31 Days of Horror (Halloween) 2021
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Date: 10/1/2021
Viewed: Blu-Ray
Re-watch
Note: Today is the first day of October and I always like to kick off the first 31 Days of Horror with a silent film. I recently bought the Criterion Blu-ray of Haxan and I have looked forward to revisiting it. Haxan is nearly 100 years old, and it's still a masterpiece. Haxan is not my #1 favorite Silent Horror movie, but it is pretty high on my list. Haxan is unique in that it tells a story that is half documentary and half narrative. The film explores the history of demons and witchcraft while also telling a dark and tragic story set in the 15th century.
Haxan is a true piece of art by having great creepy imagery, and amazing special effects. The makeup, the set designs, and the costumes are groundbreaking for their time. Imagine watching this movie on the big screen back in 1922 and being shocked at what you are watching on screen. Haxan even has nudity, torture, and sexual imagery which was something most films never had before. The atmosphere in this film is dark and spooky that captures the tone of the story perfectly. One of my favorite scenes in the film is where they are at the graveyard with the other witches and demons. The atmosphere in that scene is so chilling that it sends shivers down your spine.
The story does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of humanity and demons. Benjamin Christensen is scary as The Devil with his creepy facial expressions. Back in 1922, seeing him try to strangle someone would have given people nightmares for the rest of their lives. There is an English version of Haxan narrated by William S. Burroughs (the author of Naked Lunch) and it's not very good. If you're going to watch Haxan, watch the original 1922 version. The English version has a strange soundtrack and William S. Burroughs sounds really bored when reading his lines.
Overall, Haxan is a masterpiece that I strongly recommend everyone to watch.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Blood: The Last Vampire (2000)
Date: 10/2/2021
Viewed: DVD
Re-watch
Note: Back in the early 2000s, I remember when Blood: The Last Vampire was a big deal with anime and manga fans at the time. Manga Entertainment released it in theaters despite having a short run time and I remember James Cameron really liking it. I was lucky to see it on the big screen along with X: The Movie (1996) as a double feature at the time with my friends. As time went on, Blood: The Last Vampire has been forgotten and people only know about the spin-offs. The Blu-ray is out of print, but I'm lucky to still have my old DVD copy. After watching it again 20 years later, Blood: The Last Vampire is still a fun anime in my opinion.
My favorite things about Blood: The Last Vampire are the breathtaking visuals and the dark atmosphere. The animation is fantastic that still looks good by today's standers in my opinion. The characters move so smoothly and the large amount of detail that was put into the animation is excellent. I love the atmosphere in Blood: The Last Vampire because it creates a feeling of the supernatural that exists in our modern urban society. You can feel the presence of vampires lurking around. Blood: The Last Vampire takes place on Halloween which is fitting for the tone of the story. The action sequences and the gory kills are awesome. There is enough bloodshed that will make the gorehounds happy.
The story is the biggest flaw in Blood: The Last Vampire in my opinion. Blood: The Last Vampire only runs at 45 minutes and I wish there was more to the story. You don't have enough time to care about the characters and not everything is explained to the audience on what is going on. It feels more like a pilot for an OVA series than a full-length movie in my opinion. If Blood: The Vampire had a runtime of 90 minutes, I could see myself giving it a higher rating.
Overall, Blood: The Last Vampire is a decent anime and I recommend checking it out if you're curious.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Evil Spawn (1987)
Date: 10/3/2021
Viewed: Blu-Ray
First Viewing
Note: Growing up as a kid, I would always remember seeing VHS copies of Evil Spawn on display at Blockbuster, Suncoast, etc. and the cover art was amazing. For some odd reason, I never had the opportunity to watch it. Better late than never, I finally got a Blu-ray copy of Evil Spawn from Amazon and decided to watch it ASAP. I'm glad that I bought it because I enjoyed it. Evil Spawn is a fun trashy movie in my opinion. It has everything that you would find in a typical direct-to-video movie from the 1980s. It has bad acting, blood, gore, and nudity in one little neat package.
I like the general vibe that this film has because it has a sleazy tone to it. It's the type of movie that you find yourself watching on TV at 2:00 AM on a Saturday night. Evil Spawn has a 50s B movie vibe which is another reason why I enjoyed it. It feels like a movie that Roger Corman would have made in the 1950s or 1960s. The story reminds me of The Fly (both the original and remake) with a human protagonist becoming a bug monster and losing her humanity over time. It's an interesting story of a woman trying to stay young and beautiful with the bug monster representing her inter selfish desire. Evil Spawn also does a good job of being self-aware that is a low-budget horror movie. In the film, you have the actress pointing out that she does not want to star in some low-budget movie from Italy.
For a direct to video film, the rubber suit for the monster and the gory special effects are pretty good in my opinion. I do love how brutal and gross the film can be at times. Some scenes felt like it was filmed on a school play at someone's High School which gives it that bad movie charm to it. Evil Spawn is the last movie featuring John Carradine (The Ten Commandments) before he passed away. John Carradine looks like he is barely alive, and it wouldn't surprise me if they filmed it in his retirement house lol. The acting is hilarious for all the wrong reasons. I found myself laughing hard when the actors overact. Evil Spawn is way too short because it only runs at 71 minutes. Another 20 minutes would have improved the film with more content added to the story.
I have no idea who to give credit for when directing Evil Spawn because you had three directors that work on the film. The film has Kenneth J. Hall, Ted Newsom, and Fred Olen Ray as the director. There's also an alternate cut of the film that was released three years later in 1990. I'm curious to check out that version in the near future and do more research on the backstory on the production history.
Overall, Evil Spawn is a fun bad movie and I recommend checking it out if you enjoy so bad it's good movies.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Frankenstein's Army (2013)
Date: 10/4/2021
Viewed: Tubi
First Viewing
Note: I had people recommend Frankenstein's Army to me over the years because they told me that it will be right up my alley. I almost forgot that this film exists until the news about the alleged plagiarism with Resident Evil 8 happen (that's a story for a different day). I finally sat down and watched it on Tubi for the first time. They were not wrong about it being right up my alley because I really enjoyed it. Frankenstein’s Army is a really cool and creative movie in my opinion.
I love the aesthetics of this film because everything feels authentic. You have awesome practical effects and the suits for the monsters look awesome. The monsters in this film feel like they belong in the Hellboy comic book series or belong in a Wolfenstein video game. The love and effort that was put into making this film is astounding. You can tell that the filmmakers had an artistic vision that they were truly passionate about. If this film was made by The Asylum or a big studio in Hollywood, it would have been way worse in my opinion.
Frankenstein's Army is a neat take on the found footage genre by having it be set during WW2. The idea of someone having an HD camera in World War 2 makes no sense, but sometimes you have to go with it. With these types of movies, you should use your suspension of disbelief because it makes it more enjoyable. Frankenstein’s Army is schlock, and it feels like a movie that Stuart Gordon would have made back during the days of Empire Pictures in my opinion. This film is far from perfect because the editing is not very good and the characters suck. The jump cuts really annoyed me and I didn't care for any of the characters. I had a hard time rooting for the main characters to get out alive because none of them had any character development. It was more fun to see these characters get killed by the monsters, to be honest.
