Saw: Movie Review

9.5/10

Everybody loves a good game, but what if your life depended on winning?  This 2004 film took this idea and made one of the most controversial and gripping films of the decade.  Ever since its release, it has acquired a near infamous status, and is a favorite amongst fans of the genre.  I personally loved this film, because of its high energy suspense, it's originality, and it's proficient filmmaking traits. 

The movie begins very weird with two men named Adam and Lawrence trapped in a room. They don't know how they got there, and they really have no clue of why either. This scene really sets the mystery for what is to come, and it was done extremely well.  I really love the way that they use their brains and find clues rather than just panic, because it sets the film apart from many others in the genre. 

As the two of them try to figure things out, they both find a tape in their pocket.  Using a casette player, they hear a message from a mysterious man.  Basically, these two are in a game, and they have to kill the other person, or they will die.  I honestly have never heard of a plot like this before, and it is one of the most genius ideas ever.  

Along with the originality in plot, there is also very unique and twisted scenes of violence.  Even though the gory scenes aren't as often as many other films, everything is still sadistic, disturbing, and disgusting as can be.  I honestly don't know how the writers came up with the events, because they're so out of the ordinary that they were all original visions by these people. 

One of the things that I find quite innovative about the film is the motive for these sick crimes. The killer "Jigsaw" takes people that are morally corrupt, and does this as a way of "teaching them to value their life." This is why he gives them a chance to live if they do whatever he asks.  The thing that really blew me away was how the survivors said that they actually learned from what he did.  This isn't something I've ever seen before, because these people that went through the horrible event actually credited him for their recovery.  I almost see this as bringing the movie closer to real life, because that thought process never happens in the typical horror film. 

Another thing that I really like about the movie is the cinematography.  David A. Armstrong really did a great job of capturing the different moods in the atmosphere.  There is a general dimness to the lighting that really symbolizes how dark the film is, and there is a white motif in the room to make the viewer feel like they're in an interrogation room. The speeding up of the filming at certain points really gives a feeling of the time crunch victims are going through, and the abundance of stress that they're feeling.  These quick shots were also used very well to portray the pictures being taken at the investigations.  What all of these factors showed was that even though the filmmakers were on an extremely low budget, they used their resources well, and really did some artistic things.

The acting in this film was very very good.  Cary Elwes gave what I saw as his best performance ever.  He was such a likable person, and learned that he would do anything for his family.  The scene where he broke down crying about his wife and daughter was so genuine, that it put a tear in my eyes.  He obviously had a lot of inspiration for the scene, because he treated it like it was his real family.  Leigh Whannel was also pretty amazing, because he started off as such a jerk, but then completely changed his performance as the most selfless person in the room. Even though his character never said it, I feel it was symbolized that he really learned a lesson from the game. Michael Emerson really kicked butt as Zep, because he could pull of insanity in a way that many can.  Monica Potter and Makenzie Vega did great as Lawrence's family, because they really made us feel so much for them, because of their kind and helpless nature. The last significant actor in the movie was Danny Glover as Detective Tapp, because he was very tough in the role, and showed a lot of force in his tactics. 

The last half hour of this movie is extremely intense, and it is possibly one of the greatest climaxes in the genre.  Time is running out for the pair, and they become extremely desperate to save themselves and their families. In these scenes, there are full throttle fight scenes, and a whole lot of surprises.  Then to top things off, the film ends itself on one of the most surprising plot twists ever. I was so thrown off guard, and it made the entire movie so much better. 

"Saw" is definitely one of the coolest horror movies I have ever seen. It was brutal, twisted, and full of clever surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat until the credits rolled.  I truly see this film as one of the best horror flicks of the 2000's, and it is a worthy watch for any horror fan.  I will warn any potential viewers that it is a little morbid at times, but if you are down with that, then I definitely recommend it. 

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. 

I Am Legend: Book Review

10/10

"Come out Neville,"(Matheson 5). 

