Exhume (2018)

Another day, and what has become a trend, another dud. I really hoped to break my streak, but that didn’t happen with this low budget entry, 2018s Exhume. 

Plot: Patrick Connor's life is quickly turned upside down after taking a job at an abandoned probationary camp for boys.

I had hoped that this would be a bounce back for my movie viewing. I have been in a rut and my selections have not been the greatest. Unfortunately, this one starts out rather promising before flying off the rails. Yes, the acting is ok and there are some good cinematography elements, but the positives dwindle after that. The storyline and plot make little sense and are full of holes and the effects don't hit home. Not to mention the pacing is a bit disjointed and there is no real plot twist to give a payoff. In the end, I wanted to enjoy this one, as I am a huge fan of lower budgeted films. Unfortunately, this one falls short and is not memorable in any way. At least I streamed it and didn’t pay extra for it. Stay away, there are better options available. 

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.  

Demonic (2015)

As the snow started to fall in this frigid weather,  I had to find something to watch.  While I internally debate on whether to continue having down the giallo path,  I couldn't bring myself to search for another one.  Instead I turned to something more modern,  2015s Demonic.

Plot: A psychologist and a police officer investigate the deaths of five people, who were killed while trying to summon ghosts.

If the plot sounds familiar,  it is.  Like many movies in the genre this one suffers from the lack of originality that seems to plague horror from time to time.  However,  that's not saying this is a bad film.  In the contrary it was rather emtertaing featuring a solid cast,  decent performances,  and some nice direction and cinematography.  In fact,  the main issue is the story,  which is both predictable and rather vanilla. Everything else works if you can deal with that. In the end,  there is nothing groundbreaking here,  but it isn't a total waste of time.  Something I found useful on this snow file evening.  I'm not saying it's a must watch,  but know,  you could do much worse.  

Leave the World Behind (2023) Part 1 - Haunted Amusement Park

The Netflix movie Leave the World Benind, produced by Higher Ground Productions owned by President and Michelle Obama had been creating nquite a stir. Full of symbolism and Easter Eggs. I know,  if you're reading this,  you probably think I have my tin foil hat on,  but, really, there is a lot to unpack. Even after watching it a third time,  I keep finding more,  so, check back from time to time.  

Plot: A family vacation on Long Island is interrupted by two strangers bearing news of a blackout. As the threat grows, both families must decide how best to survive the potential crisis, all while grappling with their own place in this collapsing world.

A link discovered in a QR code on the above map takes you to the website for Lake Shawnee Amusement Park. This note abandoned park is open for ghost tours and tickets can be purchased to visit the location. But why in this movie that is type with messages and symbolism would this place be so prominent? That's a great question and one I have yet to crack.

With it being privately owned and a small opperation, i would doubt that it has the finances to take part in a product placement ad. In fact, it wasn't an ad at all, since it was hidden in a QR code on a map. The state of West Virginia may have had it added, but again there are many other historical kandmarks that would make more sense.  So, let's look at the history. 

Technically, Lake Shawnee Amusement Park dates back to the 1920s, when in 1926 it opened its doors to its first visitors. However, Lake Shawnee has a history that spends generations and some of those may play into the legends that run rampant in this area.  

Built as a relaxation destination for early miners, proprietor Conley Snidow, Sr. Envisioned a vacation destination brimming with activity for the entire family.  It had everything from swimming areas,  rides,  to cabins.  Unfortunately,  this would not last,  and the park started to be plagued by strange accidents and deaths. This activity peaked in the 1950s and the shock locals began to lose interest, eventually firing the park to close in 1966.

After sitting dormant for decades, the park returned to life in the 80s with its signature ferris wheel and swings in tow. However,  this new life as short lived,  and the park shuttered after only three seasons due to rising insurance costs. It was one the parked closed that the owners made some incredible discoveries on the property that served to add to the lore telling the story of the original occupants, the Shawnee tribe, who seemed to vanish from the land in the 1700s. Included in the discovery was a mass grave,  with the remains of thousands of Native Americans that were laid to rest in the property. 

Of course,  the disturbance of these bones during the years of construction and activity on the property could have set the different owners on a path of despair.  Couple that with did of the mysterious deaths and the 1950s, you have a recipe for a haunted location. 

If not the specific location, what about the area.  Located in Mercer County, Lake Shawnee sits in the heart of Appalachia full of hunting and fishing (plus,  some cool cryptids), but really nothing more.  It is also in coal country,  an industry under attack by the Obama's and the majority of those on the Left. Again, making it a strange place to be featured in the movie (especially since the power grid is hacked and coal was a backbone of the industry for generations).

I really have no idea what the meaning is,  or if there is one,  but my gut tells me there is something here with this.  Maybe after more digging, I'll (or someone) will discover a reason,  until then,  I will keep looking.  Do you have any ideas? If so,  comment and let me know.  

