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Post by masterofallgoons on Oct 26, 2023 17:32:39 GMT
The Beast Must Die (Paul Annett, 1974) I actually really liked this one. A game hunter invites several guests to his house for a weekend party only to reveal one of them is a werewolf and that he intends to hunt for it. The movie is treated like a mystery where clues are given to the werewolf and you, the viewer, are supposed to solve it. It even includes a William Castle style gimmick of a “Werewolf Break” before the reveal where it pauses with a counter for 30 seconds for you to solve it. Realistically the movie is not great and the fact that the host knows one of his guests is somehow a werewolf, but doesn’t know which, is a huge stretch... but I think horror fans have had to deal with bigger ones in the past and the movie is just fun. 8/10 That sounds like a whole lot of fun. And, crazy to say, it actually sounds like a premise ripe for a remake. It's a great setup to possibly take a little more seriously.
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Post by jcush on Oct 26, 2023 19:19:57 GMT
Just finished a rewatch of Ravenous (1999). I really liked it the first time I saw it, but have appreciated it a bit more with each viewing, to the point where it's now a favorite of mine. I love the story, the mix of different genres is done really well, and there are some really great scenes in there. Guy Pearce is good in the lead role, Jeffrey Jones is fun, and Robert Carlyle steals the show. Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn did the music and it would rank very highly on my all time favorite scores list. It's one of those movies that I wish more people would watch. Any fans on here? Haven't seen it in a while, but I did like it. I remember the music being a bit silly though. Particularly in that one scene where you get tonal whiplash when it switches from an intense massacre then Robert Carlyle says 'run!' to Jeremy Davies and you basically get Yakkity Sax on the soundtrack. Still, the humor was part of the appeal with this one. When I just looked up the movie I was sad to see that the director, Antonia Bird, died years ago. She had a nice, kind of low key career, and made at least one rather memorable movie in Ravenous. The first time I saw it, the "Run" scene did take me off guard. It's grown on me though and I now kind of love how you have this silly track right in the middle of two really intense tracks. I just love how varied the soundtrack is. I watched Antonia Bird's other three features earlier this year. I thought Mad Love was alright, but Priest and Face were both quite good. Ravenous is definitely my favorite of her films though.
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Post by jcush on Oct 26, 2023 19:23:01 GMT
The Beast Must Die (Paul Annett, 1974) I actually really liked this one. A game hunter invites several guests to his house for a weekend party only to reveal one of them is a werewolf and that he intends to hunt for it. The movie is treated like a mystery where clues are given to the werewolf and you, the viewer, are supposed to solve it. It even includes a William Castle style gimmick of a “Werewolf Break” before the reveal where it pauses with a counter for 30 seconds for you to solve it. Realistically the movie is not great and the fact that the host knows one of his guests is somehow a werewolf, but doesn’t know which, is a huge stretch... but I think horror fans have had to deal with bigger ones in the past and the movie is just fun. 8/10 I watched this one for the challenge last year after hearing about it not too long before that. Despite not having a great reputation, I gave it a shot because the story sounded fun and Peter Cushing is always a plus. It ended up being a pleasant surprise. Not great by any means, but an enjoyable werewolf movie in my opinion.
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Post by Captain Spencer on Oct 27, 2023 2:19:03 GMT
Haunt (2019) On Halloween night, six college kids go through an amusement haunted house. Little do they know that the proprietors take things a bit too far.
From the writers of A Quiet Place I & II and produced by Eli Roth, this is one suspenseful and fun-filled horror movie. Full of clever surprises and intensity as it keeps us guesssing which of the funhouse thrills are either fake or real. The villains are delighfully twisted and don some ghoulishly freaky costumes.
Some good characterizations as well, especially that of Harper who grows stronger by the minute as she must exorcise the demons of her past. Definitely not just another scream queen.
Highly recommended!
