Dark Harvest (2023)

 

I decided that I needed a break from the world of Fallout 76 yesterday afternoon and decide to watch a few movies.  One I have watched before and this 2023 entry Dark Harvest.

Plot: Teens confront a legendary supernatural spectre that emerges from the cornfields of a small Midwestern town every fall.

At first glance,  I figured this was going to be another Slasher/Teenage based horror flick.  Fortunately,  I was wrong and this was quite entertaining and somewhat original campared to a majority of the movies coming out today. Although, the premise was a touch outlandish, there were some interesting elements within the storyline.  The performances were OK, the scripting decent,  the scenery and era fit,  and the effects were pretty good.  My biggest peeve was that I was able to figure out the twist about mid way through and spent the majority of the movie trying to figure out what was going to happen to rectify it. I did like the ending and the way it turned out.  But,  I'm sure some will watch and be turned off by both the end and the story itself.  In the end,  this was a fun movie and one I thought was a lot better than I expected.  I'm sure it will be polarizing, but if your look for some fun horror,  give it a shot. 

Hell House LLC (2015)

Last night after a couple of episodes of season two of Salem, I decided that I wanted to see something based in a different style. After searching my streaming services, I settled on the 2015 entry Hell House LLC.

Plot/ Five years after an unexplained malfunction causes the death of 15 tour-goers and staff on the opening night of a Halloween haunted house tour, a documentary crew travels back to the scene of the tragedy to find out what really happened.

When I saw this one on Amazon Prime it seemed like something different and the premise seemed interesting, so I gave it a shot. I am glad that I did, as this was one of the better found-footage/mockumentaries that I have seen in some time. This one stands out in that overcrowded genre featuring some solid performances, a strong and interesting storyline that mixes the found footage and documentary styles seamlessly, decent pacing, and enough added scared to make it feel right and not forced. Of course, it is not a perfect flick having a few dialog hiccups and the tension never seems to reach its full potential, but those issues are easy to overlook. In the end, this was definitely one of the best movies to come out in the genre and a movie that must be seen. If you have not watched it yet, give it a shot.

The Invasion (2007)

The other day I went through a few movies before I started binge-watching Salem. The next movie I will review is the 2007 semi-reboot The Invasion.

Plot/ As a Washington psychiatrist unearths the origin of an alien epidemic, she also discovers her son might be the only way it can be stopped.

I had never watched this one and went into the movie not knowing what to expect. While this is not the worst body snatchers retooling, it is far from the best.  While the cast featuring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig are solid and their performances are decent, they really cannot do anything to save this film from spiraling out of control. The character development is non-existent, the film lacks atmosphere, for the most part, the film lacked originality, and there was an overall lack of action and effects. On top of that, the overt addition of political and social ideologies felt out of place and forced. Yes, there were some decent elements and there was some potential out there, but it in no way was able to reach that potential and it feels uninspired. In the end, while there were some decent visuals with the cinematography, the movie does not really ever create tension or give the viewer a reason to keep watching it. If you have not seen it, you aren’t missing anything at all.

31 (2016)

As I was sitting here last night I realized that I was two posts away from hitting 1500 here on The Ringmaster's Realm and was debating what movie I wanted to review for that post. After some debate, I finally decided on a movie I feel that must be seen and truly embraced. While that movie will be reviewed tomorrow, for tonight, I have the 2016 Rob Zombie flick 31.

Plot/ Five carnival workers are kidnapped and held hostage in an abandoned, Hell-like compound where they are forced to participate in a violent game, the goal of which is to survive twelve hours against a gang of sadistic clowns.

Having decided to watch this as one of the first films on the new television, I was unsure of what to expect. Rob Zombie is one of the most polarizing filmmakers out there, and his films often sit in the love/hate realm. For me, I love his material, not because it is artistic masterpiece, but because it is a flashback to some of the no-budget grindhouse flicks from my youth. In this case, there is nothing much I can truly say about 31, as it is a trip into violence and gore. Sure, it lacks a coherent plot, it is full of mindless murders, blood, and guts, and the characterization is all over the place. It is what it is, a strange journey into the depraved mind of Rob Zombie. In the end, 31 is a movie that will be polarizing and a movie many will hate. Sure, I thought that it could be better, but it was a fun trip into the 1970s.

