Happy Halloween: Hellbent (2004)

Happy Halloween folks and we come to our final movie review of the season: 'Hellbent' directed by Paul Etheredge and is notable for being the first and possibly only gay themed slasher movie. The film takes place at a Halloween party where a group of young men are preyed upon by a man in a devil mask and a mean sickle. This movie has been on my watchlist for many years due to it being surprisingly hard to track down. I wasn't disappointed once I popped it in my DVD player however as it was pretty decent and lived up to its hype. Sure, it's your typical slasher formula and really they add nothing to it other than the cast happens to be all gay, but sometimes just doing a slasher movie well is enough to have a good time and 'Hellbent' is a good example.

The film also has a lot of humor injected into it much like 'Scream' which keeps your attention going while your waiting for the next scare scene. As far as the horror aspect goes, there's not a whole lot of it outside of some creative kill scenes. Really I think of this as more of a horror comedy than a straight slasher but it still delivers when it has to, albeit with a little bit of reluctance. Sadly, I couldn't find much about the cast but I really did like them all. They don't really play up the stereotypes and as far as a slasher movie goes are pretty likeable characters. The killer in this film is really cool too, with his devil persona and scythe weapon he kind of reminds me of 'Scream Queens' but with a little more creep factor to him. In fact, a lot of 'Hellbent' reminds me of 'Scream Queens' from its snarky attitude and dialogue to its kill scenes and even the killer himself.

'Hellbent' may drive off a lot of people after hearing the basic premise but they'd be missing out on a decent slasher flick. If you want something that's different while still keeping the traditions alive, then check out 'Hellbent' (if you can find it that is).

( B - )

Hope you folks have a Happy Halloween!

13 Days of Halloween: Army of Darkness (1993)

'Army of Darkness' takes place shortly after 'Evil Dead 2' with Ash (Bruce Campbell) being thrown backwards in time to the medieval era. To get back to his own time and save the world, he must retrieve the dreaded Book of the Dead and defeat the evil known as Deadites. The film was released to no fanfare and with its budget being larger than the previous two, it ended up bombing at the box office until it later came to home video where it found the cult following we know today. If you've seen the movie, then you can probably guess why the film did so poorly. The original two 'Evil Dead' films did not find their fans until home video rentals took over and while its commendable that Universal Pictures took a gamble by releasing 'Army of Darkness' into theaters, it wasn't the best move in the end.

A strange personal story with this film is that it was the first one I saw thanks to its frequent television screenings on the Sci-Fi channel back in the 90's. Sure, I didn't really understand the story and really how could I when I never heard of 'Evil Dead' but the film's comedy, action, and creature feature elements made it just as entertaining as a Harryhausen film back in the day. You even have the cheesy skeleton puppets like in 'Jason and the Argonauts' running around fighting people. The movie shows Sam Raimi's love of Three Stooges and other slapstick style comedy while still keeping the same elements of the previous two films. But even with the larger budget and more focused script and even better actors performing throughout I still just don't find myself going back to 'Army of Darkness' that often.


It may be down to fatigue from overwatching it, it may be the hype surrounding it, or it may just be the tonal inconsistencies with the other films but I just don't find myself enjoying 'Army of Darkness' nearly as much as I did. That said, you shouldn't take that as a negative aspect because the film is still fun especially if you like Monty Python or old B-Movies and I'm sure you'll have a hell of a time every time you pop it in. I'm just of the opinion that 'Evil Dead 2' is still the true King that should be hailed to.

( B + )

13 Days of Halloween: Evil Dead 2 (1987)

'Evil Dead 2' is not really a sequel, but rather what was likely the original vision of director Sam Raimi and his friends when creating the 1981 original. It's pretty safe to say that the film is more of a remake than a true sequel but whether a sequel or a remake 'Evil Dead 2' is a vastly superior entry that improves on everything while keeping the same fun and splatter the original had. The film as I said is essentially a remake with Ashley Williams (Bruce Campbell) and his girlfriend heading up to a cabin in the woods only for them to be terrorized by the evil that lives within. The film then takes a slight 180 by introducing a new group of people who arrive at the cabin to continue their research on the infamous Book of the Dead, the source of the demonic entities. Looney Tunes levels of insanity ensue with blood oceans spraying all over, goofy and spooky grotesque monsters, and some of the most famous one liners in film history.

One of the biggest strengths here is the creative camera work in which we see the demonic presence in a first person view as it chases its victims around and you sit there wondering just how could these guys pull this off with such a limited budget? Yes the original film did this effect very well too, but 'Evil Dead 2' takes it to 11 with the most impressive shot being the camera flowing straight through the back of a car's window and through the front windshield in one continuous take. You rarely see anything that impressive or unique in today's horror films and it's what makes 'Evil Dead 2' so memorable.


The controversy that surrounded the previous film is what many believe led to this film's more humorous and over the top tone and thank God if that's the truth. This film is like a bloody cartoon, and includes a severed demon hand giving the finger which sold me right away. If you like Three Stooges style slapstick humor and horror, you likely already have the many DVD editions of 'Evil Dead 2' so I don't have to tell you all, but for the rest of you who haven't seen it yet what are you waiting for?! 'Evil Dead 2' is the highlight entry in the series even to this day and while the original will always be important in its own right and the other films are great, nothing beats this one.

( A + )

13 Days of Halloween: The Evil Dead (1981)

'The Evil Dead' is a film that really showed me that I could make my own movie despite the conditions or locations I find myself in. Like Troma or Kevin Smith, director Sam Raimi took what little he had, grabbed his friends, went deep into the woods with some money and film equipment, and went through absolute hell shooting a movie. And hell is putting it mildly, the cast and crew have literal scars from making this film but in the end it was all worth it and we got a really great crew of filmmakers and actors that still work today.

The story is simple but sometimes the best ones are: a group of friends go out into the woods to spend the weekend. Now thinking realistically, I'm not sure how this old dirty cabin in Tennessee is exactly romantic but let's play along shall we? Anyway, the kids find something in the cabin and in typical horror fashion they mess with things they don't understand and unleash a bevy of demonic entities which proceed to possess and kill each of the teens until one remains...It's cliche even for the time but the familiar feeling along with some really impressive camera work, gross out special effects, and crude guerilla style gives 'The Evil Dead' charm and its those traits that make it so memorable.

The film's many errors, bad effects, and over the top gore are so unforgettable and reminds me of my own home movies as a kid. However even as a tyke I never found the film particularly scary and reading the history of controversy and censorship it's had to endure since release baffles me. This movie is too goofy to take seriously in my opinion, especially when you read such nonsense as Sam Raimi almost being jailed for making the thing! Yes, the film is gory and tasteless but it's a horror movie! It gives exactly what it promises on the tin and doesn't apologize nor attempt to trick you in any way so where the controversy came from I will never know.

'The Evil Dead' is a crudely put together film by a group of ambitious young filmmakers and it's far from perfect. However it's that ambition and inspiring backstory that I feel keeps it going today. It helped many people like myself realize that we can make our own movies even with little resources even today. Yes, ours may not reach the same status but it helps to drive us and inspiring creativity or hard work in any way can't be all bad right?

