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Post by Sarge on Oct 8, 2021 4:36:33 GMT
Stigmata (1999), I mostly enjoyed watching the beautiful and talented Patricia Arquette as Frankie, a young woman whose wrists begin to bleed and everyone thinks was a suicide attempt until she is publically whipped by an invisible force on the subway. The scenes of self mutilation were difficult, not just because of the brutality and gore, but the thought of something so beautiful being cut to pieces is disturbing. The religious theme is basically Catholic bashing with a possession twist that doesn't make sense and something-something about the Gospel of Thomas saying we don't need priests or churches. I don't know if the Gospel of Thomas actually says that, but it wouldn't matter if it did. on HBO
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Post by darkreviewer2013 on Oct 8, 2021 5:25:55 GMT
Followed up one Australian horror flick with another - Road Games (1981), which very surprisingly co-stars a young Jamie Lee Curtis.
I thought this was going to be a brutal slasher going into it, but instead it turned out to be an exciting and thoroughly immersive thriller about a truck driver who comes to suspect the driver of a green van he keeps encountering on the desolate Australian highway may be a prolific serial killer.
This movie felt a bit like Spielberg's Duel (1971) in reverse, with the truck driver in the role of protagonist. It features a delightful performance from Stacy Keach as the affable, mildly eccentric driver in question and boasts plenty of thrills, mystery and suspense and even its fair share of comedic moments.
This is only my second first-time viewing of the Horrorthon and I'm glad to be able to say that it's a damn good one.
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Post by jcush on Oct 8, 2021 6:07:59 GMT
My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To (2020) This is a very unsettling, subtle and very well made commentary on the burdens we carry and the burden to others we feel we are. It does this with a story of a brother and sister who kill homeless people to feed their vampiric younger brother. As a vampire movie it is very interesting, because it doesn't give us any information about why the younger brother is a vampire. He isn't given a whole lot of information about the outside world by his siblings, he is physically weak and he is treated like a child. This is a sad and depressing movie, but there is truth here that we often don't like to think about. The cast is solid, led by Patrick Fugit as the older brother who is having a much harder time continuing to murder people for the sake of keeping his younger brother alive than his sister. There are probably a couple ways the movie can be seen thematically, one is obvious and the other is up to the viewer's interpretation. 8/10 Never heard of this one. I'll have to check it out.
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Post by stefancrosscoe on Oct 8, 2021 9:50:29 GMT
Followed up one Australian horror flick with another - Road Games (1981), which very surprisingly co-stars a young Jamie Lee Curtis. I thought this was going to be a brutal slasher going into it, but instead it turned out to be an exciting and thoroughly immersive thriller about a truck driver who comes to suspect the driver of a green van he keeps encountering on the desolate Australian highway may be a prolific serial killer. This movie felt a bit like Spielberg's Duel (1971) in reverse, with the truck driver in the role of protagonist. It features a delightful performance from Stacy Keach as the affable, mildly eccentric driver in question and boasts plenty of thrills, mystery and suspense and even its fair share of comedic moments. This is only my second first-time viewing of the Horrorthon and I'm glad to be able to say that it's a damn good one. Oh yeah, Road Games is a damn fine horror-thriller, which I think was called "Rear Window on wheels", or so I believe, either by director Richard Frankin, or some critics back in the day. I love how the film constantly moves through Australia and the massive and desolate land in great pace, and all the quirky characters that show up, throughout the plot, of course some turns out to be quite creepy and scary as well. And as you said, I think one of the big reasons why it failed to break over at America, was that many tried to sell it as just another early 80s slasher film, and of course having the screamqueen of that era, Jamie Lee Curtis in as well, I guess most moviegoers were just not quite sure what they ended up with, as the film is more like a thriller, with some very chilling moments, but I guess sadly it suffered badly from terrible promotion. Just picked up an awesome Blu-ray release of Road Games earlier this summer, and sure had a blast re-watching it over again, and glad to see you also found it very rewarding. Outside Road Games, Psycho II is another favorite by Richard Franklin, who sure made several heavily Hitchcock tributes back then, and along with Brian De Palma were probably among those who did it best.
