Christmas Evil has a tone of its own. At times its this bizzare psychological thriller on a man wanting to become Saint Nick and spreading the joy of giving to kids. Then at times it feels like a mild slasher with a few grizzly killings along the way. It even feels like a black comedy at times with some morbidly funny moments. Harry decending into a real life Santa Claus I think couldve been executed a bit better as there's no reason to feel sympathy when Harry starts killing people as the film never seems to have a breaking point for his change. Still Christmas Evil is worth a watch if you want something different in your stocking this holiday season. Brandon Maggart does an excellent job in the role & the cinematography is pretty stellar. Nothing like most of the more schlock heavy slashers coming out from that time.
Reviews
158 Reviews
Black Christmas
(1974)
Creepiest phone calls you'll ever hear in film
13 December 2022
This Original Classic pre-dates John Carpenter's Halloween and introduces many film tropes that have become Staples in the slasher genre. Sure plenty of slashers were made before this like the many Italian giallos films, but black christmas was the one to really kickstart the genre. John Carpenter even said this movie was what influenced him to do Halloween.
The killer Billy is never seen, other than a silhouette in one scene, and his phone calls are disturbing. I believe you could go insane if you listen to them long enough. It's uses of POV camera techniques gives an eeriee & horrifying perspective into Billy's bloodthirsty lurking. The film especially has things you wouldn't see common in 1974 films such a strong vulgar language & the main character considering getting an abortion. It's an excellent horror film to be observed even if its premise is now basic. Good characters and a chilling holiday atmosphere.
The killer Billy is never seen, other than a silhouette in one scene, and his phone calls are disturbing. I believe you could go insane if you listen to them long enough. It's uses of POV camera techniques gives an eeriee & horrifying perspective into Billy's bloodthirsty lurking. The film especially has things you wouldn't see common in 1974 films such a strong vulgar language & the main character considering getting an abortion. It's an excellent horror film to be observed even if its premise is now basic. Good characters and a chilling holiday atmosphere.
Wednesday
(2022– )
Neat, sweet and morbidly unique
10 December 2022
With a long history of different adaptations of Charles Addam's classic characters Wednesday is no doubt the most ambitious. Sent to a Supernatural Academy for outcasts like herself, Wednesday Addams must uncover a strange series of murders happening on the campus.
At first I was a bit puzzled about a character that sticks out of the normal environment going to a school where she blends right in cuz it would make situations less funny and not letting the character stand out. But to my surprise everything for the most part works tremendously with its excellent production & set design, colorful cast of supporting characters, and of course Jenna Ortega as our lead weirdo. Ortega was born to play this modern interpretation of Wednesday Addams. Channeling that same dark energy Christina Ricci brought in the '90s films while also making it her own, Ortega delivers plenty of morbid humor as well as showing much wit into solving this grizzly case. As expected Wednesday doesn't show much emotion for her situations but the moments she does they generally do hit hard. Emma Myers lights up every scene as Wednesday's roommate Enid while Joy Sunday as Bianca gets plenty to do then what one could expect from the usual bully tropes. There's tons of easter eggs throughout that'll make Addam's Family enthusiast like myself smile manically.
There are a few things that keep the show from hitting gold status. While the murder mystery is pretty engaging the whole way through I was able to predict who it was going to be before the end. It's probably never a good idea to make your characters overly nice cuz that makes it too obvious. While I appreciate the show for getting an actor that resembles a more comic accurate Gomez Addams, Luis Guzmán just doesn't have that energy or sharp charisma seen in previous performances nor does he share barely any chemistry with Catherine Zeta-Jones's Morticia. Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester also doesn't make for a very good portrayal of the character. There's also this love triangle with Wednesday and two other students at the academy who are dull as dishwater.
Despite these shortcomings Wednesday is a solid effort nevertheless. It shouldn't be anyone's first time discovering The Addams Family but definitely a refreshing take for the formula. Without its aesthetic and excellent performances it would just be another standard teen drama.
At first I was a bit puzzled about a character that sticks out of the normal environment going to a school where she blends right in cuz it would make situations less funny and not letting the character stand out. But to my surprise everything for the most part works tremendously with its excellent production & set design, colorful cast of supporting characters, and of course Jenna Ortega as our lead weirdo. Ortega was born to play this modern interpretation of Wednesday Addams. Channeling that same dark energy Christina Ricci brought in the '90s films while also making it her own, Ortega delivers plenty of morbid humor as well as showing much wit into solving this grizzly case. As expected Wednesday doesn't show much emotion for her situations but the moments she does they generally do hit hard. Emma Myers lights up every scene as Wednesday's roommate Enid while Joy Sunday as Bianca gets plenty to do then what one could expect from the usual bully tropes. There's tons of easter eggs throughout that'll make Addam's Family enthusiast like myself smile manically.
