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There are a few different types of bad horror films and the 80's was the perfect decade to make all of them and have them be successful, for the most part. There were flicks that were so bad they're good, some that are just plain bad and a few other categories in between. Pieces, a slasher flick trying to capitalize on the success of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and the Friday the 13th franchise, falls a little closer to the just plain bad end of the spectrum. But, a few decent effects and some horribly bad dialogue as well as a kung fu attack that literally comes out of nowhere and leaves just as quickly raises Pieces to a mark just above plain bad.
A little boy kills his mother with an axe after she finds him putting together a jigsaw puzzle of a nude woman. Cut to 40 years later, someone is killing beautiful college coeds and taking their body parts to create the perfect woman. It's up to two detectives, and few unlikely allies, to stop the maniac that's on the loose.
After that promising opening, the film quickly goes down hill. The plot gets ludicrous when the police recruit one of the college students to help. Then, if that wasn't insane enough, they bring in a famous tennis star to help as well. Again, the effects are what raise the bar a tad with decapitation in broad daylight, and a halving complete with pants wetting, which is a nice realistic touch to me. I mean, if someone's coming at me with a chainsaw, you can bet your ass that I'm gonna piss my pants.
On to the acting. Even with the bad dialogue, most of the actors deliver it with a straight face, which is surprising given some of the situations they are in. Oh wait, nevermind, that's just bad dubbing. By far the best character is the groundskeeper Willard, played by Paul Smith. Many readers may remember him as Bluto from the live action Popeye movie, or possibly as Rabban in Dune. Anyways, he is absolutely hilarious every time he comes on screen. He seems to be the only one who gets how ridiculous this movie truly is.
How ridiculous you ask? The best example is when our undercover tennis star runs into some guy who busts out with all kinds of kung fu, then when she knocks him down, says he doesn't remember what happened, just that he was jogging and the next thing he knows he's on the ground. "Must be bad Chop Suey." And that is a direct quote. Followed closely by a scene in which our villain hides a chainsaw behind his back while in an elevator with his victim, and she doesn't notice!
Pieces tried very hard to capitalize on the success of such genre classics as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Friday the 13th, yet would have worked better as a parody instead of a serious film. But if you love 80's horror, it may be worth your while. For all others, grab a few friends and a lot of beer and sit back and take potshots at this horrible yet funny film.
One final note. For those in the Detroit area, be sure to keep a lookout for future screenings by 42nd St Drive-In at the Novi Emagine theater. Kind of sporadic in their scheduling but these guys love there horror and have provided a semi-regular opportunity to showcase some of the best (and worst) horror movies from the 70's and 80's. Many thanks to Jason Buchanan, Bob Felts and Brad Torreano for helping to broaden Detroit's horror fanbase.
4/10
Keep reading,
Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Movie/DVD Review: Pieces by ME
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Motor City Nightmares Convention Report by ME
By Mitch Emerson
The Motor City Nightmares convention was held this past weekend and yours truly was able to attend this fledgling event on Saturday. Even though George Romero had to cancel his appearance to do a film project, there was no shortage of famous guests. We had Jason himself (Kane Hodder), Michael Myers (Tony Moran) and even the Candyman (Tony Todd)! Surprise last minute addition was Tobe Hooper, director of the classic Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Poltergeist. For the classic horror fans who could resist a 40 year reunion for the cast of the original Night of the Living Dead? In attendance was Kyra Schon, Bill Hinzman, Judith O"Dea, Marilyn Eastman, John Russo, George Kosana and Russell Streiner. Other attendees included James Russo, Caroline Williams and Monique Dupree.
[READ MORE AT FATALLY-YOURS.COM]
Thursday, July 17, 2008
DVD Review Link: Otis by ME
Otis is a welcome addition to the horror-comedy genre without tipping over into the land of parody such as films like Black Sheep and Shaun of the Dead. Otis is at first, instilled with just enough humor to take the edge off while letting us inside the head of two types of people: The psychopath Otis (Bostin Christopher) himself, who just wants to have his perfect Prom night (at least 25 years too late) and the Lawsons, his latest victims family played wonderfully by Daniel Stern, Illeana Douglas, and Jared Kusnits. Kevin Pollak turns in a different performance as Otis's older, meaner brother whose life Otis is trying to emulate, something that isn't directly addressed but you pick up along the way. What makes this film different than other psychopath/serial killer flicks is that the Lawsons get their revenge, which is where the fun really begins. Taking a few unexpected turns is always a good thing in these types of movies, and Otis pulls darkness, humor, tension and a great soundtrack into a tight and different type of film.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Review Link: The Mental Dead by ME
Fatally-Yours.com has sent me a screener for a no-budget horror flick ($80, no kidding) called The Mental Dead. I must have been Mental for watching it. Here is a portion of the review. A link to the full review follows.
I am usually pretty hard on low budget horror films even though I admire the courage it takes to pick up a camera, get out there, and shoot a movie. Due to a recent discussion with Fatally-Yours.com’s own Dr. Royce Clemens, I learned that production values should not be the focus of a review of a film of this type. Unfortunately The Mental Dead lacks the other attributes as well, namely a plot and acting. So I will “discuss” all three aspects.
The film opens with four college kids in a car, one injured, in front of a high school overrun with zombies. Our heroes, Crash and Tyler, show up, convince the kids to go into the school where a lame game of cat and mouse begins. Will they survive? Who cares…
First – When a German actor has one of the most fake sounding German accents of all time it cannot be a good thing. Konrad Brattke’s death could not come soon enough, and I mean that literally. When we first meet him, he has already had his throat cut or bitten, which is spurting blood and yet it took him ten minutes to die.http://www.fatally-yours.com/horror-reviews/the-mental-dead/
Keep reading,
Mitch E
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Movie Review: Cloverfield by ME
Title: Cloverfield
Starring: Lizzy Caplan, T.J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Michael Stahl-David
Directed By: Matt Reeves
Produced By: Sherryl Clark, Guy Riedel, J.J. Abrams
Genre: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Drama and Thriller
Running Time: 1 hr. 24 min.
