James' Halloween Movies 2017
I'm going to watch a horror movie for every day in October then rate them and give them a few short paragraphs as a review. Inspired by Cinemassacres' Monster Madness!
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- DirectorAndy MuschiettiStarsBill SkarsgårdJaeden MartellFinn WolfhardIn the summer of 1989, a group of bullied kids band together to destroy a shape-shifting monster, which disguises itself as a clown and preys on the children of Derry, their small Maine town.What a way to start off! This film hit cinemas in September and is awesome. Getting mostly strong reviews, I have to join the hype. This is actually one of my favorite movies I've seen so far this year.
The movie has some of the best horror scenes in the modern horror genre. It doesn't rely solely on jump scares or gore, but does use both cliches very well without overdoing it. The story is amazing and really gets you routing for the characters. I can't wait for the sequel. (some when in 2019)
The shots were masterful and really highlighted Bill Skarsgård's tremendous performance as Pennywise, the pacing was spot on and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the film.
"It" scores 9/10 - DirectorTravis CluffChris LofingStarsReese MishlerPfeifer BrownRyan Shoos20 years after a horrific accident during a small town school play, students at the school resurrect the failed show in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy - but soon discover that some things are better left alone.Found footage. A subgenre of film that resonates with some, while others find it abhorrent. I find myself to be a person who tends to enjoy a lot of the better found footage films; Cloverfield (2008), [Rec] (2007), Project Almanac (2015)... Just to name a few.
Unfortunately, The Gallows joins the list of Found Footage films... That I wish I never found.
From the beginning The Gallows seems like a flawed concept, along with the cliche high school stereotypes, The Gallows fails to make much of an impression. I hate spoilers, even for rubbish films so I won't go into detail to why it is a flawed concept.
The attempts of comedy are rather futile and the pace takes a hit for it too. It's simply filler. Jump scares are used cheaply, wearing it's low budget on it's sleeve like an anchor tattoo on a skinny nerd. I genuinely struggled to find redeemable qualities from this film. Even finishing it seemed to be more than a worthy compliment to the creators.
3/10 - DirectorCody KnottsStarsRoddy PiperJim DugganMatt HardyFamous Wrestlers are pitted against hordes of undead when they unknowingly walk into a death trap.I think you know how this one is going to go...
"Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies" will be scoffed at by individuals who don't like wrestling, but it will also be scoffed at by people who DO like wrestling! However the film does have a certain charm, I guess. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper certainly doesn't give the performance of his life, but he was entertaining to say the least. I think I wasn't too bored when I saw Kurt Angle & Matt Hardy, but none of the actual wrestlers were really in it long enough.
It's trashy and a "jobber" of a flick that doesn't really deserve any of your time. I found it hard to look past some of the shots, a few in particular must have been budget constraints. You obviously wouldn't watch this film for the story... And you shouldn't, it's all over the place with some odd pacing.
2/10 - DirectorCharles B. PierceStarsWillie E. SmithJohn P. HixonVern StiermanA documentary-style drama about the "Fouke Monster", a Bigfoot-type creature that has been sighted in and around Fouke, Arkansas since the 1950s.Now for a film from the 1970's and it hasn't aged well. The audio is muffled and the video is very low quality. Somewhat worse than you'd expect. That aside and out of the way though, let's review "The Legend of Boggy Creek".
The first thing you'd notice about this film is that it's a fictitious documentary. It's strangely relaxing for the first 20 minutes. I genuinely enjoyed the concept, but I did find the tone rather contrasting: a very soothing narrator talking over calm music, then smashing into a scene of dogs barking and crowds chattering.
It's a strangely relaxing film, not the best tone necessarily for a horror. But it does promote it's own unique atmosphere rather credibly. The only real intense scenes come at the very end; they're good, however it's hard not to fall asleep by the time it gets there. I don't think many people will enjoy this film.
