Trick R Treat (2007)

4 / 5 May '11 
Tagline:  You better watch out, I'm telling you why. Sam is coming to town...
Directed by:  Michael Dougherty
Written by:  Michael Dougherty
Actors include:  Anna Paquin, Dylan Baker, Brian Cox
Genre:  Horror, Comedy
Length:  82 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:
Sure this isn't the sort of horror film that is going to scare the pants off of anyone, but it is a really fun Halloweeny anthology.  It winds four spookily fun little tales together to make for a fast-paced and original flick.  One segment was about a Principal who does not put the "pal" in Principal (okay worst joke ever right?).  In fact he may be murdering the children of the neighborhood!  Another is about a bunch of teens who pull a prank on an idiot...savant that is.  We also have a College virgin who is waiting for the right one, but her friends are kinda pressuring her to do it now!  Lastly there is the tale about blowing out a jack-o-lantern before midnight.  All were well executed and the spirit of the film is purely vintage which I loved.  I'm so happy to see that the anthology is in fact not dead, just twisted Pulp Fiction style.  Thanks so much to the very wise Happywax (Doomgoryums Horror Emporium) for this recommendation, great selection!  

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

Brain Dead (2007)

3 / 5  May '11
Tagline:  A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste
Directed by:  Kevin Tenney
Written by:  Dale Gelineeau
Actors include:  Joshua Benton, Sarah Grant Brendecke, David Crane
Genre:  Horror, Comedy
Length:  95 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:

Well I can seriously say I knew absolutely nothing about this film going into it, in fact we thought we were about to watch the Roger Corman film of the same name.  I was relieved to find that this was at least an entertaining flick, complete with excessive nudity, gruesome gore effects and it was rather comical throughout.  It also adversely has terrible acting, dry spots with people talking and a definite straight-to-video feeling to it.  The plot is about some people who all (for some reason or another) end up at this deserted cabin.  Oops, did I say deserted?  Cuz I meant invested with alien mutant zombie things (yes you purists will not be pleased with that) but it made for a colorful little film at least.  Watch people try basically nothing to retaliate or escape the situation and sit back and let the cliches roll.  Sure this isn't going to win an Oscar but it's a fair bit of fun for a late night viewing for those who like stuff that oozes.

Availability:  on DVD

Spiral (2007)

2 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Adam Green, Joel Moore
Written by: Jeremy Danial Boreing, Joel Moore
Actors include: Joel Moore, Amber Tamblyn, Zachary Levi
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 90 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Ouch, I really thought this would have been a whole lot better than it is due to it's reputation. This was an Anchor Bay original release, and it does appear as though they had a reasonable budget for this. The plot is about a telemarketer named Mason (Joel Moore) who is reclusive, obnoxious and weird (not in a cute way, just in a handicapped sort of way). He stinks at his job and he has only one friend until he meets Amber (Amber Tamblyn). Mason happens to be a good painter which attracts Amber (who is seriously so annoying...think Six from Blossom only way less likeable). Amber is attracted to Mason's art, and she becomes his muse. After a long time of their awkward and unbelievable romance (and nothing else happening) we are given a tiny thriller plot. See Amber finds a whole bunch of sketch books with girl's names and each one has the last sketch missing and he won't show her his last sketch for her either. I won't ruin it but it's so beyond moronic, I truly feel like my time was completely wasted. Not to mention the terrible songs (the ones with words anyhow, the rest of the time it's jazz) and lack of reason and background information on Mason that would have made this a better film. Oh it's easy to understand and follow but it's also rather obvious and pointless. If you want an art related horror film I'd recommend Color Me Blood Red instead.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

