31 for 31 halloween movies (1 Viewer)

[bosoxs45]

The Devils Backbone- While this movie used the same tired ghost schtick I complain about above in the Dark Water Review, they somehow managed to do it in a way that left me feeling entertained. It was a good movie. It really could have been much, much better had they decided to get a little more evil and less redemption driven with the story...but it's still worth a watch. 6.75/10

Best opening line ever:What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? An instant of pain, perhaps. Something dead which still seems to be alive. An emotion suspended in time. Like a blurred photograph. Like an insect trapped in amber.

Also this line:Stay by my side as my light grows dim /as my blood slows down and my nerves shatter with stabbing pain / as my heart grows weak / and the wheels of my being turn slowly / Stay by my side /as my fragile body is racked by pain /which verges on truth / and manic time continues scattering dust / and furious life bursts out in flames. Stay by my side / as I fade / so you can point to the end of my struggle /and the twilight of eternal days / at the low, dark edge of life.

Loved them both... I loved the character as well. Actually threw the second one up as my FB Status after the movie. Good stuff.

]I thought The Devils Backbone was mildly entertaining.Caught it last night on Netflix.

3/5

 

[The Hardline]

The Devils Backbone- While this movie used the same tired ghost schtick I complain about above in the Dark Water Review, they somehow managed to do it in a way that left me feeling entertained. It was a good movie. It really could have been much, much better had they decided to get a little more evil and less redemption driven with the story...but it's still worth a watch. 6.75/10

Best opening line ever:What is a ghost? A tragedy condemned to repeat itself time and again? An instant of pain, perhaps. Something dead which still seems to be alive. An emotion suspended in time. Like a blurred photograph. Like an insect trapped in amber.

Also this line:Stay by my side as my light grows dim /as my blood slows down and my nerves shatter with stabbing pain / as my heart grows weak / and the wheels of my being turn slowly / Stay by my side /as my fragile body is racked by pain /which verges on truth / and manic time continues scattering dust / and furious life bursts out in flames. Stay by my side / as I fade / so you can point to the end of my struggle /and the twilight of eternal days / at the low, dark edge of life.

Loved them both... I loved the character as well. Actually threw the second one up as my FB Status after the movie. Good stuff.

]I thought The Devils Backbone was mildly entertaining.Caught it last night on Netflix.

3/5

Thought it was meh....GB Santi.2/5

 

[hooter311]

Really surprised by any review of Devil's Backbone under a 3.5/5 as a horror film.

Its arguably the best ghost story I've ever seen. Are the subtitles bothering people or what?

Love how the story ties together, love the theme, love the way its told.

 

[Carver]

Really surprised by any review of Devil's Backbone under a 3.5/5 as a horror film.

Its arguably the best ghost story I've ever seen. Are the subtitles bothering people or what?

Love how the story ties together, love the theme, love the way its told.

What kept it from being GREAT (imo), was the lack of Evil. I think the reason i enjoyed the Ring so much, was that at the end, just when you thought that all "Samara" wanted was someone to give her peace... it was revealed that she was really just pure evil. that brought a whole other level of creepiness to it.

 

[Carver]

On tap:

The Haunting (1963)

Dark Mirror

 

[perry147]

Really surprised by any review of Devil's Backbone under a 3.5/5 as a horror film.

Its arguably the best ghost story I've ever seen. Are the subtitles bothering people or what?

Love how the story ties together, love the theme, love the way its told.

What kept it from being GREAT (imo), was the lack of Evil. I think the reason i enjoyed the Ring so much, was that at the end, just when you thought that all "Samara" wanted was someone to give her peace... it was revealed that she was really just pure evil. that brought a whole other level of creepiness to it.

So how could DB be redone to make it better?Make Santi more terrifying? Or take the love story out of it?

Make the bad guys more sadistic?

**Edit to add. I thought the same thing but could not come up with an improvement.

 

[hooter311]

Really surprised by any review of Devil's Backbone under a 3.5/5 as a horror film.

Its arguably the best ghost story I've ever seen. Are the subtitles bothering people or what?