4/10 - DirectorPaul VerhoevenStarsKevin BaconElisabeth ShueJosh BrolinA brilliant scientist's discovery renders him invisible, but transforms him into an omnipotent, dangerous megalomaniac.Predictable, yet entertaining. Cheesy, but interesting. Hollow man was a Hollywood sci-fi horror that really surprised me. The reviews this film had on it's release were all quite negative, and trust me this film DOES have it's flaws. But I really got into it! Perhaps it's because I'm a fan of wacky concept horror and a fan of Kevin Bacon.
It's as Hollywood as you can get without explosions, Tom Cruise and the ethnic stereotypes. I don't think in this instance that it is much of a bad thing, above all else this film is very enjoyable to certain people. I'm surprised the film hasn't really caught much of a "cult" status like others that will probably feature on this list.
The special effects are rather awesome for a film released in the year 2000, they'd maybe even stand up today. The "Hollow Man" is quite similar looking to the "Invisble Man" from the 1930's, a film I very much enjoyed in the last series of reviews I did in 2015.
The only negatives that stop this film from achieving a greater score are to do with the plot. I don't usually have problems with a films story, I feel like writers have the right to tell any story they like. However I feel halfway into this film it had the possibility to go in a few directions, ultimately choosing one of the substandard ways to go about the film. As always: no spoilers, so I won't say specifically why but fell free to ask me after you watch the film.
Certainly not totally hollow - 7/10 - DirectorWilliam WesleyStarsTed VernonMichael David SimmsRichard VidanCriminals hijack a plane and force the pilot and his daughter to fly them to Mexico. However, an unexpected landing finds them in a cemetery inhabited by killer scarecrows.Horror films from the 1980's are a particular favorite of my terrible film taste. I've loved them for a few years now after seeing awesome films like "An American Werewolf in London", "The Evil Dead series", "Re-animator" and "From Beyond". Scarecrows will not be making it into any awesome films lists.
20 minutes into watching this peculiar Netflix film, I found I was asking myself "Why did they create the film like this?" It felt like genuinely nothing had happened other than some stereotypical army lads were getting scared by inanimate scarecrows in a field. The same sentiment stuck with me throughout the majority of the film.
Tension is a tool that needs to be done correctly in horror films. These Scarecrows are not even a little intense, just silly. The acting is campy and lame, not just how they say the gaudy quips but their physical performances also leave alot more realism to be desired. This isn't a comedy, but it's imperfections act like one. This is all a fault with the tone, the music would actually be really good for a truly creepy horror.
However on a positive note: I did really enjoy the special effects models.
Scare - no's 3/10 - DirectorRobert RodriguezStarsRose McGowanFreddy RodríguezJosh BrolinAfter an experimental bio-weapon is released, turning thousands into zombie-like creatures, it's up to a rag-tag group of survivors to stop the infected and those behind its release.Planet Terror is awesome. One half of the famous Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino's "Grindhouse", it's much better than ol' Tarantino's Death Proof.
It's great fun with cameo's coming out it's ears. Expertly made by some of the best director's/producers who were on their peek. It's quite reminiscent of "From Dusk Till Dawn" but this time with (not officially) zombies.
I love the style and the pacing was brilliant.
8/10 - DirectorJeremy SaulnierStarsAnton YelchinImogen PootsAlia ShawkatA punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar.I think it's safe to announce first off that "Green Room" is more of a thriller than a horror. I'd perhaps throw in that the limited horror elements were based on the mystery of the situation the characters find themselves in.
Very odd for a review I know but: I don't want to talk about the film very much other than giving it a bit of praise for what it did well. It's the kind of film that the less you know going in, the much better experience you will have.
I enjoyed the characters and thought the cast did a very good job in being entertaining. Patrick Stewart plays a very strange role you wouldn't ever expect to see him in. It's an intense film that can stress you out, especially if you don't agree with the characters actions, from either side.
7/10 - DirectorJames WongStarsMary Elizabeth WinsteadRyan MerrimanKris LemcheWendy Christensen and a group of teens who escaped a fatal roller-coaster crash face a bloody date with Death.If you've ever watched "Final Destination" and enjoyed it, it's more than likely that you will enjoy the sequels that are very very similar to the original. The series has hit a soft spot for me, I enjoy them even though I understand the negatives. They are shallow films but I enjoy the concepts.