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Post by darkreviewer2013 on Oct 8, 2021 10:04:03 GMT
Followed up one Australian horror flick with another - Road Games (1981), which very surprisingly co-stars a young Jamie Lee Curtis. I thought this was going to be a brutal slasher going into it, but instead it turned out to be an exciting and thoroughly immersive thriller about a truck driver who comes to suspect the driver of a green van he keeps encountering on the desolate Australian highway may be a prolific serial killer. This movie felt a bit like Spielberg's Duel (1971) in reverse, with the truck driver in the role of protagonist. It features a delightful performance from Stacy Keach as the affable, mildly eccentric driver in question and boasts plenty of thrills, mystery and suspense and even its fair share of comedic moments. This is only my second first-time viewing of the Horrorthon and I'm glad to be able to say that it's a damn good one. Oh yeah, Road Games is a damn fine horror-thriller, which I think was called "Rear Window on wheels", or so I believe, either by director Richard Frankin, or some critics back in the day. I love how the film constantly moves through Australia and the massive and desolate land in great pace, and all the quirky characters that show up, throughout the plot, of course some turns out to be quite creepy and scary as well. And as you said, I think one of the big reasons why it failed to break over at America, was that many tried to sell it as just another early 80s slasher film, and of course having the screamqueen of that era, Jamie Lee Curtis in as well, I guess most moviegoers were just not quite sure what they ended up with, as the film is more like a thriller, with some very chilling moments, but I guess sadly it suffered badly from terrible promotion. Just picked up an awesome Blu-ray release of Road Games earlier this summer, and sure had a blast re-watching it over again, and glad to see you also found it very rewarding. Outside Road Games, Psycho II is another favorite by Richard Franklin, who sure made several heavily Hitchcock tributes back then, and along with Brian De Palma were probably among those who did it best. Psycho II is another gem of a movie. A sequel that does its own thing and makes no attempt to imitate Hitchcock's classic original. Arguably the best horror film of 1983. Richard Franklin certainly had a good run.
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Post by stefancrosscoe on Oct 8, 2021 10:06:57 GMT
Psycho II is another gem of a movie. A sequel that does its own thing and makes no attempt to imitate Hitchcock's classic original. Arguably the best horror film of 1983. Yeah, I sure enjoyed how it so well, managed to fit in Norman Bates, specially in an era where the slasher films, still dominated, and I liked how it did not fall into the "trap", of trying to catch on the whole slasher-craze, but as you said, do its own thing, and it sure worked. Both a creepy, funny and also kind of sad film, that is very well made and acted, and surely my favorite of the sequels, and might be in a minority about this one, but I actually do prefer Psycho II (not saying it is better, but more enjoyable) to its classic original.
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Post by sostie on Oct 8, 2021 12:44:31 GMT
Bloodbath At The House Of Death (1984)
Kenny Everett was a bit of a big deal in the UK in the early 80s. A nationally known DJ since the 60s he gradually became more prominent on TV peaking with a primetime comedy show which was a kind of absurdist Benny Hill (he got away with a character called Cupid Stunt!)
So of course someone thought he should progress to the big screen. Big mistake. A vehicle for Everrtt featuring some recognisable faces from British TV, and Vincent Price, this was a disappointment when I saw it in the 80s. Now I'm older I know why - acting, directing, FX, jokes, pacing, editing...everything, is poorly executed.
It's strange how time has passed someone watching this now might think the film was in some ways progressive - something that usually happens the opposite direction when looking at older films. There is an interracial gay couple not overtly played for laughs - a rare thing back in the day. Except the roles are played by two actors famous on Brit TV for playing womanisers so I guess at the time that was the joke. (there is a scene where the couple are flicking through a copy of gay magazine "HIM". The issue they were reading was one that had a feature on AIDS, with the word printed in large letters on the cover...10 years later Everett would be a victim of the disease).
Went off on a tangent there. In brief....crap film. If there is one redeeming feature, Pamela Stephenson is absolutely gorgeous in this film. 2/10
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Post by Marv on Oct 8, 2021 14:41:47 GMT
Watched the og Blob film from the 50s. Solid flick. Cool to see early Mcqueen. Also rewatched Critters...ive always enjoyed the film. When i was younger i had a kind of crush on the sister in the movie...Nadine van der Velde. Tan skin, brunette, farmers daughter look...i can see how younger me found her appealing as older me still does. Solid casting all around. The bounty hunters are great.