There are a few things that keep the show from hitting gold status. While the murder mystery is pretty engaging the whole way through I was able to predict who it was going to be before the end. It's probably never a good idea to make your characters overly nice cuz that makes it too obvious. While I appreciate the show for getting an actor that resembles a more comic accurate Gomez Addams, Luis Guzmán just doesn't have that energy or sharp charisma seen in previous performances nor does he share barely any chemistry with Catherine Zeta-Jones's Morticia. Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester also doesn't make for a very good portrayal of the character. There's also this love triangle with Wednesday and two other students at the academy who are dull as dishwater.
Despite these shortcomings Wednesday is a solid effort nevertheless. It shouldn't be anyone's first time discovering The Addams Family but definitely a refreshing take for the formula. Without its aesthetic and excellent performances it would just be another standard teen drama.
The Menu
(2022)
Exquisite thrilling dish with a side of dark humor
4 December 2022
Essentially a satire on food critics and the artistic value of food in general, The Menu is as intense as it is hilarious. Despite most the movie taking place in one room it always stays in rhythm to keep you at the edge of your seat. Ralph Fiennes as celebrity chef Julian Slowik makes for such an intimidating antagonist that even the sound of his hands clapping together makes for very effective jumpscares. Anya Taylor-Joy manages to stick out in this twisted nightmare with sharp charisma and sassiness. A great deal of dark humor is also present which helps counterbalance the intense moments for some very chuckle heavy lines. A fun ride with all the right ingredients intact.
Intense and effective from start to finish
30 November 2022
The long ongoing feud between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis is beyond Legendary. And this film ignited kerosene into their relationship. Crawford plays former movie star now paralegic Blanche Hudson trapped in the confines of her own house due to the erratic behavior of her once famous child star sister Baby Jane Hudson. Bette Davis brings so much camp & intensity to Baby Jane with her ghoulish pale makeup and broken child like mannerisms. It keeps you on the edge of your seat leaving you only guessing what she's gonna do next. Joan Crawford's performance is like a scared animal trying to escape this nightmare induced cage that seems impossible. The characters are so much at each other's throats that you really feel the real life rivalry of the two actresses bleed through the film. Shot beautifully in this almost dreamy quality it's an unpleasant melodrama that continues to stand the test of time due impart to its Powerhouse acting & absorbing creepy atmosphere.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
(2022 TV Special)
MCU Christmas special with a taste of bacon
28 November 2022
Leave it to James Gunn for ending phase 4 of the MCU with this heartwarming and hilarious holiday special. Starting off like most holiday specials do with neat animation, reminiscent of the old rotoscope techniques in the style of movies like Heavy Metal. This animation reveals to us the tragic backstory of how Peter Quill lost his excitement for Christmas. Against All Odds Quill's friends Mantis and Drax must travel to Los Angeles on Earth to track down Quill's lifelong hero Kevin Bacon. Although Star-Lord and the other Guardians are left as just supporting characters the scenes with Chris Pratt as Peter Quill make for some emotional moments. The real fun however starts when the dynamic duo of Mantis and Drax start wreaking havoc in Los Angeles. Usually always seen as a minor supporting character Pom Klementieff shines as Mantis once again with her most compelling performance of the character yet. You'll find yourself bursting out laughing every time she calls out Drax's banter. Dave Bautista is fun to watch as always as the naive Drax. Kevin Bacon is also obviously having a good time playing himself experiencing this Christmas craziness & his wholesome and humble performance makes up for some viewers who may not be aware of his actual film career. At just 40 minutes it breezes by quick but leaves you with a good merry feeling after watching it.
Decent sophomore season
24 November 2022
Season 2 was an overall pretty solid season. The plot for all eight episodes flowed perfectly without any slowdowns. The trio of Jake, Devin, and Lexy once again shine as our protagonists going not just up against Chucky and his cult again but also the confines of a Catholic School. This makes for a tight locked setting as it's religious themes play with the vulnerabilities of our heroes, this being Jake and Devin's relationship and Lexy's drug addiction. Nadine was also a sweet new addition. The entire cast do excellent jobs with Brad Dourif not just doing what he does best as Chucky again but also adding some variety to his voice for some interesting takes such as a brainwashed good Chucky. I also never knew how much I wanted to see a Chucky do an impression of Marlon Brando from Apocalypse Now. Newcomer Lachlan Watson also does a really good job playing the Dual role of Chucky's child Glen/Glenda & I was so happy to finally get some long time questions I've had from Seed of Chucky answered in this season.
The only episode that really falters is its season finale. By the end a lot of things carried over from season 1 doesn't feel that earned or that satisfying. Also while I can handle Chucky being really silly at times giving him a credit card batman & robin style was a bit much.
Season 2 may not have been as strong as season 1 but was still insane macabre fun nevertheless. It has enough new ideas to make it stand out from everything we've seen before. Looking forward to season 3.
The only episode that really falters is its season finale. By the end a lot of things carried over from season 1 doesn't feel that earned or that satisfying. Also while I can handle Chucky being really silly at times giving him a credit card batman & robin style was a bit much.
Season 2 may not have been as strong as season 1 but was still insane macabre fun nevertheless. It has enough new ideas to make it stand out from everything we've seen before. Looking forward to season 3.
