Don't Look Now

     Horror can come in two different kinds of movies- ones that rely simply on cheap scares to make you jump every five minutes, or ones that take a more subtle and serious approach.  Films that linger, work their way into your brain.  Disturb you.  "Don't Look Now" is one of those films.  It's utterly chilling and disturbing, and will haunt you afterwards.

     Here's the story.  Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie are happily married with two children and living in England.  Their youngest daughter drowns, and naturally shattered, go to Venice to grieve her death.  During their stay, a rash of strange murders hit the city as body after body is hauled out of the canals.  Then the couple meet a pair of elderly sisters, one of whom is a psychic.  She insists that she knows of their daughter, and that she's happy.  On top of all this, a mysterious figure in a red coat is spotted around Venice.  And guess what?  Their daughter just happened to be wearing a red coat when she drowned.  How does this all connect?  That is the brilliance of "Don't Look Now".  It's a frustrating, haunting, jarring, and thought-provoking little movie.  And extremely effective.

     Released the same time as "The Exorcist" in 1973, "Don't Look Now" is often overlooked and unheard of.  Obviously, "The Exorcist" made a bigger impact.  But it's a truly mind-bending and chilling shocker that was honestly way ahead of its time.  It's wonderfully intriguing and maddening- and the stunning Venice locations and photography truly give the film an other-wordly, almost dream-like feel.  It's almost hard to describe this movie.  Those of you expecting one of those neat, tidy endings that wrap up all loose endings will be thoroughly disappointed.  What you get from watching this movie is entirely up to you, as much of it is open to interpretation.  Think Dario Argento mixed with David Lynch.

     Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie give first-rate performances here, the direction by Nicholas Roeg is top notch, and the film positively drips with symbolism. Normal, ordinary things suddenly become nightmarish and sinister in "Don't Look Now".  It's truly original, with lots of creepy music and moody, hallucinatory cinematography.  Some horror fans hate this movie, as it made them angry.  Like I said, your interpretation is up to you, and some simply can't think for themselves- they need Michael Bay to spell it out for them.  But if you can just go with it and open your mind, you might enjoy it.  I did very much.  It truly creeped me out. Oh and out of nowhere comes a shocking and unbelievable sex scene between Donald and Julie, and the Sutherland rocks some truly righteous hair in this movie.

The Sentinel

     So can I just try to explain my love for THE SENTINEL? It's one of the many supernatural shockers to ooze out of the 70's during the whole "satanic" craze, all influenced by the horror classic ROSEMARY'S BABY. It's completely batshit crazy and it's awesome.

     This little doozy tells the story of glamorous New York model Alison Parker. Alison, it seems, isn't ready to settle down and become a wife yet to her lawyer boyfriend (Chris Sarandon), and in an act of independence finds herself a lovely brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, shown to her by Ava Freakin' Gardner, that is. But the fun is just beginning as we then meet her daffy neighbor, played by Burgess Meredith who devours every bit of scenery around him, as usual. Throw in some masturbating lesbians, weird cats, blind priests, and geriatric orgies and you've got a wonderfully weird and entertaining supernatural shocker from the 70's. Oh and did I fail to mention that the lovely brownstone they are all living in appears to be not only haunted, but it's the gateway to Hell? They sure don't make movies like this anymore.

    As nutty as this movie is, there are some genuinely creepy and shocking moments throughout, and it's really quite ballsy. I have distinct memories of seeing the creepy-looking VHS cover slyly peering at me from the top shelf of TOTALLY TAPE, begging me to rent it- which of course I did. And I loved every lurid minute of it. It's complete oddball horror cinema, and it's got that extra special helping of overall 70's strangeness that just sends it all to a whole other level. There is just something very appealing about this movie.

     THE SENTINEL is literally bursting with a cast of familiar faces- Ava Gardner, Burgess Meredith, Arthur Kennedy, Chris Sarandon, Eli Wallach, Christopher Walken, Jerry Orbach, Beverly D'Angelo, and Jeff Goldblum all show up throughout. I'm not making this up, I promise! It's also chock-full of strange rituals, the Catholic Church vs. the Devil, dark conspiracy theories, nightmarish scenes of horror, and a shocking ending to boot! THE SENTINEL easily belongs right up there with ROSEMARY'S BABY, THE EXORCIST, THE OMEN, and THE AMITYVILLE HOROR as supreme examples of the Satanic/supernatural craze that swept Hollywood in the wake of the Manson murders. Good stuff, kids.