Release Date: January 18th, 2008 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, terror and disturbing images.
Distributors: Paramount Pictures
9/10
Cloverfield is a Godzilla type movie yet both less and more at the same time. Innovative story telling told through the lens of a video camera found in Central Park by the Department of Defense with no narration, explanation or anything. The whole story is told by the videotape recorded by a group of friends in an eight hour period as they try to rescue another friend and escape the city when a creature attacks New York.
The “acting” is phenomenal when taken in context. No deep conversations or useless dialogue to continue the story. Nope, this is just four young adults scared out of their minds and doing the best that they can. Due to the lack of character development you don't really care who they are, the raw emotion of the situation is enough to make you care what happens to these people who just happen to live in the wrong city at the wrong time.
Except for those two minor issues Cloverfield is one hell of an creative movie that delivers the scares and tension in a whole new way.
I'm Mitch Emerson, and I approve of this movie.
Keep reading,
Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
Friday, January 11, 2008
Movie Review: The Orphanage by ME
Title: The Orphanage
Starring: Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep, Geraldine Chaplin, Montserrat Carulla (II)
Directed By: Juan Antonio Bayona
Produced By: Guillermo del Toro, Mar Targarona, Álvaro Augustin
Genre: Art/Foreign, Suspense/Horror and Thriller
Running Time: 1 hr. 45 min.
Release Date: December 21st, 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for some disturbing content.
Distributors: Picturehouse
My rating: 9/10 (Only because I don't like subtitles, lol)
With the intention of opening a home for sick and disabled children, Laura (Belén Rueda) moves into the orphanage she grew up in, along with her husband, Carlos (Fernando Cayo), and their son, Simón (Roger Príncep). As the opening of the home approaches Simón's small group of imaginary friends grows, hinting at something more than child's play. Before opening day is over Simón disappears, pulling Laura into a dark game that threatens to destroy her sanity.
A quick review for a movie that really needs to be seen in order to believe just how good it is, The Orphanage is by far the scariest movie I have seen in a long, long time. Director Juan Antonio Bayona takes his cues from producer Guillermo Del Toro using the same dark fantasy storytelling that was prevalent in Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, making me wonder if Del Toro pulled a Poltergeist and had more to do with the film than we are led to believe, just as Steven Spielberg “lent a helping hand” to Tobe Hooper in directing Poltergeist.
Speaking of Poltergeist, the best way to describe The Orphanage would be to take Poltergeist, The Haunting and Pan's Labyrinth and put them in a blender, mix, and then sprinkle a little bit of The Others on top. Bayona uses suspense like a master, building tension out of nothing at all. I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat for no reason at all. Low angles are used where you would expect to see a hand snake out of the darkness. Or a far away shot where you expect someone to step into frame watching the lead characters. Those are just a few examples of how he creates tension and keeps it up by not using those moments, instead opting to keep the tension tight. The creepy sound design and eerie music add to the overall tone of the film quite nicely.
For once there is a movie where the performances take a backseat to the story itself, which is a good thing, because as with Pan's Labyrinth, it is hard to judge an actors ability when you can't speak their language. You don't get the cadence and tone and inflection that we use to judge the actors ability to project emotion. On the other hand, a performance can also be graded on body language and the ability to express emotion with your eyes, and that is how I judged the actors in The Orphanage. We spend most of the movie with Belén Rueda, who plays Laura. She carries the film well as a distraught mother who knows her son is still alive. Her anguish comes across quite clearly as she knows what to do, but not how to do it. While Fernando Cayo,as Laura's husband, has a few scenes where you can see in his eyes how much he cares for Laura and how helpless he feels because he doesn't know how to help her while in other scenes, it seems he's just going through the motions.
If you liked the Pan's Labyrinth, you will like The Orphanage, trust me. Even if you haven't seen Pan's Labyrinth, like horror films and can handle subtitles, then see The Orphanage. With scares, plot twists, atmosphere and just all around plain creepiness, The Orphanage is what I consider to be a prime example of suspense/horror.
Until Guillermo Del Toro and Clive Barker collaborate,
keep reading
Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
Friday, December 14, 2007
Movie Review: I Am Legend by ME
Title: I Am Legend
Starring: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok, Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Charlie Tahan
Directed By: Francis Lawrence
Produced By: Erwin Stoff, Michael Tadross, Dana Goldberg
Genre: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction/Fantasy and Adaptation
Release Date: December 14th, 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence.
Distributors: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution
Disappointed. That is how I Am Legend left me feeling. Kind of like opening the greatest Christmas present ever and finding that the batteries didn't come with it and every single store is closed.
It's 2012, Robert Neville (Will Smith), is the last survivor living in New York after the “cure” for cancer mutated the rest of the population into bloodthirsty, light sensitive monsters. During the day he hunts and hits golf balls with his dog while waiting for other survivors to find him. But at night, he hides in fear of the mutated population that wants to kill him. Why? We don't know. And, Neville just happens to be a scientist trying to find a cure.
I Am Legend starts strong, with sweeping shots of a New York city gone to seed, slowly being reclaimed by nature. We learn what Neville does every day with little spots of Will Smith's trademark humor. Intermittently told through flashbacks and dreams is the story of what happened to the world and Neville's family in particular.
