Topic: My Month Long Horror/Halloween Marathon: 2008

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Cemetery Man
Movie Count: 40
TV Ep Count: 8
Time Started: 11am
Plot:
'Rupert Everett' (MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING) stars as Francesco Dellamorte, a cemetery watchman whose job it is to slaughter the living dead when they rise hungry from their graves. But following a tragic tryst with a lusty young widow (stunning 'Anna Falchi' in one of three sexy roles), Francisco begins to ponder the mysteries of existence. Is there long-term satisfaction in blasting the skulls of 'returners'? Will his imbecile assistant find happiness with the partial girl-corpse of his dreams? And if death is the ultimate act of love, can a psychotic killing spree send Dellamorte to the brink of enlightenment?

Italian horror master 'Michele Soavi' (STAGE FRIGHT) directed this brilliantly bloody black comedy — also known as DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE — that 'Gore Score' calls "a deliciously demented, delightfully surreal stew of sex, death, splatter, male-bonding, barfing, zombies and nothing less than the Ultimate Meaning of Life!"

My Thoughts:
Another movie I have never seen before. This movie has a good mixture of comedy and horror. So even though it can be a bit on the weird side... it is a lot of fun to watch. I am sure I will be watching this one again.

My Rating
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Ring Around the Rosie
Movie Count: 41
TV Ep Count: 8
Time Started: 2:30pm
Plot:
In this electrifying suspense thriller, your deepest fears become reality.
Following her grandmother's last wish, Karen (Gina Philips, 'Jeepers Creepers') reluctantly travels to a remote, run-down mansion to sell the family estate where she grew up. Karen soon realizes that she's not alone at the property. Living in the shanty at the horse stables is Pierce (Tom Sizemore, 'Heat'), an odd and mysterious caretaker. With every passing night as she rummages through the dusty house, Karen's fond memories of her childhood turn into nightmares.

Haunted, Karen feels relief when her sister arrives, but things only spiral out of control when Pierce becomes increasingly more violent. Suddenly both women find themselves trapped in a house that preys on their greatest fears. Karen has no choice but to face the horrible memory she thought she put behind her and walk the line between bad memories and deadly reality.

My Thoughts:
Another blind buy that I found cheap enough to take a chance on. This was a good... interesting movie. But it definitely could have been better. They did seem to leave some questions unanswered which would have been nice to have answered. I don't see time being a restraint here since the movie clocked in just under 90min. But still a good story... so I am happy I added it to my collection.

My Rating
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Title: The Hollow
Movie Count: 42
TV Ep Count: 8
Time Started: 4:45pm
Plot:
Restless spirits stir this Hollow's Eve, beckoning Ian Cranston (Kevin Zegers, 'Dawn of the Dead'), the last blood relative of Ichabod Crane, back to Sleepy Hollow. Thundering hooves unleash a wave of bone-chilling screams as the ghost of the Headless Horseman rides again! Ian must try to save the town and his girlfriend, Karen (Kaley Cuoco, "8 Simple Rules") and determine wheather the sword-wielding stalker is their clownish classmate, Brody (Nick Carter, Backstreet Boys) in costume, or the dark rider himself. If it's truly the Headless Horseman...how do you kill what's already dead?

My Thoughts:
This is one I bought last year for my yearly month long horror marathon. I bought it for 2 reasons. First because I do enjoy the story of Sleepy Hollow... even though this is an updated version of the story. And also because I have become a fan of Kaley Cuoco (8 Simple Rules, Charmed & Big Bang Theory). The movie itself is no more then a fun... leave your brain at the door.. popcorn movie. One that I really like a lot. Probably a little more then I should.

My Rating
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Dead Birds
Movie Count: 43
TV Ep Count: 8
Time Started: 6:30pm
Plot:
When a group of criminals on the run after a bank robbery during the Civil War take refuge in an abandoned house they have no idea what evil they have come upon. Isolated and presumed deserted, the house is anything but safe...

