The Howling(1981) Revisited

Today I watched "The Howling" again, and I was hoping I could get a better opinion on it. I was pretty neutral with it the first time, and I was hoping I would figure if I liked or disliked it this viewing. What I observed was that the movie has excellent horror scenes, makeup, and a hilarious and spoofy sense of humor. The problem that I saw was the writing at times, because it was a little too silly for me. Overall I  like the movie, but I almost feel like I have to give it another viewing in the future to understand it even more. I definitely wouldn't call it Joe Dante's best work(Piranha), but it is still pretty enjoyable, and worth a watch for sure. 

An Observation I Made Tonight.....

Today was the first time I had watched any "Friday the 13th" films, and I chose parts 2 and 3. 2 is always a safe pick for me, and it stands as my second favorite of the series. Part 3 has been a bitter one for me, and I had seen it as one of the lesser. Today when I watched it, I decided to try something new, and I watched it in 2D. Honestly with this change, I really saw the film in a whole different perspective, and I liked it much more. 

First off, watching this movie in a normal format made so much less of a headache for me. I didn't have to squint with the blue and red crap on the glasses, and I got to see a clear picture. This made the whole movie(especially the kills) much better looking, and it was a lot more enjoyable. I also felt that watching it in a basic way made it easier to suck up what was happening in the story, instead of only caring about the special effects. 

Overall, I feel that Part 3 is much better than I gave it credit for in the past, and I would movie it's rating up to a 7.5. It is definitely a flawed and cheesy movie, but in a way that is still entertaining. I also feel that the kills are top notch, and Jason's mask became a huge trademark because of this. I definitely recommend the movie film to you all, and I highly recommend staying away from the 3D gimmick. 

The Howling

7/10 

In 1981, "The Howling" was released. The movie was from director Joe Dante, and starred a superb cast.  Ever since its release, this movie has been one of the most famous in the horror genre.  I thought the movie was fun for its climax and related scenes, but also saw multiple flaws too. 

The movie begins during a news show, where anchor Karen White. White is currently scared, because she is being stalked by a serial killer.  She decides to help the police out by going to see this man named Eddie in an adult theater. While there, Eddie tries to assault her, and he is killed by the police. After this event, Karen gets amnesia, and is also very scarred. As a form of treatment, her therapist sends her and her husband Bill off to an area called "The Colony."  This beginning was quite good, because it had a shady nature, and it develops the characters well; especially Karen.

After the arrival to their destination, the couple meet a lot of strange people at the resort. There is Erle, whom is a troubled old man that attempts to kill himself in the fire all the time. There is also a girl named Marsha, whom is a beautiful yet bizarre girl that tries to make advances on Bill. Being he is faithful man to his wife, Bill turns her down multiple times.  One time after leaving Marsha's house, Bill is attacked by a werewolf, and after this, a whole chain of terrors begin, until the climax of a lifetime....

The first thing that I loved about this movie was its cast. Dee Wallace was superb as Karen, because she was tough and lovable, and strikingly beautiful in all ways possible. She gave the character the edge that it needed, and in my opinion completed her best performance ever. Christopher Stone did a fair job as Karen's husband Bill, because he had a hard way about him, which eventually became an uncontrollable monstrosity in himself. Dennis Dugan really excelled as Chris, because he had the right amount of internal strength in his performance that the viewer could believe that he would complete the actions he did. Elisabeth Brooks was pretty awesome as Marsha, because she had such a bizarre and seductive way about her, and she ended up playing the evil role very convincingly. The last standout of the movie was Belinda Balaski as Terri, because her scenes where she was in danger were so realistically portrayed that I cringed from her screams. She honestly knew everything that was needed to be done to seem freaked out, and made some of the most memorable scenes of the movie. 

I thought that the special effects had their good and bad moments throughout the film. The scenes where puppetry and costumes were used were pretty awesome, because the wolves looked very inhumane and freaky. On the other hand, the brief scene of animation for the wolves was absolutely terrible, and one of the cheesiest things I have ever seen. The smoke used throughout the film was a nice touch, because it gave an eerie feeling to the whole movie, and was very well executed. The gore effects were also very nice, because the blood looked real, and wasn't too excessive. The one other bad special effect was a couple of the transformation scenes, because they went way too long. What was meant to be scary with this ended up being goofy and almost boring, because there was close to a minute of watching the human turn into a wolf. This didn't effect my opinion of the movie too much, but at the moment it was happening I was pretty annoyed. 

I thought that while certain moments of the film got slow, there was still a grittiness that kept it watchable. Seeing the realistic portrayal of these simple people of "The Colony" was nice, because instead of just hearing dialogue from them, the viewer also gets to see their customs in life, and their interactions with outsiders. 

The climax of the movie was so much different than I expected, and it really kicked butt. It was brutal, suspenseful, and at times completely terrifying. This last twenty-twenty five minutes amped the movie up way higher than before, and it may be one of the greatest scenes ever. The ending itself was also very crazy, because it was a sad idea, yet there is something humorous about it in a way. 

Overall, this movie was not the best I've ever seen, but it was still very good. There were some truly fun moments, and a great cast. I think that certain aspects like the special effects needed more effort, but looking past them opens to the doors to a werewolp film with lots of bite.  

Creepshow

10/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When George Romero and Stephen King team up, one could expect something pretty cool. In 1982, this miracle actually took place, leading to the creation of "Creepshow."  The final product was something better than I could've ever imagined. It was a film of humor, and horrors that only a genius could imagine.  Being the "Heavy Metal" of live action, it is an anthology movie, and definitely the best of them all. 

The movie begins on a dark and stormy night. A young boy named Billy is seen being disciplined harshly by his father for having a horror comic book called "Creepshow." The boy is very upset by this, because the horror genre is very much his love. As he looks out the window, a ghoul looks right at him, and the opening credits begin. Personally, I thought this was great, because I can connect with Billy's passion for horror, and one feels a lot of sympathy for him. The intro credits were also awesome, because of the snazzy animation, and spooky music. 

The rest of the film is an anthology that includes five horror stories with black comedy. It is meant to go through the very comic book that Billy's father threw away, and the stories were all either written for the movie, or adaptations of Stephen King's short stories.  I thought this was very cool, because it saved us from being bored by one plot the whole time, and gave a 5 in 1 deal. 

1. Father's Day: I thought that "Father's Day" was a very good story, because it gave a lot of good horror moments, while also being hilarious because of its morbid elements. It basically tells the story of a man rising from the dead getting revenge on his family for not giving them his cake. This plot sounds absurd, but honestly that makes it all the better. I really thought that the cast was pretty great in this number, with Ed Harris giving a cool and sarcastic performance as Hank, and Elizabeth Regan being the other standout with her unmistakable sass as Hank's wife Cass.  The ending to this short was also absolutely crazy, and everything one would expect with King's disturbing supernatural narrative. 

2: The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill: Fast paced, bizarre, and much funnier than "Father's Day," "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill kicked the sophomore slump right in the butt. It tells the story of a simple man named Jordy Verrill, whom finds a meteor in his field.  Making a very bad decision, Jordy touches the space rock, and begins to get lumps on his fingers. These small marks turn into green patches of weeds, and they spread onto everything he touches.  This story was absolutely hilarious for a few great reasons. The first was Stephen King's performance of the lead.  I never really thought of his acting skills before, but this really showed the depth of his talents. He gave such a goofy and over the top performance, while still staying appropriate for the story.  I could almost call his portrayal a crossover between Jim Carrey and Jack Nicholson.  The faces he made were priceless, and he gave such a satirically perfect performance as a hillbilly. The next thing that made this story hilarious were the dream sequences. Even though they were dark in nature, there was such a light hearted and macabre way about them that I was laughing so hard.  The ending of the story was also potentially sad in a lot of ways, but it was handled well to the point that I could still laugh. Overall this story really gave me even more interest for the film, and I was thoroughly impressed. 

