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Prom Night (2008)
The most clichéd horror film imaginable.
Okay. So I just got back. Before I start my review, let me tell you one thing: I wanted to like this movie. I know I've been negative in the past, but I was hoping to be surprised and actually come out liking the film. I didn't.
It's not just the fact that every horror cliché imaginable is in this. And it's not just the fact that they make every little thing into a jump scare (walking into a baseball bat left on the floor? Are you kidding me?). It just wasn't scary. One thing I was surprised about: there was more blood than I thought there was going to be.. which isn't saying much.
The film starts off with Donna being dropped off by Lisa's mom at her house. She comes in.. goes upstairs. Camera pans to her father dead on the couch. Spooky. She goes upstairs, where the aforementioned baseball bat scene happens. Finds her brother on his bed, apparently dead (how could she tell? He didn't have a spot of blood on him). Killer comes in, Donna hides under bed, mom dies. She runs outside screaming for help. Killer behind her: "I did it for us." Cut to therapy session. This confused a lot of people- everyone was asking whether or not her family actually died or if she imagined it- and she mentions how the nightmares have started coming back. Filler dialogue ensues.
THey cut to the chase pretty quick. Few scenes at the salon, they go to the hotel. Of course the killer is already there (for some reason, he escaped 3 days ago but the police/family weren't informed until he's already there). More filler ensues.
I'm not going to go on about what happens in the film, because I don't want to spoil it too much. If you want to know who dies, Horror_Fan made a post about it already. But on the subjects of deaths: they weren't that exciting. People in the theatre actually laughed out loud (an experience I've never had before in a horror movie, not even in When A Stranger Calls) during several of them. One in particular: the bus boy guy who gives the most hilarious 'scared' face I've ever seen. The only death involving any blood was Lisa's, and that was pretty scarce. Her throat is slashed, blood (if you can even call it that- it was practically black) splatters on the curtain-thing. The only other blood was on Claire when we see her body. Apparently, Fenton decided to stab her a few times after he choked her to death. Um, okay? The movie was one of the most clichéd I've ever seen. Let's see here.. obligatory close-mirror-curtain-BOOM! scene. Check. Twice, actually (you could tell they were struggling). Mandatory backing-up-into-killer. Check. There's also the backing-up-into-lamp scene, but you've all seen that. Oh, you say you want a birds-flying-away scare? Well, you got it! (Yes, they managed to incorporate one of those in here). And, of course, the we-have-security-on-all-exits-but-he-still-escaped scene. Shall I go on? I could.
For anyone saying the characters weren't stupid, are you kidding me? "Oh, even though the massive alarm is ringing, literally saying PLEASE VACATE THE BUILDING, and 3 of my friends are missing, I'm going to go upstairs to get my wrap." These characters were some of the most flawed and stupid characters ever. The only likable character - Lisa - made one of the most stupid moves in the movie. "Oh, I just realized the psycho-teacher is here! I must leave my strong boyfriend behind to run off by myself to warn her! Oh, shoot, the elevator is being to slow? Guess I'll take the stairs and run off into the construction site!" Ugh. By the end of the film, they all deserved to die. The only death anyone felt any remorse for was Donna's boyfriend (I can't even remember his name- is that bad?), and by that time, the audience was completely drained out of this scareless, clichéd film.
There were SOME positives- the acting was decent for the most part, and it was well-shot. But that's about it.
I'd give it a 1/5, and that's being generous. Just for the laughs (and believe me, the audience had a few), and Brittany Snow.
Oh, and the reaction was bad. Very bad. People were boo-ing after the movie ended and buzz afterwards was very negative. Expect bad legs for this one.
The Ruins (2008)
The best horror film of the new century.
Warning: Many, many spoilers in this review. Do not read if you don't want to be spoiled.
The Ruins is a disturbing, terrifying, and well-acted horror film. It's the best horror film of the new century, and it's truly an original piece of cinema that achieves the status of an instant classic.
