If you are a fan of Hammer films or are interested in the late 60's/early 70's satanic witch movies such as Mark of the Devil, The Witchfinder General, or The Wicker Man you may enjoy this one. Everyone else, you may want to stay away.
Truly bizarre and slow moving horror film set in the 17th century about an English village where all the young people slowly turn into devil worshipers when one of them finds a severed head stuck in the mud on some farmland. As the young people in the village (and some old folks too) start to turn evil, they cut off their own body parts and grow dark, hairy patches of skin on them which they all call "satan's skin".
The movie does move at a snails pace and it doesn't help that the story jumps around from different members of this village community. The movie is odd but yet I still found it intriguing and truly strange. Why is this happening? Why is the beautiful Angel suddenly the leader and trying to seduce the local minister? What the hell is that monster in the shadows? The movie doesn't really answer questions and for those that like things wrapped up nicely, you'll be disappointed.
The music is very creepy and demonic sounding, building great tension. The actors do a good job and Linda Heyden is a knockout. Seeing her completely nude was shocking in itself. The set design and autumn setting was also nice and helped set the mood. The movie has great atmosphere and would make for a good Halloween movie if you can stay awake and have some patience.
Man of a Thousand Faces
The great Lon Chaney from London After Midnight
Oct 21, 2010
October 21st - NIGHT OF THE DEMONS (2010)
Why do I do this to myself?
This is the remake of the 1988 semi-cult horror film that is neither better nor worse than the original film. I still don't understand the love the original film has. I find it overly silly, dull, unoriginal, and obviously cheap. The best thing I can say is the remake looks like they had more money to spend.
The plot is kind of strange to me. It's Halloween, and a huge party is being held at a mysterious mansion hosted by a girl named Angela. Angela is known as the local slut apparently and after the party, some of the friends and Angela play spin the bottle and make out. When they all split up to go their separate ways, skeletons are discovered in a basement room where a brutal massacre happened many years ago. When Angela gets her finger scraped by one of the skeletons, she turns into a demon and tries to bite and eat everyone else, turning them into demons. You've seen this in a bunch of films (if you want a better film that is very similar, rent Lamberto Bava's Demons) and all done better with more originality.
But what makes the plot strange is we get a subplot involving one of the girl's ex boyfriends (a bloated and embarrassed looking Edward Furlong) who owes money to a mobster. I am still unsure what the whole point of this subplot was for and why it is so out of left field. It was as if the writers came up with an idea and scraped it while filming the movie and the editor forgot to take this scene out.
Shannon Elizabeth plays Angela, giving her no personality at all and being downright dull. I think Elizabeth really needs to fire her agent. And poor Eddie Furlong. Looking at him, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy. From starring in one of the biggest summer films ever made to co-starring in direct to DVD horror films and looking like a mid-30's Joe Spinell, it really is shocking.
Night of the Demons continues to have really bad one-liners and out of place comedy like the original film and it's sequel.. If that's your cup of tea, I guess you'll be happy. I will say it is the first horror film where a woman becomes a demon by being sodomized by her possessed lover. And the "lipstick in the nipple" scene is back from the original. I bet you were all dying to see that again. The make-up effects are ok but the filmmaker relies too much on awful CGI and quick-cut editing that is the norm now. Too bad too as the creatures do look more frightening this time around when they are shown.
I have seen much worse but that doesn't mean that this film isn't crap. I would love to hear from fans of the original film or it's sequel to tell me why they like these movies so much.
This is the remake of the 1988 semi-cult horror film that is neither better nor worse than the original film. I still don't understand the love the original film has. I find it overly silly, dull, unoriginal, and obviously cheap. The best thing I can say is the remake looks like they had more money to spend.
The plot is kind of strange to me. It's Halloween, and a huge party is being held at a mysterious mansion hosted by a girl named Angela. Angela is known as the local slut apparently and after the party, some of the friends and Angela play spin the bottle and make out. When they all split up to go their separate ways, skeletons are discovered in a basement room where a brutal massacre happened many years ago. When Angela gets her finger scraped by one of the skeletons, she turns into a demon and tries to bite and eat everyone else, turning them into demons. You've seen this in a bunch of films (if you want a better film that is very similar, rent Lamberto Bava's Demons) and all done better with more originality.
