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General Horror Films & TV Discussion Thread

Horror friend has lost all credibility. I will not get shit for not wanting to see Terrifier 2 from someone who didn't both is afraid of Jason Voorhees and didn't know there were more than one Elm Street. Both are beyond me to where I thought he was joking. The conversations we have that aren't Halloween-based are ridiculous. And here I was trying to get him to watch shit like Anthropohagus like a sucker.

First Terrifier surpassed my very low expectations, though. Had moments as a fan of low budget horror but I don't really care. Forgot a lot of it when it ended. Won't be back.
 
I think the first Terrifier is really bad, but it's really short and breezy. I've even rewatched it, but will probably never revisit the sequel. Terrifier 2 is 138 minutes long. Longer than Star Wars, longer than Terminator 2, longer than Raging Bull, and and only 8 minutes shorter than Goodfellas. It's a goofy gore movie with a wacky psycho clown and Chris Jericho in a cameo role.

I did see that the director heard all the complaints and said that Terrifier 3 will be under 2 hours. But, it better be in the 85 to 100 minute range. Anything longer is way too long for a slasher movie.
 
Like, I'm giving it such faint praise, and it's primarily because I was kind of impressed with the practical effects given what the movie is. I have to admit some appreciation for at least the makeup looking like that woman who was mauled by a chimp when they could've totally half-assed and no one would complain. And it even then felt too long, like a short film extended by people who didn't know how, and that makes perfect sense. Pulling the gun out of nowhere made me laugh hard for the wrong reasons, though, so there's that. Clowns also aren't fucking scary, more disconcerting or annoying with no room in the middle.

I have no interest in Terrifier 2. I've heard both from people I know and read elsewhere that it's better but, like, I'm not watching a longer version of a movie that felt too long. I don't give a fuck about Art's lore or whatever.
 
The practical effects are legit good and is why it gets praised in some circles. I'd be fine if Damien Leone would stop directing/writing and just do gore effects for some franchise.
 
That's all the movie had going for it, honestly. All of the three main women were alright, as far as the limitations of such a movie. I'm trying to think of more positive things but I can't. It's hard for me to think of a negative things, in a way, because I just didn't care. It's kind of hitting me the same way Hostel did when I first saw it, actually.

He should definitely go into effects instead. He's good enough to at least bring the art back to the foreground.
 
The first Terrifier just stinks. The early scene where the clown is kinda stalking from a distance had tension. After that it was just the edgelordiest shit I’ve ever seen.

That second movie run time will keep me from ever seeing it I’m sure.
 
Best scene was the diner. I guess. It was a horror movie that forgot it was a horror movie, and wasn't made by people who wanted to make what could be a decent exploitation trash movie, and just became a decent effects reel that probably has a Youtube supercut that goes 12 minutes someone can watch and get much more out of.
 
If I can say one more positive thing about this horrible franchise, it's that the theme song from the first kind of rips and would make a good wrestling theme.

 
I eased back on the franchise binges in the second half of October, and more focused on newish release horror standalone films. Most of these were also viewed in a theater for the most part (few exceptions)

Divinity: This just came out over the weekend and while this may be technically sci-fi, to me it was more body horror stuff set in a dystopian setting. Really strange and crazy stuff in this one, including Stephen Dorff essentially becoming a monster. Stephen Soderburgh exec produced this visually very sexually charged, fully black and white showcasing the future in a really unique format in most cases. Also there is a fight scene in stop motion animation that is quite the addition.

Malibu Horror Story: I thought this was going to be some generic throwaway maybe horror comedy, based by the name. Without knowing shit about it going into it, it ended up being pretty solid. Did this ever need a title change though as it didn't convey what was going on in this properly. Half found footage and half mockumentary (with no comedic tone attached), this was a story about an Indian demon mythology, and explores missing kids who end up in a cave exploring this mythos. Decent scares, really robust story, and the utilization of found footage done in unique ways and media stylings similar to true crime docs on Netflix....this was great.

Hayride from Hell: This was terrible, probably the worst off-mainstream horror of the year. Kane Hodder was phoning it in bigtime as a corrupt cop, Bill Moseley tried but failed at this also as the ringleader of this haunted hayride gone revenge focused. Just bad scripting, bad sets, bad attempts at gore and kills, such a snorefest for sure. Tonally way off the rails too.

Birds 60th Anniversary: I actually had never seen this classic, thought it was a perfect time to do so as they had a Fathom screening a few weeks back. Pretty amazing how well this still holds up. While some parts are certainly hokey, this still delivered. Loved the subtle nods to Psycho too in some of the characters. Absolutely shocked this was never remade by a major studio after 60 years.

