- Messages
- 22,667
- Reaction score
- 2,150
- Points
- 313
I find the character of Debbie and Joan Cusack's performance + the plot with Fester so underrated. Gomez and Morticia both have some great lines/scenes too throughout.
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General Horror Films & TV Discussion Thread
- Thread starter HarleyQuinn
- Start date
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
"That poor girl. Lurch, was she in there before you baked?"
- Messages
- 22,667
- Reaction score
- 2,150
- Points
- 313
Re-watched The Butterfly Effect and I always go in remembering this being better than it was and finishing it up and being disappointed and re-affirming my 5/10 score. Small bonus points for using Oasis' "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" right at the credits start.
It has some solid acting from the kid actors and adult actors and there's several very memorable scenes (the mailbox scene in particular standing out to me and I always manage to blackout the dog junkyard scene lol) but the runtime hurts it and I feel like it really drags by the 3rd act resolution. I also struggled this time around to find Evan likable and because the majority of the film is through his eyes/his character, the other characters (Kayleigh, Lenny, Tommy) all have such limited time and exploration beyond the surface events occurring. The brief spotlights on adult Kayleigh are a highlight largely because Amy Smart really sells each variation with several being pretty extreme but Lenny is largely one-dimensional and Tommy rarely has more than a scene or two in the future involvement wise.
It has some solid acting from the kid actors and adult actors and there's several very memorable scenes (the mailbox scene in particular standing out to me and I always manage to blackout the dog junkyard scene lol) but the runtime hurts it and I feel like it really drags by the 3rd act resolution. I also struggled this time around to find Evan likable and because the majority of the film is through his eyes/his character, the other characters (Kayleigh, Lenny, Tommy) all have such limited time and exploration beyond the surface events occurring. The brief spotlights on adult Kayleigh are a highlight largely because Amy Smart really sells each variation with several being pretty extreme but Lenny is largely one-dimensional and Tommy rarely has more than a scene or two in the future involvement wise.
I think the problem is Ashton. He can't do sincere at all, and he looks on the verge of laughter at times. I used to love this as a teen, but I think it's kind of a terrible movie now. The writers throw in every EXTREEEEEEME idea they can, and it becomes silly by the prison scene.
I agree that Amy Smart is good and there are some solid performances sprinkled throughout. Eric Stoltz as the pedo stands out. And Ethan Suplee as a Juggalo is hilarious.
I agree that Amy Smart is good and there are some solid performances sprinkled throughout. Eric Stoltz as the pedo stands out. And Ethan Suplee as a Juggalo is hilarious.
Fall of Epic
Epic Reine
This is hilarious because I rewatched Butterfly Effect last night. It was knew of my favorite movies as a teen but when I watched it five or so years ago it didn't really resonate with me. I warmed up to it a bit more with this rewatch. The acting isn't great and the plot is all over the place but things like Ashton in a wheelchair is good. Agreed that Eric Stoltz is great too.
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
Okay, boys and girls, strap yourself in for some traditional slasher fare. Ever since starting this annual tradition of horror and horror-adjacent movies in October, LDP and I have one major agreement: on October 13, we are watching one of the F13 movies. They're the most iconic slasher films ever made, the barometer by which all other slashers are measured (good and bad), and delving into them each year has given us something new to love.
This year, we rolled the dice and landed on the one that started it all, Friday the 13th (1980). It's always a blast seeing Savini's early gore effects, and there's a grit and a grime to seeing movies of this era, the late 70s into the early 80s, that cannot be matched.
I won't go into any plot details or anything like that, but after suffering through modern bullshit like Terrifier 2 and then coming back to this? It's easy to see why the F13 series is still so beloved. 6.5/10
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As a little bonus, we watched the anthology film made of three disconnected pilot episodes for Body Bags (1993), an attempt by Showtime to counter HBO's legendary Tales From the Crypt series. Helmed by heavyweights John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper, it's unfortunately easy to see why the series didn't get picked up, and why the feature made of what would've been the first three episodes has been somewhat lost to time.
Should be worthwhile to note that this was all written by Billy Brown and Dan Angel, who'd later work with adapting RL Stine works to screen for both the Goosebumps and Haunting Hour series. Dan also has a few writing credits for Extreme Ghostbusters, which at least amuses me.
The wraparound "story," titled "the Morgue," stars Carpenter himself as a ghoulish mortician. He's loaded with puns and jokes, sure, but Carpenter's delivery is so awkward and dry that there was never a chance for the Coroner to match up against the Cryptkeeper (with the perfection of John Kassir's delivery on full display). There's a few really good jokes in there, but methinks Carpenter and Hooper should've hired a legitimate actor to play this small role. Was Jeffrey Combs unavailable?