Inside (2007) aka À l'intérieur

3.5 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury
Written by: Alexandre Bustillo
Actors include: Béatrice Dalle, Alysson Paradis, Nathalie Roussel
Genre: Horror
Length: 83 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Unfortunately the version of this I watched was dubbed, and I can only assume that the subtitled version has less idiotic dialogue. The reason I'm complaining is that I think it was a much better film then they way it was presented to me. It's as bloody as hell, I mean I'd heard there was a resurgence in excessive French horror films but this is one of the bloodiest films I've seen. It's about a pregnant Woman named Sarah who is in a car crash, her boyfriend (or is it husband?) dies in the crash and she's left alone. Though a bit banged up she seems to be okay and even goes back home to rest before her baby's due date on Christmas. Then Sarah gets a knock on the door on Christmas Eve, when she won't open up she's shocked to find this angry woman has nearly punched her window in. It's a story of home invasion of the worst sort, a cruel vicious woman who is after one thing and one thing only...Sarah's unborn baby. It has quite a body count, several gross scenes with scissors and many other disgusting things that happen here that were fun to watch. My major problem (aside from the dubbing) was the stupid cgi unborn baby shots (really was that necessary?), and the fact that out of nowhere one person acts like a zombie (huh?). You'll have to watch to find out what I mean, but if you like graphic violence and gore galore this is something you'll just have to see. I know I'll watch this again when I get a subtitled version, if you get the choice watch it that way.

Availability:  On DVD

30 Days Of Night (2007)

3 / 5 Oct '10
Tagline: They're Coming!
Directed by: David Slade
Written by: Steve Niles
Actors include: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston
Genre:  Horror
Length: 113 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Well, conceptually this is an interesting take on vampires, the idea is that in Alaska they have a month (or 30 days of night) of darkness. The group of people who decide to remain behind and to not go on vacation are in for a real nightmare. See vampires have chosen to hide out in their little town because of it's darkness they have an all you can eat buffet. Now it's based upon a comic book that I've never heard of or read but I can't help but think that is the reason for the stupidly speedy vampires (it's laughable). The other issue I have is that the CGI adjusted vampire faces look positively silly, it's like they are dueling with video game characters instead of vampires. If they hadn't done those things it could have actually been a really good movie I think. Keeping them mainly in the shadows was wise (because of the awful effects), and having them mutter their own dialogue was creative, I'll give them that. It is bloody, it does have excitement, and it does go on a little longer than it should have but it is mostly enjoyable.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

Invasion (2007)

2 / 5 Apr '10
Tagline: Do not trust anyone. Do not show emotion. Do not fall asleep.
Directed by: Oliver Hirschbiegel
Written by: David Kajganich, Jack Finney
Actors include: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northham
Genre: Sci-Fi, Horror,
Length: 99 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
So I made the fool decision to try to join this century by watching this film. I figured, I like the '50s and the '70s version and heck the '90s version wasn't even terrible but this was. It's odd that giving it a big budget and twisting the story around completely destroyed the picture but I think it did. Other things that didn't help matters are the actors, Daniel Craig seemed dead behind the eyes the entire time, how were we to know when/if he turned? I hate to say that I don't think Nicole Kidman was boring to watch in this too. The story here is that people are getting infected with this alien virus, but instead of turning them nearly immediately, they must sleep before it goes into effect. Also there is some sort of magical cure, which was very disappointing to say the least. Be prepared for a ton of ridiculously obvious product placement and super frustration if you decide to try to sit through this. Definitely a pathetic remake and the worst version I've seen of this story to date.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

1408 (2007)

3.5 / 5

Tagline: The Dolphin Hotel invites you to stay in any of its stunning rooms. Except one.

Directed By: Mikael Håfström

Written By: Matt Greenberg, Scott Alexander, Stephen King, Larry Karaszewski

Actors Include: John Cusack, Paul Birchard, Margot Leicester

Genre: Drama, Horror
Length: 112 minutes

Banned:  Nope

 

Review:

I like Stephen King and I like the actors involved in this film, so I went to see this 'un in the theatre. It's not terribly clever (the resolve was a bit disappointing...I'd expected more) actually considering it's based upon a Stephen King thing, but still it manages to be better than so many other modern horror tales. The story is about a man has lost his faith and his Daughter and now works as a disillusioned haunting inspector going from hotel to hotel looking for hauntings. Well he doesn't really believe in ghosts until he winds up at the Dolphin hotel room 1408. Not a bad premise really, sort of an interesting idea only parts of it could/should have been a bit better explained I think. Parts of the evil that attack him seem a bit cliche but I'm sure it's hard to be entirely inventive when dealing with ghosts. It's relatively intense, not much gore but still a few jumpy type moments. Not as good as it could have been, but worth watching none the less.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray