Racketboy Month of Horror 13

[Ack]

Shudder is currently doing a series, The 101 Scariest Movie Moments. It's a clip show featuring a range of actors, directors, writers, special effects folks, and so on as they discuss each scene in the list, how it was done, what it represents, and/or why it scares them. It feels like a throwback to when Bravo did a similar special 20 years ago.

It has been a great conversation starter for my wife to find out more about my love of horror, as we have been watching it together. Some of it is...a lot for her, but she still can ask me about it at least and find out more about why I love the genre so much.

Plus, it's a great way to find more films to watch if you're looking for a good mix.

[Michi]

Blood Feast



Blood Feast is known for being the first official "splatter film" and...not much else, I'm afraid. Other than maybe being really cheesy. The story doesn't make any sense, while the effects are incredibly bloody (that's why it was in Filmgore) they are also horribly unrealistic, the characters are incredibly stupid, and not a single person in the whole film can act for crap. But I can't say I hated it, because the movie is so ridiculous in spots that it made me laugh, so I at least have to admit I was entertained by it. So while it's not very good, it is pretty damn amusing to watch. Oh, and it's fairly short, so it doesn't overstay it's welcome, which is something all ridiculously cheesy horror movies should strive for.

[prfsnl_gmr]

That’s on my list! After The Beyond, though, I think I’m going to stick with “good” horror movies for a while. Accordingly, I may not get to it soon (but I do, as always, appreciate the review!).

[Michi]

Malatesta’s Carnival of Blood



Oops. I watched the wrong movie. Who knew there were that many carnival horror movies from the 70s? Oh well. Too late now....

This one is about an eccentric carnival owner and his gaggle of cannibalistic relatives that he keeps hidden under the carnival. Except, on occasion, they get out and eat people. Oopsie. Which is why the Norris family has shown up looking for their missing son. Too bad they didn't count on having to deal flesh eaters, a wizard, and the vampire guy who runs the place.

Yeah, this is a weird one that's more of an art film than a coherent horror story. The plot is told in drips and drabs through the visuals, the acting is amateurish, and they clearly had no budget. But I gotta respect a group of folks who succeeded in making a movie even if they only had (what looks like) $50 to their name, and had to rely on the kindness of strangers and their own creativity in order to make props out of literal garbage. That's dedication right there, and it's fascinating to see what they were able to do and how closely they were able to stick to their vision when they had so little to work with. But I'm glad I saw it, because although it's not great, for a no-budget, art house horror film, it's a very interesting watch.

[Note]

My partner and I watched our first horror movie of the month the other night, Single White Female (1992). I heard of this movie from listening to the SNESDrunk podcast while working -- it came up in conversation on a recent episode. Also, it appeared on one of Bravo's older 100 Scariest Movie lists, in the mid 50s. It's about a woman, Allie, who after having a falling out with her fiancee, is looking for a roommate. The roommate she chooses ends up having mental health issues and it turns out she deceived Allie about who she really is. The new roommate wants the life Allie has.

Although the movie has mixed reviews, we had a really fun time watching it, and it takes some creepy and violent turns. It was a good way to start our October movie watching. Also, the movie takes place in NYC, so it was cool to see footage filmed around the city back in the early 90s, that was a bonus.

[Michi]

Carnival of Blood



Okay, this was the movie I meant to watch before, but didn't. But I should have stuck with Malatesta’s, because at least that film had heart. This one just feels like soulless obligation. It looks bad, it's framed poorly, the story is predictable, and the victims are not only annoying, but they follow the exact same pattern before they meet their death. So instead of being exciting or filled with scares or tension, it's just a boring, dreary movie that follows plot-lines from better films. Even the gore sucks. The only plus is the authentic setting and a small part by Burt Young. But I can't say that's really enough to recommend it.

[REPO Man]

Also, the movie takes place in NYC, so it was cool to see footage filmed around the city back in the early 90s, that was a bonus.

90s NYC always looked so cool! In fact, it was Hackers that inspired me to try to move there, or more specifically the idea of members of such a fringe group being able to find their tribe so easily. And as someone who has had a hard time in that field that's just where it clicked.