     Overall, I say it's a must-see for horror fans. "Campy" doesn't even begin to describe THE SENTINEL- yet it's got some truly spooky moments in it. Like I said, it's an odd film. It seems the director is purposely trying to throw the viewers off with outrageously campy and off-putting scenes- and for the most part, it succeeds. The film threatens to go completely over-the-top at times, and almost does... but always manages to somehow stay on track. It's completely absurd, but somehow it all works. THE SENTINEL has grown a rather respectable cult following over the years and deservedly so.  It's trashy, weird, repulsive, eerie, and odd. And I loved every trashy, weird, repulsive, eerie, and odd minute of it.

Night Of The Demons

     I have such a huge place in my heart for cheesy 80's horror. Pretty obvious, right? Which brings us to the most recent 8'0s treasure I've blown the dust off and given a whirl. I don't recall ever seeing NIGHT OF THE DEMONS in its entirety back in the day. I distinctly remember certain scenes here and there, but finally saw the entire film from start to finish last night. And let's just say, I'm so glad I crashed Angela's party, cuz it was awesome. NIGHT OF THE DEMONS is so outlandishly campy and absurd that it's impossible to take any of it seriously.  It's very much like THE EVIL DEAD in that respect.

      NOTD tells the story of nutjob Angela and loose Suzanne (memorably played by both Amelia Kinkade and Linnea Quigley), who on Halloween night, decide to throw a dance party at "Hull House", an abandoned funeral parlor. During a seance, a horde of demons are unleashed on the partying teenagers, and Angela and Suzanne become possessed. This is when NOTD kicks into high gear, as the two set out to infect the entire group of horny teens.  It's completely over-the-top, with boobs, blood, and plenty of demonic mayhem to spare.  Director Kevin Tenney (WITCHBOARD) obviously loves the genre and gives the frantic fright fest some nice touches along the way. You know how I am about my atmosphere, and NIGHT OF THE DEMONS is positively soaked in it. It's a bona fide cult classic, and pretty damn funny on top of it. And this movie works best with that right group of people under those right circumstances, if you know what I mean... It's silly, it's ridiculous, and frankly it's not October without it. And that's a huge part of why I love it.

       There's so much to love about NIGHT OF THE DEMONS- the bad acting, the cringe-inducing but hilarious puns, the outrageous gore effects, the boundless energy. Throw in some "Evil Dead" mayhem and some righteous 80s fashions, a great time is guaranteed.  It's certainly as fun as "The Evil Dead", maybe even more fun. This movie, like most starring Linnea Quigley, is certainly an acquired taste.  Those looking for a serious scare might look elsewhere. I can appreciate both myself- depending on my mood.  "Night Of The Demons" has made its mark on pop culture apparently, as it's yet another 80s classic to be remade.  I haven't seen the remake, but I would imagine it's pretty hard to replace the original.

Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night 2

     The original PROM NIGHT from 1980 is one of my favorite horror films of the decade. It's one of the most memorable slashers of the 80;s, in my opinion, and it obviously struck a chord with movie-goers as it has produced two sequels and a remake. PROM NIGHT was one of the more popular slasher films of the early 80's, so a sequel made sense after a few years.

      As I'm sure most everybody knows by now- this second installment has nothing whatsoever to do with the original PROM NIGHT. Besides them both taking place at Hamilton High, there is no continuity with the original storyline. No Jamie Lee Curtis, no killer- in fact, it's not even a slasher film. Here's the jist.

      It's 1957, and beautiful but loose Mary Lou Mahoney is caught cheating on her boyfriend Bill, who initiates a prank on Mary Lou. Of course, it backfires, and she winds up dead by her jilted ex-boyfriend  just as she was about to be crowned queen of the prom. Burned alive, to be exact. We flash forward 30 years later, and Bill is now principle of Hamilton High. His son is about to attend the prom with Vicki Carpenter, who finds a trunk in the school basement. She opens it, and finds Mary Lou's old prom dress. Guess what happens next? You betcha. The vengeful spirit of Mary Lou takes possession of pretty Vicki, and soon all hell breaks loose at doomed Hamilton High. I swear!

