Annabelle: Creation (2017)

With the weekend winding down and the days of NaNoWriMo piling up, it is hard to find time to watch and review movies that will not in any way influence my Man of the Cloth project. After some searching earlier at Family Video, I decided on the 2017 entry Annabelle: Creation.

Plot/ 12 years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, where they soon become the target of the dollmaker’s possessed creation, Annabelle.

This is one movie where I am so happy to have waited until it came to DVD to watch and luckily, for me, we have a Family Video so I didn’t have to even pay full price. This one was a tough watch, as the amount of jump scares and clichéd moments worked to fracture what came across as something extremely disjointed, to begin with. The doll was creepy, and that may be the only real positive that came across from this movie. The storyline was uneven, the actions in the performances were laughable (although Anthony LaPaglia was not bad), and the cinematography, pacing and the overall feel was extremely predictable and nonsensical. It is really that bad. In the end, this movie is one that I believe we could have done without. There is really nothing new inside and it clearly came across as a money grab and rushed production.

Art All Night 20 - 2017

I have had to take a few days away from the computer, as there have been a ton of different things going on this weekend. Between the NFL Draft and writing, I have finally started watching my first movie of the weekend about five minutes ago. That has not been all that bad, as last night I got to go to Art All Night 20 in Lawrenceville and saw dome awesome art and some awesome bands. If you are in the Pittsburgh area and have never been to Art All Night, you are missing out on a great experience. Here are a few of the pictures from last night. 

Lost Highway (1997)

Once I completed After the Static, I decided that I wanted to rework/edit Walking Before Dawn, and I finished last week. Today, I was excited when I saw the reworked cover design for that book and should see it released in the next few weeks. To go along with that excitement, I decided to watch one of my favorite Lynch films: 1997s Lost Highway.

Plot/ After a bizarre encounter at a party, a jazz saxophonist is framed for the murder of his wife and sent to prison, where he inexplicably morphs into a young mechanic and begins leading a new life.

Like many, I am excited to have Twin Peaks coming back to the television in May. David Lynch is my favorite filmmaker and I am fascinated by everything he does. To me, this is one of his best films and a great example of bringing dreams and nightmares to life within the cinematic world. This journey into surreal has an extremely layered storyline with multiple things happening throughout, the cinematography is amazing, the performances solid, there is a great soundtrack, and the overall atmosphere brings everything to life. This is truly a masterful piece of filmmaking. Yes, as with every film by Lynch, it is definitely not for everyone with a myriad of storylines, strange twists, and endings that often leave non-fans scratching their heads wondering what is taking place. In the end, this is a great film and one that should be seen. Yes, there may be some confusing moments, but it is well worth.

End of Days (1999)

Having watched a wide variety of flick over the past few days, I wanted to get back to something closer to my After the Static project. While that is zombie/outbreak themed, there are some religious/apocalyptic overtones inside the book. With that in mind, I decided to watch the 1999 action/horror flick End of Days.  

Plot/ At the end of the century, Satan visits New York in search of a bride. It's up to an ex-cop who now runs an elite security outfit to stop him.

I remember seeing this when it came out and even after watching it again, I can say that my initial thoughts will still ring true: viewers will either love or hate this film. Really, there is no in between, especially with the religious overtones that are woven throughout the movie. For me, this was an entertaining flick that I still find intriguing. The storyline, while uneven, is interesting, the performances and effects are decent, and the dark cinematography works well with the soundtrack and the theme of the movie. Yes, some of the characterizations could have been darker, some of the scriptings were uneven, and it was highly implausible, but that is what makes movies like this engaging. In the end, this one will be polarizing due to many different factors including actors, religious beliefs, and tone; but, at the end of the day, it is just a fun and mindless good versus evil flick that should be seen.

Hostage to the Devil (2016)

After taking a night off to work on one of my many projects, I decided to get back at it early this evening. What was my choice? It was the 2016 documentary Hostage to the Devil.

Plot/ A child possessed. An exorcist locked in combat with an ancient evil. In the battle for saving a soul, the question remains, just who really is the 'Hostage to the Devil'?

