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Showing posts from 2014

The Babadook (2014) - Jennifer Kent

The best horror movie of 2014 is definitely Jennifer Kent's  The Babadook. This movie is beyond creepy and crawly. It does such a great job of getting under your skin. It has a fantastically deep concept that is pulled off in a really well way. It is wonderfully acted and exceptionally written. I know it sounds like I am praising it a lot. But this is really a fantastic film in the genre.  This movie has layers. It's a depressing tale about a broken, widowed single mother that is raising the worst child in the world. Her life is horrible and her time is completely taken up by this hellion. A mysterious children's book shows up one day and begins to terrorize their little family. This book warns about the coming of a figure known as Mister Babadook.  A supernatural and psychological terror begins to unfold as we watch this mother deal with a possession. Deal with fighting this unknown antagonist and simultaneously taking care of her child. It shows the he

Tusk (2014) - Kevin Smith

Definitely the most original and outrageous horror movie of 2014 is Kevin Smith's Tusk . This film is the product of the Hollywood Babble-On Podcast that is hosted by Smith and Ralph Garmin. They had literally just tossed the idea around and then, poof! It was made into a movie starring Justin Long, Haley Joel Osment, and Michael Parks. I will admit that when I started watching Tusk I expected to see something in the same vein as The Human Centipede . I expected to sit cringing through the whole feature. However, the end product was a bit disappointing and highly confusing. This movie is about a podcaster, Wallace (Long), that travels to weird places and interviews weird people. He then, usually, returns to his best friend (Osment) and recants his entire trip while his friend laughs about it. The podcast is un-inspiringly called the Not See Party. Get it. Wallace heads to Canada to interview this Kill Bill kid that had cut his leg off. Only to find out that th

You'll Find Out (1940) - David Butler

I am kicking off 1940 with You'll Find Out from 1940. A hilarious forgotten released to promote Kay Kyser. A popular big band leader from the 30's and 40's. The film is filled with comedy bits and witty charm that carry the plot along nicely. The production is exquisite. You'll Find Out is definitely a movie to check out. It's a shame it has been forgotten for so long. The film is about Kay Kyser and his band after they are hired to play at a spooky mansion for a young heiress. The heiress had been invited to this mansion to celebrate her birthday party. She doesn't know who invited her. However, she is sure someone is trying to kill her. For some reason she still decides to go. The mansion is filled with creepy artifacts and crap lining the walls. It does a really good job of putting it's own spin on the Old Dark House motif. Not to mention it also has some very good cameos from Lugosi, Karloff, and Lorre. The film is a parody/homage to the horror f

The Face at the Window (1939) - George King

Tod Slaughter is such an awesome character actor. He really puts everything he can into his pictures. I loved watching him in Sweeney Todd . This movie was no exception. George King is one of Britain's greatest story-tellers and delivers another keeper. The Face at the Window takes the Old Dark House motif and turns it on its head.  The film takes place in 1880's France where someone has robbed the Brisson Bank in Paris. Chevalier Lucio del Gardo (Tod Slaughter) is the only one wealthy enough to help bail the bank out of trouble. Lucio del Gardo is horrible person that demands the love of the bank owners daughter. Not only is he horrible. He is a brutish creep. He stalks and harasses while seemingly getting away with it. Oh, I didn't even mention that he keeps some strange werewolf man thing as a tool in his repertoire for manipulation.  The film is more of a melodramatic thriller than a horror movie. However, it deals with werewolves and has some pretty tam

The Human Monster (1939) - Walter Summers

Bela Lugosi turns in a fantastic performance. It is right on par with the exact same films that had made him famous like Dracula . My personal favorite being The Black Cat . Like the latter, this film suffered from poor circulation and lack of advertisement. Either that or the public wasn't interested in seeing Lugosi in anything else other than his famous bloodsucker. This film has a broad and well acted plot that was rich with detail.  Lugosi has two sides in this picture. His well loved and compassionate side. The other is a strict, brutal lone shark that acts as a sinister villain to blind and handicapped people. He really brutalizes his victims. It's a macabre message to pay your bills.  The film is slow moving and plagued by the usual setbacks from its time. Most of the nation wasn't really that concerned with horror at the time. But studios knew that they would always have an audience. This film is a prime example of that. It's sad because it's 