( A + )

13 Days of Halloween: As Above So Below (2014)

The Paris catacombs is one of the creepiest and sinister places on earth and the worst part is it's a real place. Deep underground in Paris, France the catacombs are home to many, many skeletal remains of the dead including skull chandeliers and furniture adorning the deep chasms. Making a film about this all too real location is something you would think a filmmaker would have made long before 2014 but here we are with 'As Above So Below' from the director of 'Poughkeepsie Tapes' and 'Quarantine'. Sadly, this film passed me by during its initial theatrical run as I had long had my fill of found footage horror by that point and really never came out that impressed with the various efforts. I wish I had the chance to see this one the big screen because it must have been pretty damned impressive and something seemingly unheard of nowadays...actually scary.

Now, it's not really what you see in front of you though there are plenty of horrific images that will scare you here, but it's the overall themes, atmosphere and the horrible reality of the location that rises the film above the others. The catacombs were notorious for sinister happenings in the many years since they began giving tours through them and even if you're not the superstitious or religious type, one cannot help but feel uncomfortable with a place like this. It's in our nature to fear death regardless of its form and to see it physically manifested in a place like this it's hard to not feel uneasy when seeing people or even yourself going through them. That's what works here in the film, those natural instincts do give the movie a creepy vibe throughout even when the hokey CGI effects do rear their ugly head. But even with a strong tone, those effects do shatter the immersion a little too frequently so where does that leave it as an overall film? Is it bad for using too many tropes and bad effects? Or can those be overcome by the film's strong premise and creepy environments?

I think it results in a somewhat mixed bag that's nonetheless satisfying enough and genuinely creepy that I still recommend it. It is probably the best found footage movie you'll see out of the many imitators and unlike those it does have some rewatch value. It's also the perfect Halloween movie to watch late at night so if you don't mind those little gripes I say give it a watch.

( B )

JIGSAW (2017)

The 'Saw' films return seven years later and it's mostly more of the same old song and dance but has some spit and polish that makes it a little better than previous entries. Oddly, I think the biggest flaw here is that it speeds along so rapidly that I couldn't think straight for more than a few minutes leaving me with a lot of questions and at times frustrated. I understand that this is the eight entry in a long running franchise but it doesn't really excuse 'Jigsaw' for going a little too fast at times. It can also be incredibly confusing due to this sped up mentality. Even die hard fans of the series will tell you that the 'Saw' series can be very convoluted in its overall story and 'Jigsaw' is no different. Even once everything falls into place and it's all laid out and explained to you as in typical 'Saw' fashion at the end, it still just made me scratch my head for the most part and a lot of the "twists" felt a little too convenient for the sake of the villain's schemes. The film also abruptly ends without really connecting any of the previous entries to this one, leaving those unanswered questions at the end of 'Final Chapter' still unanswered. It's almost like they were attempting a sort of reboot while keeping most of the overall continuity which leads to a messy outcome.

What I did like about the film is that it's a very different looking film than the others, with a much warmer color palette and some more varied set pieces throughout. I also liked that they held back on the torture and gore just enough that when it does happen, it comes off as more shocking and grotesque. In that aspect, the film is more like the original but don't think of that as the film skimping on the kills because they are here and one particular one is pretty memorable. I think most horror and 'Saw' fans will enjoy the special effects work at hand here, even if it is less frequent. 'Jigsaw' has some of the worst acting of the series and that's saying something. A lot of the performances consist of unintelligible dialogue/screaming/crying or evil villain laughing while wringing hands together cringe worthy dialogue. A lot of the time, I simply had a headache listening to some of these idiots.

'Jigsaw' for the most part was a forgettable but painless experience that most horror fans could get a quick thrill from. It's better than the previous film and overall it's one of the best sequels in the series, but it feels ironically pieced together too quickly and shoved out despite a seven year gap to really do something different or better than what came before. It's more of the same but at least its more fun to watch this time around.

( C - )

13 Days of Halloween: Behind the Mask (The Rise of Leslie Vernon) (2006)

Alright, so I may be cheating a bit here as this is not entirely a found footage movie but it has enough and has the added benefit of being a great and still underrated modern horror classic. 'Behind the Mask' tells the story of a documentary crew who is hired by a young man named Leslie. Once they arrive, they see that the man is hoping that they will film his rise as a serial killer among the likes of Freddy and Jason. The crew at first continue simply to humor Leslie and follow him as he lays out a blueprint he has set up in the hopes of taking out a group of young teens near his home. He hopes to set traps and provide jump scares as if he's living a real life horror flick and soon the crew find that Leslie is deadly serious about executing his plan and won't let anyone stand in his way.

The film starts out much like a horror parody film, playing up a lot of the cliches and common situations associated with the genre and it's done with wit and very wicked humor. Those who are fans of 'Halloween' or 'Friday the 13th' will especially love the tributes given in 'Behind the Mask' such as Leslie having a paranoid psychiatrist chasing him down (and played by 'Freddy' himself Robert Englund) and even going so far to explain why the teens cannot escape by phone or car. Leslie has everything prepared from the very start and while he generally has a kind smile and attitude about him during these opening moments, when he starts to execute his plans the precision and detail in which he executes his spree makes him truly terrifying.

Though the biggest setback for 'Behind the Mask' is that last act unfortunately as it tends to become the rule rather than the exception on some of these horror cliches. It also loses its unique filming style, resorting to a typical fog and sickly green cinematography which was common during the 00's. Don't get me wrong, the final act is still fun with some great gore effects and genuine thrills, but it does seem to deflate the film as a whole rather quickly. If you've never seen or even heard of 'Behind the Mask', I urge you to track down the DVD as its quite cheap and relatively easy to obtain. It sadly didn't receive a wide release during its initial run and other than the hardcore fanbase it's sadly gone unnoticed.

( A - )

13 Days of Halloween: CREEP (2014)

'Creep' is a found footage film from 2014. It ran through various festivals and has received critical and viewer praise since. Does it live up to the hype? Well, I guess that depends on what you're looking for. The film does follow a lot of the usual tropes associated with found footage but it does take enough twists and turns throughout in order to distinguish itself from the others. The basic idea is this: a young man (played by the writer/director) answers a Craigslist ad to film a video for a lonely man up in the forest. The idea behind this video is because the man is dying of cancer and would like to leave a memento of himself to his unborn son. The man is a little eccentric and odd but charming and in some ways very sad and for the first few sessions everything goes well until the man starts to exhibit stranger and more sinister behavior.

A big reason I like 'Creep' is that its completely grounded in reality which is rarely portrayed in these found footage films. It's such a basic idea to film a real psychotic individual and yet it's never really done so you could say that 'Creep' is unique in that aspect. I also like the slow build up with some actual payoff which is another big flaw with these type of movies. Films like 'Blair Witch' or 'Paranormal Activity' will abruptly end with no real payoff or momentum to speak of, leaving many viewers annoyed and frustrated. 'Creep' also gets the gold for being the only found footage film that has good performances between the two men. I am engaged in these characters the moment they meet and want to see how everything plays out. Really, how many found footage flicks can you think of that have engaging and interesting characters? Even in good ones like 'Blair Witch Project' that department is sorely missing.

