Author Topic: Building the Horror/Thriller 1000  (Read 63086 times)

oldkid

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Re: Horror: The Final Chapter
« Reply #260 on: June 22, 2017, 11:19:38 AM »
Putting Marebito on my list.

I hate spider movies.  Gives me jump scares without deserving real emotion. 
"It's not art unless it has the potential to be a disaster." Bansky

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Re: Horror: The Final Chapter
« Reply #261 on: June 22, 2017, 11:19:38 PM »
Putting Marebito on my list.
Nice. I was going to suggest a list of titles, but now that I've seen so many it's probably best that I stand back and let you decide what interests you. I will suggest taking a look at the site for They Shoot Zombies where you can order the full list by Country.


I hate spider movies.  Gives me jump scares without deserving real emotion.
Yeah. I've recommended Kingdom of the Spiders, where they're all tarantula-sized and plentiful, but the spiders in Spider Forest were really small, to where the camera would have to shift focus from an actors face to the spider on a thread. That focus shift would work like a jump scare and leave me unprepared for a couple of moments where a larger spider appeared, like one that shows up on the back of a guy's neck. [Spoiler Tagged for creepiness.]

oldkid

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Re: Horror: The Final Chapter
« Reply #262 on: June 23, 2017, 02:04:18 AM »
What I would be most interested in is perhaps ten films that you would want to put on my list that I haven't.  I can't promise to include them, but I promise to check them out (or tell you that I've seen it and why it's not on my list).
"It's not art unless it has the potential to be a disaster." Bansky

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Re: Horror: The Final Chapter
« Reply #263 on: June 25, 2017, 12:50:17 AM »

Feng Shui (2004)
* * ½
Oddly plotted with a first half that’s more about a cheating husband with random ghost people peppered in so you remember it’s a horror film. Back half is more assured, playing with deaths related to the Chinese Zodiac. The ghosts have more purpose and their appearances are scarier. Kind of mad that the solution comes from a phone call by a stranger. Dumb way to get your character out of their problem.


Seed of Chucky (2004)
* *
Bride of Chucky was a real surprise when I saw it back in 1998, a reinvention of the franchise with a great balance of horror and laughs from writer Don Mancini. In 2013, Mancini did it again with the underseen good time Curse of Chucky, which he also directed. In between Mancini made his directing debut with Seed, and it has two major problems. Mancini isn’t a strong director his first time out, nothing like the style he brings to Curse and lacking any scares, surprise or tension needed for a horror film. The script here is his most comedic, too much so, with way too many meta jokes, most of which don’t land. In other words, I was right to go from Bride to Curse and I recommend you do the same.


The Dark Hours (2005)
aka. Head Games
* * ½
One of those shots in the dark added by me because I heard it might be a discovery. Falls short, but I’d like to see director Paul Fox, writer Wil Zmack and star Kate Greenhouse get another chance because there’s definite talent in this tight, little cabin in the woods, home invasion thriller. Steps to the side of torture porn by focusing on psychological terror, but ends up a little obscure about what it wants to do and say.


Voice (2005)
aka. Whispering Corridors 4
* * * - Okay
Another WC movie and my favorite so far because there’s an interesting whodunit around the student who’s murdered and haunts the school as a ghost trying to find her killer with the help of her best friend who learns how to talk with her. I initially bristled when the middle went into soap opera, but I learned to accept that’s what these films are, and it’s not as soapy as Wishing Stairs. I would love to watch the series with Sandy. They seem suited to her, unless she has one of those shocking un-positive reactions.


The Skeleton Key (2005)
* *
The story beats unfold similar to Get Out, so the contrast shows what’s wrong here. Get Out’s suspense is the result of pointed and uneasy racial satire. Skeleton Key is built on a tourist’s idea of Voodoo in New Orleans. Director Ian Softley scoops in bayou mysticism for atmosphere, but it’s as phony as his portrayal of cyberculture in Hackers. Peter Sarsgaard is a good actor but he doesn’t know how to approach a character who is meant to initially appear helpful. He just waits for the script to tell us what he’s been letting slip the whole time. Despite all that, I really liked the way the ending plays out.

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Re: Horror: The Final Chapter
« Reply #264 on: June 25, 2017, 01:14:24 AM »
What I would be most interested in is perhaps ten films that you would want to put on my list that I haven't.  I can't promise to include them, but I promise to check them out (or tell you that I've seen it and why it's not on my list).

Most of what I would suggest is on your list or I know you've already seen it (like Sleep Tight, which I will always recommend.) If I come up with more, I'll let you know.


Australia: Long Weekend is a good example of Ozploitation and I was a fan of The Plumber, but you said you were interested in the "additional layer of cultural uniqueness," and Wake in Fright is exactly that.

Czech Republic: Little Otik

France: Lots of good choices here, but one with a brief and now extinguishing reputation is Brotherhood of the Wolf, which is a bold and epic, period horror film with liberal amounts of sex and violence and martial arts.

Germany: Wondering if you've seen any German Expressionism classics, such as The Golem or The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Spain: I successfully recommended Witching & Bitching by Álex de la Iglesia to Junior, but for you I would suggest getting your feet wet with his wild "end of the world" horror comedy The Day of the Beast.

oldkid

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Re: Horror: The Final Chapter
« Reply #265 on: June 25, 2017, 02:18:56 AM »
I hesitate on the Australia front, because the title of my list is "non-English speaking", mostly because I hate the American-centric word "foreign", unless it's clearly a national context.

