Change Your Image
Rainysky
Reviews
Spookies (1986)
eenie meenie, chilli beanie, the spirits are about to speak.
Spookies 9/10
This forgotten 80's flick deserves to be seen by b-horror movie fans who don't like to take things too seriously. It's funny as hell, but is also more creative, stylish, and unique than it has any right to be. In fact, it's a miracle this movie was even completed. Directors Thomas Doran and Brendan Faulkner were shooting a film called Twisted Souls, but were replaced by Eugenie Joseph, who decided to blend some of the scenes they shot with some new ones of her own. So Spookies is basically two different films, but you wouldn't know that from watching it.
It's common in horror films for a bunch of morons to wonder into an old, dilapidated mansion for no reason except for pure boredom. Then, of course, they will all split up into separate groups and explore the entire house. This is common. However, it's not common for a low-budget 80's film to give us such an excellent, believable army of monsters. Here we have a cat-like henchman with a hook for a hand, a possessed woman conjuring evil with her beloved ouija board, wind-breaking muck-men who can be killed with wine, a grim reaper with glowing red eyes who can explode at any minute, a slimy little lizard-gremlin thing, a grotesque witch with icy-cold breath, an Oriental woman that can transform into a giant tarantula, a peculiar flashing blue light that causes instant aging, an adolescent boy-druid with fangs, a towering fleshless creature who strangles and electrocutes people at the same time, the neverending swarm of zombies, and much more. It's also not common for such a goofy film to have such a serious, pretty soundtrack. You can either love or hate this film, but you can't deny its ambition and originality.
Watching Spookies is like walking through a haunted house during the Halloween season. Sometimes it's too dark to see anything and sometimes it's hard to understand what other people are saying, but you're having such an amazing time because you know that any second, something out-of-this-world will jump out and scare you. And you can tell that everybody working there is putting their hearts into it and trying their best to show you a good time. And you can't stop smiling.
Unfortunately, Spookies has yet to find a home on DVD in the States, but for now, definitely keep an eye open for VHS copies. They are out there, trust me.
Haunted (1995)
"We're all mad, you know"
About once a year, a film impresses me so much that i have to call or write to all my friends immediately, demanding that they watch it too. Haunted is one of the finest movies i've seen in many years, and it's really a shame that not many people have seen it.
The cast is superb, with each character standing out, even those with just a couple lines (the fortune teller who reads David and Christina's palms is a good example). The stars, Aidan Quinn and Kate Beckinsale, are in excellent form, but Anthony Andrews steals the show in this one. He plays the character of Robert, the jealous and controlling big brother. There is a brilliant shot of his pale, depressed face surrounded by mocking darkness that perfectly defines the tortured-soul of the character. Anthony Andrews has such a strong, masculine English voice that makes him wonderful for all sorts of different roles. Just as entertaining is the younger brother, Simon (played by Alex Lowe), who is an obnoxious prankster with a playful soul. The late, great John Gielgud is also memorable in this movie for his portrayal of a kind, but mysterious doctor.
Lewis Gilbert's direction is absolutely flawless, and i definately look forward to seeing his other films. Haunted is such an attractive movie: everything looks so heavenly and enticing. In the daytime, Edbrook is such a charming place; a wonderful place to spend your childhood, but when night creeps up, it shows a perfect gothic presence.
Haunted is probably the best ghost story i've ever experienced. It's unpredictable, charming, touching, frightening, and constantly entertaining. Perhaps my favorite scene is when David tries to trap a possible ghost outside of the Mariell mansion, and from out of nowhere, a cloud of dust spins in fascination. Soon after, a distorted ghost that sobs uncontrollably is conjured that floats away, beckoning David to follow it to the angry lake. This is one of the many truly magical moments found in this one-of-kind film. The sound effects are just as impressive as the visuals (the sounds of the howling wind and crashing rain are terrific). Also, the score is heartbreakingly lovely.
Even if you don't like horror movies, you need to give this one a shot because it has so much to offer. There is no gore, so squeamish-stomach people should have a pleasant time with this one.
Rent or buy Lewis Gilbert's Haunted now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* * * * * (out of 5)
"You had your chance to leave, David"
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
What have you done to his eyes???