     This non-related sequel to the slasher classic PROM NIGHT is a pretty entertaining story of revenge from beyond the grave that gleefully rips off  many classic shockers without a trace of guilt throughout. Besides the obvious traces of CARRIE, it's also easy to spot the echoes of THE EXORCIST, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, and even a bit of THE EVIL DEAD thrown in for good measure. It's a fun and frantic slice of schlocky 80's teen horror that's almost impossible not to enjoy, as cheesy as it is. The cast and crew give it their all, and there's an obvious love of the genre that shows in the finished product.

     HELLO MARYLOU: PROM NIGHT 2 is much more of a black comedy than the original PROM NIGHT. As fun as it is, I still wish they had kept it more serious and dark, like the first film. I personally don't think this was the right direction to take the "Prom Night" franchise (not that it was my decision to make, but still...)- but then again could they have honestly done the original justice and believably continued the storyline from it? Probably not. Anyway, this sequel is certainly entertaining if a bit odd, quirky yet kinda cool. I can honestly say it was great fun watching,and I lump this one in with NIGHT OF THE DEMONS or THE EVIL DEAD. Over-the-top, frenetic, and fun.

The Reef

     Going in to the Australian indie horror flick THE REEF the other night, I was expecting another OPEN WATER. Both of these movies are low-budget affairs with unknown actors and both are about people terrorized by sharks. And, both movies are based on two seperate but supposedly true stories. I know OPEN WATER doesn't have the greatest reputation among horror movie fans, although I personally enjoyed it.  However, I am thrilled to say that THE REEF takes what OPEN WATER hinted at and took it far and beyond.  It's a full-blown horror movie that manages to be downright scary and frighteningly tense- I actually found the suspense almost too much to bear at times.  And this stuff is right up my alley.

     It starts off in typical genre fashion- introducing the rather bland cast of characters to basically show us who's going to be swimming for their lives in twenty minutes or so.  There is some minor character development here, although just enough to warrant some sympathy down the line. It works. Now this being a horror movie, of course something goes awry in the opening scenes and becomes the setting for terrors to come. In this case, the characters' boat runs aground on an upraised barrier reef and overturns, leaving the characters stranded in the ocean with two rather unsettling choices- stay on the overturned and slowly sinking boat in shark-infested waters, or take the risk of blindly swimming roughly twelve miles to unseen shores in shark-infested waters. What do you do? One out of the five stays on the boat, while the other four risk it and take off swimming.  And it's not long before they realize that they're being followed by a huge Great White. A very hungry one. This is where THE REEF kicks into overdrive and becomes a frightening exercise in terror and suspense.

     What truly makes THE REEF so effective is that the filmmakers didn't use any CGI for the making of this film. The shark scenes are by far the most realistic and scary I've ever seen in any movie. The actors truly had to contend with actual sharks while filming, and footage of the actors are very convincingly combined with footage of a real Great White Shark. The effect is amazing. There is not one second that you don't believe everything you're seeing in this film. The scenes of the Great White circling the group and attacking are so chilling and real that they are a startling reminder of why people are still to this day so terrified of these creatures. It's a situation I would most definitely not want to be in. This is truly intense stuff- and by far the best shark film besides the original JAWS that I've ever seen. We were scared silly watching this movie, it was really that frightening. If you are afraid of sharks or deep, dark water, then this might not be the film for you. But if you are a fan of brutal, agonizing suspense and dread that never lets up for one second, take a swim in THE REEF.  It's very reminiscent of that other indie Australian horror flick from a few years back that I loved so much, BLACK WATER. Those Aussies! Good, dark stuff.

THE EXORCIST MODERNIZED TRAILER

   

FRIDAY THE 13TH MODERNIZED TRAILER

     What the trailer for "Friday the 13th" would look like if it were released today...

Saw

I've never been a big fan of the "SAW" films.  I remember watching the original back in 2004, and I remember liking it, but for whatever reason I never really felt compelled to watch any more of them.  However, I recently went back and re-watched "SAW", and I have to say I have a new found respect for the film.  My opinion has changed.

