Clowntergeist (2017)

Last night when I picked up Annabelle, I also wanted some type of low budget horror. After walking through Family Video with Jo, she picked out the 2017 entry Clowntergeist.

Plot/ Emma, a college student with a crippling fear of clowns, must come face to face with her worst fear when an evil spirit in the body of a clown is summoned terrorizing the town she calls home.

As I have said on here many times, I am all for low-budget to no-budget horror and can usually look past the inherent flaws and find the potential that will exist inside a film. That was not quite the case with this one, as the production values and sound are actually the primary positives in this one. Unfortunately, the storyline is riddled with predictable and clichéd moments, the performances were beyond uneven, the clown was laughable at best, and nothing within the film makes works. In fact, it felt as if the writer used a cookie cutter to cut out and splice together parts from popular movies to make this one. Hell, even the title makes little sense after watching the film. In the end, if you are searching for a thought out low budget flick trying to capitalize on the IT popularity, then this one is for you. If you want something that is entertaining and will offer more than clichéd jump scares, fund something else. I am sure that there are plenty of options out there.

IT (2017)

As a horror fan, it is nice to see a buzz created within the genre. Hopefully, this attention leads to Hollywood taking some time and giving horror fans more movies, we can enjoy. With that buzz, I had to actually go see this one in the theater because the daughters have been yapping about it for a week. Last night I broke down and saw the 2017 Stephen King adaptation reboot of IT.

Plot/ In the Town of Derry, the local kids are disappearing one by one, leaving behind bloody remains. In a place known as The Barrens, a group of seven kids are united by their horrifying and strange encounters with an evil clown and their determination to kill IT.

Last night, I finally took the girls to see IT and was actually surprised by the overall experience. While this one was not as scary as I had heard (and would have liked), I thought it was an entertaining movie and one that was perfect for the daughters. The performances were solid and the actors and characters had great chemistry between them, the make-up was outstanding, and the cinematography, use of lighting, and overall visuals were tremendous. Even the scripting was able to create a somewhat darker atmosphere and keep the subtle comedic elements in play throughout. Unfortunately for me, the scares just weren’t there. Maybe it is because I have read the Stephen King classic or maybe because I consume horror movies all the time, but I found it a touch predictable. Plus, I am not a huge fan of CGI and there were some times where that process felt overused. In the end, I did thoroughly enjoy this movie. No, it wasn’t perfect or close to the best King adaptation, but it made for an entertaining evening and again proves why Clown Lives Matter. 

Necrophobia 3D (2014)

Sometimes when I have to work late at the institute, I lose interest in finding something to watch. That was not the case tonight, as I decided to check out something different after an episode of Charmed. In the end, I settled on the 2014 supernatural entry Necrophobia (AKA Necrophobia 3D).

Plot/ Dante is a tailor who after losing his twin brother to death became phobic which prevents him from being in contact with death. Whenever he is in front of a dead body, he experiences a creepy feeling that makes him lose his mind.

Having twins, it is always fun to find creepy movies about or involving twins. While this movie may not be super creepy, it is definitely strange and has a weird disjointed feel to it. There were some solid parts to the movie (even if it lacked subtitles) including some decent performances, an odd premise, and some dark atmospheric moments early on. Unfortunately, the weirdness and tension that drew me in early on gave way to a tremendous amount of confusion the longer the movie progressed. It seemed like the entire movie was stuck in a strange loop. In the end, I did like some of the strange happenings, but felt disconnected by the repeating storyline. The movie is an interesting experiment, but it felt like the filmmakers were trying too hard to create something strange and surreal. It is great for a background while writing, but other than that it offers very little in entertainment value.

Dark (2015)

Now that I am finally getting back on track with things, it is nice to finally dissect some of the films tat have caught my eye recently. One such film is the 2015 psychological thriller Dark (my next review).

Plot/ A disturbed young woman must confront her worst fears when she finds herself trapped alone in a New York City loft during the 2003 blackout.

This movie is definitely one that falls into the love/hate category of filmmaking. More of a dark art house psychological thriller than horror, this flick offers some elements that make it worth watching. This one boasts some outstanding performances, a heavy atmosphere that conjures moments of dread, and an intriguing look at the spiraling psychology of being trapped in a blackout. Yes, there were times where the pace felt slow and some of the overall storyline elements were left dangling, but honestly, those add to the atmosphere and the emotional states of the main character. In the end, this one is definitely not for everyone, but it is a thought provoking thriller that is one of the better art house flicks I have seen in some time.