First up, we have the best of the bunch, titled "the Gas Station" (directed by Carpenter Anne (Alex Datcher) is an undergrad student taking a job as an overnight gas station attendant to help with tuition, and is briefly trained by Bill (Robert Carradine). This is the kind of short that could have been a great feature, as all of the usual Carpenter tricks are on full display. Red herrings, mounting tension, a subtle reveal as to who the killer is, and then their attack on the protagonist taking up considerable screen time. Carradine deserved more in Hollywood and I'll stand by that. The cameos herein are delightful, with Sam Raimi and Wes Craven making brief appearances, George "Buck" Flower playing (what else?) a bum, and both Peter Jason and David Naughton playing customers.
Next, we have "Hair," where a balding Richard (Stacy Keach) is so broken by his failing follicles that he turns to a wild new treatment offered by Dr. Lock (David Warner), whose head nurse (Debbie Harry) really lays on the sultry sale. This one is the right kind of story for a short, as there's no way this could be made into a captivating feature, but so much of it hinges on Keach playing against type that it falters considerably. The worst short of the three, easily, but at least we get Warner being his usual amazing self.
To wrap it up, here comes "the Eye," which finds minor league baseball player Brent Matthews (Mark Hamill) losing his eye in a car accident just before what could be his big break into the majors. Brent goes through an eye transplant surgery headed by Dr. Lang (John Agar) and Dr. Bregman (ROGER CORMAN), but starts hallucinating grisly scenes and behaving much more aggressively, threatening the well-being of his pregnant wife Cathy (Twiggy). While better than "Hair," this one still falls short of the promise that "the Gas Station" showed, and feels much more like a rejected episode from the 80s iteration of the Twilight Zone. The twist is generic, Hamill's performance is hampered by having to play off of Twiggy, and the resolution just sorta of happens...even if the final shot of this one is ironic. It dips into religion out of nowhere, which hurts it for me, and...yeah.
Overall, a fun ride, but not something I'll pay much mind to. I could see myself forgetting about it within a year. 6/10
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Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
This year, we rolled the dice and landed on the one that started it all, Friday the 13th (1980). It's always a blast seeing Savini's early gore effects, and there's a grit and a grime to seeing movies of this era, the late 70s into the early 80s, that cannot be matched.
I won't go into any plot details or anything like that, but after suffering through modern bullshit like Terrifier 2 and then coming back to this? It's easy to see why the F13 series is still so beloved. 6.5/10
------------
As a little bonus, we watched the anthology film made of three disconnected pilot episodes for Body Bags (1993), an attempt by Showtime to counter HBO's legendary Tales From the Crypt series. Helmed by heavyweights John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper, it's unfortunately easy to see why the series didn't get picked up, and why the feature made of what would've been the first three episodes has been somewhat lost to time.
Should be worthwhile to note that this was all written by Billy Brown and Dan Angel, who'd later work with adapting RL Stine works to screen for both the Goosebumps and Haunting Hour series. Dan also has a few writing credits for Extreme Ghostbusters, which at least amuses me.
The wraparound "story," titled "the Morgue," stars Carpenter himself as a ghoulish mortician. He's loaded with puns and jokes, sure, but Carpenter's delivery is so awkward and dry that there was never a chance for the Coroner to match up against the Cryptkeeper (with the perfection of John Kassir's delivery on full display). There's a few really good jokes in there, but methinks Carpenter and Hooper should've hired a legitimate actor to play this small role. Was Jeffrey Combs unavailable?
First up, we have the best of the bunch, titled "the Gas Station" (directed by Carpenter Anne (Alex Datcher) is an undergrad student taking a job as an overnight gas station attendant to help with tuition, and is briefly trained by Bill (Robert Carradine). This is the kind of short that could have been a great feature, as all of the usual Carpenter tricks are on full display. Red herrings, mounting tension, a subtle reveal as to who the killer is, and then their attack on the protagonist taking up considerable screen time. Carradine deserved more in Hollywood and I'll stand by that. The cameos herein are delightful, with Sam Raimi and Wes Craven making brief appearances, George "Buck" Flower playing (what else?) a bum, and both Peter Jason and David Naughton playing customers.
Next, we have "Hair," where a balding Richard (Stacy Keach) is so broken by his failing follicles that he turns to a wild new treatment offered by Dr. Lock (David Warner), whose head nurse (Debbie Harry) really lays on the sultry sale. This one is the right kind of story for a short, as there's no way this could be made into a captivating feature, but so much of it hinges on Keach playing against type that it falters considerably. The worst short of the three, easily, but at least we get Warner being his usual amazing self.
