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October 2012 Horrorfest
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The breakdown: 29 films watched - 18 on DVD, 10 via Netflix instant, and 1 (non-horror movie) in the theatre; of those 22 were first views, 7 re-watches, one of which was a made-for-TV movie, and they came from every decade (!) from the 1930s to the 2010s.
All in all another successful Horrorfest. Didn't realize until the month ended that I watched films from all those decades, and had I been more conscious of that I might have thrown in a 1920s horror movie for good measure. My productivity fell off in the latter half of the month, so it was a good thing I had a big start. I wound up with a handful of films left unwatched at the end of the month, some of which I'll work in next month just because I really had wanted to watch them. I'm mildly disappointed that my intentions fell through on watching Creepshow with its sequel and Psycho with its sequel, as I'd planned to make them double features on nights off from work. Due to time & other circumstances, however, that just didn't work out.
As you'll notice (if you haven't already), the bulk of films came from my Listal friends. They loaned me some films that were well worth the time spent watching them, and a couple I wasn't so crazy about. But they made for a very interesting month & best of all provided me the opportunity to finally see some films I've been itching to see for some time now. Thanks dudes!
Best film for October I hadn't seen before: Rosemary's Baby
Best hidden gem: Dream Home
Worst film: After.Life
All in all another successful Horrorfest. Didn't realize until the month ended that I watched films from all those decades, and had I been more conscious of that I might have thrown in a 1920s horror movie for good measure. My productivity fell off in the latter half of the month, so it was a good thing I had a big start. I wound up with a handful of films left unwatched at the end of the month, some of which I'll work in next month just because I really had wanted to watch them. I'm mildly disappointed that my intentions fell through on watching Creepshow with its sequel and Psycho with its sequel, as I'd planned to make them double features on nights off from work. Due to time & other circumstances, however, that just didn't work out.
As you'll notice (if you haven't already), the bulk of films came from my Listal friends. They loaned me some films that were well worth the time spent watching them, and a couple I wasn't so crazy about. But they made for a very interesting month & best of all provided me the opportunity to finally see some films I've been itching to see for some time now. Thanks dudes!
Best film for October I hadn't seen before: Rosemary's Baby
Best hidden gem: Dream Home
Worst film: After.Life
3876
7.6
7.9
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Re-watch - Oct. 2nd - DVD from my collection
Still not a flaw to be found here. I wanted to kick off October with this one partly because it perfectly sets the mood for the month & partly because I intend to go as Shaun for Halloween & want to make sure I get it right. I love everything about this film, especially the zombie/horror movie references throughout & the more I watch it the more I appreciate the attention to detail all around. If for any reason you haven't watched this film, go watch it ASAP.
Still not a flaw to be found here. I wanted to kick off October with this one partly because it perfectly sets the mood for the month & partly because I intend to go as Shaun for Halloween & want to make sure I get it right. I love everything about this film, especially the zombie/horror movie references throughout & the more I watch it the more I appreciate the attention to detail all around. If for any reason you haven't watched this film, go watch it ASAP.
the giraffe's rating:
671
6.8
6.6
Attack the Block (2011)
First viewing - Oct. 2nd/3rd - DVD from Xanadon't's collection
Went into this one knowing nothing about it other than that a few people around here sang its praises after seeing it last year. So imagine my pleasant surprise upon finding I'd (unintentionally) perfectly paired it with Shaun of the Dead, what with it being a UK horror film with a supporting role by Nick Frost. That's not to say it's as good as Shaun of the Dead, but the films do complement each other well.
I dug that the main characters have both shades of good & bad, the creatures are awesome, the action sequences are handled well, and the performances are solid across the board. I was solidly entertained throughout the film, but I can't say I was ever fully blown away by it. The dialogue gets repetitive after a while due to the slang used & the main characters could've been better fleshed out I thought. The actors do a great job with what they've got (especially since for a lot of them this is their first film), so it's a shame they weren't given a little more to work with. Fortunately the film is highly entertaining so that one can let such things slide a little.
Went into this one knowing nothing about it other than that a few people around here sang its praises after seeing it last year. So imagine my pleasant surprise upon finding I'd (unintentionally) perfectly paired it with Shaun of the Dead, what with it being a UK horror film with a supporting role by Nick Frost. That's not to say it's as good as Shaun of the Dead, but the films do complement each other well.
I dug that the main characters have both shades of good & bad, the creatures are awesome, the action sequences are handled well, and the performances are solid across the board. I was solidly entertained throughout the film, but I can't say I was ever fully blown away by it. The dialogue gets repetitive after a while due to the slang used & the main characters could've been better fleshed out I thought. The actors do a great job with what they've got (especially since for a lot of them this is their first film), so it's a shame they weren't given a little more to work with. Fortunately the film is highly entertaining so that one can let such things slide a little.
the giraffe's rating:
786
6.7
6.8
The Fog (1980)
First viewing - Oct. 3rd
As the opening credits rolled by I found myself wondering aloud why the hell I hadn't already seen this. Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hal Holbrook, & Janet Leigh in a movie together directed by John Carpenter...awesomeness is pretty much guaranteed. And it delivered, despite my fleeting moment of worry as the film wound to its end. Everything here fires on all cylinders, and any shortcomings I perceived were fairly minor. I'm so glad I finally watched this & I'll be sure to revisit it again & again in the future.
