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Re: The Horror Movie Lovers Thread

Posted: September 27th, 2018, 9:52 am
by Rev
I love the fall and am glad it is becoming horror movie season. Hopefully some really good movies come out this time of the year. Heard Mandy was a good film but I cannot find a theater nearby that is showing it so gonna pick it up when it becomes available on blu ray (I think end of October).

Here are some interesting films I saw lately:

Triangle- This one was surprising. At first, I thought the reviews I've seen were pretty misguided. The acting seems pretty poor right from the start but I have to say this movie gets a lot better as it goes along. The whole concept is that these people go boating (super original) and get hit by a storm. They enter a ship and things get really weird. Not original at all, but it gets better and the out of place acting starts making sense and seems like a deliberate choice as the movie gets going. Definitely a fun ride for an indie film.

Are We Not Cats- I would barely classify this as horror. Probably a drama with a few horror elements, but I really enjoyed it. This is a pretty self contained movie about a guy who is trying to figure out things after being kicked out from his family's house. I guess it could also be seen as a bit of a romantic movie.. Dunno... But I still enjoyed it.

Revenge- Fun film. This is an action/horror film all about getting revenge (title works perfectly, lol). Girl gets the raw end of a deal and decides to hunt down the three men who did her in. This was a lot of fun. One of the better horror films I've seen this year.

Pyewacket- Another pretty good indie film, from the creator of the Witch. Girl gets into the occult after her father dies and summons the Pyewacket to get revenge on her mother. Things start to get creepy and weird after she summons the creature and she realizes she made a huge mistake. Pretty good movie. Definitely liked The Witch better but this one isn't bad.

Re: The Horror Movie Lovers Thread

Posted: November 4th, 2018, 10:44 am
by C64_Critic
Rev wrote:Hereditary- Despite the super high rotten tomatoes score, I think a bunch of people were disappointed by this movie because it was marketed as something it wasn't. I think people went in expecting the Conjuring however this is a thinking mans horror movie. If you like to analyze the movie you just watched, read about it after, and talk with others about what you just watched, then you probably will love this movie. I really loved it but I'm a sucker for these types of movies.


I finally saw this last night based on your recommendation. I have to admit, I'm pretty confused/disappointed. For the vast majority of the film I didn't even think I was watching a 'horror' movie, I figured it was just a sad drama about a bunch of people with mental illnesses. Even as the final credits rolled, I don't think I'd label this a 'horror' flick... more a supernatural drama? But, as you say, it's a thinking mans movie and I haven't had much time to digest it so maybe my opinion will evolve as I do a little more research.

Re: The Horror Movie Lovers Thread

Posted: November 4th, 2018, 12:07 pm
by VideoGameCritic
I thought Hereditary was a pretty traditional horror flick in the tradition of Rosemary's Baby or The Omen. Terrifying!

Were people expecting Friday the 13th?

Re: The Horror Movie Lovers Thread

Posted: November 4th, 2018, 12:34 pm
by DaHeckIzDat
C64_Critic wrote:
Rev wrote:Hereditary- Despite the super high rotten tomatoes score, I think a bunch of people were disappointed by this movie because it was marketed as something it wasn't. I think people went in expecting the Conjuring however this is a thinking mans horror movie. If you like to analyze the movie you just watched, read about it after, and talk with others about what you just watched, then you probably will love this movie. I really loved it but I'm a sucker for these types of movies.


I finally saw this last night based on your recommendation. I have to admit, I'm pretty confused/disappointed. For the vast majority of the film I didn't even think I was watching a 'horror' movie, I figured it was just a sad drama about a bunch of people with mental illnesses. Even as the final credits rolled, I don't think I'd label this a 'horror' flick... more a supernatural drama? But, as you say, it's a thinking mans movie and I haven't had much time to digest it so maybe my opinion will evolve as I do a little more research.


This seems to be a hot trend with "horror" movies these days. Advertise a movie as a horror flick, but then surprise the audience when it's actually a metaphor for things that happen in real life that's supposed to make you think and reflect, but only succeeds in pissing off the people who paid money to see a horror movie, not some stuck up "artists" shallow attempt at being deep and philosophical. That's why I hated the Babadook. "No, see, it's scary because the monster is depression, and depression is reeeeaaaaal! Isn't that so much better?!"

