Reviews / Author Comments due: 01/06/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 63
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link
TRAILER:
Sunday, 25 May 2014
WEEK 158 - The Sixth Sense
Reviews / Author Comments due: 01/06/2014
Position on TimeOut list: 63
More Info: Wikipedia, IMDB
DVD: Link
Saturday, 24 May 2014
Black Christmas (1974) - Will's Review
Black Christmas is often hailed as the first Slasher, beating the other much hailed contender Halloween, by 4 years. I'm not so sure, it certainly has the 'feel' of a slasher, but it's lacking a few elements that it would need for me to class it as one; the antagonist isn't present enough for that, nor are there any actual slashings.
From the overall tone of the thing, I'm surprised it managed to avoid the Video Nasties list; I'm not saying it deserves a place there, but it's more worthy than others which did get a mention; couple that with its Christmas background, and it seems it would have been on the censors hit list in the 80s.
Our pool of victims is mostly taken from a sorority house, who's 'house mother' (is that even a thing? - a middle age lady who oversees the house) provides the comic relief, with the funny alcoholism and false 'nicey nicey' front hiding a charmingly foul-mouthed lady.
The kills are nice - particularly the first one, which comes as a great scare - but not graphic, and the suspense is well handled; but for the most part the movie is a whodunit, and as such the ending lets it down, with the reveal managing to be be both predictable and lacking in motive, and then a needless sting at the end that undoes even that. I also felt that the christmas theme was underused; this is not a christmas horror movie, so much as a horror movie which just happens to take place in the run up to christmas.
That said, it's an enjoyable enough romp in the slasher style, and it's always nice to see John Saxon (Nightmare on Elm Street, Cannibal Apocalypse) doing his bit as a cop in a horror movie.
Despite not being a slasher, I think this one will appeal to slasher fans. and I give it a cautious thumbs up.
Friday, 23 May 2014
Black Christmas - Lisa's Review
So to a slightly older movie this week, 1974 and Black Christmas. I'm not generally a fan of dated movies, so entered into this one without much hope of having an entertaining evening. Thankfully I can say, I was wrong on this occasion.
The title of the movie may give you the impression that it's full of festivities and fakery that Christmas brings with it. Thankfully the stereotypical Christmas movie feel is missing here. There are a few reminders here and there in the script and little glimpses of festive things, but it's very easy to forget this movie is set at Christmas, which as far as I'm concerned is a good thing.
Although many aspects of the movie are dated, overall the movie had a nostalgic feel of times when horrors were good. It took me right back to my childhood of growing up watching horror movies. Although this one was released before I was born, it is very reminiscent of 80's movies.
Anyways, the plot! The movie is set mainly in a girls sorority house. There are a few main characters within the house:
Sweet and innocent Claire who is travelling home for the holidays.
Obnoxious, brash and crude Barb who isn't one for mincing her words.
Sensible Jess who is pregnant and wants to have an abortion against her boyfriends wishes.
Mrs Mac, the house mother who is much loved by all the girls.
The plot is something that has been repeated many times in different guises in other movies and is very effective when done correctly, which I feel it was here.
The girls have been receiving obscene calls from a man who they refer to as 'The Moaner'. Unfortunately his moans and heavy breathing soon follow on to threats, insane noises and what sounds like other peoples suffering. He soon moves on to relaying information that only certain individuals would know, creating suspicion as to who 'The Moaner' is.
We follow the girls individual stories and how the caller affects them all. The calls soon become a secondary concern as one of the girls goes missing and we find out all is not well.
I won't say any more as this is a movie that I really feel you should watch. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is definately not the sort of movie I would go out of my way to see. It is well shot, the acting is solid, performances are believable, the pacing is good, the score is used in just the right way and the overall sound in the movie is a big strong point. It is not often that sounds alone can chill you to the bone, but as they are presented in this movie, they do.
I recommend this movie with no hesitation. Go watch it. :)
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
The Devil's Backbone - Will's review
Another slower movie this week, as The Devil's Backbone gives us Guillermo del Toro's 2nd entry in Time Out's Best 100 Horror Movies list, following Week 123's 'Chronos'.
Del Toro's movies are often more about people than events, and this one is no exception. During the Spanish civil war, we join Carlos, an orphan, as he is left at a boys orphanage. The orphanage is low on funds, although it has gold it cannot use until after the war, and is home to an unexploded (supposedly disarmed) bomb in the center of its courtyard, and possibly the ghost of a boy who vanished the day the bomb fell.
At times I was reminded of week 120's "Come and See" - although this was more to do with the mostly young cast, backdrop of war, slower pace, and wonderful cinematography than the story itself, or even the tone of the story; which is far less brutal here.
There's a bit of an odd mix going on; the story itself sets up something big, that never pays off (a chekhov's gun, if you will, which is never fired in the third act) and the supernatural elements of the story are almost redundant - every part of the film would have worked just as well without them.
After much setup, one of the characters turns out to be a sociopath which given the movie a much needed jolt into its third act, and the movies climax offers an incredibly brutal scene, in an otherwise fairly non-violent drama.
I didn't hate this weeks movie, but I'm not sure I enjoyed it. It was beautifully made, and technically excellent, but I found myself more enthralled than entertained. So much so, that I can't, not-recommend it... as art, if not as entertainment.
Sunday, 18 May 2014
WEEK 157 - Black Christmas (1974)
The Devils Backbone - Lisa's Review
This weeks movie is another Guillermo del Toro movie to find a place in this list. From the start, let me make it clear, I am a big fan of his work. I adore the spanish language, I love the almost poetic nature of his scripts and the beautiful cinematography that always comes from Guillermos movies. This movie is no different in this respect.
The movie is set during the Spanish Civil war in a remote boys orphanage run by the very strong characters of Dr Casares and Carmen who are married. They also employ a caretaker (Jacinto) and a couple of teachers, including Conchita who is involved with Jacinto. As I come to expect of Del Toros movies, the depth of the characters is as strong as usual, as is their scrutiny. The orphanage is a poor one, but it has hidden gold bullion, which is used to back the Republicans. Our story starts off following a young boy, Carlos, being dropped off at the Orphanage (unbeknown to him) by his tutor. It really tugged on the old maternal heart strings when Carlos, upon realizing he's been left behind, runs desperately after his tutors car to no avail. The emotional way this is played out is typical of Guillermo del Toros work.
The movie follows Carlos settling into the Orphanage and finding his feet amongst existing groups of boys and the ever present bully, Jaime. There is much talk amongst the boys of a ghost within the grounds. They refer to it as 'The one who sighs' and everyone seems to be terrified of it. The one who sighs appeared the same day as one of the boys, Santi, disappeared, causing all kinds of speculation within the orphanage as to what happened to Santi. Also on the same day that Santi disappeared, a large bomb fell into the yard and remains (supposedly diffused) large and imposing, stuck into the ground.
There are obviously all kinds of ways we could be taken during this movie. This is one thing I love about Guillermo del Toro, he is far from predictable. His movies are always a surprise and are always thought provoking, deep and engaging. This one is no different. I won't go into any more detail about the movie as if you haven't watched it, DO!! It's obviously sub-titled as it's spanish, but please don't let that put you off. People who have problems with sub-titled movies are missing out on a whole world (literally) of amazing movies.
I stick a big, fat recommended on the arse of this movie. Go forth and watch it immediately! I will leave you with a beautiful quote from the movie:
"What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? An instant of pain, perhaps. Something dead which still seems to be alive. An emotion suspended in time. Like a blurred photograph. Like an insect trapped in amber."
Friday, 16 May 2014
WEeK 156 - The Devil's Backbone (2001)
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