The opening scenes at the hotel were done well-enough, it established most of their personalities, and I immediately loved Stacy. It was kind of odd how they introduced Mathias, but it worked. After they go to bed, and Amy makes her failed pass at Mathias, the movie picks right up. Oh, on the nudity front: Laura Ramsey? You see everything. Not that I'm complaining, hehe. It's brief, she takes off a towel and puts on a shirt and underwear. On the Jonathan Tucker front, that seems to have become a hot topic on here: it's extremely brief, you see like.. half his ass through the clear shower curtain. Woopie.
When they finally arrive at The Ruins, and are confronted by the Mayan's, let me say one thing: intense. It was done extremely well, you were on the edge of your seat wondering what was going to happen (even though I knew, lol). When the killing of Dimitri finally happened, several people screamed. It was very sudden, and very brutal. Once on the top of the ruins, all hell breaks loose.
My favourite scene hands down would have to be the "PULL US UP!' scene. It was done so effectively it's insane. It was extremely intense, and when the audience finally realized what was going on, there were gasps everywhere. The CGI plant mimicking the cell phone ring looked great, and when the vines were going crazy, it looked very realistic.
The psychological aspect of the film was perfection. It really got in your head, and just.. wow. I still can't stop my head from spinning. The most effective part of the movie may by Stacy's fall. She starts off as this sweet, happy, optimistic girl who wants to have a good time. By the time the half-way point rolls around, she's just completely drained and deteriorated. I felt so bad for her, I just wanted to hug her, lol.
The acting was top-of-the-line. Laura Ramsey shined, she was amazing. I swear I felt like crying when she was begging Amy to kill her, and when it happens, its thankfully off-screen. The vines begin mimicking her voice, "kill me, kill me" until Jeff finally does, and the camera cuts to the Mayan's down below the temple: silence. Some things are better off unseen, it was much more effective. But don't worry: very few times does the camera cut away. OH, before I forget: Mathias' death was extremely well-done. Very, very creepy. Anyways, the rest of the cast did a good job as well. Amy has hella-annoying at the beginning, and I didn't really feel she "redeemed" herself like some people said, but you wanted her to live at the end, for she had gone through so much. Seeing all her best friends die, watching her boyfriend sacrifice himself so she could escape. But the ending was still somewhat of a letdown. It was typical, and not original like the ending of the novel. Oh, well: the original ending will probably be on the DVD.
When all was said and done, I can't help but say I was disappointed. Not with the quality of the film, it was fantastic. But that it was over. I had waited for this film for so long, and now it's just.. done. But I still feel great, because it was very well done. I highly recommend it to all horror fans, because even with the cliché ending, the rest of the movie is one of the most original, terrifying, and thought-provoking horror films in the past.. century. A must-see.
Ginger Snaps: Unleashed (2004)
A new cult classic Unleashed
Nice! Really nice! Definitly not as good as the original, much more darker and scarier, but still-damn! I jumped at LEAST 3 times throughout the film.
**SPOILER WARNING** I was ultimatley dissapointed, for some of the things shown in advance images, did not really happen. Ex.That awesome image of Tyler getten "eaten" by Brigitte? Didnt really happen. It only showed above the head, and it was a dream, a quick blurry image. **END SPOILER** Katharine was quite good, and Emily was AMAZING. Tatiana was good aswell. The ending sucked, though. Im not going to let any spoilers out about the ending, though. Lets just say this - Its *almost* like the originals ending. But not quite. Anyways, theres sort of a "twist" in the ending.
Overall, it was an enjoyable film to watch, and when its released in April - Im buying it. **FAVORITE SCENE, SPOILER WARNING** My favoritre scene was when Beth-Ann was..well. Killed. I LOVE Ghosts line there - "Hope you enjoy your journey to the other side, Beth-Ann. Too bad you had to be such a c**t." Pretty much everyone in the theatre laughed at that part.
**END SPOILER** Well, lets just say Im counting down the days until April 13 - when it will finally be released on DVD.