2021 Halloween Month
The rules are simple. 31 days. 31 horror movies. None that I have ever seen before and from all walks of the genre. I will judge the success of the month by my rating average, and give a best and worst for the month. The criteria of those titles is entirely subjective and the results of the impression each movie left with me. This is not indicative of their quality though that may play a factor in their score.
To explain their rating a bit, if a movie is so bad that its on the verge of being painful, it would fall somewhere within the 1-3 range. The 4-6 range is for movies that are not good but still watchable to good movies that have left little long lasting impression. 7-10 are movies I enjoyed to love.
To explain their rating a bit, if a movie is so bad that its on the verge of being painful, it would fall somewhere within the 1-3 range. The 4-6 range is for movies that are not good but still watchable to good movies that have left little long lasting impression. 7-10 are movies I enjoyed to love.
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- DirectorKevin LewisStarsNicolas CageEmily TostaBeth GrantA quiet drifter is tricked into a janitorial job at the now condemned Willy's Wonderland. The mundane tasks suddenly become an all-out fight for survival against wave after wave of demonic animatronics. Fists fly, kicks land, titans clash -- and only one side will make it out alive.What better way to start Halloween with a big dumb action movie? This movie is low on horror, but it is still genuinely fun. Nick cage does a good job portraying a silent protagonist, though they don't as much of him. He looks menacing when he needs to be and then comically turns innocent once he is off the clock. The other actors, they aren't as good. The other kids are just murder bait and the towns people are irrationally evil. The lighting is great, actually giving scenes an ethereal quality at just the right time. The sets... they could be better. The halls look like what you would see at a Chucky Cheese and the birthday room looks like a party room at some low tier Chucky knockoff, but the main room just doesn't fit well. Its just a ball pit and tables, nothing like going into a real play area. The animatronics aren't bad, but they themselves are mostly fodder so it undermines their scariness. Ultimately, this movie was meant to entertain. Its not Citizen Kane, but never does it try to be.
- DirectorLee Woo-cheolStarsSung Hyun-ahDa-an ParkJeong Ho-binA cellist is haunted by strange events after a car wreckCasting a last minute audible because of technical issues, and I have to say, damn this movie was good. There were parts where I thought it was going to be ruined. I wasn’t a fan of the Silent Hill cliff that suddenly appears. And there was stuff that I was afraid going to fall apart. But that ending kills it. It’s a phenomenal way to end the story on a cliff hanger. There are some biting scenes done with some interesting shot compositions that really make them pop. The deaths are top notch. The reveal of the sister’s body was just gut wrenching. Like White, I can gush on this for what feels like hours. 10/10, would definitely watch it again.
- DirectorJean BrisméeStarsErika BlancJean ServaisDaniel EmilforkA group of tourists traveling on a bus take a detour to stay overnight in a castle owned by a family cursed with a history of Satanism and death.This movie. Just, this movie. This may not be the best movie, but it most certainly is in the running for the funniest. Eight people end up at the estate of a former NAZI general and Duke each baring one of the seven deadly sins. One is greedy, one is gluttonous, two are lustful, one is, I don’t know, tired? I don’t think that is what they mean by sloth. And then they all get killed in ironic ways, until the director runs out of ideas and throws an old man out a window. The monster, a succubus is interesting. From one moment she is pretty, the next she is hideous, but then the actress starts showing her facial range and they are all hilarious. That is certainly the face one makes, pushing an old man out a window. Then the ending happens and its… the end, I guess. Its supposed to be a downer ending but it has no impact whatsoever. Its just like it happens and the movie gives up saying “fine.” I know it’s another language but I choose to read it as fine. Its not great, but I will give it credit. I was not bored watching this.
