Topic: Horror / Halloween 2017 Challenge

[addicted2dvd]

Vinyan (2008/France) Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Fabrice du Welz Writing: Fabrice du Welz (Writer) Length: 96 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1 Subtitles: English, French

Stars:
Emmanuelle Béart as Jeanne Bellmer
Rufus Sewell as Paul Bellmer
Petch Osathanugrah as Thaksin Gao
Julie Dreyfus as Kim
Ampton Pankratok as Sonchaï

Plot:
A couple leaves the civilized world behind and descends into a living nightmare in this chilling horror thriller. Six months after losing her only child in the Southeast Asia tsunami, Jeanne (Emmanuelle Béart, Mission: Impossible) is convinced she sees him in a film about orphans living in the jungles of Burma. While her husband (Rufus Sewell, "Eleventh Hour") is worried that she's losing her mind, he still agrees to take her to search for their son together. Introduced to a dangerous gang of human traffickers, they find themselves alone and stranded in the middle of a treacherous jungle, set upon by a band of feral children. Has their search for their son led them to a fate more horrific than death?

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Bonus Trailers
• Featurettes
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

This one I just couldn't get into. It is a very slow movie that lost my attention in the beginning and was never able to pull me back in.

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

Stephen King's Silver Bullet: Widescreen Collection (1985/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Paramount Home Video (United States) Director: Daniel Attias Writing: Stephen King (1947) (Original Material By), Stephen King (1947) (Screenwriter) Length: 95 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Mono, French: Dolby Digital: Mono Subtitles: English

Stars:
Gary Busey as Uncle Red
Everett McGill as Reverend Lowe
Corey Haim as Marty Coslaw
Megan Follows as Jane Coslaw
Robin Groves as Nan Coslaw

Plot:
Something is killing off townsfolk in Tarker's Mills. Something mysterious. Something ingenious. Something remotely human. But the only person in town with courage to stop this lurking menace is a 13-year-old boy, confined to a wheelchair since birth. Adapted to the screen by suspense master Stephen King from his "Cycle of the Werewolf" novelette, this exhilarating thriller features astounding special effects by three-time Oscar® winner Carlo Rambaldi ("E.T.," "Alien," "King Kong").

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

I have loved it since I first saw it when I was just a teen. I absolutely love the supped up wheel chair... The Silver Bullet! I really enjoyed the scene when he first got it... finding out just how fast it went. I believe Stephen King's take on the werewolf legend is just right on the spot. And I liked who the werewolf turned out to be. While it is not what I would call a gory movie... there is a scene or two that shows it's fair share of blood. There was nothing about this movie that was not just plain enjoyable. It is definitely one of my favorite werewolf movies.If by chance you never seen this film it is one I highly recommend!

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

Warlock: The Armageddon (1993/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Lions Gate Entertainment, Vestron Video (United States) Director: Anthony Hickox Writing: Kevin Rock (Story By), Kevin Rock (Screenwriter), Sam Bernard (Screenwriter), David Twohy [David N. Twohy] (Original Characters By) Length: 98 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 2-Channel Stereo, English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Julian Sands as Warlock
Chris Young (1978) as Kenny Travis
Paula Marshall as Samantha Ellison
Joanna Pacula as Paula Dare
Steve Kahan as Will Travis

Plot:
The Warlock (Julian Sands) returns to try and free his father from the fiery chains that imprison him – and is challenged by two warriors with supernatural powers.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes
• Gallery
• Interviews

My Thoughts:

This was a good sequel... I really enjoyed it a lot... but I think I prefer the first one a little more. I liked how they had the teenage couple as Druid Warriors... gave the warlock someone to fight that also had powers. Which of course made for an interesting fight.

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

John Carpenter's Vampires (1998/United States) Trailer |Wikipedia |IMDb | Columbia TriStar Home Video (United States) Director: John Carpenter (1948) Writing: John Steakley (Original Material By), Don Jakoby (Screenwriter) Length: 108 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1, Pan & Scan 1.33:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English, French

Stars:
James Woods (1947) as Jack Crow
Daniel Baldwin as Montoya
Sheryl Lee as Katrina
Thomas Ian Griffith as Valek
Maximilian Schell as Cardinal Alba

Plot:
In the blood-chilling tradition of Halloween and Village of the Damned comes John Carpenter's unique vision of the ultimate killing machines, VAMPIRES.

