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Sunny Suljic recommended The Conjuring (2013) in Movies (curated)
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Prince of Darkness (1987) in Movies
Feb 15, 2021
John Carpenter is rightly considered a master of his craft, especially in the horror genre, and Prince of Darkness is yet another prime example of why.
The overall tone of PoD is one of constant dread, thanks in no small part to Carpenters' fantastic score work (probably my favourite film music of his), and also his directing style. It's a portfolio of wonderful shots, plenty of them are creepy as hell, and there's an air of mystery to compliment it all. The narrative is never clear cut, even by then end. The viewer has a solid idea of what if happening, but it's not a handled in a hand holding way, and leaves a load of questions in its wake, well still being satisfying in its conclusion.
It has a decent cast headed by Halloween alumni Donald Pleasence, and features the talents of Lisa Blout and era fixture Victor Wong, and an engaging screenplay. The dialogue is plentiful here, but none of it comes across like dead weight, and the finished product is a competent and unsettling religious horror.
The overall tone of PoD is one of constant dread, thanks in no small part to Carpenters' fantastic score work (probably my favourite film music of his), and also his directing style. It's a portfolio of wonderful shots, plenty of them are creepy as hell, and there's an air of mystery to compliment it all. The narrative is never clear cut, even by then end. The viewer has a solid idea of what if happening, but it's not a handled in a hand holding way, and leaves a load of questions in its wake, well still being satisfying in its conclusion.
It has a decent cast headed by Halloween alumni Donald Pleasence, and features the talents of Lisa Blout and era fixture Victor Wong, and an engaging screenplay. The dialogue is plentiful here, but none of it comes across like dead weight, and the finished product is a competent and unsettling religious horror.
Rhett Reese recommended Vertigo (1958) in Movies (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Pulse (Kairo) (2001) in Movies
Sep 20, 2020
Spine-chilling, fucking exceptional horror. For all intents and purposes, this is the scariest (horror) movie I've ever seen - I couldn't walk around in my own house the same after watching this. Could be personal preference, but this just captures that eerie sense of merging humans and ghosts *just* so to where it's deeply, deeply unsettling. The deliberate lack of any cues as to when the horror is happening, and the vaguely creepy gestural stuff (i.e. moving your arms a little weird, slightly stumbling [almost intentionally so] when you walk) as opposed to outright demon-esque actions makes this feel more real, akin to something like those disturbing LiveLeak types of videos - binding the void between scary movies and snuff films. And this is all not even to mention the emotionally hefty themes and crackerjack dialogue which subvert this even more beyond the pack. Stumbles ever so slightly in its final fifteen or so minutes, but otherwise the work of a genius if you can get past the aged analog about the internet being this mysterious new entity.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Nosferatu (Eine Symphonie Des Grauens) (1922) in Movies
Jan 28, 2021
Hugely influential unauthorised adaptation of Dracula. Young estate agent's helper Hutter trots off to Transylvania to oversee the sale of a house to the reclusive (and rather repulsive) Count Orlok; Orlok takes a fancy to Hutter's wife; bad things ensue.
Basically just handles the first half of the book, and bolts a different ending on, but you can still see why the Stoker estate sued. Nevertheless, the presentation of Dracula/Orlok as a near-feral atavism is striking (and also much closer to the book than most films get); the film was designed by practising occultists which may explain the carefully composed visual sense of it (also the use of genuine magical script in some of the scenes). Very creepy and effective, though you have to take the age of the thing into account, not to mention the performance styles. Which soundtrack you listen to may also make a big difference (I recommend James Bernard's Hammer-style offering from the late 1990s). One of the great foundational horror films.
Basically just handles the first half of the book, and bolts a different ending on, but you can still see why the Stoker estate sued. Nevertheless, the presentation of Dracula/Orlok as a near-feral atavism is striking (and also much closer to the book than most films get); the film was designed by practising occultists which may explain the carefully composed visual sense of it (also the use of genuine magical script in some of the scenes). Very creepy and effective, though you have to take the age of the thing into account, not to mention the performance styles. Which soundtrack you listen to may also make a big difference (I recommend James Bernard's Hammer-style offering from the late 1990s). One of the great foundational horror films.
Darren Fisher (2465 KP) rated The Boogey Man (1980) in Movies
Dec 12, 2020 (Updated Dec 13, 2020)
"It begins with a horrifying killing and then starts to get bloody!"
The Boogeyman is an uneven state of affairs.
The first and third parts are enjoyable enough. The beginning sets up a promising menacing vibe which gets totally destroyed in the tedious middle section. Bad pacing means that it never regains the creepy mood it sets out to achieve. The third part goes all out crazy in an attempt to regain some kudos but it's all a little too late.
On the plus side, the kills are pretty good and mostly inventive, and the hokey special effects are certainly fun to watch. But the best thing about the film is Tim Krogs incredibly moody synth score. Using various analogue synthesizers, digital delay and reversed-tape effects, Krogs score is an eerie masterpiece that will stay with you longer than the film will.