Re: The Horror Movie Lovers Thread

Posted: November 4th, 2018, 1:04 pm
by Rev
C64_Critic wrote:
Rev wrote:Hereditary- Despite the super high rotten tomatoes score, I think a bunch of people were disappointed by this movie because it was marketed as something it wasn't. I think people went in expecting the Conjuring however this is a thinking mans horror movie. If you like to analyze the movie you just watched, read about it after, and talk with others about what you just watched, then you probably will love this movie. I really loved it but I'm a sucker for these types of movies.


I finally saw this last night based on your recommendation. I have to admit, I'm pretty confused/disappointed. For the vast majority of the film I didn't even think I was watching a 'horror' movie, I figured it was just a sad drama about a bunch of people with mental illnesses. Even as the final credits rolled, I don't think I'd label this a 'horror' flick... more a supernatural drama? But, as you say, it's a thinking mans movie and I haven't had much time to digest it so maybe my opinion will evolve as I do a little more research.


I dunno, I've seen a lot of films where I questioned if it was actually horror, however Hereditary has never been that movie. To me there is no question that Hereditary is a traditional horror film. It has scares (especially towards the end of the film), it can be graphic (such as what happens to the daughter), and deals with dark subject matter such as cults, death, demons, etc. The movie is definitely a slow burn horror film, where it takes a while for the intensity to pick up. I actually like those types of horror films the most, as long as the ending does a good job selling the scares (which I think this one does).

I will be honest that I was a bit iffy on the movie on the first viewing as well. I liked it but also didn't walk out of the theater feeling that great about it. After I digested the film and watched it a second time (when it just came out on blu ray), I found myself really liking the film on a second viewing.

I think I was expecting the movie to be something that it wasn't. Unlike a lot of movies, Hereditary doesn't hold your hand and explain everything for the audience. All the clues are in the movie (thankfully) but it does require a lot of from the audience to figure things out. In addition, Toni Collette gives a wonderful performance and to me, sells the movie. Without her, Hereditary wouldn't be as great as it was.

One thing I like doing on these types of films is after watching it, I like to read about to see what I might have missed and get other's view on what I was exactly watching. A Youtube channel called FoundFilx did a really good ending explained which I pretty much agree with. You might give it a watch- found here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW_GokVMbNA) and see if that helps at all with your understanding of the film. He covered a few things I missed on my initial viewing as well.

I do stick by my initial impression, that the way the movie was sold to audiences as something it wasn't. I think this movie was mis-marketed so that it would sell more tickets. I'm pretty sure this is why I walked away so conflicted on my first viewing. I really hate when this is done but can understand why ($$$). Anyway, I hope this helps. If you still are conflicted on the movie, at least you can walk away with a better understanding of the film.

Re: The Horror Movie Lovers Thread

Posted: November 5th, 2018, 1:40 pm
by velcrozombie
I liked but didn't love Upgrade, although I think it has grown on me over the last two months since I've watched it. For the tiny budget it's a technical marvel and it's trim and efficient in an old-school John Carpenter sort of style. I actually think the trailer played up the comedic aspect considerably beyond what was in the movie itself (since we were just discussing the way Hereditary, a film I haven't yet seen, was sold to audiences) but this didn't really bother me much. Nice twist ending, as well. Nothing great (I still think some of the writing and scene transitions were awkward) but very solid.

I watched the original Friday the 13th. I'd previously seen from Part 4 all the through Jason Goes to Hell along with Freddy vs. Jason and bits of Part 3. I've never been a big fan of the series but it was popular with my friends in high school and college so it was always around; of the films I've seen I'd definitely put Part 4 at the top, with Parts 6 and 7 and Freddy vs. Jason also being somewhat enjoyable (on a trash film level, at least). My cousin told me I should go back to the beginning. It was interesting to go back before the series had developed it's conventions. It has atmosphere and the kids are likable (except for the one that's not, but he's clearly intended to be annoying) and the hook of having SPOILERS FOR A 40-YEAR-OLD MOVIE a middle-aged woman as the killer is novel - even the history of franchise (with Jason lurking in background) excuses what were problems back in the day, such as having a frail older women tossing bodies through windows. There's one great kill (Kevin Bacon getting an arrow through the neck) and while the ending shamelessly rips off Carrie it's still effective. I'd still put Part 4 above it, but the film was strong enough to make me want to watch Part 2 and 3 to see the series grow into its formula.

