Halloween Revisited.....

Today I was watching the 1978 classic "Halloween" for the fifth or sixth time, and I will honestly say it was the best viewing yet. I felt the masterpiece qualities really kicked in, and I could understand now why it is as renowned as it has been. I have always loved the movie, but this time, it was extra scary, extra complex, and just so much more fun. I have found out that you honestly can't turn away from the screen at all, because you will miss something. Most slasher flicks are extra simple, but this one has little touches to it that make it superior. I can honestly say this is probably my second favorite horror film behind "The Shining," because it truly brings the epic nature to the genre. 

Deep Red

10/10

"Deep Red" is a 1975 Giallo classic from director Dario Argento. It was definitely one of his masterpieces, because it was one of the thought provoking film's of history. Critics and audiences have loved it since its release, and now I can be added to the fan club. 

The movie begins very dark, as a shadowy stabbing is shown accompanied by screams. This particular scene was very sick, because there was classical music, and it was a quick and disturbing moment. The story then proceeded to a lecture about telepathy, where psychic Helga Ullman talks about the nature of her powers. As she speaks, she then begins to convulse, as she senses a murderer in the crowd. This scene was very creepy, because it foreshadowed a possible explanation to what was happening in the very beginning.

Sadly, Helga was correct, and she is murdered by a mysterious figure with black leather gloves. The two witnesses to this incident were a man named Marcus Daly, and his friend Carlo. Marcus is a jazz pianist, and he was actually a neighbor to this lady. He tries to run up and save her, but she was already dead. One of the things that Daly noticed was that there were paintings were missing from Ullman's wall. After this first clue, he begins to investigate this murder; while a chain of other horrific events take place. 

"Deep Red" was such a smart movie in all aspects. I loved that rather than being a slice and dice movie, it also added some great mystery, and a thought provoking depiction of terror. I thought the way that Marcus found the paintings of the stabbing all over was pretty brilliant, because it was a great clue for him to find, and it was also pretty disturbing. It was also very neat that there was no way of guessing who the killer was. In most films, there is at least a slight idea, but in this one, there are so many twists that there was no way of knowing until the exact revelation. The movie had so many different ways of scaring the audience. Whether it was moving dolls, creepy noises, dead bodies, or horrendous murders, it had them all. I thought that simply all of these plot aspects were things that set the film apart from many others of the time. 

The camera work in the movie was absolutely brilliant. It had a way of moving with the audience, instead of just being in one place. I thought this added to the creepiness of the atmosphere, because it always felt like someone was stalking the characters. I also loved some of the close up shots, because they were very intricately done, and were a big factor of the work being a masterpiece. 

I personally found the cast to be absolutely perfect for the film. David Hemmings was such an outstanding lead as Marcus, because he had a great way of delivering his lines, and had such an awesome sense of how to convey his emotions. I could personally believe that every single thing that happened to him was completely real. Daria Nicolodi was very good as the female lead of the movie Gianna. She did a great job of clashing with Hemmings, because they could both be very stubborn, and she was just enough to set him off. Gabriele Lavia did a pretty awesome job as Carlo, because he could be very witty with his personality, or shift to a certain darkness. I felt that he made himself such an easy person to follow, and the audience grew to love or hate him, even if he was on screen for only twenty minutes. Clara Calamai was pretty stellar as Martha, because she was a seemingly sweet old lady, but she also conveyed a different side to herself. I liked her, because she had a great way of changing herself from time to time, and doing it very realistically. 

The film has had a reputation for being one of the most graphic films of its time, and I could probably vouch for that. There were definitely some gruesome and gory scenes, and they had a brutal nature of sound effects and movements. I thought that the most horrid scene was the hot water scene, because it was so sadistic, and the aftermath was ugly as could be. Even though recent times has way more gore, this one had a balance that made things much more realistic, which made a more terrifying feeling in my opinion. 

The movie's ending was absolutely brilliant, because there was a certain person that was thought to be the killer, but the facts don't add up, so Marcus looks around more. When he actually finds the culprit, the viewer's mind is blown, because it would've never occurred in their mind that this person could do this. I personally found this to be one of the most shocking and awesome endings in history, because it made my head turn. 

"Deep Red" is definitely a movie that every fan of cinema should check out. It is shocking, interesting, and one of the technically best movies of all time. Dario Argento really out did himself with this, and once again proved that Italian horror is the best horror. 

The Driller Killer

8/10

"The Driller Killer" was an infamous B-Movie from 1979. It was controversial at its time for its graphic and morbid violence, and was originally cut down greatly from its original form. In recent times, an unrated version has come out, and viewers got to relive the horrors that plagued society for decades. While the movie has become a sort of an obscurity with audiences, it was met with positive reviews by critics, and definitely still has some fan base. I personally loved the movie, for its crazy scenes, good acting(by the majority of the cast), and it's ruthless portrayal of urban life. 

The movie begins in a church, where two men are worshipping. One of the men named Reno approaches the other, and the other man has Reno's name and phone number on paper. Reno doesn't know what do at this point, and things become even weirder as the man grabs his hand. Reno then runs out of the church with his girlfriend Carol, and they take a ride in a limo to a club. After a night of punk music and partying, the couple goes to their apartment that they share with Pamela; Carol's other lover. Reno becomes very angry when everyone wakes up in the morning, as he looks at the multitude of money he owes in bills. I thought this beginning was all very well done, because it gave mild suspense, and some awesome character development. 

The trio begins to figure out that this financial trouble is going to put them on the streets, and they need to do something quick. Reno is an artist, and he is currently working on his best work, which at this point is the big defining piece of their standard of living. He tries to get a loan from his art dealer, but is denied, so he has to be done even faster. Tensions start to grow in his life with these troubles, and a growing anger at his new punk rocker neighbors. All of this leads for the once laid back man to become, "The Driller Killer."

The movie was pretty great, because it took liberties at its time to be one of the most disgusting and shocking film up to that point. It showed a brutal and merciless look at the madness of Reno, which included some really wild murder scenes, and a lot of gore. I was honestly not expecting this at all, being the movie was made in 1979, and the surprise was very pleasant. As long as you watch the unrated cut, then you are guaranteed for one of the most craziest films of the decade. 

Another thing that was shown very well was a sad and dark look at urban life. The movie offered themes of the rough downtown area like gangs, drugs, the homeless, etc, and didn't hold back on making it harsh. One of the saddest scenes to watch is when a homeless man is sleeping on the sidewalk, and he pukes in his own sleep. I thought that what this overall theme did was get the viewer more emotionally prepared for the horrible nature of what happens in the latter half of the film. 

The motives for Reno becoming a killer were never truly explored, as it comes up between his anger between a band and his bills(without killing the band or the landlord). What I hypothesize is that all of these pressures in his life drove him to complete insanity, and he didn't care about who he killed, nor did he fully process what he was actually doing. I thought this was a pretty haunting idea, because in the beginning, Reno seemed rough around the edges, but never would I have seen him to be a murderer. 

The movie's cast was good for the most part, as it showed a lot of raw emotion.  Abel Ferrara was amazing in the lead role Reno, because he had a very rough way about him. His scenes of insane meltdowns were pretty terrifying, and his portrayal as a murderer was so real, that I would keep an eye on him in real life. Carolyn Marz was good as Carol, because she didn't overplay or underplay the role of Reno's girlfriend. There were some awesome scenes of her just flipping out, and I was extremely convinced of her feelings. I really didn't like Baybi Day as Pamela, because she was really annoying, and while I understood that she was trying to act like a person that was quite fried out from drugs, it wasn't a good job by her, and she was my least favorite cast member for sure.  Harry Schultz II was good as Dalton, because he had a very jerky way about him, which was completely necessary for the character that possibly pushed Reno over the edge. 

One of the main parts of the movie was punk music, being Reno's neighbor was a band called the Roosters. While the singers were notoriously(and hilariously) bad, I found the songs to actually be somewhat catchy. Once again, I thought that the punk style brought a lot more realism to the condition of this time, and it was a very nice addition. 

