The Conjuring (2013) - Halloween Extravaganza Part 3!

As I have said before on this blog, I am a big fan of the original Amityville Horror (1979). The case has always fascinated me. When I first heard about The Conjuring (2013) it definitely peaked my interest. I loved the idea of seeing another story based on a case that the Warren's investigated. I was a bit put off by the marketing campaign for the film that made it seem like every other films of the past decade though. Now that I have finally sat down and watched it, I am glad to say that I loved it.

If you don't know, The Conjuring is a story of a haunting. A family of 7 (five daughters and their parents) move into a big old house in Rhode Island. After only a few days, strange things start to happen. Eventually it builds to a point that the family realizes that they are in danger because of the ghosts or whatever it is that is tormenting them in their home. The mother finds out about a couple that is giving a lecture at a nearby college about paranormal investigation. She meets them afterwards and persuades them to come see her home, for the safety of her daughters. That couple are Ed and Lorraine Warren and this story is before the case that would make them famous at a house in Amityville Long Island.

I really appreciated that The Conjuring does not feel like modern films. Its more like the scary movies of the 70s and 80s. Unlike the re-make, this movie really could fit well with the original Amityville Horror. The approach is much more personal and heartfelt to me than you expect these days. You really do start to not just care about these people, but worry about their safety.

I was so surprised that the film was well cast, well written, compelling and not just a set up for repeated jump scares. The characters really are fleshed out and feel natural. These are not just one dimensional people, destined to be tortured for our amusement. This realistic approach made the movie feel very respectful of both families that are involved and honest in telling their version of the story.

I also appreciated both the attention paid to the droning, unsettling score as well as the use of physical special effects when possible. I am so happy to see that James Wan really is more than just that guy who made Saw (2004). He really does know how to make effective horror that will haunt you after the movie is over. I enjoyed The Conjuring so much that it makes me not only want to watch the sequel, but to also check out Insidious (2010) which was also helmed by Wan. Both series of films had so much hype that I lost interest, but its great to see that it may all have been warranted.

As for the Blu-Ray, the first two featurettes are excellent mini-docs on both the Parron family's haunting and the life's work of the Warrens. It is so powerful to hear the real Mrs. Warren recall the couple's experiences over the years as paranormal investigators. Couple that with the actual Parrons describing the horrors they experienced in their home, you can really appreciate what everyone in the film feel that they experienced. It will make you want to believe.

So you have probably all already seen this movie, so I am probably preaching to the choir on this one. If you are like me and hadn't jumped on board yet, I am here to tell you it was worth the plunge! Anyone who enjoys haunted stories or good scary movies needs to give The Conjuring a chance. Believe me!

imdb listing for The Conjuring

official trailer

Horns (2013) - Halloween Extravaganza Part 2!

Horns (2013) is not your average film. There is a lot of black humor to this horror/mystery about a man who has been accused by his entire small town of murdering his girlfriend. Things are so dire for our protagonist (played masterfully by Daniel Radcliffe) that he isn't even sure if he is innocent. But things really start getting interesting when he wakes up one morning to find that he has started to grow horns on his head. All of a sudden, his loved ones and neighbors start telling him about their deepest secrets and darkest desires...and asking his permission to do bad things.

Our hero has fallen from grace. His love made him an angel with happiness and purpose, but once she is gone, that angel falls. Now he gives in to sin by spending his days fall down drunk. It is when he decides to find out what really happened that he starts to find some purpose again. There are definitely quiet a few metaphors to this film, but they do not bog it down with pretentiousness.

Dan Radcliffe does an excellent job as our grief stricken anti-hero. There is no mistaking that Harry Potter has definitely left the building by now. And making this film even more special, it is helmed by Alexandre Aja who unleashed the amazing High Tension on the world in 2003 and followed it up with a well done remake of The Hills Have Eyes in 2006. Of course it all comes down to the source material and Joe Hill is one of the greatest names in modern horror fiction.

The only films that came to mind while watching Horns were Gone Girl (2014) and John Dies in the End (2012). All three movies are based on ground-breaking fiction that find unconventional ways to keep the audience on their toes. Coincidentally, I saw all of these without reading the books and am so happy that I did. In all honesty, Joe Hill is the only one of the three authors that I was already reading and I can say I have thoroughly enjoyed everything of his I have read. For those not in the know on this one, Hill's famous Dad is none other than horror icon Stephen King, but I have always loved Hill's ability to strike his own path, away from his father's footsteps. I will say though that when you see the behind the scenes docs on the Blu-Ray, it is hard to deny the resemblance.

So if you love quirky, oddball movies that have a bizarre sense of humor and a grim take on reality, I think you will enjoy Horns!

imdb listing for Horns

Horns Official Trailer

Crimson Peak (2015) - Halloween Weekend Extravaganza Part 1

I know I have a been a bit slow in my blogging lately. I blame the classes I am teaching for using up my "free" time. So I decided I owe it to my readers, both of you, to go for broke this Halloween weekend and try to post as many new horror reviews as I can. Let's see how I do.

Under the entry for "Directors that can do no wrong" please see this photo of Guillermo del Toro:

While I started seeing his films from Devil's Backbone (2001) and Blade II(2002), I will admit that I wasn't totally a fan until Hellboy (2004). Add Pan's Labyrinth (2006) and Pacific Rim (2013) and I am sold. All I need to hear is that Guillermo is involved and I am in. From the first poster images and teaser trailers, I knew I would love Crimson Peak (2015). It was beautiful and creepy all at once. Unfortunately, the release timed out with my recent shoulder surgery and I wasn't able to make it to the theater. I finally picked up the Blu-Ray a month or so ago and I can confirm that my initial reaction was spot on. I loved it.