For many, the name Malachi Martin is somewhat polarizing. If you don’t recognize the name, he well-known theologian, and controversial figure in and around the Vatican and in the study of demonic possession. I remember the first time I heard him speak; it was eye opening. In this documentary, there is a tremendous mixture of archived audio recordings and footage alongside eyewitness testimonials that show the truth behind many pontifical secrets. Well made and thought provoking, this documentary is more that a story of Martin and his death, it is an expose of many different elements within Catholicism, and one of the reasons why religious practice sits at a crossroads. In the end, if you have heard the name Malachi Martin, this is a solid documentary and one that you should watch.

The Devils's Rain (1975)

After taking a slight break from movies and the blog for a couple days, I decided that it was time to fins something mindless to watch. After searching Shudder, I settled on the 1975 cult flick The Devil’s Rain.

Plot/ A bunch of Satanists in the American rural landscape have terrible powers which enable them to melt their victims. However one of the children of an earlier victim vows to destroy them.

The 1970s were such a different time, especially in movies. One of the biggest movements was the fear of Devil worship that overtook every part of culture from movies, to music, and even gaming. This movie clearly falls into the heart of that movement. Complete with a tremendous cast featuring Ernest Borgnine, Tom Skerritt, Eddie Albert, Ida Lupino, William Shatner, Keenan Wynn, and, even John Travolta. The storyline is interesting although some of it is incoherent (especially the opening sequence), and while the schlock-filled effects do not hold up in any way, watching all of the bodies melt is a fun (and surprising) twist I did not expect. Of course, watching Ernest Borgnine transform to a goat was complete cheese and while interesting, the storyline was a mess, but those flaws only add to the schlock factor. In the end, this is not a technically good movie and there are many flaws, but it is fun. If you are into 1970s B-Movie cheese, give it a shot. It is entertaining and fun.

Lisa and the Devil (1973)

After hanging out with “He Who Walks Behind the Rows,” last night, I decided that I wanted to venture back into some classic horror. After searching Shudder for something interesting, I decided on the 1973 Mario Bava entry Lisa and the Devil.

Plot/ Lisa is a tourist in an ancient city. When she gets lost, she finds an old mansion in which to shelter. Soon she is sucked into a vortex of deception, debauchery and evil presided over by housekeeper Leandre.

As a fan of surrealistic movies and horror, it is awesome to get a chance to watch some of the films that possibly served as inspirations to the modern masters of the art. In this one, horror maestro Mario Bava creates one of his most entertaining and original films, and it has the perfect surrealism that I was looking for. Butchered as House of Exorcism here in the United States when it was originally released, the original vision is much more atmospheric, powerful, and coherent in the original form (Lisa And The Devil). The cast is solid and features some tremendous performances (Telly Savalas is awesome), the atmosphere is just creepy enough, and the cinematography, setting, and storyline work together to create a special movie. Yes, some of the pacing may feel slow and there are some head scratching moments, but those are easily overlooked. In the end, this is one of my favorite Mario Bava movies, and a movie that fans of that era and genre must watch.

The Witch (2015)

Now that I am finally settled into my room at the Cabana Bay Resort, it is time to get some blogging in. Yes, I meant to do some over the weekend, but driving from the homestead, to North Carolina, and then to Orlando took more out of me than I expected. Next up for review is a film that I loved, and one of the best of 2015, The Witch.

Plot/ New England, 1630: William and Katherine lead a devout Christian life, homesteading on the edge of an impassible wilderness, with five children. When their newborn son mysteriously vanishes and their crops fail, the family begins to turn on one another.

I love period pieces and believe that The Witch may be one of the best films to come out and embrace the darkness that existed within this time period. While some of the movie is predictable and somewhat cliche, it definitely overcomes those aspects to create a heavy and dark atmospheric film that could be a tremendous representation of the Calvinist movement that sat at the heart of early Americana. The performances are outstanding, the direction and cinematography is spot on, and the storytelling is interesting and thought provoking. Honestly, it made me think a lot about society and the belief system that acted as a foundation for what has become our nation (not to mention the intolerance that seems to be rising up all around us). Yes, there are a few head-scratching moments that can be confusing and the pacing varies in speed, but those are but minor flaws that do not hurt this film in any way. In the end, this one is one of the best horror flicks of 2015 and is a masterful example of what great storytelling can do. Being a period piece, this one will not be for everyone, but it is well worth watching (especially if you remember your prayers)! Definitely, check this one out if you have not.

Shark Exorcist (2015)

Now that I am getting back into the flow of the blog again, it is nice to revisit some of the low budget entries that I grabbed while working on some of my school projects. Now with graduation being less than two weeks away, I am settling in on a decent schedule to keep the momentum flowing. Next up for review is the 2015 no-budget entry Shark Exorcist.