The Entity
(1982)
Underrated gem about paranormal sexual victimhood
16 November 2022
A female being repeatedly sexually assaulted is disturbing enough but when it happens to be from an unseen entity it makes for an even more unsettling concept. Despite its ludicrous premise The Entity is anything but exploitative schlock. It's a suspenseful tale of a woman being robbed of her dignity by this malevolent force of evil. Accompanied with some impressive effects work from the legendary Stan Winston & a Charles Bernstein score full of discomfort. The film even goes the extra length to show both psychiatrists & parapsychologists opinions on the predicament. It might suffer from a contrived third act that doesn't gel well with the rest of the movie but it nevertheless makes for a very thrilling watch.
"In my culture, Death is not the end"-T'Challa
11 November 2022
With the passing of Chadwick Boseman in 2020 & the decision to not recast T'Challa, continuing on with a sequel just didn't seem right. But somehow director Ryan Coogler managed to overcome the Impossible by crafting a solid follow-up thanks in part to it's stellar cast.
Right from the get-go we watch as the nation of wakanda is mourning the loss of its king. Grief plays a strong role in the story and we see how T'Challa's death impacts everyone he knew closely. From a mother, to a sister, to a lover, and even a rival turned friend. T'Challa's spirit no doubt hovers over this film & makes for some emotional and heartfelt moments. I cant imagine the difficult task going from supporting to main focus that Letitia Wright had to go up against. But she wonderfully plays Shuri again this time as not just a funny sidekick but now a righteous fighter struggling to carry her family's Legacy forward. It may be hard to see her as the new forefront of the franchise right now but only time will tell if it sticks. The standout performance was no doubt Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda. You really believe this woman lost her son where it's hard to tell if she's grieving for T'Challa, or Boseman, or even both. All the Supporting Cast do excellent jobs growing as their characters and the addition of Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams/Ironheart makes for a very appealing new face to the MCU. Among this great tragedy is the coming of an underwater tribe called the Talokan led by the dominating Namor. Although he may not be as compelling as Eric killmonger from the last film he makes for a solid antagonist that's both ruthless and sympathetic.
The movie has its hiccups. For the first 2 acts the movie feels like it really struggles to find its main character. Shuri seems to be made out as the lead but she goes in and out through the story and doesn't become much of the focus until the third act. Also while most the supporting cast worked for me the subplot with Martin Freeman's Agent Ross didn't seem to serve much purpose and couldve easily saved the movie's bloated runtime an extra 20 minutes.
Black Panther Wakanda Forever was never gonna be as impactful as its first outing. But thanks to a strong cast, beautifully crafted visuals, fun action sequences, and of course the emotional weight of our lost hero, it makes for a worthy follow up that worked better than It had any right to.
Right from the get-go we watch as the nation of wakanda is mourning the loss of its king. Grief plays a strong role in the story and we see how T'Challa's death impacts everyone he knew closely. From a mother, to a sister, to a lover, and even a rival turned friend. T'Challa's spirit no doubt hovers over this film & makes for some emotional and heartfelt moments. I cant imagine the difficult task going from supporting to main focus that Letitia Wright had to go up against. But she wonderfully plays Shuri again this time as not just a funny sidekick but now a righteous fighter struggling to carry her family's Legacy forward. It may be hard to see her as the new forefront of the franchise right now but only time will tell if it sticks. The standout performance was no doubt Angela Bassett as Queen Ramonda. You really believe this woman lost her son where it's hard to tell if she's grieving for T'Challa, or Boseman, or even both. All the Supporting Cast do excellent jobs growing as their characters and the addition of Dominique Thorne's Riri Williams/Ironheart makes for a very appealing new face to the MCU. Among this great tragedy is the coming of an underwater tribe called the Talokan led by the dominating Namor. Although he may not be as compelling as Eric killmonger from the last film he makes for a solid antagonist that's both ruthless and sympathetic.
The movie has its hiccups. For the first 2 acts the movie feels like it really struggles to find its main character. Shuri seems to be made out as the lead but she goes in and out through the story and doesn't become much of the focus until the third act. Also while most the supporting cast worked for me the subplot with Martin Freeman's Agent Ross didn't seem to serve much purpose and couldve easily saved the movie's bloated runtime an extra 20 minutes.
Black Panther Wakanda Forever was never gonna be as impactful as its first outing. But thanks to a strong cast, beautifully crafted visuals, fun action sequences, and of course the emotional weight of our lost hero, it makes for a worthy follow up that worked better than It had any right to.
Black Panther
(2018)
The triumphant brief journey of King T'Challa
9 November 2022
Although Black Panther is far from the first superhero film to feature a black lead it's definitely the first superhero film with a mostly black cast. Their accompanied by the world of Wakanda which is a vast technological Nation that also represents African traditions. With its impressive grand scale and lavish sets and costumes it opens up a new world and culture never seen before in the MCU till now. The movie's biggest strong point is how it shows what it really means to be African and African-American to the people & tribes its representing. We watch as newly crowned King T'Challa puts his Royal skills to the test protecting his country while also updating the old standards his father left behind. While he may not have the most thrilling journey compared to other heroes we've seen T'Challa makes for a likable good-hearted Warrior thanks to Chadwick Boseman's affectionate charm. Michael B Jordan is no doubt the standout as the rageful Eric Killmonger. An intimidating antagonist each time he walks in a room, you despise his doings but also sympathize with where he's coming from as a lost mercenary looking to gain power for not him but for the people he knows that need it. All combined with an excellent Supporting Cast & exciting fun action that always keeps your attention the whole way through.
