Drag Me to Hell - 7 stars out of 10
"Drag Me to Hell" is a scary, intense, disgusting movie... and that's why you'll love it! Though the supernatural aspect of this movie is a bit far-fetched, the movie has a high entertainment value. The combination of gross (and sometimes comic) gore and jump scenes make this a unique scary movie experience. Sam Raimi has definitely crafted a scary movie experience that isn't like most others. Alison Lohman is cute as a "button!" The audience easily identifies with her character because she does not do anything wrong, but is cursed anyway. The overall acting is good, the seance and graveyard scenes are extremely intense, and I'll just leave you to be amazed by the twist at the end. Not my favorite scary movie, but I'd certainly see it again.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
From Dusk Till Dawn - 5 stars out of 10
From Dusk Till Dawn - 5 stars out of 10
I'm still trying to figure out if this was a drama, a horror film, or a comedy. Blood, swearing, sexuality, and vampires all combine to form this ironic horror film that unexpectedly takes place in two different worlds. "From Dusk Till Dawn" gets bonus points for successfully luring you into a comfortable feeling of expectation - you will think that you have the entire hostage plot figured out when suddenly 2/3 of the way through the movie... VAMPIRES!!! Quentin Tarantino's screenplay certainly takes you in some unexpected directions. The vampire make-up and special effects are cool, but I just can't get past the question of "Why are there vampires in this film?" The movie features great performances by Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Juliette Lewis, Salma Hayek (oh my goodness... wow), and Cheech Marin (in 3 different roles!) Though the film is enjoyable to watch and the vampire killings are intense and awesome, I can't help but be left with a sense of "Eh..." in the end.
I'm still trying to figure out if this was a drama, a horror film, or a comedy. Blood, swearing, sexuality, and vampires all combine to form this ironic horror film that unexpectedly takes place in two different worlds. "From Dusk Till Dawn" gets bonus points for successfully luring you into a comfortable feeling of expectation - you will think that you have the entire hostage plot figured out when suddenly 2/3 of the way through the movie... VAMPIRES!!! Quentin Tarantino's screenplay certainly takes you in some unexpected directions. The vampire make-up and special effects are cool, but I just can't get past the question of "Why are there vampires in this film?" The movie features great performances by Harvey Keitel, George Clooney, Juliette Lewis, Salma Hayek (oh my goodness... wow), and Cheech Marin (in 3 different roles!) Though the film is enjoyable to watch and the vampire killings are intense and awesome, I can't help but be left with a sense of "Eh..." in the end.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Phantasm - 7 stars out of 10
Phantasm - 7 stars out of 10
No fancy special effects necessary. All that "Phantasm" requires to keep you on edge are quick cuts, hooded figures ducking around corners, and a creepy soundtrack as this mystery unfolds. Don Coscarelli understood that you just have to put people into freaky settings (like a cemetery and a funeral home) and the intensity will develop itself... though the silver sphere sequence didn't hurt in adding to the horror. It is amazing how effective Phantasm was on such a low budget, though it is obvious that the actors were paid on a low budget. In the end, very little of "Phantasm" is explained (the silver sphere, how the creatures are created, the other world, the girl in the lavender dress). Part of me wishes that every aspect of the mystery would have been explained, but the other part of me is glad that I'm left to figure things out for myself - I am just worried that I will never fully understand what the heck happened in the final 20 minutes. You'll just have to watch for yourself to decide if you can be at peace with the (sort-of) resolution.
No fancy special effects necessary. All that "Phantasm" requires to keep you on edge are quick cuts, hooded figures ducking around corners, and a creepy soundtrack as this mystery unfolds. Don Coscarelli understood that you just have to put people into freaky settings (like a cemetery and a funeral home) and the intensity will develop itself... though the silver sphere sequence didn't hurt in adding to the horror. It is amazing how effective Phantasm was on such a low budget, though it is obvious that the actors were paid on a low budget. In the end, very little of "Phantasm" is explained (the silver sphere, how the creatures are created, the other world, the girl in the lavender dress). Part of me wishes that every aspect of the mystery would have been explained, but the other part of me is glad that I'm left to figure things out for myself - I am just worried that I will never fully understand what the heck happened in the final 20 minutes. You'll just have to watch for yourself to decide if you can be at peace with the (sort-of) resolution.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
The Fourth Kind - 7 stars out of 10
The Fourth Kind - 7 stars out of 10
Wow, "The Fourth Kind" is definitely one of the FREAKIEST movies that I have ever seen! My body was so tense throughout and I have little recollection of breathing during this movie. The editor of this movie was a genius, combining documentary and thriller by blending the real footage with the reenactment and using split screens to tell the story of Abigail Tyler. Milla Jovovich's prologue perfectly sets the mood for this story while her postlude creates an amazing ending. The plot evolution from a few coincidental sightings of a white owl to alien abduction helps the viewer to believe this story from the start and avoid skepticism later on. The quiet moments between archival footage create a great deal of suspense and will keep you on the edge of your seat... until the next hypnosis session, which will shake your body in fear with blood-curdling screams and demonic voices. I definitely prefer this film to the "Paranormal Activity" series. The things that you will see in this movie are very disturbing and should be avoided if you do not like to be freaked out.