While I wouldn't call it a horror movie, I'm going to mention Turbo Kid. It's like a demented low-budget children's version of Mad Max mixed with Scott Pilgrim and directed by a young Peter Jackson. The level of gore on display is staggering, but it's done with the inventive humor and irreverence of a Road Runner cartoon. There a number of 80s pop-culture references (video games included, especially The Legend of Zelda) but they feel less gratuitous than in something like Kung Fury, probably because there are character relationships and a simple but charming story to hang all the madness from.

Re: The Horror Movie Lovers Thread

Posted: November 6th, 2018, 9:36 pm
by GameOfThrones
VideoGameCritic wrote:I thought Hereditary was a pretty traditional horror flick in the tradition of Rosemary's Baby or The Omen. Terrifying!

Were people expecting Friday the 13th?

Dreadful movie. I watched it in the flix and hated it. Though it was better badadadadadboringbook

Re: The Horror Movie Lovers Thread

Posted: December 9th, 2018, 3:49 pm
by Herschie
I know "Titanic" isn't really a horror movie, yet it is. Because it was a horror in real life. But that one part where John Jacob Astor is hanging onto that pole on the grand staircase and all the sudden the dome shatters and water comes rushing in, well...that's what nightmares are made of. Three of the scariest seconds I've seen in a film.

For me, things that either actually happened or could actually happen scare me more than true horror movies. Movies about 9/11 or storms or nuclear war I think are far scarier than ghosts or monsters.

Re: The Horror Movie Lovers Thread

Posted: March 31st, 2019, 8:46 pm
by velcrozombie
Haven't been watching much horror over the past few months but I checked out a couple of newer films recently:

Mandy - More of an arty revenge/exploitation movie than a straight horror movie but the haunting atmosphere, extreme violence and some of the themes (a mad religious cult and S&M bikers from hell) make it worth mentioning here. Nick Cage has the love of his life taken from him by the leader of the previously mentioned cult and he becomes mythical lumberjack John Wick in response. The film has a lot of long, lingering shots and slow-motion zooms that would be at home in a Tarkovsky or Kubrick movie and the soundtrack is this ponderous mix of doom metal, vintage synths and 70s prog. The slow pace of the first hour might turn off some people but it makes the final 45 minutes of mayhem that much more epic. Nick Cage has a reputation for going off the rails but the few instances of overacting in the film (most prominent in a scene where he alternates bouts of screaming and long slugs from a bottle of gin while in his underwear and a bloody T-shirt) make sense in the context of his character's trauma. I loved this film but your mileage may vary.

Us - I'll start by saying that I still haven't watched Get Out - I get nervous about watching films with excellent reviews (still haven't seen The Witch or The Babadook for similar reasons) because I hate being disappointed - but I saw this at the theater today. The first 30-40 minutes are incredibly suspenseful, but once the alternate family is introduced the film becomes more hit or miss. There are some strong performances - especially Lupita Nyong'o as the mother and Tim Heidecker (from TIm and Eric) as a rich, lazy jerk of a friend - some striking imagery and a decent twist but I more appreciated the film for its ideas than I was actively engaged with it. You will get more out of it if you accept it as an allegory that works on dream logic - the film occasionally tries to explain itself more than it should and it probably ends up hurting itself in the process (possibly at the insistence of the studio?). Not really a recommendation, but I wouldn't actively discourage you from watching it either.

Re: The Horror Movie Lovers Thread

Posted: July 11th, 2019, 10:57 am
by velcrozombie
It's been a little quiet in this thread. I'm going to hopefully be watching more stuff over the next month or two.

I Saw the Devil - South Korean horror-thriller which begins with a serial killer (played by Choi Min-sik, star of Oldboy) kidnapping and murdering the pregnant wife of a special forces agent. The grief-stricken agent takes a sabbatical from the force and, using leads and tech from his job, finds the killer...but that's only the beginning of a tense cat-and-mouse game. Pitch-black, brutal movie with direction and cinematography of the highest caliber (there's a three-way battle inside of a moving taxi that should be seen by everyone at least once) that nevertheless goes on for probably 20 minutes longer than necessary. Choi Min-sik makes for one of the most despicable killers in cinema history - just a vile, remorseless bully who has fully given in to his worst animal instincts and scares even his fellow killers. Lee Byung-hun plays the stoic, clean-cut agent who is desperate to make his wife's killer feel the same pain that he locks away inside, even if it means disobeying the law and putting innocent people in danger. Recommended.