3. Something to Tide You Over: This third installment in the anthology was one of the darker(if not the darkest) of the bunch. Obviously being influenced by the works of Poe, "Something to Tide You Over" tells the story of a man named Richard, whom decides to get revenge on his wife and her lover Harry.  He forces them to bury themselves on the beach with sand, and they have to withstand the tortures of the tides.  While Richard thinks he will get away with this, there is an event to later take place that he would have never expected. I thought it was an interesting move to have the two funniest people in the whole movie(Ted Danson and Leslie Nielsen) be in the least comical story of the movie. Luckily, both of them have incredible depth in their acting, and they pulled it off to the max.  Nielsen's evil side was actually terrifying in my opinion, because instead of being his bumbling self, he took his wit to portray a character that was sadistic beyond all belief. The ending of this chapter was particularly insane, and it ended on a humongous laugh showing how bad Richard messed up. At this point of the movie, this story was second to the previous one. 

4. The Crate: The next story takes a turn even further into darkness with a tale of lying, sabotage, and death. Henry Northup is a man unhappy with his marriage. He is controlled, and not even loved by his wife, who seems to only want him for his money.  His friend Dexter is just about the only person who keeps him sane, yet he still fantasizes of killing Wilma(Billie) all the time.  Dexter has recently been informed by a janitor named Michael at the college that he teaches at that there is a mysterious crate from an expedition in the 1930's.  The two men go to check it out at night, and it ends up holding a murderous creature.  Completely shocked by this revelation, Dexter runs to Henry for help. Northup decides to go to the college to check things out, and when he sees what has happened he thinks of a plan that will affect the lives of many.  Honestly, this was my favorite story in the whole film. It was gorier than all of the others, and it was also the funniest in my opinion. It had such a macabre sense of humor, and I was honestly laughing most of the time. The cast in this one was also pretty awesome, with Hal Holbrook as the unhappy husband Henry, the notorious beauty of the era Adrienne Barbeau as Billie, and Fritz Weaver giving a paranoid and emotional performance as Dexter. The thing that really set this chapter apart from the others was the attack scenes with the monster; now credited as "Fluffy." The puppetry for this character was actually the main reason I watched this movie, because the details of the body and movements were so intricate, and it was some of the best work in the field I have seen since "The Muppets."  The last quarter of this one was pretty mindblowing, because the insanity really flows, and even though the ending was somewhat predictable, it still had an ounce of suspense left in it. 

5. They're Creeping Up On You:  The final story in this amazing anthology is a tale of karma. Upson Pratt is the scum of the earth.  He shows no kindness to people at all, and he is just plain unhappy. This man is also a huge germaphobic, and he freaks out when he starts to see roaches in his house. Calling for help immediately, he hopes this can be fixed. To his bad luck, people don't come quick enough, and the house begins to swarm. Will he be able to make it? Or is this his horrifying end?  I thought that this was the second best of all the parts in the movie, because it was so well done. E.G. Marshall gave a perfect performance as who may be the meanest man on the earth.  The sight of his insanity that he creates from the isolation is priceless, and I thought that this was one of the darkest chapters. The ending scene was absolute shocking in my opinion, and it stands to be one of the greatest clips of horror history. 

I thought it was very neat how the film followed comic book format of its inspiration. There were so many cool touches to add to this, including pauses with banners shooting to the screen in scenes of fear, funny sound effects, and the color schemes; especially during the attack scenes of "The Crate." I also loved how after each story, a page in the comic flipped to the next one.  The animations for the book were absolutely beautiful, and they were so intricate that there ended up being a graphic novel in the future.  All of these factors really reminded me of a classic cartoon movie called "Heavy Metal," because they followed the same formula in a different format. 

Another great thing about the film was the special effects.  Tom Savini did a beautiful job with the gore and makeup, because everything looked so natural, and it was nasty and detailed.  The puppetry work throughout the film was also pretty awesome, and it including movie skeletons, ghosts, and the iconic "Fluffy."  I think that while they all could be construed as cheesy now, it was such a great artistic achievement, and I love them dearly. 

The ending of the movie brings us back to Billy's house again. The garbage men find the comic book, and take it home in fascination.  Then to our surprise, Billy does something that blew my mind immensely. I thought that the ending was so morbid, and so unexpected that it completely lived up to every story from before. 

It is very rare that I feel the way I did after watching this movie. I was so full of awe, because this film was a true masterpiece. It was sharper than a knife, it made me laugh like crazy, and it had some truly amazing scenes of horror. The acting was superb, and the writing/special effects were just top notch. I definitely see this as my favorite Romero film, and probably my second favorite Stephen King movie(behind "The Shining").  I definitely recommend it to all fans of the genre, because it is probably one of the all time  best, and it will be the most fun horror experience of your entire life. 

Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

9/10 

It is always interesting to watch sequels, because you never know if they will be able to hold up to the original. The best feeling is when you find one that was actually better.  This happened with "Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors".  I personally find this film to be darker, gorier, and much more fun than the first, and it's my favorite of the entire series. It also did well with mainstream critics, and it was a box office success.

The movie started off very intensely, as a girl named Kristen Parker has crazy nightmares.  Things get even stranger when Kristen's mother thinks that the injuries from the dreams were her fault. Kristen is then sent to a mental institution with other teens that are facing these problems.  I think this plot was extremely genius, because it hit a place in the mind that makes it more than a slasher, but a psychological thriller. 

One of the things that really helped this film was the cast/characters. For starters Nancy Thompson(Heather Langenkemp) returned for this sequel, and she really helped move the movie along with her kind and likable personality. Patricia Arquette really excelled in the role of Kristen, because she could show her fears and insanity that comes from the fear very convincingly, and she made the character gain a lot of sympathy from viewers. Craig Wasson was awesome as Dr. Neil Gordon, because he really gave off the caring nature for the kids and Nancy, and he was a very genuine and awesome guy. Another fun cast member was Larry Fishburne in the role of Max. He was so chill as the character, and there wasn't any way of not liking him. 

The next thing that I really liked about this movie was the kill scenes. They were so graphic and brutal, and some of them even made me cringe.  The vein puppet scene is possibly the sickest part of the entire series, because it is so warped and gory.  Along with the killings, there is also very dark and brooding tone that overlaps the movie, and it was amped up from the previous installments. 

A big turn in approach that happened in this film was the comedic undertone. Freddy's character said a lot more one liners than before, and his character is hilarious. I think that in part, this makes him much more sadistic, but also I feel that it showed the series was taking itself less serious. 

A lot more is found out about Freddy, and the viewer even learns the details of his birth. I thought this was a good idea, because it gives the reasons for why he was so crazy.  I usually don't like back stories, but this one was done in a way that was not too cheesy, and it was interesting enough. 

The last twenty minutes or so of this movie were high throttle scenes of tensity, and I think it was the best climax of the series.  There was lots of fighting, and surprises that I wouldn't have ever expected.  I also noticed that the boiler room symbolizes hell with its flames and horrible vibe. The actual ending itself was not as good as part 2, but this was all saved by the credits. The outro song was "Dream Warriors," and this song had been my favorite since my childhood(even before seeing the movie). I remember that the first time I watched this movie, I was so pumped by this that I started to cheer.  So even though there wasn't the crazy surprise ending like the others, it had its own place, and it was still very good. 