To wrap it up, here comes "the Eye," which finds minor league baseball player Brent Matthews (Mark Hamill) losing his eye in a car accident just before what could be his big break into the majors. Brent goes through an eye transplant surgery headed by Dr. Lang (John Agar) and Dr. Bregman (ROGER CORMAN), but starts hallucinating grisly scenes and behaving much more aggressively, threatening the well-being of his pregnant wife Cathy (Twiggy). While better than "Hair," this one still falls short of the promise that "the Gas Station" showed, and feels much more like a rejected episode from the 80s iteration of the Twilight Zone. The twist is generic, Hamill's performance is hampered by having to play off of Twiggy, and the resolution just sorta of happens...even if the final shot of this one is ironic. It dips into religion out of nowhere, which hurts it for me, and...yeah.
Overall, a fun ride, but not something I'll pay much mind to. I could see myself forgetting about it within a year. 6/10
------------
Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
RedJed
Rasslin' Rambler
So saw Terrifier 3 over the weekend, and I will say it was an experience I will never forget, for better or worse though is the question!
I can't say I liked this anywhere near the level of the other films (and I can't say I fully enjoyed those films fully either but they were tolerable compared to this). To me this film just came off so masterbatory in the sense of the whole point of this was just to make as insanely twisted of kills as you can do over and over, one upping the previous films, and the kill scenes would extend out to full uncomfortableness and kind of like geez, enough already! And the part I was hoping (actual storyline development) seemed to once again fall flat and feel disconnected from the kill scenes completely. To boot, there was apparent kills of characters I wont spoil that were basically either left on the cutting room floor (I heard the first cut ran almost three fucking hours) or maybe are swerves for the sequel for them to still be alive? Whatever the case, it was confusing.
The one thing I can say positive is that the Art the Clown character once again shined and probably had more of an entertaining presence than the other films. But the sub-storylines (such as the vessel/demon storyline) felt muddled, unexplained and just generally not well put together.
The kills in most of the scenes were a bit hard to stomach, but its par for the course with these films. And it was shocking this film played locally at the small theater in my hometown, I didnt expect the rollout for an unrated cut to be this huge. Crowd was almost sold out at the showing I went to on Friday afternoon, and to no shock I would say 2/3 of the crowd was under the age of 15 even though the theater should really not be letting kids this young into this. But it didn't surprise me.
The ending really kind of left me feeling eh about part 4 too. It peaked at a certain point, and then you had a few extra scenes that really didn't even need to be there to close it off. But the cameos were cool, as many familiar horror faces showed up randomly in the film.
I can't say I liked this anywhere near the level of the other films (and I can't say I fully enjoyed those films fully either but they were tolerable compared to this). To me this film just came off so masterbatory in the sense of the whole point of this was just to make as insanely twisted of kills as you can do over and over, one upping the previous films, and the kill scenes would extend out to full uncomfortableness and kind of like geez, enough already! And the part I was hoping (actual storyline development) seemed to once again fall flat and feel disconnected from the kill scenes completely. To boot, there was apparent kills of characters I wont spoil that were basically either left on the cutting room floor (I heard the first cut ran almost three fucking hours) or maybe are swerves for the sequel for them to still be alive? Whatever the case, it was confusing.
The one thing I can say positive is that the Art the Clown character once again shined and probably had more of an entertaining presence than the other films. But the sub-storylines (such as the vessel/demon storyline) felt muddled, unexplained and just generally not well put together.
The kills in most of the scenes were a bit hard to stomach, but its par for the course with these films. And it was shocking this film played locally at the small theater in my hometown, I didnt expect the rollout for an unrated cut to be this huge. Crowd was almost sold out at the showing I went to on Friday afternoon, and to no shock I would say 2/3 of the crowd was under the age of 15 even though the theater should really not be letting kids this young into this. But it didn't surprise me.
The ending really kind of left me feeling eh about part 4 too. It peaked at a certain point, and then you had a few extra scenes that really didn't even need to be there to close it off. But the cameos were cool, as many familiar horror faces showed up randomly in the film.
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RedJed
Rasslin' Rambler
Ongoing in my horror franchises viewing this month....next up was The Lost Boys trilogy
The original is still such a classic, and to me this one never gets old after multiple viewings. And what can you say about the awesome soundtrack? Some songs get remade for the other sequels also. This film holds up tremendously well and everytime I catch a little piece of detail about the characters I missed the last time.
Then came Lost Boys: The Tribe. I have to say for direct to video releases for both this one and the trilogy conclusion, these were fun easy to watch extensions of the original that still played as much to the vest towards the already established mythology of things. Corey Feldman kind of takes over the lead role in this film and the third one. But there are nods and cameos of previous characters as well so it seemed like script-wise, things were on point. They even had a relative of Kiefer Sutherland play the big baddie in this one....
