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Sarah (7798 KP) rated Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) in Movies
Dec 26, 2018 (Updated Aug 19, 2020)
An unnecessary sequel
Yet again this is another sequel that was entirely unneeded and unnecessary. Whilst the original wasn’t brilliant or a classic, it was at least very creepy and bleak, and the ending was quite interesting and what i found the scariest thing of all about the entire film.
Sadly this sequel fails because it mostly ruins the ending of the first film. It’s initially more of the same but set in a trailer park, with characters who make some very dodgy decisions that wind up getting them hurt/killed. It’s quite bloody and gory at least, and still kind of creepy, and it has a killer soundtrack. The two kids do fairly well, and as with Hard Times at the El Royale, Lewis Pullman really shines and he makes this worth sticking with. The ending however is a little lacklustre and is just your typical horror movie ending. It wasn’t unusual or creepy and bleak like the original, and this is such a shame. Had they improved the ending, I may have rated this a little higher.
Edit 19th Aug 2020:
Having just rewatched the original, I has to return and rate this higher. Not only does it have the killer soundtrack it has some great performances and is a lot more entertaining than the original. There's still a lot of stupidity in this, but it's definitely the better of the 2 films.
Sadly this sequel fails because it mostly ruins the ending of the first film. It’s initially more of the same but set in a trailer park, with characters who make some very dodgy decisions that wind up getting them hurt/killed. It’s quite bloody and gory at least, and still kind of creepy, and it has a killer soundtrack. The two kids do fairly well, and as with Hard Times at the El Royale, Lewis Pullman really shines and he makes this worth sticking with. The ending however is a little lacklustre and is just your typical horror movie ending. It wasn’t unusual or creepy and bleak like the original, and this is such a shame. Had they improved the ending, I may have rated this a little higher.
Edit 19th Aug 2020:
Having just rewatched the original, I has to return and rate this higher. Not only does it have the killer soundtrack it has some great performances and is a lot more entertaining than the original. There's still a lot of stupidity in this, but it's definitely the better of the 2 films.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) in Movies
Oct 27, 2019
The title probably says it all here, but here goes. The female high school basketball team decides to have a party complete with pizza and talking about boys. After quite the lengthy group shower they decide on the guest list and arrange for the fun times to begin. No one likes the new girl so she is not invited.
Even before the party begins the audience is alerted to the escape of a mental patient who is now on the loose wreaking bloody havoc in the neighborhood. Soon he shows up at the school and starts taking care of his own business using a very large drill with an extended drill bit.
After the party begins, he slowly starts to pick off the attendees as they manage to find themselves alone with the killer or in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The thing I found the most odd was the reveal of the killer almost right away. In most slasher/horror films of this type, the killer is almost always shown in shadows, from behind or partially revealed under the end of the movie where the unmasking happens. Not in this film. He is shown pretty much at the onset and chases the girls around almost the entire film with his lengthy power tool.
Passable action and suspense along with enough good kills to keep me interested for 75 minutes.
Even before the party begins the audience is alerted to the escape of a mental patient who is now on the loose wreaking bloody havoc in the neighborhood. Soon he shows up at the school and starts taking care of his own business using a very large drill with an extended drill bit.
After the party begins, he slowly starts to pick off the attendees as they manage to find themselves alone with the killer or in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The thing I found the most odd was the reveal of the killer almost right away. In most slasher/horror films of this type, the killer is almost always shown in shadows, from behind or partially revealed under the end of the movie where the unmasking happens. Not in this film. He is shown pretty much at the onset and chases the girls around almost the entire film with his lengthy power tool.
Passable action and suspense along with enough good kills to keep me interested for 75 minutes.
Leigh J (71 KP) rated Warlock (1989) in Movies
Nov 12, 2019 (Updated Nov 12, 2019)
Unexpectedly Good!
Contains spoilers, click to show
1691: a Warlock is captured and imprisoned by a Witch Hunter called Giles. On the night of his execution, a storm happens in which he mysteriously disappears, leaving no trace behind.
It transpires that the Warlock has been transported forward to 1988, and he lands in an Apartment with 2 roommates, one of which he murders. The Warlock then uses his power to get in touch with a Demon; who instructs him that there is a Grand Grimoire that has been split into 3 books. To become a true Son of Satan, he has to find the 3 books and put them back together to make the Grimoire. However, little does the Warlock know... Giles the Witch Hunter has been transported to the '80s with him, and is determined to take the Warlock down, with the help of a young Woman who was the 2nd roommate (who's rapidly aging thanks to a spell the Warlock put on her). Will they be able to find the Warlock before time runs out?
