Day 31: Trick R Treat (2007-2009)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 31: Trick R Treat (2007-2009)

The Halloween season is as much about the perception of fear, the cool nights, the anticipation of things that go bump in the night, as it is about the iconography.  My first glimpse of a leaf-strewn sidewalk is usually enough to get me going for my favourite time of year: there is a crispness in the air, and slight whiff of decay as the vibrancy of summer slowly steps aside for the long, bleak months of winter.  Without fail, once Halloween as passed, and sometimes while it is full regalia, the snow will fall.

The true beauty of Michael Dougherty's "Trick R Treat" is that it captures the true essence of the season, and not just the day.  Virtually every frame of this fantastic film is filled with iconography of the season, and the most majestic day itself.  It might be a scarecrow in a desolate filed of crops, or a hundred jack-o-lanterns, to a pile of razorblades strewn throughout a mound of spilled candy, but like no other movie before it, "Trick R Treat" oozes the essence of Halloween.

Originally scheduled for a theatrical release in 2007, this masterpiece of the season was eventually released straight-to-DVD with little fanfare in 2009.  It was an injustice to the horror film community.  This is a film that should be celebrated and revered for its pure love of the holiday that so many of us hold dear.

There are five many stories contained with "Trick R Treat", each one linked by the mysterious sack-headed "Sam" who we come to learn is the embodiment of the holiday, or Samhain (the originally Celtic holiday upon which much of our modern version of 'Halloween' is based).

After the introductory scene with Tahmoh Penikett and Leslie Bibb, we also encounter main stories headed by Dylan Baker, Anna Paquin, Britt McKillip and Brian Cox...  This is not an anthology though.

Each separate story weaves around the others and together they form an incredible anthology of all that makes Halloween special.  The stories are spooky, terrifying and overall brilliant, and that is why Warner Brothers studios failed.  This could have easily become the yearly Halloween anthology that John Carpenter had hoped to create with "Halloween III", instead it was a one-off curiosity that went straight to DVD.

Imagine a cinematic landscape where each year, a new collection of Halloween related tales was released (instead we got "Saw IV", which this would have been up against and was DTV at best - and now we have the "Paranormal Activities", which continue to recycle the same concept year after year).

When we have the opportunity to support films such as "Trick R Treat", we need to embrace them and let them know that these are the movies we want to see.  We need to make it clear that original and tantalizing visions are better than recycled nonsense ad nauseum, year after year.

"Trick R Treat" is something that could stay fresh every year because there is a abundance of material to choose from.  Every film on this list so far provides inspiration (and many of them clearly did) for what makes a great "Halloween" story.

If you haven't yet seen "Trick R Treat", or any of the other movies on this list, I highly encourage you to get off this blog and onto your nearest media viewing platform of choice.  After all, 'tis the season!

Trick R Treat everyone, and Happy Halloween to all!

Day 30: Juan of The Dead (2011)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 30: Juan Of The Dead (2011)

Did you know that Cuba recently produced its first independent horror movie?  Did you know that said movie is full of violence, swearing, nudity and depravity of the grade you would expect form most non-communist productions?

"Juan Of The Dead" is far from a perfect movie, but it is extremely commendable for it achieves: a funny and gory take on what would happen if a zombie outbreak occurred in a communist country such as Cuba.  While not an entirely accurate portrait of Cuba or its people, it is the subversive sense of humour, and audacity of writer/director Alejandro Brugues that keeps the movie flowing.

There are moments in "Juan of the Dead" that had me laughing out loud (watch for the tango of the dead), and others that had me gasping in surprise.  There are also clever homages throughout, including an underwater moment with a shark and a fellow who ' Kicks ass for the Lord', but it is the cultural and socio-political commentary peppered throughout that really makes this a unique viewing experience.

Perhaps one of the biggest charms of this movie is the fact that it is thoroughly Cuban, but there is also a surprising undercurrent of dissidence throughout the film.  Of course it does share many of the traits of its inspirations (namely Shaun and Dawn), but that doesn't mean it is any less fresh of an approach.