The only downside to it for me at least is the final confrontation between t'challa and killmonger. There was a missed opportunity to have them fight maybe above a temple with a beautiful sunset in the background. Instead it takes place on a pretty lame looking train track with less than stellar CGI. For as impressive as most the visuals are in the film it's a shame it had to tank on this particular part.
It's sad that since Boseman's passing we won't get to see T'Challa grow as a character anymore cause there was definitely much more to tell. But let's be grateful we got at least one fantastic solo film with him. A big highlight not just for the MCU but for its representation of Africans globally. WAKANDA FOREVER!!!
The only downside to it for me at least is the final confrontation between t'challa and killmonger. There was a missed opportunity to have them fight maybe above a temple with a beautiful sunset in the background. Instead it takes place on a pretty lame looking train track with less than stellar CGI. For as impressive as most the visuals are in the film it's a shame it had to tank on this particular part.
It's sad that since Boseman's passing we won't get to see T'Challa grow as a character anymore cause there was definitely much more to tell. But let's be grateful we got at least one fantastic solo film with him. A big highlight not just for the MCU but for its representation of Africans globally. WAKANDA FOREVER!!!
Diary of a Madman
(1963)
I've paid for my sins
7 November 2022
Vincent Price plays tormented sculptor Simon Cordier trying to rid himself of this malevolent entity consuming his sanity. Although the role has similarities to price's earlier film House of Wax he plays it so well with his usual charismatic charm and dedication that it easily gets a pass. Despite it's fairly low budget Diary of a Madman looks more high quality than it is thanks to it's excellent set design. The movie delivers some solid memorable imagery such as the eerie green glow on characters eyes as well as levitating objects hurling towards Simon. The most shocking moment is no doubt when Simon discovers his female model's head molded beneath his sculpture. It's nothing special of a horror movie but makes for a good late night watch & Price keeps your attention like always.
Good for Laurie, bad for Michael
5 November 2022
Halloween H2O had potential to become a great sequel for the series after two pretty lackluster entries. And while it certainly surpasses those films it's unfortunately nothing more than an basic thriller.
Jamie Lee Curtis's return to the franchise is the whole reason to see it. We see how Laurie Strode has been trying to deal with the trauma from that terrifying night back in 1978. Curtis has plenty of good moments especially towards the end but watching a woman hide as a teacher chugging down Chardonnay just isn't that engaging to sit through. She also has dramatic conflicts with her son John but it hardly goes anywhere and he's a big downgrade from Laurie's other child Jamie Lloyd from the other movies. A good chunk of the movie focuses on John & his friends but they have no development and are just there to be the sex driven teenagers for Michael to slay. Michael Myers himself is almost a joke as he's never intimidating in any scene and it doesn't help that the mask in this film looks too tight with revealing eye holes that makes him look goofy. It's scarier when you just see darkness in his eyes. And without a character like Dr Loomis it feels like the movie has no direction and makes this shape feel like a shadow of its former self. It takes way too long to get going with Michael not even showing up to the school till the near hour mark. It doesn't help either that John Ottman's score is pretty lackluster & the addition of Marco Beltrami's music pieces from Scream just doesn't pack a punch and barely ever feels like a Halloween movie cause of it. And not to mention theirs tons of annoying false jumpscares.
Halloween H2O had all the ingredients to be the best sequel since the original but unfortunately it doesn't even do that. It's just a bland middle of the road slasher that although focuses a lot on its final girl it sadly misses the mark on its villain. It's far from the worst sequel but it's honestly probably the most boring one to sit through in my opinion. Halloween 2018 is a far better comeback sequel.
Jamie Lee Curtis's return to the franchise is the whole reason to see it. We see how Laurie Strode has been trying to deal with the trauma from that terrifying night back in 1978. Curtis has plenty of good moments especially towards the end but watching a woman hide as a teacher chugging down Chardonnay just isn't that engaging to sit through. She also has dramatic conflicts with her son John but it hardly goes anywhere and he's a big downgrade from Laurie's other child Jamie Lloyd from the other movies. A good chunk of the movie focuses on John & his friends but they have no development and are just there to be the sex driven teenagers for Michael to slay. Michael Myers himself is almost a joke as he's never intimidating in any scene and it doesn't help that the mask in this film looks too tight with revealing eye holes that makes him look goofy. It's scarier when you just see darkness in his eyes. And without a character like Dr Loomis it feels like the movie has no direction and makes this shape feel like a shadow of its former self. It takes way too long to get going with Michael not even showing up to the school till the near hour mark. It doesn't help either that John Ottman's score is pretty lackluster & the addition of Marco Beltrami's music pieces from Scream just doesn't pack a punch and barely ever feels like a Halloween movie cause of it. And not to mention theirs tons of annoying false jumpscares.
