31 Days of Horror 2018
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- DirectorLucio FulciStarsTisa FarrowIan McCullochRichard JohnsonStrangers searching for a young woman's missing father arrive at a tropical island where a doctor desperately seeks the cause and cure of a recent epidemic of the undead.ZOMBIE/VIRUS/APOCALYPSE
What better way to celebrate the sub-genre with none other than Fulci' notorious video nasty, Zombi. This film is exploitation gold, it's got everything from a zombie fighting a shark to eye-gouging practical effects. It's on-set location and 70's score are some of the more notable factors that differentiate this entry from other zombie flicks as well as its make-up effects and gore. It definitely benefited from being released in a time when zombie movies were still fresh and remains one of the best amongst many others [Dawn of the dead (1978) return of the living dead (1985), Braindead, (1992)]
70% - DirectorBabak AnvariStarsNarges RashidiAvin ManshadiBobby NaderiAs a mother and daughter struggle to cope with the terrors of the post-revolution, war-torn Tehran of the 1980s, a mysterious evil begins to haunt their home.SUPERNATURAL
This Persian film is more of political drama on the fears and anxiety surrounding the Islamic post-revolutionary war than a straightforward horror film. At that, Under the Shadow is a well made film with an important mission. Unfortunately, the horror elements are quite tame and the emotional impact was rather underwhelming. Not sure what it was going for in terms of genre, but it was an insightful depiction of the time and reality reflected.
65% - DirectorMark PellingtonStarsRichard GereLaura LinneyDavid EigenbergA reporter is drawn to a small West Virginia town to investigate a series of strange events, including psychic visions and the appearance of bizarre entities.BASED ON A TRUE STORY
The Mothman Prophecies, given the material is a compelling moody mystery based on the eponymous folklore, starring Richard Gere and Laurey Linney. The film sets up a captivating story and ends on a strong note, but the meat of the film (the middle) is lacking as it raises too many unanswered questions and builds tension to no real satisfying release.
55% - DirectorJeff NicholsStarsMichael ShannonJessica ChastainShea WhighamPlagued by a series of apocalyptic visions, a young husband and father questions whether to shelter his family from a coming storm, or from himself.PSYCHOLOGICAL
Take Shelter understands the slow-burn narrative exceptionally well and is a key example of a psychological drama. Michael Shannon carries the film with his very believable and dedicated performance. The pace is thoroughly slow, effortlessly building to its emotional climax. This journey is magnified by its mesmerising score, making for a hypnotic decline into ones mental state. The horror elements are subtle, at times almost brushed over, detracting from the potential of being a true and well deserving horror film.
70% - DirectorDamien LeoneStarsJenna KanellSamantha ScaffidiDavid Howard ThorntonOn Halloween night, Tara Heyes finds herself as the obsession of a sadistic murderer known as Art the Clown.SLASHER
I was a fan of All Hallows Eve (2013) for what it was and I was anticipating Arts' feature length spin off for quite some time now. Terrifier is a very straightforward slasher but what sets it apart is the iconic villain. Instead of "man behind mask with weapon of choice" we have an interesting psychopath going on a halloween killing spree and its one hell of a bloodbath. The film is very reminiscent of old school slasher films from the practical effects, to the disposable characters and the dark synth music. While the acting is pretty wooden and the low budget goes to show, it plays it off like a grindhouse flick and it works best in that regard.
60% - DirectorChristian NybyHoward HawksStarsKenneth TobeyMargaret SheridanJames ArnessScientists and American Air Force officials fend off a bloodthirsty alien organism while at a remote arctic outpost.EXTRATERRESTRIAL/SCI-FI
The thing from another world is an acclaimed B-movie classic. I feel obligated to praise the film for its technical achievements and the impact it had made for the genre. Objectively its without a doubt a solid science fiction monster movie for its time (1950s). But sadly it does not hold up, there is a few interesting ideas but for the most part it's rather uneventful, painfully expository and kinda dull. While it's not entirely fair to make comparison with its successors, Carpenter's reimagining is superior in every way.
55% - DirectorJustin BarberStarsFlorence HartiganLuke Spencer RobertsChelsea LopezTwo decades after three teenagers disappeared in the wake of mysterious lights appearing above Phoenix, Arizona, unseen footage from that night has been discovered, chronicling the final hours of their fateful expedition.FOUND FOOTAGE
First off, I am fascinated with alien conspiracies and the science fiction genre in general. Additionally I have learnt to understand found footage film-making. Granted, it has been almost 2 decades since its genesis and we are no longer fooled by its fictitious realism, rendering it rather tiresome and ineffective. Despite this, I went it with an open mind and I'm here to report that Phoenix Forgotten is forgettable mediocrity. It's a pretty empty film, not a lot happens, until the last 5 minutes and even then its disappointing. If you've chosen to go found footage, go all in and abandon the realistic approach (good examples - Gonjiam (2018) and Blair Witch (2016).