The Funhouse Massacre (2015)

I was so turned off by The Levenger Tapes that forced myself to sit through the greatest reality train wreck ever: the second debate. What can I say; a debate between a psychopath and a sociopath (take your pick either candidate fits my diagnosis) gives more credence to the fact I think someone has created a butterfly effect. To help me recover from that, I decided to kick back and watch something mindless; just like the 2015 horror/comedy/slasher The Funhouse Massacre.

Plot/ Six of the world's scariest psychopaths escape from a local Asylum and proceed to unleash terror on the unsuspecting crowd of a Halloween Funhouse whose themed mazes are inspired by their various reigns of terror.

After my last review, I definitely needed something mindless, and this movie fit that bill perfectly. To me, there is something about movies that pay homage to the classic VHS B-movie craze of the 1980s that makes me want more. This one has a great mixture of comedic elements and gore, takes place with outstanding pace, and offers some solid performances scattered throughout. Sure, some of the scripting is uneven with jokes that range from bad to worse, there is a lack of originality in the kills (although there is a decent amount of blood), and there are the typical clichéd moments that plague a lot of lower budget films. In the end, this one is just a mindless, yet entertaining horror flick that offers an interesting plot. It is definitely fun to watch (especially if you are not hoping for a masterpiece).

Holidays (2016)

I love being back into the swing of watching horror movies and blogging, it helps me keep my mind engaged as I dissect my next writing project. The next film that I watched was somewhat of a surprise, 2016s anthology Holidays.

Plot/ Nine filmmakers present horror stories that revolve around Valentine's Day, Saint Patrick's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

When I put this one on, I had no idea what to expect as anthologies can be all over the board when it comes to coherent moments and quality. What I found with this one was much of the same with a mixture of uneven shorts featuring a wide array of approaches to the different holidays covered by the directors. Overall, the stories ranged from unbelievable to ludicrous, and touched on many different topics. Yes, there were a few that were pushed the limits (Kevin Smith’s Halloween comes to mind), but that was to be expected. Incredibly, the film featured some solid performances and some intriguing storylines (Father’s Day and Christmas were my favorites), although I am sure that it won’t appeal to everyone. In the end, if you live mindless horror anthologies, this one is for you. Give it shot!

The Hollow (2015)

After enjoying The Veil last night, I decided that I wanted to venture toward something different. After some thought and intrigue, I decided on the other movie The Hollow, this one from 2015.

Plot/ It's Halloween eve on Shelter Island, and the small town is preparing for a killer storm. But the dark clouds gathering over the island are bringing with them a curse one hundred years in waiting. As the woods give birth to an ungodly and insatiable creature of fire, bones, and earth, three sisters must scramble to stay alive through the long dark night of the hollow.

While I had no expectations for this one, it was still difficult to watch and did not bring anything but cliché to the screen. Between the uneven acting, a riddled storyline that was both incoherent and unbelievable, and predictable and cheesy CGI effects, this movie really did nothing to make it feel redeeming. In fact, it was one of the first movies in some time that I just wanted to turn off and go to sleep. In the end, I cannot in any way recommend this movie to horror fans. Unless you are a giant fan of SyFy Channel creature features and have a bucket list to watch all of them, stay away!

The Hollow (2004)

After watching The Watcher last night, I decided to see what would come out if I just left Hulu play. That movie is my next review, the 2004 entry The Hollow.

Plot/ Restless spirits stir this Hollow's Eve, beckoning Ian Cranston, the last blood relative of Ichabod Crane, back to Sleepy Hollow. Thundering hooves unleash a wave of bone-chilling screams as the ghost of the Headless Horseman rides again! Ian must try to save the town and his girlfriend, Karen and determine whether the sword-wielding stalker is their clownish classmate, Brody in costume, or the dark rider himself. If it's truly the Headless Horseman... how do you kill what's already dead?

