Saturday, October 13, 2012
Friday, October 29, 2010
"Must See" Horror Film #3
The Exorcist (1973)
According to the director, William Friedkin, this movie is not meant to be a horror film.... I disagree. The story focuses on young Regan MacNeil, who has begun showing signs of horrific disturbance in emotional and physical appearance. Her mother desperately searches to find doctors who can identify the problem and cure Regan of her illness. After exhausting all avenues on the medical world she must seek help from the spiritual realm to save her daughter. She enlists the help of Father Karras & Father Merrin to free her daughter from the darkness which has taken her over. Outstanding visual direction, screenplay & direction make this a classic which still comes in as a top 10 horror film. I also recommend watching the Director's Cut version of this film, preferably on Blu-Ray...... as they cleaned up the movie and it makes for a better viewing experience. *Please note: this movie is extremely graphic and meant for adult eyes only*
According to the director, William Friedkin, this movie is not meant to be a horror film.... I disagree. The story focuses on young Regan MacNeil, who has begun showing signs of horrific disturbance in emotional and physical appearance. Her mother desperately searches to find doctors who can identify the problem and cure Regan of her illness. After exhausting all avenues on the medical world she must seek help from the spiritual realm to save her daughter. She enlists the help of Father Karras & Father Merrin to free her daughter from the darkness which has taken her over. Outstanding visual direction, screenplay & direction make this a classic which still comes in as a top 10 horror film. I also recommend watching the Director's Cut version of this film, preferably on Blu-Ray...... as they cleaned up the movie and it makes for a better viewing experience. *Please note: this movie is extremely graphic and meant for adult eyes only*
"Must See" Horror Film #4
Jaws (1975)
The small island community of Amity depends on it's business during the summer months, catering to beach going tourists. It's the beginning of the season and of a new job for Police Chief Martin Brody. Brody is used to the crime of New York and decides to move his family to the small town to have an ideal life. Things are shaken up when a body washes up on the beach and he must find out the cause of death. After the coroner examines the body they're left with a terrifying conclusion...... cause of death, shark attack. With the help of his deputies, oceanographic expert Matt Hooper and a crusty old fisherman named Quint they must keep the beaches safe while tracking the colossal shark to ultimately kill it. Brody has lots of complications along the way including a greedy town mayor who doesn't allow Brody to close the beaches despite the dangers of the rogue shark. This Spielberg's second full length feature film after Sugarland Express. Despite multiple hurdles while filming, it became one of the all time best horror films ever made.
The small island community of Amity depends on it's business during the summer months, catering to beach going tourists. It's the beginning of the season and of a new job for Police Chief Martin Brody. Brody is used to the crime of New York and decides to move his family to the small town to have an ideal life. Things are shaken up when a body washes up on the beach and he must find out the cause of death. After the coroner examines the body they're left with a terrifying conclusion...... cause of death, shark attack. With the help of his deputies, oceanographic expert Matt Hooper and a crusty old fisherman named Quint they must keep the beaches safe while tracking the colossal shark to ultimately kill it. Brody has lots of complications along the way including a greedy town mayor who doesn't allow Brody to close the beaches despite the dangers of the rogue shark. This Spielberg's second full length feature film after Sugarland Express. Despite multiple hurdles while filming, it became one of the all time best horror films ever made.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
"Must See" Horror Film #5
Halloween (1978)
Here it is..... the film that started it all. How could you have a must see horror film list without this being on it? One of the first horror movies directed by John Carpenter which firmly cemented his place in the horror film world. The story begins with six year old Michael Myers who kills his sister on Halloween night. Years later Michael breaks out of the institution which he's been in for 15 years and makes his way back to his home town of Haddonfield. This time his target is a group of teenagers living in his old neighborhood. The police along with Michael's psychiatrist Dr. Loomis are the teens only hope at surviving the night. This is also the film that made Jamie Lee Curtis the "Scream Queen" (following in her mothers footsteps). The film itself was low budget but the cast and crew made the best of it and came out with a film that has since become a cult classic.
Here it is..... the film that started it all. How could you have a must see horror film list without this being on it? One of the first horror movies directed by John Carpenter which firmly cemented his place in the horror film world. The story begins with six year old Michael Myers who kills his sister on Halloween night. Years later Michael breaks out of the institution which he's been in for 15 years and makes his way back to his home town of Haddonfield. This time his target is a group of teenagers living in his old neighborhood. The police along with Michael's psychiatrist Dr. Loomis are the teens only hope at surviving the night. This is also the film that made Jamie Lee Curtis the "Scream Queen" (following in her mothers footsteps). The film itself was low budget but the cast and crew made the best of it and came out with a film that has since become a cult classic.