"Forget everything you've ever heard about vampires," warns Jack Crow (James Woods), the leader of Team Crow, a relentless group of mercenary vampire slayers. When Master Vampire Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith) decimates Jack's entire team, Crow and the sole team survivor, Montoya (Daniel Baldwin), set out in pursuit. Breaking all the rules, Crow and Montoya take one of Valek's victims hostage.

The beautiful but unlucky prostitute (Sheryl Lee) is their sole psychic link to Valek, and through her senses they will track down the leader of the undead. As Valek nears the climax of his 600-year search for the Berziers Cross, Jack and the new Team Crow do everything humanly possible to prevent him from possessing the only thing that can grant him and all vampires the omnipotent power to walk in the daylight.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Closed Captioned
• 6-Page Booklet

My Thoughts:

This is another of my favorite Vampire movies. I think James Woods did a great job as a vampire hunter. The story line is great and I really like the way they did the vampires. This one is well worth the time put in to watch it. I would highly recommend it.

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

Mirrors 2: Unrated (2010/United States) Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Victor Garcia Writing: Matt Venne (Screenwriter), Kim Sung Ho (Original Material By) Length: 90 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1 Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

Stars:
Nick Stahl as Max Matheson
Emmanuelle Vaugier [Emmanuelle Vaugiér] as Elizabeth Reigns
Evan Jones (1976) as Henry Schow
Christy Romano as Jenna McCarty
William Katt as Jack Matheson

Plot:
Inside The Mirrors...The Dead Live On...Waiting For Vengeance. When a young woman is brutally murdered in front of a mirror that is a portal to the world of the undead, her spirit goes on a murderous rampage. One by one, she stalks the men and women responsible for her horrific death, exacting bloody revenge by dismembering and eviscerating the guilty. They can't run...they can't hide...they can't look in the mirror!

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Picture-in-picture

My Thoughts:

This one I liked quite a bit. The story was interesting and the effects were good. I do however think I liked the first one better. But this is definitely worth the time put in to watch it.

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

The Monster Squad: Two-Disc 20th Anniversary Edition (1987/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Lions Gate Entertainment (United States) Director: Fred Dekker Writing: Shane Black (Writer), Fred Dekker (Writer) Length: 82 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
André Gower as Sean
Robbie Kiger as Patrick
Stephen Macht as Del
Duncan Regehr as Count Dracula
Tom Noonan (1951) as Frankenstein

Plot:
You know who to call when you have ghosts, but who do you call about monsters? Whether it's a bat in your belfry or a mummy in your microwave, THE MONSTER SQUAD ain't afraid of no ghouls!

Count Dracula has until midnight to retrieve an ancient amulet that will give him final control over the delicate balance between good and evil in the world. To help him, the creepy count calls on some old friends: the weird Wolfman, grotesque Gill-Man, mildewed Mummy and freaky Frankenstein. As the ghoulish group gets closer to the amulet, it's up to THE MONSTER SQUAD, headquartered in the local tree house, to pool its questionable resources and stop the monster mayhem!

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Gallery
• Interviews
• Closed Captioned

My Thoughts:

I felt like watching something that is just plain fun next. So I pulled out The Monster Squad. This one is an old favorite of mine that I liked to try to fit in every October. Always good for a few laughs... the lines "the Wolfman has nards!" and "Well Steve... but he doesn't count!" gets me laughing every time I watch this movie. I like how they have most all the classic monsters in this movie. They made the story fun and interesting at the same time. This movie would make a good introduction for kids that are curios about horror movies. If by chance you never seen this movie I would definitely recommend it to all.

