Halloween Horror Marathon 2012

[AndyDursin]

Bleeech. Disagree with you strongly on that one. Then again I think the West movies are an acquired taste...which I've yet to acquire.

[Monterey Jack]

The Signal (2006): 6/10

I liked this better when Stephen King wrote it as Cell.

[Paul MacLean]

Jeez, am I the only one in a Halloween mood this year...?

I generally get home from work at about 10:00 or 11:00, so I hardly ever seem to get a chance to watch movies. I do a movie night with friends once a week...but they hate horror movies.

[Monterey Jack]

Slither (2006): 7.5/10

Good, gruesome fun.

"Where is the Mr. Pibb? I told your secretary to pack Mr. Pibb. It's the only Coke I like. Goddamn Brenda exploding like a water balloon, worms driving my friends around like they're goddamn skin-cars, people are spitting acid at me, turning you into cottage cheese, and now there's no f***ing goddamn Mr. Pibb?!"

[esteban miranda]

Last year I watched a Frankenstein marathon Hallowe'en weekend, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, Son of Frankenstein, Ghost of Frankenstein, Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman, House of Frankenstein, and House of Dracula. That's about my speed when it comes to "horror" movies. Not very ambitious this year, probably just the two Kolchak TV pilot movies and maybe the two Dr. Phibes movies with Vincent Price.

[Monterey Jack]

The Wolfman (2010): 8/10

Sumptious period production with an impeccable cast and a superb Danny Elfman score. It's all a little too blue (like most of today's films), and I wish that more of Rick Baker's makeup effects were presented sans CGI enhancements, but otherwise this is a terrific homage to the golden age of Universal monster movies.

[Monterey Jack]

Theatre Of Blood (1973): 7/10

Fun Vincent Price movie is like a Shakespeareian Se7en, with Price as a disgraced actor getting vengeance on his harshest critics by subjecting them to gruesome/funny fates taken from The Bard. A gorgeously baroque score by Michael J. Lewis is a definite high point.

[Monterey Jack]

Madhouse (1974): 7/10

[Monterey Jack]

The Crow (1994): 9/10

[AndyDursin]

I remember seeing Theater of Blood on the Dailing for Dollars movie (weekdays, 4-6pm) on Channel 6 in Providence growing up. Haven't seen it since, though in general, those '70s British horror flicks aren't my bag (i.e. the Amicus/late era Hammer movies). Think I have it on DVD somewhere though!

Glad to see you enjoyed WOLFMAN. Did you watch the longer version or the theatrical cut? The longer cut generally has more "feel" and it has Max Von Sydow's cameo, though it also adds a continuity problem with the whole Del Toro London introduction and then his later meeting with Blunt. I still think it works better than the abbreviated-feeling theatrical release.

[Monterey Jack]

Yes, I watched the extended cut (in fact, I've never watched the theatrical version). I find Wolfman to be highly underrated...it's not perfect, but of all the recent attempts at ressurecting the classic Universal monster archetypes, it's easilly the most successful. It's too blue like most genre films these days, and one wishes that more of Rick Baker's work weren't replaced/"enhanced" via CGI, but it's beautifully shot and has a terrific cast. Plus, it's unapologetically R-rated without being gross (like, say, Black Christmas ). It has that perfect "Halloween-y" feel that would make it a great double-feature with Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow.

[AndyDursin]

Yes!! I have finally found someone who likes it!! lol. I totally agree. The atmosphere, production design -- all of it solid. And the performances capable too.

I would love to have heard, just for the hell of it, Paul Haslinger's dumped replacement score. Probably the first time in cinema history they threw out a score, had a replacement brought in, then dumped the replacement and went back to the original...unless there's something I'm forgetting about, somewhere along the line.

[Monterey Jack]

Underworld (2003): 7/10

Guilty pleasure time, but any movie with Kate Beckinsale in skintight rubber can't be ignored.

I would love to have heard, just for the hell of it, Paul Haslinger's dumped replacement score. Probably the first time in cinema history they threw out a score, had a replacement brought in, then dumped the replacement and went back to the original...unless there's something I'm forgetting about, somewhere along the line.

After watching Underworld again, I'm really glad they didn't go with a Haslinger replacement score. It's fine for a contemporary action-oriented vampire/werewolf movie, but it would have ruined the meticulous period atmosphere of Wolfman.

[Monterey Jack]

Blacula (1972): 7/10

[AndyDursin]

After watching Underworld again, I'm really glad they didn't go with a Haslinger replacement score. It's fine for a contemporary action-oriented vampire/werewolf movie, but it would have ruined the meticulous period atmosphere of Wolfman.

I agree, I just think, as a buff, it would've been fascinating to see just how much it would've changed the dynamic of the film. It would've been awful...just how awful is something I would've liked to have seen.