Currently streaming on Netflix
As the opening credits rolled by I found myself wondering aloud why the hell I hadn't already seen this. Adrienne Barbeau, Tom Atkins, Jamie Lee Curtis, Hal Holbrook, & Janet Leigh in a movie together directed by John Carpenter...awesomeness is pretty much guaranteed. And it delivered, despite my fleeting moment of worry as the film wound to its end. Everything here fires on all cylinders, and any shortcomings I perceived were fairly minor. I'm so glad I finally watched this & I'll be sure to revisit it again & again in the future.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
289
6.7
6.4
Silver Bullet (1985)
Re-watch - Oct. 4th - DVD from my collection
Hadn't seen this one since I was a teenager, so I was long overdue to revisit it. It's solidly entertaining if a bit uneven at times in tone & execution. The werewolf effects are rather pitiful at times (especially if you've seen An American Werewolf in London and The Howling) & the film follows a fairly predictable course. But King's story is a pretty good one, most of the deaths & violence made me laugh (a good thing in this case), and I still enjoy it for the most part.
Hadn't seen this one since I was a teenager, so I was long overdue to revisit it. It's solidly entertaining if a bit uneven at times in tone & execution. The werewolf effects are rather pitiful at times (especially if you've seen An American Werewolf in London and The Howling) & the film follows a fairly predictable course. But King's story is a pretty good one, most of the deaths & violence made me laugh (a good thing in this case), and I still enjoy it for the most part.
the giraffe's rating:
734
7
7
First viewing - Oct. 5th
Prior to joining Listal this one wasn't on my radar, but after seeing mostly positive feedback on it I added it to my queue where it sat & waited for me to get around to it. Well on this night I decided it was time to finally give it a look & I can definitely see why it gets so much respect. By no means is this an easy film to watch as it almost plays like a documentary at times, and lots of messed up stuff turns up throughout the film for a very real-life horror experience. The performances are excellent & the technical aspects are solid, so really the main thing holding me back from giving this any higher of a rating is personal taste. This is one of those rare films that I enjoyed well enough, but would reluctantly recommend & almost certainly not watch a second time.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Prior to joining Listal this one wasn't on my radar, but after seeing mostly positive feedback on it I added it to my queue where it sat & waited for me to get around to it. Well on this night I decided it was time to finally give it a look & I can definitely see why it gets so much respect. By no means is this an easy film to watch as it almost plays like a documentary at times, and lots of messed up stuff turns up throughout the film for a very real-life horror experience. The performances are excellent & the technical aspects are solid, so really the main thing holding me back from giving this any higher of a rating is personal taste. This is one of those rare films that I enjoyed well enough, but would reluctantly recommend & almost certainly not watch a second time.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
614
7.4
7.4
First viewing - Oct. 5th/6th - DVD from phillydude's collection
Going into this one I was unsure as to whether I'd seen it before...now I'm pretty sure that it's the 1956 version I saw, though at this point it's been so long that whenever I get around to watching it to find out it'll feel like a first viewing. Aside from the basic plot idea I can't recall much about it, and so I won't be comparing this film to that one.
I thought for the most part this was excellent. The cast does a great job & the technical aspects have mostly held up well. The story is well told, and the ending is brilliantly handled. My only complaints were that the film runs a little longer than seemed necessary & the unwavering naivete of the main characters eventually grew tiresome. But I was well entertained & am glad I finally sat down with the film.
Going into this one I was unsure as to whether I'd seen it before...now I'm pretty sure that it's the 1956 version I saw, though at this point it's been so long that whenever I get around to watching it to find out it'll feel like a first viewing. Aside from the basic plot idea I can't recall much about it, and so I won't be comparing this film to that one.
I thought for the most part this was excellent. The cast does a great job & the technical aspects have mostly held up well. The story is well told, and the ending is brilliantly handled. My only complaints were that the film runs a little longer than seemed necessary & the unwavering naivete of the main characters eventually grew tiresome. But I was well entertained & am glad I finally sat down with the film.
the giraffe's rating:
36
4
3.7
Maniac (1934)
First viewing - Oct. 6th - DVD from my collection
At 51 minutes this was a safe bet to have time to watch it while my daughter took a nap. Been wanting to watch this since seeing a trailer for it at Drafthouse a while back because it looked rather insane. And indeed it is. Unfortunately it's also got problems.
The story is entertaining thanks largely to a couple of over-the-top performances, inspiration from a couple of Edgar Allan Poe's tales, & a mostly unpredictable plot. There were plenty of surprises along the way, including female nudity (this is currently the oldest film I've seen with any nudity in it). Unfortunately the action is regularly stopped for informative text frames about various mental conditions, which are interesting enough but in my opinion took away from the overall experience. Also there are a couple of actors who are clearly reading their lines from off-screen cards & not bothering to hide it, though that's as much amusing as it is troublesome.