The Thirst was not as good as The Tribe, but still had some fun moments. In typical trilogy fashion, this was by far the worst of the bunch, but it tried to tie up the entire lore of things the best they could with as low of a budget as it had. Effects were a bit better than the Tribe, but didn't care for the characters nearly as much as Tribe.
I'd say the sequels are all only worth a look if you have a special place for the original.
The original is still such a classic, and to me this one never gets old after multiple viewings. And what can you say about the awesome soundtrack? Some songs get remade for the other sequels also. This film holds up tremendously well and everytime I catch a little piece of detail about the characters I missed the last time.
Then came Lost Boys: The Tribe. I have to say for direct to video releases for both this one and the trilogy conclusion, these were fun easy to watch extensions of the original that still played as much to the vest towards the already established mythology of things. Corey Feldman kind of takes over the lead role in this film and the third one. But there are nods and cameos of previous characters as well so it seemed like script-wise, things were on point. They even had a relative of Kiefer Sutherland play the big baddie in this one....
The Thirst was not as good as The Tribe, but still had some fun moments. In typical trilogy fashion, this was by far the worst of the bunch, but it tried to tie up the entire lore of things the best they could with as low of a budget as it had. Effects were a bit better than the Tribe, but didn't care for the characters nearly as much as Tribe.
I'd say the sequels are all only worth a look if you have a special place for the original.
- Messages
- 22,667
- Reaction score
- 2,150
- Points
- 313
I was trying to remember how I knew of Body Bags and only remembered The Eye story solely due to Mark Hamill. I remember thinking the entire thing was decent but lacked the memorability of stuff like Cat's Eye but also didn't have the fun/charm of stuff like Amazing Stories or Tales From the Crypt.
It reminded me more of the lesser Tales From the Darkside/Outer Limits level stories overall.
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
Yeah, that was my takeaway. I've seen far worse anthologies, but if this was Showtime's intended response to Tales From the Crypt then I can see why it never took off.
"The Eye" is also further proof why Hamill has made a great career as a voice actor, because he was delivering his stuff perfectly with his words but the physical acting wasn't all there. Not that Twiggy is an auteur, of course, but he was just kinda meh.
I watched Body Bags out of curiosity. First story was obviously the best. Great tension and reveal of the killer. I could actually see it as a TFTC plot.
Hair was just bad imo. Casting Keach was obviously (hopefully?) done for comedy. I did laugh at some of his deadpan lines and the visual of him with Fabio type hair was pretty funny.
The Eye wasn't bad. Hamill was his usual great self and I laughed at the Corman cameo as one of the doctors. Pretty obvious ending though.
And yeesh Carpenter was pretty awful as the Coroner. Those wraparounds were not really needed.
Can definitely see why this wasn't picked up. Had sort of an amateurish feel compared to TFTC
Hair was just bad imo. Casting Keach was obviously (hopefully?) done for comedy. I did laugh at some of his deadpan lines and the visual of him with Fabio type hair was pretty funny.
The Eye wasn't bad. Hamill was his usual great self and I laughed at the Corman cameo as one of the doctors. Pretty obvious ending though.
And yeesh Carpenter was pretty awful as the Coroner. Those wraparounds were not really needed.
Can definitely see why this wasn't picked up. Had sort of an amateurish feel compared to TFTC
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I dig the Tales From The Darkside Movie more than Body Bags. You get early Steve Buscemi and Julianne Moore in a corny Mummy story, William Hickey getting terrorized by a cat, and Belinda Carlisle in the wraparound. The highlight is really good take on a story from Kwaidan that stars the always reliable James Remar. That one freaked me out as a kid, so I have a soft spot for that story.
Weirdly, the goofy Hair story with Stacy Keach has stuck with me the most in Body Bags for the absurdity.
Weirdly, the goofy Hair story with Stacy Keach has stuck with me the most in Body Bags for the absurdity.
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Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
The Tales From the Darkside movie was a favorite growing up. Looking back? A great turn from Debbie Harry in the wraparound. The more I've learned about the early NYC punk scene the cooler she becomes, and she's just perfect as the 80s yuppie witch.
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So every now and then, we just decide "fuck it let's find something random." Sometimes we get something good, sometimes we get something awful. Luckily, Monster Party (2018) is the first of those two options. Written and directed by Chris von Hoffman, who did the undercooked but promising Drifter just two years prior, this shows a kind of competency rarely seen from such low budget fare, and I still have hope that von Hoffman gets a break at some point to work on bigger projects.