     I found "SAW" much more entertaining the second time.  Maybe I just wasn't in the mood when I saw it years ago.  Anyway, this time I was completely sucked in the first 5 minutes of the film, and honestly couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen.  As I'm sure everybody knows by now, the film starts with two men waking up chained to a bathroom pipe with a dead man lying on the floor between them.  It doesn't take them long to figure out they are prisoners in the lair of serial killer, nicknamed 'Jigsaw'.  It's a sick and gory thrill ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat every second of the way.  I marveled at how scary and creepy it was-I mean, that weird, clown doll slowly riding in on that tri-cycle is the stuff of nightmares. Super creepy.  And "Saw" is very reminiscent of "Se7en"- they both have that gritty and grimy look to them.  It really is a nasty little movie. 

      Looking back, I see it as a smart and engrossing little thriller that's far more than just your average slasher movie. It's not entirely original, but it doesn't matter. Maybe the acting isn't the greatest either, but it was a low-budget film by a first time director and I think the brilliance of the story and script more than make up for it. One minor complaint that I have of the original "Saw"is the editing.  They could have slowed down the pace of the film, and stretched out the tension maybe a bit more.  I prefer a slow burn most of the time- "The House Of The Devil" is a great example of how sometimes slow but  sure can be much more effective.  The almost frenetic editing of the film can be a bit annoying- but like I said, it's a minor complaint.  "Saw" is still extremely engrossing and entertaining.  

     Obviously "Saw" struck a nerve with audiences- released in October of 2004, the film eventually grossed over $100 million worldwide and becoming one of the most profitable horror films since the original "Scream" back in 1996.  Of course they green-lighted a sequel, and audiences happily went on to make the annual "Saw" entry a Halloween staple.  For some reason the franchise started to annoy me and I never truly gave them a chance.  Which is why I went back and re-watched the original.  The greatest horror movie ever?  Of course not.  Do I think it deserves 24 sequels?  No way.  But... I honestly did enjoy watching it the second time around.  Funny how opinions can change on movies sometimes.

HALLOWEEN MODERNIZED TRAILER

     Aren't these just the most fun? Taking classic horror trailers and giving them a modern spin as if these films were being released today is incredibly cool, and some of these are actually very well-done.  So I'm starting off with this fantastic trailer for "Halloween"-  imagine seeing this sitting in a darkened theater... I would so have to see this movie!

SCARY SOUNDS- Halloween 3: Season Of The Witch

   
     Once again, John Carpenter teamed up with Alan Howarth and created yet another awesome and eerie score for the vastly underrated "Halloween 3: Season Of The Witch".  It irritates the hell out of me that so many can't seem to let themselves enjoy all "Halloween 3" has to offer, and the same certainly goes for the score.  It's a perfect example of 80s-synth horror and how it could be so effective when done right.  Once again, like the previous two, there is no symphonic score whatsoever.  It's a great piece, and probably besides the first two, definitely one of the most interesting of the "Halloween" scores.  Regardless of how you feel about the film, the score evokes a great October/Halloween mood.  This is a damn good soundtrack to a very underrated movie.  Check it out.  It's well worth a purchase.

The Twilight Zone- Night Call

     You just cannot beat "The Twilight Zone" for sheer creepiness.  As a whole, many episodes were uneven at best- but when "The Twilight Zone" was on target, oh boy, was it.  Case in point- "Night Call".  "Night Call" is the story of invalid Elva Keene, who's crippled and lonely and miserable- until suddenly and mysteriously she starts getting strange phone calls late at night. There's nothing on the line but sounds of an older man groaning, which greatly disturbs her after the second and third calls.  Nobody seems to believe her, and soon she and the viewer start to question her sanity. Or is it all real?  It's based on the sensational story by the legendary Richard Matheson- the man responsible for such writing such gems as "Trilogy Of Terror", "Die! Die! My Darling!", "Duel", "Kolchak: The Night Stalker", "The Devil Rides Out", "The Incredible Shrinking Man", "The Legend Of Hell House", and "Stir Of Echoes", just to name a few.  I know, right? 

     On top of all that, it's directed by legendary horror director Jacques Tournier, who makes this story rich with possibilities and drenches it in extraordinarily unnerving atmosphere.  This episode packs a punch of gutteral terror.  It's disorienting and scary to be awoken in the middle of the night by a phone call anyway, because it's usually bad news.  But to hear nothing but silence, then a low, unearthly moaning coming from the other line, time after time... is terrifying.  