As the night wears on and a thunderstorm grows outside, each member of the group begins to have visions of the atrocities that occurred within the house, haunting it forever. Voices in the well, visions of mangled bodies and clawing under the stairs plague their waking hours. As the fear in the group begins to grow and the supernatural forces in the house start to manifest themselves, the group turn on each other and exact the wrath of the souls trapped within the walls.

My Thoughts:
This is another one I bought sight unseen for this month's marathon. This one I liked a lot! I felt it was very well done... it had a good atmosphere... a few good jump scenes... and a bit of gore all mixed together. And it worked well for it. I didn't know what to expect going into this one... but was pleasantly surprised. I will definitely be willing to recommend this one to friends and family.

My Rating
Out of a Possible 5

Woohoo! I have now made it past the half-way point of my movie goal for this year! (85 movies) And today is only the 11th!

[addicted2dvd]

Title: The Wolf Man
Movie Count: 44
TV Ep Count: 8
Time Started: 6:30am
Plot:
Lon Chaney Jr. portrays Larry Talbot, who returns to his father's (Claude Rains) castle in Wales and meets a beautiful woman (Evelyn Ankers). One fateful night, Talbot escorts her to a local carnival where Jenny's fate is revealed by a mysterious gypsy fortune teller.

My Thoughts:
This is one of the first classic monster movies I ever seen.... and definitely one of my favorites. I love this movie! I especially like how well done the Wolf Man makeup is done. Especially considering the age of this movie. Lon Chaney, Jr. did an awesome job at playing both the tortured soul of Larry Talbot as well as The Wolf Man. And even though is only a small part I enjoyed Bela Lugosi as Bela, the gypsy. This is a movie I have watched many times... and sure I continue to enjoy many more times to come.

My Rating
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Unearthed
Movie Count: 45
TV Ep Count: 8
Time Started: 7:45am
Plot:
A vicious creature that's been trapped for 900 years, gets unearthed during an archeological dig in the middle of a desolate town. As the carnage escalates, the local sheriff and a group of stranded civilians must find a way to destroy the creature that only has one mission – complete annihilation. 

My Thoughts:
This is another of this month's blind buys. I picked this one up because I wanted to finish my collection of After Dark Horrorfest releases. Unearthed is an entertaining movie... one of the ones where you barely get to see the creature through-out the movie. But it is not the best movie I have seen of it's kind. I would say it is just a little above average. Worth a look if you find it cheap or catch it on cable.

My Rating
Out of a Possible 5

[addicted2dvd]

Title: Saw IV: Unrated Director's Cut
Movie Count: 46
TV Ep Count: 8
Time Started: 11am
Plot:
When SWAT Commander Rigg is abducted and thrust into a game, the last officer untouched by Jigsaw has but ninety minutes to overcome a series of demented traps and save an old friend...or face the deadly consequences. 

My Thoughts:
This is the first time I ever watched this movie. One I picked up because I liked all the previous movies in the series... and because I found it cheap on sale (the best way to buy movies!). Going into this one... I admit I had my hopes pretty high which is something I try my hardest not to do.Luckily this time it didn't hurt anything... as I enjoyed this movie a lot.. almost as much... if not as much as the ones before it. Of course I personally go into these movies looking for no more then a gore-fest. But they are more then that... I also find the stories themselves interesting.

My Rating
Out of a Possible 5

[Najemikon]

Thanks for that review, Pete. I won't see-Saw IV, because I did see-Saw III and would rather stick pins in my eyes than ever watch it again.

Now Pete, honestly, you find something to enjoy in these films then that's your trauma, but again, this is a 4.5 Star movie?  And you said it was only "almost as good" as the previous ones. Which makes them... oh no, I can't even say it!   

[Touti]

Now Pete, honestly, you find something to enjoy in these films then that's your trauma, but again, this is a 4.5 Star movie?  And you said it was only "almost as good" as the previous ones. Which makes them... oh no, I can't even say it!   

Jon I find that comment a little harsh.  Ratings have to be taken within the context, the tastes of the person and in comparison with other movies of the genre.  I have no interest in horror movies but that doesn't mean that one can't deserve a high score, specially if rated within the genre.