So the bottom line here is that I had a lot of fun with it for what it was, but it could definitely be better.
At 51 minutes this was a safe bet to have time to watch it while my daughter took a nap. Been wanting to watch this since seeing a trailer for it at Drafthouse a while back because it looked rather insane. And indeed it is. Unfortunately it's also got problems.
The story is entertaining thanks largely to a couple of over-the-top performances, inspiration from a couple of Edgar Allan Poe's tales, & a mostly unpredictable plot. There were plenty of surprises along the way, including female nudity (this is currently the oldest film I've seen with any nudity in it). Unfortunately the action is regularly stopped for informative text frames about various mental conditions, which are interesting enough but in my opinion took away from the overall experience. Also there are a couple of actors who are clearly reading their lines from off-screen cards & not bothering to hide it, though that's as much amusing as it is troublesome.
So the bottom line here is that I had a lot of fun with it for what it was, but it could definitely be better.
the giraffe's rating:
32
5.8
5.2
King of the Zombies (1941)
First viewing - Oct. 9th
Last horrorfest I watched Zombie Mania, which detailed the history of zombie films & mentioned this one along the way. I made a mental note of it so I could check it out, and when I found myself wanting to watch something short before bed I gave it a look (run time 1 hr, 7 min). It's a hilarious horror-comedy whose best character is played by African-American actor Mantan Moreland, which I'm sure was a little controversial at the time. Despite a bit of stereotyping he turns out to be smarter than the white guys he's running around with, and he scores most of the film's best lines & jokes. His character & performance alone make this worth watching. The story is a decent one too, though a bit rushed (and as a result semi-predictable) as the short run time suggests. The upside to that though is that the film never slows down at any point (perhaps if it had it'd be even better though), so it's consistently entertaining.
Definitely worth a look.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Last horrorfest I watched Zombie Mania, which detailed the history of zombie films & mentioned this one along the way. I made a mental note of it so I could check it out, and when I found myself wanting to watch something short before bed I gave it a look (run time 1 hr, 7 min). It's a hilarious horror-comedy whose best character is played by African-American actor Mantan Moreland, which I'm sure was a little controversial at the time. Despite a bit of stereotyping he turns out to be smarter than the white guys he's running around with, and he scores most of the film's best lines & jokes. His character & performance alone make this worth watching. The story is a decent one too, though a bit rushed (and as a result semi-predictable) as the short run time suggests. The upside to that though is that the film never slows down at any point (perhaps if it had it'd be even better though), so it's consistently entertaining.
Definitely worth a look.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
78
6.8
6.4
Madhouse (1974)
First viewing - Oct. 9th
No horrorfest is complete without at least one Vincent Price film. This one is pretty good, though it seems like it's mostly a tribute & send off for Price since it was his last film with American International Pictures where he shot the Poe adaptations with Roger Corman, among other films. Lots of footage from those films is used throughout as his character's past films, in fact a bit overused really which slows the film down eventually. Which is a bit disappointing since the story is a decent one with an excellent ending. I still really enjoyed it, especially since it provides an opportunity to see him & Peter Cushing on screen together, but it holds itself back from ever being great.
Currently streaming on Netflix
No horrorfest is complete without at least one Vincent Price film. This one is pretty good, though it seems like it's mostly a tribute & send off for Price since it was his last film with American International Pictures where he shot the Poe adaptations with Roger Corman, among other films. Lots of footage from those films is used throughout as his character's past films, in fact a bit overused really which slows the film down eventually. Which is a bit disappointing since the story is a decent one with an excellent ending. I still really enjoyed it, especially since it provides an opportunity to see him & Peter Cushing on screen together, but it holds itself back from ever being great.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
283
6.1
6.1
House (1985)
Re-watch - Oct. 9th/10th
Watched this & its first sequel back-to-back, and it had been many many years since I'd seen either film in its entirety. Turns out though that my rating on this one was completely accurate. This is an excellent, underrated & underappreciated horror-comedy film from start to finish. The creatures are wonderfully designed (I miss the days when CGI didn't exist), the story is solid, the suspenseful parts are well done & I found myself lost in the film for the most part. Granted the performances aren't great, but they're solid for the most part. Really any issues I had with it were minor & fleeting, and House proved to be well worth revisiting. I'll have to not take so long to do so again next time.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Watched this & its first sequel back-to-back, and it had been many many years since I'd seen either film in its entirety. Turns out though that my rating on this one was completely accurate. This is an excellent, underrated & underappreciated horror-comedy film from start to finish. The creatures are wonderfully designed (I miss the days when CGI didn't exist), the story is solid, the suspenseful parts are well done & I found myself lost in the film for the most part. Granted the performances aren't great, but they're solid for the most part. Really any issues I had with it were minor & fleeting, and House proved to be well worth revisiting. I'll have to not take so long to do so again next time.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