The film's ending was quite shocking, and I loved how as a surprise event happened, all of the dialogue and such were to a black screen. This made a much more haunting feel for me, because the viewer never saw what truly happened.  This was the perfect ending of the movie, rather than some cheesy conclusion, and I thought it was a very mature decision from the filmmakers. 

The only thing that could've been changed was the occasional slow pacing. It didn't bother me a whole bunch, because I found the surrounding plot lines interesting, but some viewers may be turned off by it. 

"The Driller Killer" is definitely an important film for all horror fans to watch. It was a brutal, realistic, and controversial movie that was much more important to its time than people realize. While it wasn't a high caliber masterpiece like "The Shining," it was definitely an awesome movie, and I recommend it highly. 

Piranha(1978)

8.5/10

After "Jaws" blew the minds of audiences in 1975, the movie business jumped right on to the idea of knockoffs for extra cash. Whether it was "Orca" or one of the other titles, a lot of them got a lukewarm reception. The first one to truly be loved by critics and audiences alike was the 1978 classic "Piranha." Directed by Joe Dante, and produced by legend Roger Corman, the movie has become one of the all time cult classics. I personally liked the film a lot, because of its cool story, great gore, and awesome cast. 

The movie began with a couple named David and Barbara wandering while on vacation. They find a nice body if water, and decide to go for a swim. While doing this, they begin to feel bites. At first it is thought to be a prank, but they end up being killed by piranhas. I honestly laughed really hard at this scene, because it really showed the beginning of the "Jaws" spoofing. I thought it was a very fun intro, and it worked super well. 

The movie goes forward in time as Maggie and Paul look for the two of them. The two of them find the body of water, and decide to empty it to see if their friends are in it. While trying to do this, a man panic and attacks them. Regardless, they still get the job done, and find a skeleton. As this goes on, the crazy man from before hi-jacks their jeep, and crashes it. With the fact that this man was injured badly, the two try to find some medical help for him by journeying through the area. What they never expected was what lied in the water, and the fate that they had in the near future. 

One of the great things about this movie was its tone in direction by Joe Dante. There was a good balance between darkness, and lighthearted scenes, and it kept the viewer from boredom. Even in the most gruesome scenes, there was still a little feeling of spoofiness, so even though it is pretty gross, it doesn't make one feel horrible. I thought that Dante did this very well, as he has in other films like "The Howling," and "Gremlins."

The actual piranha attacks were surprisingly well done for the B-Movie budget. Almost a copy of the "Jaws" kills, there were multiple graphic scenes of mauling by the fish, and blood filled the water. I liked this a lot, because it was giving the horror lover their gore without being unrealistically over the top. The only complaint I could make is that after seeing a couple of the kills, then you've basically seen all of them in one form. In other words, I just wish their was some more original kills that could've shocked the audience more. 

In the aspect of acting, the movie was pretty good. There were likable members in the cast, and they gave great B-Movie cheesiness in their performances. Bradford Dillman and Heather Menzies both did very well as Paul and Maggie, because they had a great connection with each other, and they were also able to do well as individuals. It was nice to see Barbara Steele in the movie, because she is one of my favorite horror actresses ever. I thought that she gave a very cool performance, and while she wasn't as crazy as usual, she gave a different vibe that really worked. One of my favorite Joe Dante regulars was in the movie, and this was Dick Miller. Miller gave a very funny performance as usual, and served as one of the really likable people throughout the film.

The film's score was mediocre at best, because there were some awesome moments, but others that were terrible. I really liked the music before the attacks, because it was very high pressure, and kind of sounded like "Halloween." It set itself apart from "Jaws," because it didn't steal the subtlety of the latter film, and they made their own thing work. The moments I didn't like we're the mellow acoustic songs, because it gave the film a very cheesy TV-Movie type of feel.  While this aspect didn't "ruin" the film, it definitely did get mildly obnoxious at times. 

The cinematography of the movie was pretty awesome, because much like "Jaws," there were some innovative shots in the water, and they gave a whole different perspective on what was happening. There were sometimes where the camera would come up from under the person, almost like the piranhas were in reality. I thought this gave a cool first-person view from the fish.  One of the overall coolest frames was when a piranha attacked one of the scuba divers. In this scene, the camera looked straight at the person's face, and the camera got closer and closer to simulate the killer fish. It was a very effective moment in my opinion, and helped the film be more technically masterful. 

About 20 minutes until the end of the movie, things become insane! The piranhas go wild, and eat every person that they can get a hold of. This is a bloody, intense, and awesome scene, and it caught me by surprise. On the other side of the story, Paul and Maggie are trying to escape, and they find an abandoned building. Paul decides to go into the water, and sneak through the bottom entrance. The ending that came in the near future had me quite shocked, and I liked it a lot for its over the top nature.

"Piranha" was a very fun, shocking, and well made movie of the 1970's. It had all of the elements needed for a horror movie, and I definitely recommend it to fans of the genre. The film was definitely better than Dante's other classic "The Howling," and it is much easier to follow. Definitely give this film a watch, because you will not be disappointed.  

The Wizard of Gore(1970)

7.5/10 

A while back, I got the chance to interview Herschell Gordon Lewis. Ever since that day, I wanted to be able to review one of his movies. Now thanks to Amazon, I have this opportunity.  "The Wizard of Gore" is one of the most iconic films that Lewis made, because of its dark nature and extreme gore that had never been seen before. I liked the movie a lot, because it was very original, and it had pushed boundaries like no other. 

The beginning of the movie introduced the viewer to Montag the Magnificent; a magician on tour. He raises the question of what magic really is, and engages the audience instantly.  He then does a shocking trick with a guillotine, and appears to take his own head off. To the audiences' surprise, the head wasn't real, and he was completely fine. After this, he announces his next trick, which is to saw a living woman right in half. He takes a volunteer from the audience, and completes the illusion. The weird thing is that we don't actually know if it was just a trick, or if it was real.  Even though all of the blood and gore is right in front of us, the woman appears completely fine moments later.  The next thing we know is that this same woman is found dead of the same wounds at a restaurant went she to. This intro was pretty thrilling, because everything as macabre and dark, and it was just really well done. 

The rest of the movie follows this pattern, where a seemingly harmless trick by Montag actually ends up being a secret murder. I find this plot extremely original, and it's weirdness intrigued me. I honestly don't think anything like this was done before, and even if someone tried to repeat it in the future, it couldn't be the same. I think the craziest element is that the audience of the magic show never really sees how morbid he is being, because it brings a supernatural idea that bends things a lot. 

The movie really lived up to its title, because even 45 years later, this film is still outrageously gory in all standards. Guts fly, and blood pours, and in the most morbid ways too.  I can't believe that any man could've thought of being this innovative, and it impressed me a lot with how much he pushed the boundaries. Even though the blood looks fake, it doesn't take away from the nastiness at all, and I find it to be one of the craziest movies ever. 

Along with the blood, the tactics of killing were extremely brutal and sadistic. Punch presses were used, mallets, swords, etc, and they were done in ways most people wouldn't even think of.  Herschell did an amazing job with spicing up the genre with these ideas, because I feel that they influenced a lot of people in the future. 

The acting was nothing spectacular, as it was obviously low on the agenda for Lewis' vision. Regardless, there were still some good performances that worked well for the movie. The greatest of all was Ray Sager in the lead role of Montag. He did a really awesome job at portraying the sadistic nature of the magician, because I could sense the darkness from a mile away. His voice in the monologues was very powerful also, and he was just really professional. 

The film was on a very low budget, yet Lewis did a great job of making the product look pretty amazing. I thought the red tinted graveyard scenes were a great touch, because it made everything much more psychedelic, and it also made things more mysterious.  The idea of switching back in forth from seeing a murder, to going to what looked like the harmless stunt was not easy to complete without looking dumb. I thought this was done well, because it had a very eerie and disturbing way about it that successfully made the viewer extremely confused. 

The ending of the movie was quite a surprise, and while it could've been better, I still liked it a lot.  I thought that the last minutes were very worthy of leaving the viewer in shock, because it was a plot twist that I wouldn't have expected at all. 