Casper (Sam Strike), Iris (Virginia Gardner), and Dodge (Brandon Michael Hall) are petty thieves with a solid routine: Iris draws attention away from passers by and/or the homeowners while Casper and Dodge strategically take things of higher value, leaving little to no trace behind. Things take a turn when Casper's father is in debt to a brutal loan shark, and Casper convinces Iris and Dodge to make a quick haul on one of Iris's legitimate catering contracts, the Dawson family: father Patrick (Julian McMahon), mother Roxanne (Robin Tunney), daughter Alexis (Erin Moriarty), and son Elliot (Kian Lawley). The catch? They're hosting an annual dinner party for the other members of their support group, who all particularly violent pasts.
This is a great display of competent writing and directing in spite of the miniscule budget, as von Hoffman shows a prowess behind the lens that even major filmmakers lack. In many ways, he's a classier version of Fede Alvarez, in both spirit and tone, offering increasing tension and releases in near perfect, controlled bursts. The cast features several familiar faces, including the late great Lance Reddick, and they all help elevate the material beyond what it probably should be otherwise. A great twist is the reveal of Mickey, the "family dog" as Roxanne refers to him, in one of the most well executed bursts of violence that's bound to stick in your craw.
Though the third act feels rushed, the finale helps to wrap it together nicely, paying off promises hinted at during the first half of the runtime. 6.5/10
------------
Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
15. Monster Party (6.5/10)
------------
So every now and then, we just decide "fuck it let's find something random." Sometimes we get something good, sometimes we get something awful. Luckily, Monster Party (2018) is the first of those two options. Written and directed by Chris von Hoffman, who did the undercooked but promising Drifter just two years prior, this shows a kind of competency rarely seen from such low budget fare, and I still have hope that von Hoffman gets a break at some point to work on bigger projects.
Casper (Sam Strike), Iris (Virginia Gardner), and Dodge (Brandon Michael Hall) are petty thieves with a solid routine: Iris draws attention away from passers by and/or the homeowners while Casper and Dodge strategically take things of higher value, leaving little to no trace behind. Things take a turn when Casper's father is in debt to a brutal loan shark, and Casper convinces Iris and Dodge to make a quick haul on one of Iris's legitimate catering contracts, the Dawson family: father Patrick (Julian McMahon), mother Roxanne (Robin Tunney), daughter Alexis (Erin Moriarty), and son Elliot (Kian Lawley). The catch? They're hosting an annual dinner party for the other members of their support group, who all particularly violent pasts.
This is a great display of competent writing and directing in spite of the miniscule budget, as von Hoffman shows a prowess behind the lens that even major filmmakers lack. In many ways, he's a classier version of Fede Alvarez, in both spirit and tone, offering increasing tension and releases in near perfect, controlled bursts. The cast features several familiar faces, including the late great Lance Reddick, and they all help elevate the material beyond what it probably should be otherwise. A great twist is the reveal of Mickey, the "family dog" as Roxanne refers to him, in one of the most well executed bursts of violence that's bound to stick in your craw.
Though the third act feels rushed, the finale helps to wrap it together nicely, paying off promises hinted at during the first half of the runtime. 6.5/10
------------
Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
15. Monster Party (6.5/10)
Tales from the Darkside was filmed in 1987 but not released until 1990. By the time the film was released Christian Slater had already become a big star.
I like the Cat and Gargoyle stories more than the mummy one. TFTC would use a mummy story very close to this one a few years later starring Anthony Michael Hall.
I like the Cat and Gargoyle stories more than the mummy one. TFTC would use a mummy story very close to this one a few years later starring Anthony Michael Hall.
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
"Lot 249" is the weakest of the three stories, but it's still a damn fine one. Julianne Moore delivers, as well, especially great given it's only her second role in a feature.
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The crown for "most depressing horror film ending" has shifted. While the Mist held it high for many years, the bleak brutality of Demián Rugna's When Evil Lurks (2023) has proudly taken it. With ever-thickening dread, it peaks and valleys with a gruesome disdain for the modern age's lack of faith and morality.
Two brothers, Pedro and Jimi (Ezequiel Rodríguez and Demián Salomón, respectively), live in a rural area of Argentina, beset by rumors of the "rotten" nearby. The Rotten, as explained quickly, are believed to be possessed by demonic forces, only able to be killed without birthing a true demonic entity by a Cleaner, one who uses elder church magic and methods to cleanse the souls of the afflicted. Despite finding the mutilated corpse of a man carrying Cleaner equipment, neither brother particularly believes, and they follow fellow farmer Ruiz (Luis Ziembrowski) in callously disposing of the possessed Uriel, unceremoniously dumping his pus-filled (but "living") body 300km away from their homes. This cowardly act sets in motion a chain of events that costs all three men everything they have...including their souls, and those of the ones they love.
