The Film: The Commune
The Director: Elisabeth Fies
The Cast: Chauntal Lewis, David Lago, Stuart G. Bennett
Release Date: June 5, 2009
As I've gotten to know some folks in the horror scene via this goofy thing called the world wide web, one of the coolest people I've come across is filmmaker Elisabeth Fies. Using her quick wit and vast knowledge of cinema, Ms. Fies has become a vocal advocate for women filmmakers everywhere - who is also pretty darn good at making movies. Her debut feature, The Commune, is a shocking and realistic tale of feminine fear that packs a helluva punch.
Starring Chauntal Lewis - who gives a remarkable performance - as a young girl who is sent to live with her father at what could only be described as a hippie community. While there, she runs afoul of some psychotropic drugs, meets a young punk rock fellow, and begins to believe that there's something very odd going on around her. Borrowing heavily from films like The Wicker Man, there's a sense of dread that increases throughout the film as the viewer begins to understand there's something not right. The Commune is an independent debut feature that's a little raw, but it'll probably make your skin crawl nonetheless.
The Film: Hellraiser
The Director: Clive Barker
The Cast: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence
Release Date: September 18. 1987
After many viewings over many years, Hellraiser remains one of the most unsettling films I've ever seen. Though it's not as polished as most horror films with great reputations, Clive Barker's tale set a high bar for future torture films. The film follows a family who moves into the home where the husband's brother opened a gateway to hell, releasing a team of demons known as Cenobites into their home.
I've never found Hellraiser to be an entirely successful film, but once the Cenobites show up - led by Doug Bradley's Pinhead and his proclamation that they "will tear your soul apart" - the film becomes a total nightmare. The creature effects overcome some silly visual effects, and survivor girl Ashley Laurence (and her incomprehensible hair) does a fine job of carrying the film and helping the viewer relate. And, after more than 10 years since I first saw it, there are still moments of gore here that make me cover my eyes. That's a winner!
The Film: Triangle
The Director: Christopher Smith
The Cast: Melissa George, Rachael Carpani, Liam Hemsworth
Release Date: October 16, 2009
One of the most surprisingly daunting horror films of the past year, Christopher Smith's Triangle is a film that intimidates me greatly. I've considered writing about it numerous times, but never have I been able to wrap my head around the film's complex structure. This is most certainly the type of horror film that you'll be confused about while it's going on, and one that will probably leave you talking about it long after the credits roll.
Following a single mother (30 Days of Night and The Amityville Horror's Melissa George) who embarks on a doomed boat trip with some friends, the film pairs an ax toting killer with the intrigue of the Bermuda Triangle; setting up a web of suspense and fear that provides palpable tension. George gives an incredibly strong performance in the lead, and helps carry the twisting film. The final reveals are handled perfectly, and cement Triangle as one of the most fascinating psychological horror films I've seen.
If you know The Mike, you know he loves some Bruce Willis. So much so that he's stoked out of his mind for this weekend's Red, even though it's surprisingly rated PG-13. (I mean, if they're supposed to be old people, they should probably swear a lot. That's what old people do.) Regardless, Bruce Willis rules.
And now, he's gone on one of the web's favorite talk shows, Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis, as originally shown on Funny Or Die. And now, you can watch it here.
As I said, you can check out Willis this weekend in Red, and Galifianakis will be back on the big screen opposite Robert Downey, Jr. in Due Date on November 6th. In the meantime, I'd still like to know if Bruce did worry that The Whole Ten Yards would be too good.
The Film: The Exorcist
The Director: William Friedkin
The Cast: Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Jason Miller
Release Date: December 26, 1973.
I don't know how much time I've spent pondering The Exorcist. If I had I put that amount of time toward anything practical, I'd be pretty amazing at whatever that practical thing is.
Others often find it funny when I say it, but I honestly find The Exorcist to be one of the most enjoyable films ever made. In the moment, it's a harrowing experience that features a lot of scares, some of the creepiest imagery put on film, and a whole dollop of of intensity that's sure to keep the viewer on edge. But the experience is not just about finding fear, it's about finding faith. It's an exploration of the forces that might exist in the world, the forces that don't care if we believe in them or if we don't. The actors, particularly Jason Miller as the jaded Father Karras, seem to know this and sell it well. Director William Friedkin has said that the film is "a positive statement about God, the human condition, and the relationship between the two".
I've wasted a lot of words on this movie over the years, and I've never said it better than that. If you haven't seen The Exorcist yet, do so. It's worth every lofty bit of praise that's ever been lobbed in its direction.
Danny Boyle is set to return to direct the sequel to 28 Weeks Later. Rumor has it the title may be 28 Months Later. No other details are available at this time. Are you excited for the film!?!?