Halloween H2O had all the ingredients to be the best sequel since the original but unfortunately it doesn't even do that. It's just a bland middle of the road slasher that although focuses a lot on its final girl it sadly misses the mark on its villain. It's far from the worst sequel but it's honestly probably the most boring one to sit through in my opinion. Halloween 2018 is a far better comeback sequel.
Freddy vs. Jason
(2003)
Delivers on the Showdown, everything else not so much
5 November 2022
It was inevitable that the two Titans of Terror would come face to face at some point and after years of development hell it was finally unleashed in 2003. The movie does a well job at making it feel like both a Nightmare on Elm Street and a Friday the 13th film. Jason Voorhees goes around killing party crazy teenagers while Freddy Krueger terrorizes these youths in their dreams. It's not before long they duke it out in not just one but two battles. The first being in Freddy's lair the boiler room while the other is at Camp Crystal Lake. There's also color filters added to some scenes of the characters. When it's freddy it's usually red and when it's Jason it's usually blue sort of like a battle of the elements. There's plenty of great moments between their brawl such as Jason shoving Freddy through dozens of windows while Freddy stabs Jason in the eyes with his razor glove.
Everything else the movie has to offer however is pretty dull and annoying. You could care less about these protagonists & their situations. Lori is just a generic final girl that they try so hard to give a tragic past to. Will is the dull as dish water love interest. Not to mention some pretty obnoxious side characters like Kelly Rowland's Kia & a Jason Mewes like stoner. I get the whole movie couldn't just be Freddy and Jason fighting but their at least couldve been time to write better compelling characters.
Freddy vs Jason is still a fun watch despite the terrible protagonists. It definitely stuck out at that time compared to today where crossovers are a lot more frequent now. I hope one day soon we get more horror icon crossovers like this.
Everything else the movie has to offer however is pretty dull and annoying. You could care less about these protagonists & their situations. Lori is just a generic final girl that they try so hard to give a tragic past to. Will is the dull as dish water love interest. Not to mention some pretty obnoxious side characters like Kelly Rowland's Kia & a Jason Mewes like stoner. I get the whole movie couldn't just be Freddy and Jason fighting but their at least couldve been time to write better compelling characters.
Freddy vs Jason is still a fun watch despite the terrible protagonists. It definitely stuck out at that time compared to today where crossovers are a lot more frequent now. I hope one day soon we get more horror icon crossovers like this.
Halloween II
(1981)
A good sequel, just not as good as the first
31 October 2022
John Carpenter's 1978 classic Halloween Kickstarted the slasher genre with many imitators. So it was inevitable that a sequel to it would be made. While there couldve been potential for the sequel to continue the first film's path of building suspense over bloody violent kills, it instead does just that & ends up blending in with the other slashers of the 1980s. There are still solid moments of Michael Myers stalking victims with ease, especially towards the third act, but most the time the movie just feels like showing off horrendous deaths over creating tension. Making the movie a direct sequel also was a bit of a mistake cuz it doesn't give time for the characters to develop further. Laurie Strode is the biggest victim to this as most the movie is her just lying in a bed barely talking. And of course this was the movie that introduced the tacky motive of Michael trying to kill Laurie cuz they're brother and sister and it takes away the villian's mystique to a less scary degree.
Despite these flaws Halloween 2 is still a good sequel for what it is and honestly one of the best slasher sequels the '80s gave us. It still manages to deliver the same atmosphere as the first due to cinematographer Dean Cundy returning. The shots of the shadowy night-time neighborhood streets still look & feel identical to the first movie again. The hospital setting while despite being unrealistically empty makes for an unsettling and claustrophobic environment for michael to stalk. Donald Pleasence is still great if not better as Dr Loomis again as we watch him near the brink of insanity. It really feels like they tried capturing that same Lightening in a bottle like in the first movie again but that wouldve been impossible.
Despite these flaws Halloween 2 is still a good sequel for what it is and honestly one of the best slasher sequels the '80s gave us. It still manages to deliver the same atmosphere as the first due to cinematographer Dean Cundy returning. The shots of the shadowy night-time neighborhood streets still look & feel identical to the first movie again. The hospital setting while despite being unrealistically empty makes for an unsettling and claustrophobic environment for michael to stalk. Donald Pleasence is still great if not better as Dr Loomis again as we watch him near the brink of insanity. It really feels like they tried capturing that same Lightening in a bottle like in the first movie again but that wouldve been impossible.