Rating:

[addicted2dvd]

Near Dark (1987/United States) IMDb |Wikipedia |Trailer | Lions Gate Films (United States) Director: Kathryn Bigelow Writing: Eric Red (Writer), Kathryn Bigelow (Writer) Length: 94 min. Video: Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, English: PCM: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: Dolby Surround Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Adrian Pasdar as Caleb
Jenny Wright as Mae
Lance Henriksen as Jesse
Bill Paxton as Severen
Jenette Goldstein as Diamondback

Plot:
Country boy Caleb Colton (Adrian Pasdar) whittles away the quiet rural nights hunting local girls – but when he falls prey to the mysterious and beautiful Mae (Jenny Wright), Caleb unknowingly becomes the hunted. Mae is no ordinary girl, Caleb soon learns: she is part of an outlaw band of vampires, and their love is about to lure him into a terrifying world of bloodlust, mayhem and absolute horror. Will Caleb pay the ultimate price for love and eternal life – or will he find a way to defeat the evil growing inside him each night NEAR DARK?

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes

My Thoughts:

This is a movie that has seemed to fly in under the radar for most people. I discovered it while I was working at the local video store.... and everyone I ever suggested it to never even heard of it. But yet of the MANY people that took a chance on this movie because of my recommendation... I don't remember ever hearing bad feedback. As far as I remember everyone enjoyed it!

One of the things I like about this movie is that even though while watching it there is no doubt in your mind this is a vampire movie... they never once use the word vampire in the movie... and you never once see a set of fangs. Another thing I like in this movie is the awesome bar fight scene. I have seen a few bar fight scenes in horror movies... and this is one of the best. Then you have the added bonus that one of the stars of this movie is Lance Henrikson.... a great genre actor of the time.

Another thing about it is the simplicity of it all. The portrayal of the vampires... and even the cure for vampirism is so simple that it just makes sense. This is one film that if by chance you have never seen I highly recommend it. Definitely a must see for any vampire fan.

If there is one thing I would change about this blu-ray release (other then give us more extras!... never enough extras!) it would have to be the cover art they used! looking at this cover art and I think films like Twilight. Like they are trying to pique the interest of teen girls in this film. As irritating as that seems... lets face it... that really is of little importance. The most important thing is having the film itself.

Rating:

[Danae Cassandra]

The Watcher in the Woods
Year of Release: 1980
Directed By: John Hough
Starring: Bette Davis, Carroll Baker, David McCallum, Lynn-Holly Johnson
Genre: Suspense/Thriller, Horror

Overview:
Legendary actress and two-time Oscar® winner Bette Davis (Dangerous, 1935; Jezebel, 1938) stars in this frightening and atmospheric thriller. When an American teenager joins her family in an English country house, she experiences strange and supernatural occurrences. Mrs. Aylwood (Davis), the kindly caretaker, knows the dark secret behind the happenings...and prepares for the return of a young girl who died mysteriously some thirty years earlier! The Watcher In The Woods weaves a haunting, riveting tale that stays with you long after the explosive ending!

My Thoughts:
One of the better Disney live-action films. Suitably creepy atmosphere, good use of the natural setting, and reasonable amount of mystery for a family film. The acting is mostly just adequate (we're excepting Bette Davis, who is fabulous), but not nearly as bad as other live-action films aimed at kids. Interesting alternate endings, though I do thin they made the right choice for the theatrical. Recommended for something to watch with the whole family, this is good enough for both the adults and the kids.

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Pass

Overall: 3/5

[Danae Cassandra]

The Worst Witch
Year of Release: 1986
Directed By: Robert Young
Starring: Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rae, Tim Curry, Fairuza Balk
Genre: Fantasy

Overview:
Mildred is one of the young girls at a prestigious witch academy. She can't seem to do anything right and is picked on by classmates and teachers. The headmistress of the school, Miss Cackle, has an evil twin sister (Agatha) who plans to destroy the school. Can Mildred foil the plan before the Grand Wizard (Tim Curry) comes to the Academy for the Halloween celebration you'll never forget?!!

My Thoughts:
Pete once told me "Every movie is for somebody, but no movie is for everybody." I have to keep repeating that to myself, because there are people who love this turd.

The script is dull, the effects are laughable (seriously, I've seen better effects in films from 80+ years earlier), and the performances range from school play adequate to laughably bad. Seriously, people, there's camp and there's so over-the-top that you've passed camp into Everest-sized caricature. That's not even touching Tim Curry's "the filmmaker dropped acid" music video in the center of the film.