If you aren't looking for socio-political commentary, there is definitely a fun zombie movie to be had here, one that constantly surprises with its twists and turns.  If you can stomach delicious titles, and even more delicious brains, this is a movie more than worth its running time.

Tomorrow brings us to day 31, Halloween.  I think its about time for a little trick r treating...

Day 29: Poltergeist (1982)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 29: Poltergeist (1982)

I was not very old when this came out, but despite the pedigree of the director (Tobe Hooper, of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" fame), the pedigree of the Executive Producer who was boldly emblazoned across the Beta tapes cover at the local video store (Steven Spielberg, of "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" fame - also released in 1982) meant that my parents allowed me to rent this spectacular film.

Many of Spielberg`s classic tropes are here: from the idyllic suburban setting, to the less than idyllic family dynamics.  It`s no wonder conspiracy theories abound about just how much of a role Spielberg actually played in the making of "Poltergeist".

The harrowing story of the Freeling family hinges around the young and innocent Carol Anne, played by Heather O`Rourke, who is whisked away into a digital spirit netherworld while her family desperately strikes out against the once mischievous (chair stacking) spirits who have stolen their daughter away.

The story slowly unfolds with the family divided; Carol Anne`s voice echoing out of the snow filled television.  Back in the Freeling home, even with the assistance of Zelda Rubenstein`s medium Tangina, things quickly deteriorate for the family, especially poor Robbie, who is subjected to more horrors than any child should have to endure - from braces, to demonic clowns, to evil trees in the night.

"Poltergeist" is definitely a scary movie, and one that will stay with you for a long time.  It is also a movie with a lot of heart, and an equally large amount of genuinely nerve-wrenching scares.  It is definitely always worth a watch.

Tomorrow I will take a very unique film for a spin.  Viva Cuba Libre!

Day 28: 28 Days Later (2002)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 28: 28 Days Later (2002)

George A. Romero defined the zombie genre with his lumbering undead.  They were corpses risen from the dead to stalk the living.  In 2002, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland reinvented the genre with their fast-moving version of the classic zombie, although, they did it with a twist.

The zombies in "28 Days Later" are not in fact zombies; they are normal humans who have mistakenly been exposed to a rage virus.  It is that virus that causes them to take on zombie-like tendencies, albeit at a hyper-speed level.

The opening scenes with Cillian Murphy's Jim wandering through the desolate and deserted core of downtown London, England, are indeed eerie.  When he finally meets Naomie Harris' Selena, after a tense showdown by a gas station, the first seeds of post-holocaust family are placed.

As their band of survivors slowly expands and they make their way towards the inevitable beacon of hope in Northern England, the desperation slowly sets in.

"28 Days Later" does a great job of examining what would happen to our society in the event of an extinction level event.  It showcases both the highs and lows of the human potential, much in the way that Romero did before.

The music by John Murphy also adds a great deal of mood and ambiance to the piece, and if you are curious as to what occurred 28 weeks later, the sequel was also very well done.

Tomorrow, I will be taking a trip into the light, despite the warnings against...

Day 27: Halloween Specials

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 27:  Halloween Specials

As a youngster, heck even as a grown adult, one of my favourite aspects of the Halloween season was always the specials that the average shows would produce.  Back in the day, "Roseanne" and "Home Improvement" always impressed with their efforts.  Even better, was that our "regularly scheduled programming" would often be preempted for special holiday themed presentations...

When it came to Halloween, there were two specials that always extended a warm embrace and today, I recommend them both to you.  They were the Garfield Halloween Special, and "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown".

Both Garfield and Charlie Brown had a number of Holiday Specials, but it was that Halloween themed ones that always stood out to me.

With Garfield's Halloween Special, the gourmand cat and his intrepid friend Odie set out in search of a great haul of candy.  What they encounter instead is a band of pirate ghosts out to terrorize the world of trick-or-treaters.

"It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" features a typically whimsical Peanuts story with Charlie Brown and friends succeeding at failing to celebrate the Halloween season.  Both are highly recommended, and to flesh out you hour of specials, I also recommend an additional short film.  If you can find it...