I feel so ashamed that it took me over 20 years to see this movie. I am sure it will be stuck in my mind for a very long time. From the opening score, i could tell i was in store for one hell of a film. I just finished it ten minutes ago, so i'm pretty lost for words. It's amazing how such powerful films can leave you so breathless and speechless. I would try to write a review now, but i'm too in awe to say anything meaningful.
Fans of this movie should also see Harold and Maude, which stars the late, great Ruth Gordon in another charming performance. She won an Oscar for Rosemary's Baby for Best Supporting Actress, and deservedly so.
The music group Fantomas (created by Faith No More's Mike Patton) does a spectacular cover of the Rosemary's Baby score; it's eerie, haunting, and intense. Be sure to check that out! Also, for your own sanity, please try to avoid In-awe-of-the-masters' review of this movie. It is so ignorant, full of mistakes, and will probably make you really mad. This person better be a very young child who doesn't know any better.
Haunted (1995)
"We're all mad, you know"
About once a year, a film impresses me so much that i have to call or write to all my friends immediately, demanding that they watch it too. Haunted is one of the finest movies i've seen in many years, and it's really a shame that not many people have seen it.
The cast is superb, with each character standing out, even those with just a couple lines (the fortune teller who reads David and Christina's palms is a good example). The stars, Aidan Quinn and Kate Beckinsale, are in excellent form, but Anthony Andrews steals the show in this one. He plays the character of Robert, the jealous and controlling big brother. There is a brilliant shot of his pale, depressed face surrounded by mocking darkness that perfectly defines the tortured-soul of the character. Anthony Andrews has such a strong, masculine English voice that makes him wonderful for all sorts of different roles. Just as entertaining is the younger brother, Simon (played by Alex Lowe), who is an obnoxious prankster with a playful soul. The late, great John Gielgud is also memorable in this movie for his portrayal of a kind, but mysterious doctor.
Lewis Gilbert's direction is absolutely flawless, and i definately look forward to seeing his other films. Haunted is such an attractive movie: everything looks so heavenly and enticing. In the daytime, Edbrook is such a charming place; a wonderful place to spend your childhood, but when night creeps up, it shows a perfect gothic presence.
Haunted is probably the best ghost story i've ever experienced. It's unpredictable, charming, touching, frightening, and constantly entertaining. Perhaps my favorite scene is when David tries to trap a possible ghost outside of the Mariell mansion, and from out of nowhere, a cloud of dust spins in fascination. Soon after, a distorted ghost that sobs uncontrollably is conjured that floats away, beckoning David to follow it to the angry lake. This is one of the many truly magical moments found in this one-of-kind film. The sound effects are just as impressive as the visuals (the sounds of the howling wind and crashing rain are terrific). Also, the score is heartbreakingly lovely.
Even if you don't like horror movies, you need to give this one a shot because it has so much to offer. There is no gore, so squeamish-stomach people should have a pleasant time with this one.
Rent or buy Lewis Gilbert's Haunted now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
* * * * * (out of 5)
"You had your chance to leave, David"
Psycho II (1983)
"Just don't let them take me back to the institution"
Psycho II is, without a doubt, the greatest sequel of all time. Having to make a follow-up to a film as unique and wonderful as Psycho seems like an impossible task, but director Richard Franklin and brilliant writer Tom Holland knew how to pull it off. This isn't a rip-off of the original like some sequels are; this really stands on its own. It's unpredictable, chilling, gruesome, exciting, interesting, and surprisingly touching.
With Psycho II, we are able to see exactly what kind of man Norman is. We get such a clear feeling of how he thinks and feels, and we realize what a fascinating character he really is. He is no longer the villain here, and instead, we just wish that everyone could leave the man alone. Anthony Perkins' performance is too good for words, and the other actors shine as well, especially Meg Tilly, Robert Loggia, and Dennis Franz.
The only real misfire in this movie is that they showed the shower scene from the original Psycho at the very beginning. It doesn't serve any real purpose, especially since there is so much more to Psycho than that one famous scene. However, it recovers quickly during the opening credits when we see the sun set upon Norman's creepy house, making it look lovely. One of the best things about this movie is the music. Jerry Goldsmith contributes some really lovely scores, and they are used perfectly throughout the movie. I honestly can't get enough of the main score; it's beautiful.