- DirectorDan CurtisStarsDarren McGavinJo Ann PflugSimon OaklandA reporter hunts down a 144-year old alchemist who is killing women for their blood.Last year, I made it clear that I am a big fan of Kolchak. So where does the sequel stand between the original and TV series? Its still very good. Maybe a little weaker than the first, but its still an entertaining TV movie. It has some comical moments, like him mentioning the murder rap he received from the first movie on an elevator in front of a bunch of horrified onlookers. But I think the problem is that it relies closely on the mystery and if you read the description, you've already been spoiled. The makeup for the killer is okay, though you don' see much of it. Its not as good as the profile picture tries to hype it but he doesn't look alive. Acting is pretty good, Kolchak is great and its nice seeing John Carradine. Its still a fun TV movie worth a watching.
- DirectorChristophe GansShûsuke KanekoBrian YuznaStarsJeffrey CombsTony AzitoJuan FernándezLovecraft visualizes 3 stories in Necronomicon: The Drowned, The Cold and Whispers, about bringing a dead wife and child back to life, extending life and aliens.I wanted this to be better. I had been looking for this movie after catching the ending of it ages ago for what felt like forever. Now that I've seen it in its entirety, it doesn't quite live up to the hype. A lot of it is that it just doesn't live up to Lovecraft stories they are loosely based on. Though they try to spice them up for a film audience, they never quite capture the tone that makes Lovecraft's stories so suspenseful. Even the framing story feels off, treating Lovecraft almost like an action hero. That being said, the effects are still fantastic. The Librarian having his skin peeled back, the cop having his head hollowed out, the practical effects are top notch and even the early CGI is pretty good. And while I wasn't the biggest fan of the plot, the third story does serve well as a spectacle to wrap up the anthology. While I would say its a good movie, its still a little underwhelming.
- DirectorGeorge A. RomeroStarsLincoln MaazelHarry AlbackerPhyllis CasterwilerAn elderly gentleman goes for what he assumes will be an ordinary day at the amusement park, only to find himself in the middle of a hellish nightmare.A lost classic newly released by George Romero? Well, not quite. This isn't really a movie as it is a PSA from the Lutheran Church encouraging people to better take care of the elderly. Its got some flare in the beginning and the end, and it serves well at eliciting a response in the audience. Its just not a horror response. Much of the PSA describes is the horrors of getting old. Having their things stripped of value, struggling with medical services, and becoming an economic burden as their savings depreciate. And its all very sad. If you can understand the metaphors as they are simultaneously too on the nose while being a bit confusing at times. Though Romero does go off the rails a bit at times, particularly when he introduces one of the greatest threats to the elderly. Roving biker gangs. This really is a troublesome watch to give a value. It has impact, but it isn't really a movie at all. I guess it isn't in the terrible spectrum, but I wouldn't say it is that good either. It kind of feels like a film school short movie to be told.
- DirectorRichard StanleyStarsNicolas CageJoely RichardsonMadeleine ArthurA secluded farm is struck by a strange meteorite which has apocalyptic consequences for the family living there and possibly the world.And once again I am left disappointed. Not in this movie but in Richard Stanley himself, for failing to live up to his pacifist ideals. This was a very good movie with a couple minor detractions, mostly with the CGI animals. Its classic Nicholas Cage here, filled with eccentricity and excitement, and that is always a plus. The practical effects are great, which is what makes the CGI animals even more disappointing. Though I feel that it still makes the same problem as the first story in Necronomicon. Nobody should be walking away at the end of this. In the short story, though the alien may be gone, the narrator implies its influence still lingers, and does not wish to leave. He has bore witness to something man was never meant to see. I wish there was still some of that here. If Stanley was able to keep his anger in check, I would have loved to see him do a Lovecraft trilogy. Alas, we are stuck at one very good iteration of his work.
- DirectorLeigh JaniakStarsKiana MadeiraOlivia Scott WelchBenjamin Flores Jr.A circle of teenage friends accidentally encounter the ancient evil responsible for a series of brutal murders that have plagued their town for over 300 years. Welcome to Shadyside.I said in a movie earlier this year there was worse you can watch than Morning Grave. I give you worse. I will give it credit in that it looks like a professional movie. But the characters, their writing, the pacing, its all just awful. At times it doesn't even makes sense. The killers don't acknowledge anyone other than their target and anyone who has her blood on them. Except when they just kill random people cause whatever nerd. The romances in this movie have no chemistry and just kind of happen without any growth. And on the point of these characters, I want them dead. I hated everyone, but the fact that there is a fairly long breadth between deaths really makes me hate being with them more. I hated pretty much all of this.
- DirectorLeigh JaniakStarsSadie SinkEmily RuddRyan SimpkinsShadyside, 1978. School's out for summer and the activities at Camp Nightwing are about to begin. But when another Shadysider is possessed with the urge to kill, the fun in the sun becomes a gruesome fight for survival.Well this was a pleasant surprise. I still wouldn't say this that great of a movie, but its significantly better than the first movie. The reason, the characters from the first movie were barely involved. Instead, we get a new cast of characters, and while most aren't great, one of the leads is not intolerable. The other lead was a drag, but at least it wasn't just two downers dragging each other down like the first. Unfortunately, it was the good character getting dragged down by the bad characters but at least we started better. Pessimist nihilism is not a replacement for worldliness and growth. The single killer did prove better as the rest of the witch's ensemble aren't that interesting. The deaths aren't bad, and while some are off screen, the fact that they are kids does give them some weight. If you want a camp killer movie, Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp are much better but this is a competent movie from where it started.
- DirectorLeigh JaniakStarsKiana MadeiraAshley ZukermanGillian JacobsThe origins of Sarah Fier's curse are finally revealed as history comes full circle on a night that changes the lives of Shadysiders forever.Where does the third stand? Not as good as Part II, still world's better than Part I. Its also might just be the least memorable. The first half taking place in 1666 is the weaker part as its not a very good period piece. Instead of going full tilt like The VVitch did, its a modernized period piece that just isn't that interesting. 1994 part 2 does pick it up a bit as they finally get rid of their nihilistic shackles and start doing thing interesting. But it falls back on the multiple villains in the first movie and back to all of them being boring again. Its the most forgettable movie so far, but at least not the worst.
- DirectorRyan KrugerStarsGary GreenChanelle de JagerBrett WilliamsBarry is a drug-addled, abusive bastard who - after yet another bender - is abducted by aliens. Barry takes a backseat as an alien visitor assumes control of his body and takes it for a joyride through Cape Town. What follows is an onslaught of drugs, sex and violence as our alien tourist enters the weird and wonderful world of humankind. FRIED BARRY is based upon the short film of the same name, which earned 57 official selections and 12 wins at festivals around the world.Wow, this alien saw some things. I found this movie to be grimy, disgusting, incoherent, and utterly fantastic. And a lot of that is because of Gary Green's excellent facial expressions. Seeing him contort his face while being given drugs, having sex, or just smiling break up the filthiness of the world he's in with a moment of levity. Even when he is just wandering around, he conveys the confused fear an alien must see if he were suddenly thrust into the disgusting and down right insane world Barry comes from. Everything is strange and new, and downright terrifying. The griminess might be a turn off for some, but it really serves as the precursor of what's to come. Much like the alien, I was not ready for any of this.
- DirectorRené CardonaStarsZovekAlejandro MorenoChrista LinderProfessor Bruno Volpi spots some strange paintings on a cliff. He sends for Professor Zovek to help him discover its meaning. Zovek uses his powers to figure the writings are a warning that a cosmic tragedy is going to happen. Their fears prove to be true when a fire ball falls from the skies causing the ressurrection of the dead as zombies, craving for human flesh.Its amazing, Mexico is a lot like current day New York. The moment you step out of your vehicle, someone else gets in and drives it. This is not a good movie. The only reason I can assume it has a 5 star rating is Zovek, the strong man and escape artist that is starring in this movie, but it is not warranted. There is about 10 minutes of actual content and an hour of pointless filler. Sometimes its funny how the dialogue is completely redundant and unnecessary or how long they shoot the cast climbing rocks to reach a place we've already been. But at no point is there ever an explanation for what is going on. Aliens revive the dead but never do you actually see aliens. Zombies appear in the driver seat of cars when the heroes step out for no more than five seconds. And the continuity of the scenery is non existent. This is a bad movie. But I had a couple laughs, so I wouldn't say its the worst. But its bad.
- DirectorRichard OswaldStarsAnita BerberConrad VeidtReinhold SchünzelA demon, a reaper, and the ghost of a prostitute read gothic short stories and act them out.A quaint little horror anthology from the pioneer days of film. And the first of its kind no less. The first story is the weakest, while novel it suffers from being the least clear as to what is going on. A man goes to a woman's room to find her gone and the place ransacked, and no one says she never existed. A lot of it is that there is an unnecessary scene at a police station that only serves to confuse the plot. The second fares better as its a straightforward ghost story with a few neat little early camera tricks. A man kills another man to woo a woman and is haunted by a ghostly hand. The third is the one I knew best by Edgar Allen Poe and was fairly good. Its The Black Cat, you read it in middle school. The fourth proved my favorite as it had a neat little twist. A man joins a suicide club and is chosen to be their next victim. Here, the setting works as there is a big clock ticking away to keep the five minute time limit constantly in your attention and helps build suspense. The last story is alright, a bit of levity to end the anthology. Its not the best old film I've seen, but it is pretty good for what it is.
- DirectorRoy Ward BakerCheh ChangStarsPeter CushingDavid ChiangJulie EgeIn China, Professor Van Helsing helps eight kung fu-trained siblings reclaim their ancestral mountain village, now the domain of seven powerful vampires and their army of undead slaves.Hammer's hail Mary may have been a bust but I rightly enjoyed the vast majority of it. Peter Cushing and Robin Stewart are a little exposed when paired with kungfu actors like David Chiang and the villains are underdeveloped, but by no means is this a terrible slog. The monster designs are your usual Hammer quality, but they move around well which proves far more important in the big action scenes. And i can't say the zombies are without charm, the little pop in their step makes them seem a bit more like an Asian zombie. With the negatives is some fairly good writing that is very engaging. Even the Chinese actors feel comfortable speaking their English lines and Peter Cushing always puts on a good showing. The action is fast paced and visceral, which makes up for the lack of development among the titular vampires. If there was anything I would say I would have changed was the final confrontation which was a bit too short. In all, I think this would make for an excellent watch with friends and a strong recommendation.
- DirectorWayne CoeStarsJames Earl JonesBrad DourifWill Hare"Grim Prairie Tales" is a 1990 horror anthology movie where a cynical bounty hunter and a clerk traveling through the prairie rest by the campfire telling four stories of terror to each other.There is no voice better than James Earl Jones. The stories here, they aren't particularly scary. The third is biting, but not scary. But hearing that voice really brings you back. The framing story between the clerk and bounty hunters is a lot of fun and the chemistry between them is top notch. I would sit through a movie if it was just them. The stories don't quite live up to that, but aren't so bad to make the movie unwatchable. I would have to say the second was my favorite because just as Jones says, I didn't see that coming. The first is barebones but alright, the third is going to stick with you the most, and the last is alright to leave it off on. Its a pretty good movie all in all.
- DirectorKamal AmrohiStarsAshok KumarMadhubalaM. KumarA young lawyer is involved with a ghostly woman in his new house, where the builder and his fiancée died shortly after it was built.Incorporating music into horror movies is hard. Its even harder when its over two hours long. And that did hurt it for me. Its Bollywood, I should expect song and dance and to that they are very good. Its just that they add to the movie's length and usually are reiterating what the character just said. The padded length aside however, the story is really good. There are plenty of twists and turns that kept my interest when they weren't singing their subtext. There were no special effects or anything, it tells a very simple "ghost" story about a man bewitched by a spirit in the past and her song. Staying with her will bring about his death and he must undergo the marriage arranged for him, with equally disastrous effects. This was almost in the top of my list if the songs were integrated into the story better.
- DirectorArch ObolerStarsWilliam PhippsSusan Douglas RubesJames AndersonThe world is destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. Only five Americans survive, including a pregnant woman, a neo-Nazi, a black man and a bank clerk.Time is often harsh on horror but for what time has done to this movie it still manages to retain a pretty solid story. Taking place after an nuclear war, I was a little disappointed how little they did with it. There is no rubble from the blast, just cars strewn about the road and skeletons lying on the street. Pretty much modern day Chicago rather than the glowing dystopia of a nuclear holocaust. But the drama between these characters is very engaging. And the reason is that it isn't tonally monotone, they go through a range of emotions in every conversation. While I love Grim Prairie Tales for how the dialogue always seems to escalate as the two wear on each others nerves, Five has them fondly remembering little things that would be a bother only to turn somber when they are reminded they no longer exist. The character interaction is great, but this only covers that there isn't much to be afraid of. They are the last people on earth living in a relatively safe area, there isn't really a threat to drive them anywhere. It instead comes from inside the group, but it is still a little too subdued and the stakes aren't that clear. Maybe if there were more than Five people, they could have done more to flesh that out. Ultimately, this was a better scifi movie than a horror story.
- DirectorTibor TakácsStarsJenny WrightClayton RohnerRandall William CookA bookshop clerk and wannabe actress starts seeing the disfigured killer from her 1950s pulp novels come to life and start killing people around her. She tries to convince her cop boyfriend, but to no avail.There is some stuff here. I'll be frank, this is no In The Mouth of Madness, but it still has its perks. While the monster looks very much like the monsters in the director's previous movie, The Gate, it still has some pretty nice looking stop motion. But the killer is a little bit of a missed opportunity. It seems like they could have made it more psychological as she appears to be the only one who sees him even when he appears in public but that is not so. The character in the book idea still does differentiate it from the rest of the slashers of the era, but it seems like a missed opportunity. The deaths are for the most part well done. There isn't much in the way of gore but the implied violence is well done. This movie had all the tools to do more, lacks the drive to use them, but still manages to put on a good showing.
- DirectorJoseph RubenStarsTerry O'QuinnJill SchoelenShelley HackAfter murdering his entire family, a man marries a widow with a teenage daughter in another town and prepares to do it all over again.I cannot laud the technical aspects enough, the acting, the costumes, the shot composition, there were a lot of people that earned their pay. The transformations that Terry O'Quinn goes through is astounding. The opening scene where he starts changing into his next persona, and then the next persona later on, he changes so drastically you wouldn't think it possible had you not gone through it shot by shot. And the opening scene, after he is done washing up and going through the house, picking up a child's toy along the way, you know he did something wrong. You were not expecting what you saw next. The violence that would have gone on in that living room, with the blood, the chaos in the bodies, it shocks you to the core just what this man can do. And some of the dialogue, the scene where he forgets which persona he is doing is downright chilling. There is some excellence shining through here. But they are not the entire movie. While very good in its own right, much of this movie doesn't stand out as much like those scenes. There isn't anything wrong with it but it doesn't stand out as much among 80s slashers without those brief moments. I wouldn't say its a great movie, but rather a good movie with some really great moments.
- DirectorSally MattisonStarsKeely ChristianBrittain FryeMichael HarrisJackie Cassidy and her friends are stalked by a serial killer while having a slumber party.I knew not what I was getting into. I liked Slumber Part massacre, and I adored the killer in Slumber Party Massacre II. III has nothing going for it. The actresses only got worse. I don't even know why they gave Maria so many lines, she can barely say one of them. The killer is the drizzling shits, he is woefully incompetent at his job. The deaths are pretty lame, aside from the first drill death and the electric dildo tub scene, none are memorable. A lot are even off screen. Including one kid's who survived a previous attack by the killer. There are a couple lines that give some brevity, like the tongs comment, but other the that its kind of boring. This is easily the worst of the Slumber Party/Sorority House movies I've seen so far. It is down their with Fear Street 1994 in my opinion.