The Man They Could Not Hang (1939) - Nick Grinde

The Man They Could Not Hang was actually a really solid horror movie. Boris Karloff is always fantastic and this movie is no different. Karloff takes his little role in this picture and makes it way bigger and broader than expected. The film deals with tried and true horror surroundings. The Old Dark House aesthetic is in full effect here complete with a slow, brooding terror. The film is also far, ahead of it's time. It actually showcases an artificial heart and heart transplant before that kind of thing was ever heard of.  Dr. Henryk Savaard (Boris Karloff) has been working on unlocking the key to immortality. In his work, he's discovered how to bring a human back to life. His goal is to make it so that surgeons wouldn't have to be working against the clock during surgeries. A young man volunteers for the opportunity to be one of the first to be killed and brought back to life. However, Savaard is unable to finish his work. His secretary rats on him. Eventually leadin

The Gorilla (1939) - Allan Dwan

Horror comedies are always a tough nut to crack. They usually never do very well. It's really tough to mix two genres and do it well. It's even harder when one of those genres is horror. The Gorilla is an example of the two styles cancelling each-other out. It comes to the table with the usual brand of comedy that was running rampant at the time. Fast-paced, high-wit comedy that did really well... back then. The horror is even worse. It's has forced tension and a not-very-scary antagonist. The all-star cast is completely lost in the crap. Lionel Atwill, Bela Lugosi, and Anita Louise are just a few names. Not to mention the b-list comedy troupe The Ritz Brothers, who were apparently mistreated by the production. They really exploited Lugosi too. Using his popularity as Dracula they believed that just merely his presence could illicit fear. It doesn't. A very wealthy old man (Lionel Atwill) is threatened by a killer going by the name of "The Gorilla". He hi

Saw (2004) - James Wan

Saw is a wildly successful independent horror movie from Australia's James Wan. The movie is very complex and very engaging. The film has a really heavy overarching feeling of dread and anguish that is only rivaled by movies like Se7en. Supported by a solid story line and equally solid script. The actors and characters are fantastic. Our main heroes played by Carey Elwes and Leigh Whannell do a great job of building the tension. It's really well executed. This is also the movie that started really celebrating the "twist" ending. It's pretty glorious. This is the story of two men that wake-up finding themselves being imprisoned in a damp, dark basement. Both are shackled around an ankle and held on opposite sides of the room. Through their captivity, they start to remember and realize things. They learn that they are being held by a psychotic serial killer that "plays games" with his victims by putting them in killer obstacle courses of sorts

The Return of the Vampire (1944) - Lew Landers

The Return of the Vampire is one of the best horror movies of the 1940's. While the world was in turmoil, Bela Lugosi was making us forget for a moment and fear his iconic vampire character. The film has it's flaws but is survived mostly due to it's camp. This was supposed to be a sequel to Dracula but was made by a different studio. This forced them to use terrible names for the characters. Bela Lugosi is basically Dracula but they have to change his name to Dr. Armand Tesla. I don't know where they pulled that from but there it is.  Doctor Tesla was a Romanian scientist that became enamored with vampires. It just so happened that he becomes a vampire and begins terrorizing London. That is until he is defeated when a stake is driven through his heart. He is entombed, again, in the cemetery. Twenty years later, the Nazi's begin bombing London it disturbs his grave. Two inept guards find the Vampire body with the stake still sticking out of it. So the guards

Alien (1979) - Ridley Scott

Horror movies were, for the most part, secluded to earth and what we know. Never on such a large scale had horror been presented to us from another world. From another place, far, far off in the galaxy somewhere. Ridley Scott brought Alien to us in such a way that melds both horror and science fiction. He brings us an instant classic. Alien is the best horror movie in the series. Aliens is full of action and Alien 3 is dramatic. Then the horrible sequels don't do it any justice. The original is near flawless and simply amazing. The character development, the story-line, and even the effects are all phenomenal. The acting is a little two dimensional at times but it's a non-issue. Yup, Alien is quite the picture. A crew aboard the space vessel Nostromo is heading home when they are awaken early by an SOS message. It appears the message is coming from a nearby planet. When they investigate they end-up picking up a stowaway in the form of a vicious and horrible alien!

Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990) - Jeff Burr

Director Jeff Burr knew what kind of animal he was going to be working with when he started working on Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III. The background tale is legend. The cannibalistic hermit family that lives out in the sticks of Texas is wanted for murdering a number of people and eating them. The content is what Burr needed to get down. He delivered one of the goriest, horrific films put to celluloid. Leatherface was so brutal that they had to cut a number of scenes just to gain an X rating. Apparently certain underlying story lines were cut as well. Had it not been for these cuts this might have been the best of the franchise. Unfortunately, the cuts exist and the substance took a huge blow from it. A couple from Los Angeles (Kate Hodge and Bill Butler), that is driving to Florida, accidentally gets wrapped up in the affairs of the infamous Sawyer family. They are harassed by various family members like Leatherface, Tex (Viggo Mortensen), a strange little

The Dead Zone (1983) - David Cronenberg

The Dead Zone from 1983 is more of a dramatic thriller than an actual horror movie. However, the film does have a looming darkness that director David Cronenberg really brings to light, so to speak. It's not obvious, but subtleties are definitely Cronenberg's forte. This is a adaptation of a Stephen King short story. What horror movie marathon would be complete without a King picture? The film follows Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) after he awakens from a five year coma. Smith learns that he can see someone's future if he touches them. Obviously, this is something that he couldn't do before. He is bombarded by news reporters to show an example. This bothers him, as you can really see the frustration. He just wants to be left alone but has the task of town-hero thrust upon him. To make matters worse, his girlfriend from before the accident is now married and living happily with some local political jagoff. He is literally just trying to live his life and stay out

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) - Philip Kaufman

This film is another interpretation of  The Body Snatchers  from 1955. A novel written by Jack Finney. And a remake of  Invasion of the Body Snatchers  from 1956. Though the story is expanded in  Invasion '78  and it gives you a larger scope of just how far the pods must reach. It has a more graphic and intense look and feel. It has a much larger political view and explores that side of the film a lot more. You get the feeling that this outbreak is on a much larger scale.  The film stars Donald Sutherland, Brooke Adams, Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright, and even Leonard Nimoy. As in the usual story line, pod-plants from outer space descend on Earth and make clones of all humans that come in contact with them. Then when that human sleeps their clones absorb (?) them and kill them.  These clones are mostly emotionless. However, they look and sound just like everyone else. In fact the copy is just like you in every-way, except devoid of feeling. It's apparent that so

Friday the 13th (1980) - Sean Cunningham

I hadn't seen the original Friday the 13th  until I turned 19 in 2002. I hadn't stayed away from it, I just never came across it. However, I had seen other films in the franchise. My favorite then, and still now, is Friday the 13th: Part VI Jason Lives. When I finally watched the original movie I had already known about the twist with the killer being Pamela Voorhees. It wasn't very secret. But the movie still impressed me.  The film is about Camp Crystal Lake, which is nicknamed Camp Blood after someone went crazy in 1958 and killed two counselors. Then a series of unexplained events occur that make the residents condemn the area. However, in 1979 the camp is being re-opened much to the chagrin of the local townsfolk. The cast is mediocre in the grand scope. However, this cast fits this picture perfectly. Adrienne King and Betsy Palmer are your main characters. Both being the focus of the film. King becomes our young heroine that takes the natural leadership r

The Frighteners (1995) - Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson of Dead Alive and The Lord of the Rings fame leads us into another realm of horror created in the far off land of New Zealand. This kiwi cinema-savant has the ability to create some of the most amazing fictional worlds. This is a trait only a few directors have. It really enhances the film viewing experience by getting you to go along with the story. It fools you into believing that this place exists. It doesn't hurt that he is given some big names to work with including; Michael J. Fox, Jeffery Combs, Jake Busey, John Astin, Dee Wallace, and so many more. The effects are really what set this movie aside from all of the others. Peter Jackson is the epitome of the title, director. He knows exactly what he wants to see on screen and makes it happen. Much like Melies and Krauss of the early days. Jackson is a master magician of the silver screen.  The Frighteners is a delightful and original feature about Frank Banister, a schlubby ghost whisperer