7.5/10
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Post by masterofallgoons on Oct 27, 2023 3:35:05 GMT
Haunt (2019)On Halloween night, six college kids go through an amusement haunted house. Little do they know that the proprietors take things a bit too far. From the writers of A Quiet Place I & II and produced by Eli Roth, this is one suspenseful and fun-filled horror movie. Full of clever surprises and intensity as it keeps us guesssing which of the funhouse thrills are either fake or real. The villains are delighfully twisted and don some ghoulishly freaky costumes. Some good characterizations as well, especially that of Harper who grows stronger by the minute as she must exorcise the demons of her past. Definitely not just another scream queen. Highly recommended! 7.5/10 I don't love this one as much as a lot of people seem to, but it's a very familiar premise that is done better here than the vast majority that do something similar. And the villains are ultimately very unsettling. There's a reveal as to the nature of who they are and they're actually frightening. It's not all great stuff, to me at least, but it's better than most things like it for sure.
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forca85
Sophomore
@forca85
Posts: 441
Likes: 343
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Post by forca85 on Oct 27, 2023 4:02:02 GMT
RV: Season of the Witch (2011)
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Post by jcush on Oct 27, 2023 5:57:08 GMT
Haunt (2019)On Halloween night, six college kids go through an amusement haunted house. Little do they know that the proprietors take things a bit too far. From the writers of A Quiet Place I & II and produced by Eli Roth, this is one suspenseful and fun-filled horror movie. Full of clever surprises and intensity as it keeps us guesssing which of the funhouse thrills are either fake or real. The villains are delighfully twisted and don some ghoulishly freaky costumes. Some good characterizations as well, especially that of Harper who grows stronger by the minute as she must exorcise the demons of her past. Definitely not just another scream queen. Highly recommended! 7.5/10 I watched this one a few days ago after being recommended by my brother and his wife. I thought it was pretty good. I liked the main character, the haunted house setting was fun, and there was some nice tension.
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Post by James on Oct 27, 2023 16:55:51 GMT
Just finished a rewatch of Ravenous (1999). I really liked it the first time I saw it, but have appreciated it a bit more with each viewing, to the point where it's now a favorite of mine. I love the story, the mix of different genres is done really well, and there are some really great scenes in there. Guy Pearce is good in the lead role, Jeffrey Jones is fun, and Robert Carlyle steals the show. Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn did the music and it would rank very highly on my all time favorite scores list. It's one of those movies that I wish more people would watch. Any fans on here? Just finished watching this one, seemed to be talked about a bit around on v2. Didn't blow me away or anything but it was good. Indeed Carlyle was the highlight and he is a lot of fun. Didn't really care much for the music at times or the fast editing though.
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Post by theravenking on Oct 27, 2023 17:15:44 GMT
And Now The Screaming Starts (1973; Roy Ward Baker) This is one of the few feature-length horror stories by Amicus, who were best known for anthology or "portmanteau" films. Trying out something new didn't work out that well, since the film was poorly received. It must certainly be one of the duller flicks featuring a young bride who is violated by a ghost. For a 70s movie this feels awfully antiquated with lots of melodramatic shrieking and a comical severed hand "crawling" around the premises. The big names Peter Cushing and Herbert Lom only appear late in the game and can't do much to salvage the rickety plot. 5/10
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Post by jcush on Oct 27, 2023 18:38:52 GMT
Just finished a rewatch of Ravenous (1999). I really liked it the first time I saw it, but have appreciated it a bit more with each viewing, to the point where it's now a favorite of mine. I love the story, the mix of different genres is done really well, and there are some really great scenes in there. Guy Pearce is good in the lead role, Jeffrey Jones is fun, and Robert Carlyle steals the show. Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn did the music and it would rank very highly on my all time favorite scores list. It's one of those movies that I wish more people would watch. Any fans on here? Just finished watching this one, seemed to be talked about a bit around on v2. Didn't blow me away or anything but it was good. Indeed Carlyle was the highlight and he is a lot of fun. Didn't really care much for the music at times or the fast editing though. Well I'm glad you at least liked it. I can understand parts of the music not being for everyone, but like I said I absolutely love the music.
