Thanksgiving (2023)

It's not often that I look forward to watching a slasher film.  Don't get me wrong,  I absolutely love them.  Unfortunately,  most modern entries are nothing compared to the ones I grew up with.  But that was different,  A son as I saw that 2023s Thanksgiving was streaming, I had to watch it.  

Plot: An axe-wielding maniac terrorises residents of Plymouth, Massachusetts, after a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy. Picking off victims one by one, the seemingly random revenge killings soon become part of a larger, sinister plan.

Wow, this one was se much fun to watch.  While I'm sure that it will fall into the love it or hate it arena,  I hope more love it.  This one has everything you need to take a modern journey into the world of the classic slasher genre with an entertaining story,  over-the- top kills, and some really good effects.  Did,  since of it was headscratching, there were some holes in the story,  and I found it sonewhat predictable, but that did nothing to take away from the overall feel and experience. In the end,  this was a great watch and I'm actually hoping there is a sequel.  It is a holiday classic that with his become part of our Thanksgiving traditions. 

Clown (2016)

With all of the talk about clowns recently plaguing some areas in the South, I believe that it is quite fitting to spend some time in the world of the clowns. While I was not able to head out and see something at the drive-in, I was able to check out something new at Family Video, Eli Roth’s 2016 entry Clown.

Plot/ A little boy's birthday party is ruined when his clown cancels. His father finds a clown suit and becomes the new entertainment but something is weird about it, there is an evil curse and it won't come off and he specializes in eating little kids.

I know that the thought of clowns drive many people up a wall. To me, they are just part of life, and having dressed as a clown before, I know #ClownLivesMatter. Now this movie hats the clown to an all-new level, and I know that many will never look at them the same (much like It!). There is a lot to like in this one, with blood, murder, and mayhem. But, there is also some sound performances, an interesting storyline, decent cinematography, and the costuming is perfect for the storyline. Yes, some of the characterizations are off, many of the kills take place off screen, and there are many clichéd moments woven in that are noticeable. In the end, viewers will either love or hate this one (which is the case with many horror movies), although for me it was a perfect way to end a weekend. If you love horror or clowns, you should definitely give this one a shot. I loved it and highly recommend it.

The Green Inferno (2015)

After discussing a horror comedy last night, I decided that tonight I would head in a complete different direction for my review. After all, there is nothing truly like cannibalism and honestly, we could use more flicks from that vein. Next up is the 2015 cannibal inspired entry The Green Inferno.

Plot/ A group of student activists travels to the Amazon to save the rain forest and soon discover that they are not alone, and that no good deed goes unpunished.

While I knew that this would not rise to the famous Cannibal Holocaust when I went into it, I at least left satisfied by what was created, especially considering where we are with society and the mainstream disdain for horror. Unlike the 1970s/1980s when horror could grow and the shock was everything, today in this hypersensitive era, it is amazing that the subject matter of this film was even allowed to see the light of day. Yes, it is not a perfect film by any means featuring uneven performances, a stripped down plot, and some head scratching moments that seemed to develop from weird editing choices, but it was not all that bad. This movie featured some awesome visuals, great practical effects by Greg Nicotero, and enough believability to make it interesting. In the end, this film by Eli Roth is definitely not for everyone because of the gore and subject matter. However, if you are looking for something outside of the PG-13 horror box that is populating the shelves of horror flicks, five it a shot.

Knock Knock (2015)

It was so cool to watch The Force Awakens for a second time; it was enlightening to notice some of the small tidbits that I missed the first time. Now that I am home from this afternoon trip, I decided to add my next entry on the bog, with a movie that actually almost ruined my evening last night, 2015s Knock Knock.

Plot/ When a devoted husband and father is left home alone for the weekend, two stranded young women unexpectedly knock on his door for help. What starts out as a kind gesture results in a dangerous seduction and a deadly game of cat and mouse?

While I enjoyed my flashback to Star Wars last night, I cannot say the same about this movie. Knock Knock was extremely disappointing and left me speechless with the amount of underutilized potential that was left. Between the miserable plot and the underwhelming performances, there was really nothing that made the movie entertaining. Not only was there a lack of gore, there was absolutely no atmosphere or tension to speak of. In the end, this is one movie that I wish I had passed on, ut was a uninteresting and a total waste of time.

Cabin Fever (2002)

There are only four episodes left in my Fringe marathon. I cannot wait to see how it ends, although I will say they definitely left the rails a few times. Sometimes, I enjoy venturing back in time to see how things aged That is the case this weekend, as I prepare to watch the new Cabin Fever: Patient Zero. With that in mind, I decided to revisit 2002s Cabin Fever.