But what makes the plot strange is we get a subplot involving one of the girl's ex boyfriends (a bloated and embarrassed looking Edward Furlong) who owes money to a mobster. I am still unsure what the whole point of this subplot was for and why it is so out of left field. It was as if the writers came up with an idea and scraped it while filming the movie and the editor forgot to take this scene out.
Shannon Elizabeth plays Angela, giving her no personality at all and being downright dull. I think Elizabeth really needs to fire her agent. And poor Eddie Furlong. Looking at him, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy. From starring in one of the biggest summer films ever made to co-starring in direct to DVD horror films and looking like a mid-30's Joe Spinell, it really is shocking.
Night of the Demons continues to have really bad one-liners and out of place comedy like the original film and it's sequel.. If that's your cup of tea, I guess you'll be happy. I will say it is the first horror film where a woman becomes a demon by being sodomized by her possessed lover. And the "lipstick in the nipple" scene is back from the original. I bet you were all dying to see that again. The make-up effects are ok but the filmmaker relies too much on awful CGI and quick-cut editing that is the norm now. Too bad too as the creatures do look more frightening this time around when they are shown.
I have seen much worse but that doesn't mean that this film isn't crap. I would love to hear from fans of the original film or it's sequel to tell me why they like these movies so much.
Oct 20, 2010
October 20th - NIGHT OF THE DEMONS 2 (1994)
The original Night of the Demons has turned into this cult classic that now has a small following. I never really got it. I found the film overly stupid and silly with cheap sets and a lackluster plot. Aside from some good make up effects by Steve Johnson, the film didn't have much going for it aside for some T&A. Well, the sequel is a step up from the original...barely.
The film takes place at a Catholic school for troubled teens. It's Halloween and the students are having a Halloween party at the school. When some of the more adventurous and naughty kids decide to instead go to the house that Angela killed all her friends at...well, you know the drill.
The only returning character is Angela and it was nice to see Amelia Kinkade return in the role. Steve Johnson also returns to give us some more gruesome make up effects. One change that I was thankful for was that the amount of one-liners is at a minimal here. Sure, there are an overabundance of lame jokes but those awful one-liners are at least absent. Also, the acting is a bit better and it was funny to see Ben Stiller's wife Christine Taylor in an early role.
However, like the first film, it takes awhile for anything to happen. The film plays more like a special Halloween episode of Saved By the Bell than a straight up horror film. And even though I said the acting is better in this film than the original, that isn't saying much. Thankfully we have plenty of boobs, butts and bush to keep us horny male viewers from falling asleep.
Night of the Demons 2 is what it is. It's not awful but it isn't very good. Consider me an outcast; I am not a fan of this series.
The film takes place at a Catholic school for troubled teens. It's Halloween and the students are having a Halloween party at the school. When some of the more adventurous and naughty kids decide to instead go to the house that Angela killed all her friends at...well, you know the drill.
The only returning character is Angela and it was nice to see Amelia Kinkade return in the role. Steve Johnson also returns to give us some more gruesome make up effects. One change that I was thankful for was that the amount of one-liners is at a minimal here. Sure, there are an overabundance of lame jokes but those awful one-liners are at least absent. Also, the acting is a bit better and it was funny to see Ben Stiller's wife Christine Taylor in an early role.
However, like the first film, it takes awhile for anything to happen. The film plays more like a special Halloween episode of Saved By the Bell than a straight up horror film. And even though I said the acting is better in this film than the original, that isn't saying much. Thankfully we have plenty of boobs, butts and bush to keep us horny male viewers from falling asleep.
Night of the Demons 2 is what it is. It's not awful but it isn't very good. Consider me an outcast; I am not a fan of this series.
Oct 19, 2010
October 19th - BLACK SHEEP (2006)
No, this is not a review of the Chris Farley film. This is a New Zealand film about killer sheep. Yeah you read that right. And shockingly, I found it to be a fun, gory little movie in the spirit of old Peter Jackson films.
