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Post by Toasted Cheese on Aug 3, 2020 3:21:41 GMT
These high profile critics had a lot of pull in this era and could easily make or break a film. FT13th series though are really critic proof. It wouldn't have mattered what they said, because the demographic target audience, teens, many wanted to see it regardless of what self-absorbed and self-important critics think.
It was a smash hit, made a lot of money for Paramount and S&E just ended up acting as childishly as the audience that flocked to see it. Their bulls<>t walked in this instance. Ya can't keep a good genre down!!! Yeah, I really do enjoy the early 80s slasher pic. I just think they're fun. I just got done watching a Siskel and Ebert special episode on "women in danger" (wish I could post it here, but I'm not able to do that from my phone). And really they just get so much stuff so wrong. Oh, to make a list! First, they are always saying how these slasher pics almost always feature young, sexy, half naked women getting killed in gruesome ways. And that the killer is usually some sexually frustrated man who is angered by these women. I'd say this is partially true. They heavily cited the first "Friday the 13th", even using the whole scene where Annie gets picked up by the driver of the jeep. Ummm... hello! That's no sexually frustrated man there, fellas! Then they fail to mention that in many of these movies (and all of the Fridays and Halloweens), there are just as many male victims as there are female victims. Not to mention that the final survivor is I think always without exception a woman. And these two pompous, clueless critics really step up the ignorance and they start citing films like "The Howling", "When a Stranger Calls" and "Motel Hell", none of which belong on this list whatsoever. "Motel Hell" was a black comedy, for Pete's sake! And Roger Ebert actually gave it ***, so I wish he would have said something to his more arrogant partner. When it came to the slasher horror genre, these guys were chumps.
The films had their own blueprint and usual coda of a final girl fighting off the killer, but so what!! Some were better than others, some were downright cheesy and many were just good subversive fun. If the actors were well cast and had some nice rapport and decent acting skills, they were also elevated. I find many of the characters in My Bloody Valentine quite likeable and their demises were made more potent for it. 81 was THE year for slashers and some of the best:
The Funhouse had hardly a drop of blood and managed to amp up the tension to the max and boy does it ever exploit its setting for optimum atmosphere.
The Burning I find preferable to the original FT13th, perhaps a bit too much lingering on the kills which gives it a fake look, but it bends the main generic rule a bit by having a nerdy creepy guy the final kid and he has to get rescued by Todd the camp counselor.
Happy Birthday To Me is my personal fav, full of flavor and well mounted, despite a convoluted plot.
The Prowler works ok with its tension and perhaps has better Savini make-up effects than The Burning and better kill set pieces. Not as ambitious, but works better for it.
Dead & Buried was creepy and sadistic and gave us an original, compelling and even suspenseful take with a mix of slasher and dead will rise again genre.
HM's to Night Warning aka Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker with the one and only genuine and authentic Susan Tyrrell, and Hell Night with Linda Blair which did a creepy atmosphere very well too even if blood is virtually non-existent. Even Madman tends to fly under the blood stained axe.
Some fizzers like Night School aka Terror Eyes and Final Exam and there were also plenty of other excellent horrors from 81' that weren't slasher.
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Post by avocadojoe on Aug 3, 2020 5:06:14 GMT
Yeah, I really do enjoy the early 80s slasher pic. I just think they're fun. I just got done watching a Siskel and Ebert special episode on "women in danger" (wish I could post it here, but I'm not able to do that from my phone). And really they just get so much stuff so wrong. Oh, to make a list! First, they are always saying how these slasher pics almost always feature young, sexy, half naked women getting killed in gruesome ways. And that the killer is usually some sexually frustrated man who is angered by these women. I'd say this is partially true. They heavily cited the first "Friday the 13th", even using the whole scene where Annie gets picked up by the driver of the jeep. Ummm... hello! That's no sexually frustrated man there, fellas! Then they fail to mention that in many of these movies (and all of the Fridays and Halloweens), there are just as many male victims as there are female victims. Not to mention that the final survivor is I think always without exception a woman. And these two pompous, clueless critics really step up the ignorance and they start citing films like "The Howling", "When a Stranger Calls" and "Motel Hell", none of which belong on this list whatsoever. "Motel Hell" was a black comedy, for Pete's sake! And Roger Ebert actually gave it ***, so I wish he would have said something to his more arrogant partner. When it came to the slasher horror genre, these guys were chumps.
