The last horror, thriller or suspense film you watched

Resurrection (1999) - Russel Mulchay

I have only seen this very typical late 90s crime-thriller once before, and this one surely tries hard in style and tone to "cash in" on the success of several serial-thrillers of the mid 90s, such as Se7en (1995) and Copycat (1995). But there is also a bit of The Silence of the Lambs (1991) vibe going on strong, at least a few times, I think.
Of course, this is probably a far more low budget or tv-movie made film, that still manages to be, well, maybe better is not exactly the right word when it comes to Christopher Lambert and his acting, but compared to so much of the awful films he usally makes, I think this one of the few times I was left postively surprised.

It is fast paced, gory, nasty, stylish, and at times very funny, but I just wished there was a bit more, how should you say, originality to the script and its characters, because, I am not saying a "great" movie lie between the pages or something like that, but it could surely have become a little more sharper in both tone, and story.
Lambert sure does his best, but again, it kind of feels a little to over-the-top, and which brings some of the more overused thriller cliches into being almost unintentional funny, than what they were meant to be.

Of course, there is lots of walking cliches in this one, the tragic main character, his caring and lonely wife, their sad backstory, the wisecracking partner and sidekick, the angry and explosive police chief, the douchy asshole co-workers, the creepy looking killer with his huge bug eyes and constant intense stare, the grungy green-grey use of colors, the constant heavy rain showering the city and streets, and showing far too much of all these horrible dead bodies or body parts, and yeah, sometimes those who are not even dead, just dying and, well, I tend to prefer movies such as Manhunter (1986), specially when it comes to not show "everything", all the time. 

Let the fantasy or imagination play their part, because what you often do not see, is way more scary or effective (or so I believe), than being constantly thrown all these horrific and gory images of mutilated bodies and victims of the killer. 

Also, when I think of wandering cliches, the serial killer is quite a piece of "work" himself, I mean the religous themes, the use of numbers, digitals and other obvious clues, such as windows or walls, being smeared in with blood in huge red letters "COME FIND ME!" and then Lamberts charactert begin this long and very serious speech about that this means the killer is serious and will surely continue on with his murdering, and it just, well, was so laughable and funny (sure not meant to be) that it felt like a parody of the crime-thrillere genre at times.

Another reason to why I have a certain soft spot for the film, is that one of my favorite directors, David Cronenberg also has a small part in here, as a local priest. Nothing huge or really special, but I thought it was nice little role from Cronenbergs side, and he did it pretty good.

The one thing I would have really liked, and I think could have done this movie a huge favor, was surprising the viewer with a bit a of a shock, and I do not mean more blood and gore, but because somewhere along the way, especially when Lamberts character began discussing with his wisecracking partner and friend, about how he "admired" the intellect of the serial killer, and his partner, I always hoped or suspected would turn out as the bad guy, and he for a few moments looked very creepy, when Lambert started the whole admiring part, but sadly I guess that whole potential just got thrown away, and it was back the more creepy looking, sterotypical Hollywood serial killer kind of type, and again, that is why I love Manhunter and constantly brings it up, as how I wished more thrillers would deliver their serial killer.

Brian Cox looks just like a "normal" guy, with a very non-normal way of personality, while most of the Hollywood serial killer figures looks like they just stumbled out of the assembly line for "movie serial killer" or "creepy movie monsters", and they just do absolutely nothing for me.

They are rarely ever scary or impressive, just most of the time dull and I have seen them so many times over, so just come up with something a little different, as I like to think normal is way more scarier or unsettling than having yet another cheap looking rip-off of the legendary Dr. Hannibal Lecter (the Anthony Hopkins version).

Anyway, I enjoyed the movie, not great by any means, but entertaining and surely one of the better films that Christopher Lambert made during the late 90s.