Wow, "The Fourth Kind" is definitely one of the FREAKIEST movies that I have ever seen! My body was so tense throughout and I have little recollection of breathing during this movie. The editor of this movie was a genius, combining documentary and thriller by blending the real footage with the reenactment and using split screens to tell the story of Abigail Tyler. Milla Jovovich's prologue perfectly sets the mood for this story while her postlude creates an amazing ending. The plot evolution from a few coincidental sightings of a white owl to alien abduction helps the viewer to believe this story from the start and avoid skepticism later on. The quiet moments between archival footage create a great deal of suspense and will keep you on the edge of your seat... until the next hypnosis session, which will shake your body in fear with blood-curdling screams and demonic voices. I definitely prefer this film to the "Paranormal Activity" series. The things that you will see in this movie are very disturbing and should be avoided if you do not like to be freaked out.
Monday, October 22, 2012
The Amityville Horror (1979) - 7 stars out of 10
The Amityville Horror (1979) - 7 stars out of 10
Although the original "Amityville Horror" cannot compare to the remake in intensity and storyline, this is still a great scary movie. It is amazing to watch James Brolin's transformation from mild-mannered to maniacal mad-man and the plot continues to gain momentum from start to finish. The unfortunate thing about this movie is that, at the pinnacle of intensity, the movie just comes to a screeching halt, leaving your heart pounding and wondering why more did not happen. Additionally, there's a lack of explanation behind Katchem and why the house is driving Brolin crazy, as well as no explanation of what lies beyond the wall. It makes me feel that the writers knew how to introduce this creepy plot but didn't know how to tie the loose ends and left it to the "let the audience create their own interpretation" technique, which just doesn't work for this movie. I think that you'll find that the interpretation of the remake better explains these things and just makes for a better storyline. Even though this film fails to give us the answers that we are itching for, the original "Amityville Horror" will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Although the original "Amityville Horror" cannot compare to the remake in intensity and storyline, this is still a great scary movie. It is amazing to watch James Brolin's transformation from mild-mannered to maniacal mad-man and the plot continues to gain momentum from start to finish. The unfortunate thing about this movie is that, at the pinnacle of intensity, the movie just comes to a screeching halt, leaving your heart pounding and wondering why more did not happen. Additionally, there's a lack of explanation behind Katchem and why the house is driving Brolin crazy, as well as no explanation of what lies beyond the wall. It makes me feel that the writers knew how to introduce this creepy plot but didn't know how to tie the loose ends and left it to the "let the audience create their own interpretation" technique, which just doesn't work for this movie. I think that you'll find that the interpretation of the remake better explains these things and just makes for a better storyline. Even though this film fails to give us the answers that we are itching for, the original "Amityville Horror" will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The Mummy Theme Park - 1 star out of 10
The Mummy Theme Park - 1 star out of 10
"The Mummy Theme Park" is the best unintentionally bad film since "Birdemic"! The combination of terrible dialogue, obvious green screens, pointless plot, and awful voice dubbing makes for a great laugh. First, there is the issue of the film's title... There is not a single rollercoaster in this film! Since it is an Italian film (spoken in English), something must have gotten lost in translation. This film was doomed from its opening credits but it would have been a lot more interesting with a mummy attack on a rollercoaster. Then there is the issue of the script. When one of your high-impact lines is "It's time to put this skeleton back in the closet!" you have to wonder what the writers were thinking. And my favorite aspect of the film: this is the worst voice dubbing since "The Room." Even the sound effects are incorrectly dubbed! The dubbing of Holly Laningham's voice is absolutely hysterical. She sounds like a Disney princess voice trapped in a horror film. "That's quite a name you've got there..." Her voice paired with the corny dialogue is so awful that it's delightful. And the chick fight on the train? Hysterical. "The Mummy Theme Park" isn't very scary and it certainly isn't very good; and yet, it's impossible to deny the sick pleasure that can be derived from watching these actors fail onscreen over and over again.
"The Mummy Theme Park" is the best unintentionally bad film since "Birdemic"! The combination of terrible dialogue, obvious green screens, pointless plot, and awful voice dubbing makes for a great laugh. First, there is the issue of the film's title... There is not a single rollercoaster in this film! Since it is an Italian film (spoken in English), something must have gotten lost in translation. This film was doomed from its opening credits but it would have been a lot more interesting with a mummy attack on a rollercoaster. Then there is the issue of the script. When one of your high-impact lines is "It's time to put this skeleton back in the closet!" you have to wonder what the writers were thinking. And my favorite aspect of the film: this is the worst voice dubbing since "The Room." Even the sound effects are incorrectly dubbed! The dubbing of Holly Laningham's voice is absolutely hysterical. She sounds like a Disney princess voice trapped in a horror film. "That's quite a name you've got there..." Her voice paired with the corny dialogue is so awful that it's delightful. And the chick fight on the train? Hysterical. "The Mummy Theme Park" isn't very scary and it certainly isn't very good; and yet, it's impossible to deny the sick pleasure that can be derived from watching these actors fail onscreen over and over again.
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