Warlock has really surprised me! I thought it looked like it was going to be really bad, and one of those Movies that I wish I'd never seen, and don't get me wrong there are moments that are unintentionally comedic and cheesy but I found myself strangely enjoying it, and actually thinking it's a very decent Movie that I'd watch again! Forgiveably cringeworthy, Horror fans should definitely give this one a go!
It transpires that the Warlock has been transported forward to 1988, and he lands in an Apartment with 2 roommates, one of which he murders. The Warlock then uses his power to get in touch with a Demon; who instructs him that there is a Grand Grimoire that has been split into 3 books. To become a true Son of Satan, he has to find the 3 books and put them back together to make the Grimoire. However, little does the Warlock know... Giles the Witch Hunter has been transported to the '80s with him, and is determined to take the Warlock down, with the help of a young Woman who was the 2nd roommate (who's rapidly aging thanks to a spell the Warlock put on her). Will they be able to find the Warlock before time runs out?
Warlock has really surprised me! I thought it looked like it was going to be really bad, and one of those Movies that I wish I'd never seen, and don't get me wrong there are moments that are unintentionally comedic and cheesy but I found myself strangely enjoying it, and actually thinking it's a very decent Movie that I'd watch again! Forgiveably cringeworthy, Horror fans should definitely give this one a go!
Rickey A. Mossow Jr. (689 KP) rated 3 From Hell (2019) in Movies
Dec 8, 2019
I just wasted nearly 2 hours of my life.
Already having issues with Rob Zombie films after he single-handedly tried to kill the Halloween franchise, I went into this one already predisposed to not have a good time watching. But, trying to partake due to my wife's love affair with this movie series, I was open-minded and objective. And then I wasted nearly two hours of my life I'll never get back.
Make no mistake, I get the series. I get the ideas behind Zombie's pet project series. A little comedy, a little horror, a little action flick, and a little bit satire. The violence, language, and nudity is gratuitous throughout, and I am one who can enjoy some violence, language, and nudity.
But this is all nonsensical BS passed off as a film. The film has more plot holes than bullet holes in random people. The characters are caricatures, hollow vessels that carry no weight or consequences. I didn't care who died by whose hand or what happened to anyone. There was blood, gore, boobs, language, and blunts. Time passed.
I don't know. Maybe that's the point. Maybe Zombie should do another film in this series. Or maybe some other pet project that tickles his fancy. Just as long as he leaves Michael Myers and every other quality iconic character alone. Please, Rob, for the love of all that is sacred in film.
Make no mistake, I get the series. I get the ideas behind Zombie's pet project series. A little comedy, a little horror, a little action flick, and a little bit satire. The violence, language, and nudity is gratuitous throughout, and I am one who can enjoy some violence, language, and nudity.
But this is all nonsensical BS passed off as a film. The film has more plot holes than bullet holes in random people. The characters are caricatures, hollow vessels that carry no weight or consequences. I didn't care who died by whose hand or what happened to anyone. There was blood, gore, boobs, language, and blunts. Time passed.
I don't know. Maybe that's the point. Maybe Zombie should do another film in this series. Or maybe some other pet project that tickles his fancy. Just as long as he leaves Michael Myers and every other quality iconic character alone. Please, Rob, for the love of all that is sacred in film.
Stanley Kubrick: New Perspectives
Peter Kramer, Tatjana Ljujic and Richard Daniels
Book
Stanley Kubrick: New Perspectives brings together essays by scholars who have examined the traces...
Metamorphosis: Astonishing Insect Transformations
Book
Insects truly are the ugly ducklings of the natural world. How does something as beautiful as a...
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Willy's Wonderland (2021) in Movies
Feb 21, 2021
I can safely say that I got exactly what I expected from Willy's Wonderland, a schlocky as hell B-Movie horror that manifests Nicolas Cage going toe-to-toe with a host of murderous animatronic mascots, set to a music score of synth heavy electronica/children's party jingles. Is it silly and dumb? Yes. Does it have annoying and unlikable teenage human characters who are there just to die horribly? Also yes. Is it entertaining as fuck? Most definitely.
Cage's silent protagonist feels like the role that his career has been leading up to all these years. He has his very own corner of the zeitgeist at this point, and is just running with it, happily poking fun at himself whilst managing to be undeniably badass, whether it be the Mad Max-esque opening, tearing the robots to shreds with his bare hands, or him furiously dancing whilst playing pinball. Whenever he's on screen, he steals all the focus, without uttering a word. It's so ridiculous and enjoyable, that it renders the half-baked plot a moot point.
The animatronics themselves look pretty decent for the most part, and there's some solid gore here and there. It's the kind of gore that will make you burst out laughing, but in a good way.
Willy's Wonderland is far from a perfect experience, but it is what it is, and never tries to be anything more, and therefore succeeds in what it's trying to achieve.