There is no joy here. There is no moment of comedic relief, no "hell yeah" moment of action, and no hope to be found. Nobody - man, woman, child, or animal - is safe from the Rotten. The history of Pedro and why his family, his ex-wife and their two sons, fell apart are perfectly hinted at before a single quick line of taunting by a Rotten later in the film reveals the truth, one that Pedro has routinely avoided whenever the issue had been brought up prior. That Pedro, specifically, ignores all of the warnings from those of greater knowledge of the Rotten seals the fate of all around him.
Thematically, this could be read almost as a "these damn kids" cautionary tale, as it's revealed the the Rotten can easily influence children, and that children seek out the Rotten willingly. This turns on its head, however, once Pedro's history is taken into account, turning it much more into a "sins of the father" story. In truth, it is the adults that have created this world where the children fall prey, and the last known Cleaner, Mirta (Silvina Sabater), hints to this being the case as she recounts to Pedro the how and why she became a Cleaner.
This will make you feel dirty inside, but not in a shock factor way (though plenty of shocking moments abound). This feels like an indictment on the soiling of the soul that permeates through our modern age. 7.5/10
------------
Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
15. Monster Party (6.5/10)
16. When Evil Lurks (7.5/10)
- Messages
- 22,667
- Reaction score
- 2,150
- Points
- 313
I am a total sucker for Campfire Tales and its stories. I seem to catch this every Halloween and enjoy it far more than I should. It's not really "scary" (or that original to be honest) and the writing is not a strong suit but it has a lot of recognizable names in early roles: Christine Taylor, Christopher Masterson, Kim Murphy, Glenn Quinn, Ron Livingston, Alex McKenna, and Jacinda Barrett.
The Honeymoon has some solid gore although the low-rent budget forces a lot of the "creature effects" to be hands and such invading the RV while not being capable of showing full on monster costumes. It's a "less is more" approach utilizing sound effects for the tension which does grow old after a while but the ending scene remains stuck in my head.
People Can Lick Too is probably my favorite story just for the inherent creepiness of it and it actually has some decent tension throughout. It's a fun little isolated 'X stalking Y' scenario pulled off well. My favorite part is the early Internet usage & the leaning into the "Young Girl is really a creepy old man" aspect with some good shots & foreshadowing. Another memorable shot towards the end remains seared into my brain.
The Locket is probably the best directed with David Semel having a long history as a director and producer but it's the one I always never remember much about until I re-watch it.
The Honeymoon has some solid gore although the low-rent budget forces a lot of the "creature effects" to be hands and such invading the RV while not being capable of showing full on monster costumes. It's a "less is more" approach utilizing sound effects for the tension which does grow old after a while but the ending scene remains stuck in my head.
People Can Lick Too is probably my favorite story just for the inherent creepiness of it and it actually has some decent tension throughout. It's a fun little isolated 'X stalking Y' scenario pulled off well. My favorite part is the early Internet usage & the leaning into the "Young Girl is really a creepy old man" aspect with some good shots & foreshadowing. Another memorable shot towards the end remains seared into my brain.
The Locket is probably the best directed with David Semel having a long history as a director and producer but it's the one I always never remember much about until I re-watch it.
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
Campfire Tales seemed to always be on just before or after the other late night Cinemax programming. That's probably why I saw it a hundred times in middle school.
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
Yeah, Lisa Frankenstein (2024) ain't for me. The closest audience that I could think of who'd enjoy this are women approaching middle age that also enjoy Melissa McCarthy comedies. LDP was into it, so whatever. It'd be a forgettable comedy from 1992, like a more poorly written My Boyfriend's Back, but the fact that a fucking Oscar winner was responsible for this is pathetic.
I'm adding Carla Gugino to the list of people I try to avoid at all costs along with shitheads like Jason Bateman. I can't think of a single role she's had where I didn't actively loathe her stupid, stupid face.
Hamburger phone. Never forget. 4/10
------------
Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
15. Monster Party (6.5/10)
16. When Evil Lurks (7.5/10)
17. Lisa Frankenstein (4/10)
I'm adding Carla Gugino to the list of people I try to avoid at all costs along with shitheads like Jason Bateman. I can't think of a single role she's had where I didn't actively loathe her stupid, stupid face.
Hamburger phone. Never forget. 4/10
------------
Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
15. Monster Party (6.5/10)
16. When Evil Lurks (7.5/10)
17. Lisa Frankenstein (4/10)
Youth N Asia
Boners, and farts.
For fans of the Creep movies; The Creep Tapes, a 6 episode series is coming to Shudder next month.
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Fall of Epic
Epic Reine
I actually liked Lisa Frankenstein but yeah, definatley felt like a loose remake of My Boyfriend's Back. Nice that Joe Chrest has carved out a little career as the 80s horror/sci fi dad.