Love how the story ties together, love the theme, love the way its told.

What kept it from being GREAT (imo), was the lack of Evil. I think the reason i enjoyed the Ring so much, was that at the end, just when you thought that all "Samara" wanted was someone to give her peace... it was revealed that she was really just pure evil. that brought a whole other level of creepiness to it.

Fair point, but people being cruel to children for is pretty dang evil to me. I get what you are saying though. I really enjoyed the Ring as well.

 

[Carver]

Really surprised by any review of Devil's Backbone under a 3.5/5 as a horror film.

Its arguably the best ghost story I've ever seen. Are the subtitles bothering people or what?

Love how the story ties together, love the theme, love the way its told.

What kept it from being GREAT (imo), was the lack of Evil. I think the reason i enjoyed the Ring so much, was that at the end, just when you thought that all "Samara" wanted was someone to give her peace... it was revealed that she was really just pure evil. that brought a whole other level of creepiness to it.

So how could DB be redone to make it better?Make Santi more terrifying? Or take the love story out of it?

Make the bad guys more sadistic?

**Edit to add. I thought the same thing but could not come up with an improvement.

Well, my initial thought was a combination of your 1st and 3rd suggestions. Make Santi MUCH more terrifying. Maybe there was always something "off" about him. And we find out what that is slowly as the story unfolds. Maybe he was never really alive at all... Maybe he was the Old Man... Maybe he was a manifestation of Satan.

Maybe the Main Bad guy is Santi's son... maybe all of the Orphaned boys are.

I liked the love story because it created another intriguing angle, but they could have went other ways with this as well. The woman could have been a nun, who Santi was able to seduce and impregnate (mother of Main Bad guy), and just one of many Holy women before and after (Queue the young Teacher).

Maybe they were not players in the War... but the sole Orchestrators of it.

I don't know man. I just think there are SOOO many ways they could have went with this story which would have taken it from good to great.

 

[KarmaPolice]

[Rec]:

Really enjoyed this one and it's the favorite of the horror movies I've watched this month. Personally, I would vault this into one of the best of the decade for horror movies which usually would get a grade of 9/10 from me, but I'll knock it a point for the near vomit enducing shaky camera work. I get trying to give this the first person feel, but sometimes it just got a little much. 8/10 Still MUCH better than Paranormal Activity and a bit better than Cloverfield.

Interesting that most of my best of decade list would be foreign horror movies - Rec, Audition, The Orphanage, Tale of Two Sisters, etc. Seems like we aren't good at creating a scary mood with our movies anymore.

 

[Tom Servo]

Interesting that most of my best of decade list would be foreign horror movies - Rec, Audition, The Orphanage, Tale of Two Sisters, etc. Seems like we aren't good at creating a scary mood with our movies anymore.

IMO, US horror films focus too much on gore at the expense of letting the imagination of the viewer be the instrument of terror.

 

[Carver]

Last night...

The Orphanage - Terrific movie. While this carries on the tradition of one of my biggest complaints about modern day Ghost Stories (covered above), it does a great job of being creepy right up until the end. The acting was solid by the lead, the score gave it a erie undertone, and Thomas was a creepy little *******. 8/10

 

[Carver]

Interesting that most of my best of decade list would be foreign horror movies - Rec, Audition, The Orphanage, Tale of Two Sisters, etc. Seems like we aren't good at creating a scary mood with our movies anymore.

IMO, US horror films focus too much on gore at the expense of letting the imagination of the viewer be the instrument of terror.

I dont think that's that case so much as they cater to the Teenage Audience. That's where the money is. So they sell their soul for a dollar...the American way.That's why i like Rob Zombie's stuff (as gorey as it is). He actually cares about the art.

 

[Tom Servo]

Interesting that most of my best of decade list would be foreign horror movies - Rec, Audition, The Orphanage, Tale of Two Sisters, etc. Seems like we aren't good at creating a scary mood with our movies anymore.

IMO, US horror films focus too much on gore at the expense of letting the imagination of the viewer be the instrument of terror.

