Oddity (2024)

 

I have to admit, 2024 has been a decent year for horror. In fact, I have seen a few movies that I have actually wanted to rewatch this year. That doesn’t usually happen. This next movie is one of those, the 2024 low budget flick Oddity. 

Plot: A psychic medium attempts to uncover the truth behind her sister's murder at the site of the crime.

There is a lot to like in this one. While it has a very simple premise, the execution and the atmosphere in this one is what hits home. Yes, it does have a couple jump scares, but it mainly  relies on the heaviness to create an unsettling aura.  The cinematography does a great job at pulling the viewer into the storyline and allowing it to saturate the entire film. Even the mystery elements are well done and keeps the viewer involved. While the acting and cast were also good, the ending was a bit uneven and did bring the overall feel of the movie down. In the end, this was an entertaining and interesting film and one that should be enjoyed by anyone that likes atmospheric horror.

Mothman TNT Area - Investigation Pictures

Having stopped by Point Pleasant,  WV for a day of exploring the myth of the Mothman, I was extremely excited. Not only do I love the story of the Mothman, this makes the first time since my transplant that I was able to venture out into the wild.  Sure,  I didn't go crazy. Hell, I didn't even make it a night expedition, but I did get va shall hike in and go check out one of the famous sighting locations: the TNT Area.

Now part of the McClintic Wildlife Management Area, the TNT bunkers may be run down, but I will say they still hold a creepy energy.  It did send chills down my spine. Of course,  whatever small animal that was stalking me from the treeline helped with that.  But oh well.  

If you aren't familiar with Mothman or the sightings in and around Point Pleasant,  this is a great rabbit hole and a tremendous amount of lore. This area,  known then as the West Virginian Ordnance Works, was reported to be the home of this game red-eyed cryptid from late 1966 until early 1967. In fact,  to many researchers,  the first recorded sighting of Mothman took place near the gate of one of the abandoned munition shortage facilities. 

While there were also many other strange phenomena that took place during this period in and around the area,  it was the Mothman, not Indrid Cold, or the Men in Black, or even the ultraterrestrials, that wove its way into the fabric of the region.  A 7-to-10 foot-tall winged entity with glowing red eyes has become part of the folklore and at one point America's most famous cryptid. 

Here are some pictures from that area and some motivation for me to get back into the field.  

Slender Man (2018)

While I have been watching a lot of movies at the house, I have also seen a few at our local drive-in. Unfortunately, sometimes even the atmosphere at the drive-in cannot save you from a miserable decision. This is definitely the case the Slender Man from 2018.

Plot/ In a small town in Massachusetts, a group of friends, fascinated by the internet lore of the Slender Man, attempt to prove that he doesn't exist - until one of them mysteriously goes missing.

I wanted to venture into the more modern world with this next one and figured this was the best place to start. Having watched this film with the added atmosphere of the drive-in, I had hoped for so much more (being a fan of the source material). Unfortunately, this movie does nothing with the great foundation and takes you on what has become one of the most overused formulas in horror. Yes, there are a few moments where the cinematography and visuals shine, but other than that, there isn’t anything that would make the movie stand out. There is no type of tension, even less scares, the performances are flat an uninspiring, and the adaptation tries too hard to modernize itself. In fact, it was so average that I almost left the drive-in early because it was beyond predictable and could not keep my attention. In the end, as much as I enjoy the source material, this one has no flair and in no way does it justice. If you haven’t watched it, you aren’t missing anything. Watch some paint dry, it honestly may have more spirit and excitement.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

Having returned from a wet but amazing trip to Haunted Hills Estates, it was time to cocoon myself in a blanket and review the movie I decided on after watching Jigsaw last night. That movie was the 1981 classic An American Werewolf in London.  

Plot/ Two American college students on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists.