The only thing that I thought the film was lacking was its pacing. Sometimes the story went too slow for my taste, and in others it really breezed through important things.  For instance, the movie spent way more time with dialogue than showing scenes in graveyard, which could've possibly added to the suspense with more screen time.  While this did not ruin the film at all for me, I just think that it was something that could've definitely been improved upon. 

Overall, this was a very fun movie.  It wasn't the best I've ever seen, but it was an original, extremely gory, and crazy movie. I definitely recommend it to all horror fans that can take the violence, because it was pretty iconic in the genre's history for sure.  It has also made me look forward to watching many more Herschell films in the future, because it was a piece of art for sure. 

Carrie(1976)

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

In 1976, Brian De Palma directed the first ever adaptation of a Stephen King book. "Carrie" too the world by storm with its shocking content, and it's realistic look at the angst of teenagers. This movie is tied with "The Shining" as the best Stephen King movie, and I can't ever see any other being better. 

The movie begins at a volleyball game. At this tournament, we meet Carrie White. Carrie is an outcast, a "weirdo," and she is picked by everybody.  After the game is over, all of the girls go into the locker room to shower. This scene was so masterfully done, because everything is in slow motion, and there is a beautiful soundtrack in the background. Every shot of the camera is so intricate and beautiful, and it shows how careful of a job the filmmakers did.  Even though everything seems fine at first, Carrie then has her period, and everyone starts throwing tampons and such at her.  She then has a nervous breakdown as this happens, until her teacher Miss Collin saves her.  Miss Collin and her principal allow Carrie to go home, and this is much to her reluctance. We then meet Carrie's crazy and abusive mother Margaret, whom is a radical "Christian," yet she basically tortures her own daughter.  With all of these horrible things happening in her life, there is also something very weird taking place. Carrie worries that she may be a telekinetic. She is able to shatter mirrors, move objects, etc.  She learns that she can use these to her advantage, as a way to get back at all of the people that had been cruel to her.  This results in one of the most shocking proms to ever exist, and a change in the life of many.

The cast in this movie is one of the most superb lineups ever.  Sissy Spacek blew me away as Carrie, because she is such a likable girl, and one really feels so much sympathy for her during all the hardships she goes through. She also really knows how to portray so many emotions, whether they are kindness, panic, or complete insanity.  Piper Laurie really freaked me out as Mrs White, because she was so convincing in the role of a mentally imbalanced woman.  She would try to act kind at moments, but then she would be completely psychotic with her brutal behavior toward her daughter. The way that she projects herself is truly scary, because it almost seems like the behavior is natural for her.  I really liked William Katt as Tommy Ross, because you could really sense the good in his personality, even though he is one of the populars that picked on her. He just had a very charismatic presence to him in the way he acted, and seemed to care a little for Carrie. Betty Buckley was exceptional in her role of Miss Wilson, mainly because of her ways to realistically change personality. There are moments where she will be the sweetest and most laid back person in the world, and then in a split second she will become completely furious. Amy Irving was pretty cool as Sue, because much like Tommy, she was completely likable, and she really let off the vibe that she liked Carrie. The most hated character of the movie is Chris, and she was played by Nancy Allen. Even though she was attractive by looks, she had the worst personality in the world, and Allen portrays this perfectly. She played the role of a cruel, heartless, and shallow girl that wanted nothing but to ruin the life of Carrie. John Travolta came in as a close second as the biggest jerk in the school as Billy. He was a rude, abusive, and dumb punk that had no redeeming qualities. I thought that Travolta did a good job at the role, because he is usually so likable, but in this one one can't help but hate him. 

I mentioned earlier that the cinematography in the opening scene was amazing, but this actually takes place throughout the entire movie.  Mario Tosi had such a genius way of capturing the mood and environment in his camera work.  When there was peace, the lighting was bright, which made it feel like a dream(or actually one). I think the most clever use of this was when Tommy and Carrie dance at prom together, because she must've felt like it was unreal.  When the darkness of Carrie's revenge came about, the screen tinted red, which made it scary as can be.  During the scenes where Carrie gets very scared, the camera really zoomed into to her expression, because the look on her face showed better than anything of how she felt. Overall, I think that this aspect of the film was brilliant, just like "The Shining," and it is really a big part of why the movie is still a masterpiece now. 

Being the movie was released close to 40 years ago, there are many activities that take place that are extremely dated. The first is the fact that Miss Wilson has the ability to strike her students, which would not fly now.  The next is when Billy drinks and drives casually. Even though this still happens now, it would not be shown as lightly as it was in the media. While none of this hurts the film in any way, shape or form, I just found it funny to compare society in present to then. 

The climax of the film really starts at prom, where life is looking good for Carrie. The romance between her and Tommy begins, and it really felt good for her to find someone to be close with. The scenes where they dance and such really gave me chills, because they were both so happy, and the chemistry between the two actors was absolutely priceless. Sadly, the happiness can't be forever, and some unnamed characters do something horrible to Carrie. My heart literally split in two when this happened, because Carrie was so likable, and the fact that I had to see her be hurt again was just awful. I loved how even though people talked, all of the sounds were drained out. Because of this, all we see is lips moving, and I feel that this really shows the shock that people were feeling at the time. Right after, the iconic scene takes place. Carrie gets her revenge..... This scene was so shocking that my eyes bulged out of my head.  Everything turned into a disaster, and it was like hell broke loose. Even after she leaves the dance, the vengeance takes place.  This really effects everyone that surrounded her in life, and even herself. I really found this climax and ending to be perfect, because every moment was unexpected, and they engrossed my emotions majorly. 

"Carrie" is much more than your typical movie, because it is also a movie about adolescent life. You get both spectrums of these years, which are the magical moments, and the times of great pain. Even though Carrie's life is probably a lot harder than most, there are still little things that everyone can relate to. Whether it's bullying, abuse from family, or just pure loneliness in the world, everyone has experienced at least one of those.  Outside of the negative moments, we also get to see Carrie go through her first love, which is something that everyone does at some point. The girl also witnesses /causes death in the film, and this is relevant because every teenager goes through loss. So overall, the underlying messages of the movie helped it set itself apart. 

It is rare for me to feel the way that I did after watching this movie. I was completely flabbergasted by what I had seen, yet totally in love with the masterpiece I had experienced. "Carrie" is most definitely one of the best horror movies ever. I would actually go as far as to tie it with "The Shining," because they both gave me the same effect. I highly recommend this movie, because it will be a movie that makes you cry, a movie that makes you cringe, and a movie that will freak you out in every possible way. 

Taste the Blood of Dracula: Movie Review

7/10

In 1970, Christopher Lee was back at it for a fifth Dracula movie from Hammer. "Taste the Blood of Dracula" is a very good movie, and while it has its weaknesses, there is also a lot of great things that make it a worthy horror film for all fans.  

The movie begins quite strangely on a stagecoach. There is three men riding, and two of them gang up on the other and throw him out. This stranded man named Weller then travels alone in the woods, where he hears screams. Running to find what was happening, he finds Dracula with a stake through his heart. I found this beginning pretty cool, because it helped the audience remember where the last film took off, and it was quite intense. 

The movie then skips time a bit, and we meet a girl named Alice, along with her family. Right off the bat, we see conflict between her and her father, because of the man she likes. We also get introduced to three men(one being Alice's father) that are looking for a good time. Their idea is to go to a cathouse, and mess around a bit.  After some time with the ladies, they go out to eat where they speak about dark things like "selling your soul to the devil."  They then meet Weller, and he shows them the ring, cloak, and container of blood that he had from Dracula. After finding these items, the men meet up with a man by the name of Courtley in an abandoned church. Courtley is a man of black magic, and they are quite skeptical about him.  They show him the objects, and he tries to make them drink the blood.  They refuse, and tell him to ingest it. Courtley then reluctantly does this, and it turns him into a vampire.  As he tries to attack the men, they beat him to death. What they didn't know was that Courtley was a servant of Dracula's, and after his death, his body turns into Dracula. Right after this change, Dracula expresses his anger, and sets out for revenge on everyone one of the men. 