The main drawback that may divide a lot of viewers is that the film is a little slower paced than those other films and some may find the titular creep in question more annoying than scary and that's understandable. He feels more like a troll or prankster for a lot of the movie which may have people shaking their head wondering 'is he trying to be scary or funny'?  Other than the small issues I have 'Creep' was a big surprise when I caught it on Netflix a couple months ago. It's different enough from the crowded found footage genre that it stands out as a gem.

( A - )

13 Days of Halloween: The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

A surprisingly tense and atmospheric horror film disguised as a true crime courtroom drama 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' turned into a pleasant surprise and I walked away on a high. Starring Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter) and Tom Wilkinson (Batman Begins) the story tells the 'true story' (meaning it takes the basic elements and fictionalizes the majority) of a young girl who died during her exorcism in which the priest is held accountable and between the trial and flashback accounts we get to see the events leading up to the horrific incident. I won't lie here, the film will likely split audiences at about the half hour mark. It's not your typical horror film or even a possession film because while there are very graphic and horrible scenes involving those themes, the film tries to tell a deeper story while still keeping those horror elements.

Films have attempted to copy and paste 1973's 'The Exorcist' long before this one, but while those knock offs and even official sequels would usually focus on the gross out and grotesque aspects of William Friedkin's film, 'Emily Rose' attempts to stay more grounded in reality and go at a slower pace. One of the best aspects of 'The Exorcist' was its unnatural atmosphere and uncomfortable tone which is thanks to the long slow pace of the film's first hour or so before hitting you over the head with macabre imagery. 'Emily Rose' goes more in this direction and for a large majority of the film director Scott Derrickson succeeds at giving us a similar creepy pace. Where this slower pace does not do so well is in the large chunk in which we have to go back to the court room which ironically adds exposition to the story while also rendering the film to a screeching halt.

Now if it weren't for the amazing acting performances of Wilkinson and the prosecuting attorney played by Laura Linney these films would be unbearable but luckily they keep my attention long enough that I want to continue watching and hopefully get to the next flashback. The biggest surprise here however is Carpenter as the young girl Emily Rose. A lot of the crazy things she does in the film are in fact real and in camera by the young actress herself and she is damn scary. It's really a shame that after such a strong and unforgettable performance she doesn't seem to get as much credit as she deserves. She has gone on to do just as well in shows like 'Dexter' and even video games such as 'The Evil Within' but I think she deserves another big project to show off what she can do. Highly underrated woman that's for sure.

'The Exorcism of Emily Rose' is a film you've probably brushed off or ignored at your local video shop at one time or another. The demon possession genre is very much played out and only a few little gems are hiding in the sea of mediocrity. I personally think this one is one of those gems and one that no one seems to really discuss anymore when watching Halloween movies. If you don't want to sit through the court room scenes then I at least suggest checking out the exorcism sequence itself for some really creepy scenes.

( B + )

13 Days of Halloween: Demons (1985)

'Demons' comes from Lamberto Bava and Dario Argento and tells the story of a mysterious midnight screening of a horror movie at the local theater. Only those who have received a special ticket attend and once the projector rolls, the film on screen starts to blend into reality leading to demonic possession and lots of gooey gory bits in the popcorn. Funny story, I actually heard about 'Demons' back in the third grade from a young girl in my class. Who knows where a third grader in the 90's had access to a film like this but the way she described it to me left me creeped out and totally fascinated. I just had to see the movie for myself, only to cut to my senior year of high school where I finally managed to get ahold of a copy of the film on DVD.

And not only did it live up to my childhood imagination, it blew it away. After all, I couldn't have possibly thought up the intense stuff seen in 'Demons' at 8 years old or else it would have left me awake for weeks. What works the most here is that despite its big and apocalyptic theme it's simple idea and early creepy vibes that really help get you in the mood. It starts out very slow with the creepy musical score common with Italian horror films and for a while you may think nothing's going to happen until that one scene and the demon reveals itself and that's when you get the satisfying feeling that you did make the right decision in choosing 'Demons'. And then the film gets chaotic and really fun until the end credits roll, with blaring heavy metal music and blood splattering the walls leaving the viewer on a big high.

For a small budget, the gore and demon makeup effects are very impressive and rightfully gross to look at. For the most part it's simple which makes it all the more effective though you'll occasionally get the more elaborate effects sequence, which is not executed as well but it's nice to see them attempt a unique and varied amount of monsters. While there's a lot of fun to have in 'Demons' for those unfamiliar with Italian horror you may be left simply scratching your head wondering what the heck I see in a film such as this. Italian horror films are always about what you see on the screen rather than a straight story, which rubs many viewers the wrong way. The dialogue here is overdubbed with English and it's very poor in both audio and writing quality. So for those going in without much knowledge just be warned that you're here for spectacle and visuals and not a story.

'Demons' and its sequel are fun 80's movies that have some memorable moments that will stay with you. It only suffers from the usual story and pacing issues common with the Italian horror genre. I recommend checking out the Blu-Ray releases by Synapse films if you're looking for something new to show at your Halloween party this year.

( B )

13 Days of Halloween: Tales From The Crypt Presents Demon Knight (1995)

Now we shift our 13 days of Halloween to those demons and ghouls lurking in the dark with 1995's 'Demon Knight'. Starring Jada Pinkett Smith, Billy Zane, and William Sadler 'Demon Knight' tells the tale of a demonic entity (Zane) who seeks an ancient talisman which would help him rule the world. It's up to a mysterious stranger and a house of misfits to banish the evil forever. 'Demon Knight' is a film that even to this day doesn't seem to have much of a following. Of course, many fans of the 'Tales from the Crypt' television series have likely seen the film and enjoy it but I don't really hear this movie come up in conversation with most horror fans. I'm not sure what the factors are exactly, but it's a shame because I feel the film is highly underrated and thanks to Scream Factory the film has been released in High Definition for everyone to enjoy.

What I love about 'Demon Knight' is that while it may not have started out as a 'Tales' film, it hits the tones and themes dead on. It has the dark humor, gross out monster and gore effects, and a wonderful cast. This is one of few films I can say where I think every individual actor does an excellent job here and even in Oscar winning pictures that's pretty rare. Even when they throw in a kid character tagging along, he really doesn't cause any trouble or make stupid mistakes for the purpose of plot and that's extremely rare especially in horror. The highlight performance however goes to the evil Collector played by Billy Zane who is someone I always welcome into a movie. Even a film like 'Titanic' which I don't particularly care for I always enjoy Zane's work. Here he is a very funny bad guy while also having some menace to him and its easily one of his best roles.

'Demon Knight' is also the best looking film of the three 'Tales from the Crypt' movies with a strong emphasis on blues and foggy grays along with the occasional flash of garish green and reds to shock the senses. As for the music, you get the usual 90's heavy metal soundtrack typical with horror films of the time but at least we get the famous Danny Elfman theme and intro for 'Tales from the Crypt' in the film's opening and ending so that's a plus. 'Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight' is a great horror comedy with a wonderful cast, funny and creative writing, and it's a perfect Halloween treat for any fan of the TV show or those late night spookfests you saw as a child. It's a film that you should definitely check out.