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
There's something I miss about early 80s slashers. Not only is there a grit and a grime to it that remains unmatched, a byproduct of the era and budget more than anything, but there's also something about how characters interact with one another that feels missing from even the retrogrind attempts to recapture the spirit. That's not to say that the characters in the House on Sorority Row (1982) are particularly deep or well developed, of course, but there's more attention paid to the interactions of the girls as a group than something like Terrifier even attempts to duplicate.
In 1961, the pregnant Mrs. Slater has complications while delivering, and Dr. Beck breaks horrible news to her. 20 years later, seven sorority sisters plot to throw a graduation party in before leaving campus for good, plans that are ruined by house mother Mrs. Slater. As revenge, the sisters prank her and ultimately cause her death, leading to an unknown stalker hunting them down one by one.
There isn't anything groundbreaking here, per se, but it's first act is filled with the same kind of casual world and character building that made the original Black Christmas work so well. There's a legitimate sense of urgency and caution across the whole story, and the third act reveal of the killer's identity, while a forgone conclusion to anyone aware of basic horror tropes, still feels fresh all these years later. There are a lot of elements here that seem to rhyme with not only Black Christmas, but also Prom Night and even a bit of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 5.5/10
------------
Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
15. Monster Party (6.5/10)
16. When Evil Lurks (7.5/10)
17. Lisa Frankenstein (4/10)
18. The House on Sorority Row (5.5/10)
In 1961, the pregnant Mrs. Slater has complications while delivering, and Dr. Beck breaks horrible news to her. 20 years later, seven sorority sisters plot to throw a graduation party in before leaving campus for good, plans that are ruined by house mother Mrs. Slater. As revenge, the sisters prank her and ultimately cause her death, leading to an unknown stalker hunting them down one by one.
There isn't anything groundbreaking here, per se, but it's first act is filled with the same kind of casual world and character building that made the original Black Christmas work so well. There's a legitimate sense of urgency and caution across the whole story, and the third act reveal of the killer's identity, while a forgone conclusion to anyone aware of basic horror tropes, still feels fresh all these years later. There are a lot of elements here that seem to rhyme with not only Black Christmas, but also Prom Night and even a bit of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. 5.5/10
------------
Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
15. Monster Party (6.5/10)
16. When Evil Lurks (7.5/10)
17. Lisa Frankenstein (4/10)
18. The House on Sorority Row (5.5/10)
Gary
Mind. Body. Light. Sound.
Trailers for remakes. First one for "The Wolfman"
Oh, and did you know "Street Trash" got a remake? Because it did
Oh, and did you know "Street Trash" got a remake? Because it did
Gary
Mind. Body. Light. Sound.
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
This isn't horror, necessarily, but it's based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala and his appearance on the Dating Game, so it still falls into Spooky Season territory.
For a directorial debut, Woman of the Hour (2023) sure has to count as a win. Star Anna Kendrick also directs, and does the wise move of not focusing the spotlight on herself. She shines with her usual personality and wit, because who doesn't love her, but tempers it with the kind of respect that the topic deserves.
For a crash course, there's an episode of classic game show the Dating Game where serial killer Rodney Alcala, who raped and strangled at least eight women between 1971 and 1979, with there believes to be potentially 130 victims. This is a dramatized version of that episode, the ensuing date, and Alcala's previous murders intercut throughout.
Kendrick channels David Fincher during the scenes that build tension, but with a richer color palette and less oppressive atmosphere. She delves into how Alcala would lure his victims into a false sense of security before doing the deed, highlighting the kind of predator he was. This all fits into a general theme that Kendrick executes very well, exposing and mocking the kind of casual misogyny ever-present in the era. She doesn't try to humanize Alcala at all, but makes it clear that he wasn't a beast frothing at the mouth, and could be quite charming, even passing as quite cultured.
This feels in contrast to how Alcala has typically been portrayed whenever brought up, of course, but for the movie? It works.
This doesn't hit quite as hard as it probably could have, maybe even should have, but oh boy do I want to see more of Kendrick behind the camera. 7/10
------------
Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
15. Monster Party (6.5/10)
16. When Evil Lurks (7.5/10)
17. Lisa Frankenstein (4/10)
18. The House on Sorority Row (5.5/10)
19. Woman of the Hour (7/10)
For a directorial debut, Woman of the Hour (2023) sure has to count as a win. Star Anna Kendrick also directs, and does the wise move of not focusing the spotlight on herself. She shines with her usual personality and wit, because who doesn't love her, but tempers it with the kind of respect that the topic deserves.