"A Short Film About John Bolton" is a documentary that was written and directed by Neil Gaiman.  John Bolton is an artist that Gaiman has worked with over the years, and this piece examines the artist's methods and inspirations...  With a twist.  I would hesitate to say more than that, but it is an excellent piece that lends itself well to the Halloween season.

Tomorrow, I will examine what happens 28 days after a zombie outbreak in London, England.

Day 26: Jaws (1975)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 26: Jaws (1975)

The oil painted boat above might be a stretch, but if you imagine that ill-fated crew out on the high seas in search of Moby Dick, you get the basic theme of Steven Spielberg's classic "Jaws".  You also get the impact of a well delivered masterpiece that showcases the terrors that lie below, and the need for "a bigger boat".

When it was first released in theatres, 37 years ago, audiences did not know what to expect.  It was a whole new kind of terror, one that was implied as much as it was evident.

From the opening scenes with the skinny dipping beauty, to the eventual calamity that befalls the small community of Amity, Jaws is an unrelenting masterpiece of suspense and terror.  When Brody eventually hits the waters with Quint and Hooper, the movie reverts to a timeless battle of man versus nature.

The shark in "Jaws" is as terrifying, and unrelenting as the land-based slashers that dominate lists such as this, only it is all the more terrifying because it sneaks up on its unsuspecting victims and pulls them down into the dark.

An unseen predator is the most terrifying of all.  One that will sneak up on you from below on a bright summer day at the beach.  One that will maul and maim its victims for no other reason than to feed.

Upon its release, attendance at public beaches dropped substantially.  That says a great deal for the impact that a movie can have, for the terror that it can instill into an unwitting populace...

Tomorrow, I am planning another journey into the unknown, with three short productions that should make the essential viewing list every year - two of which are stalwarts of the season!

Day 25: Incident At Loch Ness (2004)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 25: Incident at Loch Ness (2004)

What would happen if one of the world's greatest living directors was hired to direct a documentary about one of the world's greatest cryptozoological mysteries?  The result could very well be similar to Zak Penn's "Incident At Loch Ness".

This particular film acknowledges the audience at every turn and shows the voyage of an intrepid film crew as the head out onto the murky waters of Scotland's Loch Ness in search of the mythical "Nessie".  The brilliant twist to Penn's movie is that he hires Werner Herzog to produce, direct and narrate the film.

For those of you unfamiliar with Werner Herzog, he is a German filmmaker who has excelled in both the narrative fiction and documentary style of film and has developed a reputation for being both an unparalleled visionary, as well as a somewhat demented genius.  There is footage of an interview with Herzog online where he is shot in the stomach by a mischief with a pellet gun.  His reaction is a dismissive one and he continues the interview after dismissing his bloodied navel as nothing more than a "mere flesh wound".

He is the exact kind of character to headline such a film, and such an excursion, and it is his incredulous delivery of lines as things spiral out of control that ties this documentary together.  His unique accent also lends a degree of gravitas to the slowly spiralling-out-of-control proceedings of this excellent film.  Do your self a favor and check out this ingeniously twisted masterpiece.

Tomorrow, I will be taking another trip down memory lane.  Only this time, I'm going to need a bigger boat.

Day 24: The Amityville Horror (1979)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 24: The Amityville Horror (1979)

As a child of the '80s, there were few scarier grand myths than the story of "The Amityville Horror".  The thing that made this one different, was that it was based on real life events, which made it entirely true to our impressionable, young minds.

"The Amityville Horror" not only features a timeless story of haunting and possession, but also a timelessly iconic haunted house that could be visited at any time, by any viewer of the film.  It was a real place in a real town, and supposedly a real story.

The story of George and Kathy Lutz is one that has been widely publicized, and one that is widely derided as either a potential true story, or a pure fabrication.  There is plenty of evidence to be found online suggesting that the Lutzs fabricated a haunting based on the murders committed by Ronald DeFeo, however, the fact vs. fiction elements of the story remain unresolved to this day.

"The Amityville Horror" is a classic story of good versus evil and tells the story of the Lutz family's battle against the evil forces that posses their newly purchased dream home.  It is a creepy movie, filled with many of the classic elements of the haunted house picture.

Naturally, the evil presence first makes itself known to the youngest child in the family, but as the story unfolds, the parents, priests and more take up arms against the insidious forces that are calling the house home.

