Ju-On: The Grudge (2003)

While I don't understand the curse of this story, I don't think its necessary and maybe that's why this is such a scary film.  Takashi Shimizu directs what starts out as a haunted house film but quickly becomes more.  A social worker visits a house where an old woman is staying with her son and family.  But when she gets there she stumbles upon the tormented ghost of a woman and her son who set out to kill anyone who sees them, no matter where they are.  The haunting is passed from victim to victim and plays out over a few years.  Later remade by the same director as the American film, The Grudge, I recommend just watching the original which is scarier.  I wish I had. Grade: A-.

The Rite (2011)

Anthony Hopkins plays the Vatican's top Exorcists in a film supposedly based on true events from a book by Matt Baglio.  Director Mikael Hafstrom makes a beautiful looking film but the story is pretty boring.  Mr. Hopkins is the only part of this film worth watching and to be honest he's not even that good.   This film's main problem is with the skeptical priest played by Colin O'Donoghan who keeps seeing these extraordinary proofs that possession is real only to deny it over and over again.  I wish it had been as good as the trailer made it out to be.  Grade: B-. 

A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 3: Dream Warriors

Freddy is back in this third installment to the franchise and he's in great scary form.  Here he haunts the dreams of teenagers locked up in a mental ward.  What a delicious idea.  Everyone thinks they're crazy as they die one by one.  Back from the first film, Heather Langenkamp brings some needed consistency as the psychologist who tries to help the group of troubled teens.  While dated it's still creepy fun.  Grade: B+.

Halloween (1978) - Revisited

I purchased the Blu-Ray of this classic film the other day for a good deal and watched it wondering if it would hold up, having not seen it in fifteen years.  All I can say is that I was impressed.  It's as exciting and creepy as it was the first time I saw it and I can appreciate how innovative it was.  John Carpenter didn't invent the slasher genre but its his patience and skill telling a story that makes this the best.  Jamie Lee Curtis plays high school student Laurie Strode who is stalked by an escaped insane inmate named Michael Myers, a maniac who ends up killing everyone around her to get to her.  There's an image that I can't get out of my mind from this film and that's when Laurie is in class and she looks out the window and sees Michael for the first time, standing next to a stolen station wagon looking at her.  He's wearing his famous mask (designed by from a Captain Kirk mask if you can believe it) and he's there, just watching.  Such a simple moment expertly shot.  While this film inspired a lot of clones (and still is inspiring them even today) most never come close to mastering what makes this film one of the best. Grade: A-.

Spoiler: I also want to give props to Nancy Keyes who plays Annie in the film.  She's so natural and funny in the movie it's a shame she has to die because I loved her character.  This leads to one of the primary reasons this film succeeds: no matter how cool Michael Myers is it's his victims that the audience roots for to somehow survive.   Most slasher films follow the easier concept of making their victims unlikeable so you root for the killer.  This is evident in the Friday the 13th movies, were you could careless about anyone and you're just waiting to see how Jason kills them.   How is this exciting? 

[REC] (2007)

A Spanish film that takes from the "found footage" concept, about a reporter who follows a squadron of fire fighters into a building only to run head into a zombie outbreak.   This is a fun and scary film, with top-notch performances and solid effects.  Remade as the American film, Quarantine which I haven't seen.  Grade: B+

Zombies of Mass Destruction (2009)

Zombie movies are great as vehicles for social commentary.  The makers of this film though need to learn subtly.  Much of the "commentary" is heavy handed and worse not that funny.  Probably inspired by Shaun of the Dead's humor, here they attempt to explore our Post 9/11 world with zombies.   You have the Muslim girl who gets kidnapped by her white neighbors who believe her to be a terrorist behind the outbreak.  And you have two gay men trying to survive in a Christian Mob.  These aren't bad ideas but this is a bad movie.   The gore is decent but never fantastic.   Not a complete waste of time but it is pretty forgettable too.  Grade: C+

October Horror Movie Month (Commentary)

October begins my traditional Horror movie month.  I plan to cram as many horror films I can in celebration of Halloween.  It's my favorite holiday and it's my way of getting ready for the spooky season.   The horror genre is one of my favorites because it reaches across every story convention.  There are horror comedies, horror thrillers, horror dramas, over the top Horror B movies and many other sub genres.  I love this about this genre, it's so versatile.  It's the only genre I know of that even when its bad its good.  Sometimes I even crave the bad ones.  I've started picking out a mix of new and old, so here's hoping for a successful run.