Overall, Frankenstein’s Army is a fun movie and I do recommend checking it out if you want to turn off your brain for 80 minutes.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/5/2021
Viewed: Blu-Ray
Re-watch
Note: I haven't seen this film in 20 years, and I completely forgot I own it on Blu-Ray. I'm glad I decided to rewatch it because I still think it's a fantastic film. The Lair of the White Worm is an underappreciated 1980s classic. Despite its cult status, I consider Lair of the White Worm to be an underappreciated film. It is deserving a higher grade than the majority of people give it. This film's strange nature appeals to me. The Lair of the White Worm stands out due to its weird nightmare imagery and erotic nature. This is a film that I don't think will be made today unless it's funded through Kickstarter.
The weird dream scenes that occur when the characters are bitten by Lady Sylvia Marsh (played by Amanda Donohoe) are fantastic to watch. They're chaotic, nasty, and bizarre. It's the kind of strange nonsense you'll see on cable TV at 4 a.m. The dark vibrant lighting adds to the film's atmosphere. You have solid special effects, which, in my opinion, still look fairly excellent by today's standards. I really like the makeup effects for Lady Syvia Marsh, and the practical gore is fantastic. Most people will find the giant snake creature at the end of the film cheesy, but I didn't.
You have a fun cast of characters that are memorable and likable in my opinion. The acting is pretty good with noteworthy performances by Hugh Grant (Cloud Atlas), Peter Capaldi (The Suicide Squad), Sammi Davis (Mona Lisa), and Amanda Donohoe (Lair Lair). I even like the music score because it was super catchy to listen to. The worst thing about The Lair of the White Worm is the ending. The ending feels abrupt because it feels like that they didn't know how to end the story. They also try to set up for a sequel that never happens.
Overall, The Lair of the White Worm is a fun movie despite the flaws that it has. I recommend checking it out with an open mind.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/6/2021
Viewed: DVD
First Viewing
Note: I was curious to check out this film because I love the Japanese Guinea Pig movies. Usually, an American adaption of a film series from Asia can be a red flag, but I wanted to give it the benefit of the doubt. To be honest, everything about this film was frustrating to watch. American Guinea Pig: Bouquet of Guts and Gore is a very mixed bag in my opinion. Just like with the Japanese Guinea Pig movie franchise, this film is extremely violent by trying to imitate a snuff film. If you don't like extreme graphic violence or torture, American Guinea Pig: Bouquet of Guts and Gore is not going to be a movie for you. The film spends 95% of the time brutally murdering two innocent women while a cameraman is recording it for an underground movie producer. The aesthetics are top-notch and I do give this film an A for effort.
The practical blood and gore look amazing by looking realistic as possible. The shot on VHS film quality feels like an authentic snuff film that would be found on the dark/deep web. You also have cool Easter Eggs from the Japanese Guinea Pig movies as nice fan service. Jim Van Bebber (Deadbeat at Dawn) has a role in this film that is worth mentioning. Unfortunately, the rest of the film is pretty boring in my opinion. I hate to sound nitpicky, but the film feels overly long with a runtime of 71 minutes. American Guinea Pig: Bouquet of Guts and Gore barley has a narrative and would have worked better at 22-40 minutes. The Japanese Guinea Pig films worked because they were under an hour and had interesting stories. In this film, you just watch a guy who almost looks like Rick from the Splatterhouse video games trying to cut up two women that don't even move. It seems pointless to have characters who die that can't even move or talk during the entire time. It would be more interesting if it had them trying to fight against their own free will while being torture to death.
There are also moments that feel unnecessary and would have been easily cut out of the film. We don't need to see the character trying to cut the women's clothes for five minutes and pointless arguments with characters that we don't care about. They also spend so much time cutting the limbs of the characters that feel like that they go on forever. People criticize the acting in this film, but I didn't really care. There was barely any acting at all, and I don't watch these types of movies for good performances.
Overall, American Guinea Pig: Bouquet of Guts and Gore is an average movie at best. I only recommend watching it if you're curious or if you enjoy extreme cinema.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/7/2021
Viewed: Vudu
Re-Watch
Note: The last time I remember seeing Eaten Alive was when I was a kid on late-night TV in the late 90s and I wanted to re-watch it as an adult. Eaten Alive is just as crazy as I remember it. When it comes to Tobe Hooper films, I still prefer Texas Chainsaw Massacre 1-2, Poltergeist (1982), and Life Force (1985), but Eaten Alive is still a noteworthy film. You have a fascinating story about a demented hotel owner named Judd (played by Neville Brand), who feeds his victims to a large crocodile.
I love how they were able to make the film feel dark and atmospheric by having it be set in the middle of nowhere in a swampy area. You can feel the hot and humid weather with the presence of a nearby swamp. Everything about Eaten Alive feels mucky with the grainy cinematography and the dirty set designs. Most of the sleazy characters in this film are crazy red necks. Before he became famous for playing Freddy Kruger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, you have Robert Englund in his early career. Robert Englund plays a total sleaze bag, and his character has one of the coolest lines of dialogue ever.
Neville Brand (Tora! Tora! Tora!) does a great job with his performance in my opinion. It's fun to see Judd trying to cover up his tracks by feeding them to crocodiles. It keeps the audience intrigued with how Judd is going to get away with his crimes. You have vibrant colors that really pop out even though they do look a bit dark at times. Eaten Alive is pretty brutal when it comes to blood and gore. It doesn't hold back when it comes to bloodshed. The death scene of the dog is very painful. If you're an animal lover, you may want to avoid this film (even though the animal deaths are fake).
Overall, Eaten Alive is a fun cult classic and I recommend checking it out.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Oxygen (2021)
Date: 10/8/2021
Viewed: Netflix
First Viewing
Note: For my 31 Days of Horror, I decided to watch a movie that was released this year. I'm a big fan of Alexandre Aja's work and I enjoy almost all of his movies. Oxygen is still a solid movie even though it isn't the most original film ever. I enjoy these types of films because they make me feel uneasy. I'm claustrophobic, so the thought of being trapped in a tight space scares the living daylights out of me. I love how the film creates such an eerie atmosphere by putting the main character in a little area where you have no idea what's going on.
You can feel the rush of adrenaline with the main character having a small amount of time left before she dies. I also like there's a mysterious origin in the story that keeps you intrigued about what is going on. You gradually learn about the main character's backstory, which I found to be rather fascinating. I recommend watching Oxygen without having any prior knowledge of the movie. The less you know about it, the better. The cinematography by Maxime Alexandre (Shazam) is fantastic because everything in this film is stunning to look at. The colors in Oxygen really stand out thanks to the use of vibrant complementary colors. Mélanie Laurent (Enemy) does a great job with her performance because it felt believable. Some scenes in the story do go on for a bit too long, but that's about it. I don't have any other complaints about the film.