Don't Look Away: I can't say anyone has ever made mannequins frightful, but here we are with that attempt. This was far from a home run, but in terms of creativity and atmospheric uniqueness (with a nice synth score) this was a fun trip of a slow moving tension filled film.

Suitable Flesh: Interesting mix of a Lovecraft story mixed with elements of Re-Animator, From Beyond, etc. There was a lot missing from the connection of the stories concepts, though. It felt incomplete in some ways in that aspect. Kinda wasnt sure what exactly it wanted to be. But performances were fun, particularly Heather Graham, Bruce Davison and also Barbara Crampton in a dual acting and producing role.

Dark Harvest: Kinda a dump of a film in more ways than one. Been on the shelf for a few years, moved around distribution companies until finally landing as the last standalone film EVER from MGM (which is now fused into Amazon Studios). I had a hard time following the characters arcs, and the timeline presented within this felt off, but I did like the general Halloween/fall tone and how it fit into holiday viewing of sorts. The mythology and presentation of what ends up being a Pumpkinhead meets Children of the Corn was acceptable, but needed work. It was in Alamo Drafthouse locations for one night only in October, and then I think got dumped on VOD a few weeks later.

VHS 85 (Shudder): I still think the original is the best, but this is easily in the top 3 of the franchise. Someone finally connected these mini-stories better into a more overall larger story. Hope they keep in this direction for future installments.

No One Will Save You (Hulu): Another one that is kinda more sci-fi based, but I have it more heavy towards a horror vibe given what all occurs in the presentation. Given how there is something like a handful of words spoken in the movie, the way they go about with the non verbal aspects was super impressive.
 
Brocklock said:
But, I finally found my favorite horror film of the year. When Evil Lurks (streaming on Shudder) was pretty great. It's from the director of Terrified. The Argentine movie from 2017, not the trash clown movie. The director makes some huge leaps with his visual style, and I thought it was an improvement from Terrified which is a pretty good movie. It dips a bit in the third act, but it's absolutely chilling. There are two scenes that straight up left me speechless and shocked me. Bleakest movie this year I'd say as well. I recommend it.
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So I had never seen neither films by this director, and just got into checking both Terrifed and then When Evil Lurks last week pretty much back to back on Shudder. I missed When Evil Lurks in the theaters earlier in the month of October, and glad it made a quick jump to Shudder just literally within a few weeks of the theatrical release.

Good lord, whatever this filmmaker does, keep doing it. I was affected greatly by both films, the tonal darkness and as you said, utter bleakness in both films was impressive and certainly hit hard. I think I may have liked Terrified a bit more but not by much. I found myself taking deep breaths of "holy shit what the fuck just happened" often in both films. It's rare films can have this effect on me as I admittedly have a kind of high tolerance for most horror, but goddamn....

I would put WEL as one of the years best in horror, no doubt. My god, it was just so dire, sad, and fuckin brutally gored out in parts. Not anywhere near happy endings in either films either. Absolutely effective horror here all the way.
 
One last post as another focus I missed from last month to post about was a wonderful experience I had at the Alamo Drafthouse in the Twin Cities on the Sat before Halloween. They have a tradition there called Dismember the Alamo.....essentially a 4 mystery horror-thon of films running from anywhere in the 60s upwards to the 80s/90s fare. The first one I went to in 2019 showcased alot of random very under the radar stuff including a 80s japanese exploition film called Centipede Horror. That one still sticks with me to this day.

Anyhow, this lineup was a bit more mainstream this year but still fun.

-Messiah of Evil: I had never heard of this one, but glad I found it. Had giallo and Lovecraft vibes, and since this was set in the early 70s, it had a big feel of counterculture artsy level stuff in parts. Zombies were a part of this as well. Pretty crazy that this came from a guy who a decade and half later made HOWARD THE FUCKIN DUCK. Really effective in many levels.

-The Changeling: Never had seen this before either, yet heard plenty prior compared to the relative unknown of Messiah of Evil. George C Scott was so overextended in this role, really making it more than just a typical haunted house film.

They then had issues projecting Blood in Black Lace, as well as the original Ringu.....so there was a delay. What they replaced them with was a bit of a dissapointment in the original Night of the Demons (campy fun that I've seen far too many times over) and then The Burning (which I ended up leaving early from the horrorthon because, again, had seen this multiple times).
 
The Birds is so good and so underrated in how creepy it is IMO. The Changeling is also a fantastic little haunted house movie that I think gets overshadowed by the classics in the decades before and the years immediately after (see Poltergeist).
 
