Topic: Jimmy's - 2013 Ooctober Horror Marathon

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Leprechaun 3 (1995)

Genre: Horror
Director: Brian Trenchard-Smith
Rating: 18+
Length: 1h34
Video: Full Frame
Audio: English and Spanish
Subtitles: English, French and Spanish

Stars:
Warwick Davis
John Gatins
Lee Armstrong
John Demita
Michael Callan

Plot:
The Leprechaun’s reign of terror begins when Scott, a young college student, has a run of bad luck in Las Vegas. While at a pawn shop, Scott discovers one of the Leprechaun’s gold coins, which will grant the fondest wish of the one who holds it. Unfortunately, the Leprechaun will gladly kill to get his coin back.

My Thoughts:

That was so bad... complete waste of time and a lot of that because it wasn't easy to finish it. Stupid, not scary, unfunny and full of non sense. It was nice to see Zoe Trilling, Merle Kennedy and Rod McCary from Night of the Demons 2 in small uncredited cameo and Lee Armstrong is pleasing to the eyes and wear a sexy magician assistant costume for all the film lengt, but nothing of that can change the fact that this film is a crappy DTV.

Forget about it and don't count on me to watch Leprechaun 4: In Space, Leprechaun in the Hood and Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood because I won't

Rating :

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Shiver (2011)

Genre: Horror
Director: Julian Richards
Rating: NR
Length: 1h31
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2:35.1
Audio: English
Subtitles: English 

Stars:
Danielle Harris
John Jarratt
Casper Van Dien
Rae Dawn Chong
Brad Harris

Plot:
Danielle Harris (Hatchet II & III) stars with Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers) and John Jarratt (Wolf Creek) in this savagely entertaining horror-thriller based on the acclaimed novel by Brian Harper. The Gryphon is a serial killer with a flair for the dramatic — and a grisly trophy case of victims. But when he sets out to add shy, young secretary Wendy Allen (Harris) to his macabre collection, he gets more than he bargained for. Always one step ahead of the pursuing Detective Delgado (Van Dien), the brilliant psychopat penetrates police at will, circling ever closer to the target of his deranged fantasies. Untill, finally, the only thing standing between Wendy and the Gryphon's unthinkable desires is her own deseperate, indomitable will to survive.

My Thoughts:

This isn't often that a new movie catch my attention, but this one did it the first time I've read about it on some website I forgot when it was in the first stage of its pre-production. I felt it would be something different... not a serial killer movie told trough the eyes of the detective chasing him, not a serial killer movie told trough the eyes of the killer, but a serial killer movie told trough the eyes of one victim. It was a long wait from the moment it come to my attention untill the movie was finally picked up and release... almost three years. But the wait was a rewarding one.

I can't talk too much about the film without saying too much and spoiling it. But I can promise you something different with a good credible script, good acting from Harris and Jarrat, a suspenseful atmosphere from the beginning to the end and some brutal gory moment (but it's mostly for one murder and, don't worry, this film isn't a pointless gory flick).

Highly recommanded, I can't understand why that film isn't more talk about and why it got such an under the radar small release like this

Rating :

[GSyren]

You mean Casper Van Dien has actually been in a good movie (after Starship Troopers)?

[Jimmy]

Even if he is the third billed character he is a minor characters. In fact most are except Danielle Harris and John Jarratt as the story is centered arround those two characters.

Edit:
He was in Sleepy Hollow, this is supposed to be a good film no? and he was in Starship Troopers 3
From what I've seen he do mostly TV works those days

[Dragonfire]

His part in Sleepy Hollow is very small.  Basically, he's one of the early victims.

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (2006)

Genre: Horror
Director: Jonathan Levine
Rating: 18
Length: 1h27
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2:35.1
Audio: English
Subtitles: English  

Stars:
Amber Heard
Anson Mount
Michael Welch
Whitney Able
Edwin Hodge

Plot:
Mandy Lane (Amber Heard) is an unattainable object of adolescent lust for all the boys in her high school. Invited on a weekend away to a remote ranch, shy Mandy sees it as a chance to cement some newly formed friendships. The boys see it as a chance to finally get with Mandy. As night falls, joints are rolled, kegs are drunk and pills are popped, with Mandy maintaining a polite distance from all of the debauchery. She thinks the drunken 'come-ons' will be the worst of it, but she is horrifyingly mistaken. As events take a turn for the worse, it becomes clear that a secret admirer is harbouring some terrifying ulterior motives.