I like that almost all the characters are female - all the kids, teachers, and even the villains. That's really nice to see in a film aimed at kids. So 1 star for passing both Bechdel and Mako Mori. I love Tim Curry, I mean, I don't love him in this, but he is a cool dude, so we'll give this 1/2 a star for him just being in it. Still, would not recommend and have no intention of ever watching again.

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Pass

Overall: 1.5/5

[Danae Cassandra]

Ghost of Mae Nak
Year of Release: 2006
Directed By: Mark Duffield
Starring: Marasri Issarangkul Na Ayutthaya, Siwat Chotchaicharin, Pornthip Papanai, Pataratida Pacharawirapong
Genre: Horror

Overview:
A young newlywed couple acquires an old abandoned house that soon brings them into contact with a vengeful spirit of horror and despair. While the ghost protects the couple from unscrupulous visitors at first, it becomes apparent that it expects a terrible favor in return. Only by setting the spirit free will they have any chance of surviving its wrath.

My Thoughts:
Decent ghost story based on a Thai folktale. Some of the acting seems a bit over done (the monk's greedy assistant comes to mind here), though I really like the actress that plays Nak. She's really good and her character develops into a strong, resourceful person. It's so nice to see a good female heroine in a horror movie. I'm not always happy with Nak's friends, and the film drags a little too long. It really should have ended with the scene before the last.

Despite the criticism, this is a good ghost story and I'd recommend it overall to folks who enjoy Asian horror. If it isn't as good as the best stuff out there, it's still a decent film that's worth seeing.

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Pass?

Overall: 3/5

[Danae Cassandra]

Theatre of Blood
Year of Release: 1973
Directed By: Douglas Hickox
Starring: Vincent Price, Diana Rigg, Ian Hendry
Genre: Horror

Overview:
Theatre of Blood (1973), directed by Douglas Hickox, offers the one and only Vincent Price in a role both madcap and touching. He plays a Shakespearean actor determined to wreak vengeance on the critics who fail to appreciate his genius, killing them in a series of set-piece murders based on scenes from Shakespeare. Diana Rigg plays Price's Cordelia-like daughter, and a lineup of British thespian legends incarnate the critics, including Robert Morley, Jack Hawkins, Harry Andrews, Arthur Lowe, Robert Cooke, Michael Hordern, Dennis Price, Ian Hendry, and Coral Browne.

My Thoughts:
This is camp done right. Vincent Price is delightful as a Shakespearean actor driven mad by criticism. After his attempted suicide, he returns to gleefully murder his critics in elaborate Shakespeare-themed set pieces. Before and afterward he does pieces of the various plays famous monologues.

One of Price's best roles, this is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys his work. Definitely one to come back to.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.75/5

[Danae Cassandra]

Night of the Living Dead
Year of Release: 1968
Directed By: George Romero
Starring: Duane Jones, Judith O'Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley
Genre: Horror

Overview:
In director George Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, seven people secluded in a Pennsylvania farmhouse face relentless attacks by reanimated corpses seeking to eat their flesh. The group, which includes a married couple and their daughter, a pair of young lovers, and an African American man, try to keep their sanity as the living dead try endlessly to enter the house until they are laid to rest by burning or a severe blow to the head. As they listen to news reports of the zombie plague taking over the eastern United States, the ever-decreasing band of survivors loses ground in their battle to both keep peace with one another and stay alive.

Romero's low-budget, homegrown classic went from being unable to find a distributor to becoming one of the most influential horror films of all time. Aside from its visceral impact years before realistic gore became the fashion, the film is also important for its portrayal of a black man as the protagonist during a time when race relations were an extremely sensitive issue in the United States. Romero's choice for the ending of his film also made a shocking and bold statement about the issue.

My Thoughts:
Hard film to review here. This is super influential. Bleak, dark, actually horrific. Romero made very good choices for his low budget - the single setting, the cheap black-and-white film. He ushers in the idea that horror is not just something to hint at but something to show. We actually see the ghouls here eating the flesh and organs of their victims. Though they are called ghouls here, this is the start of the flesh-eating zombie genre. We also have a strong, resourceful, likeable hero in Ben ... who happens to be African-American.