A rare and truly original story in today's world of remakes and re-imaginings, Crimson Peak is the tale in Victorian America of a strong and independent woman who dreams of being a novelist but is intrigued by a mysterious man from abroad. This man lives in a decaying family estate that houses even more secrets, including his bizarre sister and some very demanding spirits.

The film is layered with a masterfully unfolding mystery that keeps the viewer enthralled. The amazing sense of style by both the historical era and gothic story are enhanced by the wonderful set design and costuming. Del Toro always has an amazing eye for details and patterns in his work. Check out the special features to hear him talk about the design work on the film. I also love how the beautiful imagery that the the analogy of the clay that covers the family grounds, and is ensnaring the home itself, gives us a constant backdrop of blood red. It can't help but make a viewer recall the 1971 Amicus Pictures classic, The House That Dripped Blood.

Another visual aspect I loved of the film was the beautifully subtle ghost images. When we see the actual ghosts, they are shown in a refreshingly new way that is horrifying and feels corporal. This approach gives their sequences a visceral feel.

I definitely appreciate that the protagonist of the story is a strong and determined woman in a time when women were only just starting to find independence ... that is, if they lived in a wealthy enough family to afford an education. She is a smart, literate and intelligent woman who throws it all away for love - especially when nothing else is left of her old life. You can see how this one man has turned her entire life upside down (even more so than she realizes).

So much of the movie reminded me of two modern gothic classics that I adore: Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) and Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow (1999). Del Toro is a man that wears his fandom on his sleeve. Much like Tarantino, every one of his films is an ode to a genre that he grew up loving. You can tell his love for the old fashioned, Victorian horror films that would star actors like Vincent Price, Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.  As for his own catalog, this film has more in common with Pan's Labyrinth for its dark fantasy than most of his other films. I love to see del Toro get Hollywood to back not only an original story, but a period piece to boot!

One drawback is when you start to recognize the actors from their recent genre films. Then the story becomes "That time Loki fell in love with Alice from Wonderland, but the Jaeger pilot was already in love with her." Once you get past this, though, it is a great journey.

Ok, so I think I have gushed enough about this one. Obviously I would recommend this film to anyone that loves gothic horror, dark fantasy and beautiful Victorian era stories. Enjoy!

imdb link for Crimson Peak

Crimson Peak - Official Theatrical Trailer [HD]

Movie 17 - Color Me Blood Red (1965)

This past Tuesday, the horror world lost one of their favorite people, The Godfather of Gore himself, Mr. Herschell Gordon Lewis. When I heard the news, I went onto Amazon and picked up a few of his titles that were missing in my collection. Color Me Blood Red was at the top of the list. The story of a struggling artist who is in a bit of a rut because he isn't happy with the quality of his paints...especially the color red. That all changes when his girlfriend cuts her finger on a broken frame.

I first heard about H.G. Lewis when I was a teenager reading every old issue of Fangoria magazine I could get my hands on. I vividly remember a photo spread that showed some of the bloodiest moments of Blood Feast in full color, but sadly, my local video store didn't have any of his movies on the shelf, so it took years before I finally got to see some of these gory classics. Fast forward to 2002. As a Media Studies major in grad school, I pitched the concept for a documentary series that would explore cult movies of the 60s, 70s and 80s. As part of my pre-production class I had to create a list of preliminary interviews for the project, so I checked out what celebrities were slated to visit the upcoming Chiller Theater convention. To my shock and excitement H.G. Lewis replied to my email and we set up a taping at his hotel room. As my first interview. Mr. Lewis was a true gentleman that generously gave me an hour of his time. He gleefully told me tales of making some of the first gore movies in history. That interview was an immense help for me because other celebrities wanted to be involved once they heard H.G. Lewis was on board!

What was great about movies like Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs was that they were fun, gory romps that brought movies kicking and screaming into the world of the Grand Guignol Theater (those plays from turn of the century France that shocked audiences by showing over the top bloody acts). Lewis's movies weren't the most sophisticated or well produced movies of the time (quite the opposite usually) but they were the first to show horror in such gross out proportions. Think of him as a 60s Ed Wood that just wanted to make movies, but didn't worry about things like great acting or believable plots. There was more Roger Coreman to Herschell Gordon's work though. Films were pumped out quickly and cheaply to rush them out to the local movie houses and drive-ins. What H.G. Lewis really excelled at was marketing (as his later career in direct marketing proves). There was a lot of P.T. Barnum in the way Lewis would advertise his pictures. He would warn the audiences that they would be traumatized and horrified but it worked. He was all about getting butts in seats.

So we decided to honor H.G. Lewis's memory last night by settling onto the couch with some adult beverages and our new copy of Color Me Blood Red (a fitting film for the home of an artist and a filmmaker). This is one of those movies I had read about, but never actually got to see. As the artist in the film finds his bloody solution to the problem with his otherwise drab paintings, we see the gallery owner and critic gush and lavish him with praise. The artist may have already been a little crazy, but now he has a body count for his work. As we watch we can't help remembering that while H.G. Lewis definitely blew away the world of horror fans, you can't say any of his films are masterpieces. There is bad audio, way too long shots, bad acting and out of focus scenes. But there is a certain charm to films like Color Me Blood Red. Once you realize that this is not meant to be taken seriously, just a blood-soaked laugh, than everything fits in place and it is easier to understand the appeal. You, the audience, are in on the sick joke and are just waiting for the gory pay-off.

A fun stab, pun intended, at the art world, Color Me Blood Red is a dark comedy that aims to take the piss out of the tropes of the art world: the temperamental artist, the money grubbing gallery owner, the eccentric critic and the uneducated buyer. I recommend this movie to anyone up for a silly, bloody time especially fans of filmmakers like Ed Wood, William Castle and John Waters.

imdb listing for Color Me Blood Red