Overall, this is my favorite of the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series. It is such a close battle between this and the original, but I feel that this one was just on top because of the way it really captures the viewer emotionally, and for its sadistic violence.  I definitely recommend the movie to all horror fans, because it is a fun flick that will leave you pleased. 

Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Movie Review

8.5/10

In 1985, New Line Cinema put out a sequel to the new classic "A Nightmare On Elm Street." His time, it was an all new cast(except Robert Englund), a new set of filmmakers, and a completely different feel of campiness. While this movie isn't one of the more loved of the series, I did particularly enjoy it, because it's fun, and its great portrayal of Krueger. 

Right off the bat, the movie starts off with a twist.  You think that you're experiencing a normal bus ride. The kids are laughing and having fun, but then the bus driver(Krueger) starts to go crazy, and drives into the desert.  In this desert, then ground crumbles in, and the bus goes into the inner depths of hell.  I loved this intro so much, because it really respects the surprise that the original had, and it was executed very well. 

Thankfully, this previous scene was all a dream, and we meet Jesse. Jesse is new to Elm Street, and he is a very kind person.  It is shown that he has a crush on a girl named Lisa, whom he drives to school every day. Life seems to be going great for him, until his nightmares of Freddy worsen...

One of the things I really like about this movie was the cast.  The star, Mark Patton was extremely likable in his role, because he was very funny and genuinely kind.  He was also one of the first male "scream queens" I have ever seen, which was pretty awesome. Kim Myers was great in the role of Lisa, because she had a pretty good connection with Patton, and she was very nice and cheerful.  Robert Englund gave one of his best "Freddy" performances, because he was creepy and darker than ever. I also like that he didn't give as many one liners as usual, which made things more realistic and intense. 

As I watched the film, I noticed that it was extremely campy and homoerotic.  While the filmmakers claim that this was not intentional, I really don't buy it at all. The most apparent scene of this is when Jesse enters a gay bar in his dream. I don't know how this could be explained as anything else, because it's pretty straight forward.  I also feel that Jesse is a character full of gay undertones, and this may have come from the fact that Patton is a homosexual in real life. Honestly, while some people didn't like this change in direction, I really had no problem with it, because it didn't make a difference in my watching experience, and there really isn't any problem with change. 

While the film has a little less of a blood amount than the original(because of the bed scene), the violence in this film is much more graphic and realistic. I really like this a lot, because it brings more of a slasher feel, and it is absolutely insane.  The only thing is that while this one has this advantage, the original was much darker and intense and it had more of a scare factor.  The thing that this one does have is a much more psychological terror to it, with the many questions that come about with Jesse and Freddy. You can really tell the deterioration of the mental health of the characters, and this a lot gives some chills. 

The ending really kicked butt, because there was a great showdown with Freddy. I actually liked it more than the first one's ending, because it was much more intense, and the last twenty seconds were even more surprising in a macabre way. 

Overall, this movie is a lot of fun. Even though it is one of the most frequently picked on movies of the series, I enjoy it a lot, and find it to be one of the best. It is definitely a far step away from the original, which gave it a refreshing feeling that was very much needed. Definitely check this film out, because it will not disappointed. 

  

The Shining: Movie Review

10/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Here's Johnny!"

Are you afraid of being isolated from the rest of the world?  If not, then you definitely will be after watching the 1980 classic "The Shining."  This film tells the story of a man named Jack that goes completely insane in the hotel he has taken over. I have honestly never seen a movie so scary in my life, and I also feel that it is a masterpiece that should be watched by every person in the world. 

The film begins beautifully, with shots of mountains and woods.  The scenery is extremely gorgeous, and although it was filmed in Oregon, it still seems like it could be Colorado. Even though nothing happens at all in this intro, it may be one of the coolest I've ever seen for these reasons.

In the next moments, we meet Jack Torrance, and his wife and son. Jack is a writer that is taking over a hotel called the Overlook Inn for the winter. Him and his family all seem like extremely likely people, and Jack gets along with the owner Stuart Ullman very well. Ulmann does warn Torrance though that some very weird things happened at the location, including a completely normal man having a breakdown and killing his family.  Soon after, Jack's son Danny starts to have weird occurrences, and the movie's bizarreness begins. 

The first thing that makes this film a masterpiece is its choreography.  The man behind it all John Alcott made sure that every scene was shot so uniquely, and it put me in complete awe.  In the opening scene, the way that the camera hovers makes the viewer feel like a plane, as they fly over a car.  This happens in other ways throughout the entire movie, because the camera walks just like the characters, and make it seem like it's stalking them. The coolest shot scenes in my opinion were when Danny rode around on his bicycle. As he looks down the hall, it looks so long, even though it really isn't.  This kind of illusion really plays games with the viewer, and I found it to be so intriguing. 

Stanley Kubrick's direction of this film was absolutely amazing.  Every scene flowed so well together, and every detail in the filmmaking was so intricate, and filled with care. He really outdid himself from any work he had done before, and proved that he could do absolutely anything.  I personally find the fact that he got nominated from the Razzle award of "Worst Director" to be a crime, because it is completely inaccurate of the product he made, and I feel it was pure jealousy and ludicrous. 

Another great factor of the movie is its overall tone. I found it quite brilliant that because the hotel is so big, there is a complete feeling of isolation that really rubs off on the viewer. This causes the entire film to be very intense, and it added to the fright factor.  There really aren't any jump scenes at all in the movie, but is so freaky, because it's bizarre nature plays with your mind, and makes you go insane.  This comes from crazy noises, psychological problems, and weird dreams/occurrences that just blew my mind. 

The special effects in the movie were absolutely perfect, because they were all practical, and they looked so real. The scenes where blood fills the hotel are so cool, because it flows like water, and it is done with a slow motion that makes it absolutely epic. This slow motion is also used in many other scenes, and I feel it is one of the iconic traits that helped this film become a classic. 

The film's score is very unique, because it isn't just a normal orchestra, but it is different sounds and instruments that make the music extremely chilling and intense.  Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind may not be the biggest names in the movie business, but their musical work in this film was the real deal in every possible way.  I feel that behind the original "Planet of the Apes," it could be one of the best ever. 

I intentionally put my thoughts on the cast near the end of the review, because you truly have to watch the full movie to truly appreciate each character, and to see the depth of talent that each and every one of them put into their effort.  Jack Nicholson gave the absolute greatest performance in cinema history. He started out very likable, but he turned into the scariest person I have ever seen. No person could've pulled this off but him, because he naturally had the gift to be psychotic and sadistic, and this role was made for him.  The fact that he didn't win an Oscar or any award is possibly one of the biggest snubs ever. Shelley Duvall was very good as Jack's wife Wendy, because she did what her character, and that was to be scared as hell.  She definitely didn't have the diversity of Nicholson, but she gave a memorable performance that only made the movie better. I really thought that Danny Boyle was fantastic in the role of Jack's son Danny, because he could pull off being possessed better than any child I have ever seen.  His performance was so convincing, and at times I forgot that he was only acting.  Lisa and Louise Burns really gave a chilling performance as the "Grady Twins." Even though they were only in the film for a couple minutes at most, they put fear into people that hasn't been forgotten all these years later.  The last cast member that was significant was Scatman Crothers in the role of Dick Hallorann. Crothers was really the most normal person in the movie, and he made a balance for the rest of the insanity. He was a very chill and likable guy, but at times he had a tiny bit of quirkiness to himself. 