"Must See" Horror Film #6
Aliens (1986) *Special note: Watch the EXTENDED DIRECTOR'S CUT*
I'm sure some people will disagree with Aliens being closer to number one on my must see horror list. It's a really tough call on which film is better. In my mind they are almost equal but Aliens stands out a bit more due to a few things. First, the character development and interaction is much more involved.... making you feel closer to the characters and truly care what happens to them. Secondly, the dialogue is dark yet playful and because of that there are far more memorable quotes and scenes in this film. And last but not least, no one does action sequences like Jim Cameron. In this second installment of the Alien movies we find that Ripley, the last survivor of the Nostromo, has drifted through outer space for 57 years. A salvage ship finds her escape shuttle and tows her to the nearest space station. When she awakens she is in for a shock as she finds out that everyone she's ever known and loved is gone. Her employers are unwilling to believe her story about what happened on LV-426 and hold her responsible for the loss of her ship and crew. After her pilots license is revoked she's left with little to do but work at the loading docks and deal with her recurrent nightmares. Soon after she settles in to her mundane life she finds the "company" knocking on her door asking for help. They have lost contact with new colony in place on LV-426 and have arranged a rescue mission to travel to the planet to look for survivors. Seeking out Ripley to act as a consultant they begin their rescue and recovery mission...... not knowing what they will find. When Ripley arrives at LV-426 she's faced with her worst nightmare again, multiplied times one hundred. As noted above, make sure tha when you watch this one that you choose the Director's cut. The story is much more fleshed out and is a completely different experience.
I'm sure some people will disagree with Aliens being closer to number one on my must see horror list. It's a really tough call on which film is better. In my mind they are almost equal but Aliens stands out a bit more due to a few things. First, the character development and interaction is much more involved.... making you feel closer to the characters and truly care what happens to them. Secondly, the dialogue is dark yet playful and because of that there are far more memorable quotes and scenes in this film. And last but not least, no one does action sequences like Jim Cameron. In this second installment of the Alien movies we find that Ripley, the last survivor of the Nostromo, has drifted through outer space for 57 years. A salvage ship finds her escape shuttle and tows her to the nearest space station. When she awakens she is in for a shock as she finds out that everyone she's ever known and loved is gone. Her employers are unwilling to believe her story about what happened on LV-426 and hold her responsible for the loss of her ship and crew. After her pilots license is revoked she's left with little to do but work at the loading docks and deal with her recurrent nightmares. Soon after she settles in to her mundane life she finds the "company" knocking on her door asking for help. They have lost contact with new colony in place on LV-426 and have arranged a rescue mission to travel to the planet to look for survivors. Seeking out Ripley to act as a consultant they begin their rescue and recovery mission...... not knowing what they will find. When Ripley arrives at LV-426 she's faced with her worst nightmare again, multiplied times one hundred. As noted above, make sure tha when you watch this one that you choose the Director's cut. The story is much more fleshed out and is a completely different experience.
Monday, October 25, 2010
"Must See" Horror Film #7
The Devil's Backbone (2001)
In my humble opinion this is absolutely the best Spanish horror film ever made. Directed by Guillermo del Toro and subtitled in english. In Spain, at the end of a bloody war during 1939 we follow the story of a young boy, Carlos, who is son to a fallen Republican war hero who has been deserted and left by his tutor at desolate & rundown orphanage. The orphanage is run by a kindly Professor and stern headmistress who struggle to care for the boys of the orphanage during the war. Once Carlos is settled in he begins to have hallucinations and realizes that the orphanage has many secrets. He learns of the recent disappearance of an orphan and begins to suspect the cruel caretaker of foul play. With the help of some of his fellow orphans he begins to look for clues as to what happened and finds a ghost who won't leave him alone until he can be put to rest. A+ for original story and outstanding makeup & art direction.
In my humble opinion this is absolutely the best Spanish horror film ever made. Directed by Guillermo del Toro and subtitled in english. In Spain, at the end of a bloody war during 1939 we follow the story of a young boy, Carlos, who is son to a fallen Republican war hero who has been deserted and left by his tutor at desolate & rundown orphanage. The orphanage is run by a kindly Professor and stern headmistress who struggle to care for the boys of the orphanage during the war. Once Carlos is settled in he begins to have hallucinations and realizes that the orphanage has many secrets. He learns of the recent disappearance of an orphan and begins to suspect the cruel caretaker of foul play. With the help of some of his fellow orphans he begins to look for clues as to what happened and finds a ghost who won't leave him alone until he can be put to rest. A+ for original story and outstanding makeup & art direction.
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