The cast in this film was very good, because of their convincing portrayals of the characters, and their depth in talent. Christopher Lee was great as always, and even though he wasn't at his best in this, he still kicked butt. In this movie, he showed even more that words don't matter at all for his performance.  Lee may have spoke twenty words in the whole movie, yet he draws the audience in right away. There is just something special about his intimidating personality, and his way of giving off animal magnetism to women immediately. Geoffrey Keen really excelled in the role of William Hargood, because he really shows Hargood's downfall as realistically as possible.  Whether it was his abusive behavior, or the indulgences in alcohol, he makes it as perfectly executed as possible, and I really respect that. Linda Hayden was pretty awesome as Alice Hargood, because she was extremely sexy in looks and personality, and she had a great way of changing her emotions quickly. There were some scenes where she was happy, some scared, and some where she is seduced intensely. Isla Blair was pretty cool as Lucy Paxton, because she was much like Hayden with her emotions, yet there was also a little bit of darkness that one could see right out the bat. The last standout in my opinion was Ralph Bates as "Lord Courtley." He have such a dark and insane performance, that you could really believe he was part of the black magic cult. 

I thought that the cinematography in the movie was particularly good, because it had a grainy tone to it that helped portray the dark nature needed. It also gave a very authentic feeling that impressed me. One of the great examples of this is a scene where Secker walks into his house. There was such a high definition look to this scene that it looked like an old documentary. 

There was some very cool scenes in this movie, and they were both gruesome and just plain awesome. There was wooden stakes used, biting, etc. Part of the whole idea I liked was how two of the main characters became vampires too, and they were extremely evil because of their slavery to Dracula. It definitely gave an overall creepy tone, because they were very innocent people at first, and now they were harming others sadistically.  

The ending of the movie was pretty weird, but also amazing at the same time.  It was something that hadn't really been done before in the series, so it was much fresher than the typical stake through Dracula schtick. It was also pretty trippy at the same time, which I really liked and appreciated. I was definitely like in a state of being like "what the heck?" so it was a success in my eyes. 

The only weakness I could see in this movie was that their was a lack in the intensity compared to the others. While there was exceptions in a couple scenes, I just didn't get the same feeling of being drawn into the suspense, because there wasn't at much threat.  While this didn't ruin the movie in a big way, it definitely kept it from being one of the better in the series. 

Overall, this movie is one of the weaker in the Hammer Dracula series, but it is still a pretty enjoyable movie. There is some great acting, and some awesome scenes of violence. I definitely recommend watching the movie, because it will be enjoyable like all of the others, but don't expect it to be anywhere near the content of "Horror of Dracula" and "Dracula Has Risen From the Grave."

The Fury of the Wolfman: Movie Review

2/10

This 1972 film is not known by many, and I can really see why. It is a boring, poorly made piece of crap that has next to no redeeming qualities to it(other than the Wolfman himself). 

This movie begins extremely slow, and with little direction at all. Basically a college professor named Waldemar Daninsky finds out his wife is cheating on him, and he becomes completely crushed. While this sets the movie up somewhat well, the scenes are kind of scattered and hard to follow. Then the scene gets good when Daninsky turns into a werewolf and mauls his wife and lover.  Soon after, Daninsky gets killed after trying to run away. I think while this scene was good, the problem is that soon after it became dry again. 

After the death, a scientist named Ilona brings Daninsky back to life, and she's uses him as a guinea pig. Daninsky then begins to terrorize the entire town as a werewolf, and a true chaos begins. This plot is somewhat interesting I guess, but it's nothing original, and it's kind of absurd. 

By now, many of you have probably figured out that I really love my B-Movies, but this one is just bad.  I honestly think this one broke boundaries in absurdity, with its lack of direction and emotion, and the fact that the majority of the movie is uneventful. I also find it laughable that the writing tried to sound complex, but it was so stupid. It doesn't make any sense that someone became a werewolf from a yeti bite, unless yetis are somehow also wolves?

The only thing that I found good at all was Paul Naschy as the Wolfman. He had a very cool appearance, and when him and his wife face off, it is pretty neat. But being these scenes are only about five minutes of the whole movie, it isn't enough to save it at all. 

Do not waste your valuable time watching this dumb movie. Other than one costume/actor, this is one of the worst movies I've ever seen, and I highly recommend that you stay away from it. There are plenty of great werewolf movies, and this isn't one, so choose Lon Chaney's "The Wolfman. 

The Pyx Review

6/10

Does anyone truly know the full story of a death?  Was it murder?  Or suicide maybe? This 1973 horror film vaguely raises this question, as we see the story of a troubled girl named Elizabeth's untimely passing.  This movie was good in my book, because of a very interesting storyline and great cast. 

The movie begins with a big city night.  The street lights fill the dark skies, and cars cruise slowly on the asphalt.  One particular driver is soon scarred by the tragic falling of a girl from her building's window. It makes very little sense of why this happened, and what actually happened to be frank. Soon after, the viewer gets to witness the investigation at the scene of the death. People are crying from this horrid event, and there are cops everywhere.  I think this intro scene was very well done, because it was very real, and it was extremely interesting. 

One of the cool things about this movie is how it goes back and forth between after the death, and the events leading up to it. This was much more interesting than the movie just having investigators find stuff out the whole time, because it gave us a chance to do the work ourselves. It also gives us the chance to have a better look of who this girl Elizabeth really was.  We saw her personality, her demons, and her daily life.  This helps us have sympathy for her, instead of just seeing her as the dead chick. 

Another thing that I liked quite a bit was the acting.  Karen Black was exquisite in the role of "Elizabeth Lucy" because she had so many faces to her.  At some moments, she was seductive with her fiery grace, and at others she could experience a complete mental breakdown.  It was amazing to me that she could have so much diversity in her acting, because it made the character so much more authentic.  Both Christopher Plummer and Donald Pilon were fantastic in the roles of the detectives, because they had a lot of toughness to them, and a real lack of sympathy for anyone.  This really got portrayed well, because both men did a great job of being stoic for a lot of the time.

The movie is very slow moving for a lot of the time, and at a few points it gets a little too dry. The one thing that makes up for this is the gritty realism of life portrayed. There is the horrors of drug addiction, prostitution, struggles of homosexuals and crime, which were all done very authentically.  This makes the movie more than a horror movie, but also a criticism of the problems in our society.  So basically, a good thing came from a possible weakness, and broadened the horizon of the movie's artistry greatly. 

"The Pyx" uses a very religious motif, and there was really a big clash between the very catholic people in some parts, and the satanists in others.  I feel that Elizabeth's character has a little bit of catholic symbolism to her, because even though she had many many bad things that she was responsible for, she tried to keep her praying and religious faith too. This made me think of Mary Magdalene a little bit, and this made her character all the more likable.  There were also scenes that took place in a convent and churches, which showed the love for Catholicism even more. As the film grows closer and closer to its climax, the whole cult and satan aspect begins to come in, which makes the feeling of a horror movie come in. I think this mix in faith makes things much more interesting than one or the other, because it gives an onscreen comparison of how much more peaceful the Christian religion is. 

The climax of the movie is very freaky.  Elizabeth is lured to a cult meeting, and we finally get to see exactly what happened. The nature of the movie becomes much more evil, and the darkness is absolutely insane. There are chants from a choir in the background, and the grainy filming makes things so raw and messed up. You can really tell that these people in the group are absolutely soulless.  They seem to have not one ounce of happiness in them, or mercy either.  The only problem with these scenes leading up to the end is that, even though there are details revealed on the death of Elizabeth, nothing too exciting really happens. I feel that any movie with a satanic undertone has the complete capability of being insane.  This one didn't do this though, and while it ended well, I just wish more thought had been put into it. 

Overall, there are many interesting factors to this film, and while it wasn't anything too great, it was still enjoyable enough to recommend a viewing to others. Be prepared for a slow moving and long movie, but also get ready for some great acting, and a gritty portrayal of a troubled life that you don't see too often.  All horror fans should give this movie a chance, and whether you like it or not is your choice, because it is extremely different and not for everyone. 

