Halloween Horror Marathon 2013

[Monterey Jack]

The Return Of The Living Dead (1985): 7/10



Wow...talk about a crummy non-ending ruining an otherwise funny zombie comedy.

And nice new October forum background...three days before the month ends.

[AndyDursin]

Thanks MJ....I wouldve posted the design before but I remember complaints about the black text so I figure a few days was long enough

[Paul MacLean]

Hellboy 2

Ok, it's more action than horror, but it's all I've watched lately that remotely fits this thread! Enjoyable and entertaining -- action-packed, funny (Perlman especially), at times even touching -- but not better than the first one (I think they're equally entertaining). Danny Elfman's score however is very good (far better than the score for the previous movie).

[AndyDursin]

I actually disagree with Paul for a change!! Liked Hellboy 2 much more than the first movie.

TRICK R TREAT 2 was announced tonight MJ if you didnt see it.

[Monterey Jack]

TRICK R TREAT 2 was announced tonight MJ if you didnt see it.

I saw that. I just wonder if it'll get a theatrical release. I'd much rather see a new Trick 'R Treat every Halloween season than another interchangeable Saw or Paranormal Activity sequel...

[AndyDursin]

TRICK R TREAT 2 was announced tonight MJ if you didnt see it.

I saw that. I just wonder if it'll get a theatrical release. I'd much rather see a new Trick 'R Treat every Halloween season than another interchangeable Saw or Paranormal Activity sequel...

Certainly an interesting question...I wonder if Legendary moving over to Universal would bring this project along with it, or if it would still be stuck at Warner Bros. That could play a factor, because Universal's been willing to take other studio's castoff sequels (KICK ASS 2, DUMB & DUMBER 2, HELLBOY 2) and produce them.

[Monterey Jack]

The Creeping Flesh (1973): 6/10



Hammer-wannabe (replete with all of the usual Hammer trappings...Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, gooey violence, a Victorian period setting and plenty of gratuitously plunging necklines) has nice atmosphere, but a plot that's all over the place.

Killer Klowns From Outer Space (1988): 7/10



As silly as it sounds, and pretty funny at that.

[Paul MacLean]

Gothic

Ken's Russell's fictionalized spin on the weekend that inspired Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein. Unassailably well-acted, with Natasha Richardson as Mary, Julian Sands as Shelley, Gabriel Byrne as Lord Byron and the less-well-known but immensely talented (and fetching) Myriam Cyr as Mary's half-sister (and Byron's mistress) Claire. A liberal blend of ghost stories, opium and jealousy sends the characters into a horrific night of paranoia and hallucinationatory terror.

Despite its low budget, Russell makes the most of an able cast and resourceful use of location, adroit camera work and wonderful expressionistic lighting. The idea would seem to have all the makings of a classic -- and artistic -- horror film, but it just falls flat. For starters, it's made clear that the characters' fears stem from their imaginations (brought-on by psychological insecurities, and exacerbated by drugs) and that no supernatural agency (or blade-wielding psychotic) is at play -- so for the viewer, there's nothing actually scary in the film. We know nothing is going to harm our protagonists, since what they fear is all in their heads.

Also, Russell (not for the first time) seems obsessed with revealing (or inventing) the lurid vices of famous artists. We're privy to Byron's incestuous love for his dead sister, and Shelley's open relationship with Mary and Claire, but we learn nothing of their creative spirits or why they hold a place in the pantheon of English literature. Instead these two literary titans are just exploited as fodder for a horror flick.

Gothic also has its share of "Russell-isms" that sometimes tainted his work -- odd imagery that makes no sense and is out-of-place in the context of the story, a disgusting sex scene (between Byron and Claire) and an outright disregard for period accuracy (such as the electric lights in Byron's billiard's room).

The only really interesting sequence comes at the climax, when Mary has a premonition of the dire fates that are to befall her and the other characters (which is the only historically-accurate moment in the entire film). Mary's ruminations about their grim futures also has an eerie resonance today, given that Natasha Richardson herself died a tragic death at a relatively young age.

The score by Thomas Dolby (the perfect choice for a film set in the 19th century! ) is sometimes appropriately eerie, but also clumsy and full of dated synthesizer effects -- and yet, it also features a gorgeous orchestral love theme (albeit orchestrated by John Fiddy, not Dolby).

Artisan's DVD presentation is poor, consisting of a 4:3 transfer from a videotape master (complete with horizontal "bleeding").





Myriam Cyr, the most appealing image in Gothic.

[Monterey Jack]

Mary's ruminations about their grim futures also has an eerie resonance today, given that Miranda Richardson herself died a tragic death at a relatively young age.

That's Natasha Richardson you're thinking of...Miranda Richardson is alive and well.

[AndyDursin]

Red Sox have stripped away some prime viewing opportunities the last few days...will catch up with something this afternoon.

[AndyDursin]

As I'm sure you noticed, I uploaded a different Halloween forum design -- this one is easier on the eyes and looks quite a bit more polished.

[Paul MacLean]

Mary's ruminations about their grim futures also has an eerie resonance today, given that Miranda Richardson herself died a tragic death at a relatively young age.

That's Natasha Richardson you're thinking of...Miranda Richardson is alive and well.

Oops! You're right!

[Monterey Jack]

Stop...Hammertime!

10/30/13:

The Woman In Black (2012): 7/10




Atmospheric period ghost story puts Daniel Radcliffe's woeful delicacy to good use, and there are some truly suspenseful and unnerving moments...shame about the botched, disappointing ending, though.

Sleepy Hollow (1999): 9/10



One of my all-time favorite Halloweentime movies (and Tim Burton films)...just a splendid homage to the classic Hammer horror films, brimming with fun frights, superb visuals, a lush Danny Elfman score and excellent performance from Johnny Depp (the last time he appeared in a Burton movie not covered in white pancake makeup with dark-ringed eyes ) and Christina Ricci (never lovelier). The only minor flaws are a number of narrative lapses...you can tell this was a LOT longer in the rough cut before getting trimmed for theatrical release. I'd love to see the deleted footage someday.

[Paul MacLean]

The Lair of the White Worm

A vast improvement on Gothic, Russell goes for a more comedic touch this time out, and the result is a funny, campy (and at times genuinely creepy) thrill-ride. I can do without the rape imagery in the hallucinations, but overall this is movie is a lot of fun (though very kinky and not for everyone!). Stanislas Syrewicz's music is also very effective and adds greatly to film's atmosphere (particularly his sultry saxophone theme for Amanda Donahoe's snake goddess).

It's also remarkable to consider that when this film was made, Sammi Davis and Catherine Oxenberg were actually the most famous members of the cast, and Hugh Grant was an unknown!

[Monterey Jack]

HAPPY HALLOWEEN...!

Coraline (2009): 10/10




Just a gorgeous, captivating film, creepy in the most kid-pleasing ways possible.