6/10

Sorry about bumping your reply, so long after, but I re-watched Texas Chainssaw Massacre 2 (1986) earlier this year, and I just loved it! 
Had almost forgotten how crazy and funny it really was, I specially loved Dennis Hopper, who completely owned this movie, and to think he did both this and Blue Velvet both released in 1986, damn, he was in good form back then.

"BRIIIIIIING IIIIIT AAAAAAALL DOOOOOOOWN!"

The one scene, that had me almost on the floor laughing, was the part where he went out to buy himself a big ass chainssaw, and the owner of the store, looks at this madman with huge admiration, and it was just such a hilarious but great part.

Another huge reason to why I love the film, was the beautiful Caroline Williams, and I just fell so hard for her whole charming Texas accent and those long stunning legs of hers. Damn she was fine, and I had absolute no problems with Leatherface also having a thing for her, because who wouldn't?

Tom Savini of course, surely did not do any wrong here either, incredible special effects all the way.

Anyway, it was sure great to get to see it again, after so long and I know, I must get a hold of the original, as I have not watched it since the early 00s, but from what I remember, that tone or style was completely different, and this sequel was just so over-the-top and ridiculous fun, that, well it has to be one of the best horror sequels of the 80s, or so I believe.

That has to be one of the coolest and most impressive movie posters (not just horror) of the 1980s, I guess so much, several ones later "borrowed" it, such as the Return of the Living Dead Part: II (1988), but that film is of course not even close of the classic that is Fright Night.

For me, I usually tend to watch it during the late summer, I do not know why, but it has just ended up that way, and still a great movie, is still great movie no matter when or where I see it.

What I love more and more about each viewing, is that it just keeps on getting better and more rewarding for each time, and that is why I guess it holds such a special place for so many fans of it.

I did watch the remake a few years back, and it was not awful, but I felt it never came even close, once, to match the comedy, horror, atmosphere, music or special effects, and Colin Farrell I thought was, well not horrible, just bland and completely forgettable which I felt also the movie pretty much could be summed out to be as well. 

Creature (1998) by Stuart Gillard

Over the last few days, I ended up watching each of the episodes of the mini-series that I think is based on one of Peter Benchley's novels, and is called Creature (1998).

It is about 3 hours long, and where Craig T. Nelson and Kim Cattrall must find a way to destroy a mutated shark, which was born through some rather experimental warfare stuff, back in the early 70s, but then later on escaped into the ocean, and now 25 years later on, it is back, angrier and hungrier than ever!

I remember watching it on norwegian television back in the late 90s and early 00s, specially during the summer, along with my dad. He loved the total cheese factor and we both laughed out at several times, specially of all the silly stuff over-the-top things that takes place.

I mean, here we have a "shark" taking a walk, climbing up the stairs, or even decided to go all the way up into the top of a three, then only to lower itself from a branch, upside down, so it can wait for its potential next victim. And, yeah, there is still some very funny stuff going on here.

The negative thing, is that as so many other very long mini-series, I thought the first half was actually very well paced and enjoyable, and of course not seeing too much of the shark-creature as well, however during the second half, things sadly do end up getting a bit too drawn out, specially the last 15-20 minutes or so, was just a total random and overlong scene, that, well I guess they just either ran out of ideas or time, so just had to make use of what they got.

The positive is that some of (I think actually Stan Winston is involved here) close ups of the shark-thing, specially after it first arrives on land, and tries to breathe with its lungs, that was damn fine work by the special effects team. And I would have liked if they kept the shark "more hidden" and not reveal too much, so often. But, I guess in order to get a hold of the viewers, they just had to sell it for what it was, and it was surely not Jaws (1976), but more a b-movie turned into a 3 hours version.

I also really enjoyed that adventurous and feel-good entertainment it had going, that and surely Kim Cattrall who looks so good in that diving gear, and even better without it.

Over all, I thought it had a good cast of actors, and some of the special effects where very impressive at times, but all in all, it was not a great miniseries, but a more enjoyable one, that I often do re-watch or come back to, specially during the summer. 

5,5/10