Plot/ A group of five college graduates rent a cabin in the woods and begin to fall victim to a horrifying flesh-eating virus, which attracts the unwanted attention of the homicidal locals.

I remember watching this one when it came out. While I found it entertaining and interesting, it was far from the hype of the day. Now, after some time, there are definitely more positives and negatives. Looking at it now, it would have definitely fit well within the 1980s spectrum of B-Movie splatter. Eli Roth captured the 1990s perfectly, and pulled together a solid piece, with decent acting, good effects, a sound storyline, and enough blood to make a viewer smile. In the end, this movie has held up well, and has just enough dark comedic elements to make a viewer laugh. If you have not seen it, check it out! Especially, if you intend on watching Cabin Fever: Patient Zero.

The Sacrament (2014)

While it was a fun trip tonight to see Laurel Highlands defeat Elizabeth Forward in the opening game of the 2014 season, it made for a long day. Fortunately, I have a few movies to catch up on here at the blog. Next up, is the 2014 found footage thriller, The Sacrament.

Plot/ A news team trails a man as he travels to an undisclosed location to find his missing sister. Upon entering "Eden Parish" and meeting the community's leader, it becomes apparent to the newcomers that this paradise may not be as it seems.

I have had mixed feelings on movies by Ti West and Eli Roth, some of them I have loved, while others not so much. This is one that I actually found extremely interesting. Yes, it is not perfect, but it definitely has a lot going for it. The acting is solid, there is subtle realism, and the atmosphere is dark and heavy. Sure, there are some head scratching moments, the pacing was slow at times, and because of the basis (the Jonestown Massacre) the ending was known well in advance. In the end, this one was one of the better found footage films that I have seen. Yes, it is not for everyone, but it is a slow burning trip into one of the darkest true stories out there.

The Last Exorcism Part 2 (2013)

As my week rolls on, I am moving closer toward my 1000th post here at The Ringmaster’s Realm. While I am not sure what flick will receive that honor, I am keeping an eye toward the future. Hopefully, I can find some type of decent indie flick to fill that spot. Until then, I must continue to push forward. My next selection is the 2013 sequel, The Last Exorcism Part 2.

Plot/ As Nell Sweetzer tries to build a new life after the events of the first movie, the evil force that once possessed her returns with an even more horrific plan.

I was not a huge fan of the first film. Yes, it was somewhat entertaining and had potential, but that potential was never realized. This movie was definitely an unneeded sequel and a film that had more than its share of issues. On top of that, it also lacked the spirited marketing campaign. Sure, there were some positives. The acting was solid and the cinematography was good, but the overall positives went away after that.  There was something missing in this movie, even in the unrated version that I watched.  The storyline felt forced and disjointed, there was no atmosphere or tension, and there was never any scares or terror. Honestly, it was one of the lamest sequels I have watched in some time. To me, this was a terrible attempt at a horror movie by a group that had a solid budget ($5 million). If you want to watch something involving and exorcism, check out the Discovery Channel, you may be able to find something with some more teeth. 

The Last Exorcism (2010)

After some debate between Resident Evil, Piranha and the Last Exorcism, I ended up deciding on the Last Exorcism. It had been a while since seeing something in the theatre and felt it was time. Reading no reviews and armed with popcorn, it was time to see what Eli Roth had in store. Although, it would be nice to see more stuff, if only there was a like-minded horror fanatic in the local area…

Plot / A troubled evangelical minister agrees to let his last exorcism be filmed by a documentary crew. There is really nothing about an exorcism. The Reverend Cotton Marcus never even performs a true exorcism; he is a fraud trying to prove there are no such things as demon possessions. He just watches this girl be possessed by a demon, and does not do anything.

This is a great example of what a perfect marketing campaign can do, especially when the promos and posters are deceiving. In all, I found the story very sound and entertaining. However, it was the overall lack of scariness, gore or any type of horror elements that turned me off. As I mentioned as soon as I saw it, if I turned on Discovery, I could see something similar without spending money on a ticket. For that, I guess the filmmakers should be applauded, Yes, there are some religious inconsistencies, and some of the acting is a bit too much. Nevertheless, there are some good points with character development in the beginning that are at fun. Some of the physical ailments that inflict Nell are pretty good and there is enough comedy thrown in to make it laughable. To me, this wasn’t a terrible horror movie, but, in reality, it was not a horror movie in the first place. This is actually a decent film for the Netflix cue; add some popcorn and it will be an entertaining 90 minutes on your couch.