engagedtoprecious Reviews

Suspiria (1977)

One of my favorite movies of all time.

[10/10 · 10 January 2012]

It's almost impossible to show this film to someone without them having some extreme type of reaction, whether negative or positive. Few films offer the audiovisual experience of "Suspiria" and I have played this movie in a room full of people who have never seen it and nearly everyone was stopping to inquire what exactly I was watching. Whether it's the unique use of a strong primary color palette or the music score by Goblin, something about the film draws them in like nosy people gathering at the scene of a car crash. I once had a friend come over just as the film's opening murder sequence was playing and she immediately looked at the TV with a "What are you WATCHING?" expression and was completely thrown.

But aside from its ability to get attention, it's simply (in my opinion) a masterful piece of art. Every scene is framed and composed in such a unique way, utilizing objects and color to full effect to fill the screen with so much information. It is sad that people tend to focus on the quality of the English dubbing and ignore the film's other merits. I have seen "Suspiria" called cheesy and this is unfortunate because anyone with some knowledge of film technique would notice the amount of detail put into it.

The film's dubbing and the bizarre use of music and color make this an acquired taste for some, which is understandable, but this shouldn't be mistaken for poor craftsmanship.

From the fairy tale atmosphere to the entrancing musical score and the bold colors that just "pop" off the screen, "Suspiria" weaved a spell on me that has stuck. I have yet to experience such a unique barrage of the sense such as this and it keeps me coming back every time I'm in the mood for a different kind of horror that isn't your typical haunted house or slasher flick.

Halloween II (2009)

A daring movie that many people will not appreciate.

[8/10 · 9 January 2012]

I may be in the minority, but I actually liked this movie. I love the dark and depressing atmosphere that pervades every part of it. I guess a lot of people can't handle movies that make you feel like crap, but a happy movie this is not and I'm glad it wasn't. The film just FEELS dirty. Like you need to take a shower after it's over. The characters all waste away with their various neurosis, drifting through the dark farmhouse they now live in to the record shop Laurie works at with her new friends. Even Laurie's bedroom is a dingy-looking, drab little hole of a place with pictures of serial killers on the wall. And don't get me started on that bathroom.

Darkness and mental illness seep through every part of the film and by the end, every character loses something. This is just as much a tragedy as it is a slasher. There's barely anyone to root for. Zombie made a bold move portraying Laurie as a screaming ball of venom and anger. Many reviews mention how horrible her character was or how annoying. I doubt we were meant to sympathize with her in such black and white terms. If you want a clear-cut protagonist, go watch something more simple. Why does every movie have to have nice characters? Life isn't nice. People aren't always worthy of compassion. Sometimes we all just get lost. I admire the risks they took in making every character despicable in their own way and for daring to blur the lines between protagonist and antagonist. The film took me back to my depression days and made me remember what it was like to exist in this closed-off little world, drifting in and out of situations like a lost soul on the way to some destination you aren't aware of. In the case of this movie, the destination begins and ends in darkness but not without the possibility of relief for everyone. The ending doesn't force-feed anything to you. Just as in life, it is what you make of it. You can either choose to look at it from a bleak perspective or search deeper to see death as a cathartic release for these miserable people, with the survivors possibly living to see better days.

Blood Rage (1987)

Very good and overlooked 80s slasher.

[20 November 2011]

Amid the slew of slasher films pumped out in the early 1980s, a few have been lost in the sands of time, available for years only in cut VHS form or rare DVDs (if they were lucky enough to even make the jump to that format) that have since gone out of print. Blood Rage (aka Nightmare at Shadow Woods) is one of those films. Currently available only on VHS and an expensive out of print DVD (which is heavily cut), it's a shame this wonderful little slasher film has to suffer anonymity while other (lesser) slasher films have been given the deluxe treatment with special edition DVD releases and some even making the transition to Blu-ray (I'm looking at you, The Dorm That Dripped Blood). The truth is, as an avid fan of these often-maligned films, Blood Rage is better than 80% of the so-called classics that have received better treatment in the area of home video.

What makes Blood Rage worthier than those other slashers and vastly underrated? Well for starters, the lead performance by Mark Soper who does a double take as the twins Terry and Todd, is among one of the better performances in slasher movie history. If you've read the plot description, you'd know that the movie is about two identical twins--one good, the other evil. Soper manages to play both roles seamlessly, which is surprising given the film's low budget origins and the genre. Each twin's facial expressions, body language, and mannerisms are contrasted perfectly to make it believable. Louise Lasser also hits the spot as the twins' mother, who slowly starts to lose it once she gets word that her son, Todd, has escaped his mental institution and may be on his way home for Thanksgiving. Little does she know that Todd is actually innocent of the crime that got him locked up as a boy--the brutal slaying of a teenage boy at a drive-in movie by way of a hatchet--and that Todd's evil brother, Terry, is actually the resident psychopath, living with her all these years undetected. It seems (or is at least assumed) that Terry's homicidal tendencies have remained dormant all these years until, one night, his mother announces her engagement and gets a phone call that Todd is on the loose. All of this is apparently enough incentive for Terry to have some fun again while probably assuming he can blame all of the new murders on the escaped Todd. And boy does he take advantage of his brother's escape. Terry hacks, stabs, and slices his way through most of the residents of the Shadow Woods apartment complex with much gusto. The gore effects in the uncut version are an 80s slasher fan's dream. The now out of print DVD edition titled Nightmare at Shadow Woods was a heavily cut presentation. We get multiple hatchet whacks to the head, an impaling, decapitations, severed limbs, bisections...the works.