Count Dracula and His Vampire Brides Review

8/10

Hammer Productions was iconic for their Dracula movies starring legend Christopher Lee. This 1973 classic(which was also known as The Satanic Rites of Dracula) was the last movie of the series, and it is definitely one of the most iconic.  It is a very hip and brutal film of its time, and it was quite original. 

The movie starts off showing a cult giving a baptism of chicken blood to a woman. This is a very creepy scene, because you can tell the hell that the girl is going through, and it is very realistic.  We also see a man get shot, and he lives. At the beginning, there is no way of knowing why this happened, but something mysterious is definitely going on. This scene is quite bloody, and it was pretty neat. 

The first thing I noticed about this movie was that it really fell into the formula of a 70's action flick. There was the funky music in the intro, and some of the film reminded me of James Bond.  The problem with this is that it shows a lack of direction in genre. There are the shootouts and chase scenes of action, and the gruesome scenes of horror. While it doesn't ruin the movie for me, it definitely takes away from the scare factor. 

Being the movie is about Dracula, there isn't a whole bunch of surprise of when he is going to kill someone. Whenever the viewer sees him try to kiss a girl, you know she's going to be bloodless.  Regardless of this, the scenes are very well done, and they still have a small amount of freakiness to them.  Christopher Lee is also amazing in the role, because he is extremely dark and larger than life.

The true surprise comes from the fact that many other women turn into vampires, and you never know when they're going to kill. I found the first scene of attacks to be extremely intense and horrifying, and it was one of the best in the genre. 

Another positive of the film was the cast.  Peter Cushing was very cool as Van Helsing, because he was a very dark and tough character, which works perfectly for Cushing.  William Franklyn was cool as Peter, because he was a likable guy, and he showed his weakness for the woman he loved. Freddie a Jones was amazing as always in the role of Julian, because he gave his typical crazy performance, and excelled at it. Michael Coles gave a very stern and tough performance as Inspector Murray, and even though he isn't as big of a name as the others, he was still very talented.  Barbara Yu Ling was piercing as Chin Yang, and she was totally believable as a cult leader. 

The fact that the movie is a satanic flick really gives it an eerie feel. These scenes were done very well, because there was a red lighting in the filming that made it very evil. The music in the background is also very demonic, and the lack of soul in the people makes a realistic effect.  This definitely has one of the best depictions of a cult that I have ever seen. 

The last 10-15 minutes of the movie are absolutely epic. Right when Lee started to get crazy, and his eyes turned red, I knew something crazy was going to happen.  Then all hell broke loose, fire started to burn, things got destroyed, and there was a terror that filled the whole room.  Then in the next moments, there was the final showdown between Van Helsing and Count Dracula. I really find this ending to be one of the most shocking ever, and it made up for any little blemish that filled the rest of the movie. 

Overall, while this movie wasn't perfect, it was still one heck of a movie. It was brutal, shocking, and a lot of fun.  It is also the perfect example of why Christopher Lee is the all time actor in the role of Count Dracula.  I highly recommend it to any fans of the genre, because it is definitely one of the coolest of the 70's.

Alien Review

9/10

In 1979, Ridley Scott took over the scifi-horror genre forever with his masterpiece "Alien." It has been hailed for decades as one of the darkest movies ever by fans and critics alike, and it has been recognized as one of the best movies of all time.  

The introduction is one of the slowest ever, because it starts with just showing a bunch of astronauts go through their daily routine on the shuttle.  Even though this could've been potentially boring, these scenes are made up for by beautiful cinematography, and hilarious banter by the cast.  This goes on for about 40 minutes, and while I think it could've been condensed a bit, I won't complain because it only adds to the build up. 

After a while, a few of the astronauts go out into an asteroid mine, and they search around with a camera.  On this journey, they find a bunch of eggs that seem to be aliens.  One of the crew members Kane gets too close, and a "Facehugger" shoots right on to him.  This puts him in a coma, and it is found out that the alien is keeping him alive.  While this is still slow, there is a certain increase in the intensity of the film, and I really like it a lot. 

The film then really builds up after they take the alien off of Kane's face, because as he eats food, a shocking event takes place that will never leave my mind. This scene is one of the best parts of any movie, because it is so unexpected, and it has a realism to it that makes it as haunting as it could possibly be. I remember the first time I saw it, because my jaw dropped in terror.  I was about 10 at the time, and I had never seen anything like it, so it has been something special to me since. 

After this scene, the movie goes into full throttle, and the last half of the movie is one of the greatest climaxes ever. Everything becomes claustrophobic and isolated.  There are flashing lights all over the place, smoke shooting across the screen, and many people being attacked and kills.  This film is the perfect example of a great build up, because at first one doesn't expect much, but then it kicks them in the butt so hard that you freak out.  This formula had been used before and after this movie, but I really feel that this is the second most significant(behind "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"). 

I really feel that the cast keeps the film strong throughout. Every actor had a distinct personality, and they were all likable for some reason.  My personal favorite is definitely Sigourney Weaver as "Ripley."  While being a beautiful girl like many in the genre, she really set herself apart as one of the strongest women protagonists. She was so capable, and this was shown in the outcome.  This was a complete revolution in our world, and I love it. Tom Skerritt was also very likable as "Dallas," because he didn't like conflict with the others, and he was a hero of a sort. His death scenes is one of the saddest, because he knew he was doomed right away. Harry Dean Stanton and Yaphet Kotto were the comic relief of the film, with their heavy sarcasm, and great dialogue. Ian Holm was the darkest actor in the role of Ash, and he gives one of the best performances in film history.  The one actress I didn't like was Veronica Cartwright, because she was very whiny, which caused me to lack any sympathy at all for her. 

Another amazing part of the movie is the sets.  Whether they are on the ship, or out in the mine, every single detail is very precise, and it is so pleasing to the eyes.  This is one of the best examples of why effects and settings were so much better before CGI, because so much care was put into the making, which created a much more impressive outcome. 

While this film has a lot of relevance to the science fiction genre, I really see it as one of the forerunners of the slasher genre.  The first reason for this is that the killer uses sharp objects on its body to kill the astronauts. The goriness and quick shot attacks really give more of a horrific feeling than most alien movies. Also, there was a certain sadistic pleasure that came off as a vibe in the attacks. This is a big giveaway of the slasher influence, because the genre is infamous for the gratified portrayal of violence. The third reason for this is that it fits the "final girl" formula with Sigourney Weaver. This is my main reason for believing it's part of the genre, because the purest of the characters was the one to live. I really love this hybrid of genres, because it doesn't make the simple formula of most slasher films, and it doesn't leave the cheesy feel of scifi.

The aliens that were created are pretty amazing looking too.  The main monster is now notorious for its big head, and black coloring. It's teeth are sharp as a shark, and it has a walk of confidence. My favorite creatures are the "Facehuggers."  There was so much detail put into the parts of its anatomy, and it is the most realistic of all the life forms. It sort of has the stature of a fuse between a jellyfish and porta bella mushroom. I can never be more gracious that the aliens were puppets and costumes, because it feels so much more authentic than special effects. 

As I said before, the last half of the movie is extremely intense, but the ending of as a safe pick in my opinion. It isn't terrible in any standards, but I wish something more sudden happened. All the happy ending did was make us ready for a sequel.  While this worked out well in the long run, I imagine people would've been pretty ticked off during the initial release. 

Overall, this movie is a masterpiece. It used techniques in cinema that have never been topped, and it's just a fun movie. I highly recommend watching it; even if you already have before. I've noticed that I find new things every time I watch it, and it's extremely cool.  Please give this film a chance, because it is an essential part of the 20th century. 

The Amityville Horror(1979) Review

6/10

All of our lives, we have been surrounded by haunted houses. Whether they are the attractions we go to during the Halloween season, or a laughable subject of a horror film, every person has some connection to them.  Did you ever think about what it would be like if the connection that you had was that your house you have resided in was actually one of them?  This harsh reality became life for the Lutz family in the 1979 classic "The Amityville Horror." Based on a 1977 novel by Jay Anson, this story tells of a family that moves into a house that had been abandoned after a son murdered the rest of his family. Slowly as they reside in this mysterious home, things begin to get weirder and weirder.  Over the decades, this film has become a huge hit with horror fans, although it has been universally panned by critics. I find the film to be good, but not great, with a slow pacing and unsatisfying ending really dragging a film with huge potential down.