     It's  a masterpiece of suspenseful storytelling, and one of the best "Twilight Zone" episodes of all time. "Night Call" is simple and terrifying.  As viewers, we feel old Elva's fear- and feel every bit as alone as frightened as she does.  Each ring of the phone sends chills down your spine as she becomes more and more helpless to the situation.  It's fantastic.  This was extremely scary stuff back as a child, and it's just as spooky today.  The ending is classic "Twilight Zone", and still packs a wallop.  It's sad that there hasn't been anything this smart on tv since "The Twilight Zone".  I doubt there ever will be.

Paranormal Activity 3

     As you may know by now, I'm a huge fan of the "Paranormal Activity" movies.  I think they are brilliant, and I love it that they are made so cheap, yet make so much money.  These movies are, at least to me anyway, far more entertaining than your usual, big-budget horror movie.  So as everybody knows by now, the third installment of the hugely successful "Paranormal" franchise is upon us, just in time for our Halloween viewing.  Last night, we attended a 7:20 screening, and like the last one, it was pretty much packed.  The crowd was super psyched, and the movie delivered 100% on what it was supposed to do.  Scare the living shit out of every damn person in the place.

         This time we venture even further back into the mysterious past of sisters Katie and Kristi.  Set in 1988, this installment tells of how the young girls meet Toby, an entity living in their California home.  It opens with a scene of Katie and Kristi as adult sisters from the sequel, and Katie is dropping some boxes off at Kristie's new home.  The boxes contain a lot of Grandma's stuff, including lots of VHS tapes.  We then get to dive right into the tapes, which is footage of the girls' parents, trying to figure out the mysterious things happening in their home back in the 80s.  The mother of young Katie and Kristi, Julie, has a new man, Dennis, who just happens to specialize in filming weddings and video equipment.  Disturbed by the strange disturbances, and with Kristi suddenly talking to "Toby" and insisting he's real, Dennis decides to have three cameras going non-stop at night, determined to catch some evidence of what he thinks is going on in the house.

     This movie rocked, and most definitely lived up to my expectations.  I honestly think they keep getting better, and it's usually the other way around.  This one was a perfect movie to watch this time of the year.  It's got clever and scary homages to "Halloween" and "Poltergeist" sprinkled thoughout, and the brilliant introduction of witchcraft to the series was most definitely an inspired touch.  This was supremely scary stuff.  I know these movies are usually classified as one of those films that simply scaring you by jumping out and shrieking BOO! loudly.  And to be fair, the entire audience jumped quite a few times last night.  But what some don't understand about the "Paranormal" movies is that they slowly and surely builds up the tension and suspense, and then stretches them out almost to the point of being unbearable.  So those loud "jumps" are almost necessary, because they're simply a relief from the tension.  You sit on the edge of your seat, jump, scream, and laugh.  And then suddenly the tension sets in again and you repeat the process.  Yes, these movies are cheaply done, but they don't rely on cheap scares, if you know what I mean.  I'm not exaggerating here.  This movie was definitely scary.  And those last ten minutes were extremely frightening.  I still get chills thinking about it- when you see it, you'll know what I mean.

     I think these films work simply because every single one of us at some time or another have been lying  in our beds shivering and terrified- afraid of the dark, afraid of what's outside our window, in our closet or under our beds.  We've all been spooked by noises in the night, or the feeling of being watched.  We can all relate to the "Paranormal" movies, as simple as they are.  We relate to them on a purely subconscious level.  They take us back to childhood.  That's what I love about them.  They're like the modern day "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th"- tales to be told around a campfire under the stars, or in a tent in the backyard with a flashlight held up under our faces.  It doesn't matter that they are simple or cheaply made.  They simply exist to scare, and do so beautifully.

     "Paranormal Activity 3" has already opened to strong box-office numbers, and of course, they left it open for another sequel.  Normally, I would be groaning at the discovery of a seemingly endless string of anemic sequels that tarnish the good name of the original. "Halloween" again, anyone?  But like I said, these movies are different, as they actually keep getting better instead of worse, and more inventive each time as well.  And watching the third last night only made me want to go back and watch the first two all over again.  It's a love/hate kind of movie, a lot like "The Blair Witch Project", which we can either thank or curse for these kinds of movies now. Although my audience last night loved every damn minute of this film.  In fact, we were all a group as one, completely immersed in the experience, and laughing and giggling at each other for being so freaked out.  It was awesome!