Like many films of its era, it has been followed by sequels and a half decent remake, but the original remains the best by far.

Tomorrow, I will be taking a trip to Scotland where things are potentially going to get real...

Day 23: The Cabin In The Woods (2011)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 23: The Cabin In The Woods (2011)

You know the story...  A group of teenagers/college students head out into the woods for a weekend away at a cabin.  It is one of the great tropes of modern horror, based mostly in the simplicity of the location and the ability to crank out a horror movie on the cheap.  Every now and then though, that classic trope is turned on its head, and never more successfully than in Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon's "The Cabin In The Woods".

The stereotypes are all there: the stoner, the jock, the nice guy, the slut, and of course the virginal "last girl", but where "The Cabin In The Woods truly sets things apart, is in its ability to take those stereotypes, and our expectations about what will happen to each character, and throw them all out the window.

We always bet on the virginal "last girl" being the one to make it through.  If you were to take it to Vegas, that would be the safest bet.  What we rarely know, however, is how each of the stereotypes will be removed from the equation, and by what gruesome killer.

"Cabin In The Woods" is a beautiful film because it showcases not only the genre staples, but also the possibilities to which the horror genre could extend.  It is a traditional slasher movie, but it is also so much more than that: an examination of the genre, and also a total deconstruction.

I do not want  to get into too many specifics with this film for those of you who have not seen it.  What I do want, is that you give it a better chance that Hollywood did.  This is a smart, scary, and completely unique film that deserves to be seen.  Give it a chance, and know that you will be happier having done so...

Tomorrow, I plan to pay a visit to one of the world's greatest haunted houses...

Day 22: The Hills Have Eyes ((2006)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 22: The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

There is no creepier sensation than the feeling of being watched.  It's a simple concept, but one that will strike a nerve with any audience member.  It is something that Wes Craven preyed upon in his original 1977 version, and something that Alexandre Aja turned up to 11 in the 2006 sequel produced by Platinum Dunes (who also remade "Friday the 13th", "A Nightmare On Elm Street", "The Hitcher", "Amityville Horror", and many other classics of the past).

What Aja's remake does right, is the increase of tension from the original.  In 1977, the fears were similar, and Craven's original vision is definitely worth seeing, but the remake improves on so much of what was established in the original.

Much like the remake of Craven's "The Last House On The Left", Aja's version of "The Hills Have Eyes" forgoes much of the bizarre and out-of-place humour of the original and increases the terror and despair by considerable amounts.

The film follows the Carter family as they make their way across the American Southwest in a Winnebago.  When their transportation breaks down, it all seems quite innocuous at first, until things start going very, very wrong.

The destruction and dissolution of family and the American dream is often hard to watch, particularly once the family is beset by the irradiated mountain folk who have their eyes set on nothing but carnage.

While the original is a great film, the remake actually manages to create a little more tension by reinforcing the bonds of family and the lengths we will go to preserve those we love.

Tomorrow, I am taking a little trip out into the woods for a bit of a cabin getaway with a few friends...  Hope to see you there.

Day 21: V/H/S (2012)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 21:  V/H/S (2012)

In recent years, the found footage genre has become one of the most popular types of horror movie.  Everything from "Paranormal Activity" to today's entry, which many have described as the scariest movie of the year.  It is scary, but the problem with most "found footage" films is that people need a reason to record every moment of what they are experiencing.

With "V/H/S", the tropes are even harder to get past, but there is still some effective film making that takes place.  The "big picture" story involves a group of deplorable humans who record their debauched exploits and post them online.  When they break into an old man's house to steal a single VHS cassette, they find the man dead in his armchair in a room filled with VHS cassettes.  It is this conceit that allows the filmmakers to present their different tales of terror, all within the basis that each story is a different tape in the man's house.

While the segments vary in quality, there is a great deal to appreciate in the fusion of low-fi filming and high quality special effects.  The first person perspective adds a sense of immediacy to the different stories, and there is definitely a growing sense of tension that increases as the jump cuts help forward each vignette.