- DirectorJim WynorskiStarsGail ThackrayKaren Mayo-ChandlerDeborah DutchWhile doing the inventory for a lingerie outlet in a high rise office building, five attractive women are terrorised by a series of bizarre killings. They suspect that the strange janitor, who witnessed another series of killings years back, is at the bottom of the whole thing. Little do they know the real horror that they face in the end.And we've got the winner of the Massacre movies. While it has a weaker start than Slumber Party, it manages to eek out a win in the sequels, but by the third, it blows Slumber Party III out of the water. By no means is this movie perfect, the first two acts are nothing more than a retread of the Slumber Party Massacre. Again. And the second act reuses the kills of Sorority House II. But its the final act when this movie drops all pretense and goes al out with the best thing the series has going, Orville Ketchum. Instead of going its own way like Slumber Party III tried and failed, it doubles and triples down on the creepy juggernaut to massive success. Still, there are some weaknesses. The reused kills are bad but the acting is even worse. But at least it is tongue in cheek, your watching a movie where women run around in lingerie fighting a near unkillable ghost. Maybe I am more lenient because of how bad last night's movie was, but I had a ton of fun watching this movie.
- DirectorYoshiaki KawajiriStarsYûsaku YaraToshiko FujitaIchirô NagaiWhile protecting a signatory to a peace treaty between their peoples, a male human and a female demon discover that their mutual attraction may be the key to unifying their worlds.It isn't quite pornographic, but it sounds like one. I like the look of 80s anime. Its that period where you saw more dark realism to the more colorful shows that are popular now. And this doesn't disappoint. It does set a dark, adult mood and really makes the transformation more gruesome, particularly the spider woman's. But unfortunately, this movie has neither enough of them and somehow too many. I would have liked to see more transformations, but at the same time, there are so many villains that none of them get enough screen time. They show up, do a thing, then die without accomplishing much. There are plenty of sex scenes, I didn't care too much for them, but sexuality does play a role in the plot. It was a very well made movie, but had it not been for the time it was released, I doubt it would have had as much a lasting impression.
- DirectorLeo BirinskyPaul LeniStarsEmil JanningsConrad VeidtWerner KraussA wax museum hires a writer to give the sculptures stories. The writer imagines himself and the museum owner's daughter in the stories.I want to get this straight first, Spring Heel Jack is not Jack the Ripper. The ripper was a serial killer in 1888. Spring Heel Jack was a supposed attacker, who may have been a product of mass hysteria, 50 years prior. That aside, this movie is pretty good. Not the best silent anthology, but it is a mix of genres so you'll find something to like. That being said, the stories are not well paced with each other. I feel the first ran too long, its almost half the movie but doesn't have enough to fill that run time. The second was about what I wanted in length and is in my opinion the best of the three. And then poor Spring Heel Jack, he gets almost no time. His segment is more of a showcase of early film trick rather than a story, playing with transparency and duplicating actors. Of the silent movies this year, its the weaker of the two but still a decent enough watch.
- DirectorJerry ThorpeStarsJames FarentinoHarrison FordClaudette NevinsA former priest, now an exorcist, battles the Satanic forces that are threatening the students at a girls school.There is no reason, which is kind of why this movie isn't better than it is. I mean, yes humanity rationalized things that have no real meaning, but that is kind of an important part of telling a story. Even if it is something as simple as "you were home" its a big part of getting the audience invested. Since there is no reason that these people are being targeted, it never feels likes this movie is progressing anywhere. Which is a shame as this would otherwise have made an interesting series. Leahy is interesting, the fallen priest solving demonic mysteries is a good idea for a show and Farentino does a good job portraying him. Though the antagonist in this movie wasn't so great, especially when she goes full possessed. This was not bad, but not particularly good either. A weird point in Harrison Ford's career before Star Wars.
- DirectorTakashi ShimizuStarsYûkaKarinaKippei ShînaA Japanese actress begins having strange visions and experiences after landing a role in a horror film about a real-life murder spree that took place over forty years ago.When I was watching this, I thought that the suspense was good, but there just isn't that one thing to make it pop off. Then the movie popped off. This served as a more cerebral Japanese hhost story. You still get your spirited away scenes, but the final act is not quite the ghost got them and they were never seen again and more a fracturing of the mind. Which paid off really, especially in the big moment where the doll comes to life. The stop motion of her waking is so deep in the uncanny valley it isn't funny. I also was greatly thrown for a loop by the movie's red herring, that made the ending come as a wonderful surprise. This was a major success in my opinion.