Even after all these years, this movie remains one of the best werewolf films ever made. Complete with a great mixture of comedy, drama, gore, and horror, everything seems to fall perfectly into place. The storyline is both entertaining and interesting, the performances are outstanding, the dialog and scripting work and the special effects are tremendous, as they still run circles around much of the subpar work that is seen in films today. Most importantly, between the soundtrack and the masterful work of director John Landis, everything works to create a dark but uplifting atmosphere in a film that is an easy watch and one that has more than stood the test of time. Sure, there are some predictable elements and the movie feels a touch short, but those are very small flaws within a movie that is a must-see for all horror fans. In the end, this is a classic take on the werewolf genre and a movie that should continue to be the standard that all others in the genus should strive to achieve. If you have not seen it, you are missing out. Find it and check it out.

Lore (2017)

I know that I have been in a retro mood lately, but I decided to change things up as we creep closer to Halloween. With that in mind, I decided to marathon the Amazon Prime series Lore.

Plot/ This anthology series brings to life Aaron Mahnke's "Lore" podcast and uncovers the real-life events that spawned our darkest nightmares. Blending dramatic scenes, animation, archive, and narration, Lore reveals how our horror legends - such as vampires, werewolves, and body snatchers - are rooted in truth.

This was a series that I was actually looking forward to seeing. As a huge fan of folklore and the supernatural, this seemed right up my alley. Now that I have watched all six episodes, I can tell that this will be one of those series that falls into the love/hate category and there will be little middle ground. For me, I thoroughly enjoyed the series and found it both entertaining and informative. Yes, it was not perfect, but the positives definitely outweighed the negatives. The subject matter was awesome and there were some interesting elements sprinkled in, the combination of narration and reenactments provided a nice blend of storytelling techniques, and the production values were solid. Yes, the pacing felt uneven, the performances seemed a bit flat and subdued, and there were times, where the episodes jumped in odd ways, but those elements did not deter my viewing experience. I felt that the best episodes were They Made a Tonic and Black Stockings, while my least favorite was Passing Notes, which seemed to drag on a bit and try to pack way too much information into the allotted time. In the end, I found this series a worthwhile watch. Sure, it has some flaws during the transition from podcast to show, but that is to be expected. It is definitely a series that has potential and they should be able to build upon and fix the flaws as they move forward.

Salvation: Friday the 13th and Knights Templar

The story of the Knights Templar has always been one that has given me inspiration in writing. This was never more evident than when I crafted an entire epic poem, Salvation, centered on this legendary group. That idea was spawned long ago by this poem I penned in honor of Friday the 13th, where the Knights Templar take center stage.

If you don't know, on Friday, October 13th, 1307, French king Philip IV the Fair ordered the mass arrest of Knights Templar in the Kingdom of France. This event is considered by some to be the origin of the superstition about Friday the 13th being an unlucky day. The Knights Templar were accused of numerous crimes including heresy and treason. The end of the Knights Templar began on this day dreadful day. 

Triskaidekaphobia

Such a dark day in the world
Leaders defiled
The protectors destroyed in your name
Not by the masses that follow
But, from the hypocrisy of medieval royalty
For what - your secrets?
Jealousy? Fear?
Maybe it was just their shame from following the false prophet
The sinner who hid behind his disciples
And worse, women and children
Spouting lies of redemption
Preaching abstinence instead of indulgence
Creating turmoil in the perfect world
.. ..
Through it all, you stood tall
These destroyers of forged faith were blind
Failing to harness the power of your minions
By creating a day of homage of their transgressions
They granted you eternal life
History crying tears of truths in your name
You will never be forgotten
You Baphomet, will live forever
Like the Templar’s, your followers will bleed for you
Carrying on the traditions past down by the strong
Your enigma, a mystery to most
A companion to some
A day of fear to the meek
That day is today, Friday the 13th

.. ..

Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979)

Having spent last night with Chucky, I decided that I wanted something completely different tonight. After searching through Shudder, I went for a classic vampire tale in 1979s vampire entry Nosferatu the Vampyre.

Plot/ Count Dracula moves from Transylvania to Wismar, spreading the Black Plague across the land. Only a woman pure of heart can bring an end to his reign of horror.