Plus I find that horror films set in big cities are more often than not more mature, as is the case with Candyman and Hellraiser.

Speaking of Hellraiser, I recently saw the reboot on Hulu and loved it.

I've also seen the new Hocus Pocus sequel, which I enjoyed.

As for games, I beat Bloodwash, a short indie horror game from Torture Star Video raking inspiration from early PS1 games and '80s VHS horror movies about a pregnant woman going up against a serial killer that targets pregnant woman. I also started Resident Evil: Revelations (again) and have played a bit of Lamentum (indie pixel art survival horror), Heaven Dust (low-poly RE clone with a 2.5D top down view) and Witch's House.

I also finished Junji Ito's Deserter, a collection of horror manga stories including the collection's namesake.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Spooky month is still spooky!

As I wrote in the “Games Beaten” thread, I played through Fatum Betula a few times. It’s the original haunted PS1 game, and I enjoyed it. I’ll have to figure out what to play next…

The other day, my wife and I watched The Color Out of Space (2019). It is pretty good adaptation of one of HP Lovecraft’s best stories, brought down by an over-the-top performance from Nic Cage. Also, the sound editing, which very intentionally relies heavily on feedback, is literally painful at times. Still, the underlying plot’s OK, and the creature effects are solid. Cautiously recommended.

We also finished up Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. It’s a nice ten episode distraction that marries petty teenage drama with a slasher film. Like the best slashers, the plot goes off the rails at the end, but that’s OK. It is also full of fun horror film Easter eggs, and we both thought it was a lot of fun.

We watched Poltergeist (1982) as a family. My children claimed not to be scared, but after the film, my son confidentially confirmed with me that ghosts are not, in fact, real. You know…just to be sure.

Finally, I finished up Junji Ito’s Uzumaki yesterday. The artwork is intermittently stunning, and I liked the concept. The story fizzles out at the end, however, and it was all a bit too gruesome for my taste. (I like my cosmic horror a bit more elevated, apparently.) Still, I can see why horror fans hold it in such high regard, and I look forward to the animated adaptation.

BONUS: My wife finally found us a 12-foot skeleton for our front yard, and it looks awesome out there. Where we’ll store it from November through September, however, I have not yet determined…

[prfsnl_gmr]

Tonight’s film was Candyman (2021), a lega-sequel to one of my very favorite horror films. While not quite as good as the original, it’s still very strong, and it has a stupendous ending. Highly recommended (especially if, like me, you’re a fan of the original). Also, it’s available for free on Prime Video!

[Michi]

That’s on my list! After The Beyond, though, I think I’m going to stick with “good” horror movies for a while. Accordingly, I may not get to it soon (but I do, as always, appreciate the review!).

Thank you! (As Always)

I hope you appreciate this one too, cause it's for you....

Annabelle Comes Home



When prfsnl_gmr asked what I thought about the other Conjuring films it got me to thinking, so here's one from the Annabelle trilogy. I wasn't all that impressed by Annabelle when I first saw it (though I probably need to watch it again), so, shock of all shocks, I didn't hate this one. In fact, I kinda liked it. Probably because it doesn't solely focus on Annabelle, but on a menagerie of creepy artifacts from the Warren household that all get released because one curious teen felt compelled to touch damn near everything in the ghost room (but to be fair, so would I.)

The adult Warrens are barely in it, so instead it sort of feels like a teen horror(/almost comedy) with a surprising high level of blood that you don't usually see in these Conjuring films. So that probably got it an R rating. But I kinda/sorta wish it hadn't, because it feels more like a fun horror outing that would have been great for a slightly younger audience, as opposed to a strictly scary adult one (though it does have it's tense moments). I don't know. I think it's a fun, quick, almost haunted house-esque story that's got some fun moments and visuals, but also isn't too heavy, because the Warren's daughter is one of the main characters, so you know nothing too serious is going to happen. I don't know if prfsnl_gmr would like it since he didn't seem too impressed with the other Conjuring films, but this one definitely has a different feel to those, so it might be worth looking at.