not know what surprises the movie holds, please I BEG YOU go and see it now... You camera check out my spoiler-free notes on my own blog HERE, but please, please, read no more on the subject than that until you have seen this masterpiece.
On the off chance that you are in that 0.01% of the population who do not know what surprises the movie holds, please I BEG YOU go and see it now... You camera check out my spoiler-free notes on my own blog HERE, but please, please, read no more on the subject than that until you have seen this masterpiece.
Tuesday 20 October 2015
Halloween (1978) - Will's Review
First let me make it clear that I do not worship at the alter of John Carpenter, I find him to be one of horror's most inconsistent figures; at his best, he's undeniably a genius, but for every The Thing, there's a Ghosts of Mars...
Still, if you're reading a horror blog, there's really no point dragging out any suspense about this one; Halloween is an amazing movie, which cemented the slasher as a sub-genre, and inspired directors for the next 30 some years.
Still, if you're reading a horror blog, there's really no point dragging out any suspense about this one; Halloween is an amazing movie, which cemented the slasher as a sub-genre, and inspired directors for the next 30 some years.
Monday 3 August 2015
Frankenstein (1931) - Lisa's Reviews
Frankenstein is always a story I've loved. This is 1 of my 2 favourites, the other being the 1994 version with Kenneth Branagh. There are different things to love about each movie. With this 1931 version, there is a romanticism. Even though the story is a horrific, frightening and even sad one, it manages to be beautiful all at the same time.
Boris Karloff is the perfect monster and has the iconic image we all know and love. I've also always felt empathy for the monster and the plight he finds himself in. Obviously that's the general idea, but of all the movies I watch, the character of the monster is one that has always fascinated me. His downfall has always left me feeling incredibly upset as I suppose there is a real affection for him.
Sunday 2 August 2015
Dawn of the Dead - Will's Review
Many people will tell you that this is the best of Romero's original dead trilogy... For my money it's a distant 3rd.
Frankenstein - Will's Review
Before James Whale cut loose in the previously reviewed Bride of Frankenstein, he adapted (parts of) Shelly's famous novel in this 1931 masterpiece.
Not scary to a modern audience, it's hard to understand the effect this had on audiences over 7 decades ago. What today is a classic movie which seems more horror-inspired than actual horror, once had audiences fleeing theatres in terror.
Friday 31 July 2015
Jaws - Will's Review
As we approach the end of the list, it's no surprise that we're encountering more and more bonafide classics, but Jaws is one of those rare genre movies which is also a modern classic of mainstream cinema; in fact, this is the movie which more or less invented the summer blockbuster.
Dead of Night - Will's Review
This 1946 anthology movie sees an architect, Walter, arrive at the home of a perspective client during a party. After experiencing déjà vu, Walter realises that he has dreamed of this night, and is filled with dread. This, of course, turns the conversation to the supernatural, and 5 guests each tell a tale of their own.
Maybe I'm a little ADHD, but I love anthology movies; there's something about the bite-size story that appeals to me no matter how obvious the twist.
Maybe I'm a little ADHD, but I love anthology movies; there's something about the bite-size story that appeals to me no matter how obvious the twist.
The Exorcist - Lisa's Review
With my affection for horror movies, it's quite a strange one that I hadn't seen The Exorcist until I was an adult. I had seen clips here and there, but I actually sat down to watch it when I was about 19. Remarkably unimpressed, I tried again in my early 20's. again in my mid 20's... that many people can't be wrong, right? I gave it a rest completely until somewhere in my 30's. I maintained the same opinion throughout. So, I wasn't feeling any great enthusiasm at the prospect of watching it again it has to be said, but I did... So did I draw the same conclusions this time? Ummmm, I'm afraid so.
Wednesday 29 July 2015
Week 181 - The Tenant (1976)
The Tenant - Will's Review
The Tenant features a twist I've seen before, but which I don't really know what to call. It's no where near as common as "he was dead all along" or "it was all a dream", but it's common enough to be a cliché. It's a very 'twilight zone'esq and doesn't really make any linear sense; it's well suited to mind bending psychological movies (it was kinda-sorta used in the 1990 Bill Pullman movie - not to be confused with Peter Jackson's zombie movie), but it is not suited to The Tennant.
That said, I think it points to the movies biggest problem; this 2-hour journey into madness isn't close to as interesting as it thinks it it.
As aesthetically boring as it is emotionally unengaging this Roman Polanski snoozefest sleepwalks from one dull scene to the next.
That said, I think it points to the movies biggest problem; this 2-hour journey into madness isn't close to as interesting as it thinks it it.
As aesthetically boring as it is emotionally unengaging this Roman Polanski snoozefest sleepwalks from one dull scene to the next.
Wednesday 22 July 2015
The Shining (1980) - Lisa's Review
The Shining has been one of those movies that has never fallen off my Top 20 Movies List. Once upon a time it was in the top 10, but since then I've seen A LOT of movies, so it is a testament to how good the movie is to still remain so high in my estimation. I'm generally not a big Kubrick fan, but this is his finest work IMHO.
The Shining is a movie I would expect everyone has seen. Giving a detailed premise seems redundant, but for the sake of any future young 'uns who may happen upon this blog, here is a basic idea.
We follow frustrated and ex alcoholic author, Jack Torrance, who is looking for somewhere quiet and secluded, where inspiration may strike and enable him to do some writing. A perfect opportunity comes up for Jack to act as a winter caretaker at The Overlook Hotel, which is closed from November to May due to severe weather conditions. Jack is delighted to be offered the position, and despite warnings from the hotel manager about the previous caretakers meltdown and experience of cabin fever, he feels strong enough of mind to handle the seclusion. He has the company of his long suffering wife Wendy and young son Danny over the period.