The music is one of the best qualities about the film and one of the things that really sets it apart from most of its brethren. It really is one of the greater slasher scores I've heard, at times reminiscent of Halloween but with a more 80s vibe that you can really dig into.

We get the usual slasher movie conventions here and there--the kids throw a party in one of the apartments while some sneak off to have sex in certain areas of the complex which proves to be a very bad idea (stay away from that pool house). Eventually, as usual with these films, things dwindle down to the final girl, Karen--a likable enough actress who, while pretty, often makes some questionable decisions regarding her safety. But once the chase is on, we get several memorable set pieces that are at times genuinely suspenseful. Terry chases Karen all over the complex as she tries in vain to get help from the now mostly dead residents. This leads to lots of unopened doors and unanswered cries for help. There is one suspenseful scene in the apartment of a dead resident where Karen attempts to call for help while hiding behind a desk as we see Terry's bloodied machete slowly enter frame off to the side as Karen watches in horror as she looks up to see Terry towering over her. Speaking of Terry, he is really enjoying himself, jokes, smiles, and all.

The movie ends in the pool house with a little "twist" if you will (and given that the movie is about twins, no, it's probably not what you're thinking).

Overall, several factors in the film elevate it above the level of many of the 80s slashers that have received far more attention and care over the years. I wish some brave company would take a chance on releasing this in its uncut form sometime in the future so slasher fans can see it and appreciate it. I gave the film a 7 for sheer entertainment purposes. It IS a slasher movie, and yes, it often suffers from all of the flaws associated with these films, but pure fun can override your film snob sensibilities at times. Especially when a movie is this fun.

American Horror Story (2011– )

One of the best new TV series to come along in years.

[10/10 · 2 November 2011]

I've seen a lot of TV shows in my life, so I like to think I'm pretty adept at discerning the good from the bad. Each year, I like to give every new show a chance to see which ones are worth my time and which ones I can skip. I didn't quite know what to expect when I heard Ryan Murphy (of "Glee" and "Nip/Tuck" fame) was making a horror series, but I am a horror fan so at the most I just expected to have a little guilty pleasure every week. What I got was not what I anticipated--I never expected that it would be as good as it is. And it is GOOD. "American Horror Story" is one of the best series I've had the pleasure of seeing on TV in a long time. I'm tempted to compare it to the classic "Twin Peaks" in terms of its ability to unnerve the viewer and create a genuinely unique atmosphere that's rarely ever seen on U.S. television. The writing just "pops", for lack of a better word, and tingles with little crackles of inspiration and genius. There are so many quotable lines in each episode. And the directing is pretty unconventional as far as television goes--moody, cinematic, and possessed with an often schizophrenic insanity that takes you from extreme close-ups to some uniquely paced and edited scenes that leave you wondering why so many other series seem to be directing-by-numbers. As for the acting, let me just say that Jessica Lange is FANTASTIC as the next-door widow, Constance. Her performance is Emmy-worthy and every scene she's in is golden. Great acting and dialogue. Connie Britton is excellent as usual and fails to disappoint and Dylan McDermott plays her sleazy, morally- challenged husband quite well, providing just the right mixture of disgust and pity for the character. And need I mention Frances Conroy as the housemaid? Anyone who's seen the woman act already knows she's great.

"American Horror Story" is unlike anything I've seen on television in a long, long time, but it isn't just original--it's GOOD. Very good, in fact. It will creep you out, make you laugh, and bring you to tears, sometimes all in one episode. If you enjoy good stories, appreciate good acting, and love to get a little scared, there is simply no good reason not to be watching this show. It is truly a revelation and sets the bar for what all TV shows should aspire to be. After watching this, you can barely look at the medical dramas/cop/crime procedural shows without a little disgust. The kind of quality on display here is what all networks need to be demanding from their shows.

Ringer (2011–2012)

The pilot is "meh" but if you stick with it, by episode 3 and 4 you'll be so glad you did.

[1 November 2011]

After seeing the pilot episode, I wasn't quite sure what to think. It wasn't awful, but it didn't outright grab me and make me think "I have to watch next week", either. But I decided to give it time to develop, and around episode three I was very grateful I had not given up on it, because currently episode seven just aired and it's one of the best shows I've watched in a long time. Boy, does it improve. The only other show I've been this interested in this season is "American Horror Story."

The plot really starts to come together by episode three, the performances improve every week as the actors settle more into their characters, and the writing and twists just keep getting better and better. This is definitely one show that improves as it goes on. Currently there are so many interesting plot threads and potential outcomes that it's like one big juicy mystery/thriller/soap opera that, by the end of episode four, keeps you riveted and wanting more when the credits roll. It helps that the writers also use the time-honored but catchy tradition of ending every episode with a cliffhanger, ala "Alias" and "True Blood." The cliffhangers for the past few episodes have been nothing short of fantastic and if the show keeps going at this pace, it's going to be one of the most addicting dramas I've seen in a long time. The writers manage to blend the mixture of drama and crime thriller perfectly so it never feels like you're watching too much of either. And as for the double-crosses and the twists, I haven't seen this much insanity since "Dynasty" or "Melrose Place." Every week so far has had at least one "WTF!" moment.

So, in short, if you watched the pilot and it turned you off, please give it another chance because I promise it gets better as it goes along and by episode four you will be HOOKED. And for those who haven't given it a chance yet, you don't know what you're missing out on. Make it through the first two episodes and pretty soon you'll be very glad you did. The plot is currently truly intriguing and there are so many ways it could go each week and it always leaves you guessing. The show is playing all of its cards right and really got it together quickly to become one of the best new shows this season. I, for one, can't wait for Tuesdays.