The film does something that not many do, and it gives its best parts right in the beginning. As the first shots come on to the screen, we see a family murdered by the oldest child. Two parents, and four children dead for no motive whatsoever. Is this possible though? Why would anyone just kill their family for no reason?  As the caption telling this story comes up, they make sure to really emphasize this point, causing the thoughts to begin racing into our head as to what might've happened.

The film then skips a year into the future, and we see a couple played by Margot Kidder and James Brolin looking at the very house that the murder took place in. One of the really cool things about this scene was that as the realtor showed a different bedroom to the couple, there were flashbacks to each individual killing.  At the moment I saw this, a few questions went through my head.  Does the couple know of the events that happened? And if they did, why would they want to bring their family into a house with this kind of psychological baggage?  Regardless of these obvious questions, the Lutz family buys this house, and the film skips another year so it becomes present time, and they are shown living in the house with their children. As we meet the children in the family, something ironic came into my mind. Two parents, and four children. Weird isn't it?  When I looked at the elements that the film had given me so far, I knew something crazy was going to happen. 

This entire film goes off of this slow revelation of details. Every day the family lives there, something new occurs in the house.  On one of the first days of living there, a priest by the name of Father Delaney(Rod Steiger) comes to visit the family. When he enters the house, no one is there, and he looks around to find someone. As he is in one of the bedrooms, he is apparently seen to be attacked by a swarm of flies.  This becomes the first of his problems, as his physical and mental state deteriorates throughout the entire film.  Another victim of this growing craziness is Brolin's character George Lutz.  Originally a very easy going and kind man, he slowly turns into an easily angered, threatening and paranoid man that honestly shows a lot of potential to murder.  This really scares Kathy(Kidder) as she has nightmares of him murdering the family and such.  Outside of the people being harmed, the house starts to be weird.  Toilets overflow with black water, closets trap people even though they don't have locks, and windows automatically come down on the fingers of the children.  I really love how the film does this, because it builds up the tensity you feel toward the house, and it gives you the idea that a huge climax was on the way. 

One of the positives to this film was the cast. Both Margot Kidder and James Brolin do a great job in the lead. They both start out as very likable people, but as the film goes on, they have a great way of conveying the previous kindness into a newfound insanity.  Brolin especially does this well, because he is almost like a chameleon. He goes from moments where he seems like a mindless drone, then to a paranoid freak, and in just the next second he could be completely normal.  Rod Steiger was fantastic in his role, because he has such an amazing speaking voice.  Whether he is just talking or yelling in a huge outburst, his voice is so easy to listen to, and his delivery of words are absolutely stellar. 

Another positive to the film was the Oscar nominated score by Lalo Schifrin. The music in the movie is extremely tense and eerie, and it's great at setting up for disaster.  The instruments used were very diverse, and it gave the sounds gave me the same kind of fascination as the score in "Planet of the Apes."  Even though the music was such a big part of the movie for me, another cool thing I noticed was the moments without any sounds.  These scenes were very true to reality, because it depicts the times of loneliness in our own lives.  One of the greatest examples I noticed was a scene where George was just walking outside by himself, and the only thing you could even hear was his footsteps. This was a great technical decision for the movie, because it helped it set itself apart in a unique way.

The special effects were done extremely well, given the time the movie was made. Everything was quite realistic, and extremely creative.  One of the greatest examples of this was the iconic scene where the blood comes out of the walls.  Even though the blood was pretty fake, it still had a very cool look to it, and was colored very well. I liked the way that it streaked down the wall, because it gave a chilling feeling to the scene.  The only special effect that didn't stand the test of time at all was the floating head of the spirit of Ketcham. This was done very cheesily, and I had to laugh at the fake nature of it. 

One of the main weaknesses of the film was the slow pacing. Throughout the whole movie, there was a lack of life in the scenes, and quite a few of them really dragged on. I almost feel like a half hour could've been condensed from the two hour running time, being there was at least four long scenesof unnecessary   content.  If the film had been more around the hour and a half range, I feel it would've been a lot more enjoyable for sure. 

Another weakness for me was the ending. As I mentioned before, the film builded itself up for an intense climax the entire time, and this began to happen in the last five minutes. I was so excited about the craziness that was taking place, and I was totally set up for something I'd never forget. As the house started to shoot blood out of the walls, and everything started to collapse, I thought that in some way, shape or form, this family was going to die like the last one that lived there.  Sadly, this never happened.  The fact that the movie ended happy doesn't bother me as much as the fact that it came so quick. The exciting part of the movie finally came, and it only lasted about a minute. I can't even tell you how upset I was by this, because I felt like this made the entire movie a tease.  If I use a roller coaster as an analogy, the car went up and up all the way to the top of the roller coaster, and everyone is ready for the craziest ride of their life, and just as the free fall starts, we find out it was only about twenty feet, and the ride ends.  I really think that if the filmmakers were truly serious about what they were doing, they could've come up with something much better.

Overall, I enjoyed many things about this film. There was a great cast, a brilliant idea for a film, and some really great special effects.  Sadly, this all was thrown away by what I may have to call one of the worst endings ever.  I can't say that the film isn't worth a watch, because there really are a lot of positives to it, but in the end it really was a disappointment. 

The Hills Have Eyes(1977) Review

7/10

Wes Craven has become one of the most notorious filmmakers in the horror business.  Being responsible for classics like "A Nightmare On Elm Street," "Scream," and many others, he has become a household to the masses.  This 1977 cult film never met the same glory as his other work, but over the decades, it has acquired a fanbase of its own. It has spawned sequels and remakes, and it definitely had quite an influence on other horror films to come.  

This film starts a little slow, as we meet an old man and a young girl named Ruby in a very rural area that is close to being a desert. The two of them start talking about how Ruby is starving, but that there is nothing left to trade for food.  After this, a family comes by to get some gas for their station wagon. Then the family leaves and they drive around and talk, and they see a big plane flying in the sky. Things start to get a little more tense as the family gets stranded in the middle of nowhere.  You know at this moment that something crazy is going to happen. The movie get even weirder as one of the young boys in the family named Bobby is seen ignoring his sister and giving her a death glare, and the fact that his face has been altered in some way.  Even though things were still slow at this point, at least there was one teaser jump moment to get things going, and a mystery to make you engrossed in the film.

About 32 minutes into the film, the first attack happens.  The victim of the brutality had just been talking about his abnormally large son, and then coming through the window the son takes him and beats him with a crowbar.  I can't even express how relieved I was that something finally happened in the film, because honestly if things would've stayed boring any longer, I might've fallen asleep. 

The family of savages are absolutely disgusting. They are sadistic, cannibalistic, deformed, dirty, and completely immoral. They steal babies, assault young women, murder, etc. The idea that they're attempting to cook the young baby Kate is absolutely awful, and it's such a brutal thing even for a horror movie.  My personal favorite of the gang was Michael Berryman as Pluto. He was a very deformed and creepy character, but was also quite humorous at times. 

The violence in this film is sick, brutal, and absolutely awesome. While its gore is tame compared to now, it still has a lot of bite to it, and really stands as a strong point of the movie. There is stabbing, mauling, shooting, etc.  The coolest scene is the Achilles' tendon tear in my opinion.  

The last quarter of the film is very intense, as the good family attempts to save Kate from the cannibals. There is a lot of brutal fighting and chase scenes, and it is one of the most exciting parts of the film.  The ending scene especially ends well because it ends my favorite thing; a "what the heck" moment. 

This movie was made 38 years ago, and to be honest, it hasn't aged as well as other films from the decade. I have seen many movies of this time, and even older that do just fine, but this one wasn't meant to work for more than a year in my opinion. The soundtrack makes me feel like I'm watching a serial movie from the 70's. So while I did enjoy the film a bit, this factor did bring it down a bit. 

After viewing this film for the second time, I can say that I enjoyed it a little bit more. There is some pretty exciting scenes, and the characters are cool enough. While it is still extremely flawed and dated, it is definitely worth a watch, and I think it could be enjoyable for fans of the genre. 

