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Post by Prime etc. on Oct 28, 2023 7:13:02 GMT
I broke with my tradition of watching old tv shows like Mannix and Cannon (sorry Joe, Frank), and decided to get a couple of chores out of the way.
First up, WAXWORK 2: Lost In Time. Had watched the original last year or so and while I didn't love it, I liked it enough to finally check out the sequel. I had heard many years ago that there was an ALIEN-inspired sequence, and looked forward to it--but it was kind of cheap. In fact, the trouble with the film on a technical level is that it was very claustrophobic like you expect from direct to video productions.
It was obviously a comedy more than any kind of horror film--a few things were amusing like the severed hand dousing the heroine in all sorts of drinks and goo, and Bruce Campbell in a spoof of THE HAUNTING. But it had an extended story that seemed to be a combination of Highlander, the Raven, Masque of the Red Death, Cat People, and lord knows what else. The ending breaks into a music video using footage of the cast shot as they were making the film. It was kind of painful. The most noteworthy thing about it is that they cut to a Nosferatu parody where he has two victims in a bed and one of them is an uncredited Drew Barrymore.
TRICK R' TREAT 2007 - I heard so much about this one that I almost watched it last year but decided to hold out until now. I knew one of the stories in advance so it wasn't a surprise but to be honest, if I had not known, it wouldn't have made much of a difference. I will give it credit for trying to do something Halloweenish with a Creepshow quality and a Pulp Fiction kind of story overlap. There are some few scattered visuals which are effective or would have been memorable in a more traditional film. The opening sequence is the best part , but it just does not work as a scary film. The actors are fine but there isn't much characterization. The litmus test for stories like this would be relating the idea to someone in a few sentences and finding some irony or suspense in it--but that's not really the case here. The bigproblem with it for me was the over-direction and omnipresent music. Hard to be enraptured by the story when you are hit over the head with the score and constant camera movement. You never feel like you are in a real house or neighborhood--you just know there is about 150 IATSE members out of camera range. So not one I would watch again despite the hype.
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Post by gspdude on Oct 28, 2023 13:00:06 GMT
Mesa of Lost Women(1953) Always thought of this one as a so-bad-it's-good movie, but that description might be a bit generous. 2/10.
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Post by gspdude on Oct 28, 2023 13:10:07 GMT
House on Haunted Hill(1959) Vincent Price is in top form in this Haunted House movie. 7½/10.
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Oct 28, 2023 18:18:17 GMT
I'm rewatching the Insidious (2010) movies, starting with the first one.
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Post by moviebuffbrad on Oct 28, 2023 20:31:23 GMT
I'm rewatching the Insidious (2010) movies, starting with the first one.
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Oct 29, 2023 11:05:31 GMT
I'm rewatching the Insidious (2010) movies, starting with the first one. Much like my Saw binge awhile back, I like how each movie flows into the next one. Watching them years apart as they were released allows you to forget things. This way feels like I'm getting the full experience. So many jump scares and loud, scary violins on the soundtrack, I'm loving it. Haven't seen The Red Door so it seemed like a good way to segue way into the latest chapter.
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Post by gspdude on Oct 29, 2023 14:16:58 GMT
Apostle of Dracula(2012). Lucy is Dracula's great love in this one. Dracula and Van Helsing battle for her soul, mostly in modern times, though how Van Helsing is still alive is not explained, unless I dozed off or my mind wandered( it was a bit boring). For some reason both Dracula and Van Helsing sounded as though they were in an echo chamber. An imaginative effort, but too arty for me. 4/10.
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Post by gspdude on Oct 30, 2023 14:34:36 GMT
Trick 'r Treat (2007) A number of real horror stories are happening on Halloween night in a town that takes it's holiday serious. 6/10.
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Oct 30, 2023 19:51:26 GMT
It's been on top of my watchlist for centuries, but this is the year I finally saw Black Sabbath (1963).
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Post by Prime etc. on Oct 31, 2023 7:54:39 GMT
Two from the dvd collection.
TORTURE GARDEN 1967 - Often overlooked Amicus story compilation but I like the cat story and the Man Who Collected Poe.
FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE 1973 - Another one that I forget about. It's ok but kind of generic compared to earlier ones.
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Post by gspdude on Oct 31, 2023 15:34:07 GMT
Freaky(2020) A Horror Comedy that's more silly and corny than funny, but it does have enough decent kills to satisfy the horror category. 5/10.
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Post by taylorfirst1 on Oct 31, 2023 17:00:56 GMT
"Man Made Monster" 1941
"The Awakening" 1980
"Friday the 13th" 1980
"Halloween 3 Season of the Witch" 1980
"Trick 'R Treat" 2007
"The Night Walker" 1965
"The Invitation" 2022
"She Demons" 1958
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Post by Prime etc. on Nov 1, 2023 7:50:35 GMT
I finished off October with Disney's Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Peanuts, The Raven 1963, and the House that Dripped Blood 1971.
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Post by gspdude on Nov 1, 2023 13:19:10 GMT
The Day of the Triffids (1963) Solid British film combining 2 of my favorite genres, Apocalypse and Horror. 8/10.
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Post by gspdude on Nov 1, 2023 13:32:02 GMT
Curse of the Demon (1957) A psychiatrist tries to expose the magician head of a devil cult as a fraud, but finds out he's not and his life is now in danger. Nice B&W cinematography. 6½/10.
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Post by taylorfirst1 on Nov 1, 2023 20:43:19 GMT
"Fright Night Part 2" 1988
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Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Nov 1, 2023 21:11:36 GMT
1/10I hated this movie. Worst movie of the challenge and possibly one of the worst horror movies I have ever seen. Its about a felon (who kinda looks like Jack Black) who starts to make snuff films with his friends. Thats about it. Theres a horrible scene where a woman puts blackface make up on then gets whipped. Im thinking "What the hell am I watching?!" Pretty cool trailer though.
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Post by Prime etc. on Nov 2, 2023 6:16:23 GMT
LIFEFORCE 1985 "Despite appearances this woman is a masochist. She wants me to beat it out of her," says Steve Railsback. Later he kisses Patrick Stewart.
It really is a crazy movie. It doesn't work as a good movie despite having so much in budget etc. The opening 20 minutes is the best part.
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Post by gspdude on Nov 3, 2023 15:34:16 GMT
Suspiria(2018) Was worried I would be disappointed by this, as I am many times with remakes, although the director called this not a remake but a homage. In any event I was not disappointed. I always felt I pretty much understood what was going on, although towards the end it got pretty chaotic. It held my interest throughout the 2 and a half hr length. Very good performances by Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton. 7/10.
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forca85
Sophomore
@forca85
Posts: 424
Likes: 321
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Post by forca85 on Nov 5, 2023 17:51:07 GMT
Lately I've been watching some Film Noir... Will probably watch some old Westerns eventually too.
Crime of Passion In a Lonely Place Bad Blonde Human Desire Abandon Ship! Teenage Crime Wave
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