( A )

13 Days of Halloween: The House on Sorority Row (1983)

'The House on Sorority Row' is one of the more well known slashers during the early boom of the 1980's. The plot is your typical revenge story commonly found in these types of films involving the accidental death of someone and a group of young college women desperate to keep it a secret. Only somebody already knows what they did, and he's not happy. I know what you're thinking: 'I Know What You Did Last Summer' right? I don't blame you as I thought the same thing (especially when viewing the 2009 remake 'Sorority Row') however this film beat it to the punch by oh about twenty years (if you don't count the novel by Lois Duncan). The truth is 'House' is not going to win any awards even by slasher standards. It's as by the book as you can get with a flick like this and yet there's something here that makes me remember it among the dozens of others.

For one, the girls themselves are actually the antagonists for a lot of the film. They're snobby, bitchy, and the majority of them deserve everything that comes to them. Even when we're left with a 'final girl' I can't really say that she was any nicer or a better overall person, she almost just seemed like a pick out of the survivor hat. Another memorable aspect is it's heavy gore and quite graphic kill scenes which were quite extreme at the time and most stick out in my mind such as a girl's head in a toilet. Strangely though, what I don't remember much of when thinking of 'Sorority Row' is the killer himself, something most slasher fans would consider a big negative. I have to agree here because while the killer himself does horrific and scary things he has no presence himself and only in the last five to ten minutes do we see him in a creepy clown outfit. It's disappointing to say the least.

So in the end, 'The House on Sorority Row' is nothing special as far as horror movies go especially among the crowded market of the time. But I think it is those memorable kills and overall bizarre atmosphere the movie radiates that keeps its memory alive in us long after we've sat through it. Do I recommend it? To slasher fans hell yes but if you're a casual horror fan you've seen this film dozens of times before and will likely brush it off as fast as you did the remake.

( C  )

13 Days of Halloween: Cherry Falls (2000)

'Cherry Falls' came out at a time when slasher movies were coming back into style and with bigger budgets, slicker style and a wicked sense of humor. 1996's 'Scream' brought the subgenre back and whether you like that film or not it's hard to deny its influence. Unfortunately like the 1980's slashers, there were simply too many thrown at us in such a short amount of time that it quickly became tired and fatiguing for audiences and 'Cherry Falls' fell out of memory for many due to its late arrival. It's a real shame too because the film is a pretty clever and well made piece that deserved a lot more praise. The film was butchered for content and released quietly on the USA network never to be heard of again. Until it came to DVD that is and while we still haven't gotten to see the full cut yet it's nice to finally see 'Cherry Falls' the way it was intended.

The film for the most part follows your typical slasher formula: killer stalks teens at a school/campus while the kids party and have sex however 'Cherry Falls' pulls a fast one on us with the killer's motives. See, this killer only kills virgins and soon enough once this information is spread to the various teen characters only one solution comes to mind: orgy. Yeah, at the time this was a very unique idea and while I've seen more clever takes on the slasher genre, 'Cherry Falls' still gets a kudos from me for trying something new even if it came out in the late phase of the 90's craze. It also helps that the film has a better cast than other slashers of the time with Brittany Murphy and Michael Beihn giving some of their best work. It's a real shame Murphy passed so young as she really was a talent despite the material she'd be given and while I won't say 'Cherry Falls' is high class entertainment she gives her best like a champ.

Now while the concept is unique, I can't say the same for the rest of the film. It follows your typical tropes such as false scares and stupid characters and the trimmed down gore is really a pain. I can't imagine what possibly could have been in this that would be any worse than 'Scream' or 'Valentine' but in slasher films the kills are the highlights. Other horror films don't always need gore or boobs to work but films like 'Cherry Falls' do and don't understand why the MPAA doesn't get it! 'Cherry Falls' isn't Shakespeare or anything, but as far as 90's slashers go I think you'll get a kick out of it especially if you're a fan of 'Scream'. Check it out if you've gone through your other horror flicks this Halloween.

( B )

Happy Death Day (2017)

'Happy Death Day' tells the story of a young girl who is cursed to repeat her birthday over and over as a killer stalks and kills her. There are many films like this such as 'Groundhog Day' and 'Edge of Tomorrow' and the film is aware that it isn't being that original. So instead, it decides to use a youthful style and black comedy and just has fun with its concept. I know a lot of horror fans will be bummed but this is a comedy with some horror like elements. You of course have the typical jump scares and a killer in a creepy mask stalking and killing someone but everything is rather light hearted and dialed back despite the gruesome plot. However, I don't want the film's tone nor its PG-13 rating to discourage you because I was genuinely happy with how well made 'Happy Death Day' is.

I think director Christopher Landon has some skills when given the right material to work with. His previous efforts on the 'Paranormal Activity' series were very weak but has a strong visual style that showed some promise. Here he shows off a lot more of his talent, with some really nice cinematography and some creepy lighting. The comedy is hit or miss and while I'm aware that it likely isn't aimed at someone my age, some of the jokes are downright lazy such as a random fart joke or crude sexual comment. It's like watching a teen sex comedy which did aggravate me sometimes. What I really loved about 'Happy Death Day' is it clearly has a love for the slasher and giallo genre of horror films. I was particularly surprised at how similar the film was to an old Italian film like 'Deep Red' in which every character is made to be suspicious or unlikeable in order to throw you off until that final reveal. It was a nice modern take on old mechanics and I felt it worked well.

The only real negative here is the main character herself. She is unlikeable and she's supposed to be at first. The problem is, I still don't like her at the end of the film nor did I feel that she truly deserved salvation at the end. She just seemed like the same old person at the end but a little nicer to people. It's a classic Dickens plot with some blood splatter that just work in the end. The other small negative here is sort of spoiler territory so I won't go into much detail but the last half of the film doesn't seem to really add up and when you learn the identity of the killer it hurt my brain. It all seemed a bit too convenient for all of the pieces to fall into place here.

'Happy Death Day' was a fun horror comedy overall with some genuinely good things about it. If you just want something fun to watch on Halloween, I say give this one a go just don't expect to remember it after a few weeks.

( C + )

Leatherface (2017)

'Leatherface' is now the second...or third prequel/reboot/remake of the popular franchise. It stars Lily Taylor and Stephen Dorff and was just released in select theaters so imagine my shock when I saw this listed in my little hometown. Being both a horror fanatic and a sucker for punishment, I headed down to my local cinema and checked it out expecting the worst and with good reason. Despite being the most influential modern horror film 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' spawned some really weak sequels and a remake. It's easily one of the worst horror franchises out there despite its strong history and talent behind the camera, so you can understand my skepticism going into 'Leatherface'. I didn't read great reviews and the film was being released on a meager budget and limited to Pay-Per-View rentals and home video. But coming out of the theater, I was more disappointed in how not disappointed I was, as 'Leatherface' despite all odds is the best film in the long running series to come by in some time.