The films had their own blueprint and usual coda of a final girl fighting off the killer, but so what!! Some were better than others, some were downright cheesy and many were just good subversive fun. If the actors were well cast and had some nice rapport and decent acting skills, they were also elevated. I find many of the characters in My Bloody Valentine quite likeable and their demises were made more potent for it. 81 was THE year for slashers and some of the best:
The Funhouse had hardly a drop of blood and managed to amp up the tension to the max and boy does it ever exploit its setting for optimum atmosphere.
The Burning I find preferable to the original FT13th, perhaps a bit too much lingering on the kills which gives it a fake look, but it bends the main generic rule a bit by having a nerdy creepy guy the final kid and he has to get rescued by Todd the camp counselor.
Happy Birthday To Me is my personal fav, full of flavor and well mounted, despite a convoluted plot.
The Prowler works ok with its tension and perhaps has better Savini make-up effects than The Burning and better kill set pieces. Not as ambitious, but works better for it.
Dead & Buried was creepy and sadistic and gave us an original, compelling and even suspenseful take with a mix of slasher and dead will rise again genre.
HM's to Night Warning aka Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker with the one and only genuine and authentic Susan Tyrrell, and Hell Night with Linda Blair which did a creepy atmosphere very well too even if blood is virtually non-existent. Even Madman tends to fly under the blood stained axe.
Some fizzers like Night School aka Terror Eyes and Final Exam and there were also plenty of other excellent horrors from 81' that weren't slasher.
Nice post. I do like "My Bloody Valentine" pretty well and "Happy Birthday to Me" even better. The latter had its own distinct tone and originally, they had a great, memorable theme tune that got changed a long time ago. Also, MSA is a compellingly distressed young girl. I saw "The Prowler" about 5 or 6 years ago and I remember being surprised by who the killer turned out to be. Isn't that the one set in the 40s? "Dead and Buried" was much more graphic than most and I am thinking that the dark haired heroine from "Flash Gordon" was in this one. I've never thought of "The Funhouse" as a slasher pic. It just seems like its own genre, closer to TCM with its family of freaks and, of course, the director. And Madame Zora! 😁 I did see "Night Warning", I think upon your suggesting it, Toasty. It was different and I liked it. One of Susan's oddest characters. I liked "Hell Night" with the always appealing Linda Blair. I've never seen "Madman", I don't believe. "Final Exam" was poor as was "Graduation Day". In no way is it a slasher, but did you ever see "976-EVIL"? (I may have asked you this a long time ago.) It's fun, with the same actor who was in "Fright Night", Stephen Geoffreys, maybe. (I find him likable.) and Sandy Dennis in one of her typical, gloriously neurotic turns as the Bible sprayin' mama! "Mother's Day" was also good and very different, but it's not really a slasher. |
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Post by Toasted Cheese on Aug 3, 2020 5:39:56 GMT
When it came to the slasher horror genre, these guys were chumps.
The films had their own blueprint and usual coda of a final girl fighting off the killer, but so what!! Some were better than others, some were downright cheesy and many were just good subversive fun. If the actors were well cast and had some nice rapport and decent acting skills, they were also elevated. I find many of the characters in My Bloody Valentine quite likeable and their demises were made more potent for it. 81 was THE year for slashers and some of the best:
The Funhouse had hardly a drop of blood and managed to amp up the tension to the max and boy does it ever exploit its setting for optimum atmosphere.
The Burning I find preferable to the original FT13th, perhaps a bit too much lingering on the kills which gives it a fake look, but it bends the main generic rule a bit by having a nerdy creepy guy the final kid and he has to get rescued by Todd the camp counselor.
Happy Birthday To Me is my personal fav, full of flavor and well mounted, despite a convoluted plot.
The Prowler works ok with its tension and perhaps has better Savini make-up effects than The Burning and better kill set pieces. Not as ambitious, but works better for it.
Dead & Buried was creepy and sadistic and gave us an original, compelling and even suspenseful take with a mix of slasher and dead will rise again genre.
HM's to Night Warning aka Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker with the one and only genuine and authentic Susan Tyrrell, and Hell Night with Linda Blair which did a creepy atmosphere very well too even if blood is virtually non-existent. Even Madman tends to fly under the blood stained axe.
Some fizzers like Night School aka Terror Eyes and Final Exam and there were also plenty of other excellent horrors from 81' that weren't slasher.