There are tonnes of faults but several redeeming qualities. Final Destination 3 knows it's not the best film in the world, but it never tries to be. The producers did a good job in their self-aware silly tone. The tone reminds me a bit of the scream films, but without being a horror comedy. I feel this film knows it's target audience well.
I dislike the characters except for the lead, a contrast from the rest of the cast, Mary Elizabeth Winstead is an established actress who performs her role nicely. I would recommend this film solely for the concept it tries to tell and if you like trash teen horror flicks.
5/10 - DirectorChris SunStarsTara ReidNathan JonesBill Moseley4 friends go camping at a haunted farm with an evil, violent history in the Australian outback - ignoring warnings.I don't know why I do it. I don't know why I watch so many B-movies. I don't know why they make so many of these generic slashers.
Charlie's Farm is just like every slasher flick you've ever seen, but it has one overwhelming characteristic! IT'S AUSTRALIAN! And it shouts about it, like a vegan in an all you can eat bbq meat joint.
It has it's funny bits, but that's really all there is to keep this one being amusing. I was however surprised by how well shot the whole films was and the special effects were all pretty good.
All in all however my life didn't change at all by watching this film, I guarantee I'll forget it by the end of the month.
4/10 - DirectorMatt Bettinelli-OlpinDavid BrucknerTyler GillettStarsCalvin Lee ReederLane HughesAdam WingardWhen a group of misfits are hired by an unknown third party to burglarize a desolate house and acquire a rare VHS tape, they discover more found footage than they bargained for.Another found footage filck. This time; the film is separated into segments (tapes) that have been individually directed by 9 directors. Because the film is separated into 5 segments, I will review each segment and give them a rating.
1st segment - Tense, not very unique, but still tense and creepy. I got into this story quite quickly, the special effects used were really good for this one. Very gory. The story was almost non existent, but it was a good start - 7/10
2nd segment - Almost entirely forgettable. Not overly bad, however it was just boring and obvious. It had some potential in being a bit interesting, but ultimately fell flat - 4/10
3rd segment - This segment was so different to the first and second that it actually annoyed me. It was like watching a student short film put up on Youtube. No tension at all, nothing I could really get behind at all - 2/10
It might be worth noting, that because of the last segment I turned against the film. There wasn't any continuity.
4th segment - Just as mediocre as the third. Just so absurd and uninteresting. The acting was abhorrent and there was no variety. 2/10
5th segment - Who knew that fake scares with unlikable characters could ever go wrong? I now believe the "writers" for this film didn't actually do any writing. This films feels like they had a few loose ideas for horror scenarios and then filmed the majority of them in one night. I don't care anymore/10
This anthology is overwhelmingly disjointed. I found it hard to suspend my disbelief, as the segments never kept me interested because they never rewarded me for paying attention to any of them. Unfortunate really as this film did have a lot of hype when it came out (5 years ago), and the first segment was pretty good. I will give V/H/S:
3/10 - DirectorFrank WisbarStarsRosemary La PlancheRobert BarratBlake EdwardsA number of swamp land men have died by strangulation and the inhabitants believe that an innocent man they hanged is seeking revenge on all of the male descendants of those responsible for his death. Maria, granddaughter of the guilty ferryman, decides to operate the ferry service. Chris Sanders, a son of one of the men who did the hanging, and Maria fall in love. The "strangler" seizes Chris and Maria offers her life if Chris is spared.This film is the perfect substitute for any medication you might be taking for your insomnia. It has a good atmosphere, but that is generally where the positives end.
With a lot of old films, people like to describe them as atmospheric even though the majority are filmed on film sets. I'm unsure if the reasons are budgetary, but it's impossible to get immersed into this film.
Don't watch it, I tried to give it a chance but it wasn't going to work for me.
3/10 - DirectorTobe HooperStarsJoBeth WilliamsHeather O'RourkeCraig T. NelsonA family's home is haunted by a host of demonic ghosts.Yes, I know. I'm a terrible person. This is the first time I've ever seen Poltergeist. And I call myself a horror fan huh? What's even worse is that I'm a big fan of Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg. Spielberg is actually my favorite director to watch. So let's see if I enjoyed Poltergeist!