40% - DirectorWes CravenStarsSandra PeabodyLucy GranthamDavid HessTwo teenage girls heading to a rock concert for one's birthday try to score marijuana in the city, where they are kidnapped and brutalized by a gang of psychopathic convicts.EXPLOITATION
Here we have Craven's directorial debut, a super low budget 70s exploitation gem and one of cinema's most controversial films. The last house on the left epitomises the 70s period with an excellent soundtrack and grungy aesthetic. While it does tackle serious and contentious subject matter/scenes it plays out like a lighthearted road movie complete with a satirical tone and comedic interludes. If you are unaware of its plot, there are some surprises to be had. Overall, it was groundbreaking for its time but by no means anything quality.
65% - DirectorJames SignorelliStarsCassandra PetersonPhil RubensteinLarry Flash Jenkins"Elvira: Mistress of the Dark" is a 1988 comedy, horror movie - upon arriving in a small town where Elvira has inherited a rundown mansion, the famous horror host must battle an evil uncle, and townspeople who want her burned at the stake.COMEDY/HORROR
From what started as a 1980s TV horror show, Movie Macabre's hostess Elvira get's her feature length movie and its fucking silly as hell. I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy myself, this film is raunchy, sexy and surprisingly funny. Cassandra Peterson has made the character an 80s icon and a cult favourite, this movie works as a spoof and a real guilty pleasure.
60% - DirectorNa Hong-jinStarsJun KunimuraHwang Jung-minKwak Do-wonSoon after a stranger arrives in a little village, a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman, drawn into the incident, is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter.ASIAN
This 156-minute epic is an absolute horror defining masterpiece, the Wailing is the ultimate composition of sub-genres, from ghosts, demons, zombies to exorcisms, possessions to gore and psychological horror to hysteria. This film has it all and it is executed with so much passion for the genre. It is genuinely gripping for the entire runtime, brilliantly acted, brilliantly shot and told. Without a doubt the best horror film of 2016, if not one of the best of recent memory. I will have to give this a well deserving re-watch in order to properly absorb the deeper meaning and to fully appreciate in all its glory.
85% - DirectorMichael HanekeStarsSusanne LotharUlrich MüheArno FrischTwo violent young men take a mother, father, and son hostage in their vacation cabin and force them to play sadistic "games" with one another for their own amusement.HOME INVASION
Hanake's famous home invasion thriller has been on my radar for quite some time and maybe for a little too long. Before this I have seen countless films of the same formula, some I like [you're next (2011), Inside (2007)], some I love [knock knock (2015)] for all the wrong reasons and some that are just terrible [Tresspass (2011)]. Although I have to commend Funny games for igniting/re-igniting the sub-genre. It's suspenseful, unapologetically brutal and subverts many pre-established rules. With thats said I have become relatively desensitised to these kind of movies and after the (shocking part) all tension deflated and I lost interest, it started to drag and become overly predictable.
55% - DirectorTeinosuke KinugasaStarsMasuo InoueAyako IijimaYoshie NakagawaA man takes a job at an asylum with hopes of freeing his imprisoned wife.SILENT
A page of madness is a highly interpretive experimental silent film from Japan, exploring the inmates of an asylum and the horrors of insanity. This art film earns its importance in cinematic history for its unique art direction, lighting manipulation and cinematographic and editorial techniques which were considered revolutionary for its time. I appreciated the style of film-making and its eerie atmosphere, with that said, I had difficulty navigating the story and was left scratching my head in many parts, this film would of benefited from inter-title cards to guide the plot and develop the characters. Overall definitely on par with the classics of the 1920's, (Cabinet of Dr Caligari, Haxan, Nosferatu)
75% - DirectorMichael MannStarsWilliam PetersenKim GreistJoan AllenFormer FBI profiler Will Graham returns to service to pursue a deranged serial killer dubbed "the Tooth Fairy" by the media.CRIME/HORROR
- DirectorJoe DanteStarsBradford DillmanHeather Menzies-UrichKevin McCarthyWhen flesh-eating piranhas are accidentally released into a summer resort's rivers, the guests become their next meal.CREATURE FEATURE
Before Gremlins (1984), Joe Dante attempted to capitalise off the recent success of Jaws (1975) and produced this cheap knock off. Piranha is a run of the mill creature feature comedy/horror swimming in genre tropes and cliches. It can be fun at times, however, it is very basic and forgettable with nothing new to offer. Instead I recommend to check our Alexandre Aja's remake.