Texas Chainsaw Massacre(1974) Review

10/10!!!!

When people, including me think of the first slasher movie, the first that comes to mind is "Halloween." What isn't always noticed is that there were films that lead to the genre, and really influenced the formula of the films greatly. One of the greatest examples of this is the 1974 classic "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."  This highly controversial film of the time depicts a horrifying story that was inspired by the real murders at the hands of Ed Gein.  The film was ahead of its time, and people really didn't know what to do at its release.  In recent decades, it has been hailed as a masterpiece by critics and audiences alike, and it is known to be one of the scariest films ever made.

The film starts in a way that many horror films don't choose to do. Being it is based on a true story, there is a brief announcement that tells the events that will take place, and even though they aren't the real events that happened, you get the feeling of it by the way that they are told.  I like this a lot, because it gives a much darker feel to the film, and sets you up for crazy things to come. In the next moment, we see the brutal aftermath of a murder. As we see a skinned body propped up like a statue, a radio tells the nature of the crime.  This is also very cool, because we get an idea of who this mysterious murderer is, and what they do, without giving away any identity.

One of the first factors in this film that influenced slasher films is that the teens were stupid, and they picked up a hitchhiker.  The ironic thing is that this slasher is about the last person I'd ever let into my car. He is super creepy, and is later found to be violent and sadistic. Edwin Neal was fantastic in this role, because his freaky laugh makes his scenes all the more weird, and he has a perfect way of delivering his words and being violent without seeming phased at all. 

The five main teens were all cast very well. They are likable, and often very funny. They aren't your big stars, in fact I have never seen them in films before. This really helps a lot, because it gives a much more authentic feeling to their performances. They also aren't you picture perfect gang, with the exception of the girls, and this also helps diversity fall into the cast, and it shows that the filmmakers didn't care about appearance at all.  My personal favorite of the teens was Paul A. Partain's role of Franklin, because he was hilariously insane, and just an awesome actor. 

One of my favorite things about this film is the cinematography. There is a grainy, bright yet dark look to the movie, and it gives such a creepy vibe to the entire thing. I also like the way the shots that the camera did, because they give so many views to whats going on, and it sometimes follows the characters as if the camera was a stalker. 

As I read reviews saying that this was one of the most terrifying films ever made, I was skeptical, not fully believing that it would be too bad.  I was wrong... This movie is the first I have watched that I will actually call scary.  It's not a gory mess like many others, but it has more suspense, and it is more brutal than any movie I have ever seen. It was such a brilliant tactic to make the first forty minutes of the film pretty slow, because it made the last half the craziest thing ever.  Once the first kill from Leatherface happens, it's like a domino effect of how insane the film got.

 Leatherface is by far my favorite horror villain ever after watching this film. He has everything that is needed.  He wears a mask, he is mainly silent except for the noises he makes, he is a big hulking character, and he is fast.  Never before have I seen this combination done this well before. Jason and Michael are awesome villains, but neither of them are scary in anyway.  Leather face is not one to mess with though. He is so brutal, and he is extremely intimidating. One of the best things about him is that he can really keep up with his victims as he chases them. Michael Meyers is pretty slow, and while Jason is a little faster, neither of them are anywhere near Leatherface.  The other thing about him is his obvious mental impairments. You can tell by the movements by his mouth, and the noises that he makes that something is wrong. This almost makes everything scarier, because there is the possibility that he doesn't even know what's happening as he tortures these people. 

Later in the film, after Leatherface does a lot of killing, we meet the rest of his insane family. This makes the film even more bizarre, because they are all complete psychos. The father is a mean and abusive man, Leatherface dresses up as a woman at home, and the siblings are all complete creeps. The topic of cannibalism also comes up in these scenes, which makes it all the more scarier. I think this family factor raises the levels of scariness in the movie much more than if Leatherface was the only villain, because you get to really see how their lives function, rather than just killing.  The weirdest thing is that a lot of the time, they don't even do violent things to the victim/s, but they poke and stuff, and it's so morbidly filmed that it is just as frightening as a killing. 

The ending of the film was perfect, because it left you at the peak, it didn't give a crappy sum up the story ending, but it left you right at the moment where you are like "what the heck?"  It honestly left me with such a frightened feeling, and I have never felt it before. 

I will just say that this may be the best horror movie I've ever seen. It was sick, twisted, and brilliant all at the same time, and it was the first movie to ever scare the heck out of me. I was actually shaking by the end.  All my life I have watched horror movies and just laughed at them, but now I saw something that was truly horrifying. It is truly amazing that forty years after a film's release, it can still be scarier than anything made after it, regardless of all the skills people have learned over the years. Definitely check this film out, but be warned that you will be scared, and you will never forget. 

The Crazies(1973)

6.5/10 

George A. Romero is one of the most iconic directors in the horror business.  Being the creator of "Night Of the Living Dead" and many other hits, you could almost call him a pioneer in horror. He was one of the first directors to really make gruesome movies, and even though they're tame to today's standards, it is quite apparent that a mark was made in history with all of them.  This classic from 1973 is a little more obscure than the films I have watched so far.  I find it to be a good film, but not great. There's so many things that are awesome about it, but there are some weaknesses that really brought down my opinion on the film. 

Like the last film I reviewed "Children of the Corn" this film starts with a mindblowing beginning. It shows children witnessing the highly violent and destructive behavior of their father. It is not known why he is being so erratic, but he killed his wife, and set his house on fire.  I really love the terror of this scene, because there really is a mystery of what is happening, and the performances by the people portraying the family is great. The father is very aggressive, and brings a lot of suspense as he throws things around.  The children are very good, because they're kind of oblivious to what is happening, and it brings a chilling feel to the scene. 

The next scene goes to a couple in bed together. Judy is a nurse, and David is firefighter, and they are both sent off to their jobs because of emergencies arising. I find both of these characters to have a great chemistry with each other, and they're a totally realistic couple. The two of them are also pretty strong people, and smart too, which is a refreshing change to how the protagonist of horror often are.

After dropping off David to the fire station, Judy goes to the hospital she works at, and gets information from a doctor.  The problem is a virus called "Trixie," and it either kills a person, or makes them a homicidal maniac.  This now gives us an idea of why that man killed his wife, because it is very possible that he was a great man, but this virus took over his mind.  I really like this plot line, because it is very true to real life in a sense. It's not that viruses often make people kill, but the idea of a plague taking over a town is very relevant to now, being we have had many outbreaks, whether it's Ebola or H1N1. This is also a very original plot, because instead of people having a motive to killing, they don't have a choice. This really sets the film apart from many other horror movies, because it's not just some psycho going after people, but loved people being controlled. 

One of the things that really works in this film is the isolation. This virus is dangerous as can be, yet there is no way of escaping. After news of the outbreak comes out, the army takes over Evans City, and they put it on quarantine.  No one is allowed to leave, even if they are healthy.  The other part of this isolation that makes things crazy is that the army brings nuclear weapons about the town in case they have to destroy it.  That is absolutely genius for this film, because it brings so much terror. The idea that this disease makes people homicidal, yet people are forced to stay in the town it is spreading in is a whole different kind of horror. No this is not a graphic slasher film, but the psychological horrors really kick in, and make this a chilling film nonetheless.  

Most of this film's violence is done by guns. A lot of it is soldier shooting 'Crazies' and this isn't exactly horrifying. There are a couple slasher moments in the film though. One of the most shocking is when an old lady takes a sewing needle and stabs a soldier to death.  While the film doesn't hit the gory heights of other films I love, it does the violence very well, especially since the film was in 1973. Another scene that surprised me was a shooting scene where blood flew out of a soldier's eyes. This scene was extremely graphic, and it blows my mind that the censors weren't all over it. 

The 'Crazies' were portrayed very well in this film. Rather than just being angry people, there is an insane happiness that comes from them. In the scene I mentioned before with the old lady, she seems like a kind grandma with a huge smile on her face, and then she just stabs. This shows that the virus makes people sadistically violent. This is much more frightening than if she had a mean look on her face, or if she ran at him like a zombie. Some of the other 'crazies' are shown as very hyper and paranoid people that desperately complete the bad actions they do. 