Wow! I really liked parts of Poltergeist! There were definitely things I didn't like, but overall Poltergeist was an awesome watch! You can tell Spielberg's influence a lot more than Tobe Hooper's, which I don't think is a bad thing. The music was great, MOST of the special effects were great and the characters were a homely genuine family that you could really get behind.
The few nit-picks that I have are to do with the outdated special effect of the "Poltergeist" and the insane decision of the plot in the last 30 minutes. To go into a bit of detail, after 1hr 30 mins of the film I was happy to give this film a 7/10 and put it down for good. But then afterwards there is another 30 minutes which doesn't really fit in too well to be that late on in the plot. BUT IT'S THE BEST PART OF THE FILM! If they took this part of the film and integrated it ino the middle of the plot, I think this film could reach the dizzy heights of a 9/10!
I was always going to love this, as Spielberg sets his magnificent tone on the whole film.
8/10 - DirectorDavid F. SandbergStarsTeresa PalmerGabriel BatemanMaria BelloRebecca must unlock the terror behind her little brother's experiences that once tested her sanity, bringing her face to face with a supernatural spirit attached to their mother.Lights Out is Marmite: Opinions on this movie are very mixed, some critics love it and others don't. SPOILER ALERT! I fit into the group of critics who don't.
Lights Out is a sprinkled doughnut: It has a terrific style but lacks substance and is painfully average. It's like the creators decided to film the horror scenes first and then whack on a plot that seemed suitable. It's a shame really because the horror scenes are immensely creepy and intense in all the right ways. It's just supremely let down with an awful plot.
Lights Out is a chicken dinner from a tin: I just want to give a quick shout out to some of the actors in this film...the lead and the kid are acceptable and do the job, unlike every other performer. Strange for a modern horror with a $4,900,000 budget.
The film reminds me of Insidious, so if you enjoyed that series then I recommend that you maybe look into this movie and give it a go.
5/10 - DirectorMcGStarsJudah LewisSamara WeavingRobbie AmellWhen Cole stays up past his bedtime, he discovers that his hot baby sitter belongs to a satanic cult that will stop at nothing to keep him quiet.I got a little excited when this popped out of nowhere on Netflix this month, an irrelevant black comedy-horror in October? Sure, I'll definitely give it a go.
Not the most original concept in the world, but it does bring some creativity to the table. It has a nice style that I really enjoyed even though no actual horror developed until the end of the first third of the film. When this films gets intense, the suspense is awesome. While watching it I was already getting excited to tell everyone about this new diamond in the rough.
A few humorous moments didn't work too well at towards the end of the film because the tone was so perfectly tense, which is almost a credit to how good this film got when it wanted to be.
It's like an anti-slasher, great fun
7/10 - DirectorBrian Trenchard-SmithStarsWarwick DavisBrent JasmerJessica CollinsOur deadly leprechaun is in space to woo a beautiful princess who is impressed with his gold and desires to separate him from it.This film is a spoof of two great movies: Alien and Dr. Strangelove. Itself is not a great movie, but it is at least entertaining on a "so bad it's good" level. The Leprechaun series has been a guilty pleasure of mine ever since I was really young. I used to watch them when I was really too young for them, but they gave me a giggle more than any cartoon would.
It's hard to be genuinely critical of this film because I like it, but it's abhorrent, it's trash, it's lame, it's lousy. But it IS funny. The comedy is still cheap even though it does work, so even that conflicts my opinion.
I would actually really like to recommend the Leprechaun series to everyone! I think even if you don't like trashy horror there is still a lot of fun to have in watching the series. There are quite a few famous actors involved in the series, but I won't spoil them for you.
3/10 - DirectorSimon VerhoevenStarsAlycia Debnam-CareyWilliam MoseleyConnor PaoloWhen a college student unfriends a mysterious girl online, she finds herself fighting a demonic presence that wants to make her lonely by killing her closest friends.First off, I just want to announce that this film is apparently a spin-off from the film Unfriended (2014), a film that I thought was quite well done and I enjoyed more than the majority other individuals on this website. I still hold the feeling that it is a good film and own it on blu ray.