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Post by James on Oct 27, 2023 18:40:47 GMT
Just finished watching this one, seemed to be talked about a bit around on v2. Didn't blow me away or anything but it was good. Indeed Carlyle was the highlight and he is a lot of fun. Didn't really care much for the music at times or the fast editing though. Well I'm glad you at least liked it. I can understand parts of the music not being for everyone, but like I said I absolutely love the music. To be fair, the music is probably good on its own but certain scenes where it didn't fit IMO.
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Post by lostinlimbo on Oct 27, 2023 22:02:50 GMT
Watch a couple of interesting foreign films yesterday; La Casa (2019) & Ring (1995). The set-up of ‘La Casa’ reminded very much of ‘Last Shift’. Not the setting (instead of a police station we get a large abandoned house) but the story’s focus on the protagonist and locations horrific past. Rather slight when comes to the plot and one-note in execution frames this Chilean haunted house feature, but surprisingly effective in crafting an uneasiness despite the low-scale limitations. Set in t1980s Chile, a cop gets despatched to investigate a disturbance at a vacant house, which happens to hold a horrific past. While dealing with his own personal demons, he must also deal with the house’s unwelcoming demons. Plenty of wandering dark rooms and corridors, with little light. Screams can be heard, entities make themselves known, and the threat might just come from what’s in his own head. In all rather basic, though the electronic score works and the demons actually have creep factor. Supposedly the gimmick was they filmed it in a cursed haunted house. Also halfway through the end credits, we get a little more footage. So before the 1998 Japanese theatrical release of Ringu. There was a TV movie back in 1995. What makes it interesting is the differing plot details between the two versions and how they visually present Sadako’s curse. They sorta follow the same narrative structure, but still feel very different to make it worth a look. Very lo-fi in execution, but the music score and camerawork is very emotive. Actually showed some style in that department for a tv production. However the horror was lacking, and so was the atmosphere and suspense. Favouring a way more suggestive approach, and really leaning into the investigative side of the plot. If you thought the 1998 film was at times dry, this tv film takes the cake. No real standout scares, less visual or memorable set-pieces, but an interesting curio. The cursed video tape is actually way trippier, but not as creepy.
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Post by lostinlimbo on Oct 27, 2023 22:49:39 GMT
Just finished a rewatch of Ravenous (1999). I really liked it the first time I saw it, but have appreciated it a bit more with each viewing, to the point where it's now a favorite of mine. I love the story, the mix of different genres is done really well, and there are some really great scenes in there. Guy Pearce is good in the lead role, Jeffrey Jones is fun, and Robert Carlyle steals the show. Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn did the music and it would rank very highly on my all time favorite scores list. It's one of those movies that I wish more people would watch. Any fans on here? I really do like this one. Though the music can be jarring, but sorta adds to the hysteria and confusion of the whole situation. Like it’s projecting the mindsets of Pearce and Carlyle’s characters. Been sometime since I watched it. Might throw it on Halloween night.
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Post by jcush on Oct 27, 2023 23:23:35 GMT
Just finished a rewatch of Ravenous (1999). I really liked it the first time I saw it, but have appreciated it a bit more with each viewing, to the point where it's now a favorite of mine. I love the story, the mix of different genres is done really well, and there are some really great scenes in there. Guy Pearce is good in the lead role, Jeffrey Jones is fun, and Robert Carlyle steals the show. Michael Nyman and Damon Albarn did the music and it would rank very highly on my all time favorite scores list. It's one of those movies that I wish more people would watch. Any fans on here? I really do like this one. Though the music can be jarring, but sorta adds to the hysteria and confusion of the whole situation. Like it’s projecting the mindsets of Pearce and Carlyle’s characters. Been sometime since I watched it. Might throw it on Halloween night. I get why some people would find the music jarring, but for me in a strange way that's maybe part of why it works so well. Some of it doesn't seem like it should fit, but that's why it does. It's hard to explain haha
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forca85
Sophomore
@forca85
Posts: 441
Likes: 343
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Post by forca85 on Oct 28, 2023 0:08:13 GMT
FV: Inhabited (2003) Kitty Carnage warning... An Orange Cat gets killed 35 minutes in.