My Thoughts:

That film was stuck in the "sorry we don't want to distribute that" zone for quite a while considering it was made in 2006 and finally got a limited theatrical release less than a month ago... of course if you are European you say "what the hell are you talking about Jimmy, that was released theatrically back in 2008" and you're right since I talk about the Canada and the USA. So the movies had the right background to catch my interest...

To be honest it isn't that good, film about teenagers acting like douchebags and idiots aren't my cup of tea (remember my review of Wolf Creek). So I was bored for quite a while with only the fun of watching a douchebag killed now and than. But at the third act the film make a shift that suddenly made it worthwhile, see this is why I never stop a film even if watching is a chore. The acting isn't that great and most of the characters are stereotypes we don't care for (at least I didn't, but I hate that stupid generation of teenagers so it's probably a personal thing). The director also use short freeze frame for some reason I don't get...

Not a waste of time but you will have to be patient if you take a chance on this film... BTW the hell I care about Mandy Lane (Amber Heard) I'll pick Melissa Price before her any day of a week.

Rating :

[Jimmy]

BTW I don't get why they didn't use that poster for the DVD, it looks much better...

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Godsend (2004)

Genre: Drama / Horror
Director: Nick Hamm
Rating: PG-13
Length: 1h42
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2:35.1
Audio: English
Subtitles: English and Spanish  

Stars:
Greg Kinnear
Rebecca Romijn
Robert De Niro
Cameron Bright
Merwin Mondesir

Plot:
Following the death of their eight-year-old son Adam, devastated parents Jessie (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) and Paul (Greg Kinnear) are desperate to do anything to resurrect their beloved child. Befriended by a doctor on theiforefront of genetic research (Robert De Niro), they are offered a chance to reverse the rules of nature and clone their son. The experiment appears successful under the doctor’s watchful eye, and Adam grows into a healthy, happy, young boy...until his Eighth birthday. Then the night terrors and frightening flashbacks are only the beginning. Reaching the age at which the original Adam died, the new Adam begins to change, and a new sinister personality emerges.

My Thoughts:

A little bit predictable and not really scary, but it's Holywood horror so it's understandable that the horror is more psychological. The basic premisses is plausible since our memory is located in our brain and like everything we are it's a cellular mass, so the dual personality considering how it was done in the film is credible (in real life I doubt it would be, cloning of course it is but like the doctor do no way). 

All in all this is recommanded but I've seen better acting from Robert De Niro...

Rating :

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Zombie Holocaust (1980)

Genre: Horror
Director: Marino Girolami
Rating: NR
Length: 1h24
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English
Subtitles: None 

Stars:
Ian McCulloch
Alexandra Delli Colli
Sherry Buchanan
Peter O'Neal
Donald O'Brien

Plot:
Peter Chandler and Dr. Lori Ridgeway come across a gruesome flesheating cult in New York. Determined to uncover the origins of this mad corruption, they set out on an expedition to the primitive island of Keto. The two are soon trapped in the wilderness, surrounded by a tribe of cannibals and the insane scientist, Dr. Obrero. The doctor captures Chandler, and prepares him for a series of experiments designed to bring about the end of human mortality. In turn, Lori is captured by the murderous tribe and subjected to their bizarre rituals. In the tradition of the classic film, ZOMBIE, Ian McCulloch reprises his role of a New Yorker faced with primal horror.

My Thoughts:

Obviously this film stole its inspiration from two movies: Zombi and Cannibal Holocaust (if it would have been made by another director his fanboys would say it's an hommage). Not one of the best italian movie in this genre. In fact it goes in every directions with lot of things never explain, the dubbing is very weak (there is so many non-sense line, out of sinc talking and annoying high pitch tone voices) and the musical score isn't very good. But the effects are good as usual with the italian movies (except for the scalping FX who are really cheap looking and unrealist) and had one of the most apparent goof ever seen on screen, so it isn't that bad.

