The Month of Horror PART IV: dsheinem vs. noiseredux

[dsheinem]

Keeping with the theme of foreign horror films, I watched Trollhunter today. I didn't realize going in that this was yet another "found footage" film or I likely may have skipped it. Still, it was quite watchable and had some fun moments. The trolls were well done, the settings were well selected, and the main actor was competent enough - but even still I felt like the film could have been much more interesting and much more "powerful" as a horror/adventure film if it had used a more standard storytelling approach.

Oct 2013 Films
The Reef (2010)
V/H/S (2012)
The Thing (2011)
The Island of Lost Souls (1932)
The Screaming Skull (1958)
Rubber (2010)
Trollhunter (2010)

[prfsnl_gmr]

I really enjoyed Troll Hunter, and it is one of my favorite horror/comedies. IMO, the film leans heavily toward comedy - none of the beasts are actually scary - and I think that the "found footage" aesthetic is the only reason anyone would consider it horror. (If it were not a "found footage" film, I think it would play out more like an adventure/comedy film...)

[BoneSnapDeez]

"Found footage" drives me nuts, mainly because there's always some ridiculous implausible reason to explain why the events are being filmed.

Like in V/H/S 2 one of the shorts is supposed to be filmed by a camera mounted on a dog. A FUCKING DOG.

[prfsnl_gmr]

"Found footage" drives me nuts, mainly because there's always some ridiculous implausible reason to explain why the events are being filmed.

Like in V/H/S 2 one of the shorts is supposed to be filmed by a camera mounted on a dog. A FUCKING DOG.

I agree with this. Troll Hunter's premise is not so bad, however...If I recall correctly, it is about students who set out to make a documentary on bear poachin in northern Norway, meet the Norwegian government's top-secret "troll hunter", and then decide to make their documentary about him instead.

[noiseredux]

Troll Hunter is one I've wanted to see for some time. Is it streaming on Netflix now?

[prfsnl_gmr]

Troll Hunter is one I've wanted to see for some time. Is it streaming on Netflix now?

I watched it on Netflix last year, but I do not know whether it is still available for streaming...

[Retrogamer0001]

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I watched Hellraiser earlier today and it's definitely one of the great horror classics from the 80s - not only is the story quite good, but the acting and special effects are top-notch for the time period. The Cenobites definitely steal the show though, and I think they're some of the coolest creations/concepts in the genre. The Chatterer and Pinhead were always my favorites. Considering how many cult horror films were made in the 80s and early 90s, this one stands out as one of the greats.

[Ack]

Black Sunday(1960) is not my first Mario Bava work, but it is certainly an effective horror film. The rich gothic atmosphere and black and white cinematography set an ominous tone of doom and destruction, full of horrid imagery of Barbara Steele and her ghoulish companions. This movie also serves as a vivid melding point between what I consider the "classic" horror of gothic Universal Pictures monster movies with the modern violence and sexuality we'd find in a post-Peeping Tom and Psycho world(both of which were released a couple of months before Black Sunday). The violence of this film is shocking and yet compelling, a sign of what was behind in film horror as well as a sign of what was to come.

If I have any criticism of the film, it is that its most effective imagery occurs early on with the death of Asa, her eventual return to life, and the resurrection of Javuto. Javuto emerging from his grave while wearing the Mask of Satan is particularly arresting and powerful, and I got chills watching him pull it off his face and then wandering off wearing his tattered, dirt-stained clothes. The ending witch burning was not as effective for me, but that was primarily because in my head I found myself comparing it to a witch burning which occurred in 1968's Witchfinder General.

I also feel that the film is more exploitative of Barbara Steele in her alternate role as the innocent Princess Katia. Though it is Asa that is labeled perverse and appears in at least one hidden painting that could be considered pornographic, there is a heavy focus on Katia's figure, emphasizing her sexuality and also her exploitation as the vessel for Asa. The continuous focus on her breasts, having her(mostly off camera) undress and seeing someone hiding within the curtains of her room, or Asa's speech on how Katia is just an empty and blank vessel to be filled by her, serves to prey upon her innocence, purity, and "virginal" beauty. She is being used and oggled, despite Asa being the one who had flaunted her beauty and promiscuity, who has the more dominant sexual attitude. Even the heroic Dr. Gorobec cannot contain himself aorund her. Notice how his hand lingers over her bosom after he carries her to her bedroom when she faints? Again, this film was released a few months after Peeping Tom and Psycho, so these risque focuses aren't exactly new, but it still seemed shocking to do it so heavily to the wholesome virgin.

Anguish
Demons
Creepshow
The Beyond
Zombi 2
From Beyond
The Beast with Five Fingers
The Screaming Skull
The Killer Shrews
The Tingler
Viy
At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul
Black Sunday
Children of the Corn
The Burning
The Descent
Trick r' Treat
The Innkeepers
Stake Land
The Evil Dead (remake)
The Lords of Salem
The Gate
Kuroneko

[prfsnl_gmr]

Black Sunday(1960)

I can't think of any other way to say it; so, I'll just say it...Black Sunday is f*cking awesome. It is one of my favorite Mario Bava films, and I am glad that I am not the only person on here who appreciates it.

Lat last month, I watched Kill, Baby...Kill! - and I wrote about it somehwere on this trhead - and it is essential if you are a Mario Bava fan.

[Michi]

Charlie Boy

Charlie Boy is an episode of the UK series, Hammer House of Horror. I didn't know that going in. All I knew was that Elvira was on the cover and I love Elvira.


SOLD

Graham and Sarah have just inherited an art collection from Graham's late uncle. Graham plans to sell most of it, but Sarah asks Graham if she can pick something out to take home. And what does she choose? Why, the most creeptastic voodoo doll she can find of course. She dubs him Charlie Boy (only the little people in her mind know why) and naturally bad things begin to happen.


With a face like that, it should have been expected.

As anthology episodes go, this is pretty formulaic. I kind of have a soft spot for creepy dolls run amok movies, but Charlie Boy remains as sedentary as sedentary can be and all bad incidents are purely the result of voodoo magic. It does have a sex scene and some surprisingly gruesome deaths


Surprising, he didn't see that coming.

But the way the episode is set up means that you're going to see everything coming 5 minutes before it happens so any attempt at suspense is shot to hell.

The actors are all right for the most part, but Sarah accent seems to fade in and out sporadically. I also noticed a few overall sound issues that made parts of the episode hard to hear, but other than that and one noticeable editing mistake it wasn't half bad.

And, as always, Elvira's segments were exuberant, and cheesy, and pun filled fun. I really must get a couple new DVD collections. I've missed you, Elvira. It's been far too long.

As for the episode, Charlie Boy is not bad as far as early 80's horror shows go, but I think I'll probably stick with Tales from the Crypt episodes.

Moral of the story: Never stab your late uncles voodoo doll. Hell, if you ever inherit one at all, give that sh!t to a museum. Let them deal with the death toll and other bloody repercussions.