Overall, Oxygen is a good movie that I recommend watching. Rating: 8.5/10
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/9/2021
Viewed: Blu-Ray
Re-watch
Note: Lost Highway is one of my personal favorite movies by David Lynch, and I have been needing to rewatch it at some point. I remember seeing advertisements for the movie on TV when it first came out in 1997. I even recall my parents hating it when they saw it in theaters. With the weather becoming colder, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to revisit Lost Highway. I was worried that I wouldn't like it after watching it again, and I was wrong. Lost Highway is still a fantastic movie. I consider it to be his second-best film next to Eraserhead (1977) in my opinion.
Writing this review was more difficult than I thought it was going to be because it's almost impossible to talk about Lost Highway without going into spoiler territory. Similar to most movies by David Lynch, the story in Lost Highway is nonlinear, and it jumps all over the place. It's one of those films that is open to interpretation, allowing the audience to solve the story's mystery in their own perspective. If you pay attention to every detail on screen, you'll discover new things about the plot.
The cinematography by Peter Deming (Evil Dead 2) is fantastic in my opinion. I love how Peter Deming was able to capture the artistic vision that David Lynch wanted by having everything be beautifully gothic. Lost Highway feels like a gothic horror picture while still being a neo-noir film thanks to the dark lighting, odd camera angles, and the eerie soundtrack by Angelo Badalamenti (Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors). The visuals are bizarre and give the impression of being trapped in someone's dream. It's truly a one-of-a-kind film that you don't see very often.
I'm not sure why some people don't consider Lost Highway to be a horror movie because it is. In my opinion, the strange nightmarish imagery and the eerie tone make it obviously a horror movie. The musical score is frightening and captivating, as if you're being cast under a witch's spell. Lost Highway has one of my favorite late-90s movie soundtracks because it included songs by David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Rammstein, Nine-Inch Nails, and The Smashing Pumpkins. Those bands and musicians are perfect for the soundtrack since their music matches the plot nicely. The acting is fantastic and Robert Blake (In Cold Blood) is really creepy as the Mysterious Man. This would also be Richard Pryor's final film role before his death in 2005 (Brewster's Millions). It's a shame that Richard Pryor's role is pretty small in this film.
Overall, Lost Highway is a masterpiece that I highly recommend.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
The Loved Ones (2009)
Date: 10/10/2021
Viewed: Amazon Prime
Re-watch
Note: I remember watching The Loved Ones in 2011, when it was a relatively new film, and liking it. Given that it has been 10 years, I decided to give it another look on Amazon Prime. The Loved Ones is still a pretty good movie in my opinion. It's a fascinating and exciting horror film to watch because you get to see how far the main villain (played by Robin McLeavy) will go for revenge. Although I don't believe The Loved Ones is as graphic as some people claim, it is still a disturbing film. The brutal violent special effects are nicely done, and they did a fantastic job of making them look as real as possible. You have a nice homage to The Driller Killer (1979) that makes me smile every time I see it.
The acting is good, and Robin McLeavy (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) does a fantastic job as a psychotic high school girl that is obsessed with torturing and killing guys that reject her. I like the soundtrack for The Loved Ones because you have some cool heavy metal sounds that are fun to listen too. The story and characters could have been better, which is the film's biggest drawback in my opinion. I wish there was more depth to the story and I didn't care about most of them. Xavier Samuel (Fury) as the main character is the only character that I actually cared about. Despite its flaws, I'm happy I went back and watched it again.
Overall, The Loved Ones is a good film that I would recommend watching.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Brain Damage (1988)
Date: 10/11/2021
Viewed: Blu-ray
Re-watch
Note: I hadn't seen Brain Damage in a while, so I decided to watch it for my 31 Days of Horror. Brain Damage is a terrific film, and it is the best movie by Frank Henenlotter in my opinion. Most people consider Brain Damage to be just another "So Bad, It's Good" film because of its ridiculous premise, but I disagree. It's so good, it's absolutely brilliant, in my opinion. Brain Damage isn't just another B movie because it has more to offer than a ridiculous premise. The film is the perfect combo of high and low-brow filmmaking in my opinion. It's gross and trashy, but it's also abstract and has a strong subtext about drug addiction.
The atmosphere and the writing are two of my favorite things about Brain Damage. The dark blue colorful lighting and sleazy atmosphere definitely draws you into the film. When I watch Brain Damage, I always find myself glued to my seat because I'm really sucked into the movie's atmosphere. My favorite scene is when Brian (played by Rick Hearst) is in his room and the room begins to flood with water. That moment in the film is so atmospheric and beautiful, it's truly breathtaking. There are other bizarre and artistic moments all throughout the film that are incredibly fascinating to experience. Frank Henenlotter is a unique genius with a one-of-a-kind style, and it's a shame he hasn't directed many films.
I enjoy the relationship between Brian & Aylmer, and the other cast of characters are enjoyable in my opinion. Aylmer is a funny and chill guy despite being an evil parasite. Brain Damage has a good social commentary about drug addiction with Alymer representing heroin. Brain begins to become hooked to Aylmer's fluids and gradually loses his humanity. You'll witness what happens when Brain stops exploiting Alymer for his own personal needs. The special effects are fantastic, including a lot of gruesome practical effects. There's probably one or two scenes of special effects that don't look good in my opinion. The acting isn't particularly good, but I've seen worse. I have nothing else to say about Brain Damage other than it's awesome.
Overall, Brain Damage is a fantastic film that I strongly recommend watching.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/12/2021
Viewed: Hulu
First Viewing
Note: I thought I'd seen this movie when I was younger, but I have mistaken it for a different movie instead. I'm glad that I watched it because it was awesome. Theater of Blood is a solid horror film in my opinion. Vincent Price does an outstanding job as an actor who wants to murder the critics who dislike his stage performance. Theater of Blood feels like a slasher film despite not being a slasher film. I love Vincent Price's character's ability to kill people in a variety of methods in this film. The kills in Theater of Blood are both creative, brutal, and sometimes funny. The film also keeps you speculating on what will happen next when Vincent Price begins to kill his next victim.
You also have a fun cast of other characters that are noteworthy as well. The production values are superb, and the special effects for the death scenes are excellent in my opinion. When Vincent Price uses many disguises on film, I'm impressed by how good the makeup work is. The cinematography by Wolfgang Suschitzky (Get Carter) is solid because he succeeds to make the film look moody and stylish. My biggest problem with Theater of Blood is the story's inconsistencies. Some scenes don't always line up at times in my opinion. Aside from that, I really enjoyed it. I can't wait to own it on Blu-ray.
Overall, Theater of Blood is a great movie that I highly recommend.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
The Blob (1958)
Date: 10/13/2021
Viewed: HBO Max
Re-watch
Note: I decided to rewatch the original Blob for my 31 Days of Horror because it had been years since I had seen it. While I prefer the 1988 remake of The Blob, I think the original Blob film is still a good movie in my opinion. The plot is fun and straightforward, with a cool alien monster. The Blob has become a movie icon and has influenced numerous sci-fi horror characters (Venom's symbiote comes to mind). You have a fun cast of memorable characters and solid acting in my opinion. Steve McQueen makes his feature film debut and goes on to star in major films such as The Great Escape (1963).