Will Smith does a great job of carrying the film pretty much on his own, being that he is the only actor onscreen during most of the film. By taking mannequins and posing them in a video store, he creates some semblance of the way life used to be. While this could be construed as crazy, you can plainly see that this is just a step in keeping his own sanity. He does have the required crying scene that seems to be in most of his recent films, but it is understandable in this film and I won't penalize Smith for it this time. Not much more can be said about the cast except for a neat little cameo by Emma Thompson as the Dr. who found the “cure”. Also, fans of the Sci-Fi Channel's Eureka may recognize Salli Blake. She plays Smith's wife in the flashbacks and is Allison Blake on Eureka.
Before I get to why the movie was disappointing, I want to say that the first three quarters were really good. It takes a combination of talents to keep a movie with mostly only one cast member interesting. Director Francis Lawrence coupled with Will Smith does this quite well. The effects are top notch. New York looks extremely creepy, reminiscent of the establishing shots of London in 28 Weeks Later but with the style of WETA's work on Peter Jacksons King Kong. The creatures are creepy without looking too dehumanized.
What doesn't work is the end. Feeling truncated and incomplete, I Am Legend could have easily added another twenty minutes to it's running time of an hour and forty minutes to provide a better sense of closure. I can't say any more without giving it away, sorry.
Notice that there was no mention of any of the other versions of this film. There have been two others, Omega Man starring Charleton Heston and The Last Man On Earth, starring Vincent Price. All three films were based on the novel by Richard Matheson, he who has penned What Dreams May Come and The Incredible Shrinking Man, among others. There was no mention because I haven't seen any of the others or read the book. Plan and simple.
All in all, I cared more for the dog than I did Robert Neville. What does that tell you?
Until Will Smith really is the last man on earth,
keep reading
Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
Friday, October 19, 2007
Movie Review: 30 Days Of Night by ME
Title: 30 Days of Night
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Jon Bennett, Mark Boone Junior
Directed By: David Slade
Produced By: Nathan Kahane, Mike Richardson, Joe Drake
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Horror and Thriller
Release Date: October 19th
MPAA Rating: R for strong horror violence and language.
Distributors: Sony Pictures Releasing
I usually give horror movies some leeway when it comes to realism because these scenarios would never happen in real life. I give the same leeway for movies based on comic books. 30 Days of Night is a horror movie based on comic book so don't go in expecting the next great Vampire flick. No sexy or cool Vamps or suave dapper Christopher Lee types. Just evil monsters that have been hiding for centuries, always on the go. They discover Barrow Alaska, where the sun sets and does not rise for 30 days, giving vampires plenty of time to slaughter the townspeople and hunt down the survivors. Sheriff Eben (Josh Hartnett), his estranged wife Stella (Melissa George), Eben's younger brother Jake (Mark Rendall) and a handful of survivors try to make it to sunrise. Can they do it?
30 Days of Night is far from perfect. With plot gaps such as no reasons are ever given as to why Eben and Stella are separated as well as big gaps in continuity, the over use of the “Shaky Cam”, and vampires who annoyingly screech throughout, we are treated to a hit and miss addition to both comic book and horror genres by Hard Candy director David Slade. And you know what? That's fine with me. As long as there are good effects, good acting and a story that makes some sense, I consider it a decent horror movie. Cinematography wise, the color palette fits the mood of the film perfectly. Drab grays and shadows, even the snow is more gray than white. There is one shot that not only is a good example of the use of color, but the carnage that has been wrought by these monsters is and overhead shot that moves down the street, bodies lying in splattered puddles of blood, monsters darting here and there, grabbing victims. Great shot.
Besides seeming to always need a haircut no matter what role he is playing, Josh Hartnett is the strongest actor in the film, especially when it comes to protecting family. One scene in which his deputy has killed his family to spare them from the vampires has Hartnett shaking the man telling him, “You protect your family! Not kill them!” with emotion that you can feel. But then at other times he can be a little over the top. BUT remember, it is a vampire movie based on a comic book. Melissa George, who plays Stella, Eben's estranged wife is the standard strong woman character who wasn't even supposed to be in town (she missed her plane). I don't know the character name, so I can't look up the actor, but the lead vampire was extremely well acted. You don't want to mess with him because you can feel that he has centuries of experience at slaughtering humans. Which makes the final fight between him and Eben a little unbelievable. If you had centuries to practice, wouldn't you be the best warrior ever?
I can't quite put my finger on the reason why, but 30 Days of Night reminds me of Phantoms, a movie based on the novel of the same name starring Ben Affleck (Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms!- just a favorite quote from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back for those in the know), Rose McGowan and Peter O'Toole. But I digress. 30 Days of Night isn't without it's fair share of problems, but if you can overlook those, what you have left is more or less an action flick with elements of horror that is worth a rental on DVD.
http://www.30daysofnight.com/
Until 30 Days of Night 2: The Lost Boys Connection
keep reading,
Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Movie Review Link: The Evading by ME
I have recently been accepted as a reviewer for our very own Fatally Yours! Since she was kind enough to send me a screener, I figured I would let this one be an exclusive to Fatally Yours Horror Reviews.
After his wife dies, Josh Carter (Eric Stevens) suffers from depression. The condition gets so bad he begins having visions of a figure in a black cape. The figure pulls Josh into a secret society, and soon Josh recalls the accident that killed his wife in a completely new and disturbing way.
Combining visual elements from films like The Ring and The Grudge, Rick L. Winters has written, produced and directed a film that has outstanding effects, somewhat decent acting and a twist that actually changed my opinion of the film.
For the rest, click here.
Mitch E
mitcheemerson@hotmail.com
Friday, September 28, 2007
Movie Review: Resident Evil: Extinction by ME
Title: Resident Evil: Extinction
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Mike Epps, Iain Glen, Ali Larter
Directed By: Russell Mulcahy
Produced By: Martin Moszkowicz, Victor Hadida, Kelly Van Horn
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Horror, Adaptation and Sequel
Release Date: September 21st, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for non-stop violence, language and some nudity.