I feel that the portrayal of the army was well done.  The guards of the quarantine were good most of the time, because they were very brutal at their job.  I really like the fact that they were the emergency suits, because you don't see their faces at all, which almost takes any emotional connection you could possibly have for them away. This works well, because you aren't really supposed to like them at all. You are supposed to feel bad for the townspeople, and partly because these guards are suppressing them.

Though the film is horror for the most part, I love that it also has traces of other genres, because it really gives the film a great amount of diversity to the films. You have the moments of terror that make horror iconic, you have the journey that the main characters go on that gives us the action, and then the whole technical side of the virus that gives us a scifi feel.

So far, I have given the good aspects of the film, but there are some big weaknesses too.  The first one being that there are quite a few dry scenes.  The worst of all is some of the dialogue scenes, whether it's between the main characters, the army generals, or the scientists, the scenes really drag on at times, and it makes me lose interest in the movie temporarily. Thankfully, this doesn't completely ruin the movie, because right after these boring scenes, something shocking will happen. Another problem I have with the film was that a lot of the supporting cast were weak. They weren't likable, and often their performances were monotonous.  Once again, this doesn't ruin the film, but I really wish that the casting would've been done a little bit more carefully. 

Honestly I thought the ending was mediocre. If they would've cut off the last two minutes, the film would've ended on a totally shocking turn, but they had to add more military dialogue, and I felt that was weak in a sense.  A film like this doesn't need a closing scene to sum everything up, it would've been better to just have that sudden "what the heck" ending.  

Overall, I liked this film. It had some really great scenes, and a fantastic plot. I just can't say I loved it, because there was too many times where it went too slow for me.  I would recommend it to people that like this kind of thing, but if you're looking for a more engaging film of the era, definitely watch Romero's original "Night of the Living Dead." 

Halloween(1978)

10/10

The year was 1978, and horror movies before hadn't yet broken in to the mold that was yet to come.  In the decades before, there were movies like "Night Of The Living Dead," and "Psycho" that had struck a chord with audiences, but both of these movies had more of an offscreen suspense factor to them.  In 1972, "Last House on the Left" came out, and it was one of the first true slasher films.  In 1974, the original "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" came out, and this film took slashers to an even further level.  But neither of these movies truly brought out true terror, and graphic killings in the way that "Halloween" did in 1978.  This movie was the true forerunner for all slasher flicks after.  Every film of the 80's has to give some credit to this movie.  It was the first film to really innovate the formula of a psychopath murdering troublesome teens, and having one survive. Writers John Carpenter and Debra Hill were acclaimed like never before for this story.  Carpenter's direction and score were also some of the greatest ever in a horror movie, because he did something truly different.  To this day, Halloween has become one of the most acclaimed horror movies ever.  It boasts a whopping 94% positive in Rotten Tomatoes.  This is insane for a film of its genre, because critics usually pick on horror movies, especially ones that fall under the slasher subgenre.  While I can't call it my favorite slasher flick ever, I definitely see it as one of the best, and it's legacy and influence on films to come can never be denied. 

As the film begins, young Michael Myers is seen murdering his big sister in her bedroom after she makes love to her boyfriend. The film then implies that he is locked up in a psychological ward for his insanity. The film goes quite a bit to the future, where it is found out that Michael had just escaped the ward, and his doctor(Donald Pleasance) is on a search for him.  The viewer then meets Laurie Strode(Jamie Lee Curtis), a high school girl that is very smart and shy.  Laurie becomes paranoid as she is followed by a mysterious car.  Her friends decide to hang out on Halloween, but Laurie has to babysit.  The movie then goes into a huge slaughter as teenagers are killed by Michael.  Laurie had to take care of the children, and attempt to save her life at the same time. 

Being this was one of the first slasher films, it is definitely not as outrageous as some of the later films.  The movie is still quite tame in the violence, aside from a couple semi-graphic killings. This does not take away from the terror that takes place in the film. Like I said in a past review, I don't get scared of these movies, because I just find them fun, but I know people that do get scared, and this is a film that will shake you if you're faint at the heart for horror.  The opening scene is absolutely brilliant in the way the killing of Michael's sister takes place.  You see a short child walking, but you don't see full vision; you see the surrounding through the tunnel vision of Michael walking.  As you look through these eyes, you see the knife plunge in, and it makes the scene extremely tense, as you see the killing take place right through those small holes on the screen. This was a totally genius move in the direction, because it really gave so much more of a horrifying view; rather than if you actually saw Michael standing there to kill her.  Little things in this movie are what really struck me, and are reasons why this movie will hold up forever and ever.  This movie didn't overdose on gore like films in later years did, but it knew the exact buttons to push to ensure that audience got some real scares in. Michael is also not the most creative killer in slasher films.  He sticks more to strangling and stabbing with a knife.  While other villains like Freddy Krueger and Jason Vorhees went much more over the top, I think that the killings by Michael work, because they really just show him as a much more suspenseful character, and that his small killings are just as scary, if not more than the big killings of the others. 

Another great thing about this film is the score. The theme in the intro is so fantastic, because it is such a chilling piece of music, and it is used very well throughout the movie.   The score is just very dark, and almost repetitive, but I take the music as almost like a signal of something bad happening. It almost reminds me of "Jaws" in a sense, because of the way that whenever Laurie sees her stalker, the music starts up.  A lot of the score ends up just being sounds though, and this works really well, because you get to witness jump scenes that get amped up even more by these random outbursts. Being John Carpenter also scored the film, you can really see that he was the creative genius behind its success.  

The cast of this film works very well. I was extremely impressed by Jamie Lee Curtis' performance, because she was quiet, and shy, yet still very likable. I think that John Carpenter made her this way to help teens be able to relate to her character. A lot of the others in the film are loud, drug using and shallow teens, but she gives off more of the feeling of being a good girl, and one that tries to take her life in strides to be good for herself.  I really like Donald Pleasance's performance in the film.  You see that he has a darkness of his own, and he has a very bitter nature to himself.  You can really tell that his job has taken a toll on him, and that he wants to just things with Michael over with. I really enjoyed Nick Castle in his role of Michael Myers in this film.  He really did a great job of being subtle, and extremely creepy. The way that his character moves around and stuff is awesome, because he is very threatening to the characters, and he is seen as very intense and strong.  I think the mask of Michael in this film is significant to the character, because the mask shows no expression at all, and I feel that this is how Michael really is. I feel that his insanity has almost taken away his soul.  He seems to kill with no regret at all.  You see this when he was a child especially, because even after his actions, he walks over to his parents like nothing happened at all.  The supporting cast does a great job too.  While their acting talents don't add up to the others, I see this as a good thing. The teenagers in this film are really fake people. They don't have much moral good, and the fact that their performance comes across as a little forced at times works very well.  This way, you can see that the characters themselves try to forever themselves as something they really aren't, which is exactly what they were doing. 

There are a few weaknesses in this film.  The first one, in my opinion is the way the story goes back and forth from the doctor to Laurie. While I like the character of Doctor Loomis a lot, I feel that the switching through stories kind of throws off the flow of the film, and makes the movie feel like a mystery TV show.  The last weakness in my opinion is that the film ends very quickly.  It is almost too quick to the point where you feel unsatisfied.  While they were most likely planning on a sequel already, I feel they should've at least put a little bit more substance in to the ending, and not made it so sudden. I think the scenes that take place in the outro are absolutely fantastic, high in energy, and iconic, but I just wish there was something more. 

If you look at movies now and then you look back at a classic like this, you see how much more effort was put into this. Most people think of a slasher film and just think that it's pointless and violent, but if you really watch them and dig deep, you can find more. I see this movie as one that can be analyzed greatly, and it is one of the best horror movies ever.  If you really want to sit back and watch a great movie, definitely pick this one up. It's definitely a great starter horror movie, because it's not as gory as some others, and it's truly innovative enough to make you want to dig deeper into the genre. 

References

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1009113-halloween/