It's very similar but it hasn't got the unique detail of it being all on one screen like Unfriended did. It's a more cliche horror formula on this films plot, which has it's positives and negatives when comparing the films. I like how it IS different, however it seems unoriginal.
I'm glad that the plot does eventually explain what this evil force is, I was worried throughout the film and the first few kills in this slasher kind of missed the mark with me because I didn't know how the evil force had the powers that it did. The writing in this film quite prohibits the amount of potential it has.
The actual horror is 50/50, the special effects are worthy enough to make this film creepy but the inclusion of jump scares every other moment brings this film down.
5/10 - DirectorMichael MannStarsScott GlennIan McKellenAlberta WatsonNazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison.A very obscure horror film set in WWII with an ironic plot.
The Keep is not a fun film to watch, it doesn't produce much enjoyment other than the typically great 80's horror music. There are some tremendous actors in this film but unfortunately no tremendous acting, it feels like they were directed to act like cardboard.
It's not a terribly produced film, it's well made. It's just boring. It may be shallow, but it was SO BORING that I don't even want to write about it...
2/10 - DirectorFred DekkerStarsAndre GowerRobby KigerStephen MachtA group of young monster fanatics attempts to save their hometown from Count Dracula and his monsters.This film is a love letter to the old Universal monster universe! To my knowledge it's the first time that all the original monsters are seen in the same scene at the same time!
For what it's worth, this is by no means a very good "horror" film. "The Monster Squad" is much more of an adventure movie. It has contrasting genres as it tries very hard to act like a family movie but it never could be because of the swearing and edgy scenes. That would be my main criticism of the film but overall I did enjoy it.
If you enjoy the old Universal monster films or even the Hammer ones, I would definitely recommend that is your duty to watch this as a fan. It's not the best film I've seen, even on this list, but it was fun and nice. Also it gets extra points for being SO 80's.
6/10 - DirectorJim WynorskiStarsKelli MaroneyTony O'DellRussell ToddA group of young shopping mall employees stay behind for a late night party in one of the stores. When the mall goes on lock-down before they can get out, the robot security system malfunctions, and goes on a killing spree.Chopping Mall brings a lot more to the table, but everyone surrounding wants to go home. A lack of genuine horror is substituted with gimmicks and I know I'm the one guy who loves concept horror, but these gimmicks aren't overly that fun. The underlying issue is the security drones who want to kill the unlikable young teens, everything is cheap.
Usually I accept the flaws in films like this but it wasn't fun enough to do so. It relies too much on showing partial nudity to get people interested, when it should be focusing on making the characters interesting.
3/10 - DirectorAndrew DouglasStarsRyan ReynoldsMelissa GeorgeJimmy BennettNewlyweds are terrorized by demonic forces after moving into a large house that was the site of a grisly mass murder a year before.The Amityville Horror can be described in five words: effectively chilling however overly conventional. If you've never seen a horror film in your life, which I obviously doubt very much, then this film would seem like a magnum opus to you.
There's nothing new here at all and even though it is a remake, the sheer copy and pasting from other horror films is overbearing from the plot to the little details. The scenes are well produced, we've just seen them all before. A shame really that the writing lets it down.
The lack of originality takes away from some decent positives on this movie, you may not be a fan of Ryan Reynolds in general but his presence in this film is definitely appreciated, nobody comes a close second to his performance on an entertainment level.
4/10 - DirectorNeil MarshallStarsShauna MacdonaldNatalie MendozaAlex ReidA caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators.The Descent has been a revelation for this list! The creepiest/scariest film I've seen on here since IT (the first film in this list). It's claustrophobic, teratophobic and Hemophobic. And yes, if you think that I would have no idea what those phobias were, I did have to google the last two.
I think what's really good about the descent is that the plot keeps spiralling out of the protagonists control and unlike many other horror/thrillers; it's not annoying because the film constructs many reasons for you to get behind the character. It slightly resembles 28 days later for being an English horror which is incredibly tense and paced brilliantly.