The special effects are really cool for a film from 1958, and they still look decent by today's standers. You also have some beautiful colorful cinematography that is worth mentioning. The story is better than most people give it credit for because it does deal with serious themes that were important going on in the 1950s. The Blob is a metaphor for a weapon of mass destruction, as it is an organism that consumes anything it comes into contact with. The Blob's origin is unknown, therefore we're afraid of something we don't understand. There's also the theme of not ignoring what the younger generation is telling you. In the film, you have a bunch of adults that refuse to listen to the teenagers about the Blob. It reminds me of how it is today with the baby boomers refusing to take Covid-19 seriously from people that are younger than them.
The Blob isn't perfect because there are some plot holes to be found, and some characters are quite annoying to watch. The actors who are in their 20s playing teenagers does not stand out very well. I do like that it runs under 90 minutes because it does not move too quickly in my opinion. It's the perfect movie to watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Overall, The Blob is a fun classic movie that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys films from the 1950s.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/14/2021
Viewed: Blu-ray
First Viewing
Note: I purchased the Blu-ray of this movie during Severin Films' Black Friday sale last year, but I haven't had the opportunity to watch it until now. Until a year ago, I had never heard of this film. I'm glad that I watched it because I really enjoy it. Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America is a really cool movie in my opinion. The film's dark and disgusting tone appeals to me greatly. Family Portraits almost felt like Subconscious Cruelty (2000) meets Storytelling (2001) in my opinion. Similar to Storytelling, both films are anthologies that deal with the dysfunctional suburban families in the United States. However, Family Portraits is more violent and graphic than Storytelling was.
I loved the first two stories in Family Portraits because they are so dark and unsettling. They are extremely brutal when it comes to blood and gore. One scene in Cutting Moments (the first story) has a scene that feels like it was ripped straight from Splatter: Naked Blood (1996). I like how these three stories were shot because they have the vibe of a low-budget independent film. It contributes to the film's eerie appeal. Given that many people still consider suburban America as a peaceful place to live, Douglas Buck did an excellent job of depicting the inter-dark nature that exists in everyday suburban America.
The second story (Home) is my favorite story in Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America because I like the themes in the story. It deals with a man who is haunted by his childhood trauma from his father. The story is quite realistic, and you can see how someone might lose their mind when their emotional scars begin to take over them. It demonstrates how a person's past life can have a negative impact on their future family. The ending of the story made my jaw drop to the floor. The third and final story (Prologue) is my least favorite story in my opinion. It feels way too long, and I didn't care about the characters. The third story offers an interesting premise, but the entire twist felt very predictable to me. You can see it happening a mile away. However, I did like the chilly and snowy atmosphere because you can feel the cold weather while watching it.
Overall, Family Portraits: A Trilogy of America is a good movie and I consider it to be an underrated gem from the 2000s. If you have the chance, I recommend that you watch it.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Viy or Spirit of Evil (1967)
Date: 10/15/2021
Viewed: Shudder
First Viewing
Note: For years, I've wanted to watch Viy but have never had the opportunity. I'm glad I finally got around to watching it because I really enjoyed it. Viy is a fantastic movie in my opinion. I really like how the film looks and feels like you're watching a painting coming to life. The cinematography is beautiful to look at because the film uses a lot of dark colors, which makes it visually stunning. Viy is given a dreamlike quality through the cinematography by both Viktor Pishchalnikov and Fyodor Provorov. I absolutely love the visuals because they are incredibly impressive for a film that was released back in 1967. You have fantastic set designs and amazing makeup work for the demonic monsters as well. The set designs are perfect for the film's art direction as if they were pulled from a fairy tale novel.
I also love the atmosphere because it feels similar to that of an Andrei Tarkovsky film in my opinion. The characters are fascinating, and I found myself personally invested in them. Viy has a runtime of 77-minutes, and it does an excellent job with pacing. In my opinion, it wasn't overly short or rushed. Viy still won't be everyone's cup of tea because not everyone likes slow burn art house films.
Overall, Viy is a fantastic work of art that I highly recommend you watch.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Hitcher in the Dark (1989)
Date: 10/15/2021
Viewed: Blu-Ray
First Viewing
Note: Despite being a huge fan of Umberto Lenzi, I had never seen this film before. I remember hearing about it throughout the years, but I never got the chance to see it growing up. In case you were wondering, despite the title, this film is not related to The Hitcher (1986). I went into this film without knowing anything about the story, but it turned out to be quite different from what I had in mind. That's not to say I don't think Hitcher in the Dark is a bad film; in fact, I think it's pretty good in my opinion. I went into this movie thinking that it was about some sleazy driver going around picking up women on 42nd Street based on the poster. Instead, I got a movie about a young man obsessed with his mother who is looking for the perfect woman to be stuck with for the rest of his life.
I found Hitcher in the Dark to be really entertaining because I was engaged in the story. I was intrigued by seeing how the story will unfold with Daniela (played by Josie Bissett) trying to escape from her clutches. These kinds of movies usually give me the chills because I'm afraid of being kidnapped and stranded in the middle of nowhere with some crazed criminal. Umberto Lenzi did an excellent job at establishing a sense of isolation. You can feel the struggle for survival when Daniela is stuck inside an RV with Mark (played by Joe Balogh). Joe Balogh does a solid job of playing a crazy mad man who is obsessed with finding the perfect woman. Mark goes ape shit when he finds out that Daniela had sex with other men. Mark in this movie reminds me how incels/red pillers are in today's Internet culture.
I like how pretty the cinematography can be at times, and the music is really catchy to listen to. You have great location shots of Virginia Beach that made me wish that I watched it during the summer instead. Until the conclusion, I liked how dark and bleak the story was. The ending was disappointing in my opinion. To be honest, I wish Umberto Lenzi had made a film that was more horrific and unsettling. Hitcher in the Dark is not as violent and sleazy as the other films that he directed. Outside of Joe Balogh's performance, the acting isn't very good, and the dialogue is mostly lousy in my opinion. Despite its flaws, I'm glad I purchased the Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.
Overall, I don't think Hitcher in the Dark is as bad as some people make it out to be. I recommend watching it if you've got time to spare.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/17/2021
Viewed: Blu-Ray
Re-Watch
Note: This year marks the 20th anniversary of The Devil's Backbone, and I thought today was the perfect opportunity to revisit it. Even 20 years after its release, The Devil's Backbone is a fantastic film. It's easily one of my favorite horror films of the 2000s in my opinion. The story and atmosphere are my favorite aspects of this film. Everything about this film is extremely atmospheric. The dark, bright colors stand out and contribute to the gothic horror atmosphere. Guillermo Navarro's (Jackie Brown) cinematography is magnificent, and he truly understands how to bring Guillermo del Toro's artistic vision to life.