The last 40 minutes of this film took on a whole different level of scary when Jack goes completely nuts and starts to try to murder his family.  I have never been so pumped with adrenaline in my life, and I can honestly say this is the greatest climax of movie history.  There was so much terror that came out in this time, whether it was Nicholson's antics, or the atmosphere itself. I found the scenes where Danny ran away from Jack in the snow tunnel to be especially exceptional, because it gave off such a claustrophobic vibe, and it made the fate of this poor young boy totally unknown.  The final results were also very shocking, and I was interested right to the last second. 

If you call yourself a movie buff, then you have to have seen this movie. It is the single greatest piece of cinema history that I have ever seen. There is so much artistry in every single clip, and there was a scariness that came from the movie like no other.  Please give this movie a chance, because it will really change your life. 

Prom Night II: Hello Mary Lou Review

8/10

The 1980 film "Prom Night" had been a big success in the box office, and it set a tone for the slasher genre.  It soared Jamie Lee Curtis even farther into stardom, and was personally one if my favorites starring her.  This 1987 sequel took the series into a different direction, the paranormal...  It honestly has next to nothing with the original, yet it has still become a hit.  

The movie starts by introducing us to a character named Mary Lou Maloney.  The year is 1957, and this teenage girl confesses her grave sins to a priest.  As the penance is about to begin, she says she loved every minute of the wrongdoings, and leaves.  The film then goes to Mary's prom, where she is hails prom queen.  Her angry and jealous boyfriend Billy is angered by the fact that she is going to be heading home with another man that she likes more. Out of revenge, he decides to throw a stink bomb down on the stage by Mary.  An accident occurs, and the bomb sets fire of the poor girl. I found this beginning quite interesting, and while I think that the nature of Malone's death was a little absurd, it was still a good foreshadowing for the future plot of the movie. 

A jump forward to present time takes place, and we meet Vicki Carpenter.  Vicki is a high school student, and she has just been asked to prom by her boyfriend. We also see that the principal of this high school is Billy. I like this a lot, because it gives the allowance of seeing him be haunted by the death of Mary.  

One of the problems with the film is that after the intro, there is about twenty minutes of absolute trash. The scenes are melodramatic, and they completely turned me off for some time. I thought that this movie was going to be terrible overall because of this, and I really wish that they would've been a little more careful. 

Things start to get weird as small occurrences happen around the school. Items fly around, and Vicki gets the feeling that something is wrong.  This is proven when her good friend Jess is hung by something that can't be seen.  While everyone called the death a suicide, Vicki knows this isn't true. She doesn't know exactly what is happening, but begins to get a feeling that Mary Lou has something to do with it. 

A point I'd like to emphasize is that no matter how enjoyable this movie is, it should have never been called "Prom Night 2." Originally, it was called "The Haunting of Hamilton High," but Alliance Films chose to rename it so they could feed off the success of the original.  This scam was a really dumb idea, because this movie has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the 1980 film.  I think that in naming the film as they did, it mislead people, which led to disappointment. While I still like the movie, I was quite ticked off about this.

One of the things that I really liked about this movie was the supernatural/ paranormal scenes.  Everything was done very practically, and they were a lot of fun.  One of my personal favorite parts was when Vicki got pulled into the chalkboard.  It really showcased good special effects, and while it wasn't scary, it was still intense.  I also love the way that Mary Lou really took over Vicki.  A girl that was once innocent became a promiscuous and evil girl, and she became vulgar and disgusting. I think this was a clever plot twist, because it made the movie extremely bizarre and memorable. 

Another thing that I noticed in the movie is that it made many references to horror movies like "Carrie" and "The Exorcist." I found this cool, because it gave a nostalgic feeling while I watched the movie, and it showed that the filmmakers had a real love for the genre. Some examples I saw this in were the emphasis of the locker room(Carrie), the use of telekinetic powers to harm people(Carrie), the increase in meanness(the Exorcist), the increase of erotic needs(Exorcist), the head spin(Exorcist),  etc.  

I thought that the cast in the movie was fair enough. Wendy Lyon was an obvious favorite in the role of Vicki, because she really showed a lot of depth in her skills. She started off as a modest and shy girl, but turned into a complete train wreck because of her possession, and every moment was completely convincing.  Michael Ironside was pretty cool as Billy, because he showed a lot of emotional distress as a result of Mary Lou.  Richard Monette gave one heck of a performance as Father Cooper.  The moment that I really saw his greatness was right after he heard possessed Vicki tell her sins. You could sense his anguish because of the deathly look on his face, and he didn't have to say anything at all.  The rest of the supporting cast was mediocre to good, because they did nothing super impressing, but they kept the film alive with their likable nature, or sometimes jerky personalities.

The scenes at prom were actually a little bit of an improvement from the first movie, because they are much less dated. There is a more hip feel to the dance, and the music is still somewhat relatable. I also feel that the style of the dance is more like now, because it was like a party rather than just dancing the whole time. 

The ending of the movie was absolutely phenomenal. I almost saw it as a little reference to "A Nightmare On Elm Street," because it was thought that everything was fine, but then something completely spontaneous happens and leaves you completely puzzled. This was the perfect ending, and I think it was even better than the closing to the original movie. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this film a lot. While it was flawed at parts, it was an adrenaline driving piece of chaos that really served the decade well.  I almost feel that while "Prom Night" was superior in its filmmaking, this one was equally(if not more) enjoyable. I highly recommend this movie to all fans of horror, because it is a obscure treat that is not to be missed. 

Prom Night(1980) Review

9/10

In 1978, "Halloween" was released, and it turned Jamie Lee Curtis into a star of the horror genre.  This 1980 film was her second shot in films, and it has been a hit since its release. While critics didn't love it, fans of the genre have raved it, and it has become one of the most popular slasher flicks of all time.

The beginning of this film was done very well. I really love the cinematography as it flies around the brick buildings, because it gets a very tense feeling. The chants of the children are also very chilling, and it gives a unique feeling to the movie. The scene basically portrays children terrorizing a young girl by following her saying "the killers are coming." This scares the girl very much, and she ends up walking out a window by accident. It is extremely sad to see the death of this girl, and the reaction of the kids that were only try to joke around is heartbreaking. 

The movie then skips forward six years, as the family of this girl are shown visiting her grave. One of the members of the family is Kim Hammond, played by Jamie Lee Curtis. The family is obviously still very torn up about the death, and they leave reluctantly.  As things go on, we see a bunch of teens being called by a mysterious man that is using a list to keep track of people to stalk.  We also meet Kim's boyfriend Nick, whom is ignoring these calls. In his mind, he thought it was another girl he was seeing named Wendy trying to take him to prom. This whole beginning sequence of the film is very interesting, because it has a lot of mystery, and it gives a great build up in introducing all of the characters.

One of the things I particularly like about this film is the blurry vision that we see. It gives a very eerie tone to the movie, and almost makes it feel like a nightmare.  In fact, I feel that the style was actually used later in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" during the dreams sequences. 

The acting in this film was quite satisfying in my opinion.  Jamie Lee Curtis gives her usual performance, which is awesome, and I feel that she was a pretty safe pick for the film. Leslie Nielsen was great as her father, because he was good at portraying a stern but fair man. Kim's brother Alex(Micahel Tough) was another great character, because he had a great chemistry with Curtis. I feel this was extremely necessary for their relationship, because in reality, this is how they should be. The death of their sister would in real life make the two of them closer, and this was shown so well.  The rest of the teens do a great job, because they make the high school experience very real. Some of them are the nicest people in the world, and others are complete jerks.  Nick(Casey Stevens) was an example of a likable character, because he was very good to Kim, and was kind to everyone else around him. Some examples of characters that were the opposite would be Lou(David Mucci) and Wendy(Eddie Benton). They are absolute scum, and have no redeeming qualities at all. They hate the fact that Nick and Kim can be happy, and because of this they do whatever they possibly can to make them miserable.