There were a few things stopping this film from getting perfect marks, but there almost too minimal to mention. Certain enemies that get introduced into the film lack continuity for me, but I don't want to describe it too much as I want you to see this film!
8/10 - DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsMia WasikowskaJessica ChastainTom HiddlestonIn the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds - and remembers.A crackling sizzle... That never exactly popped, for me anyway. First of all I do need to express how the visuals in this film are tremendous, genuinely up there with some of the best I've ever seen. The costumes and the scenery create an awesome atmosphere that still unfortunately never finds itself anywhere tense. This movie will throw the most amazing special effect at you, intending to freak you out, but fail. It never creates any tension other than the sexual tension of the main characters.
Since I just mentioned characters, I think it's worth mentioning how cardboard these characters are. Just because this film wants to be a period drama, it doesn't mean that the characters have to lack personality.
Maybe it is my fault or the promotional efforts of this film, because I went into it expecting something entirely different to what I saw. The reason this film has a fairly high rating is because it is an absolute spectacle.
6/10 - DirectorEli CraigStarsEvangeline LillyOwen AtlasAdam ScottGary, who has just married Samantha, the woman of his dreams, discovers that her six-year-old son may be the Antichrist.The savviest individuals that read this list will notice that many of the films on this this list are associated with Netflix; be that a Netflix original or merely just a part of the catalog. Little Evil is a Netflix original that doesn't do the streaming site any good at all. I guess not every film can be "The Babysitter" (review earlier in this list).
This film struggles to produce much more than a smile, actually a smile might be too much. The plot is limiting to the films overall potential but the writing damn near buries it! The unfortunate actors to be cast in this all portray terrible 2D characters with also terrible dialogue.
It may go without saying that this film relies heavily on it's "comedy" but that also leaves a lot to be desired. The only real strengths I can see are that other than the writing, plot, cast, characters... etc. It's a conventionally well made film and I didn't spot any mistakes or obvious "goofs".
But that's it.
2/10 - DirectorChristopher LandonStarsJessica RotheIsrael BroussardRuby ModineA college student must relive the day of her murder over and over again, in a loop that will end only when she discovers her killer's identity.An entertaining mystery thriller with horror elements, a Scream-esque meta-horror-comedy. Happy Death Day will send the majority of movie-goers home happy, even though the plot and writing are lacking real quality.
The comedy works quite well and is the films obvious strength. The main character is quite funny and even though she isn't a nice individual, the plot does redeem some of her imperfections.
But that's all it is really, the plot is overly convoluted towards the end for no real benefit to the film. It didn't need all the twists and turns and in my opinion it went to shock you at the end and try to make sense of it after they made the decision.
5/10 - DirectorAdam WingardStarsJames Allen McCuneCallie HernandezCorbin ReidAfter discovering a video showing what he believes to be his vanished sister Heather, James and a group of friends head to the forest believed to be inhabited by the Blair Witch.Blair Witch was recommended to me a couple months ago while it was still in the cinema, now it's on Netflix I decided: why not give it a go! I enjoyed the original when I first saw it and saw it as a revelation for horror films without a big budget.
This sequel is an interesting one because it never does anything explicitly bad, but it also doesn't perform outstandingly. Everything is solid, the pacing is ok and I didn't notice any mistakes. However to me, it was hard to get behind this film and keep focus.
The effects on the characters looked very good and the setting was believable. The intense moments towards the end are very good, but it takes a long time to get there. I appreciate the build may have been necessary for the plot, but it didn't make for very entertaining viewing.
5/10 - DirectorBrian Trenchard-SmithStarsNed ManningNatalie McCurryPeter WhitfordIn a dystopian future Australia, a health nut and his tag-along girlfriend become trapped in a drive-in cinema that has become a concentration camp for delinquent youths and immigrants.Other that Poltergeist (1982), the 80's haven't really performed well on this list this year and I think it's time to see if the trend continues...
Dead End Drive-In is definitely not a film for everyone. The films strengths lie within niche aspects of film that won't impress the majority of your average mainstream audience. The pace is slow, but picks up at the end. The style is fantastic and I really enjoyed that part of the film. It wears it's heart on it's sleeve and goes all out with it's snazzy theme.