I dont think that's that case so much as they cater to the Teenage Audience. That's where the money is. So they sell their soul for a dollar...the American way.That's why i like Rob Zombie's stuff (as gorey as it is). He actually cares about the art.

I can see that. Teenagers have low standards in movie watching anyways...at least I did. :(

 

[KarmaPolice]

Interesting that most of my best of decade list would be foreign horror movies - Rec, Audition, The Orphanage, Tale of Two Sisters, etc. Seems like we aren't good at creating a scary mood with our movies anymore.

IMO, US horror films focus too much on gore at the expense of letting the imagination of the viewer be the instrument of terror.

I dont think that's that case so much as they cater to the Teenage Audience. That's where the money is. So they sell their soul for a dollar...the American way.That's why i like Rob Zombie's stuff (as gorey as it is). He actually cares about the art.

I can see that. Teenagers have low standards in movie watching anyways...at least I did.

I think that's what it is to a point. Horror movies have always been directed at the demographic I am too old to be a part of now. Maybe it's me becoming an old fart, maybe it's that the technology has gotten so good that it's easier to make things gory, or maybe it's just the genre in general has grown into something slightly different. It feels like the only time I think American movies are trying to set that creepy tone is when they are doing a remake of a foreign movie (and besides The Ring, they always miss the mark). Most of the American horror movies that I've liked recently are more because they are a fun watch, ie Splinter and less because I was creeped out/scared. The end of [rec] was really starting to creep me out.I do think that part of it is because it's easier with direct to dvd movies, cheaper equipment, etc that more crappy movies are getting put out there b/c they know that there's a built in audience and they are likely to get decent ROI. Feels like you need to wade through more ####ty movies now (especially in the horror and comedy genres) to get to the really good ones.

 

[Tom Servo]

Interesting that most of my best of decade list would be foreign horror movies - Rec, Audition, The Orphanage, Tale of Two Sisters, etc. Seems like we aren't good at creating a scary mood with our movies anymore.

IMO, US horror films focus too much on gore at the expense of letting the imagination of the viewer be the instrument of terror.

I dont think that's that case so much as they cater to the Teenage Audience. That's where the money is. So they sell their soul for a dollar...the American way.That's why i like Rob Zombie's stuff (as gorey as it is). He actually cares about the art.

I can see that. Teenagers have low standards in movie watching anyways...at least I did.

I think that's what it is to a point. Horror movies have always been directed at the demographic I am too old to be a part of now. Maybe it's me becoming an old fart, maybe it's that the technology has gotten so good that it's easier to make things gory, or maybe it's just the genre in general has grown into something slightly different. It feels like the only time I think American movies are trying to set that creepy tone is when they are doing a remake of a foreign movie (and besides The Ring, they always miss the mark). Most of the American horror movies that I've liked recently are more because they are a fun watch, ie Splinter and less because I was creeped out/scared. The end of [rec] was really starting to creep me out.I do think that part of it is because it's easier with direct to dvd movies, cheaper equipment, etc that more crappy movies are getting put out there b/c they know that there's a built in audience and they are likely to get decent ROI. Feels like you need to wade through more ####ty movies now (especially in the horror and comedy genres) to get to the really good ones.

I was thinking back to the old Hammer studios movies of the early-mid 60s. There was little gore, but plenty of suspense and an element of doubt that there will be a happy ending. You are right that technology makes it easier to go for the gore factor.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Last night...

The Orphanage - Terrific movie. While this carries on the tradition of one of my biggest complaints about modern day Ghost Stories (covered above), it does a great job of being creepy right up until the end. The acting was solid by the lead, the score gave it a erie undertone, and Thomas was a creepy little *******. 8/10

I just love the mood of the movie. And the Peter Pan ending makes me tear up every time I see it. My 13 y.o. daughter asked an interesting question about it:

Was it Simon or Thomas that pushed the mother into the bathroom and locked the door?



*** SPOILER ALERT! Click this link to display the potential spoiler text in this box. ***");document.close();

 

[Carver]

Last night...