It takes about an hour for the first kill to happen in this movie, but I think that this strategy was very appropriate for the film. Things built up to this one moment piece by piece, and by the time it was here, it just made things even crazier.  I love the way this film was shot, because it was very grainy slow motion, and the killer was in a black costume which made it even more intense. I love how just before the throat of the victim was slit, they cut to her face, because it showed the fear at the moment.  The noises used for this kill were absolutely brutal, and they were perfect. After the kill, the whole movie really amps up, and a rampage of murder begins. I love how this was done, because the tone of the film was a little dry to begin, but you could tell that everything became more energetic, whether it was the chasing, or it was the music at prom. 

The scenes at prom were very well done, they made the dance look quite fun, and the disco soundtrack was pretty cool.  The lighting in the school looked great, and it made me feel like I was watching a "Soul Train" type of thing.  I also like the way that the teens are shown out of the gym. When the girls are in the restroom, their banter is very realistic as to what girls would be talking about in real life, and some of the occasional pressure is extremely genuine. 

The violence and gore in this film is lighter than others I've seen, but it is so proficiently done that I enjoyed it greatly. Rather than just being the usual lighthearted slice and dice movie, there is a lot of tensity that comes about these scenes, and they really get the adrenaline going.  It almost reminds me of a "Halloween" type of thing, because they don't make it graphic, but it's just as intense. My personal favorite of the whole film is the killing of Wendy, because it is a long and horrifying chase scene that builds up more and more, and then turns into a black screen as we hear the brutalities occur. 

The ending of this film was absolutely shocking. I was not expecting the killer to be who he was at all, and once it was revealed, the feeling of the movie became heartbroken. Thankfully, it ended right at this, because it didn't add any stupid fluff to ruin the vibe. It honestly may be one of my favorite horror movie endings ever. 

"Prom Night" is a fantastic slasher film. It was one of the first, being released in 1980, and it's one of the best. There is so much intensity and terror in this film, and while it's not scary, it's still gets the adrenaline going well. I highly recommend this film to any fans of the genre, because it is not one to miss. 

My Bloody Valentine(1981) Review

7.5/10

The year is 1981, and films like "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th" have already paved new boundaries for the slasher genre.  Who would've thought that the next big movie would take place in a mine.  "My Bloody Valentine" brought horror films to a whole different level with its explicit violence and brutal nature. It was not a favorite of the critics at the time of its release, but it has become a huge cult hit since.  I find this film enjoyable without a doubt, but it is also quite flawed, and it isn't anything significant in my standards.

The movie starts out in a very original way for horror films. We see a bunch of workers in a mine, and one of the females becomes flirtatious with a man.  The scene just looks very sensual at first, and we think she knows the man well.  Then suddenly, he pushes her back into his pick ax and stabs her.  This scene was quite surprising to me, and I enjoyed it a lot. It was obvious that someone was going to die, because romance never ends well in these kind of films, but the nature of it was very different than what I thought would happen. 

One of the first things that I find interesting about this movie is the changes in atmosphere. A lot of movies like "Halloween" or "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" just stay dark the whole time, but this film is extremely diverse.  There are dark moments like the killings, but there are also quite a few scenes that are very happy and lighthearted.  The red and pink color scheme of decorations and look of the happy small town really brighten the viewer's mood, which is extremely clever in the way it sets up the other scenes. 

The idea of having the film take place on Valentine's Day was genius for a few reasons. First off, the holiday is supposed to be one of the happiest days of the year, yet there is brutal killings and terror taking place amidst the fun the characters were trying to have. Second off the holiday has a lot to do with hearts, and they bring a lot of significance to the brutality of the film. 

The acting is good in this film, because all of the cast members really give a great feeling of a blue collar mining town. They are very hospitable, kind, funny, and genuine people, and a lot of the men in the mine have a very close knit and brotherly relationship. This comes across greatly in the way they talk to each other, and by the goofy nature of their performances. One of the exceptions of this kind hearted personality was the character TJ Hanniger; whom was played by Paul Kelman. While he is a good guy, he has a certain darkness to him, and he doesn't get along with everyone as well.  This makes a good balance in the film, because it is more realistic to have a mix in personalities.

One of the infamous factors of the film is how the MPAA slashed nine minutes of footage for the theatrical cut of the film.  This caused the movie to lose a lot of the gore and special effects that were made, and it took away from the positive appraisal that the film could've gotten. Now on DVD, there is the option to buy an extended cut, and several of the gory minutes are back.  Watching this version of the film I was mindblown by some of the killings. While they aren't frightening at all, the scenes are super gory at times, and very brutal. One of the most iconic killings is when Harry puts his pick ax through a man's chin, and it takes an eyeball out of its socket. This is fully onscreen, and very very bloody.

One of the things in the movie that I find to be a blessing and curse was the fact that the movie tried to be more than just a horror movie.  Much of the film was going toward a romantic drama, and sometimes even a comedy when it wasn't being horrifying. On the positive side, the filmmakers were obviously trying to add some different elements into the genre so we didn't feel complete déjà vu from other films. Also, it gives us a more open look at the town, and makes us feel for the people a little more. On the negative side, I feel that the diversity almost made the script a little but scattered, and almost grating at times. The whole love triangle between the main characters is interesting at first, but by halfway through the film it really just feels like beating a dead horse, and I just really want things to go back to the horror side.  

Another complaint that I have with the film is the score.  It really just doesn't fit the movie at all, because it'd be better suited for something like a mystery film.  I feel that the instruments were a little bit too muffled, and it doesn't give the same suspenseful feeling that a great score like "Halloween" or "Friday the 13th" had.  I also feel that the score had been used before, or at least has a similar sound to other films. I really love a movie to have distinct music/themes. When I hear the "Halloween Theme," I know exactly what is on right away. With this film though, if the music came on randomly, I wouldn't have clue of what movie it was from. 

The last thing I can really say in negativity toward the film is that even though it is highly enjoyable and brutal, it really didn't do much to set itself apart from other films of the genre. Yes there was a new level of gore, and yes the setting was unique, but in the end, it just followed a basic formula for horror films, and didn't bring anything new to the genre.  This doesn't make it a bad film at all, but it just takes away any extra significance that I find in a better film like "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

The ending of this film was pretty awesome. There was quite the plot twist when the killer is revealed. I honestly wasn't expecting the person it ended up being at all. I thought that this was very cleverly done, almost like the original "Friday the 13th" movie, and I give the filmmakers props for it. 

Watching this film 34 years after its release, I feel that it aged pretty well. The humor stayed pretty fresh even with the time difference, and so do all of the characters.  I feel that even though the filming definitely has a vintage look to it, it still seems pretty cool because of the darkness it gives to the movie. One of the things that isn't exactly relevant anymore is the film's setting in a mine. While there are still mines in America, it isn't nearly as common of a job, and it doesn't define a town like it did back then. While it doesn't connect to a viewer of now compared to one back then, it doesn't take away from the coolness of it at all. I find the setting to be a genius idea, because a mine is so dark and isolated, that there really isn't much chance of escaping. 

Overall, I find this film to be quite enjoyable. It isn't a masterpiece in any sort, but it is a fun bloody mess of a horror film.  I almost feel that the movie is more of a novelty for its infamous controversy, because it has much more of a reputation than it really deserves. It is worth watching for sure, but don't expect anything different.