Nice post. I do like "My Bloody Valentine" pretty well and "Happy Birthday to Me" even better. The latter had its own distinct tone and originally, they had a great, memorable theme tune that got changed a long time ago. Also, MSA is a compellingly distressed young girl. I saw "The Prowler" about 5 or 6 years ago and I remember being surprised by who the killer turned out to be. Isn't that the one set in the 40s? "Dead and Buried" was much more graphic than most and I am thinking that the dark haired heroine from "Flash Gordon" was in this one. I've never thought of "The Funhouse" as a slasher pic. It just seems like its own genre, closer to TCM with its family of freaks and, of course, the director. And Madame Zora! 😁 I did see "Night Warning", I think upon your suggesting it, Toasty. It was different and I liked it. One of Susan's oddest characters. I liked "Hell Night" with the always appealing Linda Blair. I've never seen "Madman", I don't believe. "Final Exam" was poor as was "Graduation Day". In no way is it a slasher, but did you ever see "976-EVIL"? (I may have asked you this a long time ago.) It's fun, with the same actor who was in "Fright Night", Stephen Geoffreys, maybe. (I find him likable.) and Sandy Dennis in one of her typical, gloriously neurotic turns as the Bible sprayin' mama! "Mother's Day" was also good and very different, but it's not really a slasher. MBV and HBTM make a good double feature. I saw Funhouse and MBV as a double feature though in the early 80's. I was a tad disappointed with Funhouse upon first viewing as it didn't satiate the bloodthirsty ghoul in me, but it was a hard one to shake off due to the tension and strong atmosphere. It grew on me quite quickly though as did TCM, which wasn't theatrically released in NZ until 84'. Hooper knew how to deliver a less is more approach to the violence and make it appear impactful and disturbing. This takes a lot of directorial skill. MBV also left a lingering approach, with its cold and stark setting. While The Funhouse is not generically slasher, its scenario and how it plays out, I feel owes more to the genre but in its own unique way. TCM was even before Halloween and the slasher term wasn't even on the radar.
You can now see HBTM with the original score on dvd. There was so much protest when they first released it on dvd. Changed the cover with an image that wasn't related to the film and yes, replaced the score with a crappy discoey beat one. WTF! I bought a copy at K-Mart and promptly took it back the next day disgusted and wanted my money back. It was a copyright issue with the original composer at the time.
The Prowler aka Rosemary's Killer, opened in the 40's and then went to present day 1980 celebrations in the same boarding house. It is a pretty nifty little film with a leading lady, Vicky Dawson, that could easily be mistaken for the lovely and charismatic Amy Steele in FT13th Part 2.
I haven't even watch Graduation Day in its entirety, only fast forward. I despised it. Even Final Exam was more watchable.
Madman is nothing exceptional, but it tries its best and has some good horror violence kills without being overtly graphic and a nice foresty atmosphere....."Oh Marz! Madman Marz! Come and get me Madman Marz."
I forgot to mention Just Before Dawn - 81'. Have you seen this stalker hillbilly thriller? Plays out very well in the woods, like a The Trees Have Eyes, and doesn't go ott on graphic violence and gore.
I have seen 976-Evil a couple of times. So long ago, will need to re-visit to make a more informed opinion with hindsight. I recall the main actor, not Geoffrey's, was kinda cute.
Love Mother's Day -80'. Both this and Motel Hell - 80' both belong in their own special brand of sub horror genre. They were original presentations, well cast and the satire is clever.