Hail to the Pumpkin King
31 October 2022
Some viewers who watch Nightmare Before Christmas for the first time may not see at first why it's one of the most celebrated holiday films ever made. Yes the dialogue is basic, it's not super funny, and there's no real dramatic stakes involved. But that wasn't the movie's purpose. There's a reason why many past holiday specials, especially the classics from Rankin Bass, still stand the test of time. They went for simple yet inventive concepts and that's exactly what Nightmare before Christmas did. As simple as the story may be combining two holidays together like Halloween and Christmas couldn't have been easy. But the movie managed to make it work by showing how much these two holidays don't work together. And of course with the combined efforts of Henry Selick's directing, the brilliant imagination of Tim Burton, as well as the catchy song numbers Danny Elfman knocked right out of the park, we get one of the most unique and creatively imaginative holiday tales ever put to screen. I've Loved this film my whole life and will continue to make it a tradition to watch every October & December as I look forward to seeing Jack, Sally, Zero, Oogie Boogie, as well as every other resident in HalloweenTown every year. Merry Christmas and a happy Halloween to all.
Homicidal
(1961)
Couldve been better but an amusing watch
27 October 2022
Director William Castle was always known for aping Alfred Hitchcock's Style. Homicidal is no doubt his version of Psycho. But unlike Psycho which takes till the bridge of the movie to start seeing the mayhem began, Homicidal begins right off the back with a brutal stabbing of a man which must have been very controversial for 1961. Afterwards that's sadly most of the suspense we get for now. Most of the movie is just filler & backstory to sit thru that definitely meanders. But the last 15 minutes does sorta make up for it with a pretty outrageous twist ending I personally didn't see coming. But before then we get of course what William castles probably best remembered for now, his gimmicks. Before the twist ending is revealed he gives us a "fright break" which advised the audience that anyone too scared to see the climax could go into the lobby and get their money back. For this gimmick, Columbia shipped a cardboard "Coward's Corner" to theaters playing the film. Supposedly, audience members too frightened to see the climax could go to the "Coward's Corner" and wait there until the film ended and the rest of the audience filed past. Apparently no one took the offer.
Overall it's a solid film. If most the movie was as strong as it's twist ending I think it definitely wouldve been more well-known. For what it is it's definitely one of William Castles more unique films and the gimmick when the Fright break clock shows up & we hear castle's voice is still funny & amusing.
Overall it's a solid film. If most the movie was as strong as it's twist ending I think it definitely wouldve been more well-known. For what it is it's definitely one of William Castles more unique films and the gimmick when the Fright break clock shows up & we hear castle's voice is still funny & amusing.
House of Wax
(1953)
The Uncanny Valley of the Wax
27 October 2022
As the 3D craze was emerging from the early 50s House of Wax couldve easily just been a cheaply made B movie to capitalize on the gimmick. Luckily the film isnt that at all. It's a fantastic eerie little chiller thanks largely in part to its fine directing, effective atmosphere of the wax museum, and its excellent cast. Particularly Vincent Price. Although he appeared in many other horror movies before mostly in just supporting roles, this film was the one that began to finally cement his status as a horror icon. With his charming elegant presence & shakespearean body language it's hard to believe that he's the black-coated deformed monster trailing the streets looking for fresh bodies to immortalize in his Museum. The rest of the cast is also great, including an appearance from a very young Carolyn Jones AKA Morticia Adams from The Addams Family. Although it's mystery aspect may be predictable to some House of Wax makes for a creepy & effective watch you surely dont wanna miss.
Mystery of the Wax Museum
(1933)
Two-strip Technicolor Terror
26 October 2022
When most think of 1930s horror films usually they think of just black and white. But next to director Michael Curtiz's previous horror Doctor X, this film stands out from that time period for being processed in the very underused Two Strip Technicolor. It's combinations of lavish envy greens and juicy ruby reds gives the film a very soft faded glow. Like you're almost looking at an old withered fashion magazine. It's premise on a murder mystery tied in with a wax museum was a concept destined to be made for film. Lionel Atwill plays the broken and poetic sculptor Ivan Igor hiding a very unnerving secret. Glenda Farrell is no doubt a standout as a spunky sassy reporter trying to uncover this wax coated conspiracy. Because this film was made in the pre code era there are many themes that were barely ever touched upon again for a while. These include suicide, sexism, pornography, drug addiction, alcoholism, and even bootlegging. It's a very daring movie for 1933 and one that should definitely not be forgotten.
Mark of the Vampire
(1935)
Atmospheric with an unexpected twist
26 October 2022
Mark of the Vampire took a pretty bold chance with its concept & ending for 1935 standards. At first it seems like it's just another black and white horror film from the 30s with everything you'd expect. From the fake bats on strings to the hysterical screaming women and of course Bela Lugosi dressed as a vampire that isn't Dracula. By its last half it's much more than that and without spoilers the ending is pretty ambitious while also illogically absurd. Some will find it annoying although I found it to be pretty unique for the time.
As a horror film itself it's pretty decent. Tod Browning delivers almost the same atmosphere he brought in Dracula with dark shadows, cobwebs, and thick fog surrounding the film. While Lugosi is of course great as always it's Carroll Borland as the vampiric daughter Luna thats truly the standout. She portrays a haunting Gothic beauty while also emulating the same hypnotic presence Lugosi always brings. At just an hour runtime Mark of the Vampire is definitely worth a watch for any classic horror enthusiasts.