RV: No One Lives
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soggy
Sophomore
@soggy
Posts: 836
Likes: 1,417
Member is Online
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Post by soggy on Oct 28, 2023 0:44:30 GMT
Thirteen Women (George Archainbaud, 1932) Another pre-code horror film. This time thirteen women are threatened by a woman that they tormented in school years ago. Her method is to send them letters saying that their horoscope says something terrible will happen. Then it does. I can’t tell you how she is able to kill them (is it hypnotism? The Power of suggestion? General stupidity?). It’s also notable that we don’t actually see 13 of them, we’re simply told there are thirteen. We see maybe six of them. It’s not very good, but all issues aside there’s some nice scenes and some moments that are genuinely shocking for a movie from the 30s. Plus I do love Myrna Loy as an actress and the film does have a nice poster. 4/10
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Post by Captain Spencer on Oct 28, 2023 2:53:02 GMT
Eden Lake (2008) A young couple's romantic weekend at a remote lake is turned into a nightmare when they are terrorized by teenaged hooligans.
It's an all-too-familiar premise that recalls movies like Death Weekend, Last House On The Left, and I Spit On Your Grave. Yet the story went in all sorts of different directions I wasn't expecting at all. It's refreshing when a horror movie like this brings new ideas to the table. Very shocking conclusion, might I add.
I guess these type of movies can be best compared to eating spicy hot wings; unpleasant and yet enjoyable at the same time.
7/10
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Post by moviemouth on Oct 28, 2023 3:05:37 GMT
Phobia (1980)
Considered to be John Huston's worst movie, while I like it a bit more than Annie, I understand why Phobia is considered his worst. Phobia is a psychological horror movie about a doctor doing experimental therapy on convicts who have specific phobias in an attempt to get them over their fears. Then they start to begin dying one by one. There is definitely an idea here that could make for a good horror movie, but this movie doesn't come anywhere near it. All the parts are there and it sort of adds up in the end, but it is all strung together very poorly. The directing is surprisingly amateurish too. You would never guess this was directed by one of the great directors in movie history.
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Post by moviemouth on Oct 28, 2023 3:08:25 GMT
Well I'm glad you at least liked it. I can understand parts of the music not being for everyone, but like I said I absolutely love the music. To be fair, the music is probably good on its own but certain scenes where it didn't fit IMO. I am with Jcush. I actually think the music fits perfectly if you see the movie as a black comedy. One of my all-time favorite movie scores and precisely because of how effective I think it is in context with the movie. It is meant to be a bit jarring, which is what makes it brilliant imo. It makes the movie far more unnerving than it would be without the music. I can see how someone could not think the dark humor works in the movie or perhaps not even pick up on it, but I think the dark humor is obvious from the very start when it quotes Nieitzche and below that the quote "Eat Me" pops up with a goofy arrow noise.
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Post by Captain Spencer on Oct 28, 2023 3:16:48 GMT
Phobia (1980)
Considered to be John Huston's worst movie, while I like it a bit more than Annie, I understand why Phobia is considered his worst. Phobia is a psychological horror movie about a doctor doing experimental therapy on convicts who have specific phobias in an attempt to get them over their fears. Then they start to begin dying one by one. There is definitely an idea here that could make for a good horror movie, but this movie doesn't come anywhere near it. All the parts are there and it sort of adds up in the end, but it is all strung together very poorly. The directing is surprisingly amateurish too. You would never guess this was directed by one of the great directors in movie history. Yes I agree, it had an interesting idea that didn't go anywhere. A total misfire.
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