Everything about this film feels like an urban legend presented through the eyes of a child. Normally, I don't find ghosts to be scary or interesting, but the ghost in this film is quite creepy. When the ghost is on screen, I actually get chills down my spine. The Devil's Backbone is set during the final days of the Spanish War during the 1930s, and it serves as a reminder of the horrors of that war. You witness children who've been badly injured and innocent people who have now been blasted to bits on screen. The acting, particularly that of the child actors, is excellent in my opinion. All the characters are memorable and fascinating because you're invested in these characters and their problems. The Devil's Backbone is also excellent at dealing with themes of human selfishness. It demonstrates how far people will go to acquire gold.
Overall, The Devil's Backbone is an excellent film that I strongly recommend watching.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
The Last House on the Left (1972)
Date: 10/18/2021
Viewed: Blu-Ray (Arrow Video)
Re-Watch
Note: For a while, I'd wanted to rewatch the original Last House on the Left, and I decided that this month would be the perfect time to do so as part of my 31 Days of Horror. I wasn't a big fan of The Last House on the Left when I first saw it as a teenager. The more I watch this film, the more I enjoy it. The Last House on the Left is my second favorite Wes Craven movie next to the original Nightmare on Elm Street. The story's raw and gritty nature appeals to me. The film is bleak and depressing, with no signs of optimism. You can witness humanity's darkest and sickest aspect. This film shows that some people can be simply cruel for no apparent reason.
I always enjoy how The Last House on the Left begins as nice and innocent before transforming into a dark and nasty movie. The Last House on the Left feels unique because of its low budget and gritty cinematography in my opinion. The graphic violence has a realistic feel to it, which fits the film nicely. The graphic violence in this film serves a purpose, and it isn't just for the sake of shock value. According to what I've read, Wes Craven uses graphic violence to depict the deaths that followed the Vietnam War. When the two main protagonists are out shopping, the guerrilla-style video scenes are entertaining to watch since they feel like a glorious time capsule of the 1970s. The music is also iconic and catchy to listen too in my opinion.
The Last House on the Left is not a perfect movie because it does have flaws. Some dialogue and acting are not that great except for the performance from David A. Hess (The Swiss Conspiracy). The scenes with the cops are pointless and could have been easily removed from the film in my opinion. I get what Wes Craven was trying to do by satirizing the police force by showing how incompetent they are when solving crimes. It just doesn't work very well at all. Also, I would not recommend watching The Last House on the Left if you are sensitive to graphic violence.
Overall, The Last House on the Left is a classic grindhouse movie that you should watch if you like exploitation films.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/19/2021
Viewed: Shudder
Re-Watch
Note: Tonight I felt like watching a Mario Bava film, and this seemed like the ideal pick. Kill, Baby, Kill is still a terrific film that holds up quite well in my opinion. I love the way the film looks and feels, thanks to Antonio Rinaldi's (Planet of Vampires) vibrant cinematography and the gorgeous set designs. The vibrant colors truly stand out, and I love how well they blend in with the tone and atmosphere of the film. With the spider cobwebs, cloudy weather, and scary-looking castles, the set designs make everything feel gothic. Without a doubt, Guillermo del Toro was influenced by Kill, Baby, Kill when directing some of his films, such as Crimson Peak (2015)
It's incredible that they were able to create such beautiful sets on such a tight budget. Mario Bava went above and beyond to bring his artistic vision to life. The story is extremely entertaining, and there are no dull moments in my opinion. All the characters are fascinating, and I was interested to learn more about the lore in this film. Kill, Baby, Kill is certainly considered cheesy and dated by most people today, but I disagree. Several aspects of the movie, such as the small ghost girl, is pretty creepy in my opinion. My least favorite thing about Kill, Baby, Kill is the acting. The performances are a mixed bag (Giuseppe Addobbati (La Dolce Vita) probably has the best role in the film), but that's about it. I don't know what else to say about this movie except that it's awesome.
Overall, Kill, Baby, Kill is a fantastic film that I strongly recommend watching.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/20/2021
Viewed: Blu-Ray (Scream Factory)
Re-Watch
Note: Seeing that I watched the original Blob movie earlier this month, I decided to rewatch the 1988 remake. The remake of The Blob is still a great movie in my opinion. The film does an excellent job of sticking true to the original Blob while still adding its own touch. The Blob in this version is darker and more violent than the original. You have plenty of graphic violence, similar to the 1980s remake of The Fly and The Thing, that would not have been approved in the 1950s. In my opinion, Chuck Russell (the director) did an excellent job of making The Blob scarier than the original Blob.
People's limbs are torn off, and their skin is disintegrated in this film as The Blob devours its victims. It's satisfying to watch The Blob devour people on screen thanks to the amazing practical effects. They did an excellent job of making the death scenes look gruesome. The special effects, in my opinion, are very impressive by today's standards. None of the special effects look outdated or cheesy. Kevin Dillon (Platoon), Shawnee Smith (The Saw series), Joe Seneca (Malcolm X), Jack Nance (Eraserhead), and Jeffrey DeMunn (The Shawshank Redemption) all give entertaining performances in my opinion. The Blob remake also has an interesting message on anti-authoritarianism that is worth mentioning. It's a shame that the sequel was never made.
Overall, The Blob remake is a great movie that I strongly recommend.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Carnosaur (1993)
Date: 10/21/2021
Viewed: Youtube
Re-Watch
Note: Carnosaur holds a special place in my heart because it was the first R-rated film I remember renting when I was around 4 years old. Like most kids in the 1990s, I was obsessed with dinosaurs and would watch anything with one on the cover. I was fortunate to have parents who were not overly concerned about me watching R-rated material when I was a kid, and I remember renting the last VHS copy from a local video store in Baltimore, MD. The next day, the video store owner was nice enough to give me a poster of the film after I told him how much I liked it. Even though Carnosaur isn't a great film, I still enjoy it for what it is.
Despite the fact that Roger Corman is only the film's producer, his influence can still be seen. Carnosaurs' low-budget charm certainly adds a trashy vibe to the film. Thanks to John Carl Buechler's (Re-Animator) cool special effects, there are a lot of violent and nasty moments that are a lot of fun to watch. Despite the limited budget, they did an excellent job of making the gruesome death sequences memorable in my opinion. The acting and dialogue are pretty bad, but it adds to the trashy appeal of the film. I can't help but love the film's villain (played by Diane Ladd) because she is so ridiculous. It's not every day that you have a movie villain who wants dinosaurs to dominate humanity and force women to give birth to dinosaur eggs.
My least favorite thing about Carnosaur is the ending. In my opinion, the film's conclusion seems rushed. Because there is currently no HD version of this film, several moments are difficult to watch. Some of the awesome gory scenes aren't visible because they're too dark to see.
Overall, Carnosaur is a fun trashy movie that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys B movies.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/22/2021
Viewed: Amazon Prime (Rental)
First Viewing
Note: I've heard nothing but good things about The Night House, and I was disappointed to miss out on seeing it in theaters. A few months later, you can now rent it digitally or physically at your local Red Box. I ended up renting it on Amazon Prime in 4K UHD digital format, and it was well worth the wait. The Night House is an excellent film, and it is currently my favorite horror film of the year. Everything about this film, in my opinion, was truly breathtaking.