For a crash course, there's an episode of classic game show the Dating Game where serial killer Rodney Alcala, who raped and strangled at least eight women between 1971 and 1979, with there believes to be potentially 130 victims. This is a dramatized version of that episode, the ensuing date, and Alcala's previous murders intercut throughout.
Kendrick channels David Fincher during the scenes that build tension, but with a richer color palette and less oppressive atmosphere. She delves into how Alcala would lure his victims into a false sense of security before doing the deed, highlighting the kind of predator he was. This all fits into a general theme that Kendrick executes very well, exposing and mocking the kind of casual misogyny ever-present in the era. She doesn't try to humanize Alcala at all, but makes it clear that he wasn't a beast frothing at the mouth, and could be quite charming, even passing as quite cultured.
This feels in contrast to how Alcala has typically been portrayed whenever brought up, of course, but for the movie? It works.
This doesn't hit quite as hard as it probably could have, maybe even should have, but oh boy do I want to see more of Kendrick behind the camera. 7/10
------------
Sorted by date and scored.
1. Baskin (7/10)
2. Barbarian (5/10)
3. Alien (9.5/10)
4. Aliens (9/10)
5. Hocus Pocus 2 (5.5/10)
6. Under Paris (6.5/10)
7. Child's Play 2 (5.5/10)
8. Child's Play 3 (6/10)
9. Bride of Chucky (7/10)
10. Terrifier 2 (3/10)
11. El Conde (7/10)
12. Addams Family Values (8/10)
13. Friday the 13th (6.5/10)
14. Body Bags (6/10)
15. Monster Party (6.5/10)
16. When Evil Lurks (7.5/10)
17. Lisa Frankenstein (4/10)
18. The House on Sorority Row (5.5/10)
19. Woman of the Hour (7/10)
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
You're goddamn right I am!
- Messages
- 22,667
- Reaction score
- 2,150
- Points
- 313
I heard that as well that the movie could've been darker/hit harder in some aspects. The best movies/documentaries that examine these types of serial killers, IMO, are the ones that understand their ability to be suave, engaging, pass for "normal" compared to the mental image of the "monster serial killer" who is completely remorseless and has no emotional projection. The bad ones also tend to project/victim blame as in, "How could they not see all these red flags?" in hindsight. To me it'd be like watching Tom Hanks or Brad Pitt, learning they are serial killers, and just ignoring how affable and likeable they are.
A lot of these serial killers get away with and do so many murders because they can be charming, woo others, and don't come off as the weirdo/creep that people think.
Valeyard
Retarded sexuality and bad poetry.
- Messages
- 15,621
- Reaction score
- 7,358
- Points
- 253
In that vein, I finally watched Angst. German film based on a real murder case. Very worth the time. Sorta bridges Henry Portrait Of A Serial Killer and Clockwork Orange. Not horror per se but these sorts of things hit me harder than most horror movies.
Big Papa Paegan
L. A. Z.
That's definitely touched upon, particularly in the insert scenes of what results in Alcala's capture, but hammered home in the actual game show portions. The parts detailing his final attempt at a kill, with the result being fairly true to what happened (according to what bits I've briefed over of the would-be victim's accounts), have him start as an intensely charming and artistically inclined individual. Then he tries to kill.
I haven't seen the full episode of the Dating Game he was on, but the movie has scenes from all three rounds (as well as Alcala's interactions with the other contestants), and it's obvious that he's much better at talking than his competitors on the show. One is a complete dumbass, one is exposed as a horn dog repeatedly, and Alcala comes off as an intelligent and cultured human being.
A lot of praise has to go to Daniel Zovatto for how he plays Alcala. His choices are perfect at both parlaying the warmth that Alcala could initially show and when "the switch" happens. It's amazing how much he's grown since It Follows and Don't Breathe. He's going to be big, big, biiiiig deal on the sooner side.
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I liked it a little more than Laz. I'd probably go 7.5 or even 8 out of 10. I've been a Daniel Zovatto fan since It Follows, so it's great to see him nail the best role of his career. Kendrick is perfect as the lead because of her charm and likability. Your skin starts to crawl towards the end and even with knowing she ends up safe, there is some wonderful tension. The murder scenes were much more intense than I was expecting, but still had some restraint. Kendrick showed a great eye for directing and I'm interested in seeing what she does next.
Only complaint I have is that I would've preferred an extra 20 minutes or so. 95 minutes felt too short, and you could've added more creepy Alcala stuff and less Dating Game stuff.
Only complaint I have is that I would've preferred an extra 20 minutes or so. 95 minutes felt too short, and you could've added more creepy Alcala stuff and less Dating Game stuff.
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Gary
Mind. Body. Light. Sound.
I watched that back when it was on Shudder. It's a great movie, but I don't know if I could bring myself to watch it again because it's so disturbing.