Rating :

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: The Blob (1988)

Genre: Horror
Director: Chuck Russell
Rating: 18+
Length: 1h35
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English, French, Spanish and Portuguese
Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Korean, Thai, Portuguese and Spanish

Stars:
Shawnee Smith
Donovan Leitch
Ricky Paull Goldin
Kevin Dillon
Billy Beck

Plot:
The Blob has returned in this horrific tale about a vile, malignant life-form that crashes to earth in a cozy, rural American town called Arborville. Untroubled by conscience or intellect, the Blob does only one thing - and it does it well. It eats anything and everything that moves: men, women, children. And tonight it wants to swallow Arborville whole. The original version of 'The Blob' thrilled and terrified audiences back in the 1950s. Now the oozing, gooey killer is back with a whole new high-tech look. What was once only suggested now comes to life in this visually gut-wrenching thriller in the tradition of such classic remakes as The Thing and The Fly.

My Thoughts:

Perfect of a remake well done who wasn't a big hit for some unknown reasons when it was released. The effects are perfect and a proof again that CGI isn't necessary at all when you have talents to combine miniature, matte painting and practical FX. Just watch the theatre and the sewer scenes and try to say that I'm wrong... They even have the guts to do something most movie will rarely do. Most people had seen that film so no point to write a lot about it.

The end was open for a sequel that didn't happen because of the box office faillure, but maybe it's better. Just imagine that we could have got a remake of Beware! The Blob  

Rating :

[Achim]

As far as remakes of Japanese horror goes I think I liked Dark Water more...

Never seen it, but the original didn't make that much of an impression on me. It was a while ago so maybe I should try to give it another chance

No, I don't think you should give it a new chance based on my post . I was only saying that the remake was quite alright and personally I found the original rather creepy and atmospheric. Not as good as The Ring or The Grudge though.

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Tenebre (1982)

Genre: Horror
Director: Dario Argento
Rating: NR
Length: 1h41
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English and Italian
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Anthony Franciosa
Daria Nicolodi
Giuliano Gemma
John Saxon
Christian Borromeo

Plot:
Following the worldwide success of SUSPIRIA and INFERNO, Master Of Horror Dario Argento returned to the giallo genre with the shocker that remains one of the director's greatest. Anthony Franciosa stars as an American mystery novelist on a promotional tour in Rome who finds that his most recent book has inspired a copycat serial killer. When the psychotic impulse becomes irresistible, does freedom await in the simple act of annihilation? John Saxon (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET), Daria Nicolodi (DEEP RED) and John Steiner (CALIGULA) co-star – along with a nerve-shredding score by Goblin and a mind-blowing twist ending – in this classic of sexual corruption, savage bloodshed and virtuoso filmmaking that fans and critics hail as an Argento masterpiece.

My Thoughts:

When Dario Argento is at the top of his game he is the best italian movie maker and more often than not he is. This is another excellent thriller from him in the tradition of the best italian Giallo. As usual the fun with a Giallo is to try to find who is the killer while watching and with a weak one we find it fast, but not in this case since all my guess were wrong and I didn't got it untill the end. Some of the murder are quite violent and the effects, as usual with the italian crew, are well done. Since it's an Argento's movie there is also some beautifull visual (I really like the long camera tracking shot before a particular moment I can't evidently talk about). The only downside is the dubbing (whatever you watch it in italian or in english this is dubbed) as some acting seem weak wich isn't the case (certainly not for Lara Wendel who is a very experienced actress, but the dubbing make her sounds like a wooden newcommer).

Easy to recommand since it's one of the best film of Argento.  

Rating :

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: The Haunting (1963)

Genre: Horror
Director: Robert Wise
Rating: G
Length: 1h52
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English, German, Portuguese and Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish

Stars:
Julie Harris
Claire Bloom
Richard Johnson
Russ Tamblyn
Fay Compton

Plot:
"It was an evil house from the beginning, a house that was born bad." The place is the 90-year-old mansion called Hill House. No one lives there. Or so it seems. But please do come in. Because even if you don't believe in ghosts, there's no denying the terror of The Haunting.