The plot is super basic which may be the worst thing about the film: genetic engineering has turned sheep into these murderous creatures and the government is trying to cover it up. Think Jaws, Alligator, Piranha, yeah you know the drill. But instead of an animal that is actually scary, they come up with sheep. The idea of killer sheep is pretty funny and it was wise for the film makers to keep it silly but at the same time, treat it like an actual horror film. And to my surprise the film works despite the predictable premise.
Director Jonathan King borrows heavily from Peter Jackson's earlier films like Bad Taste and Braindead, using hand held camera work, shooting on grainy film, and of course keeping the tone very light but filled with disgusting graphic effects. Even Weta who did the effects for Lord of the Rings was brought on to do this film. The killer sheep do look great and the man-sheep monsters are really good. There is even one transformation scene that is almost lifted out of An American Wedrewolf in London. Blood flows freely in Black Sheep and we get plenty of it. Limbs hacked off, throats ripped out, intestines pulled out, and my favorite: a sheep rips off one guy's manhood.
If you like your horror/comedies with an extra amount of blood and you don't mind the heavy accents of the New Zealand actors, Black Sheep is worth a look but it isn't for everyone.
The plot is super basic which may be the worst thing about the film: genetic engineering has turned sheep into these murderous creatures and the government is trying to cover it up. Think Jaws, Alligator, Piranha, yeah you know the drill. But instead of an animal that is actually scary, they come up with sheep. The idea of killer sheep is pretty funny and it was wise for the film makers to keep it silly but at the same time, treat it like an actual horror film. And to my surprise the film works despite the predictable premise.
Director Jonathan King borrows heavily from Peter Jackson's earlier films like Bad Taste and Braindead, using hand held camera work, shooting on grainy film, and of course keeping the tone very light but filled with disgusting graphic effects. Even Weta who did the effects for Lord of the Rings was brought on to do this film. The killer sheep do look great and the man-sheep monsters are really good. There is even one transformation scene that is almost lifted out of An American Wedrewolf in London. Blood flows freely in Black Sheep and we get plenty of it. Limbs hacked off, throats ripped out, intestines pulled out, and my favorite: a sheep rips off one guy's manhood.
If you like your horror/comedies with an extra amount of blood and you don't mind the heavy accents of the New Zealand actors, Black Sheep is worth a look but it isn't for everyone.
I MISSED A DAY!
I tried...really. But alas, I miss Monday October 18th. I went to work and went to the Chicago Blackhawks game with my in-laws and wife and it went in OT. By the time I got home and said good bye to everyone, it was 11 pm. I climbed into the spare room bed so not to wake up Michelle and flicked thru my DVR trying to find the shortest possible horror film and I must have passed out or something because next thing I knew the wife was waking me up at 5:00 this morning to get ready for work. I apologize but I don't know if anyone even reads these so maybe I am safe.
Oct 17, 2010
October 17th - SAW VI (2009)
Getting ready for the upcoming (and supposedly final) Saw film, I was finally able to watch 2009's Saw VI. This is the only Saw film that I didn't get a chance to see in the theater and it is also the lowest grossing of all the Saw films. It also happens to be one of the best in the series.
To set the record straight, I think the Saw films are silly and filled with some bad acting and annoying editing tricks that can cause epilepsy. However, as the series went along I noticed the films seemed to have gotten better and I got sucked into the story and characters. What I also like is that all the films link together and are legit sequels and not a sequel by name only. So yeah I like the Saw films but I know they aren't works of art. I wouldn't even recommend this series to people since these films are like eating apple pie with melted cheese on the top. It's an aquired taste.
Saw VI picks up right after the fifth film ended and Det. Hoffman is still the mastermind behind the killings. At Jigsaw's request via his will, Hoffman is given instruction to kidnap certain people that Jigsaw would like to be forced to play a game with. He selects a man who works for a health insurance agency who denied Jigsaw insurance when he was diagnosed with cancer. While this story is going on, we also see Hoffman trying desperately not to be caught by his fellow officers. Both stories work well and of course there are flashbacks and references to numerous Saw films that surprisngly work well and fit perfectly into the timeline of this series.