The problem again with these types of films, is that the type of person who would film all their experiences in such a way is usually not a type of person that is easy to relate to.  With some exceptions (a couple chatting over Skype, or a guy whose costume is a teddy bear "Nanny-cam") it seems odd that the characters would be filming their escapades.  And that their modern escapades filmed on Skype would end up on a collection of VHS tapes in an old man's collection.

Still, there are some effective scares and moments throughout the different vignettes and if you can stomach the chills, it is worth popping this one into your VCR.

Tomorrow, I get the feeling that someone might be watching me.  From over in those hills...

Day 20: A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 20: A Nigthmare On Elm Street (1984)

There are many names that spring to mind when it comes to great horror movie output.  Carpenter and Romero hold firm places in the genre, as does Wes Craven.  There are many films in his catalogue that helped redefine the genre, but arguably his most famous film would be "A Nightmare On Elm Street", at least up until the release of "Scream"in 1996.

The conventions are similar to other horror films, and while the horny stoner youth are the inevitable victims of the demented killer, the twists in the original nightmare did bring a new dimension to the standard formula.

Freddy Krueger was a bad man: a molester and abuser of children.  That woul,d have been sinister enough on its own, but Craven went one step further by making Krueger the ultimate nightmare killer: one who only comes to his victims in their sleep.

The fact that he is already dead makes him that much more unstoppable, a force from beyond that feeds on the youth of Elm Street as they sleep.  As we all know, sleep is an inevitable.  Eventually, we will all fall asleep.  Sleep is supposed to be our refuge from reality, our safe place to go.  When sleep becomes a place we go to die, it makes the inevitability of falling asleep that much more terrifying

That was the genius of the original "A Nightmare On Elm Street".  Freddy really was a force from beyond, one who terrorized his victims and killed them off one by one.  He had a solid motivation for doing so as well, the great motivator of revenge (albeit from a twisted perspective).

The sequels sort of went down hill, turning Freddy into a wisecracking maniac, more than an actual terror, but they still have their moments, as does the remake.

Tomorrow, I plan to go old school, with a very newschool movie.  Fire up the VCRs...

Day 19: Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 19: Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)

There was a time in the 1980s where Walt Disney Studios were well-known for their more subversive fare, movies like "Tron" and "The Black Hole", that blew young minds with their sci-fi stories, and others such as "The Watcher In The Woods" and "Something Wicked This Way Comes", that left permanent scars on the young psyches of their viewers.

"Something Wicked This Way Comes" featured a screenplay by Ray Bradbury, based on his own original story, and features many of Bradbury's common themes.  The movie is a celebration of the innocence of youth, just as it is a tribute to the eerie mystique of autumn, a season that more than any represents a passage of sorts.

Will Halloway and Jim Nightshade are you average young boys in an average small town.  It is an idyllic introduction before things end up going off the rails with the arrival of a travelling carnival.  It soon becomes clear to the two young boys, that there might be more to the carnival than the rides and attractions it hawks on the unsuspecting public.

The beauty of this movie, a failure in its day with both audiences and critics, is that the story is a clear example of Bradbury's genius, and his ability to take those things that are comfortable and familiar, and twist them into a darker less obvious version that the one we know.  He is able to take our deepest set dreams and turn them into nightmares.

While not a perfect movie, and one that didn't do so well on its initial release after major studio reworks, it is still a creepy story and one that has always remained with me over the years.

Tomorrow, I plan to visit with one of the other great slashers of the horror genre, one who encourages no running in the halls...

Day 18: The Ruins (2008)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 18: The Ruins (2008)

"The Ruins" tells the story of two American couples in the midst of transitioning from high school into the world of adulthood during a trip to South America.  Based on a novel by Scott Smith (who also wrote the novel and Academy Award nominated screenplay for Sam Raimi's crime thriller "A Simple Plan") "The Ruins" really is a movie unlike many others, and seems to constantly zig in the story, when you expect it to zag.

The spine of this film easily lies on the competent young cast that includes Shawn Ashmore, Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker (who was also in yesterday's entry) and Laura Ramsey, as well as British actor Joe Anderson whose character Mathias recruits the four Americans for a tour into the jungle.