As stated before, the film is another retelling of how the infamous cannibal family came to be and while I agree with most that what you didn't know about Leatherface and his clan the more scary they were but here they at least give a realistic and grounded story that doesn't go for goofy over the top moments like 'The Beginning'. Instead, we get a sort of 'Bonnie and Clyde' style road chase flick until the film starts to finally feel like a 'Chainsaw' film in the last act. And as strange as that sounds, I commend them for coming up with something different, at least as far as these films go. Oddly, it occurred to me watching 'Leatherface' that the film takes a lot from Rob Zombie's 2005 film 'The Devil's Rejects' which took a lot of its influence from the 1974 version of 'Chainsaw Massacre'. It even follows the same beats to a certain degree: crazy family driving through Texas with hostages while an equally crazed sheriff tries to catch them all. Only in the last twenty minutes or so does this feel like a film in the same universe.

That drastic shift is also what cripples 'Leatherface' from becoming the best sequel of the bunch. At times, it feels a bit too different and hardly feels like a 'Chainsaw' film at all. I wouldn't mind another 'Devil's Rejects' like film out there but when you label it as 'Leatherface', you kind of have an expectation and this film doesn't give enough. Overall, I still recommend it as its at least worth a rental. It's tone goes everywhere and it takes too much from better movies but its still a better film than the last three in the franchise.

( C  )

13 Days of Halloween: A Bay of Blood (1971)

Another Halloween is upon us and this year, I've decided to go for a theme: slasher flicks! My favorite horror sub-genre has so many to choose from I tried to pick some that you may not have seen but if you have then you're likely a big fan like myself. So, we've got thirteen days to cover some really oddball films so let's begin with director Mario Bava's slasher template 'A Bay of Blood'. This giallo film has influenced and has even been ripped off by 'Friday the 13th' (despite what the producers say) but the film is more than gory kills and nudity. Well, okay it's the majority of the film but still there are many other aspects that gives it a stylish edge. The story revolves around the giallo staple: a wealthy old person who gets bumped off for the inheritance. The rest of the family soon follow as each one kills in order to gain the money/property/etc.

'A Bay of Blood' is the most famous giallo to follow this structure but its also one of the better entries. Now, I have to say that I really don't fully understand the popularity of 'Bay of Blood' as it is quite slow paced and flawed in many story aspects. It's likely the bizarre atmosphere, music, and camera work that keeps its memory alive. Now don't get me wrong I don't dislike 'Bay of Blood' but seeing it the first time, I felt a little cheated by its low quality and rather boring middle and even though rewatching it numerous times since that first time I still feel it's overrated in many aspects. Where it definitely shines is in its gore which for the early 70's was extremely shocking and likely never saw many US theaters outside of your local grindhouse. We get double impalement, a hatchet to the face, and lots of beheadings. If you're going in for the kills then you'll be satisfied but not without a lot of baggage.

As stated before, the film is really slow with the intention of building up to something. This doesn't really work when the film decides to do whatever the hell it feels like at any given moment. While that's commendable to be different than other films in the genre, it's confusing and frankly annoying. I have little patience I suppose but for those going in for a typical slasher be prepared for a lot of exposition and long moments between the payoffs.

'A Bay of Blood' isn't the best giallo movie and it has a lot of problems but it's got some style and changes things up from time to time. If you can handle some slow moments and a very confusing plot then check it out.

( C + )

SAW Week: Saw 3D (The Final Chapter) (2010)

And so we come to the end of 'Saw Week' with the worst film in the entire franchise. I apologize to 'Saw IV' and 'V' because I had yet to watch this stinker beforehand. Whereas those were simply missteps that some might enjoy, this 3D entry is hard for anyone to enjoy. Perhaps if this stunt was done to an earlier sequel during the height of the series it might have been forgiven as a simple gimmick and some dumb fun. However, this is meant to be the final send off for the series as a whole (or at least until 2017) and it is a major failure. Firstly, let's get the 3D out of the way: it sucks. It simply sucks, and its not even that it simply throws sharp and pointy objects at the audience but it doesn't even do it enough times throughout its short running time to justify the format. In fact, after sitting down and reviewing the film over last night I realized that only one trap scenario even takes advantage of the 3D while the rest are simply post rendered.

The laziness on hand doesn't stop there though, as we have some of the worst characters of the series in 'Final Chapter'. I seriously couldn't remember anyone's names with the exception of three and that's only due to them being constantly repeated both here and in the previous six films. 'Saw: The Final Chapter' goes like this: unknown people get killed by trap, Hoffman and Jill go after each other, more traps kill more nameless victims, Hoffman is captured by a group of Jigsaw followers and the film abruptly ends. Yes, they sequel bait even when the film is meant to be the finale and yes a lot of horror films do this but not this poorly or clumsily. The only good thing I can honestly say here is that the traps and their bloody aftermath are just as well done as they always are but if you don't even want to sit down and watch what's the point?

Now while I would never expect Shakespeare out of a film like this, this could have been so much more special. However, Hollywood greed and it's tendencies to follow a trend became its downfall. See, 'Paranormal Activity' was becoming the new kid in town, breaking box office records and was now the new tradition every Halloween. 'Saw' was now obsolete which led to Lionsgate rushing this flick out with a higher ticket price in a poor attempt to get its audience back. This did not happen and the film went on to bring in some of the worst ticket sales in the series history. Hopefully, with the decade long thought process and some actual talent behind the screen this time around 2017's 'Jigsaw' will bring back the yearly tradition and give us something worth watching. Unless you're a hardcore fan of 'Saw' or a completionist, there's no reason to see 'Final Chapter'. It's obvious rushed production led it to its grave as it should have.

( F )

SAW Week: Saw VI (2009)

'SAW VI' is a strange beast. While it doesn't exactly change up the formula of the previous films, there are several elements that boost it above the previous two entries. This film is more focused this time, with a story taking a stab at the medical insurance companies, who Jigsaw sees as true murderers. Being a terminally ill man when alive, Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) was denied any medical insurance to ensure his wife's security and his personal health so the game this time around does seem the most personal to him. The participant of this entry's 'game' is the very man who denied him as he must confront the various other folks he has hurt with his business practices and 'bottom line'. It is quite strange how deep this story goes with some genuine drama and emotion. Lord knows why it took five sequels to get a decent story out of the 'Saw' franchise but this is my personal favorite script out of them all.

Even the traps are more impressive and creative, including the one you see above known as the 'Carousel Trap' which I won't spoil for those who haven't seen it. Kevin Greutert has been the editor of the series since the beginning, this time getting the director's position and he does have some talent with it. I think his editing skills in the 'Saw' series are hit and miss with the strange quick cutting technique that makes a lot of people nauseous but he has some really interesting set ups and camera work. His style would carry over to the next film as well but 'Saw VI' is by far his best film. The gore and all the things you love about the series make a comeback and as always the sequels manage to one up each other. This one feels even more brutal thanks to the personal vendettas each victim has in the story which has been severely lacking in the previous films and renders them into pointless visual gags rather than having substance.

'Saw VI' isn't that great of a film and I won't argue that here but it is the best sequel of the franchise because it seems to actually attempt at storytelling as well as some gory splatter. Most argue that horror flicks like this do not need story and to some degree that's true. However, when you're series is deliberately attempting an overall story arc across seven films they need to try better than these films. If they were nothing more than slasher/splatter flicks I would be a little more forgiving. 