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Post by moviemouth on Aug 3, 2020 5:54:50 GMT
I highly dislike the movie too, but not for the same reasons. It is just a very boring slasher movie imo. I love the atmosphere of it, but there is just not much payoff in the violence and gore department. It was cut to ribbons, as was the better My Bloody Valentine - 81' by the MPAA, due to concern that slasher movie violence was contributing to the breakdown of society as John Lennon had recently been shot. My issue with the movie has very little to do with the lack of gore. The movie simply has nothing to offer me. I don't think any of the characters are particularly likable or interesting, so the movie gives me nobody to root for or reason to care what happens to any of them. The movie isn't suspenseful, funny, scary or even creepy to me. These are the same basic problems I have with most slasher movies, including My Bloody Valentine. The good slasher movies hit all the notes that this movie doesn't. Part 3 and Part 4 are also quite a bit better than part 2 imo. The Burning is a much better movie than most of the Friday the 13th movies. I am a fan of the Halloween franchise, the Scream franchise and the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise to a certain extent, so it isn't that I am just blatantly against slasher movies. The genre is just very hard to get right. Black Christmas and Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre are well made visceral horror and I will praise those movies all day long. |
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Post by Toasted Cheese on Aug 3, 2020 6:11:25 GMT
I love the atmosphere of it, but there is just not much payoff in the violence and gore department. It was cut to ribbons, as was the better My Bloody Valentine - 81' by the MPAA, due to concern that slasher movie violence was contributing to the breakdown of society as John Lennon had recently been shot. My issue with the movie has very little to do with the lack of gore. The movie simply has nothing to offer me. I don't think any of the characters are particularly likable or interesting, so the movie gives me nobody to root for or reason to care what happens to any of them. The movie isn't suspenseful, funny, scary or even creepy to me. These are the same basic problems I have with most slasher movies, including My Bloody Valentine. The good slasher movies hit all the notes that this movie doesn't. Part 3 and Part 4 are also quite a bit better than part 2 imo. The Burning is a much better movie than most of the Friday the 13th movies. I am a fan of the Halloween franchise, the Scream franchise and the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise to a certain extent, so it isn't that I am just blatantly against slasher movies. The genre is just very hard to get right. Black Christmas and Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre are well made visceral horror and I will praise those movies all day long. I came to FT13th Part 2 in the mid 80's on vhs after seeing most of the others first. I was surprised at how much I liked it, the look and feel of it, (I find it the warmest of the Friday's) and did think it was quite suspenseful. It also has a nice drawn out climax with Jason stalking Ginny, one of the best Friday final girls to my taste.
My backlash to it is only born out of being disappointed at the tameness of it compared to the other entries. I do like part 3 and 4 as well, but I don't like the final girls as much in these ones. I also find Parts 5, 6 and 7 extremely entertaining. I used to like Part 6 the best as my favorite of the first 8, but now I gravitate towards Part 5.
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Post by moviemouth on Aug 3, 2020 6:16:16 GMT
My issue with the movie has very little to do with the lack of gore. The movie simply has nothing to offer me. I don't think any of the characters are particularly likable or interesting, so the movie gives me nobody to root for or reason to care what happens to any of them. The movie isn't suspenseful, funny, scary or even creepy to me. These are the same basic problems I have with most slasher movies, including My Bloody Valentine. The good slasher movies hit all the notes that this movie doesn't. Part 3 and Part 4 are also quite a bit better than part 2 imo. The Burning is a much better movie than most of the Friday the 13th movies. I am a fan of the Halloween franchise, the Scream franchise and the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise to a certain extent, so it isn't that I am just blatantly against slasher movies. The genre is just very hard to get right. Black Christmas and Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre are well made visceral horror and I will praise those movies all day long. I came to FT13th Part 2 in the mid 80's on vhs after seeing most of the others first. I was surprised at how much I liked it, the look and feel of it, (I find it the warmest of the Friday's) and did think it was quite suspenseful. It also has a nice drawn out climax with Jason stalking Ginny, one of the best Friday final girls to my taste.
My backlash to it is only born out of being disappointed at the tameness of it compared to the other entries. I do like part 3 and 4 as well, but I don't like the final girls as much in these ones. I also find Parts 5, 6 and 7 extremely entertaining. I used to like Part 6 the best as my favorite of the first 8, but now I gravitate towards Part 5.
I will give it a bit of credit for the last act with the shrine to his mother, even though I think they make Jason too dumb during that scene. I don't believe that he would even for a second believe her that she is his mother. I know he is slow, but considering that all of this is because of his mother that he would know exactly what his mother looked like. It just comes off as a ridiculous moment when he pauses because the final girl pretends to be his mother, especially when the head of his mother's corpse is right there in the same room. |
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Post by Toasted Cheese on Aug 3, 2020 6:22:58 GMT
I came to FT13th Part 2 in the mid 80's on vhs after seeing most of the others first. I was surprised at how much I liked it, the look and feel of it, (I find it the warmest of the Friday's) and did think it was quite suspenseful. It also has a nice drawn out climax with Jason stalking Ginny, one of the best Friday final girls to my taste.
My backlash to it is only born out of being disappointed at the tameness of it compared to the other entries. I do like part 3 and 4 as well, but I don't like the final girls as much in these ones. I also find Parts 5, 6 and 7 extremely entertaining. I used to like Part 6 the best as my favorite of the first 8, but now I gravitate towards Part 5.