The Orphanage - Terrific movie. While this carries on the tradition of one of my biggest complaints about modern day Ghost Stories (covered above), it does a great job of being creepy right up until the end. The acting was solid by the lead, the score gave it a erie undertone, and Thomas was a creepy little *******. 8/10

I just love the mood of the movie. And the Peter Pan ending makes me tear up every time I see it. My 13 y.o. daughter asked an interesting question about it:

Was it Simon or Thomas that pushed the mother into the bathroom and locked the door?

*** SPOILER ALERT! Click this link to display the potential spoiler text in this box. ***");document.close();

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Last night...

The Orphanage - Terrific movie. While this carries on the tradition of one of my biggest complaints about modern day Ghost Stories (covered above), it does a great job of being creepy right up until the end. The acting was solid by the lead, the score gave it a erie undertone, and Thomas was a creepy little *******. 8/10

I just love the mood of the movie. And the Peter Pan ending makes me tear up every time I see it. My 13 y.o. daughter asked an interesting question about it:

Was it Simon or Thomas that pushed the mother into the bathroom and locked the door?

*** SPOILER ALERT! Click this link to display the potential spoiler text in this box. ***

");document.close();

Could be.

 

[Horrorshow]

 

[bosoxs45]

will post reviews tomorrow.

(Army of Darkness

Salem's Lot

Night of the Creeps)

 

[Carver]

will post reviews tomorrow.(Army of DarknessSalem's LotNight of the Creeps)

Salems Lot should win this trio...

 

[perry147]

I watched SAW the other night and it was as bad I remember it.

It is just not my type of movie.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Netflix doesn't have [rec]2

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Session 9 was meh.

A lot of buildup for little payoff.

 

[bosoxs45]

will post reviews tomorrow.

(Army of Darkness

Salem's Lot

Night of the Creeps)

Army of Darkness-AOF is part of the Evil Dead series of films directed by Sam Raimi. There is Evil Dead 1 and 2, followed by Army of Darkness. However you can watch Army of Darkness without having seen the first 2 movies.This is a funny horror movie with lots of hilarious situations.The movie does not take itself seriously.I laughed my head off and it's great to watch with friends 3.5/5

Salem's Lot- I have to admit, for a TV movie it's actually good. First of all the acting is superb. It's not Oscar worthy or anything, but it is good. I think I should also mention the fact that this film has some of the creepiest atmosphere I've ever seen in a Movie. The plot is actually interesting and thought out. Good vampire flick. 3/5

Night of the Creeps- Is Night of the creeps cheesy? Yes. Is it your typical 1980's horror flick? I'd say so.Think of 'Night of the Living Dead' and 'Slither' and your overall movie is 'Night of the Creeps'. Fun movie. 3/5

 

[prosopis]

Tonight's fare was Paranormal Activity

As big of a fan of BWP as I was, the whole "it really happened and here is the video footage" angle doesn't have many repeat viewings before it's tired. I think BWP worked more for me because there were more people interviewed, different locations, etc... Couldn't get into this movie at all. Gets a point up b/c I would suggest it to people who haven't seen this type of movie before but like I stated, these movies only work if you think they are real or if you can still suspend that thought long enough to get into the movie. 4/10.

I found myself laughing more than being scared.

I liked Paranormal activity. I re watched it Saturday and I forgot what a fabulous rack the main actress had.

 

[KarmaPolice]

Tonight's fare was Paranormal Activity

As big of a fan of BWP as I was, the whole "it really happened and here is the video footage" angle doesn't have many repeat viewings before it's tired. I think BWP worked more for me because there were more people interviewed, different locations, etc... Couldn't get into this movie at all. Gets a point up b/c I would suggest it to people who haven't seen this type of movie before but like I stated, these movies only work if you think they are real or if you can still suspend that thought long enough to get into the movie. 4/10.

I found myself laughing more than being scared.

I liked Paranormal activity. I re watched it Saturday and I forgot what a fabulous rack the main actress had.