When the group sets out to visit an ancient Mayan ruin, everything seems fairly innocent.  When the locals show up, shouting and angrily gesticulating, and eventually killing their local guide, things quickly spiral out of control into a a bizarre and fascinating movie that keeps you constantly guessing and perplexed.

The obvious suspects and initial suspicions are quickly subverted and the story that slowly unfolds is one that is very much unlike any that has come before.

It turns out that Mathias was actually looking for his brother, who went missing after a trek out to the old Mayan ruins, but saying much more about the actual plot would really just spoil the bizarre twists and turns that follow the group's flight to the top of the Mayan pyramid following the death of their local guide.

As accidents befall the group, and the mystery expands, the story slowly builds in dread and tension.  A classic "contained environment" tale of horror, "The Ruins" truly is a one-of-a-kind descent into horror and desperation.  It's worth going along for the ride with out hapless protagonists as their world slowly and inevitably spirals out of control and into a whole new realm of horror.

Tomorrow, I will be going Shakespearean with a tale by one of my idols - one that terrified me as a child...  See you then!

Day 17: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 17: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Tobe Hooper's original "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" from 1974 spawned three direct sequels, and a fourth that will be released in January of 2013.  The original movie was exceptionally stark and harrowing - so believable that it was banned in many countries (it also happens to be another film on the infamous "Video Nasties" list).

When a remake was first announced, my initial thought, was why?  Why mess with a classic?  When the first trailer was revealed, I was surprisingly optimistic all of a sudden - the trailer was extremely well edited and portrayed a few key things: it was set in the same time frame, and looked like what a remake should: more polished, more professional, and slightly revisionist without veering too far from what made the original a classic.

The remake begins with a similar introduction, this time a crime scene walk through at the Hewitt residence on August 20, 1973, where five teen aged bodies have been discovered...

From there it sticks close to the original plot, but it also veers off enough to provide a bit of character building and plot development.

One of the most memorable aspects of this film is the cinematography by Daniel Pearl.  He manages to capture the both the arid heat and vast expanses of the Texas desert, as well as the eerie shadows and ominous darkness of the Hewitt mansion, in a way that truly helps sell the story of the five youth destined for trouble once the movie cuts back to two days prior to the police investigation.

While not as starkly terrifying as the original, this is an excellent revisitation of the same themes and aspects that made the original, and by extension "Leatherface" such iconic entries into the evolving landscape of Hollywood horror.

If you do decide to check out this beautifully shot, and capably retold sequel, make sure you also give the gritty and nasty original a chance as well.  they are both deserving of your time.

Tomorrow, I plan on heading south for a bizarre journey into Las Selva.  Bring your sunscreen, and leave the cellphones at home!

Day 16: The Evil Dead (1981)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 16: The Evil Dead (1981)


Where it all began for so many...  Back in the early nineteen eighties, and I know this is hard to believe, but there was a thing called the "Video Nasties", an attempt by the Thatcher regimen in the United Kingdom to place all of society's woes at the time, into the hands of a handful of "horror" movies.  Again, it seems hard to believe that any form of democratic government would attempt to lay blame for the state of their country on a handful of artists who were simply trying to tell a creepy story that hopefully shocked the audiences watching it, but that was indeed the way of the world in the '80s.


I was fortunate enough to see a handful of "Video Nasties" on the big screen when I lived in England and one of them was "The Evil Dead", a movie that holds a warm place in my heart.  The original movie in the series was a straightforward horror story about a group of young adults who travel out into the wilds to spend a weekend away.  Things obviously go awry...


"The Evil Dead" spawned two official sequels, "The Evil Dead 2" which was essentially a remake that put more emphasis on "Splatstick", a fusion of horror and slapstick 3 Stooges-esque comedy that would become a trademark of director Sam Raimi's, and the even more comedic and slapstick infused "Army of Darkness", which was set in medieval times.  There is also a remake coming out in the near future...

The thing is, "The Evil Dead" inspired a resurgence in low-budget, low-fi horror movies and it did so in  a way that was original and unique.  It also (eventually) catapulted director Sam Raimi and star Bruce Campbell into the spotlight.