Darkness (2002)

It was another day day outside, but it was not a total loss as I was able to make some good progress in the toy building.  I can actually see my desk again. When I finished that,  I decided to kick back and watch the 2002 entry Darkness.

Plot: A teenage girl moves into a remote country house with her family, only to discover that their gloomy new home has a horrifying past that threatens to destroy the family.

I didn't know what to expect from this one,  but came away rather intrigued.  While,  it did have some of the typical supernatural elements,  it was armor to maintain  a suspenseful tone throughout. The scripting was awesome,  the performances outstanding, and the cinematography and direction created some tremendous atmosphere. Now, Iam sure there will be parts that turn viewers off with the slower pace and the lack of typical horror tropes, but those are only benefits in my eyes. In the end,  this one is an excellent independent film and one that should be watched. 

Winchester (2018)

It has been a crazy few days as I have been spending quite a bit of time finding new items for The Ringmaster’s Realm and preparing for the Too Groovy Toy Show in May. I have found some awesome items recently and should have a wide variety of material available at the show. Fortunately, while I am working on things, I can usually find some time to squeeze in a movie or two. The next one up is the 2018 entry Winchester.

Plot/ Inspired by true events. On an isolated stretch of land 50 miles outside of San Francisco sits the most haunted house in the world. Built by Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester fortune, it is a house that knows no end. Constructed in an incessant twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week mania for decades, it stands seven stories tall and contains hundreds of rooms. To the outsider it looks like a monstrous monument to a disturbed woman's madness. But Sarah is not building for herself, she is building a prison, an asylum for hundreds of vengeful ghosts, and the most terrifying among them have a score to settle with the Winchesters.

When I first saw this was coming out, I was apprehensive. Not only didn’t the commercials really inspire me, the idea of what the storyline might be could go in many different directions. Both items that were show stoppers for me. Now that I have watched it, I have found that my initial feelings were justified. More of a supernatural drama, than horror movie, this one just seems to plod along at a snail’s pace. Honestly, it lacks any type of atmosphere and scares are non-existent. This one is more of a character study, focusing one the back-stories of the characters and how they are woven into the mysterious house and legend. Yes, the cast is good, and their performances are solid, but they do really nothing to bring this one to life in a truly entertaining manner. I will say that the cinematography and production values of this film is top notch, with a ton of effort put into the authentic nature of the period and the use of colors. Unfortunately, much like the performances, those positives are drowned out by the slow storyline and the overall lack of pace. In the end, I am sure that you can find a much better selection to suffer through. Sure, it was good background noise while working, but other than that, it did not hold my attention at all.

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 Gallows (2015)

After watching Jurassic World yesterday afternoon, I decided to kick back and watch something darker, something that fit into the feel of Halloween. After some thought, I decided on the 2015 movie The Gallows.  

Plot/ 20 years after a horrific accident during a small town school play, students at the school resurrect the failed show in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy - but soon discover that some things are better left alone.

When I saw the trailer for this one, I was excited. Unfortunately, now that I have seen it, I should have known that the preview was too good to be true. Another found footage entry, this one suffers from some of the same issues that usually doom found footage horror movies, the storyline has way too many holes to make it hold up throughout. This one takes that flaw to a new level, leaving a myriad of unanswered questions. While the performances are decent, the lack of detailed storyline and overall choppy nature of the movie have nothing new, original, or entertaining. In fact, this one has no quality that will make it memorable and was not worth watching. Stay Away!

Jessabelle (2014)

Now that my weekend is over, it was back to the grindstone. Fortunately, I have a solid list of flicks that I must catch up on for the blog. Next up for review is an under the RADAR flick, Jessabelle from 2014.

Plot/ Returning to her childhood home in Louisiana to recuperate from a horrific car accident, Jessabelle comes face to face with a long-tormented spirit that has been seeking her return -- and has no intention of letting her escape.

After being disappointed by Annabelle, I was a little hesitant to jump back into a paranormal themed movie. Fortunately, I decided to look past that experience and give this one a shot. This movie, while a touch clichéd, featured some interesting aspects including a creepy atmosphere, a layered storyline with some decent twists, and some solid performances. More importantly, it kept me interested throughout while watching it with the daughters, something many PG-13 movies do not do. Sure, there is nothing new in this one, and it definitely reuses some of the southern accents that make Louisianan voodoo movies attractive. In the end, this one is entertaining and much better than I expected it to be. If you enjoy supernatural and voodoo themed horror, give it a shot! You could do a lot worse.

Housebound (2014)

Last night, I spent the evening dissecting the movie Horns for a project in my Historical Archetypes and Mythology class. While I love the movie, it definitely was a lot harder than I first imagined pulling that assignment together. To catch up on reviews, the next flick up is the 2014 horror/comedy Housebound. 

Plot/ Kylie Bucknell is forced to return to the house she grew up in when the court places her on home detention. Soon, she wonders if this is her overactive imagination, or if the house is in fact possessed by a hostile spirit who is less than happy about the new living arrangement.