Jack is a very sullen and troubled character and his wife Wendy appears to be very put upon. Jack seems to hold her responsible for his lack of success and inability to hold down a job since he lost his teaching career due to his violent tendencies. With all this in mind, it was perhaps, not the best decision to take his young family to the seclusion of Overlook Hotel.
Monday 6 July 2015
Sunday 5 July 2015
Psycho (1960) - Lisa's Review
This is a movie I've watched several times and the same thing remains true every time I've seen it... I only ever remember 2 scenes (both of which you'll catch in any horror movie countdown). Try as I might (and I did again tonight), I can't retain any kind of attention for this movie. I find it dull, dull dull!!! Yes, I know, I know! Hitchcocks best film (bollox), a work of art (cough). I just don't like it.
I will happily concur with the fact that the films score by Bernard Herrman is outstanding. It is without doubt that the use of the soundtrack was what made the famous shower scene so effective (that's one of the scenes that I manage to retain). It sets a mood for the whole movie and manages to keep everyone perpetually on the edge of their seats, allowing for a few spectacular jumps.
Saturday 4 July 2015
Alien (1979) - Lisa's Review
I have great memories of sitting in front of the sofa on the floor and watching this movie with my dad when my age would still have been in single figures. Let me get this out there now - I don't like sci-fi movies as a whole. I'm not a fan of the copious amount of sci-fi programs out there and I generally get bored pretty quickly if they start talking in sci-fi language. That out of the way, I LOVE this movie (and several of its sequels).
For starters, the alien referred to in the movies title was designed by none other than one of my favourite artists H R Giger. It was like nothing we had seen before and was ground breaking, influencing so many movies that followed. It obliterated the template for science fiction movies and brought so much that was new to the genre. There was so much more to offer here. I won't go into a plot or premise, as the likelihood of anyone reading this having not seen Alien is non-existent. I will say that even if you don't like sci-fi, give this one a go anyway. It has a great script, fantastic acting, amazing cinematography and a set design like I've never seen. Everything from how the Alien came to be on board the ship Nostromo, to the attempts to destroy it with limited options available, to how the story ended, was pretty near perfect. You won't watch this movie and feel that you wished they'd done anything different. This movie is pretty much as near to perfect as you can get for a science fiction movie.
Tuesday 23 June 2015
The Thing (1982) - Will's Review
Another genuine horror classic which you have either seen, or else should see, this is going to be a very short review, as with nothing to criticise, there's not much to say!
John Carpenter's remake of 1951's "The Thing From Another World" ditches everything about the original (even most of the title) keeping only the polar basecamp, and the fact that an alien crash-lands there.
John Carpenter's remake of 1951's "The Thing From Another World" ditches everything about the original (even most of the title) keeping only the polar basecamp, and the fact that an alien crash-lands there.
Alien (1979) - Will's Review
Alien was groundbreaking in its depiction of space travel; it was (and to a large degree, still is) the norm to show all space travel, no matter how far in the future, as being the domain of pioneers and explorers, in gleaming white console rooms. Here space travel has clearly been going on for a while, and the crew of the Nostromo are basically space-truckers (or at best the space-merchant-navy), while the ship itself is industrial looking and lived-in.
When they accidentally pick up the Alien, the confined setting gives plenty of scope for claustrophobia, while the labyrinth of corridors which comprise much of the ship give the creature plenty of room to hide, allowing that the Alien could be anywhere. This mixture of claustrophobia and hiding spots gives the movie a lot to play with in the way of suspense.
When they accidentally pick up the Alien, the confined setting gives plenty of scope for claustrophobia, while the labyrinth of corridors which comprise much of the ship give the creature plenty of room to hide, allowing that the Alien could be anywhere. This mixture of claustrophobia and hiding spots gives the movie a lot to play with in the way of suspense.
Monday 22 June 2015
Martyrs - Will's Review
One of the great things about watching movies from a list you didn't write, is that occasionally you get to go into a film completely cold. For my money the best way to see any film is with absolutely no knowledge of it at all, but when choosing films for yourself it's all but impossible.
I'm pleased to say that I went into Martyrs knowing exactly nothing. If you like your horror movies brutal, and don't mind subtitles (it's a French film) I STRONGLY recommend that you stop reading. Come back when you've seen it.
I'm pleased to say that I went into Martyrs knowing exactly nothing. If you like your horror movies brutal, and don't mind subtitles (it's a French film) I STRONGLY recommend that you stop reading. Come back when you've seen it.
Hour of the Wolf (1967)
Hour of the Wolf (1967) - Will's Review
I don't have a great deal to say about this movie, given it mostly comprised of characters I didn't care about, having conversations I wasn't interested in, and doing things I didn't really understand, for reasons that were never made clear.
As best I can tell, it's about an artist's decent into madness, but that's all I can really say for sure plot-wise, with much of the film's second half being very unclear regards how much of what we are seeing is real.
Parts of the film look amazing, particularly the scene following the "hour of the wolf" title card at about the movies mid-point; the use of light and shadow in particular is phenomenal, and wasted on such a dull movie... So dull that I had to rewind many parts of it as I realised my mind had wondered, and the movie was simply washing over me.
Quite how this film has ranked so highly on the list I have no idea.
Parts of the film look amazing, particularly the scene following the "hour of the wolf" title card at about the movies mid-point; the use of light and shadow in particular is phenomenal, and wasted on such a dull movie... So dull that I had to rewind many parts of it as I realised my mind had wondered, and the movie was simply washing over me.
Quite how this film has ranked so highly on the list I have no idea.
Monday 8 June 2015
The Thing - Lisa's Review
So tonight I finally managed to watch all of The Thing. I have started to watch it many times in the past, as pretty much everyone and their aunt fanny rant about how good it is. Sadly each and every time I've tried, I've grown so incredibly bored I've had to give up. Tonight I was on a mission... I WILL WATCH THIS MOVIE! So how did it go? Well lets say I fell asleep more times than I was able to count in the end and I had to scan back my DVD over and over and over. In the end I spent all damn evening watching it!! Let me tell you, I can think of much better uses of my time on an evening. Nope, I was indeed not wrong the first time I sat down to watch it, nor any of the others. It just IS exceedingly boring!