Wanting a classic vampire tale, this movie seemed like the perfect selection for the evening. Having not seen it in some time, I had forgotten how beautiful this movie was and how well it captured the great story of Dracula. Werner Herzog did a great job at creating a modern version of Murnau's classic Nosferatu, while adding some almost human elements to the Dracula character. The performances are outstanding, the cinematography and visuals are amazing, and there is a subtle calm that ties everything together. Unfortunately, the splendor captured inside those elements do take a small toll on the overall feel of the movie as this one does seem to lack the darker atmosphere of the original, the pacing is slow, and there really are no creepy or frightening moments. Fortunately, when you submerge yourself into the film, those flaws are easily overlooked. In the end, this is a different film than most Dracula interpretations because it shows sadness in the character that usually doesn’t exist. It may not be for everyone, but it is definitely worth watching and an underrated film in Dracula lore.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

After making it through Alien: Covenant this weekend, I decided to change genres completely for my next flick. That movie is the 2017 action/adventure King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.

Plot/ Robbed of his birthright, Arthur comes up the hard way in the back alleys of the city. But once he pulls the sword from the stone, he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy - whether he likes it or not.

I can see why this is polarizing. On one hand, this is definitely not your traditional King Arthur movie, which would leave traditionalists up in arms. But, there are some interesting aspects that make it entertaining. Personally, I did enjoy the action sequences, the performances, and most of the effects. However, the lack of character development, the modern dialog, and the overall lack of Arthurian atmosphere did not do it for me. Was it a terrible movie? No, in fact, had it been made outside the King Arthur universe it would have likely received a better reception. In the end, if you like period pieces and can look past the idea that this is Arthur and Excalibur, then you may enjoy this one more than I did. Not a terrible movie, but not quite what I was expecting.

Moth (2016)

Having just watched the documentary The Mothman of Point Pleasant as well as following the Owl Man sightings in Chicago, I have been motivated to spend some time in the field doing some research. Unfortunately, with this being the middle of travel softball season, this has not worked out the way I had hoped. To help ease some of the disappointment, I decided to kick back and watch the 2016 flick Moth.

Plot/ A teacher and her student travel to the European countryside to investigate 22 recent Mothman sighting reports, but what begins as an attempt to stop a catastrophe becomes a nightmarish fight for survival.

This found footage film does suffer through some of the typical problems that seem to always pop up in this realm; yet, it does add some elements that are not typically seen in the genre. More of a slow burn drama than straight found footage horror flick, this one comes away with a more realistic feel because of the dated look it has. Plus, there is an interesting twist added in that actually works within the storyline. Yes, the performances are uneven (especially with the lead actress); the dialog is laughable at best, and as usual, there are clichéd moments littered throughout. For me, this did not ruin the film, as the subject interests me and the low budget nature does allow for some flaws to be overlooked. In the end, this movie is far from perfect, but it is also far from the worst film in the found footage arena. Is it for everyone, no way, but it is somewhat entertaining and a decent way to pass some mindless time recovering from a long day.

The Ring (2002)

After taking a few days off to do some writing on my project, I decided to start the weekend off with a review of one of the classic films from the early 2000s. While I am sure many have watched this one, with a sequel in theaters, it was a nice trip back in time. That flick is the 2002 entry The Ring.

Plot/ A journalist must investigate a mysterious videotape, which seems to cause the death of anyone in a week of viewing it.

There are times when I like to revisit some films in preparation for seeing sequels and such, and that was the case with the Ring. While some call this a remake and others an adaptation of the Japanese film Ringu, it does not matter because it is one of the best horror films of the 2000s. There are a ton of positives with this film, as the writing is tremendous, cinematography/direction is stylistic and creates a great atmosphere, and the cast does a tremendous job bringing the characters to life, as well as bringing the layered storyline out to a creepy and dark place. Yes, there are some smaller flaws with the amount of jump scares added in and some of the pacing felt off, but those do nothing to bring the film down. In the end, this is one of the most memorable films in the genre, and a film that must be seen. If you haven’t seen it, what are you waiting for?