Cage's silent protagonist feels like the role that his career has been leading up to all these years. He has his very own corner of the zeitgeist at this point, and is just running with it, happily poking fun at himself whilst managing to be undeniably badass, whether it be the Mad Max-esque opening, tearing the robots to shreds with his bare hands, or him furiously dancing whilst playing pinball. Whenever he's on screen, he steals all the focus, without uttering a word. It's so ridiculous and enjoyable, that it renders the half-baked plot a moot point.
The animatronics themselves look pretty decent for the most part, and there's some solid gore here and there. It's the kind of gore that will make you burst out laughing, but in a good way.
Willy's Wonderland is far from a perfect experience, but it is what it is, and never tries to be anything more, and therefore succeeds in what it's trying to achieve.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Beetlejuice (1988) in Movies
Nov 7, 2020
Micheal Keaton (1 more)
Tim Burton
Say His Name
Beetlejuice- is a halloween classic. Its also a tim burton classic. The cast is really good, the fantasy gothic horror element is really good. Its also a dark film, and its PG and it does have some not PG moments. Its a excellent movie.
The plot: After Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck haunting their country residence, unable to leave the house. When the unbearable Deetzes (Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones) and teen daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder) buy the home, the Maitlands attempt to scare them away without success. Their efforts attract Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a rambunctious spirit whose "help" quickly becomes dangerous for the Maitlands and innocent Lydia.
Burton cast Ryder upon seeing her in Lucas. O'Hara quickly signed on, while Burton claimed it took a lot of time to convince other cast members to sign, as "they didn't know what to think of the weird script.
Warner Bros. disliked the title Beetlejuice and wanted to call the film House Ghosts. As a joke, Burton suggested the name Scared Sheetless and was horrified when the studio actually considered using it.
Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian is in development hell and now its shelved. So the likely chance of it coming out is unlikely, but who knows.
Like i said before Beetlejuice is a excellent Halloween Classic.
The plot: After Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die in a car accident, they find themselves stuck haunting their country residence, unable to leave the house. When the unbearable Deetzes (Catherine O'Hara, Jeffrey Jones) and teen daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder) buy the home, the Maitlands attempt to scare them away without success. Their efforts attract Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a rambunctious spirit whose "help" quickly becomes dangerous for the Maitlands and innocent Lydia.
Burton cast Ryder upon seeing her in Lucas. O'Hara quickly signed on, while Burton claimed it took a lot of time to convince other cast members to sign, as "they didn't know what to think of the weird script.
Warner Bros. disliked the title Beetlejuice and wanted to call the film House Ghosts. As a joke, Burton suggested the name Scared Sheetless and was horrified when the studio actually considered using it.
Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian is in development hell and now its shelved. So the likely chance of it coming out is unlikely, but who knows.
Like i said before Beetlejuice is a excellent Halloween Classic.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Final Destination (2000) in Movies
Oct 3, 2020
"𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳... 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯... 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯... 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘮 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘋𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘺."
In many places somewhat more awesome then I remember, but suffers on subsequent visits because of how increasingly over-the-top these immediately began to get with the deaths in the sequels compared to the more humble ones here - which still finds a morbidity in their simplicity, but no one's being cooked alive in a tanning bed, you feel? Still has a lot going for it, the garrote in the shower is every bit as grisly as you recall and remains one of the hardest-to-watch executions in the entire series. But what actually rings better for me this time around is the heavily portentous teen melodrama packed tight with insane amounts of hilarious foreshadowing and a palpable sense of fear + paranoia (through Wong's clean direction and these astute performances [Sawa in particular is real outstanding]) all over the fact that death just really fucking hates these kids lol. Accomplishes as much playful winking as is legal without going full meta. Still one of the all-timer horror movie premises which honestly should have spawned an infinite number of sequels, but the writing around it is genuinely ingenious here, too. Still prefer the sequels for being leaner and meaner though.
In many places somewhat more awesome then I remember, but suffers on subsequent visits because of how increasingly over-the-top these immediately began to get with the deaths in the sequels compared to the more humble ones here - which still finds a morbidity in their simplicity, but no one's being cooked alive in a tanning bed, you feel? Still has a lot going for it, the garrote in the shower is every bit as grisly as you recall and remains one of the hardest-to-watch executions in the entire series. But what actually rings better for me this time around is the heavily portentous teen melodrama packed tight with insane amounts of hilarious foreshadowing and a palpable sense of fear + paranoia (through Wong's clean direction and these astute performances [Sawa in particular is real outstanding]) all over the fact that death just really fucking hates these kids lol. Accomplishes as much playful winking as is legal without going full meta. Still one of the all-timer horror movie premises which honestly should have spawned an infinite number of sequels, but the writing around it is genuinely ingenious here, too. Still prefer the sequels for being leaner and meaner though.
Dianne Robbins (1738 KP) Jan 1, 2019