118
5.7
5.4
House II: The Second Story (1987)
Re-watch - Oct. 10th
Definitely not as good as its predecessor, but still damned entertaining. On the upside there's a lot of creativity & inventiveness on display throughout this film, and the story is solidly entertaining. My personal favorite part is where John Ratzenberger shows up as an electrician who's able to help out the protagonist more than you'd expect. In fact, that alone encourages me to give this an 8 instead of a 7. Unfortunately the film also gets horribly dated by the '80s fashion on display, and a couple of pieces of the story that seem important wind up unresolved. Add to that the fact that the acting ranges from good to terrible, and I'm fine with leaving this one stuck at 7 after all. Still, you'll never hear me talk anyone out of watching this film. Just expect it to be fairly cheesy & you'll be OK.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Definitely not as good as its predecessor, but still damned entertaining. On the upside there's a lot of creativity & inventiveness on display throughout this film, and the story is solidly entertaining. My personal favorite part is where John Ratzenberger shows up as an electrician who's able to help out the protagonist more than you'd expect. In fact, that alone encourages me to give this an 8 instead of a 7. Unfortunately the film also gets horribly dated by the '80s fashion on display, and a couple of pieces of the story that seem important wind up unresolved. Add to that the fact that the acting ranges from good to terrible, and I'm fine with leaving this one stuck at 7 after all. Still, you'll never hear me talk anyone out of watching this film. Just expect it to be fairly cheesy & you'll be OK.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
389
7.1
7
The Mummy (1932)
Re-watch - Oct. 12th - DVD from my collection
No better than I remembered this one I should probably count it as a first view, but I know I watched it when I was younger. The Mummy starts off really strong & the technical aspects are excellent. The performances are solid with Zita Johann's being the best of the bunch. I liked the story OK even if it did steal a bit from Dracula, but as it lumbered toward the ending I started losing interest & the weak ending didn't help matters any. Also it annoys me when a character suddenly knows what's going on when there's no possible way for them to know (guess he read through to the end of the script?).
Definitely worth a look, but I didn't think it was that great.
No better than I remembered this one I should probably count it as a first view, but I know I watched it when I was younger. The Mummy starts off really strong & the technical aspects are excellent. The performances are solid with Zita Johann's being the best of the bunch. I liked the story OK even if it did steal a bit from Dracula, but as it lumbered toward the ending I started losing interest & the weak ending didn't help matters any. Also it annoys me when a character suddenly knows what's going on when there's no possible way for them to know (guess he read through to the end of the script?).
Definitely worth a look, but I didn't think it was that great.
the giraffe's rating:
1526
6.9
7.2
The Descent (2005)
First viewing - Oct. 12th - DVD from Xanadon't's collection
Review by PvtCaboose91
the giraffe's rating:
1388
5.8
6
Hide and Seek (2005)
First viewing - Oct. 13th - DVD from phillydude's collection
Going into a film with lowered expectations in this case pays off. I thought much of this film was solid & enjoyed it all the way through to the end. There's nothing especially original about it & the most impressive thing is how creepy Dakota Fanning can be. The twist is well-executed but rather ridiculous, so I enjoyed the ending more while watching it than thinking about it afterwards. Worth a look, but not essential.
Going into a film with lowered expectations in this case pays off. I thought much of this film was solid & enjoyed it all the way through to the end. There's nothing especially original about it & the most impressive thing is how creepy Dakota Fanning can be. The twist is well-executed but rather ridiculous, so I enjoyed the ending more while watching it than thinking about it afterwards. Worth a look, but not essential.
the giraffe's rating:
396
5.8
5.9
After.Life (2009) (2010)
First viewing - Oct. 14th - DVD from Xanadon't's collection
Stupid stupid stupid. The only reason I got through this film is the fact that Christina Ricci is scantily clad to naked for most of it, which is kinda sad. Don't bother.
Stupid stupid stupid. The only reason I got through this film is the fact that Christina Ricci is scantily clad to naked for most of it, which is kinda sad. Don't bother.
the giraffe's rating:
208
6.9
6.6
A Bay of Blood (1971)
First viewing - Oct. 17th
Let me start by saying that this film barely made the jump from a 7 to an 8, and the thing that pushed it over was the ending. So consider it more of a high 7 than a true 8. The kills throughout this film are excellent, so much so that I was willing to forgive any lack of quality in the acting. I dug the soundtrack too & was occasionally impressed by the way the film was shot. There's not much suspense to it & it follows a mostly predictable course, but it's so entertaining that that's fairly forgivable too.
Bottom line is this: if you like your horror bloody with a side of nudity, and can keep in mind that this is a B-movie through & through, definitely give this one a look.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Let me start by saying that this film barely made the jump from a 7 to an 8, and the thing that pushed it over was the ending. So consider it more of a high 7 than a true 8. The kills throughout this film are excellent, so much so that I was willing to forgive any lack of quality in the acting. I dug the soundtrack too & was occasionally impressed by the way the film was shot. There's not much suspense to it & it follows a mostly predictable course, but it's so entertaining that that's fairly forgivable too.