45% - DirectorAbel FerraraStarsLili TaylorChristopher WalkenAnnabella SciorraA New York philosophy grad student turns into a vampire after getting bitten by one, and then tries to come to terms with her new lifestyle and frequent craving for human blood.VAMPIRE
- DirectorS. Craig ZahlerStarsKurt RussellPatrick WilsonMatthew FoxIn the dying days of the old west, an elderly sheriff and his posse set out to rescue their town's doctor from cannibalistic cave dwellers.CANNIBALS
- DirectorPascal LaugierStarsCrystal ReedMylène FarmerAnastasia PhillipsA mother of two who inherits a house is confronted with murderous intruders on the first night in their new home and fights for her daughters' lives. Sixteen years later when the daughters reunite at the house, things get really strange.TORTURE/DISTURBING
From nefarious french film maker Pascal Laugier, the man responsible for cinema's most merciless and unforgettable experiences (Martyrs). He brings us Incident in a Ghostland, a spiritual successor to the infamous Martyrs if you will, although no where near as brutal. This film however, is a challenging watch; it's emotionally difficult to endure, its psychologically tormenting and kinda sick. And for this I thoroughly enjoyed it, I was invested, surprised and provoked, it was refreshing to see a film that didn't hold back.
75% - DirectorDario ArgentoStarsLeigh McCloskeyIrene MiracleEleonora GiorgiAn American student investigates the disappearance of his sister and the death of a friend, both connected from New York to Rome by an old alchemy book.WITCHES/OCCULT
- DirectorFrank HenenlotterStarsJames LorinzJoanne RitchiePatty MullenA medical student sets out to recreate his decapitated fiancée by building her a new body made of Manhattan street prostitutes.GUILTY PLEASURE/B-GRADE/CULT STATUS
- DirectorBrian O'MalleyStarsCharlotte VegaBill MilnerEugene SimonA family curse confines orphaned twins Rachel and Edwards to their home, in punishment for their ancestors' sins. Bound to the rules of a haunting childhood lullaby, the twins must never let any outsiders inside the house.GOTHIC
- DirectorShin'ya TsukamotoStarsTomorô TaguchiKei FujiwaraNobu KanaokaA businessman accidentally kills The Metal Fetishist, who gets his revenge by slowly turning the man into a grotesque hybrid of flesh and rusty metal.BODY HORROR
- DirectorWes CravenStarsBill PullmanCathy TysonZakes MokaeAn anthropologist goes to Haiti after hearing rumors about a drug used by black magic practitioners to turn people into zombies.FANTASY
I believe the serpent and the rainbow is a forgotten gem, while it is slow and at times oddly paced, the mystical journey delivers the popcorn scares and cheese in classic Craven fashion. The film had a grasp on its unique material and executed it with b-movie magic. It's not brilliant but it is fresh.
70% - DirectorJames WhaleStarsColin CliveMae ClarkeBoris KarloffDr Henry Frankenstein is obsessed with assembling a living being from parts of several exhumed corpses.MONSTER
- DirectorE. Elias MerhigeStarsBrian SalzbergDonna DempseyStephen Charles BarryPresented in a surreal, gory and entirely visual manner, Begotten tells of the death of religion, the abuse of nature by Man and a nihilistic outlook on what life ultimately is.ARTHOUSE
There are two ways to receive Begotten, a religiously charged provocative work of genius or an excruciatingly pretentious display of visual nonsense. Depending on your state of mind and mood, this film works as both. I can appreciate the unique visual style and disturbing imagery but not for a full 72 minutes. As the film started, I was immediately engrossed with what looked like a demon (god) stabbing itself to death to then receive a handjob by a mysterious lady impregnating herself. But then the lack of dialogue, or even any written information/explanation for what takes place for the remaining runtime rendered a painfully tedious endurance test that I just couldn't bare.
45% - DirectorStephen NorringtonStarsWesley SnipesStephen DorffKris KristoffersonA half-vampire, half-mortal man becomes a protector of the mortal race, while slaying evil vampires.ACTION HORROR
I think this film was the first successful marvel movie to initiate the 2000s superhero craze. Blade is a solid R rated popcorn flick that delivers a perfect blend of action and horror. Wesley Snipes carries the film as Blade and brought the iconic anti-hero to fruition. The combat choreography and action set pieces were impressive and memorable (especially the opening sequence). The CGI effects are a little outdated but nothing too major to detract from the overall thrilling experience.
70%