It gets let down, as so many horror films do, with it's lackluster writing and plot. I've picked the problem in plots and writing in so many of the films in this list that I can't bring myself to do it again.
6/10 - DirectorMichael SpierigPeter SpierigStarsMatt PassmoreTobin BellCallum Keith RennieBodies are turning up around the city, each having met a uniquely gruesome demise. As the investigation proceeds, evidence points to one suspect: John Kramer, the man known as Jigsaw, who has been dead for over 10 years.I've just come back from the cinema after watching Jigsaw. I think it's important to keep in your perspective as a reader of reviews that the critic's response to a film is impacted by the environment the critic watched the film in. That being said, I did quite enjoy Jigsaw. I can't really compare this sequel to it's predecessors as it has been a long time since I've seen the series.
Jigsaw is a highly enjoyable thriller with elements of horror, most people watch the series because of the torture sequences also known as Jigsaw's "games". This new film has some interesting traps that will keep the "Saw" fans happy and maybe create some interest in the series for newcomers.
It has it's flaws, the plot tries to surprise the audience and twist and turn which I feel isn't necessary in a film where the real strengths lie in aspects not fundamental to the writing. The acting is hit and miss and as a result; the characters are forgettable.
But, in reality this film series isn't interested in becoming something incredible. It knows what it is and does it well enough.
6/10 - DirectorJames WatkinsStarsKelly ReillyMichael FassbenderTara EllisRefusing to let anything spoil their romantic weekend break, a young couple confront a gang of loutish youths with terrifyingly brutal consequences.Some of the reviews on this film (and others) are criminal. Being rated 1/10's because they crossed the reviewers boundaries or scared them. Eden Lake feels very real, improbable but still real, so that will probably explain some of the lower review scores.
It pulls no punches, it's gruesome and the tone is depressing. This is all supported by the tremendous acting from all involved, it's no surprise that some of this cast went on to do some more amazing things. Also there are some surprising faces that you will definitely recongnise.
Some of the audience have criticized the lead characters to be "stupid" but I think these negative comments are unjustified. The lead characters act like most people would in that situation, they go through their emotions and react as such.
Awesome film, if you're interested in the least; give it a go!
8/10 - DirectorMichael RutkowskiStarsDonna SpanglerLuke Brandon FieldSimona FuscoHorrific visions torment Taryn when she, her brother and college pals move into an infamous old house. Then, her bloody hallucinations become all too real.In absolute contrast to the last film I reviewed: Eden Lake (2008). American Poltergeist is absolutely amateur. Amateur acting, amateur direction and amateur writing. It falls with some of those films we call "it's so bad that it's good" all without actually ending up any good at all. It's not even self-aware.
The acting is so wooden that I started to believe the cast would be better off portrayed as a fence. Even things like the camera angles just make you question "why!". The most impressive climax was when this film ended and I knew I could do something else with my day.
I've seen worse, but that doesn't excuse this pile of rubbish. At least it was short.
2/10 - DirectorEli CraigStarsTyler LabineAlan TudykKatrina BowdenAffable hillbillies Tucker and Dale are on vacation at their dilapidated mountain cabin when they are mistaken for murderers by a group of preppy college students.I went for a familiar film to end this month with, mostly to subdue any potential disappointment on Halloween itself! Tucker and Dale vs Evil is a great one! It's tone is silly and brilliant, the characters are lovable fools, and it's funny as hell. I introduced this film to Jess aswell and she seemed to enjoy it too.
The film is like an anti-slasher and by that I don't mean hide your aunties. The main joke that the whole plot is based around is that some college kids go through an intentionally obvious slasher movie plot and think these two rednecks on the front of the poster are killers. However they're not killers at all, they're just... Misunderstood.
A special shout out to Alan Tudyk who is awesome in everything I've seen him in. At the start of the film it may seem that he is too good for some trashy horror comedy, but the further you get into the movie you'll realise that it is a perfect match as this film is awesome too.
The film isn't scary at all, it's classed as a horror because of the cliche horror tropes that keep this film a tad unique.
8/10