Bottom line is this: if you like your horror bloody with a side of nudity, and can keep in mind that this is a B-movie through & through, definitely give this one a look.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
1046
5.6
6.4
Arachnophobia (1990)
Re-watch - Oct. 19th/20th - DVD from my collection
Hadn't seen this one since the '90s, yet I still remembered a fair bit of it. John Goodman's character remains my favorite part of the entire thing, and it's solidly entertaining. However, a big part of why it's solidly entertaining is how unintentionally laughable the spiders are. They're far too intelligent to be believable, and some of the effects don't help matters any (for the bigger ones I can tell it's a hand in a spider glove, for example). So it wound up being more of a horror-comedy for me this time around. Ah, and the plot quickly becomes predictable, which bummed me out a little. Still entertaining enough though to be worth a look, just don't expect greatness.
Hadn't seen this one since the '90s, yet I still remembered a fair bit of it. John Goodman's character remains my favorite part of the entire thing, and it's solidly entertaining. However, a big part of why it's solidly entertaining is how unintentionally laughable the spiders are. They're far too intelligent to be believable, and some of the effects don't help matters any (for the bigger ones I can tell it's a hand in a spider glove, for example). So it wound up being more of a horror-comedy for me this time around. Ah, and the plot quickly becomes predictable, which bummed me out a little. Still entertaining enough though to be worth a look, just don't expect greatness.
the giraffe's rating:
2589
7.8
8
First viewing - Oct. 20th/21st - DVD from my collection
When I saw this in the grocery store for $5, I decided to buy it so I could finally watch it. After all, it's got a reputation as one of the best horror films of all time, which has always made me curious to see it. Fortunately in this case it lives up to its reputation.
Polanski made one hell of a film here. Mia Farrow is Amazing in her performance, and...well really everything about the film is excellent & damn near perfectly done. The ending didn't leave me with that 10/10 feeling for some reason, but I can't think of a thing to change about the film so maybe a re-watch down the road will squeeze that last point out of me.
When I saw this in the grocery store for $5, I decided to buy it so I could finally watch it. After all, it's got a reputation as one of the best horror films of all time, which has always made me curious to see it. Fortunately in this case it lives up to its reputation.
Polanski made one hell of a film here. Mia Farrow is Amazing in her performance, and...well really everything about the film is excellent & damn near perfectly done. The ending didn't leave me with that 10/10 feeling for some reason, but I can't think of a thing to change about the film so maybe a re-watch down the road will squeeze that last point out of me.
the giraffe's rating:
325
6.7
7.1
First viewing - Oct. 15th-22nd - DVD from phillydude's collection
This is 3/4 of a really good movie. Unfortunately the final 1/4 wound up being rather disappointing. Overall The Stand kept me guessing right up to the end, which earned points in its favor. Also most of the cast does an excellent job in their roles, and it was nice to see some actors I'd somewhat forgotten (like Laura San Giacomo & the big guy from Coach). The effects are mostly cheesy, which seems to be par for the course as far as made-for-TV movies go so I guess I can let that slide a little. But for all the build up of the villain, the final act makes it seem like mostly hype as everything falls apart around him with no real explanation as to why & he's powerless to stop it. You'd think since Stephen King wrote the script, which is adapted from his book, that the ending would work better than it does. I now feel like I need to read the book to see if it ends better or has the exact same problems.
Anyway, it's worth a look, but could be much better.
Also currently streaming on Netflix
This is 3/4 of a really good movie. Unfortunately the final 1/4 wound up being rather disappointing. Overall The Stand kept me guessing right up to the end, which earned points in its favor. Also most of the cast does an excellent job in their roles, and it was nice to see some actors I'd somewhat forgotten (like Laura San Giacomo & the big guy from Coach). The effects are mostly cheesy, which seems to be par for the course as far as made-for-TV movies go so I guess I can let that slide a little. But for all the build up of the villain, the final act makes it seem like mostly hype as everything falls apart around him with no real explanation as to why & he's powerless to stop it. You'd think since Stephen King wrote the script, which is adapted from his book, that the ending would work better than it does. I now feel like I need to read the book to see if it ends better or has the exact same problems.
Anyway, it's worth a look, but could be much better.
Also currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
78
6.6
6.6
First viewing - Oct. 22nd
I heard about this one from fellow Listalite Dan's Best Horror Films of 2011 list (courtesy of bloodydisgusting.com), which I've now seen half of & enjoyed all 5 for the most part (my order differs to be sure). First off, props are deserved for the film delivering gore effects that look so realistic they're occasionally too intense to watch. But I was equally impressed by the way it weaves a single night of violence into the main character's history so you understand her motivations. There's some social commentary going on, but it's never heavy-handed which is always nice. Ah, and it turns out this was a good time to watch this one since the first date that pops up is Oct. 30th. :)
Currently streaming on Netflix
I heard about this one from fellow Listalite Dan's Best Horror Films of 2011 list (courtesy of bloodydisgusting.com), which I've now seen half of & enjoyed all 5 for the most part (my order differs to be sure). First off, props are deserved for the film delivering gore effects that look so realistic they're occasionally too intense to watch. But I was equally impressed by the way it weaves a single night of violence into the main character's history so you understand her motivations. There's some social commentary going on, but it's never heavy-handed which is always nice. Ah, and it turns out this was a good time to watch this one since the first date that pops up is Oct. 30th. :)
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
501
6.8
6.8
Dog Soldiers (2002)
First viewing - Oct. 23rd
Were it not for the relentless intensity of the latter 2/3 of the film, I'd have to rate this one a 7. The humans are stereotypical, some elements are easily predictable, and the camera work at times is annoyingly shaky which renders the images indecipherable. But I spent so much time on the edge of my seat that it earns extra credit. Definitely worth a look.