 

[prosopis]

Tonight's fare was Paranormal Activity

As big of a fan of BWP as I was, the whole "it really happened and here is the video footage" angle doesn't have many repeat viewings before it's tired. I think BWP worked more for me because there were more people interviewed, different locations, etc... Couldn't get into this movie at all. Gets a point up b/c I would suggest it to people who haven't seen this type of movie before but like I stated, these movies only work if you think they are real or if you can still suspend that thought long enough to get into the movie. 4/10.

I found myself laughing more than being scared.

I liked Paranormal activity. I re watched it Saturday and I forgot what a fabulous rack the main actress had.

I had seen it at the theaters and I saw it was a netflix instant view the other night, so I watched it again. I did not like it as much on the second viewing but I still enjoyed it.

 

[Carver]

Dark Mirror- Interesting concept... could have really been an awesome flick. But the acting was so atrocious that it ruined any possibility of this movie getting anything higher than a 4/10. Just brutal, brutal acting. Did I mention how terrible the acting was?

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Watched about half of Silk last night. Did not hold my interest at all, and the effects were pretty cheesy. I mailed it back today without finishing it. Wasn't a whole lot that was redeeming with this one. Not recommended. (1/5)

 

[kneeshooter]

Salem's Lot- I have to admit, for a TV movie it's actually good. First of all the acting is superb. It's not Oscar worthy or anything, but it is good. I think I should also mention the fact that this film has some of the creepiest atmosphere I've ever seen in a Movie. The plot is actually interesting and thought out. Good vampire flick. 3/5

I remember
creeping the crap out of me when I was a kid. I still think it holds up.

 

[hooter311]

Caught up a little last night....

The Rise of Leslie Vernon

Really caught me by surprise. Cream of the crop when it comes to slasher movie homages. Mockumentary style setup works great. Pretty funny, really a must see for slasher fans, but doesn't work quiet as well as straight up horror.

3.5/5

Creepshow

I enjoyed 3/5 stories. The Ted Danson vs Leslie Nielsen bit was pretty good, as well as the crate and cockroach stories. A perfect storm of horror collaboration: script by Stephen King, directed by George Romero, creature effects by Tom Savini. Solid.

3.5/5

 

[SmoovySmoov]

Creepshow

I enjoyed 3/5 stories. The Ted Danson vs Leslie Nielsen bit was pretty good, as well as the crate and cockroach stories. A perfect storm of horror collaboration: script by Stephen King, directed by George Romero, creature effects by Tom Savini. Solid.

3.5/5

WHERE'S MY CAKE? I WANT MY FATHER'S DAY CAKE!!!!!

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Creepshow

I enjoyed 3/5 stories. The Ted Danson vs Leslie Nielsen bit was pretty good, as well as the crate and cockroach stories. A perfect storm of horror collaboration: script by Stephen King, directed by George Romero, creature effects by Tom Savini. Solid.

3.5/5

I like the Creepshow movies. "What's the matter, Mr. Pratt? Bugs got your tongue?'I like the story of "The Raft" in the second one, taken from Stephen King's book "Skeleton Crew" - which I found to be quite scary when I read it.

 

[hooter311]

Creepshow

I enjoyed 3/5 stories. The Ted Danson vs Leslie Nielsen bit was pretty good, as well as the crate and cockroach stories. A perfect storm of horror collaboration: script by Stephen King, directed by George Romero, creature effects by Tom Savini. Solid.

3.5/5

I like the Creepshow movies. "What's the matter, Mr. Pratt? Bugs got your tongue?'I like the story of "The Raft" in the second one, taken from Stephen King's book "Skeleton Crew" - which I found to be quite scary when I read it.

Yeah, I saw the 2nd one first a year or so ago, that was a decent short story and transferred well to film. Big fan of Skeleton Crew. If I was ever going to transfer a short story to film "Survivor Type" would be at the top of my list.

 

[hooter311]

Creepshow

I enjoyed 3/5 stories. The Ted Danson vs Leslie Nielsen bit was pretty good, as well as the crate and cockroach stories. A perfect storm of horror collaboration: script by Stephen King, directed by George Romero, creature effects by Tom Savini. Solid.