As a horror film itself it's pretty decent. Tod Browning delivers almost the same atmosphere he brought in Dracula with dark shadows, cobwebs, and thick fog surrounding the film. While Lugosi is of course great as always it's Carroll Borland as the vampiric daughter Luna thats truly the standout. She portrays a haunting Gothic beauty while also emulating the same hypnotic presence Lugosi always brings. At just an hour runtime Mark of the Vampire is definitely worth a watch for any classic horror enthusiasts.
Terrifier 2
(2022)
An over 2-hour brutal nightmare
25 October 2022
Terrifier 2 continues director Damien Leone's tale of a sadistic Psychopathic clown in mean-spirited fashion. This time with a much more compelling story and characters than the last. Lauren LaVera makes for a solid final girl while Elliott Fullam works as her younger sibling. Its of course David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown however that truly steals the show again committing such heinous massacres while also pulling many goofy macabre antics. My life feels complete now that I've seen a slasher movie where a killer takes his bloody clothes to a laundromat.
It's run time is a mixed bag. Though I wouldn't say I was bored in any moment of the film there were definite moments that couldve been edited shorter. The film also has this illogical mythology to Art as well as subplots that the director seemed to want to tell but couldn't, at least not for this film. Still Terrifier 2 delivers on what one would expect from a throwback Grindhouse Splatter flick. No doubt improves over the first with good protagonists, remarkable set designs, & extremely graphic fatalities not for the faint of heart. Looking forward to Terrifier 3, and no Mr. Leone it doesn't have to be 3 hours long.
It's run time is a mixed bag. Though I wouldn't say I was bored in any moment of the film there were definite moments that couldve been edited shorter. The film also has this illogical mythology to Art as well as subplots that the director seemed to want to tell but couldn't, at least not for this film. Still Terrifier 2 delivers on what one would expect from a throwback Grindhouse Splatter flick. No doubt improves over the first with good protagonists, remarkable set designs, & extremely graphic fatalities not for the faint of heart. Looking forward to Terrifier 3, and no Mr. Leone it doesn't have to be 3 hours long.
Terrifier
(2016)
Throwback slasher with a great horror performance
24 October 2022
Terrifier is a low budget throwback slasher through and through. It lacks well developed characters & a strong plot but makes up for it with gruesome practical effects and one of the best horror villian performances I've seen in a while. David Howard Thornton brings so much personality to the role of Art the Clown. He's devious, unpleasant, & maniacally hilarious to watch. It's also refreshing to see a horror villain that uses body language rather than spitting cheesy one-liners. Unpredictable with his slayings, he could be stalking one victim but may also stop to take a quick selfie with one of the corpses.
It gets abit too mean-spirited at times but terrifier is no doubt becoming a cult classic. If not for Thornton's performance and some spectacular practical effects this would just be another middle of the road Slasher flick.
It gets abit too mean-spirited at times but terrifier is no doubt becoming a cult classic. If not for Thornton's performance and some spectacular practical effects this would just be another middle of the road Slasher flick.
House on Haunted Hill
(1959)
Mediocre murder mystery but spooky fun
24 October 2022
House on Haunted Hill is both a murder mystery while also poking fun at the cliched haunted house genre that was already getting tired out by that point in time. As far as it's murder mystery aspect goes it's pretty underwhelming in its plot development. There's no clues or hardly any buildup to keep the story very engaging & your left feeling alienated from it most the time. All leading to an ending the doesn't feel too impactful.
However where it does succeed is it's spooky charm and camp factor. Some viewers may watch it and take it too seriously at first but it's meant to be playing around with the old school haunted house tropes. One example is two ghostly looking beings popping out of nowhere and scaring the character Nora to death. But it later turns out to just be the house's caretakers and they're never seen again. Vincent Price is the star of the film & like always he's excellent. His intro to inviting the guests really feels like he's talking directly to us as if we're one of them along for this ride. The scenes with him and his wife talking about murdering each other are the best parts & it's pretty interesting to hear such dark macabre humor in an early horror film like this.
The film is essentially like classic Halloween decorations. They're not that scary but theyre traditional & very amusing to look at. A fun spooky time as long as you don't expect too much from the story.
However where it does succeed is it's spooky charm and camp factor. Some viewers may watch it and take it too seriously at first but it's meant to be playing around with the old school haunted house tropes. One example is two ghostly looking beings popping out of nowhere and scaring the character Nora to death. But it later turns out to just be the house's caretakers and they're never seen again. Vincent Price is the star of the film & like always he's excellent. His intro to inviting the guests really feels like he's talking directly to us as if we're one of them along for this ride. The scenes with him and his wife talking about murdering each other are the best parts & it's pretty interesting to hear such dark macabre humor in an early horror film like this.
The film is essentially like classic Halloween decorations. They're not that scary but theyre traditional & very amusing to look at. A fun spooky time as long as you don't expect too much from the story.