- DirectorArchie MayoStarsJohn BarrymoreMarian MarshDonald CrispThrough hypnotism and telepathic mind control, a sinister music maestro controls the singing voice, but not the heart, of the woman he loves.This movie really showcases how movies have changed over time, and not necessarily for the better. This movie is slow, but that works in its favor. There is a story here, and it wants to give it time to develop rather than dump as much on you and fill in the blanks as it goes. Svengali is a duplicitous character, you get this bad vibe about him but it doesn't feel unnatural that he would associate with the rest of the group. He is a social snake who is charming when he needs to be, but cruel and vile when he is in the shadows. And this actually makes his betrayal feel more heinous. And yet, even with all his manipulations, you do feel some sympathy for him because they in the end gave him nothing. There was no pop moment, just a strong story from start to finish. The sets were interesting, especially Svengali's room which has warped dimensions that reflect him well. And there is one scene where the camera pans out from his face, out of his widow and pans over to Trilby in her own that is just masterfully well done. The way they convey his hypnotism, with his eyes turning white, still holds up well in creating an unsettling visage. While I wouldn't say its my favorite, its a great old film that warrants any accolade it gets.
- DirectorKinji FukasakuStarsRobert HortonLuciana PaluzziRichard JaeckelAfter destroying a giant asteroid heading towards Earth, a group of scientists unknowingly bring back a strange green substance that soon mutates into a monster.I love models in movies. They seem so warm and welcoming to see them dangling there in front of a screen or driving around with little figures on them. And they burn nicely even in the deepest, darkest depths of outer space. The rest of the movie, its really rather meh. There aren't so much twists and turns to speak of, its just a bombardment of alien attacks. It gets to the point that you can flip a coin and predict if there are going to be green slime aliens attacking people in any given scene. And considering this, the death count is surprisingly low at 6. 4 occur pretty early too, leaving a sizeable gap of the aliens showing up but never managing to kill anyone. There is a love triangle story here, it was removed from the Japanese release like certain actors from Disney's Chinese movie posters, and this was probably for the best. It actually hurts the space station's commander by making him look like a loser. But the aliens aren't too bad. The fact that they can blink is a plus, but their constant flailing of their limp arms does make them look a little goofy. Its not a particularly good movie. Its somewhere between sub par to average, where the average currently is now.
- DirectorRichard McCarthyMac AhlbergStarsFranc LuzCatherine HicklandJimmie F. SkaggsA modern-day deputy tracks an abducted girl to a ghost town, and the spirits of the past who took her.This movie doesn't deliver what the box art promises. I find the problem with this movie is that it tries to deliver a horror movie. A weird take for a horror junkie, but hear me out. It doesn't know how to produce an atmosphere suitable for a supernatural story. The dusty effect is actually commendable, but the big problem is that it is too well lit, so the ghosts come across as normal people. So they try to make them seem ghostly by fading out, until that gets old and they start blinking out of existence. Then they get tired of that, they're normal people now. The costume design is fairly generic but for the main villain, who looks good. Its just that he has a fairly large gang of generic people that could use something to differentiate them from the normal townsfolk. This turned out mediocre. Still watchable, but mediocre.
- DirectorJ.S. CardoneStarsSarah KendallFrederick FlynnCarol KottenbrookTwo couples become stranded on a rugged isle, and are haunted by a supernatural beast, drawn to the wife of one of the couples, who dreams of its killings.3 seconds. This movie has problems. The pacing is glacial at times with nothing to show for it. The not quite clear antagonist that is never explained well leaving you with no idea what exactly you're supposed to be afraid of. The let down of an ending that was tacked on to what would have been a let down ending. But at least the monster looks great. For the 3 seconds its on screen. The kills are at least all right, but I wish there were more of them. It would have been time better spent than the David hunt, which was unbearably slow. And again, they should have shown the monster more, even if only in profile, because the deaths are a bit mundane for a creature. The fact they could have been done by a human is undercut by the fact the only person conceivable of being the killer is an Orville Ketchum tier red herring. The movie has some suspense, its shot pretty well, but it was just not written well to capitalize on the story it was telling.