The Film: The Slumber Party Massacre
The Director: Amy Holden Jones
The Cast: Michele Michaels, Robin Stille, Michael Villella
Release Date: November 12, 1982
You have to squint really hard to see it - or at the very least set your brain to "receive" and let it wash over you - but The Slumber Party Massacre is more than it seems to be. What some viewers miss about this slasher flick, which offers up a lot of the boobs and blood you'd expect, is that it was designed to be a statement against the average male dominated slasher flick of the '80s.
In fact, Slumber Party Massacre happens to be one of the few films of its type to be directed and written entirely by women. Director Amy Jones and writer Rita Mae Brown take steps to show the drill that is used by the male killer as a phallic symbol, and the girls are painted into the type of extreme stereotypes that these movies made famous. The idea, I guess, is to point out the idiocy of these films by going too far over the top. The flick isn't entirely successful at pulling off its feminist goals - at the end of the day, it can easily be mistaken for just another stupid slasher flick - but it's an interesting piece of horror nostalgia that has a few tricks up its sleeves.
(Ummmm....I can't really show you the trailer for this flick without moving this blog into the R-rated district. It's on YouTube, if you want to see what you're in for....)
In tv news, Fox recently picked up the a new animated series for next year-Napoleon Dynamite! John Heder will be returning to voice Napoleon, Efran Ramirez as Pedro, and John Gries as Uncle Rico. Six episodes have been ordered! I really enjoyed the movie but not sure how I feel about it being an animated series. It could be interesting!
"Researchers have discovered that chocolate produces some of the same reactions in the brain as marijuana. The researches also discovered other similarities between the two, but can't remember what they are." - Matt Lauer, Today Show, NBC
The Film: House
The Director: Steve Miner
The Cast: William Katt, George Wendt, Richard Moll
Release Date: February 28, 1986
In the tradition of the goofiest '80s horror films, House - from the team behind the Friday the 13th series and with a story by horror genius Fred Dekker - is a cheesy blast that's a lot of fun. The film stars William Katt (The Greatest American Hero himself!) as a Stephen King-ish horror writer who moves into his aunt's house shortly after her suicide to work on his newest book; while also dealing with his divorce, flashbacks to Vietnam, and the disappearance of his son. He maintains that there's something wrong with the house, blaming it for his son's disappearance, and strange things begin to happen to him.
House has some extreme moments of tension and humor, and at times these swings can make the film uneven. The flashbacks to 'Nam that include Richard Moll (Bull from TV's Night Court!) are a highlight, and some of the madcap horror hijinks remind me of The Evil Dead (a tame Evil Dead, but Evil Dead nonetheless). Though there are some definite issues with the tone, the end result is still a fun and silly horror that's great for a movie night with friends.
The Film: Targets
The Director: Peter Bogdanovich
The Cast: Boris Karloff, Tim O'Kelly, Nancy Hsueh
Release Date: August 15, 1968
Classic horror meets real-world terror in Peter Bogdanovich's directorial debut, Targets, starring the late Boris Karloff. Karloff stars (in an almost autobiographical role) as Byron Orlok, an aging horror movie star who's sick of Hollywood and the state of horror cinema. He's promoting a film he hates, arguing with his own publicist (director Bogdanovich), and getting scared of his own reflection in a mirror. Orlok represents what was once terrifying, but at this point is just a bit old.
On the other side of town, a young man decides he's had enough with life as it is. He kills his family, takes up a sniper rifle, and begins to pick off motorists and bystanders for no good reason. When he needs somewhere else to take his shots, he sets up at a drive in movie theater - the same theater where Orlok's film is premiering that night.
Targets is one of the most profound statements about society that has ever been put in a horror film, and Bogdanovich does a fine job of showing the disconnect between the old ways of scaring audiences and the events in the news that should give Americans far more fear. Karloff is incredibly natural as Orlok - he's stated that he shared many of the character's opinions on horror films at this stage in his life - and carries the film well. His final scene is one of the most powerful images in horror history, and it all comes together to make Targets a true classic.
The Film: Grindhouse
The Director: Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino
The Cast: Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan, Marley Shelton
Release Date: April 6, 2007
Undoubtedly the most bold horror experiment taken by Hollywood in the past decade, Tarantino and Rodriguez' Grindhouse is the perfect throwback to the types of double features that permeated cinemas in the 1970s. Featuring two films back to back - Rodriguez' Planet Terror and Tarantino's Death Proof - the chance to see two Hollywood cowboys produce this much schlock is a once-in-a-lifetime cinematic experience.
Surrounded by trailers for fake movies (Rodriguez' recent Machete was born here), Planet Terror and Death Proof are on opposite ends of the horror spectrum. The first film is a all-out action fest, as a zombie-like creatures terrorize a band of survivors after a biochemical terror is released. The follow up film is a more methodical film, in which a retired stuntman (Kurt Russell, the best actor EVER) and his stunt car terrorizes a couple of groups of young women. The latter film is a little bit of a drag in the context of the double feature - I'd have flipped the films, to capitalize on Planet Terror's carnage later in audiences' attention spans - but is probably my favorite of the two to watch on its own.