Children of the Corn(1984)

8.5/10

Everyone knows that little kids can be pains in the butt sometimes, but who would've thought they would be vicious adult killers?  This 1984 film based off of of a story by Stephen King is one of the most morbid films of the 80's.  I am currently in watching it for the first time, and I can tell you for a fact that I was blown away in the first five minutes.  With Linda Hamilton as a lead, you could either have a fantastic film, or A disaster(King Kong Lives).  It is more than great though, because it is as freaky as you can possibly get(if it freaks me out, then it is bad), and if you're a horror fan, then you definitely need to watch this right away. 

The movie starts in a diner, as a bunch of elderly folks socialize.  Things seem completely normal, until a bunch of children start to suspiciously stare around the joint.  In just a minute, things turn into a brutal murder fest.  I was not expecting this scene to get nearly as crazy as it did. There was blood flying all over the place, and they even out a man's hand into a blender-like tool. I always look for a film that can really hook you in a beginning, because if the introduction is dry, a viewer really starts to lose interest in watching the film at all. This film most definitely did this, and in a better way than I have seen in a long time. 

The film then picks up in a hotel, as a couple played by Linda Hamilton and Peter Horton as they prepare to leave for further travels. I really like the two lead roles in this film, because they have a fantastic chemistry together.  Hamilton was very different in this film if you compare her to bigger performances like Sarah Connor in the Terminator franchise.  Instead of being the ultra tough hero to women of the world, she is much easier to frighten, and almost a little helpless at times.  This helplessness definitely works well for the film, because she is much easier to have sympathy for. Horton is also very likable, because he portrays a male character that is extremely caring for Hamilton, and is also very capable in keeping them alive. 

As the Burt and Vicky drive down a rural road, they run into a child and kill him.  They are both horrified by the accident, and they wrap him up and put him in the trunk. What they find out as they wrap him up was that the child was already dead.... But by who?  This is where the mystery begins.  The cool thing is that although the audience knows that it was one of the vicious teenagers that was responsible; we don't know why it was done, and Burt and Vicky have no idea of who even did it. 

The killings in this film are quite disturbing if you ask me.  I wasn't expecting much being the film is about children, but right from the first bloodshed, my eyes flew out of their sockets, and I was actually quite shocked. Even though not every kill is on screen, they're still extremely brutal, and there is quite a bit of blood shed.  One of the cool things about the gore in this film is that it is very realistic. Instead of being a pool of blood, it is a gash, or a slow sprinkling of blood.  One of the greatest examples of this is when the young boy is murdered in the beginning, because the blood just comes out a little at a time for each time he is slit, and it is actually extremely disturbing. Another thing I really like is that many times they don't even show the specific child that is doing the killing, because it gives more of a disturbing factor to the events. 

The evil children are played very well in this film.  You almost get the feeling that they aren't even humans anymore because of their heartless nature.  The leader of the cult Isaac is played extremely well by John Franklin.  Franklin was 25 at the time the film was made, and I find this to be fantastic, because even though his small stature made him look like a child, his attitude makes him seem bigger than the rest. The other standout child of the film was Malachi, whom was played by Courtney Gains.  Gains is the best actor of the entire film, because he makes his scary nature seem super easy.  The way he moves his mouth as he speaks is even terrifying.  He also has the perfect look for the role, with his long red hair, and his tall stature, because it makes him more intimidating than the others. His voice is also piercing as a knife, and every word he speaks is full of terror. 

The cult and satanic aspect of this story really adds to the disturbing nature of the film.  It is a social norm to stay away from these practices, and the fact that these little children have basically been taken  over it is frightening as hell.  I think the worst thing of all about it is that some of the kids are still innocent children, not yet possessed by this horrible nature yet, and that they're surrounded by the evil constantly. 

You can definitely tell that this film is based off of a work by Stephen King, because it is extremely tense.  Bad happenings are not instant in this film, and they are dragged out in a very stressful and disturbing way.  If you look at films like "Cujo," the dog doesn't attack them, but they sit in the car for most of the film at the risk of it.  In this film, Vicky and Burt aren't killed right off the bat, but they have the risk of it throughout the whole second half of the film.

If there was one thing I would change in the film, it would be the narration.  The young boy Jobe tells certain parts of the story, and his voice is so high pitched that it makes the film feel like a children's film at those moments. I understand why they chose him, being he was a witness and runaway of the situation, but I wish they would've done a more evil narrating, as it would bring more fear to the viewer. While this doesn't ruin the movie in any way, I just think it could've been done better. 

Watching this film, a big breaking point in my movie life was made.  I have never been phased by a horror movie before.  While I won't be having nightmares or stuff like that, this film was definitely freaky. I highly recommend it to any fan of horror cinema, because it is the second best Stephen King horror film I have seen so far, and it is one of the best horror films ever.

A Nightmare on Elm Street(1984) Review

9/10

The year is 1984, the slasher genre has been filled with Jason, Michael, and many other conscious killers.  Never in our dreams could a person imagine a villain like Freddy Krueger, except Wes Craven, and the poor poor teenagers he decides to terrorize.  "A Nightmare On Elm Street" was a film of its own.  It wasn't another film about camps or a guy running around in a mask, but it was a "dead" child murderer climbing into the minds of children in their sleep, and torturing them to their eventual death.  This movie was groundbreaking in American cinema, and it was a huge hit to audiences and critics alike.  It is definitely something special when a slasher film can get 96% positive on Rotten Tomatoes. This film spawned sequels for the next two plus decades, and I don't see the legacy halting anytime soon. Even though I can't call this my favorite horror flick ever, I definitely see it as a masterpiece that will never be forgotten. 

The film begins with a nightmare. A nightmare in the mind of a teenage girl named Tina.  In this dream, a grotesque man with burnt skin and knives for fingers chases her, and claws her stomach.  Tina wakes up in shock. She sees this as just a dream as usual, but she looks down and sees the knife marks on her stomach.  Her mother doesn't see the injury as anything other than scratching in sleep, but something is definitely wrong.  Tina then spends the night with her friend Nancy, and their boyfriends Glen and Rod.  Rod and Tina spend a night together, and a frightening event takes places that changes the lives of these four teenagers forever.  

The originality of this film is priceless.  Outside of the fact that the killer Freddy is in the dreams of these children, it is even more brilliant that anything that takes place in the dreams also happens in real life. I have never seen something like this released before, and regardless of the sequels, spoofs, and wannabes, nothing will ever capture this horrific plot better than the original. Wes Craven definitely had a stroke of genius when he made this film, because he made the single most complex and intelligent slasher film in history. 

The cast in this film is really perfect. The acting was so realistic, and possibly better than I have seen by any complete cast in a horror film.  Heather Langenkemp was perfect in the role of Nancy. She was an extremely likable person. A very cute, and almost innocent girl.  She is also very strong willed though, and gives Freddy one heck of a battle.  Johnny Depp is really cool in the role of Glen, because unlike Rod, he is a very nice guy, and is good to Nancy.  This was one of his first roles ever, and I think it might have been one of his better performances. He was very charismatic in the role, and he brought him a lot of the laughs to the film with just natural lines.  Robert Englund was absolutely awesome in the role of Freddy Krueger. He fits almost every characteristic of a horror villain. Creepy, brutal, and he can have a really great sense of dark humor.  I usually like a silent victim, but Freddy's one liners really help his darkness, and make it more convincing that he is a child murderer. 

The horror scenes in this film are quite impressive if you ask me.  There is a lot of gore in some of the scene, and even though the body count is very small in this movie, you never forget the scenes.  When I first watched this at the age of 13, I was so mindblown by the blood explosion scene of a character I can't name because of spoiler alerts. I actually watched the scene like ten times in a row it was so perfect.  Even though the movie is bloody as can be, it was actually possibly the tamest horror movie I've ever seen. There is only about 3 death scenes, and there is only a small amount of profanities. There are no drugs used at all, and there is only one implied scene of making love.  This movie really proved that you didn't have to make a horror film trashy to make it good.