I can hear the nay-sayers already. How dare she?!! The Thing is an awesome movie! Well I'm afraid I disagree. For me the only saving grace was a perv at Kurt Russell, but even he wasn't enough to hold my interest after a while. Let me put it to you like this. I switched it off at one point and a program about the Manchester Midland Hotel was on the TV. This woke me straight up and was riveting viewing in comparison!
Rosemarys Baby (1968) - Lisa's Review
This is a movie I was convinced I had seen several times. In actual fact I sat down last night to review it whilst I was watching it as I just wanted a bit of a reminder. Believe it or not, I managed to get it confused with 'The Hand That Rocks The Cradle'. *Facepalm*
So, what did I think? I'll get that out of the way early on. I absolutely loved this movie. I feel that even though aspects of the movie have dated (hair, make-up and fashion), for the most part, I feel it has just as much of an impact today as it did back in 1968. It doesn't rely on special effects or make-up to instill terror in the audience, but instead specialises in psychological horror as you empathise with the main character.
Rosemary in the story is played by the very beautiful Mia Farrow. Her delicate innocence and feminine fragility made her perfect for this role. She is a woman men could easily fall for and women would love as their friend. As Rosemary she is instantly likable and relatable. Her husband, Guy is played by John Cassavetes. I didn't like the character of Guy at all, even from the start. It makes me wonder if Cassavetes deliberately played the role as someone the viewer would feel suspicious of immediately or if he just doesn't play 'nice' very well. So, to a premise I suppose...
Saturday 6 June 2015
Halloween (1978) - Lisa's Review
Halloween is a favourite of an awful lot of people I know. I wouldn't say it was a favourite of mine, but it is a movie I would recommend any horror fan watch. It was the first that spawned a lot of similar teen slasher style movies. I'm thinking Friday the 13th / Nightmare on Elm Street.
The teenagers in these movies can pretty much be taken or left, replaced by the next young hopeful in the queue. I think a lot of guys may disagree with me here seeing as Jamie Lee Curtis plays our innocent young schoolgirl Laurie in this movie. The slasher is Michael Myers. We never see an adult face, only that of his 6 year old self with the murder that started it all.
When Michael was 6 years old he murdered his sister on Halloween night with a very big knife whilst wearing a clown costume. The murder scene itself in this movie is something that was incredibly weakened for me by the need for the sister to be shown naked after she'd been murdered, ok, so she'd just been shagging her boyfriend, but for me it turned what could have been a creepy, dark scene into something for the boys. Also the ridiculous flailing about by his sister, the lack of any attempt to get up from her seat to get away or push her 6 year old brother over was a bit of a laugh. It's sad really as the movies start is very strong, but would have been much stronger had these couple of elements been changed.
Thursday 4 June 2015
Dawn of the Dead (1978) - Lisa's Review
This is a movie I have watched a few times. It does remain one of the better 'of the dead' movies. Hey, the remake wasn't even that bad. In all honesty I've never been a big fan of zombie movies, but I happen to be married to someone obsessed by them, so I've had to watch my fair share of them.
When I recommend this movie, it isn't a recommended for a general movie fan, but rather one for a fan of older horrors or more notably fans of zombie horror.
Our story follows 2 SWAT teams (yes, 2!) and a couple who work for a television company and their fight against the ever-growing epidemic of the rise of the undead. The main location for the movie is a shopping mall which has escaped most of the zombies. Our four leading characters are TV Exec Francine (Gaylen Ross), her boyfriend - traffic reporter Stephen (David Emge), SWAT member Roger (Scott H Reiniger) and his friend Peter (Ken Foree). The four manage to rid the mall of the existing zombies, build a false wall which constructs a corridor that conceals the entrance they had been using and they took out trucks to block all the other entrances. While showboating on one of the truck rides, Roger ends up getting bitten, but the remaining three try to care for him at first. For a while they live it up, availing of everything you can do inside an empty mall. This freedom leads to feeling not so free after all when they realise they are trapped inside due to the zombies outside. They begin to think about taking their chances on the outside, but since there wasn't a complete consensus within the group they stayed, at least until Roger eventually snuffs it and starts to reanimate. Peter does the needful and pulls the trigger.
Week 211 - The Thing (1982)
Wednesday 3 June 2015
Week 207 - Jaws (1975)
Tuesday 2 June 2015
Wednesday 27 May 2015
Night of the Living Dead - Will's Review
When the dead start to rise and feast on the flesh of the living. A group of survivors haul up in an abandoned farmhouse.
Although the word "zombie" is never uttered on screen (the undead are referred to as "ghouls", Night of the Living Dead gave us the the modern zombie movie; until NOTLD, "zombies" referred to the sometimes undead, often hypnotised or brainwashed living people, used as slaves in Haitian Voodoo. Whereas old-school zombies would usually be present in small numbers, Romero gave us the horde of the undead working independently of a master.
More than the creatures themselves though, NOTLD supplied the blueprint still used in most zombie movies (and AMC's "The Walking Dead") to this day; a group of survivors hauled up in a semi-secure location, with in-fighting being every bit as dangerous as the horde outside.
Although the word "zombie" is never uttered on screen (the undead are referred to as "ghouls", Night of the Living Dead gave us the the modern zombie movie; until NOTLD, "zombies" referred to the sometimes undead, often hypnotised or brainwashed living people, used as slaves in Haitian Voodoo. Whereas old-school zombies would usually be present in small numbers, Romero gave us the horde of the undead working independently of a master.