Grindhouse succeeds because the two filmmakers know what they're doing and love what they're mimicking. The result is a truly memorable horror experience that should become a classic in years to come.
The Film: Dark Night of the Scarecrow
The Director: Frank De Felitta
The Cast: Charles Durning, Robert F. Lyons, Larry Drake
Release Date: October 24, 1981
I've long searched for the perfect killer scarecrow film, and I'm pretty sure Dark Night of the Scarecrow is as good as I'm gonna find. The film focuses on a group of bigoted men who murder a mentally challenged fellow named Bubba (Darkman's Larry Drake), who then returns to haunt them in the form of a scarecrow. Borrowing from the slasher films of the era, the scarecrow is never seen and kills often occur from his perspective, though this is hardly your typical slasher. (In fact, the film was made for television and features little gore or sexual content.)
There's something to be said for a horror like this which focuses on adults, who are living with a lifetime of their own prejudices. These men are terrorized by the unseen killer, and it's effective to the viewer because one can tell that these people truly don't believe that anything like this could happen to them. I think teen-based horrors sometimes miss this point when they give characters a quick understanding of the terror that surrounds them. It's scarier to see someone realize they've been wrong all their life as they're facing doom.
Dark Night of the Scarecrow is a revenge film under the guise of a slasher, and a darn good one at that. Recently released on DVD for the first time, I strongly recommend you seek out Dark Night of the Scarecrow, and enjoy an old-fashioned terror tale. (Even if it does star Charles Durning, who always does something to make me mad at him.)
The Film: The House of the Devil
The Director: Ti West
The Cast: Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Greta Gerwig
Release Date: October 30, 2009
Yesterday I said that Dawning was one of my favorite horror films of recent memory. I'm not gonna lie, I'm pretty sure that The House of the Devil is my very favorite horror film of recent memory. A slow burning horror tale about a young college girl (Donahue) who takes a babysitting job in a secluded house. The residents of said house are an older couple played by veteran awesome people Tom Noonan and Mary Wornov, and there's no baby to be found.
One of the most tense films I know, The House of the Devil is an exercise in build up that is punctuated by a bucketload of carnage. The cast does a fantastic job of filling West's minimalist story, and the film pays homage to the horrors of the 1980s beautifully. This isn't your average hack and slash horror, but make no mistake about it - The House of the Devil is gripping horror entertainment at its finest.
On a trip to the Vatican on July 22nd, 2001 former president George W. Bush said: "I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe -- I believe what I believe is right." This cryptic message of genius...this little nugget of insight into the human condition we all experience known as belief can be evidently found in the film Get Him to the Greek. Writer/director Nicholas Stollar vividly portrays a firm belief in doin' chicks, mixing narcotics, and rock and roll. George W., I would surmise by his previous "sniffage" of coke bombs, would love this movie.
Aldous Snow (played by Russell Brand) plays a down and out rock star coming off a flop of an album about an African child/futuristic African Space Jesus. His wife, model and singer performing tunes about sexual positions (played by Ross Byrne), leaves him to be with LARS from Metallica. Meanwhile, Capitol Records exec (played by Sean P. Diddy Combs) needs to make a buck and sends a peon to England (played by Jonah Hill) in order to get Aldous Snow's band to a theater to perform a live show of a very famous album at the Greek Theater. Here is what happens through the whole movie from this point: 1) Puking 2) Drug Use 3) Ladies are plowed 4) More Drug Use 5) Heroin Muling 6) A mixing of drug use and heavy petting on a furry wall 7) A threesome with a suicide attempt 8)More puking and drug use. Somewhere in there P. Diddy eats little P. Diddy floating heads. That is the movie.
When it comes to movies, I am pretty open minded friends. I can watch just about anything anytime, Outside of Gone Fishin' and Angels in the Outfield (both Danny Glover films ironically). The awkwardly forced constant drug use and weak "trip out hallucinating" scenes were heavily annoying. The film sets up this nice fun lovin peon that we all can side with. Then, he nails some random skore (a skank + a whore) in a bathroom. I lost interest at that point. Somehow, Aaron Green's (Jonah Hill) indiscretions get related back to a threesome between Aldous Snow, Aaron Green, and his girlfriend. I don't know what else to say except this movie sucks for pure failure of comedy. Unfortunately, Jason Segal (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) co-wrote this fine cinematic adventure to crap town...I mean to the "Greek." Overall, don't waste your time.
Martin Luther King, Junior once said: "Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness." If you square the darkness from destructive selfishness and multiply it by the stupidity of Sarah Palin, you get this gem of a film. Pretty sure MLK, Jr. would be pissed by this movie and that the scariest part of every town seems near or around a street named after him.