Outside of the gore, the other special effects were really well done for a slasher film.  The way that characters were thrown around on the ceiling and such was so cool, because it looks extremely realistic.  Another really neat special effect was Freddy stretching the ceiling as he tries to get through it.  This scene was extremely unique, and I hadn't seen cgi that good until "Terminator 2: Judgement Day." A lot of the slasher films before this were low budget, and they didn't have any special effects, but this one was the first, and it was another way of proving this film as a pioneer in the genre. 

I really liked the ending of this film. I won't give away what happened just in case readers haven't seen the film, but it is cool, because it is unexpected, and it isn't just a happy ending like you'd want it to be.  I actually laughed super hard at the scene, because it is immensely random, and it was staged perfectly. 

Overall I find this film to be really great!  It was my first slasher film I ever saw, and watching it again today has actually been super refreshing. While I like series like Halloween or Friday the 13th more, it is nice to see something different. I highly recommend it to any fans of horror, and I also believe it is a great starter for anyone that wants to explore the genre. 

Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan

8/10

This is the film that marks Jason's acting debut on "The Love Boat."  Oh this film, a financial flop in every standard, and one of the most hated films by fans and critics alike.  Many of you are probably expecting me to hate it too, but you'd be wrong. I absolutely love this film. Yes it is flawed, yes it doesn't take place in Manhattan for more than forty minutes(if we're talking about the real Manhattan then it's even less), and yes it is a lot less gory than other films in the series, but this film still kicks a lot of butt. I think the boat is an awesome venue for Jason's slaughter fest, and I think this movie is a heck of a lot of fun. 

The first thing I love about this film is the fact that the film is just good fun.  It's a rock and roll filled, and hilarious film.  I love the Rock and roll score that is used in a lot of the film, because it gives a much more hop and brutal feeling to some of the scenes. A great example is when Jason kills Eva in the dance room. The difference between this film's light mood and the humor of "Jason Lives" is that this one isn't nearly as cheesy and annoying. This one blends it in well as the way the teens behave, instead of stupid things like a paintball team.  I literally laugh out loud at certain parts of the film in a completely genuine manner. 

I like really the cast in this film.  The characters are all really funny, and the acting is fairly good for the most part.  The main girl Rennie(Jensen Daggert) is a very interesting character, because we feel a lot of sympathy for her, being we know she is being treated wrong by her overbearing uncle.  We can sense the insecurities she feels on the boat, especially with her aquaphobia.  She is really one of my favorite Friday girls, because she is just a very likable person. I think Kane Hodder did an extremely great job in this film. He brought an even darker light to the character than in "The New Blood." The camera really filmed him to make him look exceptionally strong, and he was much more intimidating.  

The kills in this film are much less graphic than the other films.  There is some gore, and one beheading, but overall, the mpaa literally slashed this film. So much of the violence is quick cuts, and done off screen.  This could've really hurt the film if not done correctly, but I think they did a good job with this tamer entry. The sounds that take place, and the aggressive actions of Jason really make the film keep its brutality.  One of these examples is the bathroom kill. Even though it's not even shown, it is still insane!

One of the things that is most oftenly trashed with this film is the fact that only a small portion of the film takes in Manhattan.  Personally, I don't mind this, because I think the boat idea was genius. The best thing about the movie taking place on a ship is the fact that the people are isolated.  In the previous films, it's easy to escape the area Jason is at, but now they're locked to the sea. It is absolutely one of the most intense ideas for the series.  The parts in Manhattan are also great, because even though most of it was taped in Canada, it still feels like New York. The best scenes are in the slums, because the people are really rough, and there is the accurate use of gang violence and heroin(a first for the series). One of my favorite scenes is when the characters are being chased by Jason in the sewer. It is such a dark scene, and the terror of Jason's walk as the water comes down from the ceiling was absolutely priceless.

This film was the last Paramount film of the series, and it was supposed to be the end overall, and I don't feel that the ending was as strong as it could've been.  It was definitely cool in a sense, but it still leaves the viewer a little dumbfounded.  You would think that the filmmakers would want to do something unforgettable, being it was their alleged goodbye to the biggest horror franchise in history.  The ending product was just Jason getting "killed" once again, and it wasn't even that special to be honest. 

Overall, I really like this film. I can't call it a masterpiece in any sense, but it is definitely worth a watch. I feel it has been unfairly shamed by people since its release, and I just don't get why it is so hated. I feel that it was one of the most fun entries, and I really get a kick out of watching it.  If you haven't seen this film, you should definitely give it a chance, because it will surprise you, regardless of what the mass media says. 

Friday the 13th Part 7: The New Blood Review

8/10

The year was 1988, and the makers of Friday the 13th wanted to change things up a little more.  The product of this became what my mind calls "Carrie Vs Jason."  This is the breaking point of the film series, because in all of the movies before, the teenagers have been completely normal.  Now the idea of supernatural characters came in, and the audience got a fresh film. I personally liked this film a lot.  While it isn't a fan favorite usually, I found it to be an extremely entertaining movie.  The cast is likable enough, the storyline is very interesting, and there are some great kills.  

The intro to this film was done very well.  I love how everything was tied together in the story, and the way everything was edited together was extremely snazzy.  After the flashbacks, the story starts with tragedy, as the main character Tina uses her powers to break a bridge on her father after he hits her mother in a drunken stupor.  This really gives us an idea of the potential this girl has in killing Jasòn right away.  

The film then goes into the present, where a Tina is brought to a doctor to help her with psychological problems.  They go back to the house she lived in as a child to figure things out.  I really like Tina, because she is easy to have sympathy for her.  You can really tell the guilt she has in causing the death of her father. Even if he was a bad man, that wasn't what she ever wanted to do to him.  The rest of the cast is also extremely likable.  Tina's mother is very good, because you can tell all of the support she tries to have with Tina, along with some great frustration.  The teenagers in this film are very cool too, because they're extremely wild and mischievous.  They're extremely funny, and they're perfect at making the film enjoyable. 

One of the my favorite parts of the film is the fact that it marks the first performance of Kane Hodder as Jason. He plays the role amazingly, because of the way he moves, and the aggressive nature that he captures.  The look of Jason is also exceptionally amazing. The mask is so cool, and the whole figure of him is just perfect.  Jason is definitely at his peak in this film. He was also extremely strong, if not at his strongest starting with this film.  One of the best examples was when he literally used his hand to punch a hole into a boy's back. 

The kills in the movie are fairly good.  Even though they were definitely slaughtered by the MPAA(no pun intended), they still have a fairly intense nature to them. I feel another reason why this one was a little less violent is the fact that the telekinesis played a major part of the film, so there was a little less room for gore and such.  

The telekinesis aspect of the film is bittersweet for me.  I like it for being different, because it really makes things fresh in the series. The problem that I do have with it is the fact that it takes away from reality side of the movies.  Yes zombie Jason is also fake, but now they have a girl basically using "the force" on everyone.  It is cool, but it's also weird.  The thing that the powers did really well was make one heck of a great ending battle.

Overall, this film is a great watch.  It may not hold the same reputation as more outrageous films like part 4, but it's a lot of fun and I highly recommend it.  I feel like it was actually one of the better made films of the series, because there was a lot more craft in the filming, and acting was actually very good. 

Halloween II(1981) Movie Review

10/10

To start this review off, I didn't have high standards for is movie.  Only one person I know told me they like it, and I didn't think it was going to be anywhere near the first one.  I think I honestly like this one a little more though.  This movie is brutal, tense as can be, and at times even funny. It's everything I could want in a horror movie.  There's a great cast, great killings, and just a great direction for a movie.  