More than the creatures themselves though, NOTLD supplied the blueprint still used in most zombie movies (and AMC's "The Walking Dead") to this day; a group of survivors hauled up in a semi-secure location, with in-fighting being every bit as dangerous as the horde outside.
Tuesday 26 May 2015
An American Werewolf in London - Will's Review
2 young American backpackers are attacked in the Yorkshire dales, one of them (Jack) is killed; the other (David) is badly injured and sent to hospital in London. The Dales' Locals cover up the truth behind the savage attack, claiming it was a madman; but when David comes too, the spirit of Jack is on hand to tell him the truth; they were attacked by a werewolf, and only the distraction of the wolf's "bloodline" can rescue his victims from purgatory.
David, naturally, questions his own sanity, rather than simply accepting the visions as fact... But the full moon is in its way.
David, naturally, questions his own sanity, rather than simply accepting the visions as fact... But the full moon is in its way.
Monday 25 May 2015
Carrie - Will's Review
Stephen King spins a great story but film adaptations of his work, while usually entertaining, are veritable in quality to say the least.
In Carry, I think one of his books was captured properly; of course some things were changed, books and movies are different mediums, but none of those changes take anything away from one of Kings most identifiable novels.
In Carry, I think one of his books was captured properly; of course some things were changed, books and movies are different mediums, but none of those changes take anything away from one of Kings most identifiable novels.
Sunday 24 May 2015
Don't Look Now - Will's Review
I can only assume this movie wasn't available on video during the early 80's, or between opening with a child death, featuring a fairly graphic sex scene, and it's "Don't" title, it would surely have found itself on the DPP list.
As well acted as the movie is, the real star of the show though, is the editor, who takes a simple story about a couple's grief and turns it to to an atmospheric, compelling movie, full of scenes from the present intercut wonderfully with flashback (and other) material. Totally this movie is very similar to Possesion; dealing with grief in much the same way that movie dealt with a failing relationship... Only without the rubber monster!
As well acted as the movie is, the real star of the show though, is the editor, who takes a simple story about a couple's grief and turns it to to an atmospheric, compelling movie, full of scenes from the present intercut wonderfully with flashback (and other) material. Totally this movie is very similar to Possesion; dealing with grief in much the same way that movie dealt with a failing relationship... Only without the rubber monster!
Friday 22 May 2015
Jaws - Lisa's Review
Jaws was released in the year of my birth. I was a kid when I watched it thanks to my old dad and his horror fixation. It is taken from a book by Peter Benchley and as good as I'm sure the book is, I doubt it managed to convey the absolute terror that the movie instilled in everyone over a certain age. I have yet to meet anyone who doesn't either love or be terrified of this movie,, or both!! The mere mention of the word Jaws, or even shark, will prompt a rendition of the most simplistic yet most effective musical score in any movie EVER.
Don't Look Now (1973) - Lisa's Review
This is a movie my husband recommended to me when we first got together, so it's just taken me 10 years to get around to it. Well, truth be told it would probably be another 10 years if I was watching this one for my own viewing pleasure. Unfortunately the life of a movie review blogger means we must watch dull movies and boring movies as well as the good ones and the great ones. We also watch movies we otherwise wouldn't have done and find in actual fact we were missing out on a great movie. I wish I could say this were the case for 'Don't Look Now'. In my opinion, it most certainly was not.
Saturday 2 May 2015
Night of the Living Dead (1968) - Lisa's Review
I watched this one (forcibly) a few years ago as I'm married to a big Romero fan. Having thankfully forgotten most of it, I was unfortunately forced to sit through it again tonight. So I would imagine from those few words you can guess what I thought to the movie. Yup, it sucked. To be fair I'm not a fan of old zombie movies. Dawn of the Dead is about as old as I go but that one is a stand out good 'un. Anyways, I suppose we need a premise of sorts.
We concentrate on a group of people accidentally brought together in a farmhouse when hiding from a hoarde of zombies. As with most of these movies, there are bad decisions, slightly less bad decisions, dramatic saves, ridiculous deaths, hammy overacting, rubbish effects but in a complete turnaround there is actually a pretty good ending. I would be surprised if any horror fan hadn't seen this movie or any non horror fan were reading this blog, so there isn't much reason to hide the ending. If however in a strange twist of fate, you actually haven't seen it and want to... avoid the next paragraph.
Sunday 26 April 2015
The Innocents - Lisa's Review
So, we travel back in time again for 'The Innocents'. Right back to the early 60's. I will admit, since I started having to watch particular movies for review, there have been some old movies that I have enjoyed. Movies that I otherwise would never have chosen to see. This movie however is most definitely not in that category.
There isn't much to the movie plot wise. A young attractive lady called Miss Giddens (played by Deborah Kerr no less) is hired to become governess to 2 young children. They are orphans and are under the care of their uncle who doesn't want to be bothered by them. He is a very affluent man so he basically throws money at the situation to make it go away. He hires Miss Giddens, who admits to having no experience whatsoever, seemingly purely based on her looks. When she arrives at the childrens home, she makes a friend in the housekeeper Mrs Grose and loves Flora, the little girl she is to care for. The little boy Miles is at boarding school so we don't see him until a bit later in the movie.
Miss Giddens is under the impression she is going to love her job, but she starts to see people who then turn out not to be there. When Miles arrives home from school, things start to take an unpleasant turn with more strange happenings and some very odd behaviour from the children. Mrs Grose doesn't seem to want to answer the questions Miss Giddens puts to her and almost warns her not to delve any deeper. She knows something is very wrong with the children and the house. This is pretty much it apart from giving away what was going on.
Saturday 25 April 2015
The Innocents - Will's Review
Truthfully, and without exaggeration, I assert that nothing in a motion picture can drive me to distraction with more haste than the ever so frightfully effected speech patterns employed by those who write period dramas, save perhaps the cadence with which such lines are delivered by members of the acting profession whom find themselves cast in same. I am certain therefore, that it will be no great struggle for you to ascertain the issues I found myself having with the movie it befalls upon to view for our two hundred and sixth week.