The Darkness (2016)

October is finally here, my favorite month of the year. Now, hopefully, the cold that has been kicking my butt can be pushed away and I can get on with enjoying the Halloween season. After taking a couple days off to try to recover, it was time to get back to some movies. The next movie on tap is the 2016 supernatural entry, The Darkness.

Plot/ A family returns from a Grand Canyon vacation, haunted by an ancient supernatural entity they unknowingly awakened and engages them in a fight for their survival.

To be honest, I knew nothing about this movie at all when I put it on except that Kevin Bacon was in it (and you never know what you will get when that is the case). After watching it, I felt a touch confused by how I felt about it. On one hand, there was really nothing new or special, but on the other, there was nothing really wrong with it. Yes, it was not a gorefest, but the acting was decent, the storyline was interesting (personally, I loved the Anasazi angle), and much of the cinematography and effects were solid. However, it was predictable, there were many clichéd moments, and there was nothing that made it truly memorable. In the end, this may not be a terrible movie, but it is not great either. If you like supernatural horror without too many twists give it a shot, especially if you want to find a way to introduce the genre to a younger generation.

The Curse of Sleeping Beauty (2016)

After taking the night off to take Jolene to a Jake Bugg concert with Bren being sick, I decided that I needed to kick back today and relax. While I did catch a few new shows, I needed to get back to some movies to help pass some time this evening. My first choice was the 2016 adaptation of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, with The Curse of Sleeping Beauty.

Plot/ Thomas Kaiser inherits an ancestral mansion that has been in his family for generations, only to learn that he has also inherited an ancient curse stemming back to the Crusades.

Every once in a while, I decide to take a chance on something different and become extremely surprised by what I decided on. That was definitely the case with this one, as it was much better than I initially imagined. Yes, it did not come without some flaws with predictable characters, clichéd plot twists, and some of the movie felt rushed, but those issues do not totally bring the movie down. The performances are decent, the direction and cinematography work well to create some interestingly atmospheric moments, and the overall feel was much darker than I expected. In the end, this is definitely not your normal take on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale being more of a horror flick than fantasy. As with many movies in this realm, a viewer will either love it or hate it, personally I enjoyed it. Give it a shot and make your own decision.

The Piper (2015)

I know I have been slacking when it comes to the blog. Between my capstone classes in creative writing, work, and now softball, my time has been tremendously limited. While that has been the case, I have watched my fair share of movies and am going to get back into the swing of things. First up, is the 2015 Korean indie flick, The Piper (AKA Guest).

Plot/ Shortly after the Korean War, a father, and son are wandering through the country and make a stop in a remote village, where strange and dangerous happenings occur.

This supernatural thriller was one of the better fairy tale/fable inspired movies I have seen in some time. From Korea, this independent flick features some dark atmospheric moments, yet creates something in a surreal poetic form to convey dread. The acting was tremendous, the cinematography vivid and spot on, and the suspense and darkness are ramped up throughout the film. Yes, some of the audio dubbing seems off at times and some of the characters are under-developed, but these are but minor flaws in an otherwise tremendous film. In the end, this is a version of the story of the Pied Piper that must be seen, it is one of the better adaptations to come around in some time.

Deep in the Darkness (2014)

After spending the afternoon watching my talented daughter Genesis perform at the West Virginia University high school honors band performance, I decided to sit back and watch some mindless creature feature as I dissected my homework assignments for the weekend. My next selection was the 2014 Chiller Films entry Deep in the Darkness.

Plot/ A doctor and his family move to a quiet, small town. Soon he discovers the town's dark secret: A terrifying race of controlling creatures that live in the darkness in the forest behind their home.

Sometimes you find movies that just keep popping up, and that was the case with this one. What I found was something I did not expect. A lowered budget creature feature, this movie did have some positive moments with some decent performances, some common sense, and a decent concept within a weird atmospheric premise. Unfortunately, it was also somewhat predictable, the creatures unveiled early, and it felt like it ran a touch long. In the end, this one came off better than I originally expected and did have a few entertaining moments. While it is not the best in the genre, it is also better than most low budget creature features that have overtaken the genre. Give it a shot; you could do worse.