The first thing I can say about this movie is that Michael Myérs became much more creative with his killings.  In the first film, he was more of an ax and strangling guy, but in this movie he does way more.  I think the fact that the film had a lot more opportunities for this, since it takes place in a hospital.  This film also upped the gore, and really became all the more shocking. 

The film also has a great cast.  As said in my review for the first film, Jamie Lee Curtis was perfect for the role of Laurie Strode.  She has so much dynamic in showing her fear, and even though she isn't on screen as much, she is still memorable.  Donald Pleasance is once again brilliant too, and I like his character even more in this film.  The whole hospital staff is great too, because they can be really funny, but then they are terrified at the same time. The portrayal of Michael is great in this film too, because he is much more menacing.  The only thing I will say is that his mask is a little annoying in this film.

If there is anything I can call a weakness in his film, it would be that it lost some of the subtlety of the first film. This one is a much more open, and closer to a typical slasher flick; while the first one was really one where you appreciated the small things. While I don't see this as bad, I can see why a lot of the fans of the series and critics didn't like it. 

Overall, I think this movie can be much more easily understood by horror fans.  It is big, gory, and brutal, and it's what everyone wants in a film like this.  I highly recommend it to anyone who loves slashers, because it is loads of fun!

Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives

6/10

It's 1986....."Friday the 13th Part 5: a New Beginning" failed at the box office, and with critics, but Paramount still decided to fund another film.  This film became "Jason Lives."  This film is the third to follow the life of Tommy Jarvis, and his battle to end Jason forever.  The film completely failed at the box office, but it was the first film since the original to receive any positive reviews.  Honestly I like the movie for what it is, but I don't see it as anything special. It really didn't give me the same spark as others in the series, and it may be my least favorite of the Paramount films.  

The story starts off with showing Tommy Jarvis and his good friend escaping in a truck from the institution.  They are on a mission that Tommy leads to see if Jason is really dead.  They then find the truth of Jason, and the rest of the film just shows what this reality is.

Okay this film has good and bad news, but to start I'll do the good.  My first positive observation is the gore.  The killings are brutal, and bloodier than ever. I feel it was one of the goriest installments of the series.  The noises that went along with the gore were also very realistic and gruesome. 

Another great part is that some(and I mean some) of the jokes were good. The whole RV scene is hilarious gag, and it's one of my favorite humorous scenes from all of films. 

One of the problems of the film is the cast. I feel that there wasn't the same likable qualities as before. One of my biggest problems was the change of the casting Tommy.  Thom Matthews was okay as Tommy, but not nearly as good as the part could've been.  In Part 5, Tommy was shown as strong, and capable, but in this film, he was mainly just crazy and a little dumb. Also, the difference in actors is extremely apparent, because they look nothing alike. 

Another problem is the cheesiness of the film. I especially hate the paintball people in the woods, because the music behind them is so cheesy, and they tried too hard to be funny. It reminded me of something like "Every Which Way But Loose," but while it worked for the latter movie, it was really a bad thing for this one. 

Okay so Jason is back, but this time he is a zombie?  I mean this isn't a bad idea, because it really shows that all of the victims are super screwed.  I just feel that it was a little bit of a stretch also, because it took out any sense of reality in the film. Jason had been seen as someone that could've  been completely real, but now he just looks like something out of a George Romero film. 

As you can see, this film is nowhere near the top of my list. I might even call it my least favorite of the Paramount films.  It really took away from what I saw as good in the series, and while some things worked(the violence, etc), a lot of it really didn't.  I can't call it an awful film, because some stuff was pretty amazing, but if you are just spontaneously looking for a fantastic horror flick, choose a different one of the series. 

Do you all agree with this review? Feel free to voice you opinions.

Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning Review

8.5/10

The year is 1985, and this fifth installment of the series was released.  The supposed 'Final Chapter' had been released the year before, and the filmmakers obviously pulled a Rolling Stones on that farewell.  Here's this film, a resurrection from cinema death, a rebirth of a film series that millions of people had grown to love in the five years before.  They were honestly as serious as can be when they said that the film was "A New Beginning" though.  This film took such a different turn from the installments, because the movie doesn't take place in Camp Crystal Lake, and Jason is no longer the villain of the series.  This caused the reception of the film to be awful, by both fans, and critics.  I honestly don't see the film to be as bad as what many say, and it's a superb slasher flick.

The film starts off with young Tommy Jarvis(Corey Feldman) being terrorized by Jason Voorhees.  This is found out to be a dream, and we are brought to an older Tommy, who is being brought to a mental institution.  Here we meet many others that have disorders, and they are terrorized by an unknown villain.

One of the things I really like about this film was the increase of outrageousness.  This film took a huge turn in darkness.  While I find "The Final Chapter" to be gorier, this one definitely amped up the brutality.  The film at the time held the record for body count in the series.  The film also showed a lot more onscreen violence than past installments.  He killings are also much more creative, and much much more gruesome.  A lot of them are cringeworthy.  

The suspense in this film is crazy. The moments of running away from the killer are so intense, that they really give a lot of anxiousness to the audience. The scenes were so well do, because the sets and environments were perfect. I especially love when Pam and Reggie are escaping in the woods as a massive thunderstorm takes place. You really can't get a better horror scene than that.  The fear of the characters is so realistic, and the killer is as threatening as ever. 

In this film, I would call the cast good.  John Shepherd was very good as Tommy Jarvis. It was a hard task to take over for Corey Feldman in the role, because his performance was so iconic.  I think Shepherd did a fantastic job of being a completely paranoid and occasionally violent version of Jarvis.  It was a great idea to bring Jarvis back again, because he was one of the better characters, and they really left a huge cliffhanger of his fate in the previous film.  Another standout character in the film was Shavar Ross' character Reggie.  Like Tommy Jarvis in Part 4, he really took the role as the cute little kid that you don't want anything to happen to.  He did a perfect job of being likable; much like his character on "Different Strokes." Carol Locatell was absolutely hilarious in the role of Ethel. She is so foul, and probably used the f bomb about 30 times her own.  Richard Young was also great as Matt, because he was a very likable and genuine guy. Melanie Kinnaman definitely deserves a spot in the 'final girl' hall of fame in her role of Pam, because she had such a vibrant way of expressing her fear. Her screams are really piercing. As a character she was also much smarter and stronger than many of the girls. She had a very likable personality too, and she was great to Reggie.

I think the flow of the film was fantastic. You stay occupied the whole time, and there really isn't anything I could call a dry moment.  I think that this is something the series is usually good about, but this one to an even bigger extent. I also feel that this film took a much more serious tone. Even though there is a lot of funny stuff, there really isn't much cheesiness. 

I like the fact that the movie changed things up a little. When people saw that there was a new film in the series, they most likely expected another Camp Crystal Lake movie with Jason, but this one as much different.  The fact that it takes place in a mental institution gives a huge amount of tension, because the characters themselves have a lot of issues to begin with.  I also feel that the mystery of a different killer makes it great, because it brings back the shock of the original. 

Many people like to kill on this film.  I really don't see it to be nearly as bad as the mainstream calls it.  It is a very enjoyable movie, and it really does have some extremely brutal moments. The cast really went above and beyond, and the movie tried to be original.  It was also very well directed, and it had a good script.  So I cannot call it a bad film at all.  I highly recommend watching this film, because while it's not at the top of my list, it is still super fun, and it proves the point that there isn't a bad film of the original Paramount films. 

What do you guys think of this film?