The beauty of the original "Evil Dead" film is that it showcases many of the defining traits that would become intrinsically linked with both its director and star.  With Raimi, it shows that even at a young age, he was a capable visionary able to develop entirely new ways to shoot a film on a shoestring budget, and with Campbell, it clearly indicates an early appreciation for both bravado and self deprecation.


This is a defining film for two stalwarts who didn't even know (I'm sure) that they were destined to such long standing careers in the industry, and one that has left an indelible mark on the horror film landscape.  Check it out, but make sure you also follow it up with the 1987 sequel that ratchets the crazy up by at least three stooges worth, yet somehow remains an equally, if not more engaging film.


Tomorrow, I plan to not cut off my hand, but I will rev up a chainsaw, you deadite bitch!

Day 15: The Innkeepers (2011)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 15: The Innkeepers (2011)

Director Ti West burst onto the horror scene in 2009 with his film "The House of The Devil", which was brilliantly marketed as a low-budget '80s style babysitter-in-peril type film and was actually released on VHS (not too common for its time) as well as more modern formats.

With "The Innkeepers", West proves he is capable of much more than loving homage to the type of movie that no doubt inspired him.  Rather than follow up his initial success with a sequel, or similarly themed venture, West instead pursued the supernatural with what can only be described as a slow burn suspense film.

Incorporating elements of both "The Shining" and the "Paranormal Activity" films, "The Innkeepers" tells the story of Claire and Luke, two attendants working the front desk of The Yankee Peddler Inn on its last weekend of operation.  The fact that Luke's character happens to be running a website about paranormal activity at the hotel is relevant, as well as a bit of a red herring.

Many might describe this particular film as boring, because the gore is limited to certain key points.  They would be missing the point.  What this movie does well, is create a sense of slow burn dread that is a-typical in today's horror movie landscape, a suspense that feeds on the unseen horrors more than the obvious jump scares.

"The Innkeepers" does a great job of building dread, and rarely relies on illustrating the terror being experienced by Claire and Luke.  In that sense, it is not unlike the first movie to open this column, John Carpenter's "Halloween".  There are moments of pure shock and gore, but this really is a psychological terror, not entirely different from Stanley Kubrick's classic take on Stephen King's "The Shining".

 Like "The House of The Devil", this movie is an homage to those that came before it, only with "The Innkeepers", Ti West pursues a direction more in the vein of Hammer Films' classic tales of suspense and dread.  If you are patient enough, you will find yourself endeared by Sara Paxton's "Claire" for certain, and to a slightly lesser degree Pat Healy's "Luke" and Kelly McGillis'"Miss Rease-Jones".

Tomorrow, I just might head out to the original cabin in the woods.

Day 14: The Mist (2007)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 14: The Mist (2007)

When I first heard about Frank Darabont was making a film out of Stephen King's "The Mist", I was pretty excited.  He had already done a fantastic job with "The Green Mile", and an even more impressive job with "The Shawshank Redemption" (both King stories as well).

The difference here would be that Darabont would be veering into King's more horrific stable of stories for the first time.

The final product definitely lived up to my somewhat high expectations.  When I first read the shot story, or novella, of "The Mist", it was a creepy tale.  Seeing it translated by someone as multi talented as Darabont, only expanded on that initial vibe.

Under Darabont's studious gaze, "The Mist" becomes, ironically enough, another tale of imprisonment, only this time the central characters are imprisoned within an unfathomable nightmare, and with unfathomable cellmates.  Elements of the Stanford Prison Experiment permeate the story as the denizens of a small town slowly succumb to the madness of the situation they are exposed to...

Following a freak violent storm, a mist descends on their hometown, trapping several locals in the grocery store.  Things quickly go from bad when they realize that Lovecraftian horrors lurk in the swirling mists, to worse when they slowly start turning on each other.  There will always be different tensions in any group dynamic and the tensions wrought by Marcia Gay Harden's devout Mrs. Carmody, and Andre Braugher's gruff Brent Norton, to the sympathy felt for Jeffrey DeMunn's Dan Miller and Natahn gamble's Billy Drayton (Jane's son) only serve to reinforce the dangers and threats of those group dyamics.