( C + )

SAW Week: Saw V (2008)

I have to be honest, I had watched this film last week in order to review it this week but forgot so much by the time I sat down in front of my computer, I had to rewatch it tonight to remember most of it. 'SAW V' really is that unmemorable, but strangely it's not as bad as part four as it at least attempts to clean up the story and not leave us scratching our heads. While it didn't really work as well as it thinks (seriously, this series has really messed up continuity) it does give us a lot more of Tobin Bell as Jigsaw and a cat and mouse chase between Detective Strahm and Hoffman. For those not in the know, Detective Hoffman has been revealed as Jigsaw's new apprentice who continues to carry on his work. However, Hoffman is more interested in simply killing his victims and covering his tracks than helping them, with his collegue Strahm hot on his trail. Oh, and another elaborate game takes place with a set of victims.

That last sentence is really the major flaw of 'Saw V' and I'm left wondering just how the producers/writers/director manage to make a test/trap room scenario pointless in a 'Saw' film? Really, I think jumping between the game participants and the cops tracking down Hoffman mixed with Jigsaw flashbacks had me wondering what the point of the game was in the first place? They could have stuck to the flashbacks and the cop chasing and then with 'Saw VI' show off another elaborate game but here it stops the movie dead in its tracks just for a blood and guts quota. This is what truly makes 'Saw V' the worst film in the series but it's not my least favorite. As stated before, 'Saw IV' is my least watched entry because it has all the elements of a 'Saw' film and fails. 'Saw V' still has interesting aspects to it such as the cops and Jigsaw stories. It's just a bad film as far as 'Saw' goes due to the traps feeling like a third wheel rather than part of the story.

( D - )

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

'Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter' is an entry that many fans including myself will say is their favorite and it's not hard to see why. Out of the entire series, I think this sequel has the best characters, it's one of the best designs for Jason Voorhees, and overall it feels like a big budget blockbuster (as far as these flicks go) where everything is twice as big but retains what made the previous films great. It's also the most star studded cast of the series, with Corey Feldman, Kimberly Beck, and even a young Crispin Glover giving some memorable performances especially Feldman whose Tommy Jarvis character has become the main hero of the franchise and Glover's eccentric style coming out in spades.

Ted White's portrayal of Jason is my second favorite behind Kane Hodder but the unfortunate truth is that White has so much better material to work with and was in a better single film than all of Kane's entries (sorry Kane, don't choke me out). What people love about both Hodder and White is that their Jason's display similar traits such as the aggression and more vicious nature. The Jason in this film is brutal and unrelenting, grabbing people and violently thrusting them through a window or slamming a cleaver right into their face after they just had the happiest moment of their young life. Jason is an evil asshole for sure, but that's why we love him.

In terms of negatives, you have the same issues in all of these 'Friday' films and I know it's a review but you've heard this stuff before. Cliche jump scares, lots of nudity and gore, predictable scenes etc. It really is the stronger characters, the clean and well shot direction of Joe Zito, and of course Jason himself that keeps 'The Final Chapter' from becoming just another slasher flick. Really, it's hard to critique movies like this because we know what to expect so is that really a bad thing? Do I have a right to complain about tropes when I watch these movies knowing that's a given? I don't really think so, so while they're obvious flaws with 'Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter' I think the positives make for a better examination and frankly for a more interesting read for you nice folks.

The film is what it is and doesn't apologize for it, even if the executives at Paramount Pictures constantly does.

( A )

Friday the 13th: The Game (Playstation 4 Version)

Yes! A video game review and what a perfect opportunity to do one as it's one of my favorite days of the year: Friday the 13th! Now most of my friends know that 'Friday the 13th' is my favorite horror series and when I heard that a video game was being crowd funded last year, I was onboard and immediately slamming my $40 donation down. So after many long delays and various issues at launch earlier this year, is 'Friday the 13th: The Game' one I'm happy with? For the most part yes I am glad I invested in this project and have had some good fun with the game since its May release, however the game still has many problems that need to be resolved if it's going to keep me and the many fans happy. After all, nostalgia can only get you so far before you start to notice the cracks.

'Friday the 13th: The Game' has up to 7 players and one Jason player and the goal is quite simple: Escape or Kill. Luckily, there are multiple opportunities to keep yourself from ending up at the end of a sharp object in the game. From calling the police to repairing a car and even calling in series favorite Tommy Jarvis for some extra help the game does have variety in the mechanics. The same goes for Jason himself as you're given various abilities such as the infamous serial killer teleport and even bear traps and throwing darts. And yes, many many MK style fatalities that would all fit right into a 'Friday' film. Jason himself is very well done, thanks to the man himself Kane Hodder doing the motion capture animation for the game and you can even play as the various Jason's from the sequels, each with their own weapons and special kills.

The game's other major benefit is that much of its new updates and downloadable content is free, with only a few unnecessary clothing and emote packs that don't change anything. I love that gaming is willing to go this way more often. Yes, I know loot boxes etc. is greedy and stupid but if the majority of the DLC content is going to be free or added through updates, I'm all down.

While the star of the show is Jason, it's a shame that the counselor players have problematic and even game breaking issues. More often than not, you're going to be stuck playing as a counselor and while they each have different skills that make them easier to perform certain tasks, they all have awkward controls, particularly when it comes to combat. I know that fighting Jason is not only a bad idea but he's basically immortal (unless you're willing to pull off an extremely complicated set of rules) so I know that the game is not designed with combat in mind. Still, I wish I had better ways to defend myself just to get away and work on something. Entering combat mode is annoying and 99% of the time I miss with my weapon unless it's a gun. Unless you're with a group and you are all attacking him, it's really aggravating trying to land a hit on him.

The biggest problem with 'Friday the 13th: The Game' is the constant connection and server problems that have yet to be fully resolved as of today. I am still constantly kicked from games either due to the game crashing, or sour players kicking everyone because they bit the dust first. The match host at any time can stop the game whether due to their internet going out or just to troll players and it really needs to be fixed. The players themselves have also started to become unhelpful during several matches I would see players helping Jason kill people or running me over just for shits and giggles. These things kill game communities and while I don't expect troll players to end anytime soon, the constant tech problems are getting on my nerves. Graphics wise, this game is really ugly (ironically except Jason himself who's really detailed). Many many glitches are abound, and you can go to YouTube to find hours of the stuff and while some of it is funny, a lot of them will get you killed which just makes me want to rage quit.

'Friday the 13th: The Game' gets its theme down perfectly from its atmosphere, to it's music, and the grisly deaths. But it's got so many technical and graphical issues that have little to no change since release. I recommend the game, but at a discount price.

7.0

Night of the Demons (1988) (100th REVIEW!)

'Night of the Demons' is an essential Halloween movie with some wicked humor, great gore and special effects, and some really fun characters. The story revolves around your typical teenagers going out to party and fool around on Halloween night. Only this party is taking place at the deserted funeral home Hull House, thought to be possessed. Mayhem ensues as each teen is quickly dispatched and taken over by various demons who wish to enter the mortal world. Now, the film is nothing special in the story department as it's essentially 'The Evil Dead' mixed with 'Hell Night' but it's the overall youthful atmosphere and rowdy party theme that makes 'Night of the Demons' worth it. One of the hardest things one can do in a horror flick like this is give us some likeable characters even if their essentially fodder but 'Night of the Demons' pulls it off. Even the asshole character Stooge is funny despite his stupid demeanor and rude comments.