For gorehounds, I am happy to report that Saw VI doesn't skimp on the grue. Bodies explode, people get burned, limbs are cut off, people are stabbed or shot, and one character gets acid poured inside him. All done with...drum roll....ACTUAL PRACTICAL EFFECTS! That's right, the CGI that started to get used in parts IV and V are gone and some really nasty gore effects are on display here.
While I still think Saw III is the best in the series, VI is up there as one of the best entries. I look forward to Saw 3-D.
To set the record straight, I think the Saw films are silly and filled with some bad acting and annoying editing tricks that can cause epilepsy. However, as the series went along I noticed the films seemed to have gotten better and I got sucked into the story and characters. What I also like is that all the films link together and are legit sequels and not a sequel by name only. So yeah I like the Saw films but I know they aren't works of art. I wouldn't even recommend this series to people since these films are like eating apple pie with melted cheese on the top. It's an aquired taste.
Saw VI picks up right after the fifth film ended and Det. Hoffman is still the mastermind behind the killings. At Jigsaw's request via his will, Hoffman is given instruction to kidnap certain people that Jigsaw would like to be forced to play a game with. He selects a man who works for a health insurance agency who denied Jigsaw insurance when he was diagnosed with cancer. While this story is going on, we also see Hoffman trying desperately not to be caught by his fellow officers. Both stories work well and of course there are flashbacks and references to numerous Saw films that surprisngly work well and fit perfectly into the timeline of this series.
For gorehounds, I am happy to report that Saw VI doesn't skimp on the grue. Bodies explode, people get burned, limbs are cut off, people are stabbed or shot, and one character gets acid poured inside him. All done with...drum roll....ACTUAL PRACTICAL EFFECTS! That's right, the CGI that started to get used in parts IV and V are gone and some really nasty gore effects are on display here.
While I still think Saw III is the best in the series, VI is up there as one of the best entries. I look forward to Saw 3-D.
Oct 16, 2010
October 16th - TWICE TOLD TALES (1963)
Ahh, I have returned to the anthology film. It's still one of my favorite types of movies and Vincent Price was in many back in the 1960's. He and Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing were in numerous horror anthology films. Most would be based on either Edger Allen Poe or H.P. Lovecraft stories. This time I have watched Twice Told Tales based on the works by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
There are three short tales of suspense and mystery. The first is "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" about two old friends who dabble in the black arts to regain their youth. The second is "Rappacini's Daughter" about a mad scientist who has conducted an evil experiment on his own daughter. The last one is "House of the Seven Gables" about a family curse.
The problem with this film is that the first two stories are pretty bland. Think of the weakest episodes of Twilight Zone or Amazing Stories and that is what you get with the first two stories. The first one is especially boring which makes little sense to me since you would want a more action oriented tale to suck the viewer in. The second tale is more predictable, thus making the film dull. It doesn't help that the acting by the main hero downright sucks in this. The last story is by far the best but only because it is more of a horror story set in a haunted house. Price is especially good here playing a villian.
I didn't dislike the film but I wouldn't really recommend it either. The trailer to the movie shows almost the entire film and it's best parts. Maybe watch that instead.
There are three short tales of suspense and mystery. The first is "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" about two old friends who dabble in the black arts to regain their youth. The second is "Rappacini's Daughter" about a mad scientist who has conducted an evil experiment on his own daughter. The last one is "House of the Seven Gables" about a family curse.
The problem with this film is that the first two stories are pretty bland. Think of the weakest episodes of Twilight Zone or Amazing Stories and that is what you get with the first two stories. The first one is especially boring which makes little sense to me since you would want a more action oriented tale to suck the viewer in. The second tale is more predictable, thus making the film dull. It doesn't help that the acting by the main hero downright sucks in this. The last story is by far the best but only because it is more of a horror story set in a haunted house. Price is especially good here playing a villian.
I didn't dislike the film but I wouldn't really recommend it either. The trailer to the movie shows almost the entire film and it's best parts. Maybe watch that instead.
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