On the bad side, I really hated Barbra. She's another example of the useless screaming woman trope that I despise. She does nothing to work toward her own survival, or to help the others. At least Harry, another character I really didn't like, did try to do things, even if he was a snivelling coward more interested in being right and being in charge.

I feel like I ought to rate this higher than I am, but for me the parts that I liked and thought were good are balanced out by my extreme dislike of Barbra.

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.25/5

[Danae Cassandra]

An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe
Year of Release: 1970
Directed By: Ken Johnson
Starring: Vincent Price
Genre: Horror

Overview:
Vincent Price recites four Edgar Allen Poe stories: The Tell-Tale Heart, The Sphinx, The Cask of Amontillado, and The Pit and the Pendulum.

My Thoughts:
This short anthology film is a treat for fans of Vincent Price. He is the sole actor here, doing four of Poe's short stories as, basically, one-man stage shows. It's very much a showcase of Price's talent, since each story allows him to develop a different character.

"The Tell-Tale Heart" and "A Cask of Amontillado" are both two of Poe's best known stories and the best of these four features. One showcases Price as a raving madman, the other as cold and calculating a villain as you'll ever see. "The Pit and the Pendulum" is good, but I don't find it as engaging as the other two, though Price plays desperate terror quite well. I find "The Sphinx" the weakest of the lot, though still enjoyable.

This was made for television, and obviously very cheaply, but if you're a fan of Vincent Price it's well worth seeing.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.75/5

[Danae Cassandra]

The Long Hair of Death  (I lunghi capelli della morte)
Year of Release: 1964
Directed By: Antonio Margheriti
Starring: Barbara Steele, George Ardisson, Halina Zalewska, Robert Rains
Genre: Horror

Overview:
Iconic British-born queen of Gothic horror Barbara Steele (Mario Bava’s Black Sunday) is mesmerizing in this surreal, atmospheric chiller directed by Italian dark fantasy filmmaker Antonio Margheriti (Castle of Blood, Invasion of the Flesh Hunters). Essaying a dual role, Steele stars as an unlawfully-executed woman’s doomed daughter whose own murder won’t stop her from fulfilling her mother’s curse upon a despicable nobleman and his family, even from beyond the grave. Filled with shuddery, stark black and white imagery, bursts of operatic violence and featuring a thundering score by Carlo Rustichelli (Blood and Black Lace, The Whip and the Body), The Long Hair of Death stands as one of the finest European horror films of the 1960's.

My Thoughts:
Nice little Gothic chiller with a bit of ghostly revenge. Good performances from Barbara Steele and Halina Zalewska as the sisters, and Giorgio Ardisson did a good job as well, especially at making you hate his character. Lighting and setting are also done well to give this little Gothic a decent atmosphere. On the other hand, the script is kind of all over the place, and it does seem to drag a bit. Gets you into it by the last third of the film, and it does have a fine ending. Recommended if you like old school horror.

Bechdel Test: Pass
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3/5

[Danae Cassandra]

The Invisible Man
Year of Release: 1933
Directed By: James Whale
Starring: Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, William Harrigan, Henry Travers, Una O'Connor
Genre: Horror, Suspense/Thriller, Science Fiction

Overview:
Renowned acting legend Claude Rains made a remarkable screen debut in The Invisible Man, based on H.G. Wells’ acclaimed novel. Rains, a mysterious doctor, creates a serum that makes him invisible. But the miraculous potion also has the power to drive him mad, as he discovers when he is forced to commit horrific acts of terror. Directed by the master of the macabre, James Whale, The Invisible Man set the standard for dazzling special effects with ingenious techniques that are still imitated today.

My Thoughts:
This is my second time watching The Invisible Man and the effects are still amazing when you think this was made in 1933. Claude Rains performance still carries the film. He is able to embody this character, and tell you so much about him, with only his voice. I am also still annoyed with Gloria Stuart's hysterical, weepy, useless Flora. Una O’Connor's character also grates on the nerves.

These are minor complaints to an otherwise classic film that is not only influential but still holds up quite well and is a lot of fun to watch.  Recommended for anyone who enjoys classic horror or classic films in general.

Bechdel Test: Fail
Mako Mori Test: Fail

Overall: 3.5/5