That particular kind of affectedly "posh" period drama is (along with westerns) outright not my thing, and this movie would have to do a lot to win me over...
That particular kind of affectedly "posh" period drama is (along with westerns) outright not my thing, and this movie would have to do a lot to win me over...
Saturday 18 April 2015
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Week 201 - The Haunting (1963)
Week 202 - An American Werewolf in London
Week 203 - Carrie (1976)
Carrie (1976) - Lisa's Review
So, another favourite of mine this week! We're on a roll! Carrie is a movie I saw many years ago when I was about 10 or 11, thanks again to my dads Stephen King collection. It was released a year after I was born, so by the time I saw it, the 70's vibe was a bit dated, but I was too young to worry about such things. Had I watched it from my late teens onwards, I'd have loved the whole look and feel of it anyway :). I suppose what I'm trying to say is, for me, this movie can't date as I have a soft spot for the whole era.
Carrie is a movie which I would imagine absolutely everyone has seen. They even did a remake in 2013 which I watched and reviewed here. I wouldn't envy anyone who tried to get near to the original. In this case, it is most definately, the best.
Carrie follows the story of Carrie white, a 17 year old schoolgirl and daughter of a superstitious and deeply religious mother. Carrie doesn't fit in at school. She has no friends and has no idea how to relate to her peers as everything that is of importance to a teenager is forbidden to Carrie. In one upsetting scene (the opening scene in fact) Carrie is shown having her period for the first time. Unfortunately due to her upbringing, she has no idea what is happening to her and thinks she is dying. She runs towards the other girls, arms outstretched and hands covered in blood, screaming. Of course the other girls know what is happening and are repulsed. They all end up laughing, chanting at her and throwing tampons and sanitary pads at her as she lies sobbing in the showers. The scene is harsh and upsetting, but is a perfect introduction to Carrie and the feel of the movie. Even though this scene is shot in a girls shower room and all the women are naked, there is nothing gratuitous or sexual about it, which seems impossible, but is absolutely the case.
Friday 17 April 2015
Week 199 - The Omen (1967)
The Omen - Will's Review
The Omen is one of those films who's 'classic' status completely mystifies me - with the exception of one or two scenes (one, if I'm honest) the movie completely fails to hold, or even get, my attention.
If anyone is both reading this, and doesn't know the plot of The Omen (two things unlikely enough separately, yet alone together), it tells of an American diplomat Robert thorn (Gregory Peck) stationed in Rome. Robert's wife Katherine (Lee Remick) gives birth to a boy, who he is told dies moments after being born. Robert is convinced by the hospital chaplain, to illicitly adopt an orphan whose mother died at the same time.
Fearing by that his wife couldn't cope with the loss of thier child, he agrees to secretly adopt the boy, and tell no one. They call the boy Damien, and as I'm sure you already know (unless you've been living under a rock your entire life) he is the anti-Christ.
Sadly what follows is not the apocalypse, there are no appearances from the four horsemen, no trumpets sound, faithful Christians do not ascend in droves; instead, some slightly creepy stuff happens around the child for the next hour and a half, then the movie ends.
The bible jump-cuts from The Christ being born, to him being an adult and doing Christ-stuff; biblical scholars have debated why so much of his story - his entire childhood, no less, goes untold. I put it to them that the answer lies in The Omen; the early life of a Demi-God is simply not that noteworthy, and the film feels very much like an overly long introduction.
If anyone is both reading this, and doesn't know the plot of The Omen (two things unlikely enough separately, yet alone together), it tells of an American diplomat Robert thorn (Gregory Peck) stationed in Rome. Robert's wife Katherine (Lee Remick) gives birth to a boy, who he is told dies moments after being born. Robert is convinced by the hospital chaplain, to illicitly adopt an orphan whose mother died at the same time.
Fearing by that his wife couldn't cope with the loss of thier child, he agrees to secretly adopt the boy, and tell no one. They call the boy Damien, and as I'm sure you already know (unless you've been living under a rock your entire life) he is the anti-Christ.
Sadly what follows is not the apocalypse, there are no appearances from the four horsemen, no trumpets sound, faithful Christians do not ascend in droves; instead, some slightly creepy stuff happens around the child for the next hour and a half, then the movie ends.
The bible jump-cuts from The Christ being born, to him being an adult and doing Christ-stuff; biblical scholars have debated why so much of his story - his entire childhood, no less, goes untold. I put it to them that the answer lies in The Omen; the early life of a Demi-God is simply not that noteworthy, and the film feels very much like an overly long introduction.
Tuesday 14 April 2015
Week 200 - Audition (1999)
Monday 13 April 2015
An American Werewolf in London - Lisa's Review
I think I should say right from the off, this is probably going to be a very biased review as 'An American Werewolf in London' is right up there amongst my favourite movies. It's easily the best werewolf movie ever made. The effects, so groundbreaking in 1981 are still just as jaw dropping today, which is something given the lack of CGI effects then which are common place today.
The movie follows best buddies David and Jack as they leave their native America for the Yorkshire Moors in a backpacking trip. Sadly, although they are supposedly in the moors, filming was carried out in Wales and Surrey. Having lived in Yorkshire for quite a few years, I see no reason why they couldn't film there, but hey ho! Anyways, whilst hiking, they decide to go into a local pub (The Slaughtered Lamb) as it's getting a bit dark. If you're paying attention you'll see no other than Rik Mayall in there as one of the yokels. It's one of those bars where you walk in and a 'stranger' spotlight must appear above your head as the entire bar stops to stare. I still think of this scene when I enter a bar where I wish I'd never set foot. So, upon asking about a Pentagram sign on the wall of the pub, the locals aka yokels, make it clear American tourists, David and Jack are not welcome. A concerned barmaid is concerned that they are going out into the moors in the dark, but they are sent on their way and told to keep to the path. Unfortunately when they leave they are so busy talking about where to go and what to do, they veer from the path and onto the moors.