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Post by Anonymous Andy on Oct 8, 2021 16:37:18 GMT
An early Polanski masterpiece and what will probably be my favorite first-time watch of the challenge. Probably helped matters that I was a little sleep deprived when I watched it. 9/10
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Post by Marv on Oct 8, 2021 16:55:36 GMT
An early Polanski masterpiece and what will probably be my favorite first-time watch of the challenge. Probably helped matters that I was a little sleep deprived when I watched it. 9/10 Repulsion is great. The blurred lines of reality and insanity are wonderfully captured and the film obviously had influence on later films like Black Swan.
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Post by Sarge on Oct 9, 2021 0:33:48 GMT
Watched Critters today, and it's solid old school with practical effects and use of shadow, critters present but not shown, they did a lot with a little ingenuity. The kid, Scott Grimes, enthusiasm and activity level really help the pacing. I enjoyed the movie, but will probably skip the sequels.
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Post by Marv on Oct 9, 2021 0:53:24 GMT
Watched Critters today, and it's solid old school with practical effects and use of shadow, critters present but not shown, they did a lot with a little ingenuity. The kid, Scott Grimes, enthusiasm and activity level really help the pacing. I enjoyed the movie, but will probably skip the sequels. I will mention ive always enjoyed the second Critters film...but didn't care for 3 and have never seen 4. I was planning on rewatching the sequels this october but i cant find 2. Might have to jump to3 and 4.
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Sophiefoxx
Sophomore
@smilesophiesmile
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Post by Sophiefoxx on Oct 9, 2021 3:34:38 GMT
Orphan (Jaume Collet-Serra, 2009)
really not a bad horror movie which borders on trash (of the good kind), but the story could have been executed way better if Collet-Serra had focused more on the psychological aspects of Esther's motives instead of resorting too much to cheap and easy-to-expect jumpscares. i guess this comes with being a rather mediocre director of mostly rather lackluster horror and action flix which makes Orphan one of his better ones, yet. i mean, creepy little shit Esther wasn't so wrong, but the many plot holes kind of botched her true motivations for the viewer, i'm afraid. the revelation about her disorder was still quite something and 12 year old Isabelle Fuhrman gave a truly unnerving lead performance. Farmiga is great as always and Sarsgaard solid enough. 7/10
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Post by darkreviewer2013 on Oct 9, 2021 4:17:42 GMT
An early Polanski masterpiece and what will probably be my favorite first-time watch of the challenge. Probably helped matters that I was a little sleep deprived when I watched it. 9/10 Watched it a number of years ago for the Challenge. An absolute surrealist masterpiece. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Post by darkreviewer2013 on Oct 9, 2021 4:29:21 GMT
Next up was The Stepfather (1987) - the tale of an unhinged psycho who marries an unsuspecting widow and mother of a teenage daughter in the aftermath of having murdered his former family.
The basic premise has unfortunate real-world parallels given all the instances of family homicide that have occurred over the years, but that isn't to detract from Terry O'Quinn's deft performance as the insane protagonist, channeling as he does his inner Norman Bates.
I am of the view that the best thrillers are those which effectively combine elements of mystery and suspense. Unfortunately, this particular movie plays out as a straightforward thriller. There's no mystery for us to solve and the plot twists and startling revelations that make for the most engaging thrillers don't come into play here. It is very much a by-the-numbers story and no experienced horror viewer will be in any way surprised by the manner in which events unfold.
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Post by Captain Spencer on Oct 9, 2021 4:32:51 GMT
Stitches (2012)
A boorish clown is accidently killed by kids at a child's birthday party. Six years later, the clown rises from the dead and extracts bloody revenge on the kids (now teenagers) who were responsible for his death.
I had fun with this Irish horror comedy. The gory kills were very creative and done with such comic flair that it got to be so over-the-top hilarious. The undead clown spouts off corny one-liners to add to all the amusement. This would have been just another routine slasher if it weren't for all the hilarity and pizzazz.