The Boogeyman was placed on the UK's DPP list in 1984, but was later re-released on the Vipco label in 1992 in a cut form. In 2000 it was released uncut.
The first and third parts are enjoyable enough. The beginning sets up a promising menacing vibe which gets totally destroyed in the tedious middle section. Bad pacing means that it never regains the creepy mood it sets out to achieve. The third part goes all out crazy in an attempt to regain some kudos but it's all a little too late.
On the plus side, the kills are pretty good and mostly inventive, and the hokey special effects are certainly fun to watch. But the best thing about the film is Tim Krogs incredibly moody synth score. Using various analogue synthesizers, digital delay and reversed-tape effects, Krogs score is an eerie masterpiece that will stay with you longer than the film will.
The Boogeyman was placed on the UK's DPP list in 1984, but was later re-released on the Vipco label in 1992 in a cut form. In 2000 it was released uncut.
Tim McGuire (301 KP) rated The Lodgers (2017) in Movies
Sep 19, 2019
Bizarre, enjoyable.
269. The Lodgers. This was a bizarre tale, but I enjoyed still... It takes place in 1920 Ireland and tells the story of twin siblings Rachel and Edward as their 18th birthday approaches, and a destiny to fulfill... Not to weird right? But I didn't mention that they have to follow some strict rules in this house!! And one of the big ones is bedtime, because the night belongs to their parents, ya know the ones that died a few years back, by committing suicide in a lake... yea. Did I mention that their parents were also twin siblings? And their parents before them?? So there is that. Edward is a ghost of a person, never leaves the house completely depends on Rachel, and seems to be ok with succumbing to their fate, while Rachel is looking for a way out, and she might be a little more devious than she lets on. You be the judge! Some cool imagery, and definitely creepy at times, a cool tale to check out... filmbufftim on FB
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Lost Boys (1987) in Movies
Aug 22, 2020
A cult classic
The Lost Boys is known as rather a cult classic, and justifiably so. It might be over 30 years old now but it can still put modern day vampire films to shame.
It's undeniably 80s, but that's part of it's charm. It's atmospheric with a great soundtrack and a rather impressive cast. Vampires have been done to death over the past however many decades but The Lost Boys really brings a fun yet still fairly scary take on them - there's loads of dark humour in this and yet some pretty creepy scenes too and some twists and turns. It moves at a steady pace without ever dragging, and the final act is an aamzing spectacle- the blood, gore and outlandish deaths are both genius and wickedly funny. My only criticism would be that there are a few cliched and cringey moments, but fortunately these are few and far between and overall this is a hugely enjoyable and entertaining vampire film. Very deserving of being a cult classic.
It's undeniably 80s, but that's part of it's charm. It's atmospheric with a great soundtrack and a rather impressive cast. Vampires have been done to death over the past however many decades but The Lost Boys really brings a fun yet still fairly scary take on them - there's loads of dark humour in this and yet some pretty creepy scenes too and some twists and turns. It moves at a steady pace without ever dragging, and the final act is an aamzing spectacle- the blood, gore and outlandish deaths are both genius and wickedly funny. My only criticism would be that there are a few cliched and cringey moments, but fortunately these are few and far between and overall this is a hugely enjoyable and entertaining vampire film. Very deserving of being a cult classic.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The New Mutants (2020) in Movies
Aug 31, 2020
Absolutely the last gasp of the original X Men movie franchise essentially gets a dump release, which to be honest it deserves. Five young people with burgeoning mutant powers are confined in a spooky old hospital; they variously squabble and bond while creepy things happen around them.
Interesting idea to do a horror movie using Marvel characters: the problem is that this one isn't very frightening (flat characters and too much bland CGI); the script and performances aren't strong enough to support the introspective tone and inert feel of the movie. Plus, the story is built around a conceit which is very, very easy to guess if you're familiar with these characters. A couple of half-decent performances and the climax (when it most resembles a conventional superhero movie) acquires a certain momentum, but it feels very drab and pointless. Maybe the corporate politics that have kept the film stuck on a shelf for years haven't helped, but I doubt this could ever have been much more impressive.
Interesting idea to do a horror movie using Marvel characters: the problem is that this one isn't very frightening (flat characters and too much bland CGI); the script and performances aren't strong enough to support the introspective tone and inert feel of the movie. Plus, the story is built around a conceit which is very, very easy to guess if you're familiar with these characters. A couple of half-decent performances and the climax (when it most resembles a conventional superhero movie) acquires a certain momentum, but it feels very drab and pointless. Maybe the corporate politics that have kept the film stuck on a shelf for years haven't helped, but I doubt this could ever have been much more impressive.
Invisible Girl
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LONDON: On a fine avenue of grand houses, big cars, and electronic gates, lies a neglected urban...