- DirectorJoe CornishStarsJohn BoyegaJodie WhittakerAlex EsmailA teen gang in South London defend their block from an alien invasion.I'm partial to John Boyega, he's got moxie. And he isn't a terrible actor either, playing his role in this movie like 50 Cent before he lost his balls in Chelsea Handler's purse. And that was a good choice as he kept the movie on track over his more comedic costars. It wasn't that the comedy was bad, in fact it hit more than it missed, but its pretty much every other actor doing schtick and someone needed to get the story going. The alien designs look good with the exception of the initial monster as the lack of hair does make it look more like a puppet as they lug its corpse around. I especially liked the glowing teeth that stood out well against their jet black fur. Though I do have to question the sentimentality of the story, particularly how they brushed off an armed mugging. It doesn't matter that it was based on a real interaction the director had, when something like that goes wrong, someone doesn't go home. And the climax is a bit of a let down as it just goes overboard and comes off as corny. But all in all, this was a very good movie and debut of a promising young star that has been done dirty.
- DirectorChris LaMartinaJames BranscomeShawn JonesStarsPaul FahrenkopfAaron HenkinNicolette le FayeA horror comedy with fake news and commercials section, that was filmed on old video cameras to make it look like a real VHS recording of a commercial television station's Halloween special from 1987.I stumbled on this and thought it was potentially a good way to finish off the month. Unfortunately, it ended with a fart. The internet has really run wild with the idea of broadcast horror. You can watch Local 58 or The Mandela Catalogue for a creepy news based horror story, and five years after this Inside No. 9 made a phenomenal Halloween special in which ghosts hijack the broadcast. These each have something this movie lacks, an intriguing and terrifying plot. The actual horror special is very lackluster, never actually popping off and constantly cutting to commercial any chance something pops off. There is no build to anything and the wrap up is without merit. And this is the second and third act, there is a first act that is way too long. So the story is bad, but there is something commendable. And that is the research that went into making the broadcast feel authentic. The ads look like public access marketing for local businesses and the broadcast has a very inauthentic neighborly quality to it precisely like what was given on local news networks. Even the constant commercials breaking up the special feel like the shenanigans they would pull albeit to the film's detriment. But this is ruined by the viewer of the recording fast-forwarding through some of the bloat which only serves to break your immersion and kind of emphasizes that there is too much bloat. Had the movie started with the video starting at the tail end of the news, used some of the ads wiser, not married itself to its gimmick as it did, and spent more time creating an interesting "haunting," this would be a much more enthralling experience. But it didn't.
- DirectorTakashi ShimizuStarsYûkaKarinaKippei ShînaA Japanese actress begins having strange visions and experiences after landing a role in a horror film about a real-life murder spree that took place over forty years ago.Another Halloween in the books and I nearly surpassed my best with this line up. With some real big hitters like Mahal and Svengali and a fairly long stretch of movies I liked, there was a good chance I'd outdo my 2020 Halloween. But alas, three movies dragged me down to 6.8. Fried Berry was a strong showing but it really came down to two movies for my top pick. I loved Cello for its ability to play with my expectations but it was Reincarnation's well crafted story that ultimately won me over. Meanwhile, the battle for my bust came down to Fear Street Part One, Invasion of the Dead, and Slumber Party Massacre III. Invasion of the Dead was bad, but was in that area where I could enjoy it so I was able to take that out of the running, but between the other two was a conundrum. I hated SPM3, it was a mess of lackluster kills and bad acting. But it was also the third instalment of a franchise, Fear Street Part One angered me so much I didn't want to watch the movies that followed it in spite they were all significantly better, earning it my ire and bile.