This movie was a weird combination of ghost story, murder mystery, and dark comedy; a flick that was a little slower than I expected. In fact, that may be one of the only downfalls, as the twists that were written in almost overshadowed the comedic events and made the film drag more than I anticipated. The storyline is interesting, the performances solid, and the character actually develop rather well within the confines of this horror/comedy mixture. Unfortunately, it is a quite unbelievable story, and that never allows any one-direction take hold. In the end, this one is a solid flick that is balanced and entertaining with enough comedy/horror to keep fans entertained. Is it perfect? No, but it is one of the better movies of its kind and one that should be seen.

The Chair (2007)

Every once in a while I take a chance on a movie because it continually shows up on my recommended list, and this was the case with my next review. Honestly, it seemed like this one was popping up everywhere for about two weeks. That movie is the 2007 independent flick The Chair.

Plot/ Danielle, a young psychology student, is trying to rebuild her life when she sublets a century-old Victorian house. Unknowingly, she awakens an evil specter lurking in the dark recesses of her new home.

When I picked this one out the other day, I was not sure what to expect. What I found was an interesting movie that was clearly something different than the typical low budget slasher or found footage flick that has become all the rage. Slowly paced, this one has some decent effects, solid acting, and sound cinematography that worked well within the confines of the minimal locations. Sure, there are some uneven spots and the storyline does seem to change midway, but those are small issues that really do not bring this one down. In the end, this is an intriguing supernatural thriller that was extremely entertaining. Yes, it is not for all horror fans, but if you enjoy intelligent supernatural thrillers, you should check it out.

Crazy Eights (2006)

While I did spend some time playing Murdered last night, I spent the majority of my time watching both Fringe and Zero Hour. Yes, both television shows are interesting and both open up some very intriguing questions, but sometimes I need something more mindless. In those moments, I dig into some of the horror I have on hand. That is the case with my next review, part of the 2006 After Dark Horrorfest, Crazy Eights.

Plot/ Six people are brought together at the funeral of a childhood friend. While settling the estate, they discover a map, which leads them on a search for a long forgotten time capsule, at the request of their dead friend. What they discover reawakens repressed childhood traumas and leads them on a journey through their long abandoned childhood home: a home with a terrible secret and a mysterious dead girl who will lead them to their strange fates.

It had been awhile since I ventured into the 2007 After Dark Horrorfest, and now I remember why. While I remembered some of the films, this is not one of them, which is why I grabbed it from the attic first. Yes, there were some good settings and the cinematography was not bad, there was really nothing else to write home about. The acting was scattered, the pacing was off, the script uneven, and although it was only 80 minutes, too many clichés were embedded into the flick. In the end, this one has to rank near the bottom of that set and is a poor attempt at a B-Movie. If you have not seen it, do not fret as you are not missing anything. Plus, there are much better films out there.

Mortuary (2005)

With yesterday being Friday the 13th, I wanted to spend the evening engrossed in some different elements of horror and Sci-Fi. One of the first flicks I decided to watch was Tobe Hooper’s Mortuary (2005).

Plot/ A family moves to a small town in California where they plan on starting a new life while running a long-abandoned funeral home. The locals fear the place, which is suspected to be on haunted ground.

I will admit that I did not expect much from this one, so I was not extremely disappointed that I did not get much from it. While it started off decent enough, somehow it transcended into a mess and ruined the potential. There were some solid props and the locations were believable, but that is where the positives end. The plot / storyline was riddled with holes and cliché moments, the scripting is poor, the performances uneven, and the CGI effects made me long for a low budget direct to video VHS flick. In the end, there was really nothing in this one to make it worth watching and there is no reason for you to suffer through. Stay Away!

Ghostlight (2013)

After suffering through Zombie Lake, I needed to watch something different. While it may seem a bit odd, I decided that it was time to venture back into the world of Brain Damage Films for a low budget indie flick. While these movies often have some issues, usually they are decently entertaining. My selection for Friday night is Ghostlight from 2013.

Plot/ Andrew wins a radio contest to spend one night alone in a haunted theater on the 80th anniversary of the bloody murder/suicide that occurred within its walls.

This no-budget indie flick was rather entertaining to watch. Was it perfect, no; but, none-the-less it was better than many cut from the same fabric. This movie definitely took inspiration from some classic horror cinema with noticeable homage being paid to movies such as The Sixth Sense and The House on Haunted Hill. While this helps serve as a baseline, there could have been a lot more. The acting is solid, the scripting spot on, and the storyline cliché but interesting. Unfortunately, the score, while fitting, suffers from some poor sound editing, the pacing is a touch off, and some of the cinematography elements are a touch uneven; all items that typically come to life in low budget entries. In the end, this is an entertaining flick from Brain Damage Films and a movie that was much better than I expected. Yes, it is not perfect, but it is a decent ghost story that has some value.