Distributors: Screen Gems, Sony Pictures Releasing
Resident Evil: Extinction is based on the wildly popular video game series and picks up where the last film left off. Alice (Milla Jovovich), now in hiding in the Nevada desert, once again joins forces with Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr) and L.J. (Mike Epps), along with new survivors Claire Redfield (Ali Larter), K-Mart (Spencer Locke) and Nurse Betty (Ashanti) to try to eliminate the deadly virus that threatens to make every human being undead...and to seek justice. -Official Site
Resident Evil: Extinction is an apt title. With this installment, the entertainment value of the Resident Evil franchise is almost extinct. Veering even farther from the games on which it is based, as well as changing the nature of characters that have been established in previous films, not to mention the ridiculousness of the setup, all lead Resident Evil: Extinction on an unbelievable ride that hopes to squeeze by you with it's failings unnoticed. Example: The world has dried up, literally. No oceans, lakes or rain. Why? Because most of the population is dead. You buy it? If so, I have a bridge or some property on the moon for sale.
Where does it go right? Effects, makeup and some of the fight choreography and the actual acting. Milla Jovovich still kicks ass with much grace and beauty. I must mention the fact that her face looks completely airbrushed on though. Kind of like what they do to every single Playboy model ever. Ali Larter channels Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 almost perfectly, all the way down to the costume. Baseball cap, sunglasses, etc. I am really disappointed in Mike Epps in this final chapter. His jokes and wisecracks were some of the best things in RE2, but he has been relegated to almost a background character here. Same goes for Oded Fehr, the commanding soldier from RE2 has been reduced to a shock trooper. The biggest problem is that there really isn't anything distinguishably different between any of the characters. They all seem to have the same attitude. Not through the actors fault though, I lay blame on the director. And yes, if you read the synopsis, there really is a character named K-Mart. Just another ridiculous nail in the coffin of the Resident Evil franchise. Even though they left it wide open for a sequel, almost demanding one, I hope they let this dead dog lie in pieces.
I have said enough about this one. I have seen worse, but I have seen much better.
Keep reading,
Mitch Emerson
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Movie Review: Halloween by ME
Title: Halloween
Starring: Daeg Faerch, Danielle Harris, Malcolm McDowell, Danny Trejo, Sheri Moon
Directed By: Rob Zombie
Produced By: John Carpenter, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein
Genre: Suspense/Horror, Remake and Sequel
Release Date: August 31st 2007 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for strong brutal bloody violence and terror throughout, sexual content, graphic nudity and language.
Distributors: MGM Distribution Company
Ten year-old Michael Myers has a bad childhood and kills his family. Fifteen years later, he escapes from the mental institution where he has been held and goes on a killing spree. If you don't know the plot, where have you been since 1978?
Many people feel that remakes are unnecessary. Especially a classic horror film like Halloween. But, if it's going to be done, who better than horror aficionado, musician and director Rob Zombie? Probably best known as ex-frontman of the band White Zombie as well as a solo career, Rob Zombie came onto the movie scene with House of 1000 Corpses and the follow up The Devil's Rejects. With Halloween he hones his directorial skills by taking the best elements of 70's, 80's and todays horror films and combining them in a way that pays homage without ruining a classic, I hope. I say I hope because I may be one of the few people who has never seen the original Halloween (gasp!). Yes it's true, I was more into Freddy and Jason as a teen. Is this a bad thing? Depends on how you look at it. Sometimes a fresh perspective is needed instead of a comparison between new and old.
As imposing a figure that Tyler Mane is, I don't think it was quite necessary to have such a large man play Michael Myers, especially when you have such a small kid playing him at ten years old. Speaking of the boy, Daeg Faerch, is one creepy little kid. You kinda feel sorry for him until he turns psychopathic. I found myself thinking that making the movie had to be at least a little traumatizing for the boy with some of the things he had to do. Malcolm McDowell is by far the best actor in the film. You actually get to see some of the effort that Loomis expended on trying to rehabilitate Michael. There are quite a few cameos including Zombie's usual suspects Sherri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley and Sid Haig. There are quite a few horror icons as well though. Some of who are Udo Kier, Clint Howard, Dee Wallace and many more. Hell, even Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees puts in an appearance. I saved Scout Taylor-Compton for last because of a split decision. On one hand she is a good actress and plays the part well, when she is acting with adults or dealing with Michael. It's when she has to interact with the other teens or the children that things seem forced. The scenes of the three friends seemed almost like a caricature or stereotype of how teens act. I am not sure if it is her fault or the other actresses, but there you go.
As a non-Halloween fan, I can honestly say that I enjoyed most of Rob Zombie's vision. Some bad/overacting on the teenagers part was the only thing that got to me. So, this is one you will either love it or leave it no matter what any reviewer/critic says due to the fact that the original Halloween is a much loved classic.
I can't believe I didn't mention the soundtrack! All I can say is that Rob Zombie is a master at picking perfect songs for his films. The Devil's Rejects and Halloween have got to have the best classic rock soundtracks that have been released in a while.
Till we finally get Freddy VS. Jason VS. Ash VS. Michael Myers VS. Barney,
keep reading
Mitch E.
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Movie Review: Halloween (2007) by JW
Title: Halloween
Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Sheri Moon Zombie, Tyler Mane, Scout Taylor-Compton, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris
Director: Rob Zombie
Producer: Malek Akkad, Patrick Esposito, Andy Gould, Andrew G. La Marca, Matthew Stein, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Rob Zombie
Genre: Horror
Release Date: August 31, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for strong brutal bloody violence and terror throughout, sexual content, graphic nudity and language
Distributors: Dimension Films
This guy’s got some nerve. Rob Zombie has made all of two movies, then up and decides out of thin air he wants to do a remake - of Halloween no less. Who the hell does he think he is anyway? Sure The Devil’s Rejects was great, but Halloween? The grandfather of all slasher movies? Talk about swinging for the fence. This is more than just a horror movie. This is a remake of arguably the greatest slasher flick of all time, the 9th Halloween movie, and a Rob Zombie movie. There were so many prejudged expectations that it never really had a chance, did it?