Were it not for the relentless intensity of the latter 2/3 of the film, I'd have to rate this one a 7. The humans are stereotypical, some elements are easily predictable, and the camera work at times is annoyingly shaky which renders the images indecipherable. But I spent so much time on the edge of my seat that it earns extra credit. Definitely worth a look.
the giraffe's rating:
454
7.4
7.2
First viewing - Oct. 25th - DVD from jaytoast's collection
Apparently I'm odd man out on this one. I had problems with The Changeling from the start, which didn't set a good tone for the rest of the film. The acting is decent & there are some moments along the way that are well-handled, but on the whole I couldn't really get into it & thought the plot followed a rather predictable & occasionally ridiculous path. I can't say I regret watching the film as I was somewhat entertained by it at times, but I definitely wouldn't watch it again & I've certainly seen better haunted house movies.
My contacts rating average for this film is 8.1 though, so maybe it's just me.
Apparently I'm odd man out on this one. I had problems with The Changeling from the start, which didn't set a good tone for the rest of the film. The acting is decent & there are some moments along the way that are well-handled, but on the whole I couldn't really get into it & thought the plot followed a rather predictable & occasionally ridiculous path. I can't say I regret watching the film as I was somewhat entertained by it at times, but I definitely wouldn't watch it again & I've certainly seen better haunted house movies.
My contacts rating average for this film is 8.1 though, so maybe it's just me.
the giraffe's rating:
765
6.7
6.9
Creepshow (1982)
Re-watch - Oct. 26th/27th
First saw this one years ago & the thing that stuck with me the longest was the final bit which undoubtedly instilled in me a lasting fear/disgust with roaches (see above). Watching that one now I feel like that guy got what was coming to him though. "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill" remains my least favorite of the bunch due mainly to Stephen King's poor acting abilities & I still find it the weakest tale of the bunch; while "The Crate" remains my favorite. Creepshow has long been one of my favorite anthology horror films, and I don't see that ever changing.
On a side note, I'd intended to watch this with its sequel, but a variety of things prevented my doing so (unless I want to stay up until 3am, which I don't). Seems like I'm falling behind on getting these films watched as the month draws closer to its end, all for a variety of reasons as well. Too bad I can't squeeze an extra week out somehow. Ah well. Right now it's looking like I'll have to watch a few films next month instead.
First saw this one years ago & the thing that stuck with me the longest was the final bit which undoubtedly instilled in me a lasting fear/disgust with roaches (see above). Watching that one now I feel like that guy got what was coming to him though. "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill" remains my least favorite of the bunch due mainly to Stephen King's poor acting abilities & I still find it the weakest tale of the bunch; while "The Crate" remains my favorite. Creepshow has long been one of my favorite anthology horror films, and I don't see that ever changing.
On a side note, I'd intended to watch this with its sequel, but a variety of things prevented my doing so (unless I want to stay up until 3am, which I don't). Seems like I'm falling behind on getting these films watched as the month draws closer to its end, all for a variety of reasons as well. Too bad I can't squeeze an extra week out somehow. Ah well. Right now it's looking like I'll have to watch a few films next month instead.
the giraffe's rating:
963
6.5
6.9
Fatal Attraction (1987)
First viewing - Oct. 27th - DVD from phillydude's collection
Really should've watched this one already, but I was only 9 when it came out & I had lots of other movies I wanted to watch more that came out after Fatal Attraction. Aside from a few moments that were unintentionally funny or rather unbelievable, I thought it was an excellent film & well worth its reputation as a more modern classic. Glenn Close & Michael Douglas are excellent throughout the film & I was totally caught up by the story. The suspense is handled perfectly, which definitely helps. The child actor isn't very good & I was a little bummed that the awesome Fred Gwynne was hardly in it after seeing his name in the opening credits, but those are minor complaints really.
It's funny to think how different this movie would be now though given the technological changes over time. This was prior to caller ID and cellphones and the characters are listening to cassette tapes, so you know some things wouldn't work anymore...all of which amused me.
Anyway, definitely worth a look.
Really should've watched this one already, but I was only 9 when it came out & I had lots of other movies I wanted to watch more that came out after Fatal Attraction. Aside from a few moments that were unintentionally funny or rather unbelievable, I thought it was an excellent film & well worth its reputation as a more modern classic. Glenn Close & Michael Douglas are excellent throughout the film & I was totally caught up by the story. The suspense is handled perfectly, which definitely helps. The child actor isn't very good & I was a little bummed that the awesome Fred Gwynne was hardly in it after seeing his name in the opening credits, but those are minor complaints really.