I do like how The Night House takes the haunted house genre and does something unique with it. The Night House has a gloomy atmosphere and is able to use ghosts in a more creative fashion. The director, David Bruckner, did an outstanding job of creating abstract imagery. He was able to create ghosts that looked different from what you'd see in most ghost movies. The film is spellbinding because of the gritty cinematography and usage of dark red colors. I was glued to my seat and didn't want to get up since I was so deeply invested in the narrative and the atmosphere of the film.
I really like how The Night House is also a character-driven story about a widow (played by Rebecca Hall) who is attempting to figure out why her husband committed suicide. You can see how the main character is struggling to recover from her trauma while also starting to doubt her own sanity. The plot does an excellent job of maintaining your interest and having you wonder what will happen next. There are several jaw-dropping moments that must be seen to be believed. Rebecca Hall (Godzilla vs. Kong) delivers a fantastic performance, and Vondie Curtis-Hall (Coming to America) has an entertaining role as well. I also recommend watching The Night House without knowing anything about the plot because it's one of those movies where the less you know, the better.
Overall, The Night House is a terrific movie that I strongly recommend you to watch.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/23/2021
Viewed: Youtube
Re-Watch
Note: I was in the mood to rewatch The Boxer's Omen, which I hadn't seen in years. Thankfully, the film was just as awesome as I remembered. The Boxer's Omen is still one of my favorite horror films from Hong Kong. This is a difficult review to write because the film is truly surreal to watch. It's one of those movies where you'll have to see it to believe it. The Boxer's Omen almost feels like if Alejandro Jodorowsky directed a Hong Kong movie in my opinion. The Boxer's Omen is a wild ride packed with surreal and crazy moments that will leave you speechless. When you watch this film, you'll probably think to yourself, "What the hell was that?".
The surreal and bizarre moments in The Boxer's Omen give the film a one-of-a-kind feel. Crazy ass movies like this one are hard to come by these days. You have fantastic practical effects that are a pleasure to watch. I love the special effects in this movie, especially the animals that look super fake. Every scene in this film is filled with dark and beautiful colors that make it feel breathtaking. I'm glued to my seat and don't want to blink while watching The Boxer's Omen because I'm fascinated by what is going on screen. There are plenty of well-choreographed martial art action sequences that are worth sitting through. The Boxer's Omen can be a little slow at times, which is my only criticism. That pretty much sums up the rest of the film.
I don't know what else to say because it's nearly impossible to discuss this film without seeing it for yourself. When you have the opportunity, I strongly recommend you to watch The Boxer's Omen.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/24/2021
Viewed: Itunes
First Viewing
Note: After seeing Mid 90s (2018) over a year ago, people recommended this film to me because they said it had a similar vibe. I finally got around to watching Boys in the Trees after renting it on iTunes. In my opinion, Boys in the Trees is not a bad movie. I love the atmosphere in this movie because it does a great job of capturing the feeling of fall time. When watching this film, you can see scattered autumn leaves on the ground, similar to what you'd see on windy autumn afternoons.
Boys in the Trees did a fantastic job of capturing the spirit of the 1990s. People who act as if the 1990s were only about Pokémon, Britney Spears, Power Rangers, Rugrats, and other children's stuff irritate me because the 1990s were so much more than that. Boys in the Trees actually feels like it was made by someone who grew up in the 1990s. With its outdated technology and a soundtrack featuring Gary Numan, Rammstein, Marilyn Manson, Soundgarden, The Offspring, etc., the film succeeds in being a time capsule of the year 1997.
The performances are pretty good, and the actors did an excellent job portraying believable characters. The main character had to deal with growing up, fear, and memories, which made for an interesting story. They did a good job of tackling these themes without being overly dramatic, in my opinion. My biggest issue with this film is the pacing because the film feels overly long. Boys in the Trees is almost 2 hours long and the story would have worked better at 80 minutes or 90 minutes. I also found the dialogue to be extremely cringe-worthy at times. I'm aware that the film is set in the 1990s, but there's only so much I can take before it becomes irritating.
Overall, Boys in the Trees is a fun film to watch, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/25/2021
Viewed: Amazon Prime
Re-Watch
Note: For my 31 Days of Horror, I wanted to watch a Hammer film, but there are so many to choose from. I decided to watch The Hound of the Baskervilles because I hadn't seen it in a long time. In my opinion, the 1959 adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles is still a solid film. It's one of my all-time favorite Sherlock Holmes films. Terence Fisher is the ideal director for this film because he understands gothic horror. Terence Fisher is able to create incredible production values in his films by employing set designs that give the film an atmospheric feel. I like how the film has a spooky tone going for it with the presence of an evil hellhound on the loose murdering its victims.
James Bernard's (Horror of Dracula) score is superb, and it perfectly captures the film's atmosphere. Peter Cushing's portrayal of Sherlock Holmes is fantastic, and it's my favorite portrayal of Holmes along with Basil Rathbone's Sherlock Holmes role from 1939-1946. I always imagine Sherlock Holmes looking and sounding like Peter Cushing when I read stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Christopher Lee and the other actors did a terrific job portraying their characters. There is never a dull moment in the story, which keeps you guessing about what will happen next. It isn't a perfect adaption of The Hound of the Baskervilles, and hardcore fans will nitpick it to death. Regardless, I think Hammer did an excellent job in producing a solid film.
Overall, the 1959 adaptation of Hound of the Baskervilles is a great movie that I highly recommend.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Evil Dead II (1987)
Date: 10/26/2021
Viewed: 4K UHD
Re-Watch
Note: I recently rewatched the first Evil Dead film and decided to do the same with the sequel. In my opinion, Evil Dead 2 is everything you could want in a sequel. I can see why people prefer the first Evil Dead film to the second film because it is more serious and frightening. Evil Dead 2 is my favorite in the series because it contributed to the growth of the franchise into what it is now. When people think of Evil Dead, they think of Evil Dead 2. A film can be more popular than its predecessor, as Mad Max 2 (1981) demonstrated. In addition, I prefer Evil Dead 2 to the first film because it has more content. The special effects in Evil Dead 2 are better, you have more blood and gore, and there is more action in my opinion. The stop motion special effects are one of my favorite things in Evil Dead 2 because they have such a unique charm.
Evil Dead 2 is a direct sequel to the first film, not a remake, despite popular belief. You don't need to see the first Evil Dead film to figure out what's going on, but I don't like it when people skip movies. Regardless, I still recommend that you watch the first Evil Dead film first. I like how Evil Dead 2 is more humorous and outrageous compared to the serious tone that the first film had. Some scenes are so over the top that they make me feel like I'm watching a gory Saturday morning cartoon. The film looks incredible in 4K UHD, and you get to see it in all of its groovy glory. I don't have anything else to say because this film has already been seen by a lot of people.
