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.

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.

Week 181 - The Tenant (1976)

Reviews / Author Comments due: long ago

Position on Timeout List: 43

More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB

DVD: Link

TRAILER

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.

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.

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.

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.