I will give it a bit of credit for the last act with the shrine to his mother, even though I think they make Jason too dumb during that scene. I don't believe that he would even for a second believe her that she is his mother. I know he is slow, but considering that all of this is because of his mother that he would know exactly what his mother looked like. It just comes off as a ridiculous moment when he pauses because the final girl pretends to be his mother, especially when the head of his mother's corpse is right there in the same room. Eh! A bit of reverse psychology on a dumbo psychotic and in the context of a cheesy slasher, it was Ginny being as resourceful as she could with what she had at her disposal. I liked how they had her peeing herself as well when hiding under the bed to convey how frightened she was. |
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Post by avocadojoe on Aug 3, 2020 6:24:43 GMT
My issue with the movie has very little to do with the lack of gore. The movie simply has nothing to offer me. I don't think any of the characters are particularly likable or interesting, so the movie gives me nobody to root for or reason to care what happens to any of them. The movie isn't suspenseful, funny, scary or even creepy to me. These are the same basic problems I have with most slasher movies, including My Bloody Valentine. The good slasher movies hit all the notes that this movie doesn't. Part 3 and Part 4 are also quite a bit better than part 2 imo. The Burning is a much better movie than most of the Friday the 13th movies. I am a fan of the Halloween franchise, the Scream franchise and the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise to a certain extent, so it isn't that I am just blatantly against slasher movies. The genre is just very hard to get right. Black Christmas and Halloween and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre are well made visceral horror and I will praise those movies all day long. I came to FT13th Part 2 in the mid 80's on vhs after seeing most of the others first. I was surprised at how much I liked it, the look and feel of it, (I find it the warmest of the Friday's) and did think it was quite suspenseful. It also has a nice drawn out climax with Jason stalking Ginny, one of the best Friday final girls to my taste.
My backlash to it is only born out of being disappointed at the tameness of it compared to the other entries. I do like part 3 and 4 as well, but I don't like the final girls as much in these ones. I also find Parts 5, 6 and 7 extremely entertaining. I used to like Part 6 the best as my favorite of the first 8, but now I gravitate towards Part 5.
Yeah, I find the second Friday the most likable out of the bunch. A strange thing to say about the movie, but there ya go. Probably because of Ginny, who is my favorite final girl. To say nothing of the fact that Amy Steel gives a solid performance. I always lump the first four together. Then 5, 6 and 7, all of which I like better than I used to. 8 is kind of ridiculous. I watched it again last week. The main guy was Chrissy's Baptist preacher father on "Three's Company". Jeez. I didn't hate it, but this one didn't even try to be scary. 9 was mean spirited and by far the most violent one. 10 was campy and boring and those two qualities do not very often meet up together. |
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Post by moviemouth on Aug 3, 2020 6:27:59 GMT
I will give it a bit of credit for the last act with the shrine to his mother, even though I think they make Jason too dumb during that scene. I don't believe that he would even for a second believe her that she is his mother. I know he is slow, but considering that all of this is because of his mother that he would know exactly what his mother looked like. It just comes off as a ridiculous moment when he pauses because the final girl pretends to be his mother, especially when the head of his mother's corpse is right there in the same room. Eh! A bit of reverse psychology on a dumbo psychotic and in the context of a cheesy slasher, it was Ginny being as resourceful as she could with what she had at her disposal. I liked how they had her peeing herself as well when hiding under the bed to convey how frightened she was. I get that, but it just made me roll my eyes. |
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Post by Toasted Cheese on Aug 3, 2020 6:31:45 GMT
I came to FT13th Part 2 in the mid 80's on vhs after seeing most of the others first. I was surprised at how much I liked it, the look and feel of it, (I find it the warmest of the Friday's) and did think it was quite suspenseful. It also has a nice drawn out climax with Jason stalking Ginny, one of the best Friday final girls to my taste.
My backlash to it is only born out of being disappointed at the tameness of it compared to the other entries. I do like part 3 and 4 as well, but I don't like the final girls as much in these ones. I also find Parts 5, 6 and 7 extremely entertaining. I used to like Part 6 the best as my favorite of the first 8, but now I gravitate towards Part 5.
Yeah, I find the second Friday the most likable out of the bunch. A strange thing to say about the movie, but there ya go. Probably because of Ginny, who is my favorite final girl. To say nothing of the fact that Amy Steel gives a solid performance.
I always lump the first four together. Then 5, 6 and 7, all of which I like better than I used to. 8 is kind of ridiculous. I watched it again last week. The main guy was Chrissy's Baptist preacher father on "Three's Company". Jeez. I didn't hate it, but this one didn't even try to be scary. 9 was mean spirited and by far the most violent one. 10 was campy and boring and those two qualities do not very often meet up together. Steel makes the film more than a worthwhile visit.