By now the story of Halloween is the stuff of horror movie lore. In case you are freshly revived from a time capsule: A 10 year old Michael Myers kills his sister and others on Halloween night. He is committed to a mental institution, Smith’s Grove Sanitarium, under the care of Dr. Samuel Loomis. After not speaking for 15 years, Myers breaks free from the hospital and heads back to his childhood home, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.
Let me just say this - this ain’t your granddaddy’s Halloween. This is Zombie’s take on the classic, and there are differences. In order to justify the remake, there had to be something new enough to interest me. This movie takes chances, and for the most part - they pay off. If you want a shot by shot rehash of something, go watch Van Sant’s pile of swill Psycho remake. That’s not to say it’s not without its flaws, but overall it worked very, very well.
The most glaring difference is the back story. We are made privy to some of Michael Myers’ history previous to his initial batch of Halloween killings. To dig deeper into the back story is to attempt to gain a better understanding of Myers’ motivations. At first, I was mildly offended by Zombie’s presumptions. Why would you go and ruin a good thing by trying to explain why Michael Myers is the way he is? Wasn’t that one of the reasons the original worked - not knowing why? Absolutely, but as the movie unfolded and we were able to see the rest of the chances Zombie took with the picture, everything found its place and it worked. In the end, the back story gives us the necessary information to almost care that he completes his journey. At the very least it added an additional level of tension not present in the original.
Detractors will protest the amount of violence and blood in the film, crying foul because the original worked so well with so little. Huh? Zombie’s first movie was called House of 1000 Corpses. You can’t rack up that many dead bodies without shedding a little blood. That’s like going on a date with Rachel Ray and complaining because she cooked dinner for you.
There are a lot of great performances here that worked too. Sheri Moon-Zombie shows some unforeseen range as Myers’ stripper mother, Deborah. I loved William Forsythe as Deborah’s abusive boyfriend. Tyler Mane makes for a very imposing adult Myers. And Daeg Faerch as young Michael Myers is without a doubt, the creepiest kid I have seen on film in a long time. One down spot for me was the Dr. Loomis character, played by Malcolm McDowell. I appreciated the concept of further intertwining Myers and Dr. Loomis’ story, but this Loomis came off as a bit egotistical whose motivations were more than simply caging the evil of Myers.
All in all, I loved this movie. It worked for me on many levels. As a horror movie, it is tense and conceptually fresh. As a Halloween movie, it is an original yet respectful reinvention. And as a Rob Zombie movie? The script is sharp and inspired, the music is great, and the performances rose above regular horror movie conventions - it is a worthy tribute that Zombie successfully made his own.
And you get to see a ‘monkey’ selling guns.
This movie is Rob Zombie’s Halloween. It is violent, bloody, and fierce. It is audacious in its concept, arrogant in its confidence, and skillful in its execution. I admire the chances he took, and his presumption to think he could pull it off. There is a fine line between introducing original devices to the story and respecting the material of origin. Zombie walks that line to perfection. While not quite as good as The Devil’s Rejects, this is hands down the best Halloween since the original.
And there’s the rub.
http://www.halloween-themovie.com/
4 1/2 out of 5 stars
Jeremy Welsch (jndubbs@gmail.com)
Sunday, August 26, 2007
DVD Review: An American Werewolf in London by JR
Writer/Director: John Landis
Starring: David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne, John Woodvine
Produced by: George Folsey, Peter Guber, Jon Peters
Genre: Horror/Comedy/Thriller/Werewolf
Two American tourists, Jack and David, are backpacking through England when they stop for rest at a pub in the country, the Slaughtered Lamb. The strange people at the pub are less than welcoming, and let the two young men venture back out on their own with the warning to “Stay on the road. Keep clear of the moors.” Jack and David take this as normal weird behavior and take a shortcut through the moors, only to be attacked. Jack is killed and David awakens in a hospital with a few scratches. Judging by the title, I’m sure you know by now: they were attacked by a werewolf. David, since he has survived the attack, is now a werewolf himself, and will transform into the beast during the next full moon.
It’s a story we’ve all heard a thousand times, right? Especially lately with terrible renditions of the story such as “Blood and Chocolate” and “the Skinwalkers”. “An American Werewolf in London” is, in my opinion, the definitive werewolf film. I had dismissed it previously due to the poor reception of “An American Werewolf in Paris”. I’ve always associated the two and thought that if “Paris” wasn’t any good, then “London” couldn’t be good either. Ever since I had heard that “London” was the reason that the Academy Award for Best Makeup was created, I’ve wanted to see it. How could a werewolf movie possibly be this good?
The make up award is absolutely ascertained in this case. The werewolf is amazing! If they were to make this movie now, I’m sure most of the werewolf would be CGI. If not the werewolf, then for sure most of the transformation. But back in the early 80’s, this wasn’t possible. I mean, just look at the TV in Nurse Price’s apartment! And the metal box above David’s bed in the hospital with all of the little switches and lights! The entire transformation in this film is real, and it makes it that much more scary and amazing. David’s hands grow before our eyes, his sharp nails poking out from under his regular nails, the hair appearing on his back, chest and feet. And then, just when you thought that it couldn’t get any better, his face grows too. He grows a snout, just like a wolf. It’s really an awesome sight. The first transformation occurs about an hour into the movie and by this time the audience is ready for it. When it happens, it happens right before our eyes. Nothing is hidden. The werewolf is one makeup achievement in the film, the other is Jack’s makeup. Jack has been killed by the werewolf in the beginning, but he returns to David throughout the film to give him advice. He’s also dead and in “limbo” so he progressively decays. David even refers to him as a “walking meat loaf”.