The Hollow is an interesting modern adaption of the Washington Irving classic tale of Ichabod Crane; unfortunately, it does not fully deliver of the idea. While the cinematography is not bad, the pacing decent, and some of the effects do deliver, for some reason it just does not make an impact. Yes, it was targeted for a younger audience, but it comes across like a mixed up Saturday Afternoon Special that was trapped somewhere in the 1980s. Of course, this could be from the clichéd moments, the uneven scripting, and some questionable performances (not to mention the subpar headless horseman costume). In the end, The Hollow would be good for some type of teen Halloween party, and should not be added to your horror collection.

Honeyspider (2014)

As I sit here tonight watching Return of the Jedi, preparing for my second visit to The Force Awakens tomorrow, I decided that I needed to finish the entry on my last flick from 2015. Yep, as a true horror fan, I decided to venture into the low budget arena to close my year, and found something from one of my favorite outlets, Brain Damage Films that fit the bill. After some thought last night, I decided on the 2014 entry, Honeyspider, to finish the year.

Plot/ It's Halloween day in 1989 and college student Jackie Blue wants to enjoy a quiet birthday in the midst of a chaotic semester at school. Her friend Amber has other ideas and persuades Jackie to come to the annual Monster Mash parties on campus after her shift at the local movie theater. As murder plays out on the silver screen during the theater's Halloween night Horrorthon, Jackie falls under a strange spell; all while a mysterious stranger watches over her every move. As the night unfolds, Jackie slowly unravels and everyone around her is turning up dead. Jackie finds herself helplessly trapped like prey in a spider's web, and all she can do is try to survive the night!

I had no idea what to expect with this one, as it seemed like a solid low budget entry to end my year with, and I went into it with no knowledge or expectations. What I found was something interesting; with a throwback atmosphere to the movies, I loved during the big box VHS age of the 1980s. Centered on Halloween, the mixture of the macabre, horror and occult aspects of that holiday was tremendous; it definitely fit into the feel. It also featured a solid soundtrack, some interesting effects, and an awesome addition of a movie within movie presentation with a classic slasher. Sure, it was not perfect with some uneven performances, subpar sound quality, the ending may turn some people off, and the run time was quite short, but those flaws are minimal and somewhat expected in any type of low budget indie horror flick. In the end, this may not be a perfect flick, but it is a lot better than many of the low budget entries out there and is a movie that made a perfect end to my 2015 year. Check it out!

Pay the Ghost (2015)

As I said yesterday, Hangar 10 was bad. And after some long debate with the voices in my head last night, I decided to totally change genres to try to clear it from my mind. My choice for the evening (after the debates) was the 2015 Nick Cage entry Pay the Ghost.

Plot/ A professor frantically searches for his son who disappeared after being abducted during a Halloween parade.

After Hangar 10, I am sure that anything I chose would have seemed interesting. However, while Pay the Ghost had some clichéd moments, it was actually an interesting (albeit unbelievable) storyline. More of a drama or thriller than horror flick, it is low on scares and relies more on the darker atmosphere and the typical Nicolas Cage theatrics to keep the story moving along. Sure, there were so dialog issues and some of the effects were uneven, but that was to be expected. In the end, while this was not a great movie, it was decent and made for a nice addition to my evening.

Pay the Ghost (2015)

As I said yesterday, Hangar 10 was bad. And after some long debate with the voices in my head last night, I decided to totally change genres to try to clear it from my mind. My choice for the evening (after the debates) was the 2015 Nick Cage entry Pay the Ghost.

Plot/ A professor frantically searches for his son who disappeared after being abducted during a Halloween parade.