I don't like 8 either. They attempted to do something different and it didn't really work for me as well as the others. 5, 6 and 7 had enjoyable characters, especially in 5 and the bf in 7 was to die for.
I hate 9 with a vengeance, it was flat and stupid, but I have a soft spot for X. I find it a lot of fun. I adore Freddy vs Jason.
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Post by Toasted Cheese on Aug 3, 2020 6:33:21 GMT
Eh! A bit of reverse psychology on a dumbo psychotic and in the context of a cheesy slasher, it was Ginny being as resourceful as she could with what she had at her disposal. I liked how they had her peeing herself as well when hiding under the bed to convey how frightened she was. Yeah, I liked both these elements as well. I was very impressed how Ginny was able to keep her wits while pretending to be Jason's mother. "Dumbo psychotic!"That's pretty funny. And, of course, it brings to mind what we all know is the single most un-PC line in the entire franchise!Please refresh my memory. It has been yonks since last visited. |
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Post by avocadojoe on Aug 3, 2020 6:39:42 GMT
Yeah, I liked both these elements as well. I was very impressed how Ginny was able to keep her wits while pretending to be Jason's mother. "Dumbo psychotic!"That's pretty funny. And, of course, it brings to mind what we all know is the single most un-PC line in the entire franchise!Please refresh my memory. It has been yonks since last visited. When Ginny is at the inn drinking with her guy friends, she's speculating about Jason. "I mean, what would Jason be like now? A boy trapped in a man's body? Some frightened retard?"The way she says it is so matter of fact and these days it's not what you're expecting to hear. Me and a couple friends always (to our eternal shame) have to just LOL! I saw Jason vs. Freddy once. I don't really remember it. |
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Post by Toasted Cheese on Aug 3, 2020 6:46:12 GMT
Please refresh my memory. It has been yonks since last visited. When Ginny is at the inn drinking with her guy friends, she's speculating about Jason. "I mean, what would Jason be like now? A boy trapped in a man's body? Some frightened retard?"The way she says it is so matter of fact and these days it's not what you're expecting to hear. Me and a couple friends always (to our eternal shame) have to just LOL!
I saw Jason vs. Freddy once. I don't really remember it.I recall that line now. Typical 80's nonchalance and straight from the hip... 
I don't think anyone would, because as far as I know, they only made Freddy vs Jason... 
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Post by avocadojoe on Aug 3, 2020 6:57:47 GMT
When Ginny is at the inn drinking with her guy friends, she's speculating about Jason. "I mean, what would Jason be like now? A boy trapped in a man's body? Some frightened retard?"The way she says it is so matter of fact and these days it's not what you're expecting to hear. Me and a couple friends always (to our eternal shame) have to just LOL!
I saw Jason vs. Freddy once. I don't really remember it.I recall that line now. Typical 80's nonchalance and straight from the hip...
I don't think anyone would, because as far as I know, they only made Freddy vs Jason...
Ha! Ha! |
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Post by Prime etc. on Aug 3, 2020 7:03:57 GMT
"We worried if talking about these films may help them out at the box office--we sure hope not!"
lol well I bookmarked a couple of them I was unfamiliar with. I remember seeing the tail end of this show in 1980--I remember the Halloween clip for the first time and them discussing it.
Siskel and Ebert were not genre-focused critics. They were kind of like the McDonalds of critics. I don't know how many European films they watched--the "killer POV" shot was used in Italian horror since the 60s giallo and maybe earlier in the krimi.
Plus the image of woman in jeopardy was common to horror film since at least the 1920s. The monster holding the naked woman.
Obviously sex sells, and monsters.
I liked Terror Train.
Not fond of My Bloody Valentine though--feels too Canadian.
Siskel and Ebert gave Rituals their Dog of a Week award--and yet the story is about 5 middle aged men--so there's no women hacked up in that.
Without Warning despite the alien feels like a slasher film but you got Jack Palance and Martin Landau so it has much more performance-based stuff than a Friday the 13th.
Just Before Dawn had a good twist--but then you also had George Kennedy talking to plants.
I think Motel Hell would have been better as a serious film. The pig mask killer and stuffing bodies in the ground was a neat idea.
The women in peril theme-the most noticeable thing is that men never come to the rescue of the women. They are either defeated or antagonistic. They did not mention this aspect. What about that trend?
Are the males ever effective with the killers?
The peep show aspect of seeing women chopped up has been around since the 50s just not as visceral before censorship restrictions. In Hands of the Ripper a girl stabs a woman in the eye.