Trick 'r Treat
(2007)
Fun horror mandatory for the Halloween season
22 October 2022
Trick r Treat was the perfect movie horror fans needed for the Halloween season. An anthology film but with stories interconnected and told almost like a comic book panel. It's an obvious throwback to the classic EC Comics in almost the same vein Creepshow was. It's a movie that just oozes and screams the Halloween season with an orange color palette, beautiful Autumn cinematography, and jack-o-lanterns in almost every frame. There's four stories happening & each one gives you a different variety. There's a insane killer principle, a group of ghost children, some girls heading to a party with an outrageous twist, and finally a grumpy old strooge who hates the tradition. They're all accompanied by the spirit of Halloween himself Sam who's already become a horror icon despite only being in one movie. With his burlap sack mask, orange pajamas, and psycho but childlike nature he's the perfect embodiment of the Halloween season the same way Santa Claus is to Christmas.
Although it's no horror masterpiece Trick r Treat is just a fun good time to enjoy every season and to help get you in the mood for all things spooky and strange. Happy all hollows eve.
Although it's no horror masterpiece Trick r Treat is just a fun good time to enjoy every season and to help get you in the mood for all things spooky and strange. Happy all hollows eve.
A frustrating derailing sequel
19 October 2022
Halloween 4 was such a excellent comeback sequel that it's so frustrating we got a sloppy follow up like Halloween 5. It's especially such a cop out that they didn't follow up where the last one left off on Jamie taking the mantle of Haddonfield's shape. Instead it's been retconned in favor of her being a mute little girl sharing a psychological bond with Michael Myers. The movie tries hard to make you care for Jamie again and while Danielle Harris once again does an excellent job it's just frustrating to connect with her the same way when she's not talking. Plus the whole psychological bond thing just feels like an excuse to keep her in the plot. The plot of the movie itself feels aimless for the most part & there's definite eyebrow raising moments like who thought it was a good idea to kill a great character like Rachel off? She gets replaced by a hyper party girl named Tina whose incredibly obnoxious and feels out of place both tone and character wise to this film. All the other characters are either disposable bystandards for Michael or dimwits like two unfunny campy cops. Even Dr. Loomis who's usually always intriguing to watch is now a creepy lunatic harassing Jamie to get his patient back. Michael is still an imposing threat and the mask is a definite improvement from the last in my opinion but the face looks too narrow & awkward. Only thing more awkward than that would be the random scenes of a mysterious Man in Black that even the writers didn't know where that was going to go & shamelessly leaving it as someone else's problem to write for the next film.
Although not without its moments, especially in a scene involving a laundry chute, Halloween 5 is definitely a weak entry in the series and a clear signal of doom for where things were going.
Although not without its moments, especially in a scene involving a laundry chute, Halloween 5 is definitely a weak entry in the series and a clear signal of doom for where things were going.
The right way to make a comeback sequel
19 October 2022
By the late '80s and early 90s the slasher genre was starting to wind down. However in a time when Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees were ruling the box office it was time for the masked Shape to make his return to Haddonfield. Halloween 4 is a horror sequel that stands out in many ways. While most slashers at that time we're trying to top each other with the amounts of buckets of blood and gore, this film decides to do its best to channel back the original film's suspense and moody atmosphere. It may not succeed in that entirely but still makes for solid buildups. Alot of that has to do with our protagonist Jamie Lloyd. Young Danielle Harris portrays the late Laurie Strode's daughter as a vulnerable and tragic child looking to belong in a family & she plays it realistic and genuine. I always get heartbroken seeing her sob on a tree after being bullied at school. This poor little girl being tormented by her uncle the boogeyman is why this film stands out from the rest. Watching a child be stalked and chased really brings the stakes high. Her step sister Rachel is by her side who makes for an excellent final girl both in her charisma & relatable social life issues. It shouldn't have worked as well that Donald Pleasence plays Dr. Sam Loomis again but Pleasence once again doesn't lose a beat as a now withered old man warning & carrying this nighttime nightmare on his shoulders. You just can't help but admire the dedication to the role Pleasence carried. The film does a solid job with creating heavy atmosphere to immerse you in the dark foggy neighborhood streets. Alan Howarth's score gets the job done recreating Carpenter's signature score while also adding a droney ambience in the mix. It all leads to a very shocking and risky ending.
The movies only real hiccup is Michael Myer's design. The Mask now looks too plain & cheap even if it does look decent in some lighting. They also made the actor wear pads that really makes Michael look too bulky like a football player with odd body motions. Also Michael's demise at the end of the movie is pretty unsatisfying and was definite potential for sequel bait.
Halloween 4 is a fan favorite for a reason. It's the perfect example of a comeback sequel that does its best following in the original's roots while also doing its own spin with incredibly likable protagonists.
The movies only real hiccup is Michael Myer's design. The Mask now looks too plain & cheap even if it does look decent in some lighting. They also made the actor wear pads that really makes Michael look too bulky like a football player with odd body motions. Also Michael's demise at the end of the movie is pretty unsatisfying and was definite potential for sequel bait.
Halloween 4 is a fan favorite for a reason. It's the perfect example of a comeback sequel that does its best following in the original's roots while also doing its own spin with incredibly likable protagonists.
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