After Hangar 10, I am sure that anything I chose would have seemed interesting. However, while Pay the Ghost had some clichéd moments, it was actually an interesting (albeit unbelievable) storyline. More of a drama or thriller than horror flick, it is low on scares and relies more on the darker atmosphere and the typical Nicolas Cage theatrics to keep the story moving along. Sure, there were so dialog issues and some of the effects were uneven, but that was to be expected. In the end, while this was not a great movie, it was decent and made for a nice addition to my evening.

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

I needed to take a break from the Sci-Fi and classic horror that has become commonplace throughout this Thanksgiving vacation. With college papers still due and a website needing built; I decided it was time to head back into a classic franchise for some motivational moments. My selection last night (and my next review) is the 1995 slasher Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers.

Plot/ Six years after Michael Myers last terrorized Haddonfield, he returns there in pursuit of his niece, Jamie Lloyd, who has escaped with her newborn child, for which Michael and a mysterious cult have sinister plans.

I will be honest; I have pretty much stayed clear of the original Halloween series for some time. While I loved the first two back in my youth, it became a little overwhelming to see so many sequels come out. However, after suffering through San Andreas the other day, I decided that I want to venture back into this world and I was surprised by what I found. This movie was definitely interesting and not at all what I expected when I turned it on (I LOVE the cult aspect). The storyline is intriguing, the cast is one of the better ones for a sequel, as usual, the soundtrack was amazing, and the kills were enjoyable. Yes, there were some uneven moments and some of the dialog feels dated, but those do little to totally ruin the film. While not the best movie in the series, it is one of the more underrated sequels in the Halloween franchise, and a movie that definitely helped me get the miserable thoughts of San Andreas out of my head. In the end, this many not be a perfect Halloween movie, but it is better than some. If you enjoy the tales of Michael Myers, give it a shot—you could definitely do much worse.

Nightmare Zombie 5K Run/Walk - Halloween in Fairchance, PA

Nightmare 5K Run/Walk in Fairchance, PA

This 5K run will be your worst nightmare! Don't be a scaredy cat! Come out and see if you can outrun and outlast your friends. It's not just about crossing the finish line. It's about staying alive. Keep just one of your flags and you have survived... well, until next time.

Register Now!

Race starts on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at Fairchance Fire Hall, 31 Pittsburgh St., Fairchance, PA 15436

Registration: 9:15 AM
Run Starts: 10:30 AM

$20.00 mail-in registration downloadable in JPG or PDF formats (must be received by October 21st)

$20.00 online registration is available until October 21st on Active.com.

$25.00 race day registration (T-Shirts are not guaranteed for registrations received after October 21st)

Prizes will be for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Runners and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Walkers plus age group prizes!
This will be a timed 5K run or walk. Kids race will begin at 10:15 AM. This event is rain or shine.

Register Now!

The Houses October Built (2014)

As another week has gone by at the institute, I am excited by the fact that today was my last day of the quarter teaching FCC principles. Now, it is up to the class to take their test and get their certifications. Now, we are onto the CB and aircraft VHF Communications Systems. Back to the blog, next up is the 2014 found footage flick The Houses October Built.

Plot/ Beneath the fake blood and cheap masks of countless haunted house attractions across the country, there are whispers of truly terrifying alternatives. Looking to find an authentic, blood-curdling good fright for Halloween, five friends set off on a road trip in an RV to track down these underground Haunts. Just when their search seems to reach a dead end, strange and disturbing things start happening and it becomes clear that the Haunt has come to them...

I was a bit hesitant when I saw this one on the shelves, as it was another found footage flick and honestly, that genre has started to turn me off. While at first glance the storyline seemed interesting, I quickly found myself trapped in the typical clichéd moments that plague this genre. Yes, there are some positives with the haunted houses, and some of the footage is creepy, but there is not a lot going for it other than that. On top of the cliché moments, the characters are flat, the performances uneven, and the pacing drags the overall potential down. In the end, this one definitely suffers from the same issues that many low budget found footage films have and it makes it just blend in with the rest of them. Unless you have nothing else to watch, stay away.