FOUR FILMS - THE TAKING OF DEBORAH LOGAN, EXISTS, THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN, GONE GIRL

THE TAKING OF DEBORAH LOGAN

There is nothing new in this possession film (including the end) but the presentation is so tense, so perfectly paced that you don’t care.  Really, really scary at times.  The centerpiece of this film is the performance of Jill Larson – She’s both relatable and terrifying.  Maybe the best performance I’ve seen in a film all year.

EXISTS

This Bigfoot found footage film by Eduardo Sanchez the co-director of the BLAIR WITCH PROJECT is pared to the bone, 80 minutes of horror movie muscle.   This is both a strong point and a weak point.  Strong – as the action sequences with Bigfoot on the outside of the frame or slightly out of focus or charging in suddenly are really heart pumping.   Weak – in that there isn’t much to the film beyond that.  Still this film is a really good time and never dull.   The viewer is on the edge of their seat for its duration.

THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN

Not a remake of the original film but a meta inside joke take on the original film set in the present. By the end, it's more like a slasher film with all the usual clichés and predictable plot developments but I'll give it points for at least trying something different and for a few super gory kills.

GONE GIRL

The age old book vs. movie debate – I thought the novel made both husband and wife into much more multi-dimensional characters whereas the movie is much flatter.   I also felt Rosamund Pike seemed out of her depth.  The role required a stronger actress.  The story is still a good one and most of the twists are still there.  Overall, okay but could have made a better adaptation with more diary entry voiceovers in the first half and a few casting changes.

FOUR FILMS - HOUSEBOUND, V/H/S VIRAL, THE CANAL, THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT

HOUSEBOUND

Excellent New Zealand horror/mystery full of twists and turns and a plucky heroine – I really dug the relationship between her and her mother.  All this and an exploding head too!  A total win in every way (story, pacing, characters, acting).

V/H/S VIRAL

The third V/H/S film is much better than the second but not as good as the first.  The first vignette about an evil magician and his cape would make a great movie by itself.  The second vignette is also excellent (and pretty nasty).  Third story is well-shot but goes nowhere at the end.  Wraparound story sucks.

 THE CANAL

Another haunted house film that borrows from a lot of sources everything from INSIDIOUS to THE RING to DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK.  The resulting mish mash is scary at times if predictable.  Entertaining nonetheless.

THE HOUSES OCTOBER BUILT

 Found footage film that does a good job building the tension through the first hour + (very creepy) and also establishing the characters unfortunately it is all downhill from there as the ending is rushed and not scary and disappointing.

FOUR FILMS - VARSITY BLOOD, ABC'S OF DEATH PART TWO, THE LAST SHOWING, DEAD SEA

VARSITY BLOOD

A compact little slasher film that is very simple but effective. It's easy to make a good slasher film as long as you follow the rules and this one does-Neat chase and kill scenes, effective deaths, cool killer disguise as high school mascot.

ABC’S OF DEATH PART TWO

The vignettes are less inventive visually than the first movie but the stories are better thought out and good stories beat visuals any day of the week so better than the first film. Favorite stories - M, X, B, Z, V 

THE LAST SHOWING

Some unanswered questions at the end (strains credulity a bit) and a bit slow at the beginning but overall a slick little suspense more than horror film with Robert Englund at his creepy best.

DEAD SEA

A while ago, I wrote that a giant lamprey that preys on humans would be a good idea for a horror movie and lo and behold we have this film as well as BLOOD LAKE on the Animal Planet TV channel.  I'm glad Hollywood is meeting the public's demand for giant lamprey horror movies. THE DEAD SEA is just okay slow burn not too ridiculous but not engaging or scary either.  The lamprey is glimpsed briefly and in between there is a lot of exposition but it is handled competently.

FOUR FILMS - 7500, THE DEAD 2:INDIA, THE SCRIBBLER, MALIGNANT

7500

This horror film about supernatural events on a plane is genuinely thoughtful and surprising. Does a good job of establishing who the characters were and what they were all about. Goes in an unexpected direction at the end. Cheesy special effects but otherwise an entertaining film with a few scary moments and a nice plot twist.

THE DEAD 2: INDIA

The first movie worked because of its African location. This sequel, set in India, doesn't make as good a use of its locale also more human interest storylines compared to the first film detracts from the action but the zombies here are great - slow moving, everywhere, genuinely creepy. Not as good as the first film but fun to see especially when you thought zombie films were passe.

THE SCRIBBLER

This movie throws a lot at the viewer (even a talking dog) but is ultimately a hollow nothingness that makes no sense.  Hipster rubbish that is full of forgettable uninspired visuals....Not recommended.

MALIGNANT

Sort of an updated version of the Terminal Man with alcoholism.  Overall forgettable but saved a little bit by the usual over the top Brad Dourif.  Without Dourif, this film would have been less than nothing.

TWO FILMS - GODZILLA, X-MEN:DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

(Back to blogging at least for the time being.  Hubs was a wash-out.  Still looking for a new job)

A little bit of catch-up on some movies I’ve seen.  These are two of the better movies I’ve seen this year....

GODZILLA

Great fun although it does take a long time to get going and really teases the audience with the reveal of the big guy (who does look great).  I like the fact he can show facial expressions much like earlier Godzillas'.  It feels more like a 70's disaster movie at times than a Godzilla film.  The climax just kicks ass all over the place.  A great big orgasm of a film.

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

A near perfect two hours of superhero action coupled with a brilliant classic storyline. The DAYS story in the comic book is fairly complex but the movie did an excellent job of making necessary changes to fit it into a two hour movie. Some of the best action scenes I've seen in a superhero movie. In the running as the greatest comic book movie of all time....But what I as a child of comic books and a lifelong fan geeked out on the most was the appearance in the credits of Apocalypse, the villain in the next movie. He is easily my favorite X Men villain and one of my favorite Marvel characters of all time.