It's funny to think how different this movie would be now though given the technological changes over time. This was prior to caller ID and cellphones and the characters are listening to cassette tapes, so you know some things wouldn't work anymore...all of which amused me.
Anyway, definitely worth a look.
the giraffe's rating:
890
8.2
8
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
First viewing - Oct. 29th
Perhaps my expectations were too high on this one due to its reputation as a Great film. I didn't find much greatness in it. The camera work is the only thing I was impressed with honestly. The acting is uneven as is the storytelling. Things happen that make no sense whatsoever & those things are never explained or clarified...and not in a David Lynch sorta way, more like a lazy, disappointing way. I suppose the presentation of two characters who embody opposing views of Christianity was interesting, but for me it was more interesting to think about after the film ended than while watching it. Much ado has been made of Mitchum's portrayal of the villain, and he was OK but I can think of many villains I'm more impressed with. Oh yeah, and there's way too much singing which I wasn't expecting. Not sure it added anything to the film really, though it's possible I simply lack the appreciation for hymns & whatnot.
Terribly overrated & the only thing keeping me from giving it a lower rating is the fact that I've seen far worse.
Perhaps my expectations were too high on this one due to its reputation as a Great film. I didn't find much greatness in it. The camera work is the only thing I was impressed with honestly. The acting is uneven as is the storytelling. Things happen that make no sense whatsoever & those things are never explained or clarified...and not in a David Lynch sorta way, more like a lazy, disappointing way. I suppose the presentation of two characters who embody opposing views of Christianity was interesting, but for me it was more interesting to think about after the film ended than while watching it. Much ado has been made of Mitchum's portrayal of the villain, and he was OK but I can think of many villains I'm more impressed with. Oh yeah, and there's way too much singing which I wasn't expecting. Not sure it added anything to the film really, though it's possible I simply lack the appreciation for hymns & whatnot.
Terribly overrated & the only thing keeping me from giving it a lower rating is the fact that I've seen far worse.
the giraffe's rating:
966
6.7
7.1
First viewing - Oct. 30th - DVD from Xanadon't's collection
Let the Right One In was a pleasant surprise when I first saw it, and I loved the film so much I had little interest in seeing an American remake. Some positive reviews over time encouraged me to check it out at some point, but it was far from a priority. Nice then that Xanadon't sent me Let Me In to watch for the Horrorfest.
What we have here is a solid if unnecessary remake. The story remains pretty much the same, which is definitely a good thing. There are some little flourishes along the way which serve to keep it from being a carbon copy of the original, some of which I enjoyed but none of which really added anything substantial. The CGI-enhanced action sequences are more laughable than believable (which wasn't a problem with the original), and the supporting cast of adults is given shorter shrift than before & thus rendered less human. Fortunately the leads both deliver excellent performances, one of the few reasons the remake is actually worth watching.
In the end I enjoyed watching it, but couldn't keep myself from comparing it to the original & being aware of how much better the film could be.
Let the Right One In was a pleasant surprise when I first saw it, and I loved the film so much I had little interest in seeing an American remake. Some positive reviews over time encouraged me to check it out at some point, but it was far from a priority. Nice then that Xanadon't sent me Let Me In to watch for the Horrorfest.
What we have here is a solid if unnecessary remake. The story remains pretty much the same, which is definitely a good thing. There are some little flourishes along the way which serve to keep it from being a carbon copy of the original, some of which I enjoyed but none of which really added anything substantial. The CGI-enhanced action sequences are more laughable than believable (which wasn't a problem with the original), and the supporting cast of adults is given shorter shrift than before & thus rendered less human. Fortunately the leads both deliver excellent performances, one of the few reasons the remake is actually worth watching.
In the end I enjoyed watching it, but couldn't keep myself from comparing it to the original & being aware of how much better the film could be.
the giraffe's rating:
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Listal Group Project...FROM HELL
Movie Exchange Program
See also this month's lists from: phillydude, jaytoast, and Xanadon't (that's his horror list btw; for his non-horror October list go here)
931
6.9
7
Martyrs (2008)
First viewing - Oct. 6th/7th - DVD from Xanadon't's collection
This one starts off with an hour of pure cinematic horror bliss. Really throughout the first 2/3 of the film I was loving everything about it & had it pegged for a new favorite & easy 10/10. Then we get to the film's final 1/3 and it quit working for me. There's an unnecessary repetition of scenes that goes on far too long & the decision to make it as realistic as possible only served to make me turn further away from the film. It seems like the filmmaker wants the audience to go through a slice of the torment our protagonist goes through, so I guess it makes sense but it's definitely no fun to watch. And while the ending is thought-provoking I didn't find it entirely satisfying.
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I finally watched Martyrs, but it's another film I simply can't recommend nor would I likely watch it again.
This one starts off with an hour of pure cinematic horror bliss. Really throughout the first 2/3 of the film I was loving everything about it & had it pegged for a new favorite & easy 10/10. Then we get to the film's final 1/3 and it quit working for me. There's an unnecessary repetition of scenes that goes on far too long & the decision to make it as realistic as possible only served to make me turn further away from the film. It seems like the filmmaker wants the audience to go through a slice of the torment our protagonist goes through, so I guess it makes sense but it's definitely no fun to watch. And while the ending is thought-provoking I didn't find it entirely satisfying.
Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I finally watched Martyrs, but it's another film I simply can't recommend nor would I likely watch it again.
the giraffe's rating:
302
6.3
6.6
Psycho II (1983)
First viewing - Oct. 31st - DVD from phillydude's collection
First off, Psycho never needed a sequel. It's a perfect film as it is & at the end of it there's nothing else left to explore. That said, this sequel is pretty good provided you can get over how unnecessary it is. The cast does an excellent job, the suspense is handled well, the story is decent, and the soundtrack is pretty good. On the downside, most of the effects aren't very well done & look cheesy as a result. Also the film frequently falls back on the original for ideas rather than forging its own path, including recreating scenes (albeit somewhat differently). Still, seeing Norman Bates returned back to the world is compelling enough to be worth watching, even if the original film is a tough (if not impossible) act to follow.
First off, Psycho never needed a sequel. It's a perfect film as it is & at the end of it there's nothing else left to explore. That said, this sequel is pretty good provided you can get over how unnecessary it is. The cast does an excellent job, the suspense is handled well, the story is decent, and the soundtrack is pretty good. On the downside, most of the effects aren't very well done & look cheesy as a result. Also the film frequently falls back on the original for ideas rather than forging its own path, including recreating scenes (albeit somewhat differently). Still, seeing Norman Bates returned back to the world is compelling enough to be worth watching, even if the original film is a tough (if not impossible) act to follow.
the giraffe's rating:
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Big screen attractions
Films caught in a theatre
1838
7.2
7.4
Looper (2012) (2012)
First viewing - Oct. 14th
We interrupt this Horrorfest for a non-horror trip to the theatre.
Excellent film from start to finish. Lots of impressive, interesting stuff going on...I loved that the film spent as much time developing the characters as it did taking them through the action sequences, and the depiction of the future was believable (which is a nice change). Can't say it crossed the threshold into Greatness for me, but perhaps repeat viewings will improve my opinion of it as I can't really think of much I didn't like about it. I just know I didn't get that feeling that the 9s and 10s give me.
As much as I dug this & Brick, I really need to watch The Brothers Bloom now.
We interrupt this Horrorfest for a non-horror trip to the theatre.
Excellent film from start to finish. Lots of impressive, interesting stuff going on...I loved that the film spent as much time developing the characters as it did taking them through the action sequences, and the depiction of the future was believable (which is a nice change). Can't say it crossed the threshold into Greatness for me, but perhaps repeat viewings will improve my opinion of it as I can't really think of much I didn't like about it. I just know I didn't get that feeling that the 9s and 10s give me.
As much as I dug this & Brick, I really need to watch The Brothers Bloom now.
the giraffe's rating:
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Coming to get you attractions
Films I plan to watch this month
Leaving Netflix instant: Village of the Damned (Nov. 1st)
Leaving Netflix instant: Village of the Damned (Nov. 1st)
AKA: Movies the giraffe watched: October 2012
Yep, it's time once again for me to spend an entire month watching horror movies to celebrate Halloween. Some good friends have loaned me several of the films I'll be watching & the rest will either come from my collection or my Netflix IQ. And speaking of Netflix, if I watch ANY movies that aren't horror this month it'll only be because they're removing something I really wanted to watch. Those films will get their usual section.
Oh yeah, and my year-long focus on the films of the Marx Bros. will get put on hold this month. I'll watch 2 next month to make up for it.
By the way, if you're looking for some music to celebrate Halloween then please check out my 31 days of Halloween songs list or Bad Alice's Halloween Playlist*
Yep, it's time once again for me to spend an entire month watching horror movies to celebrate Halloween. Some good friends have loaned me several of the films I'll be watching & the rest will either come from my collection or my Netflix IQ. And speaking of Netflix, if I watch ANY movies that aren't horror this month it'll only be because they're removing something I really wanted to watch. Those films will get their usual section.
Oh yeah, and my year-long focus on the films of the Marx Bros. will get put on hold this month. I'll watch 2 next month to make up for it.
By the way, if you're looking for some music to celebrate Halloween then please check out my 31 days of Halloween songs list or Bad Alice's Halloween Playlist*
See also the following similar lists:
Orlok's October Movie Journal
One Horror Film a Day for 31 Days
Phillydude's 31 Days Of Halloween
jaytoast's October Cinema Diary
BadโAlice's Movie Diary 2012 *October*
INEEDYUO's Movie Diary 2012 [Sep-Oct]
Xanadon't's October Movie Journal - HorrorFest 2012
Yearly lists going horror for October
Watched in 2012 (moviewatcher122)
200 new movies in 2012 (Mackenzi)
Watched in 2012 (Hootsaidtheowl)
My past lists
October 2011 Horrorfest
October 2010 Horrorfest
My other monthly lists
the giraffe's lists for 2012
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the giraffe's lists for 2012
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