Oh and the soundtrack makes the transformation scene. During this hideous transformation, the song “Blue Moon” is playing. The soundtrack is perfect for this film. Director/Writer John Landis picked the songs for the film: every one of them has the word “Moon” in the title.
“An American Werewolf In London” would be a great film without the astonishing make up effects. The dialogue is brilliant and hilarious. The banter in the opening scene with Jack and David is real and establishes a great chemistry between the two. Some of their quotes:
Jack: Do you think she'll meet me in Rome?
David: I think Debbie Klein is a mediocre person with a good body.
Jack: Debbie is not mediocre and she has one of the great bodies of all time.
David: She's a jerk.
Jack: You're talking about the woman I love.
David: I'm talking about a girl you want to fuck, so give me a break.
Jack: Well, anyway, do you think she'll be there?
David: I don't know.
Jack: [like an announcer] Rendezvous in Rome starring Jack Goodman and Debbie Klein. The love affair that shocked Europe! See torrid lovemaking at its most explicit! See Jack and Debbie expose their lust in the sacred halls of the Vatican! Never has the screen dared....
David: If you don't stop, I'm going to kill you.
Jack: I have to make love to her. It's very simple. She has no choice really.
David: It just fascinates me that you can spend so much energy on someone so dull.
Jack: There is nothing dull about that body.
David: We've known Debbie what, since the eighth grade? How many years of foreplay is that?
Jack: She says she "likes me too much".
This is just in the very beginning of the movie, there are tons more! This is truly a comedy/horror, and one of the best. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out on a classic that is still holding its own over 20 years later.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Jenny Rushing
beccajane67@yahoo.com
Thursday, July 26, 2007
DVD Review: Dead Silence by JR
The legend of Mary Shaw haunted the dreams of many children of the small town of Raven’s Fair. After his wife is mysteriously murdered, Jamie must travel home to face his family and to try to break the curse.
“Dead Silence”, by the same writers and director who brought us “Saw”, is proof that lightning only strikes once in one place. Being a big fan of the “Saw” movies, I was pretty excited to see this one, even though it got awful reviews. I figured that it got awful reviews because it was a horror movie with an early in the year release. Those kinds of movies almost always get bad reviews. This one unfortunately warranted the bad reviews.
The biggest reason why it was so bad was that it followed every horror/detective movie stereotype. For example, Donnie Wahlberg’s character. Let me paint a picture of what he looks like the first time we see him. He’s got a handlebar moustache, a receding hairline, a perpetual five-o-clock shadow, he’s wearing a trench coat and a shirt and tie, loosely tied around his neck to appear disheveled, and he’s eating a doughnut. Gee, I wonder what his character does for a living. Perhaps he’s a cop? No, better! He’s a detective investigating the murder of Jamie’s wife. Every line this guy delivers is straight out of any noir/detective/good cop bad cop type movie or TV show. It starts out as laughable, but by the end of the movie it’s just ridiculous. Can’t this guy get a gig on Dancing With the Stars like the other boy band has beens?
The movie also used the same effects over and over again. This one in particular: A car will be driving down a road. Then the image of the car on the road will morph into the map of the area, the sign for the town of Raven’s Fair, then it will morph from the sign back into the car driving down the road. The movie used this same effect several times. The first time it’s cool. The second, third, and fourth times? Not so much.
The action moved way too slow for my taste. Especially for a horror movie. We see the one killing in the beginning (again, stereotypical), but then the next killing isn’t until we’ve passed the hour mark. And nothing is accomplished in this hour!!
Oh yeah, and since it’s by the same folks who wrote “Saw”, there’s a “twist” ending. Wow. The twist is glossed by so quickly that I really could care less about trying to figure it out. I’m sure it does make sense, if you spent the time online reading message boards or watching some of the special features, but really, I don’t care. It was simply ridiculous.
I’ve been trying to think of positive things about this movie while I’ve been writing about all of the bad things about it…the only thing I could think of was the doll. Billy. He’s really got a creepy voice. I don’t know who did his voice, but it was really creepy.
Visit the official site at http://www.deadsilencemovie.net/
Jenny Rushing
beccajane67@yahoo.com
Friday, May 18, 2007
Movie Review: Severance by ME
Title: Severance
Starring: Laura Harris, Danny Dyer, Tim McInnerny, David Gilliam (II), Toby Stephens
Directed By: Chris Smith (VI)
Produced By: Michael Kuhn, Jason Newmark, Finola Dwyer
Genre: Art/Foreign, Comedy and Suspense/Horror
Release Date: May 18th, 2007 (limited)
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language, drug content and some sexuality/nudity.
Distributors: Magnolia Pictures
Severance is a horror comedy that has been unjustly compared to Shaun of the Dead. While both films make fun of the horror genre, Severance isn't so much a parody as it is a tongue in cheek look at the slasher film. Seven employees of the Palisade Defence company are taken on a teamwork building retreat in the mountains of Hungary, or is it Budapest? Anyways, a detour forces them to stay at the wrong Lodge. Now, they think they are in the right place but they aren't. And that is when things begin to go wrong. Bear traps, pitfalls, minefields and maniacs await them.
I went into Severance knowing nothing. I hadn't seen a trailer, read a synopsis or even looked at a cast list. So this may be a better review than most as I had absolutely no expectations at all. From the first scene of a masked man with a machete chasing two half naked women and a man through the woods reminiscent of the Friday The 13th films, Severance takes it's first stab (groan) at the slasher films. Filled with stereotypes of both office workers and victims in slasher movies (In the same people, no less!), you had better check your brain at the door.
Let me just make a list of things about this movie because I can't seem to find the flowing fountain of words that would be best to describe Severance in a most flattering and prolific way.