The main course here is the gory death scenes and creepy demon effects which are all pulled off really effectively despite the low budget. There's one in particular that still makes me cringe involving eyeball gouging that you have to see to believe. The second best thing about this film is that it just screams Halloween. The spirit of the holiday is strong in 'Night of the Demons' and you feel it around every frame of celluloid which is strangely something that even John Carpenter's film doesn't do that much. From this film's amazing animated opening sequence you're hooked and are instantly thrown back to your young days of trick or treating. The film really has everything a horror fan could want: nudity, violence, and spooky atmosphere. 'Night of the Demons' came to my attention only a few years ago, but it's become my new Halloween tradition right next to 'Night of the Living Dead'. It's a great little horror flick that you should definitely check out.

( A )

SAW Week: Saw IV (2007)

'Saw IV' is a far step backward from the previous entry and feels as if its lost and simply wandering through its 90 minute run time. Continuing immediately after the last film, Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is now dead and on the autopsy table, but his deadly games are far from over as a whole new maze of traps await an unfortunate officer in search of his former colleague (Donnie Whalberg). The series from here begins to break its own rules and much of the established lore is tossed in favor of some meaningless twists and worse story arcs than a daytime soap opera. Despite Jigsaw's traps taking the lives of many a victim, they were all winnable games if solved properly. Beginning with 'Saw IV' many of these traps mutilate and tear apart their victims with no solution in sight. Granted this is due to the successor of Jigsaw and his own twisted motives, but it really takes a lot out of these films and they really do just become a series of vignettes that barely tie together.

The story in general begins to warp into this odd concoction that thinks it's more clever than it actually is. The "twist" ending in this film is hardly a surprise and honestly me and my friend had no idea who the killer was once he revealed his face, although the movie seems to think I did as it builds up to a slow motion shot with a dramatic sting. I was just scratching my head. Sadly, even with many flashback scenes showing how Jigsaw came to be the film doesn't use Tobin Bell enough and really he's been the catalyst to the whole series up until now. The traps themselves are a mixed bag, nothing too special and mostly things we've all seen before in other horror flicks and executed a lot better. 'Saw IV' retains the previous film's gritty, grimy, fluorescent cinematography and while I will commend them for being consistent, it's a look that too many horror films of the millennium used and it was getting stale even by 2007.

The score is your usual horror style, with strings and heavy metallic sounds dominating throughout and Charlie Clouser's now iconic 'Saw' theme has become one of my favorite horror themes. All in all, satisfactory but again nothing special. 'Saw IV' doesn't provide enough change to justify its existence outside of a fast buck. It's vastly inferior to the previous three entries and one of the worst of the series.

( D )

SAW Week: Saw III (2006)

'Saw III' tries to pull back a little with its story, focusing only on a few characters and their struggles through Jigsaw's newest set of puzzles and death traps. On the surface, that can be a good thing but the film tends to stumble frequently throughout due to a weak script and very little new changes to the overall formula. Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) is now at death's door and bedridden in a hidden lair with his newest apprentice Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith). Their latest victims are a husband and wife whose relationship has been shattered after the loss of their child in a hit and run accident. Now the wife will have to tend to the ill Jigsaw while her husband must deal with those who were involved in the accident and choose their fates.

The fist thing I'd like to say about 'Saw III' is that the story is one of the best in the series. The couple here are two of the most well written and fleshed out characters, especially the husband who must deal with some really heavy emotions and decide whether or not to kill those who unintentionally killed his child. While many of the sequels tend to forget about the moral choice and overall idea of the traps in these films, 'Saw III' is what I would say is the best example of the original film's intentions and themes. Now after all that, it still struggles with many aspects which will only get worse as we go along. The traps linger on the suffering of the victims too long, and in doing so director Darren Lynn Bousman actually destroys any kind of real emotion they might have had. They are just gore for the sake of it, particularly during 'The Rack' scene which is meant to be the strongest for the husband character as he is meeting the very man who caused him so much harm. Instead of it becoming a scene of redemption and something special, it's just a man being brutally torn apart and the NC-17 (or Unrated) cut takes even more impact away.

The cast here is acceptable, with Bell giving his all despite his limited appearance this time around and Shawnee Smith giving a very strong performance as Amanda. She very much personifies Stockholm Syndrome in an eerily realistic kind of way. The husband and wife combo also do very well though the wife is given very little outside of giving Jigsaw some gruesome surgeries. 'Saw III' is a better film than 'Saw II' with a better script, better and more varied visuals, and scaling things back was a good decision. But it relies too much on its 'torture porn' persona and cuts corners in exchange for cheap thrills and gore.

( B - )

SAW Week: Saw II (2005)

'Saw II' hands over the directing reigns to Darren Lynn Bousman who would go on to shape the franchise as its known today. Nothing against James Wan in that statement, in fact I see it as a compliment seeing as how he created the original film as a gritty crime thriller whereas from here on out we get gore...lots of gore and horrible unlikable people...yay? The story continues a little while after the first with Detective Eric Matthews (Donnie Whalberg) is searching for the notorious serial killer known as Jigsaw (Tobin Bell) and pretty early on, he succeeds capturing him and revealing a feeble dying man with the mind of an evil genius. Now Matthews will have to play Jigsaw's game in order to save his estranged son's life who is set up in a deadly house of traps.

'Saw II' has a lot of good things about it when it really didn't have to. It's no surprise that Lionsgate milked the franchise to death but at the start they at least attempted to care about the sequels rather than just shove them out to meet an obligitory Halloween tradition. For one, Whalberg as Matthews does a really excellent job here. He was born to play a cop it seems as he would go to play the equally excellent Danny Regan in 'Blue Bloods' years later. Tobin Bell of course returns and brings the whole thing together as Jigsaw. Really, even in the worst of these 'Saw' films Bell is always enjoyable and I rank him up there with the famous horror villains. The rest of the cast can best be described as hit or miss but I attribute a lot of that to the script. The film simply has too many characters and not enough time to focus on any of them leaving me wondering why some even deserve the punishments they receive.

The special effects have been boosted, resulting in some bloody good Rube Goldberg like traps. While nowhere near as spectacular and ridiculous as what would soon come, they satisfy any gorehound's appetite. So, that's it really 'Saw II' is just okay in fact it's so okay that it's hard to bash it really. Sure, these films are garbage but it's entertaining garbage and in the horror world sometimes that's all that matters. In a genre with titles like 'Boogeyman II', 'The Bye Bye Man', and 'Wish Upon' you'll forgive me if I say that 'Saw II' is hardly a terrible horror flick.

( C + )

The Poughkeepsie Tapes (2007)

'The Poughkeepsie Tapes' is a film with a history to say the least. Originally set to release back in 2007, the film just released today on Blu-Ray disc for the first time. So what happened? Was it so shocking, so disgusting and so vile that it was simply pulled? The truth is sadly more lackluster than that as it simply didn't make it to screens due to its studio MGM going bankrupt around the same time leaving the film to float away from memory rather quickly. However for many horror fans like me, we couldn't forget that memorable trailer and for many years we sought to find a copy of the film with only shady DVD-R or bootleg copies available until now. So, as one would likely expect the film has somewhat of a large hype to it as least for the horror fanatic so does 'The Poughkeepsie Tapes' live up to all the hype?

