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.

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...

Jaws - Lisa's Review

It seems kind of redundant to be reviewing a movie like Jaws.  Who on earth out there hasn't seen this movie??  Possibly some really young movie fans? but when you do some reading or find out anything about the movie, then you would most definitely watch it.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.   

Martyrs - Lisa's Review

I'll start the review by saying right away that this is one of my favourite horror movies.  It's the only movie I own on Blu-ray even though I don't even have a Blu-ray player.  I will one day and had to buy this one when I saw it as a bargain.  It's not too often a movie comes along that stays with you for a long time afterwards and prompts some deep thought.  This is definately true of Martyrs.  I know a lot of people who refuse to watch a foreign language film, which is such a shame as so many people will miss out on so many fantastic films, this being french is one of them.  So, to the movie itself.

One thing I will say to start with is the less you know about this movie, the better.  Director, Pascal Laugier even states this in a DVD introduction.  He prefers viewers to see it as "Virgins".  Having watched this movie quite a few times, I can understand why.  Having a absolutely terrible memory means I can enjoy different aspects of this movie each time I watch it as I never remember absolutely everything.  Martyrs isn't a simple, easy watch.  It's a very thought provoking, moving and clever movie, that prompts questions that don't necessarily even have answers.  Writing a review of a movie when you're trying to give absolutely nothing away is somewhat difficult, so I would say if you haven't seen this movie, stop here!  Go rectify the situation!

Eyes without a face (1959) - Lisa's Review

*** SPOILERS ***

So, back to working my way through my backlog of reviews.  I'm having an online hiatus of sorts to re-balance how I spend my time, so hopefully, once I get caught up, less time spent generally online, should mean my reviews 'mostly' come in on time.  Slowly, slowly catchy monkey!  :)

So, a movie from 1959?  Any reader will know my love of old movies.  Ok, there are the few hidden gems, but for the most part, they're a waste of my already precious downtime with my family, hence my lack of patience for them.  This movie?   Even writing this, I have yet to make up my mind.... I left it a couple of days to sink in and still, I'm left with a hmmmmmm.

So, to a premis.  The movie follows the efforts of Dr Génessier (a well known and respected plastic surgeon) and his ridiculously loyal assistant (and a bit more) Louise, as they search for a young women with similar features and colouring to Dr Génessiers daughter Christiane.  The reason?  Christiane has been involved in a car accident, where unfortunately the dear doctor is most definately to blame.  She has suffered terrible scarring to her face and her only hope of ever regaining an acceptable appearance is if someone could carry out... I don't know.... a face transplant.  Coincidentally, Christianes father just so happens to be involved with a procedure called heterografing, where tissue is transferred from a donor to a host.  The main issue being that both subjects need to be alive to complete the procedure.... now I don't know many people who would be happy having their face transplanted when they still need it, so herein we find the problem.

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.

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.

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.

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 ***

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.