Artistically I think the slasher film is a terribly dull genre. The giallo was much more artful
Four Flies on Grey Velvet, Sexy Cat, Bird With the Crystal Plumage, Deep Red...I don't know if Ebert or Siskel ever mentioned them? Not to my recollection.
"I have just been fired because nobody wants to see vampire killers any more, or vampires either. Apparently all they want are demented madmen, running around in ski masks hacking up young virgins."
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Post by avocadojoe on Aug 3, 2020 7:14:48 GMT
"We worried if talking about these films may help them out at the box office--we sure hope not!" lol well I bookmarked a couple of them I was unfamiliar with. I remember seeing the tail end of this show in 1980--I remember the Halloween clip for the first time and them discussing it. Siskel and Ebert were not genre-focused critics. They were kind of like the McDonalds of critics. I don't know how many European films they watched--the "killer POV" shot was used in Italian horror since the 60s giallo and maybe earlier in the krimi. Plus the image of woman in jeopardy was common to horror film since at least the 1920s. The monster holding the naked woman. Obviously sex sells, and monsters. I liked Terror Train. Not fond of My Bloody Valentine though--feels too Canadian. Siskel and Ebert gave Rituals their Dog of a Week award--and yet the story is about 5 middle aged men--so there's no women hacked up in that. Without Warning despite the alien feels like a slasher film but you got Jack Palance and Martin Landau so it has much more performance-based stuff than a Friday the 13th. Just Before Dawn had a good twist--but then you also had George Kennedy talking to plants. I think Motel Hell would have been better as a serious film. The pig mask killer and stuffing bodies in the ground was a neat idea. The women in peril theme-the most noticeable thing is that men never come to the rescue of the women. They are either defeated or antagonistic. They did not mention this aspect. What about that trend? Are the males ever effective with the killers? The peep show aspect of seeing women chopped up has been around since the 50s just not as visceral before censorship restrictions. In Hands of the Ripper a girl stabs a woman in the eye. Artistically I think the slasher film is a terribly dull genre. The giallo was much more artful Four Flies on Grey Velvet, Sexy Cat, Bird With the Crystal Plumage, Deep Red...I don't know if Ebert or Siskel ever mentioned them? Not to my recollection. "I have just been fired because nobody wants to see vampire killers any more, or vampires either. Apparently all they want are demented madmen, running around in ski masks hacking up young virgins."Re: removing the humor from "Motel Hell" would necessitate getting rid of Nancy Parsons and getting rid of Nancy is never a good idea because she just might get rid of you first! "Meat's meat and man's gotta eat!"Poetry. Sheer poetry. Nancy Parsons is one of my favorite actresses, a comedy genius outright, and "Motel Hell" is probably in my top ten funniest movies ever. That is if we are talking about movies that actually make me laugh. Which MH certainly does. Personally, I wouldn't change one thing. I adore "Motel Hell". I agree with you that, stylistically, the genre usually comes up a near zero. Argento and (my favorite) Mario Bava directed beautifully. "Blood and Black Lace" and "Black Sabbath" being my favorites from Bava. I was happy to read your citing of Argento's earlier pictures, which usually get overlooked in the Argento canon. I also liked "Cat O' Nine Tails". |
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Post by avocadojoe on Aug 3, 2020 7:33:39 GMT
Nice post. I do like "My Bloody Valentine" pretty well and "Happy Birthday to Me" even better. The latter had its own distinct tone and originally, they had a great, memorable theme tune that got changed a long time ago. Also, MSA is a compellingly distressed young girl. I saw "The Prowler" about 5 or 6 years ago and I remember being surprised by who the killer turned out to be. Isn't that the one set in the 40s? "Dead and Buried" was much more graphic than most and I am thinking that the dark haired heroine from "Flash Gordon" was in this one. I've never thought of "The Funhouse" as a slasher pic. It just seems like its own genre, closer to TCM with its family of freaks and, of course, the director. And Madame Zora! 😁 I did see "Night Warning", I think upon your suggesting it, Toasty. It was different and I liked it. One of Susan's oddest characters. I liked "Hell Night" with the always appealing Linda Blair. I've never seen "Madman", I don't believe. "Final Exam" was poor as was "Graduation Day". In no way is it a slasher, but did you ever see "976-EVIL"? (I may have asked you this a long time ago.) It's fun, with the same actor who was in "Fright Night", Stephen Geoffreys, maybe. (I find him likable.) and Sandy Dennis in one of her typical, gloriously neurotic turns as the Bible sprayin' mama! "Mother's Day" was also good and very different, but it's not really a slasher. MBV and HBTM make a good double feature. I saw Funhouse and MBV as a double feature though in the early 80's. I was a tad disappointed with Funhouse upon first viewing as it didn't satiate the bloodthirsty ghoul in me, but it was a hard one to shake off due to the tension and strong atmosphere. It grew on me quite quickly though as did TCM, which wasn't theatrically released in NZ until 84'. Hooper knew how to deliver a less is more approach to the violence and make it appear impactful and disturbing. This takes a lot of directorial skill. MBV also left a lingering approach, with its cold and stark setting. While The Funhouse is not generically slasher, its scenario and how it plays out, I feel owes more to the genre but in its own unique way. TCM was even before Halloween and the slasher term wasn't even on the radar.