Just out of curiousity.....what were your rating on "The Long Good Friday" and "Get Carter"

[addicted2dvd]

Not only within a genre.. but I see it within a sub-genre. To me these are some of the best gore-fest movies I have ever seen. And notice I said almost as good... if not as good as the ones before it. I would personally rank all the saw movies at 4.5

there is many sides to my taste in movies (let alone in horror)... meaning I like all types whether it is gore... atmospheric... classic... jump scene driven... no matter what they type. So yes... something like Saw IV can get just as high as a rating as something like Psycho.

Another thing to keep in mind... there is levels to every rating. so a 4.5 could cover a range of anything from a 4.3 to a 4.7 so the first Saw movie could be in my opinion a 4.7 and Saw IV could be a 4.3 rounded to the ratings I use they would both be a 4.5 but I still liked one more then the other.

[addicted2dvd]

Now Pete, honestly, you find something to enjoy in these films then that's your trauma, but again, this is a 4.5 Star movie?  And you said it was only "almost as good" as the previous ones. Which makes them... oh no, I can't even say it!   

Jon I find that comment a little harsh.  Ratings have to be taken within the context, the tastes of the person and in comparison with other movies of the genre.  I have no interest in horror movies but that doesn't mean that one can't deserve a high score, specially if rated within the genre.

Just out of curiousity.....what were your rating on "The Long Good Friday" and "Get Carter"

Oh I just think he gets a kick out of picking on how I rate my movies. 

[Jimmy]

Now Pete, honestly, you find something to enjoy in these films then that's your trauma, but again, this is a 4.5 Star movie? 

Maybe Pete is like me when the time came to note a movie. When I've decided to make a smiley based system it was because I don't see my rating as a score. A rating based on a score system is to complex, at least for me, because I've to compare each movie with the previous ones that I've reviewed to give it a valid note. My smiley system is just a representation of my feeling about the movie and two different movies with a rating aren't necessary as good.

[Najemikon]

Oh I just think he gets a kick out of picking on how I rate my movies. 

A hell of a kick!

Jon I find that comment a little harsh.  Ratings have to be taken within the context, the tastes of the person and in comparison with other movies of the genre.  I have no interest in horror movies but that doesn't mean that one can't deserve a high score, specially if rated within the genre.

Just out of curiousity.....what were your rating on "The Long Good Friday" and "Get Carter"

I'm only teasing. It stems from the earlier comments about how Pete never hands out a 5 star rating. Not even Psycho could prise it from his grip! But Saw IV can be the equal of Psycho? No, he deserves to be teased for that! So...  

Get Carter? Michael Caine's best role? Evokes the time and place of its setting perfectly? 4 stars. I don't give halves! It's hairs-breadth from 5.

Long Good Friday? Bob Hoskin's best role? Evokes the time and place of its setting perfectly? 5. 5 big ones. 5 glowing stars.

[Najemikon]

Now Pete, honestly, you find something to enjoy in these films then that's your trauma, but again, this is a 4.5 Star movie? 

Maybe Pete is like me when the time came to note a movie. When I've decided to make a smiley based system it was because I don't see my rating as a score. A rating based on a score system is to complex, at least for me, because I've to compare each movie with the previous ones that I've reviewed to give it a valid note. My smiley system is just a representation of my feeling about the movie and two different movies with a rating aren't necessary as good.

I do know what you mean. How can you possibly begin to compare The Seven Samurai and Jaws for instance. But all I'm actually doing here is abusing poor Pete's thread to feed my complete and utter hatred for the Saw sequels!

And to practice hilarious "see-Saw" puns that have been ultimately ignored. 

[addicted2dvd]

Oh I just think he gets a kick out of picking on how I rate my movies. 

A hell of a kick!

That's ok!... I can take it! 

Long Good Friday? Bob Hoskin's best role? Evokes the time and place of its setting perfectly? 5. 5 big ones. 5 glowing stars.

OK... that one makes me Perfectly? there is not such thing as perfection! there is always room for improvement whether we see it or not!