Saturday 11 April 2015
The Haunting (1963) - Lisa's Review
Finally I get down to the review of this movie. It has only taken me 3 attempts to watch it. It's a movie that requires quite a bit of attention and I found it is quite easy to find the mind drifting throughout. After having to hit the scan back button more than once, I gave it a rest for the evening, again, several times. Last night I finally managed to watch it all. Did I agree with Martin Scorsese, that it was the scariest movie ever made? Ummmm nope! Did it scare me even a teensy bit? Ummmmm nope! I suppose a premise of sorts is in order.
The movie centers around Hill House, a mansion that was built by a man called Hugh Crain, for his new wife. Unfortunately, she never got to see the home built for her, dying in an accident enroute to the house. Hugh married again, but his second wife died falling down the stairs in Hill House. There must be something very unlucky about Hill House as not content to be witness to 2 deaths, it also sees another one with Hughs daughter Abigail dying as she calls on her nurse maid. She never left the nursery in Hill House for her entire life.
Understandably, the house had a bit of a reputation; one which attracted the attention of Dr Markway, who wanted to conduct a paranormal investigation there. He is given permission by the owner on the condition that her son (and heir) a skeptic, accompanies him. He invites 2 individuals - Theo, known to be a psychic and Eleanor who has 'abilities' and was plagued by supernatural forces as a child when stones rained down on her house for 3 solid days.
Friday 10 April 2015
Audition - Will's Review
This isn't the first time I've seen Audition, but I'm Damned if I remembered more than 10 minutes of it, so for all intents and purposes I went in cold on this one.
After his young adult son suggest it's time he remarries, widower Shigeharu enlists the help of a film producer friend to hold a fake Audition for a non existent roll, so that he may find a woman he wishes to date. He becomes immediately infatuated with one woman in particular (Asami) and pursues her.
Asami is receptive to Shingeharu's advances, but this being a horror movie, it's no spoiler to tell you that not everything goes smoothly, and that someone isn't what they appear.
After his young adult son suggest it's time he remarries, widower Shigeharu enlists the help of a film producer friend to hold a fake Audition for a non existent roll, so that he may find a woman he wishes to date. He becomes immediately infatuated with one woman in particular (Asami) and pursues her.
Asami is receptive to Shingeharu's advances, but this being a horror movie, it's no spoiler to tell you that not everything goes smoothly, and that someone isn't what they appear.
Sunday 22 March 2015
Audition - Lisa's Review
I became a Japanese horror fan 12 or 13 years ago and Audition was one of the first movies Japanese movies I watched. I had watched a couple before this so was prepared for the odd style, which is just as well, as Audition is probably as odd as it comes. From the off I'll say it. I love this movie. It's all kinds of strange, the words of an old rock song by a band called Crimson Glory sum it up quite succinctly... "Strange and beautiful... wicked and wonderful". I'm deliberately not going to go into much detail on the story as it's a movie a lot of people won't have seen and they really should change that as it is well worth a watch. It is also a movie where a lot is left to the viewers own interpretation. There are quite a few interpretations of the movie to be found online, one of which I am most definitely on board with. Again, it's not something anyone who hasn't seen the movie should read beforehand. It's better to go into this movie with as little knowledge as possible. I'll happily talk about my interpretation if any reader (are there any out there??) wants to know after having viewed the movie.
Sunday 15 March 2015
The Omen (1976) - Lisa's Review
The Omen is one of those infamous movies that pretty much everybody has seen. Anyone too young to be bothered has probably seen the crappy 2006 remake. I say crappy, but to be honest, I'm not that big a fan of the original. I'll shoot from the hip right from the start, I found the original movie extremely dull, save for a few key scenes. I found the 2006 remake hilariously bad. Given that, I'd be very surprised if there was any horror fan who hadn't watched this movie, it isn't one I'm going to bang on about for too long.
Thursday 12 March 2015
Eyes Without A Face - Will's Review
Eyes without a face is a French-Italian co-production. Were it not for the subtitles there would very little clue to this, feeling instead like one of the many American produced sci-fi horrors put out by Universal or MGM at about the same time, indeed, this would sit well on a shelf next to Village of the Damned, being one of the more thoughtful, sympathetic, examples of the genre.
Nosferatu - Will's Review
Right off the bat I think it's only fair to point out that silent movies aren't really my thing; I don't have the experience necessarily to compare one to another, or to know which of my complaints or comments apply to any particular movie, rather than being typical of the time.
What I will say, is that in the print I watched the tinting had been preserved (it was not uncommon for silent film to be tinted on a scene by scene basis to show mood or time of day), and the image was sharp and crisp; a vast improvement over last time I attempted to watch this in a poor quality grayscale transfer.
What I will say, is that in the print I watched the tinting had been preserved (it was not uncommon for silent film to be tinted on a scene by scene basis to show mood or time of day), and the image was sharp and crisp; a vast improvement over last time I attempted to watch this in a poor quality grayscale transfer.
Sunday 8 March 2015
Nosferatu (1922) - Lisa's Review
This is an oooooooooold movie, a SILENT movie for gawds sake! I'd managed to successfully avoid watching this one up until tonight. You see, this is probably one of my husbands favourite movies. It's most definately his favourite vampire/vampyr? movie. A bit of information first. This was the first movie based on the 1897 Bram Stokers Dracula. Given our modern ideas on vampires, this is quite surprising as the vampire depicted in Nosferatu is very, very different. Bram Stokers widow denied permission for the movie to be made, but undeterred, F.W. Murnau continued with his version of the famous book. He did change the names and made subtle differences to the storyline, but anyone who had read Stokers book or who had any knowledge of it, would be quick to make the connection. Upon finding this out Stokers widow demanded all the copies were destroyed. Fortunately for film history, a copy had made it's way to America, so the movie was saved and so is able to be enjoyed today.