A little over a week ago, I reviewed the film "The Last Man on The Earth," and it was the first of many movies to be inspired by I Am Legend. This 1954 classic tells the story of a man named Robert Neville's years of survival in a mid 1970's vampire apocalypse.  The book really gives everything a reader could possibly want including; extremely emotional scenes, an interesting plot, beautiful writing by author Richard Matheson, and a feeling of authenticity that is very rare in the genre. 

As the novel begins, we meet Robert Neville, and he is a loner in the society.  A plague has taken over, and everyone that had once surrounded him became vampires.  Robert has taken matters into his own hands, and he spends his days hunting the monsters, and researching to find out more about how they exist.  Throughout the entire novel, the reader sees Robert's personal battles in his life, and many events that really change his outlook on the world. 

The first thing that this book did very well was the characterization of Robert Neville, because he is the ultimate antihero.  As a person, he has so many demons in his life, whether they are depression or alcoholism.  Along with portraying this problems in his life, we also get a glimpse of him battling them so he can be free.  One of the main battles that Robert has is trying to forget the past, because he knows that remembering the bad events really makes his depression worse.  A really awesome line that was written to show that the past can't be forgotten was, "And he’d thought the past was dead. How long did it take for a past to die,"(83).  This line really haunted me when I read it, because it almost made it seem like Neville would never be able to escape the hell that he was in.  It was absolutely perfect to have the character like this, because it makes the storyline so much more realistic and gritty.  Even though Neville has this dark side, one also sees a very soft and insecure man later in the novel. It is shown that he really just wanted someone or something to be with him in these hard times. As a result, the two times this happens for him really mark a huge change in his personality. 

The first time that we get to see a love come into Robert's life is his relationship with the dog he finds.  The entire chapter 13 is absolutely brilliant, because it goes from the animal running away from Robert to their very close but short friendship.  The line that really hit me the hardest in this part was right before the end of the puppy's life, and Matheson wrote, "The dog looked up at him with its dulled, sick eyes and then its tongue faltered out and licked roughly and moistly across the palm of Neville’s hand. Something broke in Neville’s throat. He sat there silently while tears ran slowly down his cheeks,"(60).  This quote showed how much Robert really loved the dog, and how the entire situation was just terrible for him.  Honestly for myself, this was one of the saddest scenes, because the dog was innocent, and really loved Robert too, but was ruined by the sickness. 

The second time this happens to Robert is with a woman named Ruth. The addition of Ruth as a character was absolutely essential for the book, because she really marked the point of where Robert could get rid of his darknesses, because he was so in love with her.  Even though he started off not trusting her at all, his thoughts end up trading to the point where he never wants her to leave him. You can really tell this by his coddling nature that he began to have, because the only thing he had on his mind was protecting her. 

The next thing that I really liked about this novel was Matheson's writing style. His way of words is very simple, yet beautiful and full of imagery at the same time.  Never before have I ever felt like I was watching a movie while reading more than in this experience. Whether it is the sounds he talks about, or the movements being made, everything is crystal clear for the mind, and it makes things so much more enjoyable for the audience. 

Something that made this book stand out from many others in the vampire genre is that the main character Neville reveals many facts about the mutants from extensive research he did on them during the novel.  He gives hypothesizes about garlic, crosses, and how the humans become vampires in the first place. I really found this to be intriguing, because it filled in every hole that could possibly been left open, and it made the possibility of vampires going around in real life so much more convincing. 

As I read through the story, I really saw that Matheson was trying to make a criticism of society at the time.  He did this with many lines showing how brutal of a civilization we had become. The first quote that really showed this was, "Such thoughts were a hideous testimony to the world he had accepted; a world in which murder was easier than hope,"(77). This line put chills through my whole body, because it is really so true to how a lot of people are in our world. Everything can be done with peace, yet so many people use murder as an easy way out, and they don't even think of the consequences they will face for it.  The second quote that blatantly displayed this was, "He tried to believe that the men were forced into what they were doing, but shock brought terrible doubt,"(88). This one was also disturbingly true, because in our world we really do have the crazy people that take pleasure in killing, in their own free world.  I think it was a great idea that Matheson brought these themes into the story, because rather than just being a scifi-horror novel, there is also a lot of reality in it too. 