Hostel (2005) - Eli Roth

Eli Roth brings us one hell of a masterpiece in horror cinema. Everything about this movie from the dark comedy to the intense gore expertly executed. This fine addition to my ever growing list of scary movies is not just great. It's important. Hostel came at a time when I had almost lost faith in horror films. It restored my faith and inspired me to keep believing that I can keep getting scared. With the backing of Quentin Tarantino and the direction of Eli Roth, you know your in for an entertaining treat. Top notch writing and acting don't hurt it either. If you wanted a horror movie with kid's gloves on then keep on looking. This movie might just be too much for you.  A couple of Americans vacationing in Europe find themselves visiting Slovakia, for some reason, and end up in a creepy town with a disturbing secret. An elite group of rich people hunt visitors for sport. Not really hunt. More like tie down and torture.  The movie takes pieces of films l

Bad Milo! (2013) - Jacob Vaughn

Bad Milo is a really decent horror/comedy from Jacob Vaughn that doesn't pull punches when it comes to shit jokes. That's what this is. One big long shit joke that's executed well and has definite cult appeal. The cast is a mediocre group of comedians from various prime time television programs. Ken Marino (Children's Hospital and Party Down), Gillian Jacobs (Community), Patrick Warburton (Seinfeld and Venture Bros.), Stephen Root (King of the Hill and Office Space), and Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley and Portlandia) plus a good deal of other cameos that make the viewer feel at home. This movie has it's really hilarious moments and it's really gross moments. It is definitely something different. Marino plays Duncan, a really stressed out guy that can't find a way to relax. He starts to suffer from really excruciating stomach pains associated with his uber-stress. This summons a demon that comes out of his butt and viciously murders various peo

Tourist Trap (1979) - David Schmoeller

Tourist Trap is really an amazing find for a couple of reasons. One, it's completely obscure and unheard of. Yeah, a couple of people might reference it here and there but it's mostly forgotten about. Some say that this movie having a PG rating really hurt it. It was easily overlooked. Two, it's scary as hell. I was genuinely scared when I watched the opening scene. It was really impressive. Stephen King is a fan of the opening scene as well. The first thing you notice is that the music, composed by Pino Donaggio, is really bizarre and full of slide-whistles and wood blocks being knocked together. It sounded like the opening theme to a Saturday morning cartoon. You really don't expect to see a horror flick. It reminds me of something that the Italian horror masters would do. In fact the films aesthetic reminds me of Suspiria. It works. This movie is intense, crazy, and beautiful. A group of teenagers decide to find their way through a strange private road when their

They Live! (1988) - John Carpenter

What do you get when you mix Rowdy Roddy Piper, John Carpenter, Guns, and general badassery? Why you get one of the most iconic movies of the nineteen eighties. In the early nineties every kid on my block knew this movie and loved it. They Live is Carpenters response to the Reganomics of the era. The movie doesn't hide it's political undertones either. It shoves them right in your face. Delivered by Roddy Piper and Keith David. The film has been cited as inspiration for a number of actors and artists including contemporary street-artist Shepard Fairey who famously used the films Obey theme in his work.  Roddy Piper plays a down-on-his-luck drifter that gets mixed up in one of the biggest cover-ups of all time. Aliens have infiltrated Earth and have been subconsciously pushing humans to do their will through subliminal messaging. Once Piper finds a pair of glasses that allow him to see through the aliens ruse, all hell breaks loose.  The film isn't very frighten

Dr. Terrors House of Horrors (1965) - Freddy Francis

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors is a fantastic anthology horror movie that explores some pretty unnerving and spooky tales. There is a star studded cast with a very Tales from the Crypt meets Hammer horror feel. This was actually made in a series of horror films from Amicus Productions. Starring some really big names. The film has Peter Crushing as our antagonist. A traveling gypsy man that reads deathly tarot cards to unsuspecting travelers. This particular group of travelers is made up of Christopher Lee, Neil McCallum, Alan Freeman, Roy Castle, and Donald Sutherland. The film has some really psychadellic inspired stories. Mostly the Voodoo installment. Roy Castle plays a jazz musician that steals a Voodoo chant for his own profit as he turns it into a really awesome jazz groove. This scene even features some quality Jazz flute. Other installments that I enjoyed involved Alan Freeman battling mother nature and some vicious creeping vines. The other stars Christopher Lee as a sn