It Follows (2015)

As the year starts to wind down, it is definitely nice to be back in the swing of watching horror and blogging again. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the interaction of the softball season, but I missed writing and watching movies. As I continue to dive into all that I missed, it was nice find a solid array of low budget entries. One of the better movies from 2015 is It Follows.

Plot/ For nineteen-year-old Jay, autumn should be about school, boys, and weekends out at the lake. But after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, something, is following her. Faced with this burden, Jay and her friends must find a way to escape the horrors, which seem to be only a few steps behind.

It has been some time since a movie came out that truly inspired memory of the classic horror films of the 1970s and 1980s. This flick is definitely one that embraced the psychological horror of that time and created something awesome out of an extremely simple construct. There is so much to like in this one between the outstanding cinematography, the heavy atmosphere, and detailed characters that fit together within the confines of the storyline. Yes, there were some uneven moments and even a few jump scared thrown in, but those were definitely easy to overlook when you are immersed in the darkness of the film. In the end, this one is an outstanding example of low budget horror and one of the better movies of 2015. If you have not seen it, you are seriously missing out. Check it out!

Dead Within (2014)

After spending most of the weekend making last minute adjustments to and then launching Wisdom From Beyond, it was really nice to have a night where I could relax (although my latest class has started worrying me). While I understand that this will likely be my only light day with parades, meetings, a football game, and a zombie run on Saturday, at least I had some time to work on some fun stuff. As I did, I decided to watch 2014s Dead Within; a movie that definitely helped set a mood.

Plot/ Six months after the outbreak, a man and woman have survived by isolating themselves in a remote cabin. Starved for resources, they must confront the horrors that threaten them from outside and from within.

As usual, I had no idea what to expect and went into this completely blind. I am glad I did, as this was much better than I expected from reading the synopsis, and it was not the zombie flick that I figured was coming my way. More of a psychological horror than true horror flick, this one is more about atmosphere and tension than anything else. Plus, it definitely outlines how much fear plays a role in psychosis and terror. The acting is solid, the characters are believable, and the overall message can resonate with viewers. Yes, it is not a gorefest and anyone expecting a zombie movie will likely be disappointed, but that is his or her loss.  In the end, this was much better than I imagined and a movie that I am glad I watched. If you have not seen it, give it a shot!

Specter (2012)

Now that I have secured some stuff to create a makeshift Ebola protection suit, it is definitely time to kick back and relax for the evening. I am actually working two different costumes tomorrow, first with some Ebola moments followed by some Nightmare of Elm Street/Freddy Kruger time. Now, to the blog; next up the 2013 indie flick Specter.

Plot/ The town of Midground is threatened by a tsunami caused by a massive earthquake in the North Pacific Ocean. After other unexplainable events transpire, Chase Lombardi and friends are forced to discover whether they are experiencing a natural phenomenon or something else all together.

Specter is an intriguing flick that definitely takes on multiple genres inside its condensed storyline. While it is an interesting mix of found-footage drama, Sci-Fi and thriller, it possibly bit off more than it could handle. Unfortunately, the found-footage aspects of the film may of led to some of the unrefined and uneven moments inside (although, that format does lead to a few of the highlights of the film). Yes, there are some positives with the interesting story and decent nature effects, but those cannot overcome the unevenness built from some of the camera decisions and visualizations. In the end, this is definitely more of a supernatural themed thriller than straight horror flick and will not be for everyone. Sure, it has some good moments, but for the most part, it does not match its overall potential.

 

Dread (2009)

I decided to watch Krampus, but could not get into it at all and actually fell asleep after about 20 minutes. Stay away! To make up for that once I woke up, I decided to watch something a touch different and ventured into the After Dark Horrorfest for the 2009 entry Dread.

Plot/ Three college students set out to document what other people dread most.

I am a huge Clive Barker fan and have no idea how I missed this adaptation of his short story. On top of that, it was part of the After Dark Horrorfest, crazy. This movie was definitely one of the better films I have seen from that series, with an original storyline, solid technical attributes, and a clear vision into darkness. The performances are decent; the pacing works, and it truly out does its budget.  Yes, there are some uneven parts, but those do nothing to truly drag this one down. In the end, this is one of the better psychological horror flicks I have seen in some time, and a flick that should be seen. If you have not watched it, give it a shot!