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Post by moviemouth on Oct 9, 2021 4:48:29 GMT
Microwave Massacre (1979)
Extremely cheesy horror comedy about a man who hates his wife and his wife's cooking after she buys a microwave. He kills her and then eats her by cooking her in the microwave (go figure) and then has a craving for human flesh and starts killing random woman in order to eat them. The movie is knowingly awful and sort of amusing, but the bad joke wears thin very quickly and becomes repetitive and boring. The movie makes very little sense and has very corny bad acting, horrible gore effects and seems like a response to a fear of microwaves at a time when they were just becoming popular. This movie can be considered "so bad it is good" and I wouldn't be surprised if it had a cult following. If you enjoy movies like Blood Diner and Troma movies, you might enjoy this. It isn't scary, it isn't creepy and it isn't particularly funny, it is just mildly amusing trash.
2.5/10
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Post by stefancrosscoe on Oct 9, 2021 5:34:20 GMT
Microwave Massacre (1979) Extremely cheesy horror comedy about a man who hates his wife and his wife's cooking after she buys a microwave. He kills her and then eats her by cooking her in the microwave (go figure) and then has a craving for human flesh and starts killing random woman in order to eat them. The movie is knowingly awful and sort of amusing, but the bad joke wears thin very quickly and becomes repetitive and boring. The movie makes very little sense and has very corny bad acting, horrible gore effects and seems like a response to a fear of microwaves at a time when they were just becoming popular. This movie can be considered "so bad it is good" and I wouldn't be surprised if it had a cult following. If you enjoy movies like Blood Diner and Troma movies, you might enjoy this. It isn't scary, it isn't creepy and it isn't particularly funny, it is just mildly amusing trash.2.5/10 I did come across this one, last night. And I guess I am more on the low budget/Troma movies, since I quite enjoyed the quirky and ridiculous plot and characters, even though it sure did get early on, a bit too, yeah, of the same scenery, over and over. Sadly not enough of the microwave cooking, and way too much scenes that is probably just there, to fill up where the "plot" is nowhere near to be seen. However, some very fine looking ladies sure arrives and the style and tone is very light hearted, for what I (at first) thought could be a more "serious" movie. The cult following, I think is kind of true, but probably a very small following. I did hear of it, years ago, when it got released on DVD along with a much more fun and enjoyable low budget title known as The Woodchipper Massacre (or something close to that title), and they were so-called "Cult classics", but yeah, most likely for the special interested, not the larger audiences. Still I am kind of glad that these ones get a decent release, think it also has a Blu-ray out, not long ago. Anyway, I rated it a bit higher or more generous, and with a 5/10. Helped probably, that I was in the right mood, but if I had ended the night with it, the rating might have gone down a bit.
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Post by stefancrosscoe on Oct 9, 2021 5:38:29 GMT
Next up was The Stepfather (1987) - the tale of an unhinged psycho who marries an unsuspecting widow and mother of a teenage daughter in the aftermath of having murdered his former family. The basic premise has unfortunate real-world parallels given all the instances of family homicide that have occurred over the years, but that isn't to detract from Terry O'Quinn's deft performance as the insane protagonist, channeling as he does his inner Norman Bates. I am of the view that the best thrillers are those which effectively combine elements of mystery and suspense. Unfortunately, this particular movie plays out as a straightforward thriller. There's no mystery for us to solve and the plot twists and startling revelations that make for the most engaging thrillers don't come into play here. It is very much a by-the-numbers story and no experienced horror viewer will be in any way surprised by the manner in which events unfold. Was thinking about re-watching it, but then noticed that I did so, last fall. Might however, give one of the sequels a go, later on. The atmosphere and acting is very good at times, but I seem to never go beyond a 6/10 on the rating scale. Also the solid end theme, by Patrick Moraz is one of my favorite 80s synth themes.
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Post by Nicko's Nose on Oct 9, 2021 5:47:46 GMT
Stitches (2012)A boorish clown is accidently killed by kids at a child's birthday party. Six years later, the clown rises from the dead and extracts bloody revenge on the kids (now teenagers) who were responsible for his death. I had fun with this Irish horror comedy. The gory kills were very creative and done with such comic flair that it got to be so over-the-top hilarious. The undead clown spouts off corny one-liners to add to all the amusement. This would have been just another routine slasher if it weren't for all the hilarity and pizzazz. Really like this one.
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