First – The film is slightly confusing as to who the protagonist(s) are. Is it lunatics from the asylum turned lodge? Or is it remnant Russian war criminals fearing discovery and just trying to survive? Don't worry, it is resolved but you are wondering about it for a bit.
Second – Humor, some good, some not so good but none really bad. Examples (Note if you don't want to read descriptions of complete scenes, skip this part) Chick is tied to a tree, Flamethrower Killer (I swear, that's how he is credited!) pours gasoline over her. Tries to light a match, match goes out, tries another, same thing, tries another, same thing. Cut to slightly relieved woman, cut to killers back, he slowly turns around holding a flamethrower. Another gruesomely funny scene is when one guy steps on a bear trap and two others are trying to pry it open. They keep slipping and the trap slams shut four times, finally severing his leg. Hope that is enough examples of the sick humor that is in this film. I have at least one more that I wanted to share with you but to me it is one of the best in the film and I don't want to let all of the cats out.
Third – Casting, only person I have even heard of is Laura Harris, whom I last saw in Habitat and The Faculty. She plays Maggie. She reminded me of Anna Faris in the Scary Movie movies in that she seems to be the catalyst and the only non-stereotype in the cast. Danny Dyer is the funniest of the bunch as the stoner dude Steve, who spends most of the movie either on mushrooms, stoned or on Ecstasy. Some of his high points (pun intended) is being led around on a leash by Harris so he doesn't get lost, seeing multiple versions of himself while tripping, and tries to stuff the aforementioned severed leg into a mini fridge.
Fourth – Cinematography. My regular readers know how much I hate the shakycam and it's overuse. I am proud to say that if it was used at all in this movie, I didn't notice it. And to me that's a good thing. Kind of like a good haircut. If you don't notice that someone got one, then that means it's a good one.
OK, OK, get to the recommendation already! Would I recommend it? I could go either way on this one. While not as hilarious as Shaun of the Dead, Severance is a different type of horror humor. I liked it because for the most part, it wasn't dumb humor. Granted, opinions are like a**holes, everybody has one, but I do plan on renting it on DVD. But will you enjoy it? I don't really know. I can tell you that I learned a few things from this movie. If your company offers you a teamwork building retreat, skip it. But, if you must go, make sure the bus driver speaks your language. I'll bet if he did, this situation would never have come to pass and everybody would be much happier campers (again, pun intended).
Emerson out!
Keep reading,
Mitch E.
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
Friday, May 11, 2007
Movie Review: 28 Weeks Later by ME
Title: 28 Weeks Later
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau Jr, Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Catherine McCormack
Directed By: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Produced By: Alex Garland, Danny Boyle, Andrew Macdonald
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller and Sequel
Release Date: May 11th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for strong violence and gore, language and some sexuality/nudity.
Distributors: 20th Century Fox Distribution
28 weeks after the original outbreak of the Rage virus, all of the infected have died from starvation and London is ready for re-population. 15,000 people are now back and trying to start new lives. With an unbelievable amount of military supervision the plan seems to be working, until Don (Robert Carlyle), a cowardly husband who leaves his wife (Catherine McCormack) behind to die during the original outbreak, finds out that she is still alive. She is a carrier of the virus but is not affected, but Don doesn't know that. They kiss and the proverbial poo-poo hits the fan, again. Now his kids, who may have the same immunity as the mother, must now get out of the infected zone with the help of three soldiers ,Doyle (Jeremy Renner), Scarlet (Rose Byrne), and Flynn (Harold Perrineau Jr.) before either A. The infected get them, or B. the military firebombs London.
In 2002 Danny Boyle created a different take on the zombie film. That movie was 28 days later, and it was a hit. In 2007, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has taken what Boyle created and made it better. Yes, one of the few sequels that is just as good, and even better in some aspects, than the original. If you have seen 28 Days Later you know that this isn't a zombie film in the traditional sense. These guys are not shambling, stumbling, clumsy dead people. These are fast and furious mindless machines of infection and death. This movie invoked the same creepy-crawly sensation in the pit of my stomach as the first, yet even more so. Using fast cuts and the patented “shakycam”, Fresnadillo ramps up the tension and then delivers on the scares, only to do it again and again. Beautiful and ghostly aerial shots of an abandoned and decimated London help set the stage and drive home the feeling that this could happen.
If Jeremy Renner seems familiar to you, don't worry he is. He was “Dags” in National Lampoon's Senior Trip. Now if you would have told me then that Dags would make a good soldier type, I would have laughed in your face. And, not only does he play a good trooper, but he also shows emotional conflict when he is told to open fire on civilians in order to contain the outbreak. My hat's off to you Jeremy. The real heart of our little group is Rose Byrne's Scarlet, who knows the importance of Andy's blood. I have only seen her in smaller roles before this so I have nothing to compare her to, but she doesn't seem out of place. While being important to the plot, the chldren just seem like extra that are baggage at times (which essentially they are as they are the carriers of a possible cure or what have you) and Harold Perineau Jr. plays basically the same character he did in the Matrix trilogy, a pilot.
My one and only problem is with Zombie Dad Don. Somehow, he seems to survive snipers, firebombing and chemical weapons to pop up every fifteen minutes or so to terrorize his children. That seemed a bit of a stretch to me.
I consider this a horror film and a sequel that is just as good if not better than the original. I liked that the budget was bigger and was able to expand the scope of the movie. Instead of dealing with a small band of survivors, we get to see the effects of the Rage virus on an entire nation.
Keep reading,
Mitch E
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Movie Review: Grindhouse by ME
Title: Grindhouse
Starring: Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Josh Brolin, Marley Shelton, Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson
Directed By: Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez
Produced By: Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Sandra Condito
Genre: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Horror and Thriller
Release Date: April 6th, 2007
MPAA Rating: R for strong graphic bloody violence and gore, pervasive language, some sexuality, nudity and drug use.