You can now see HBTM with the original score on dvd. There was so much protest when they first released it on dvd. Changed the cover with an image that wasn't related to the film and yes, replaced the score with a crappy discoey beat one. WTF! I bought a copy at K-Mart and promptly took it back the next day disgusted and wanted my money back. It was a copyright issue with the original composer at the time.
The Prowler aka Rosemary's Killer, opened in the 40's and then went to present day 1980 celebrations in the same boarding house. It is a pretty nifty little film with a leading lady, Vicky Dawson, that could easily be mistaken for the lovely and charismatic Amy Steele in FT13th Part 2.
I haven't even watch Graduation Day in its entirety, only fast forward. I despised it. Even Final Exam was more watchable.
Madman is nothing exceptional, but it tries its best and has some good horror violence kills without being overtly graphic and a nice foresty atmosphere....."Oh Marz! Madman Marz! Come and get me Madman Marz."
I forgot to mention Just Before Dawn - 81'. Have you seen this stalker hillbilly thriller? Plays out very well in the woods, like a The Trees Have Eyes, and doesn't go ott on graphic violence and gore.
I have seen 976-Evil a couple of times. So long ago, will need to re-visit to make a more informed opinion with hindsight. I recall the main actor, not Geoffrey's, was kinda cute.
Love Mother's Day -80'. Both this and Motel Hell - 80' both belong in their own special brand of sub horror genre. They were original presentations, well cast and the satire is clever.
I have never seen "Just Before Dawn", but "The Trees Have Eyes" is cute! I watched the trailer a little while ago. Gregg Henry, the killer from "Body Double" is in it and so is George Kennedy! I love George Kennedy. I really do. I just watched "Airport 1975" again recently. It's my favorite of the 70s disaster pics. George is just so warm and huggable. |
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Post by Prime etc. on Aug 3, 2020 7:35:38 GMT
Re: removing the humor from "Motel Hell" would necessitate getting rid of Nancy Parsons Have you see THE LADY IN RED? A serious movie and she was one nasty character.
I liked Cat 'O' Nine Tails.
Sexy Cat is a must see. It's a Spanish giallo about a killer who adopts the identity of a comic book character. It is so modern in concept-and the killer's identity completely fits with current political trends. Has one particularly gory ending too.
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Post by avocadojoe on Aug 3, 2020 7:50:27 GMT
Re: removing the humor from "Motel Hell" would necessitate getting rid of Nancy Parsons Have you see THE LADY IN RED? A serious movie and she was one nasty character.
I liked Cat 'O' Nine Tails.
Sexy Cat is a must see. It's a Spanish giallo about a killer who adopts the identity of a comic book character. It is so modern in concept-and the killer's identity completely fits with current political trends. Has one particularly gory ending too.
I knew that Nancy was in "The Lady in Ted", but I've not seen it. Isn't her character a madam? I've seen Nancy in non-comedic roles and I've been impressed, but I'll take funny Nancy seven days a week. I've never heard of "Sexy Cat". Is the gore in the same vein of jaw dropping beauty as Argento and Bava and some other Italians? |
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Post by Prime etc. on Aug 3, 2020 8:01:02 GMT
I knew that Nancy was in "The Lady in Ted", but I've not seen it. Isn't her character a madam? I've seen Nancy in non-comedic roles and I've been impressed, but I'll take funny Nancy seven days a week. I've never heard of "Sexy Cat". Is the gore in the same vein of jaw dropping beauty as Argento and Bava and some other Italians? lol no she is not a madam.
I can't remember the gore--I am not a gore fan--but the final kill is gruesome involving a hydraulic press-type machine and someone's head.
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