Try to avoid seeing this on TV. USA does a lot of editing, and they completely cut out a couple really special parts, in my opinion. The parts they cut out are the most sensitive/sentimental parts of the movie, so try and rent Psycho II instead!!!
Just as good as the original, in my opinion. ***** (out of 5)
Return of the Living Dead III (1993)
a real achievement in the world of horror movies...
I saw the first two entries of the "Return of the Living Dead" series a long time ago. Even though they were both pretty entertaining and outrageous, I wanted the third one to bring new life to the series. I didn't want the same old thing because when you make sequels that cover no new ground, it's just a waste of time. I had low expectations for Return of the Living Dead 3, so I was in true disbelief as I watched it for the first time.
I don't really understand why it's a sequel to Return Of The Living Dead, because the only similarity the two films have is that zombies dominate each of them. Even with that, the two movies couldn't be any more different. The first two Return of the Living Deads spoofed horror movies, and didn't take themselves seriously at all. They were made to make you chuckle at the lame acting, unbelievably corny dialogue, and monsters with a sense of humor. Whereas, the third one held nothing back and tried to captivate the viewers with a touching story, great acting, fantastic directing, a clevar script, and special effects like you've never seen before. Against all odds, Return of the Living Dead 3 is definately one of the most impressive horror movies of all time.
It's not an uplifting movie at all, for there is constant suffering from start to end. But it's very refreshing to have a zombie movie that can be as serious as heartbreaking dramas, and that can show you how many horrible things there are in this world. The images are horrifying and ugly, and will indeed stun you. The last twenty minutes include some of the finest special effects, and lead to one amazing conclusion. The ending is perfect!!!! It was one of the greatest endings I've ever seen.
You don't need to see the previous entries of the series, because they share nothing in common with this. I would recommend it to everybody, especially those who love a good scare...
Shallow Grave (1994)
What's one corpse between friends?
EXCELLENT MOVIE!!! "Shallow Grave" may be hard to digest at first because the story is very dark and disturbing. However, I believe even the most squeamish of people should see it because it is brilliant in so many ways. The director, John Hodge, holds nothing back, and succeeds in making every aspect of the movie seem real and haunting. He knew exactly what to do with each of the three main characters, and truly understood the nature of each one.
Some people I know didn't really buy the transformation of David (very wonderfully and intensely played by Christopher Eccleston), but I think it makes perfect sense. David was the calm and serious one of the group. After the death of Hugo and the discovering of the money, he was the only person still with a conscious. So when he was the one forced to cut up the body, it was very understandable how it started his road to madness.
John Hodge made this movie very original because he drifted away from everything trendy or common. On the gory scenes, instead of showing the corpses, we just see the bonesaw going back and forth, and we just see David's horrified face as he throws down the hammer repeatedly with the sounds of teeth crunching in the background. This allows us to use our imagination, and that makes the scenes extremely scary because it makes us think of the darkest things imaginable. Saying it's not an uplifting movie would be an understatement, but it's still really exciting to watch.
"Shallow Grave" focuses on the lives of three flatmates, and how they react to the most bizarre occurrences. What's really interesting about the movie is that each character is portrayed as the villain in different parts, so you'll probably root for each of them at one point or another. It's hard to believe we could care for people with such selfish intentions, but each character shows innocence sometimes. It makes the movie so much better and more exciting when we loathe just one of them.
The music is totally flawless. I think the most depressing scenes would only be half as effective without that surreal melancholy piano tune in the background. Hearing that score and staring into David's zombified expression is a perfect combination. Just when I thought the movie couldn't get any better, I witnessed one of the most spectacular and bittersweet endings I've ever seen! I don't want to give anything away because I was in perfect awe of everything that happened in the final ten minutes. In the middle of the movie, I knew the ending was going to be extremely unpredictable, and I was just hoping it would be satisfying. I couldn't have asked for anything more. John Hodge made a very wise and creative choice in having the melodic Andy Williams song "Happy Heart" playing while we see flashbacks of the three flatmates laughing and having a wonderful time together.
This movie will definately make you think afterwards, and with everything you realize, you grow to love and appreciate the movie more and more. 10/10...