Thanksgiving is starting off hot with 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. It will probably drop, but I'm rooting for it to be a surprise hit. It looks like a blast imo. Eli Roth is hit or miss with me as I like Cabin Fever and Hostel, and don't care for the rest. But, a campy slasher movie seems perfect for his style. His humor can really distract in other movies like The Green Inferno, but for a slasher movie it could work.
 
Brocklock said:
Thanksgiving is starting off hot with 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. It will probably drop, but I'm rooting for it to be a surprise hit. It looks like a blast imo. Eli Roth is hit or miss with me as I like Cabin Fever and Hostel, and don't care for the rest. But, a campy slasher movie seems perfect for his style. His humor can really distract in other movies like The Green Inferno, but for a slasher movie it could work.
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I'm a fan of "Cabin Fever" and both "Hostel" movies, and this has been a passion project for him, so I'm excited. Also, it's good to see Gina Gershon getting work.
 
I mean, Green Inferno was a passion project too. I'm waiting on Thanksgiving because dude burns me repeatedly
 
Yeah, The Green Inferno burned me. A modern cannibal movie without any disgusting animal cruelty should work and be grim. But, then he puts weed jokes and fart jokes and stuff in it. The only two scenes that were effective were the plane crash and the one likable dude getting absolutely obliterated by the cannibals. Rest of that was a mess.

The Borderlands movie he's directing after this sounds like a disaster though. Great cast and I'm excited to see how Cate Blanchett does in a goofy movie like this, but all the behind the scenes stuff sound like a mess

In January 2023, it was announced the film would be going through two weeks of reshoots directed by Tim Miller, due to Roth's commitments to Thanksgiving (2023). While Roth would not be involved with the reshoots, he remained attached to the film and gave Miller his blessing.[31] Zak Olkewicz scribed new pages for Miller.[32] In June 2023, Mazin removed his name from the project, replaced by Joe Crombie; Mazin denied reports that Crombie was his pseudonym.[33] Additional literary material credits were given to Berg, Uziel, Taylor, Rettenmaier, Olkewicz, Chris Bremner, and Sam Levinson.[34]
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https://deadline.com/2023/11/the-omen-prequel-first-omen-release-date-1235613997/

Why? Oh yippee it's being written by the team that did the Firestarter remake.

https://deadline.com/2023/11/jordan...r-the-stairs-ezra-claytan-daniels-1235613763/

Now this is a reboot that sounds intriguing. The original is a great movie, but it's very of its time period. You can adapt it to modern times and still make an interesting movie. I'm interested in seeing who gets cast as The Robesons. I hope they do like Everett McGill and Wendy Robie from Twin Peaks and cast costars from a tv show. My dream is Glenn Howerton and Kaitlin Olson playing a psychotic incestuous couple. Would rather see Glenn in this than Fantastic Four.
 
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"Thanksgiving" is a blast, and Roth's best since "Cabin Fever". Just a fun, unapologetic slasher with some memorable, gory kills and a sense of humor that thankfully doesn't go into "this is a slasher that's also a comedy" territory. Also ends with "When Eagles Dare" playing during the credits, which is a major plus.
 
Watched a couple horror movies.

The Conference (2023) on Netflix. Swedish film about a project group that goes to a location to celebrate/do a project retreat where development is to be made before a killer stalks them at said location. Nothing earth-shattering but the kills were pretty amusing/comedic to me and I enjoyed it a fair bit. 5/10

X (2022) on Amazon Prime. Fuck, this was good. The score, the tension, the cast, and the tone start off with a gritty-70s TCM style vibe transitioning to a modern-day horror vibe smoothly. Great editing and strong characterization even for the killers. 7.5/10
 
I recommend Pearl big time. It made me appreciate X a lot more. Completely different style to X, but one of my favorite movies of last year. I'm so excited for Maxxxine.

X had a little too much hype for me at the time and tbh I found the landslide scene pretentious, but on a rewatch it's a very good slasher.
 
HarleyQuinn said:
X (2022) on Amazon Prime. Fuck, this was good. The score, the tension, the cast, and the tone start off with a gritty-70s TCM style vibe transitioning to a modern-day horror vibe smoothly. Great editing and strong characterization even for the killers. 7.5/10
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I actually watched Pearl myself last night. That solidified my earlier comment on Mia Goth having an uneasy presence on-screen. I'm gonna try to watch X either today or tomorrow.
 
I rewatched Suspiria 2018 last month, and Mia Goth was in it a lot more than I remembered. I agree that she is uneasy and scary yet imo weirdly attractive ala Fairuza Balk. Still haven't seen Von Trier's Nymphomaniac movies which is her debut performance.

I'm stoked for Maxxxine. That cast is ridiculous. Mia Goth, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon.
 
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