Robert Wise returned to psychological horror for this much admired, first screen adaptation of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. Four people come to the house to study it's supernatural phenomena. Or has the house drawn at least one of them to it? The answer will unnerve you in this "elegantly sinister scare movie. It's good fun" (Pauline Kael, 5001 Nights at the Movies).

My Thoughts:

First time I've watch this film, sure I know it by reputation since it is a highly praised classic. Yes, it deserves its reputation but don't expect a scares a minute film filled with blood and death (if this is what you want watch the uninspired remake). In effects horror those days was more psychological and leaded by scripts catching your attention from beginning to end. Of course when you had an excellent director, a good cast of theatre actors, a good script and a beautifull black & white cinematography (WB really did a good job with that release) most of the time you get a good film. I like how they tell the story of the house in the beginning (they tell us everything in a very short time). The only thing I feel would had made it a better experience for me would have been to watch it on a better sound system as the sound is important in that film.

Highly recommanded

Rating :

(click to show/hide)

Am I supid to think that the house isn't haunted but all of this happen because of Eleanor? She had poltergeist episode in the past and the phenomena had more a poltergeist vibe than a ghost vibe, also all the phenomenas seem to happen when she is near

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Zombie 5: Killing Birds (1987)

Genre: Horror
Director: Claudio Lattanzi
Rating: NR
Length: 1h32
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Lara Wendel
Robert Vaughn
Timothy W. Watts
Leslie Cumming
James Villemaire   

Plot:
A Vietnam Vet savagely slaughters his cheating wife and her lover, his parents and his pet bird. Years later, a team of bird specialists researching the mating habits of a rare species of bird stumble upon a sinister blind man and some angry feathered fiends. Soon, the dead rise and a vengeful winged terror swoops down upon the living!

My Thoughts:

The first time I've seen that film I certainly didn't like it, mostly because I was expecting something else... yes, the Italian can even catch me with their titles

So more than seven years after that bad experience I've decided to give it a second chances. As I said forget about the title, this isn't connected at all with the other Zombie movies (too be honest none of them are really connected to each other) and there aren't really any killer birds (except at the end). But yes the film had some living dead creature on a revenge mission. Once again most of the special effects are good (some of them are cheap since it was very low budget, but at least one killing is awesome), the house they use is creepy and look like an abandonned house (it was probably one) and, for once, the film isn't dub as it was shoot in english with young American actors (except for Vaugn and Wendel this was the first film of everyone else). The film after a good start goes slow for a while but when they arrived the action is non-stop untill the end. Sure the acting isn't that great and Robert Vaughn is in for a check but we don't really watch those italian horror film to see shakespearian acting anyway.

So if you are like me and hate it the first time try to give it another try, it isn't perfect but at least it is better than Zombie 4: After Death.

Rating :

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Demons (1985)

Genre: Horror
Director: Lamberto Bava
Rating: NR
Length: 1h28
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.66:1
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Urbano Barberini
Natasha Hovey
Karl Zinny
Fiore Argento
Paola Cozzo   

Plot:
They will make cemetaries their cathedrals and the cities your tombs!

Italian horror mastermind, Dario Argento produced and co-wrote (with director Lamberto Bava) this nightmarish fim set in the "Metropol" a huge, cathedral-like Berlin Cinema.

Two girls are given free tickets to a special screening in an isolated movie theater. The film, a violent horror movie, exerts a malevolent influence over the theater patrons who are transformed – one by bloody one – into a horde of crazed demons.

My Thoughts:

A favorite of mine and since a long time. Sure the dubbing is awfull (but in this case the results are funny since the line are most of the time over the top), but this an excellent FX showcase filled with great music from my younger years and the action never stop from beginning to end. I love the movie in a movie concept, the look of the demons and how they are born (that look incredibly painful).

Can't find anything negative to say on this one.

Rating :