Different groups band together and fall apart, and eventually, Thomas Jane's protagonist David Drayton, his son, and a few other survivors make a break for freedom, only to discover that freedom often comes with a price, and sometimes, it also comes too late.

This is a film with plenty of jump scares, and also one that oozes a permanent sense of dread that roils throughout each frame like the titular mist.  It also happens to feature one of the starkest, most bleak endings of any "popular" horror film in recent recollection, a fact that makes it almost instantly recommendable.  If you can, seek out the black and white version, for an even more starkly horrific experience.

Tomorrow, based on an anonymous post on the blog, I plan to take a bit of time off and check into to an inn...  Hope to see you there!

Day 13: Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 13: Friday the 13th Part III (1982)

Ch-ch-ch-ka-ka-ka...  "Friday the 13th" aimed to capitalize of the success of other "holiday" themed horror movies and it became a perennial sequel-generator in doing so, with ten official entries between 1980 and  2001, a spin off that pitted Jason against Freddy Krueger in 2003, and a remake in 2009.  The entire series is a tribute to what came before, right down to Harry Manfredini's score that is evocative of Bernard Herrman's score for "Psycho", yet also a definitive product of the '80s.

It wasn't until the third installment in the franchise that Jason officially became the hockey mask sporting killer that most know and love (in the original, it was his mother who was the killer, and in Part II, he wore a cloth sac over his deformed head) so I decided to focus on this installment.

Originally filmed in 3-D, the movie is full of obvious "gimmick" shots, but it is also the film that firmly cemented the rules that the series would grow to follow.  A group of horny teens ends up on a weekend getaway to get high and have sex, and by the end, only the "final girl" remains, the rest having been dispatched by the murderous Jason Voorhees.

There is no real motivation to the story.  The lore is set up in the first movie that Jason drowned at the hands of a group of neglectful counsellors at Camp Crystal Lake, but it is never really solidified beyond that.

As much as I revere the Halloween series, the motivations of Michael Myers remain equally ambiguous, as are those of Freddy Krueger, and the countless slashers in their vein that have appeared throughout the years.  It is the formula that continually draws audiences in.

For whatever reason, people like watching nubile teens get  their rocks off before getting systematically dismembered at the hands of an unstoppable force of killing destruction.

"Friday the 13th" remains one of the perennial slasher films (and it does illicit a fear of the wilderness if you are susceptible to such frights) and Jason will always remain one of the true icons of horror.

Tomorrow, I plan to get a little misty eyed for Thomas Jane...

Day 12: Dead Alive (1992)

A Month of Horror

I have always wanted to do a marathon of "HORROR" throughout the month of October, one where I would revisit a new horror movie every day from the first to the thirty-first.  I will revisit the classics as well as new entries into the canon.  There are many movies that define this time of year, and I hope to showcase 31 of them this month...

October 12: Dead Alive (1992)

 While not quite oedipal, Lionel Cosgrove certainly had some "mother" issues, especially once she was bitten by the infamous Sumatran Rat Monkey in Peter Jackson's splatterific "Dead Alive" (a.k.a. "Brain Dead").

While not without its horrific moments, "Dead Alive" does tend to lean more towards the comedic end of the horror spectrum as the bumbling Lionel does his best to keep a lid on what becomes only too clearly a zombie-like outbreak.  His overbearing mother is the first victim, bitten by a WETA generated Sumatran Rat Monkey (a creature that was also eluded to in Jackson's 2005 redo of "King Kong").

Things quickly spiral out of control for Lionel as the plague spreads and he is forced to lock more and more infected away in the home he shares with his mother.

"Dead Alive" is a fantastic film that shows many of the kinetic cinematic flourishes its director would become known for.  It also pays loving homage to the zombie genre while mixing the tender drama and slapstick comedy that Jackson and others of his kind use so effectively.

From the preacher who "kicks ares in the name of the lord" to the disgustingly hilarious denouement that sees hapless Lionel enter his home armed with a lawnmower to break up a zombie bacchanal, this is a delightful showcase of practical effects and practical storytelling.

Definitely worth a watch (as are Jackson's other horror efforts "The Frighteners" and "Bad Taste").  Tomorrow, we go to camp...