Overall, Evil Dead 2 is a fantastic horror sequel that I highly recommend.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Forced Entry (1973)
Date: 10/27/2021
Viewed: DVD
Re-Watch
Note: I bought the out of print DVD of Forced Entry a while back, and I haven't had the chance to watch it. I'm not a big fan of adult films unless they have something unique to offer (As seen with Urotsukidōji: Legend of the Overfiend). Forced Entry is an exceptional case, in my opinion, because it stands out more than most adult films. If you ignore the fact that it's a pornographic film and watch it on its own, it's a pretty good movie in my opinion. Forced Entry is a fascinating film about a post-war veteran who suffers from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and goes on to become a serial killer. The film feels like Maniac (1980) meets Combat Shock (1984) despite the fact that Forced Entry predates those two films.
With its grainy 16mm picture quality and Guerrilla filmmaking, Forced Entry has a grungy feel to it that I really love. When you watch this movie, you can feel the filth and sleaziness of 42nd Street in New York City in the 1970s. The footage of 42nd Street in this film feels as if you're watching a time capsule of New York City during the Grindhouse era. People criticize low-budget films, but I believe that the authenticity of the low-budget helps give Forced Entry a unique charm. Grindhouse movies from the 1970s and early 1980s have a genuine feel to them, which makes them exciting to watch. Many people attempt to recreate the look and feel of that era of film making, but few succeed in my opinion.
I like the story (I'm using that term loosely) because it shows how a post-war veteran (played by Harry Reems) who suffers from PTSD becomes a cold-blooded killer. His mental health has been affected by the war, and New York City has become a transition from the wild, vast jungles of Vietnam to the urban jungle of New York City. The main character feel like a ferocious animal hunting down its prey in the jungle, and the victims he murders represent the prey that a ferocious animal would kill in the wild. Forced Entry is almost like a character study film in which you put your shoes in the shoes of a serial killer and see how they think as they hunt for their next victim. The film has a nightmare fuel feel to it due to the lack of a music score and the use of stock footage from Vietnam. When you see everything through the eyes of the main character, it adds to the creepiness of the film.
I'm sure I'm giving this movie too much credit, but that's what makes movie reviews so interesting. It's always fun to look deeper into things that aren't on the surface. If people can claim that My Little Pony or Pokémon can be mature and thought-provoking, then I believe that a grindhouse porno can have more to offer than the average porno. Although the violence in this film may be considered tame by today's standards, I find it dark and disturbing. It's not a total bloodbath, but the violence is handled more realistically in my opinion.
Unfortunately, the film falls short in the narrative department because, at the end of the day, it's still a pornographic film. The majority of the movie is just mindless sex, and no one watches porn for the plot. The acting and dialogue are also dreadful. Harry Reems is probably the best actor in the movie in my opinion. The ending is completely random, with no explanation as to why the main character despises hippies. Forced Entry could have been a grindhouse masterpiece if it had been a straight-up horror film rather it being a porno. During the Golden Age of Porn (1969-1984), it left a cultural legacy and influenced other horror films like Maniac (1980).
This is clearly not a film for everyone, and I don't expect everyone to enjoy it. I recommend watching it if you enjoy grindhouse films and don't mind watching pornographic scenes.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/28/2021
Viewed: 4K UHD
Re-Watch
Note: I recently purchased the 4K UHD release of Santa Sangre from Severin Films and have waited for the right opportunity to watch it. I remember watching Santa Sangre for the first time when I was 18, and I remember really enjoying it. I love this movie even more now that I've seen it again. Although I prefer Alejandro Jodorowsky's other films such as El Topo (1970) and The Holy Mountain (1973), I still think Santa Sangre is a fantastic film.
I adore how enthralling the film is, with the surreal story and the vibrant colors. I thought the story about a man struggling with childhood trauma after witnessing disturbing stuff at the circus as a child was fascinating. You can see how disturbing and messed up the protagonist has become over time. I recommend avoiding spoilers because there are a lot of neat surprises in the story. The dark atmosphere is perfect for capturing Alejandro Jodorowsky's surreal art direction.
Santa Sangre has a dark and twisted story that is both beautiful and poetic. I do like how the film has a strange fairy tale feel to it. The film does an excellent job of dealing with themes such as innocence, toxic masculinity, and personal identity. I like how you can observe how people's lives have changed over time as a result of personal trauma in the film's story. Despite being over two hours long, Santa Sangre moves at a nice pace. When I rewatched it, I was surprised at how quickly it ended because it felt like a 90-minute movie and not a 123-minute movie. The vibrant colors in Santa Sangre really pop out when watched in 4K UHD. I'm glad I was able to upgrade from 1080p to 4K UHD in the last two years because it was well worth the investment. When you watch a movie in 4K UHD, it feels like you're watching a brand-new film for the first time.
I don't know what else to say about Santa Sangre except that it's fantastic. This is not a film for the faint of heart, as it contains some graphic content. If you enjoy surreal horror films, I still recommend checking it out.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
The Wolf House (2018)
Date: 10/29/2021
Viewed: Shudder
First Viewing
Note: After hearing positive reviews, I've wanted to see this film for quite some time. I wasn't in the mood to watch a long movie, so The Wolf House seemed like a good choice, especially since it's only 73 minutes long. Not to mention, it's now on Shudder as well (As of 10/29/2021). I'm glad I saw it because The Wolf House is an amazing movie. The Wolf House is a truly unique film in my opinion. Because of how unique it is, you'll probably only see this type of animated film once every decade.
I like how the film uses a variety of animation styles to tell a compelling story. I was blown away by how fantastic the animation was, and the amount of work that went into this film was incredible. The stop motion animation and eerie atmosphere remind me of Jan vankmajer's films. It won't surprise me if Cristobal León and Joaquín Cociña (the directors behind this film) were inspired by his work. The story and characters are fascinating, and I appreciate how they put their own unique spin on various fairy tales. Unfortunately, The Wolf House has not been released on Blu-ray in the United States yet (As of 10/29/2021). Perhaps Criterion will pick up this masterpiece one day.
Overall, The Wolf House is an incredible movie that I strongly recommend.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
I Saw the Devil (2010)
Date: 10/30/2021
Viewed: Blu-Ray
Re-Watch
Note: I remember seeing I Saw the Devil about a year after it was released in South Korea and absolutely adoring it. I Saw the Devil is still a fantastic film over a decade later. Many scenes in this film still leave me speechless. It's a nonstop thrill ride with plenty of suspense, action, blood, and drama to keep you entertained. In my opinion, there isn't a single dull moment in the entire film. With a series of captures and releases, the film feels like one big game of cat and mouse. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat and provides an adrenaline rush during the thrilling moments.
The gory scenes are sick and nasty, and they will probably make you feel sick to your stomach. I like how the violence serves a purpose to the narrative and not being merely shocking for pointless shock vaule. The actors did an excellent job with their performances, which added to the rawness of the story. You can sense the emotional pain they are experiencing. The atmosphere is fantastic, and I especially like how the film begins with snow because it sets the tone for the rest of the film, which is dark and cold. I Saw the Devil's only flaw is that it's a little too long for me. The movie's final act drags a little, but the payoff is well worth the wait.
Overall, I Saw the Devil is an excellent film that I strongly recommend.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/31/2021
Viewed: 4K UHD
Re-Watch
Note: Happy Halloween everyone (Halloween is probably over by the time when I post this review). I chose to end October by watching my favorite Italian film in 4K UHD. I know a lot of people have already seen this film, so I'll try to keep my thoughts to a minimum. Suspiria is a masterpiece of Italian horror. Suspiria is the perfect blend of exploitation and art-house cinema. It's not as high brow as a Federico Fellini film, but it's classier than most Italian horror films (I'm not saying that as a bad thing). The abstract horror artistic design is my favorite thing about Suspiria. It's dark, beautiful, surreal, and vibrantly colored.
This film puts you in a trance because it transports you to a surreal world of dark magic. The bright neon colors draw you in and make you not want to blink because your eyes are drawn to the vibrant lighting. Every bright moment in this film is pure eye candy, which I consider to be a good thing. Both the art direction and the story of the film rely heavily on the bright neon colors. Suspiria wouldn't be the same without it in my opinion. Goblin's soundtrack for Suspiria is easily one of my all-time favorite movie soundtracks. The music is eerie, haunting, and memorable. I could listen to the soundtrack on repeat for 24 hours and never get tired of it. Everyone thinks John Williams and Hans Zimmer are the best music composers ever, but Claudio Simonetti is my personal favorite music composer.
Synapse Films' 4K UHD release of Suspiria is absolutely stunning. The standard Blu-ray release was fantastic, but the 4K UHD version is even better. It feels like a brand-new film when you watch it in 4K UHD. Next to my 4K UHD release of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), this is probably my second favorite 4K UHD release. Suspiria has a good, straightforward story. People say the film is too simplistic, but I'm not sure why that's a problem? You have people who are willing to overlook simplistic writing in corporate Hollywood films like the MCU, Star Wars, and Fast & Furious, but not in a horror film like Suspiria. Stuff like that always confuses me. The acting is good, and Jessica Harper (Safe) gives an excellent performance in my opinion. The only thing of Suspiria that I didn't enjoy was the rushed conclusion.
Overall, Suspiria is a masterpiece in my opinion, and I strongly recommend you to see it.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
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Bouns Reviews
Date: 10/14/2018
Viewed: In theaters
First Viewing
Note: Spoiler Review.
It took some time to write this review since I needed time to think about the movie thoroughly. I was glad to see it on the big screen because watching it in a crowded theater was a blast. Many people were cheering and screaming in excitement. I enjoy Halloween Kills for what it is. It's a fun and trashy popcorn flick in my opinion. I don't think it's a particularly good movie because the script has numerous flaws. Laurie Strode barely does anything in the film, and some characters are complete morons.
The mob squad pretty much decided to go after someone that they think is Michael Myers but didn't think beforehand. When the mob squad beats up Michael Myers in the final act of the film, no one bothers to shoot him in the head. They could have simply killed him by blowing his head off with a shotgun or cutting his head off with an ax. They know Michael Myers is capable of withstanding multiple gunshots to the chest. It seems really stupid that they didn't think this whole thing out. The gay couple only exists just to be killed off when they could have easily run away instead of acting like sitting ducks. It's a shame that they killed off Karen because I felt like that there was no reason to kill off her character. None of the humor is funny and it feels out of place in my opinion.
The acting isn't good, but it's not as bad as some critics claim in my opinion. I do agree that the dialogue could have been better and the CGI does stand out like a sore thumb. Despite the flaws of Halloween Kills, I had a good time watching it. I really enjoyed how brutal and gory the film's killings were. They did a good job of making Michael Myers seem terrifying by portraying him as a never-ending killer. Halloween (2018) was trying too hard to play things safe, whereas Halloween Kills chose to go absolutely insane. I'm glad they didn't rehash the older films and weren't afraid to make a dumb film.
Overall, if you want to turn off your brain for 100 minutes, Halloween Kills is a good choice to do so. I recommend giving this movie a chance with an open mind.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Date: 10/20/2018
Viewed: In theaters
First Viewing
Note: Spoiler Review.
Before it leaves my local movie theater this weekend, I finally got the chance to see this film in theaters. Apart from the fact that it received positive reviews from movie critics, I know nothing about this film. I have a hard time writing my thoughts for Lamb because I have no idea what to say. I liked it, but I wasn't as blown away by it as the majority of people were. Despite the fact that it is labeled as a horror movie, it does not feel like one. I didn't find the movie terrifying or spooky in the slightest. This isn't a horror film, so don't expect it to be one. In my point of view, it's a drama thriller. My favorite thing about Lamb was the atmosphere and cinematography. I really like how the film portrays Iceland's chilly and dry weather. By watching this film, you can get a sense of how chilly everything is.
There are a lot of breathtaking location shots of Iceland that are wonderful to look at. You can pause almost any scene in this film and hang a picture of it. I like the eerie tone because it has a weird vibe to it. Lamb almost feels like if Ingmar Bergman directed Eraserhead (1977) in my opinion. The exciting story leaves you guessing about what may happen next. The characters are likable, and I was fascinated by their way of life. Most people complained about the pacing, but I didn't. The film moved at a good pace for me, and it didn't feel slow at all in my opinion.
My biggest problem with this film is that I wish something were explained more. I'm surprised that the two married couple are okay with a lamb humanoid creature living with them. They didn't bother to ask what is going on. The film builds up to some goat monster, and the pay-off was worth it. Too bad, you don't know where the hell it came from.
Overall, Lamb is an entertaining and unique film. It's nice to see a weird foreign film get a major theatrical run in the United States. I recommend checking it out if you enjoy artsy movies.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Carnivore (2000)
Date: 10/29/2018
Viewed: Youtube
First Viewing
Note: When I was a kid, I remember wanting to see this movie because the VHS cover art is so cool. Despite the fact that Carnivore was released in 2000, the film was shot in 1989 and took over a decade to be released, according to what I've read. To my surprise, this film wasn't nearly as bad as I had originally expected. Carnivore is an entertaining bad film to watch. The film's low budget and poor acting adds to its entertainment value. I couldn't stop laughing at how bad the dialogue was and how ridiculous the story was. I also couldn't help but have a huge smile on my face because the characters are so idiotic. I love the monster's costume in this film because it looks so cheap and fake.
Carnivor has an amateur film-making vibe to it as if it were made by a film student in college. Some scenes could have been shot after hours on someone's college campus, which wouldn't surprise me lol. If not for the slow pacing and poor lighting, I would have given this film a higher rating. Perhaps the YouTube transfer was poor, but some scenes were too dark. Because they were so dark, I couldn't see some of the cool gory kills. I'm glad I saw this movie, and I can see why Mike from Red Letter Media likes it for Best of the Worst.
Overall, Carnivore is a hilariously bad film that you should watch with your friends on a Friday night while drinking some beer.
AVPGuyver21's rating:
Each day of October, I watch a horror movie and posted my thoughts on it. 31 horror movies, 1 for each day of October.
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Listal 2021: Viewing/Reading/Listening Logs
(44 lists)list by lalaman
Published 2 years, 11 months ago