Distributors: Dimension Films
In "Death Proof," a psycho named Stuntman Mike (Kurt Russell) stalks and kills beautiful women with his car. In "Planet Terror," a small-town sheriffs' department has to deal with an outbreak of murderous, infected people called "sickos." A gun-legged woman named Cherry (Rose McGowan) and her martial arts-wielding partner (Freddy Rodriguez) take on the zombie army. The two films will be fused together by fake movie trailers by directors Rob Zombie, Eli Roth, Robert Rodriguez and Edgar Wright.Let's start from the beginning. As I sat down to watch the cheesy goodness that is Grindhouse, I had both high and low expectations. High because this is a film by two of the best and cutting edge directors that Hollywood has seen in a long time and they both have some great movies under their belts. Tarantino with Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill. Rodriguez with the Mariachi trilogy and Sin City. Low because of the subject matter: 70's grindhouse and exploitation flicks. Being a child of the 80's and 90's I have no prior experience of these types of films. The closest I can claim is a horror double feature on Saturday afternoons on WKBD 20 (Detroit). So I cannot compare this film to those, which may give my review a different tone than some of the others that are out there. So let's get to the meat of the review. I enjoyed Grindhouse to no end. A little long, clocking in at 3 ½ hours, but otherwise an almost perfect way to spend an afternoon.
Machete – One of four fake trailers directed by guest directors. This one was by Robert Rodriguez himself. Rodriguez regular Danny Trejo is Machete, one Mexican you don't want to f**k with. With Cheech Marin as a shotgun weilding priest, these two are going to clean up the town. Rumored to be an actual direct to video movie by Rodriguez, Machete was a fun little take on the revenge picture.
Planet Terror – Beginning with the best opening credit scene ever to be put on celluloid (Rose McGowan go-go dancing for 3-4 minutes) Planet Terror is filled with over the top acting, blood, gore and comedy with characters that you find yourself caring more than you would expect. For instance, two brothers (Michael Biehn and Jeff Fahey) who have been having a feud over a BBQ recipe for years finally reconcile at the end. Cherry Darling (Rose McGowan) wants to be a stand up comedian but thinks that can never happen after losing her leg. Get it? Stand up comedian? Ha ha! Don't let that fool you though, Planet Terror doesn't slouch in the gore department either. Just a few choice bits include a brainless Fergie (yay!), head shots, popping pustules, dripping genitals and decapitation by helicopter. Rodriguez has made a zombie movie that encompasses everything that I love about horror. With missing reels, dust, dirt, scratches and hair in the film, Planet Terror is a throwback to a much different era of horror. Planet Terror feels like it could be the precursor to the style that dominated horror in the 80's while still thinking that it is a “serious” horror film. My personal favorite of the two.Intermission – The other three fake trailers were presented between features. Werewolf Women of the S.S is Rob Zombie's addition. While it was cut together a little to quickly for my taste it looks like it could be an interesting concept. The best part – Nicolas Cage as Fu Manchu. Now that made me choke on my Pepsi. Don't – yes that was a name of a trailer and a lame one to boot. Thanksgiving – Eli Roth's spoof of Holiday themed horror with a few extremely inappropriate kills that would never have been in an 80's flick.
Death Proof – While Planet Terror spoofed horror, Tarentino's Death Proof spoofs the car thriller. Not being a big fan of the genre I can only spout off Christine and Duel as well as the Smokey and The Bandit movies as any kind of comparison. Which isn't really a comparison at all so never mind. Anyways, Death Proof is a little more flawed due to some irreverent and overlong dialogue that supposedly serves to flesh out some of the characters but is really pointless since they die in the next scene anyways. Albeit a kick ass death scene that we get to see four times, so we can see how each passenger in the car buys it extremely gruesome detail. It just seemed that Tarentino forgot that he was making a grindhouse film and started making a Tarentino film instead. I mean, even with all the extemporaneous dialogue and character building, you still don't care about these girls. But, once the tires get rolling in the third act, look out! You are in for one hell of a car chase. This next batch of would be victims aren't slouches and turn the tables on Stuntman Mike. Chasing him down and giving him a healthy dose of his own medicine.
I neglected to talk about the cast in order to address them here. Everybody is perfectly cast. From Planet Terror you get Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodriguez, Marley Shelton, Michael Biehn, Jeff Fahey, Tom Savini, Josh Brolin, Bruce Willis, Carlos Gallardo, Fergie and Naveen Andrews. Rose proves that she is one of the sexiest women alive. Fergie proves she's brainless, Freddy Rodriguez proves that he can be a bad ass, Biehn shows that he has a sense of humor and Fahey just does his thing. Death Proof brings us Kurt Russell, Rosario Dawson, Sydney Poitier, Tracie Thoms, Michael Parks, and Vanessa Ferlito. Russell shows that he can still be a mean dude. What I like about Stuntman Mike is that you don't know why he is doing these things. I actually liked him when we first meet him. Russell plays him as a normal guy, which is strange because I thought that grindhouse movie villains were the precursor to the 80's slasher flicks. Tarentino slipping off the track again. The three would be victims, Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson and Tracie Thoms continue the underlying theme of strong women that began with Rose McGowan's Cherry Darling. The stand out is Zoe Bell, who plays herself. Once Death Proof gets rolling and she does what she does best, the tension just keeps getting cranked up and doesn't stop. If Tarentino would have cut out half of the dialogue and added another group of victims, Death Proof would be damn near perfect.There is a rumor that the Weinstein company is going to split the two movies up and re-release them as stand alone films. While that may be a good idea, it means that you may have a short time in which to enjoy Grindhouse as it was originally intended. So go see it now! You may see me there as I will definitely catch this one again before it leaves theaters.
Until I get Rose McGowan,
keep reading
Mitch E.
mitchemerson@hotmail.com