I'd be a lying scumbag to say that it does because really does any film? (be honest now). It is an effective and heavy film however but it's not exactly one I would widely recommend. This is not a fun horror film like your Freddy's or Jason's and I'm not kidding may keep some of you awake at night should you choose to pop it in. The film is shot like a crime documentary you'd see on cable and is played completely straight. It even has the somewhat questionable acting and recreations those shows do but the cheese goes right out the window when we cut to the 'tapes' in question. This stuff is fucked up pardon my language. I have to warn you folks now and several times again that this is not a horror film for the casual viewer. The tapes are grainy, warped, have disturbing piercing audio, and some of the most disturbing sequences of torture. Where were those idiots complaining about 'SAW' being torture porn?!

But as stated earlier, the disturbing and frank nature is an asset to the film if that's your sort of thing. It gives the viewer exactly what they came for and you come out feeling grimy and awful which is exactly what the filmmakers wanted. The director would go on to direct the excellent 'As Above So Below' and while the film has none of that style (in fact, the film seems like a cheap YouTube video rather than a major theatrical release) it has all of the disturbing horror times ten. In the end, I was satisfied with the film but it's definitely not for everyone. I have a fascination with lost media in all forms so to see a long lost horror film finally come to light is something I'm very happy to see and wish to share with everyone even if you don't like what you see.

( B )

SAW WEEK: Saw (2004)

'Saw' is now almost 15 years old and whether you like the films or not, most horror fans can't deny that it is the largest horror series of the modern age, raking in millions and even breaking several Guinness World Records. The films also brought with it controversy, dozens of terrible rip-offs, and the invention of the ridiculous word 'torture porn'. So with all that in its long history, how does the original that started it all hold up in 2017? Well it's about the same as when I first watched the film back during my freshman year of high school: it's not for everybody and it isn't nearly the 'torture porn' the critics have deemed it but 'Saw' is still entertaining enough to pop in every Halloween.

For those who have forgotten the plot or just don't know, the film series revolves around a serial killer known simply as 'Jigsaw' (Tobin Bell) who judges those he deems corrupt or in need of redemption by having them run through a variety of deadly traps with the goal of appreciating their lives more should they live. This first film revolves primarily around two of his latest victims (Leigh Whanell and Cary Elwes) who awaken in a dirty bathroom with only a cassette tape, a revolver, and a dead man between them. The story then goes on to the various twists and turns that the franchise has become iconic for, which leads to the biggest problem with the 'Saw' movies for me personally.

Even though this first entry is the best by far, it is still plagued by some big continuity and pacing problems throughout. Events seem to happen at points when they shouldn't and the timeline and constant twists kept me confused and by the end just plain frustrated. What saves the film is in its style, which was truly unique at the time with its quick cut editing, dark and grimy color scheme, and creepy atmosphere. The performances are split, with Elwes doing his usual good work but casting the film's writer as Adam tends to kill a lot of the tension. His talent just doesn't lie in acting and his portrayal just comes off as a comic relief who does nothing to contribute. The best performance here is Bell, who is the face of the 'Saw' films and its easy to see why they cast him. His voice is so strong and memorable that it was like he was born to play the role. Even after his character dies several sequels in, Tobin Bell is still playing the role with gusto and here's hoping he's still got it in him in the upcoming 'Jigsaw'.

As for the whole 'torture' thing, I have to say that yes I do love the horror genre and yes I may be unable to see the violence in the same way as others, but you cannot tell me that this first film is any worse than most cop dramas you see on the television today. 'CSI' is about on the same level as the first 'Saw' and really I think this whole thing was just a big news stunt by angry mothers and hell maybe even Lionsgate themselves. It is funny how these folks never seem to realize that they are just making their young ones want to see the movie more by blowing its violence out of proportion and I laugh every time I think about it.

'Saw' is not the greatest horror flick ever and the sequels long outstayed their welcome about two or three in but what I do love about it is that it brought horror into the mainstream and even the casual fan can enjoy these films for some quick harmless fun. It may not be one I frequent my Blu-Ray player with, but Its influence is something worth talking about and giving some appreciation.

( B - )

Cult of Chucky (2017)

'Cult of Chucky' does not deserve to be this good nor does any part 7 in a film series but somehow writer/director Don Mancini managed to go above and beyond and bring us fans an early Halloween present. Now set a few years since 'Curse of Chucky' we have wheelchair bound Nica Pierce (Fiona Dourif returning) confined to a mental hospital after killer doll Chucky placed all of the previous film's murders on her and escaping. Now convinced that she was in fact the murderer and Chucky only being in her head, Nica attempts to get help at the facility only for a familiar red head to make his way into her group therapy sessions. Now Nica must fight to survive as Chuck's old nemesis Andy Barclay (Alex Vincent) tries to track him down and face off once and for all.

This film is a love letter to a guy like me, a fan of the 'Child's Play' series since I was but 4 years old and that old TNT broadcast of 'Child's Play 2' kept me up all night. It gives fans everything they want and adds so much more that I hope the series keeps going for another decade like this. In a world where 'Flatliners' (which only made $9 million worldwide this weekend and has a whopping 3% on Rotten Tomatoes) can make it to over 2,000 theaters and 'Cult of Chucky' is direct to DVD is baffling to me. This is a high quality horror flick, with gorgeous and unique cinematography, great practical and doll effects, and really the best acting out of the whole series. How is this not a theatrical film?! Mancini had worked previously on the amazing 'Hannibal' television series and here you really get that feeling here. The pure white hallways mixed with the dimmed lighting or beautiful falling snow makes you feel like you're watching the show again and hands down 'Cult of Chucky' is the most visually stunning in the franchise.

The story also retains the previous film's darker tones and more vicious mood but luckily it also doesn't forget to throw in a few Chucky one-liners here and there just for some stupid fun. Really I think the humor works better in 'Cult' than it would have in 'Curse' because this one is just brutal with really no mercy or happy ending in sight in just a short running time. I felt it helped out a little even if it felt oddly out of place considering it's 'Child's Play'. Once again 'Cult of Chucky' adds even more to the film lore and really goes in a surprising direction that I have to admit was really clever and pretty unexpected (for the most part anyway). I only wish Alex Vincent had a much larger amount of screen time but hey, there's always room for more sequels right?

In a world where horror movies continue to reboot or remake themselves, the 'Child's Play' franchise manages to follow the better path of not only making direct sequels, but actually giving them some meat and adding to the franchise as a whole. It's amazing to me that out of all the 'Texas Chainsaws' and 'Halloweens', who would have guessed that Chucky is making the best films out there right now? Be sure to check out 'Cult of Chucky' on NETFLIX or like me picking up the Blu-Ray/DVD combo which includes the UNRATED version. P.S. Watch the unrated version if you want to see a fun post credit ending with a familiar 'Child's Play' character.

( A + )