3.5/5

WHERE'S MY CAKE? I WANT MY FATHER'S DAY CAKE!!!!!

Yeah, that was pretty dumb and a terrible way to start, last 3 stories are definitely the best. Liked watching King being a weirdo in the 2nd one.

 

[Charlie Frown]

Watched Paranormal Activity 2 yesterday. I liked it 7/10. Not as good as the original because you knew what to expect but interesting way to tie it in to the original.

Also

 

[Chaka]

GasLand

Why We Fight

Jesus Camp

Deliver Us From Evil

I.O.U.S.A.

Some of the scariest films I have ever seen.

 

[Horrorshow]

I think that Videodrome got mentioned earlier but I'm surprised that Cronenberg hasn't been involved more in the thread. I really like his work from the mid seventies to the early eighties - Shivers, Rabid, The Brood, Scanners and Videodrome. Argento isn't too well represented here either. Perhaps that's a good thing?

The Beyond got a well deserved nod a few pages back. Part of Fulci's classic "Gates of Hell" trilogy along with The House by the Cemetery and my personal fave of the series, City of the Living Dead.

I also like The Last Broadcast, My Little Eye, The Driller Killer and Let Sleeping Corpses Lie. Pieces is genius of the craziest order. The House of the Devil is one of the best horror flicks of the last couple of years.

Is anyone familiar with Marble Hornets? Has anyone seen Deathdream or Twitch of the Death Nerve?

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Need hello with a movie.

Church basement - green plasma filled tube - the whole world outside the church fill with zombies - Satan being channeled through a mirror.

I saw the movie about 20years ago but I am not sure about the full plot - please help.

 

[lafan68]

Need hello with a movie.Church basement - green plasma filled tube - the whole world outside the church fill with zombies - Satan being channeled through a mirror.I saw the movie about 20years ago but I am not sure about the full plot - please help.

 

[lafan68]

Need hello with a movie.Church basement - green plasma filled tube - the whole world outside the church fill with zombies - Satan being channeled through a mirror.I saw the movie about 20years ago but I am not sure about the full plot - please help.

Prince of Darkness.

 

[bosoxs45]

Kinda been busy with work/school.

Didn't have time to review movies.

Looking forward to watch Evil dead 2 on AMC.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Need hello with a movie.Church basement - green plasma filled tube - the whole world outside the church fill with zombies - Satan being channeled through a mirror.I saw the movie about 20years ago but I am not sure about the full plot - please help.

Prince of Darkness.

THANK YOU.

 

[shuke]

I think that Videodrome got mentioned earlier but I'm surprised that Cronenberg hasn't been involved more in the thread. I really like his work from the mid seventies to the early eighties - Shivers, Rabid, The Brood, Scanners and Videodrome. Argento isn't too well represented here either. Perhaps that's a good thing?

The Beyond got a well deserved nod a few pages back. Part of Fulci's classic "Gates of Hell" trilogy along with The House by the Cemetery and my personal fave of the series, City of the Living Dead.

I also like The Last Broadcast, My Little Eye, The Driller Killer and Let Sleeping Corpses Lie. Pieces is genius of the craziest order. The House of the Devil is one of the best horror flicks of the last couple of years.

Is anyone familiar with Marble Hornets? Has anyone seen Deathdream or Twitch of the Death Nerve?

 

[shuke]

Looking forward to watch Evil dead 2 on AMC.

First time I've watched it in years. I remember it being better than this.

 

[bosoxs45]

Looking forward to watch Evil dead 2 on AMC.

First time I've watched it in years. I remember it being better than this.

First time viewing. Care to explain?

 

[buddyboy]

I have not seen it mentioned, but Stir of Echoes" with Kevin Bacon is a quality movie. Maybe not classic horror, but it kept me on edge.

 

[Rebirtha]

My Little Eye,

Just finished this. Good suggestion.

 

[Charlie Frown]

I wasn't able to watch as many as I wanted but I going to finish off the SAW series tonight. Maybe watch a couple of more after that.

I got to see a few good movies I have never seen before.