The ending of the novel really gave everything that a reader could want, and it didn't leave anything hanging at all. It was very sad, yet triumphant at the same time.  I honestly had to fight back tears as I read, because it hit every vulnerability that a person could have, and it was just done so perfectly.  Personally, I see it to be one of the greatest book endings in our history. 

Every fan of literature should read this book, because it will work for everyone regardless of genre.  It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. This was definitely the finest piece of literature I have read thus far, and it cannot be missed. 

                                                                   

                                                                Work Cited

Matheson, Richard. I Am Legend. New York: ORB, 1995. Print.

RIP Leonard Nimoy...

Image: http://fantasticocomic.com/tienda/blogE/1433

Today marked the sad death of iconic actor Leonard Nimoy. He was 83 years old. Nimoy will be remembered as one of the most famous actors in scifi and horror, especially for his character of Spock in "Star Trek," and for his many movies like "Them."  RIP Leonard, you will be missed. 

American Horror Story Actor Dies At Age 34

Image

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/02/23/american-horror-story-actor-ben-woolf-dies-after-accident/23914399/

Very sad news has hit our country with the revelation that actor Benjamin Woolf has died in a freak accident. Woolf had been struck in the head by the side view mirror of a car, and died from the trauma at age 34.  Best known as the character Meep on "American Horror Story," Ben will be missed by the nation very much. I really give best regards to his family and friends, because this is a tragic and saddening event.

Addams Family(The Musical)

9/10

Last night, I got to experience three hours of the funniest macabre I've ever seen.  "The Addams Family" is a new musical that has been released, and it recreates the classic 60's horror comedy for our time.  I have honestly never laughed harder in my entire life, because it was the highest quality musical ever. 

The first thing that I really liked about the show was the gags that took place. There were so many references to pop culture, and also many horror related subjects(hence why I put this review on my site).  There were times of physical humor also, and moments of innuendo laden hilariousness. I swear I left with all of my ribs broken from laughing so hard. 

The next thing that really made the show was the casting. Every single member really reincarnated the characters America grew to love almost perfectly.  Gomez was still suave, yet easily seducted, and Morticia was the perfect seductress.  Wednesday was still very dark, even though we saw her soft side because the love of her life. Pugsly was absolutely hilarious in his role, because he was so devious, only for what he thought was right. Out of everyone though, my favorite character was Uncle Fester.  He gave 90% of the musical's comic relief, and his loud, obnoxious, yet sweet personality was replicated perfectly.  Everyone really made me feel a lot of relief, because I got close to the same feeling that people in 60's must've felt when they saw the characters for the first time. 

The music in this show was absolutely exquisite. There were songs from every genre, because some really rocked, and some had the groove of a showtune.  They were honestly so much more amazing then I could've ever imagined, because I originally thought it would be the weakest link of the show. Along with just the shows themselves, every vocalist and member of the orchestra was so talented, and they blew my mind on many occasions. 

There were two complaints I had in the show. The first was that the "Addams Family Theme Song" was never sung. I felt this as a punch to the face, because the music started, and I was so ready to sing along, but it never happened. The second thing that bugged me was that Lurch never said "you rang." Being this may be the most notorious part of the whole TV show, I thought it would be in the musical for sure, but I was wrong, and that sucked big time. 

Overall, I enjoyed this show more than I can even express.  It made me so happy from start to finish, and there wasn't a moment I didn't like. If this musical comes to your town, then I highly recommend going to it, because it is an experience that can't be missed.  

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.