Plot/ A demonic nun summons Satan to a small fishing village, where he takes over the bodies of a great white shark and a young woman. A chain reaction of evil grips the tiny community as shredded bodies wash ashore. A Catholic priest arrives, and he must fight both teeth and temptation on land and sea in order to send these man-killers back to Hell before the tide comes in for good!

This flick was definitely something from the depths of a low budget basement. While I realized before turning it on that it would likely be incoherent and at times full of schlock, I honestly did not expect what I found. Is this movie bad? Yes, yes it is. However, the craziness and disjointed feel with random scenes, uneven performances, and strange storyline made for something that I really could not take my eyes away from. I did this not because it was good, I just wanted to see what would happen next. In the end, I think with a larger budget and streamlined script, this one could have been something that would have fit into the classic exploitation films of the past. Unfortunately, it never meets or comes close to that potential.

The Exorcism of Molly Hartley (2015)

I was finally able to complete my homework last night, and I cannot believe how difficult it is to focus on a middle grade writing. At least, I was only required to write one chapter for this week’s assignment. Over the weekend, I was able to watch a few different things to help provide me with some darker inspiration (although my story was alien based), and in that process I watched The Exorcism of Molly Hartley from 2015.

Plot/ Molly Hartley is all grown up, but the unholy demon inside her lives on. Six years after graduating high school - and discovering that a secret pact assigned her soul to the devil - Molly is suspected of murder and confined to a mental hospital, where she wreaks supernatural havoc on the staff and patients. Her only hope is an exorcism by a defrocked priest looking to redeem himself and save Molly's life before her hideous "transformation" is complete...but Satan has other plans!

During the weekend, I watched a couple exorcism movies. While neither were perfect, this entry was definitely better than The Ouija Exorcism. This movie was a lot better than I expected, with some interesting twists mixed in with the typical exorcism themed cliché. Overall, it had a solid atmosphere, some decent effects, and an intriguing storyline. Unfortunately, it also has its share of missed opportunities by trying to rely on jump scares to offset the clichéd moments, and the performances were all over the place with many moments of overacting. In the end, this one was not bad for a straight to video entry and had more than a few interesting moments that made it at least worth watching. If you have not seen it and love exorcism based movies, check it out.

The Devil's Hand (2014)

I am glad that I am feeling better. Yesterday, some type of stomach thing popped up and knocked me down. While I am not totally back to my normal self, I am at least able to function again. Hopefully, I am at the tail end of it. Next up for review is the 2014 flick The Devil’s Hand.

Plot/ When young girls start to go missing within a religious cult, older followers fear a long-told prophecy while the younger members suspect abusive elders are killing them off.

The Devil's Hand was a low budget entry that takes place within a world that many do not totally understand, which will lead to some uneven reviews. For me, this was an interesting movie that dove into the superstitious aspects of society that were prevalent in our infancy. Yes, this was based in a modern time, but those fears still exist in some places. While this one was not perfect, it does have some solid performances, an interesting premise, and a decent ending. Yes, the pacing was slow, and there was a disconnect with the type of movie being made. More of a Mystery/Thriller than Horror flick, this one goes back and forth and seems to lose its way. In the end, this was not a bad movie, but it was not great either. Sure, it was better than I expected with some entertaining moments, but it may not be for everyone.  

Horns (2013)

After the trip into action and adventure, I had planned to take a trip into the world of H.P. Lovecraft. Instead, I decided to venture into something different than my usual. After some debate (and a chocolate milkshake), I decided upon the 2013 fantasy drama Horns.

Plot/ In the aftermath of his girlfriend's mysterious death, a young man awakens to find strange horns sprouting from his temples.

Having never read the book or even seen a trailer, I was not sure what to expect with this one. Now, having watched the movie, I may search out the book, as this was an interesting storyline, and a movie that I enjoyed a lot. Yes, there were some disjointed parts that seemed to cloud some of the meaning. The acting is solid, including an amazing performance from Daniel Radcliff, the dark comedy works within the layered story, and there were some interesting effects. However, there seemed to be some genre balance issues as the storyline developed and the story was a touch predictable; items the prevented it from reaching its full potential. In the end, this was an entertaining flick with many things to like. While it is not for everyone, it is fun mix of comedy, drama, and loss.