I read your review of Little Otik before and I'm interested: it's on.

Brotherhood of the Wolf sounds pretty crazy.  It's on.

I've already seen the two German Expressionistic films you mentioned. I've also seen Nosferatu and Faust.  I liked Golem.  Do you think Golem: How He Came Into the World is worth watching?

The Day of the Beast sounds cool.  I might throw Witching and Bitching on there as well, but "gore-fest" was mentioned. not sure about that.



"It's not art unless it has the potential to be a disaster." Bansky

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Re: Horror: The Final Chapter
« Reply #266 on: June 25, 2017, 08:23:47 AM »
I hesitate on the Australia front, because the title of my list is "non-English speaking", mostly because I hate the American-centric word "foreign", unless it's clearly a national context.
I included Australia when I saw The Tenant on your list, which I remember being English. IMDB lists it as English and French. Turns out there are 3 different versions.

Quote
The film was shot part in English, part in French, going by whatever the actors present felt more comfortable with. Afterwards, different language versions were produced in post-production, with part of the cast dubbing themselves in both the fully English and the fully French version, while the rest of the French characters were notably dubbed by actors with audibly US American accents.


I've already seen the two German Expressionistic films you mentioned. I've also seen Nosferatu and Faust.  I liked Golem.  Do you think Golem: How He Came Into the World is worth watching?
I didn't realize Paul Wegener made a Golem trilogy. The 1915 version of The Golem is considered lost, so I guess the film we saw was 1920's Golem: How He Came Into the World. (In between he made The Golem and the Dancing Girl, which is also a lost film.)


The Day of the Beast sounds cool.  I might throw Witching and Bitching on there as well, but "gore-fest" was mentioned. not sure about that.
I couldn't find where I connected de la Iglesia to gore-fest. He's violent, but is a high-energy showman, not a grimy blood peddler. Nowhere near as gruesome as Inside or Martyrs.

oldkid

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Re: Horror: The Final Chapter
« Reply #267 on: June 25, 2017, 11:38:31 AM »
You never mentioned "gore-fest".  I read that on IMDB.
"It's not art unless it has the potential to be a disaster." Bansky

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Re: Horror: The Final Chapter
« Reply #268 on: June 25, 2017, 09:48:49 PM »
This is coming up. The film doesn't look promising, but that's one of my favorite alternate titles so far in this marathon.


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Santa’s Slay (2005)
aka. Very Bad Santa

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Re: Horror: The Final Chapter
« Reply #269 on: June 30, 2017, 09:47:33 AM »

Noroi: The Curse (2005)
* * * - Good
Not so much “found footage” as a pseudo-documentary, this Japanese horror burns slow, but like early M. Night Shyamalan or the first Paranormal Activity, the pace creates tension because you know the film ultimately wants to give you the creeps… and it does. One of the most effective horror films of the marathon with some really strong images and moments. My biggest problem is using a mentally challenged character as a genre device, which I always have to forgive when the film is working. (Like Ouija boards, it’s the worst thing you can pit into a film aiming for ultimate realism.) It’s not too distracting here, but I can understand him bothering some people.


Isolation (2005)
* *  ½
Irish horror, dismissed as an Alien rip-off, but it’s remarkable how much the film looks like something a young Ridley Scott might have crafted. Writer/Director Billy O’Brien makes some rookie mistakes, like too much fetishizing the gore of (fake) dead animals. The sheer volume of uncomfortable and icky medical procedures takes away from the atmosphere. (This would be a terrible film to try and eat to.) The final creature design and movement could’ve benefitted from some more money, but if they ever get Alien away from Sir Ridley, O’Brien is someone who deserves serious consideration. Cast includes Sean Harris (Prometheus), Essie Davis (The Babadook) and Ruth Negga (Loving).


Santa’s Slay (2005)
aka. Very Bad Santa
*
”Who’s your Daddy? Father Christmas.”
How Did This Get Made? A broad and childish comedy about a kill-crazy Santa (wrestler Bill Goldberg). The only film by David Steiman, who worked as a Set P.A. and then personal assistant to Brett Ratner, which might explain the people who appear in this film. The opening scene has James Caan, Fran Drescher, Chris Kattan and Rebecca Gayheart. After that there’s Emilie de Ravin, Robert Culp, Dave Thomas, Saul Rubinek and ‘Tiny’ Lister. I seriously have a lot of questions about this film’s existence.


Reincarnation (2005)
* * ½
I like filmmaker Takashi Shimizu (The Grudge, Marebito) but the scares and creeps in this ghost story are lacking punch. I like the way the film changes its look between the past and the present and there are still some good moments that remind me why I like Shimizu, but the story and style are too simplified so it never rises above people in ghost makeup.


Luncay (2005)
* *
The style here is more like something from the late 60s, with thick blankets of symbolism and heavy ideas that are either bluntly obvious or nonsense. I guess it’s horror because there are a number of images involving organs moving around on their own and the theme of madness, but this kind of surrealism isn’t what I’m looking for and this one in particular was a slog to get through.

 

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