So, why Nosferatu when the main vampires name is Orlok? Well a little bit of reading tells me that Nosferatu is a Romanian word synomymous with Vampire and with the location being Transylvania... there you go!
Our movie starts depicting the happy relationship between our star Thomas Hutter and his beautiful wife Ellen. They have a very simple relationship, one that shows an almost dependence upon one another, so when Hutters boss Knock sends him to Transylvania to secure a sale with a new customer, Count Orlok, Ellen is unsure and reluctant for Hutter to go. Of course he doesn't have an option but to go, even with the reputation the place has of being full of phantoms and evil spirits.
Monday 2 March 2015
Week 128 - Nosferatu: Eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)
The Fly - Lisa's Review
I'll start this review by saying, I'm not a fan of David Cronenberg. I did mention this previously in my review of Videodrome. I did also state that there were a couple of his movies that I loved. The Fly is, in my humble opinion, the best thing he's ever done.
I hark back yet again to my late pre-teens and early teens and beloved family memories of Saturday nights sat around the toploader VHS with whatever gem my dad had picked up from the local video store. We generally ended up watching a horror movie and I very vividly remember my mums discomfort and embarrassment at some aspects of nudity and sex scenes in this movie. Having watched it again a few times since then, I can see it is not sexually graphic at all, but it was certainly enough to leave me red-faced and have my mum reach for the remote and the FFWD button back then.
So, the movie... I will make no bones about it. I adore this movie. I'm a massive Jeff Goldblum fan. Not only is he a wonderfully talented actor with an imposing presence, but he is absolutely beautiful with a voice that makes my lady parts sing! Although he became much more attractive in later years, he is definately appealing in The Fly. As the movie starts Jeff plays Seth Brundle, a socially awkward but immensely intelligent scientist, with a nervous tension that only comes with being an eccentric scientist. I've always found this kind of character oddly appealing and Jeff Goldblum plays it perfectly.
Sunday 1 March 2015
Week 127 - The Fly (1986)
Reviews / Author Comments due: 28/02/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 23
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: 5 film set, with it's Sequel, and the original trilogy.
TRAILER:
The Fly (1986) - Will's Review
Monday 23 February 2015
The Birds - Lisa's Review
Back to the 60's for this weeks movie. As many people know, I have never been a big fan of older movies, but having this challenge to watch these movies has forced me to watch films I otherwise wouldn't have. In doing this, I've had to concede there are a lot of good oldies out there.
As much as Alfred Hitchcock is not someone I personally admire (he was a bit of an arse), I have to admit, he was a genius when it came to the world of film. The Birds is adapted from a book by Daphne du Maurier, but I can't imagine any other director would have thought to do with it what Hitchcock did. I'm not going to go into a premise of The Birds, as to be honest if you haven't seen it or at least know what it's all about, you're in the wrong place.
I first saw The Birds as a child and I do remember being a bit wide-eyed at the section where the school children are running down the street being chased and attacked by the birds. Having watched this same scene a few times since and again last night, the effects are laughable in these days, but we have to remember it was 1963! The terrible acting by some of the kids is amusing though, especially one little lad who can't seem to stop himself from smiling.
Sunday 22 February 2015
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - Will's Review
A Nightmare on Elm Street was the first movie box set I owned on DVD, even going so far as to import the North American version (back when that meant shopping with relatively small companies based in Canada, because the likes of Amazon weren't importing / exporting then) to make sure I got all 7 movies and the bonus disc (the UK version at the time only had the first 6 movies, and we're still waiting for an official release of the 8th disc). A few years ago Never Sleep again was released, and I knocked out the whole thing (a 4 hour documentary, 8 hours of extras, and the documentary again with commentary) in a couple of days.
It's fair to say I am a huge Freddy fan... But that hasn't always been the case.
It's fair to say I am a huge Freddy fan... But that hasn't always been the case.
The Birds - Will's Review.
I've noted before how important en ending is; a mediocre ending can drag down a great film, and a brilliant ending can elevate an average one. But what of a superb film with literally no ending?
It ruins it.
I've seen The Birds twice before; the first time I saw it it was on commercial TV; I blinked and missed the copyright card which appears at the 2 hour mark (the movie has no closing credits) sat through the adverts (this was when you used to generally watch things as they aired, and fast forwarding wasn't an option) then was most dismayed when another program started!
It ruins it.
I've seen The Birds twice before; the first time I saw it it was on commercial TV; I blinked and missed the copyright card which appears at the 2 hour mark (the movie has no closing credits) sat through the adverts (this was when you used to generally watch things as they aired, and fast forwarding wasn't an option) then was most dismayed when another program started!
Thursday 19 February 2015
The Changeling - Will's Review
Following the tragic death of his wife and child, composer John Russell (George C. Scott), moves cross-country where he rents a large, eerie mansion. It isn't long before a presence makes itself known in the house and John, at first thinking it may be connected top his own recent loss, sets about trying to solve the mystery of his new home's ghost.
Sunday 15 February 2015
Week 197 - The Birds
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Friday 13 February 2015
The Changeling - Lisa's Review
***SPOILERS ***
I had never heard of this weeks movie before sitting down to watch it. It was one of those movies where I 'felt' I should know of it when I started watching it. Where I had seen the lead actor George C Scott (who plays John Russell) also bothered me for an entire movie as he was SO familiar. Having checked his filmography, I honestly still can't recall where I've seen him as there are no movies / programs which are well known to me. This of course is no reflection on a wonderful actor. It's rarely I am very impressed by an actors performance, but I was by Mr George C Scotts here. I shall no doubt check out a lot more by him now. He didn't come to acting young having served time with the marines and completing a degree in journalism before performing in a university production and catching the acting bug. Interestingly he also refused Oscar nominations as he hated the whole concept. Enough about Mr Scott though, this is a review of the movie.
We start the movie with a scene which leads to the tragic death of John Russells wife and young daughter. They had a car breakdown and the girls push the car to the side of the road so John can call for help at a nearby phone box. While John calls for help, a truck smashes into his parked car and his wife and daughter who are playing alongside it by the roadside. He witnesses it all. He spends a period of time trying to come to terms with what has happened and eventually decides the home he shared with his family in New York holds too many memories, so he moves to Seattle to take up a teaching position at a local college.
He soon find himself housed in a large, beautiful but long empty mansion thanks to his friend and local housing agent Claire (interestingly played by Georges real wife Trish Van Devere). A large piano left at the property clinched the deal. It was too expensive for the previous owners to move it, so it was left behind. As a composer and pianist, it was ideal for John, who, feeling inspired, composes a new piece of music immediately. There's no doubt about it though, the house is creepy so when John is awoken early one morning by loud clanging noises, claims by his handyman that it is down to the old houses heating system seem realistic, even though they start every morning at precisely 6am. Making a reference to my early mention of how impressed I was at George C Scotts acting; his reaction to being awoken from a horrible nightmare to these reverberating bangs is just wonderfully convincing and makes it very easy to be taken along on this ride. The fact that the movie is based on real events experienced in the home of Co Screenwriter Russell Hunter also adds to the creepiness.
Videodrome - Will's Review
I love David Chronenburg's more linear work, but I'm not always a fan of his more surreal / abstract movies. As such I can safely say I appreciated Videodrome... But I didn't really enjoy it.
It begins straightforwardly enough; Max (James Woods) is the owner of a small TV station, which keeps its viewers by showing a steady stream of sleaze, violence. And soft porn. Max is delighted when a friend of his discovers and decodes a scrambled satellite signal of a show called "Videodrome" a plotless (fake?) snuff show, in which a bound person is beaten, tortured, and murdered. Believing that Videodrome could be the next big thing for his station, Max sets out to track down the makers of the show, with hope of buying the rights and bringing it to his channel.
It begins straightforwardly enough; Max (James Woods) is the owner of a small TV station, which keeps its viewers by showing a steady stream of sleaze, violence. And soft porn. Max is delighted when a friend of his discovers and decodes a scrambled satellite signal of a show called "Videodrome" a plotless (fake?) snuff show, in which a bound person is beaten, tortured, and murdered. Believing that Videodrome could be the next big thing for his station, Max sets out to track down the makers of the show, with hope of buying the rights and bringing it to his channel.
Sunday 8 February 2015
Week 195 - The Changeling (1980)
Saturday 7 February 2015
Videodrome - Lisa's Review
I'll start this weeks review by putting it out there - I hated Videodrome! I seem to be standing out there in a very lonely place with that viewpoint. I've read so much about manipulation of mass media, subliminal messaging and how clever the movie is, but it most certainly isn't something that I would choose for a nights viewing.
The movie is directed by David Cronenberg who is known for his love of movies with an underlying message. He also is a big fan of body horror, which Videodrome definately falls into the category of. I am no Cronenberg fan, it has to be said., with the exception of a small number of his movies that I can count on one hand and still have some fingers left over, I find his work incredibly dull and self indulgent. The effects artists he works with on movies are where the talent lies. I will admit some of the actual body horror itself is impressive in a disgusting kind of way. That's where I find myself intrigued and glued to the screen. If I wanted to start watching political movies or movies with a specific hidden agenda, I would. Mostly I just want to be entertained and carried away to somewhere much more interesting not educated on "the impact of mass media perversity on the human psyche".
Tuesday 3 February 2015
The Blair Witch Project - Will's Review
I've only seen this movie once before; I saw it at the cinema right in the middle of all the hype.
In case you don't remember, back in 1999 Blair Witch was reviewed as "the scariest film ever", in its initial US run some clever marketing had people questioning if it was real, and even after the gig was up on the reality front, people were still running from cinemas to throw up, or being dragged out having fainted. There was outcry in the national press when the BBFC gave this supposedly terrifying special a 15 rating. Thanks mostly to its incredibly low budget it quickly became (proportionately) the most profitable film of all time, and blew the "found footage" genre wide open, launching a wave of movies that continues to this day. It's fair to say that without Blair Witch there would be no [rec.], no Paranormal Activity parts one through 27, no V/H/S, and no Cloverfield.
Sunday 1 February 2015
Week 194 - Videodrome (1983)
Saturday 31 January 2015
Let The Right One In - Lisa's Review
Lets start this review off by saying, if you have yet to watch this movie, remedy that! Watch it. It's awesome. I watched this movie with absolutely NO idea what it was about, purely after hearing wow after wow from horror fans. It really is the best way to see it, so if you haven't, I urge you not to read any more of this review.
So, you're still here? Ok then, you want to know a little more. 'Let The Right One In' is a Swedish language movie by Tomas Alfredson. It is based on the novel of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist. There are of course subtitles available. I know this puts a lot of people off, but it really shouldn't. There are some fantastic foreign language movies out there that bring something completely unique to the table. 'Let The Right One In' is most definately in that bracket.
I'll start by saying this movie is a story of friendship, triumph over adversity and love. Adding that it is a vampire movie may make this difficult to imagine. So to a premise.
The movie follows 2 individuals - shy, reclusive 12 year old Oskar and a very odd, pale young girl called Eli, also 12, who has just moved in beside him and his mum. Oskar is different. Because of this he is very badly bullied at school. I concluded his general peculiarity and anger are what cause his fascination with murders, blood and knives.
Tuesday 27 January 2015
Week 193 - Let The Right One In (2008)
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