The Visitor (1979)

After taking a break last night from watching any movies, I decided that today I would go back and review a movie that I caught earlier in the week. That movie is the 1979 horror/sci-fi entry The Visitor.

Plot/ The soul of a young girl with telekinetic powers becomes the prize in a fight between forces of God and the Devil.

I am a huge fan of surreal movies that make you think; especially ones that can border on confusing and this one fits that bill perfectly. An interesting storyline that seems to feed on more than a few classics, this movie has some elements that should appeal to any horror or sci-fi fan. For the most part, the performances are solid, the cinematography is interesting, and the overall tone and feel of the movie works. Unfortunately, the storyline and plot, while intriguing have so many confusing elements that it is hard to make sense out of (even if you are paying close attention) and the soundtrack feels completely out of touch with the overall tone of the movie. In the end, this one will definitely fall into the love/hate category and is extremely hard to totally describe in any way. My only recommendation is to see it for yourself (at least once) and make your own judgment. Personally, I enjoyed it, but then again, my tastes are much different than many horror/sci-fi fans out there.

Needlestick (2017)

I decided to take a few days away from the blog to spend some time away from the computer at Steel City Con and seeing The Decemberists in concert. Before that, I was able to watch a few flicks that I need to review. First up is the 2017 low budget horror flick Needlestick.

Plot/ A desperate doctor locks down South Union Cardiac Hospital to keep the greatest discovery in human history to himself, while the young intern race to save a dying young dancer, his ex-girlfriend, and his best friend, and stop his mentor.

Following the last thriller, I decided to kick back and watch something low budget, hoping for some horror elements that have been lacking in my previous few selections. Unfortunately, this one really did nothing to help change that. While there were some positive moments with the overall cinematography and feel of the film, there was nothing else to help it move in a positive direction. The performances were uneven, the scripting/storyline was a mess, and the entire film lacked the attention to detail that could have taken it up a notch. In the end, this one is worth skipping; there really is nothing that will do anything for you.

Aliens (1986)

The holiday season is always a great time to catch up with friends and family, but also a great time to revisit some of the classic horror/sci-fi flicks of the past decades. Last night, I finished reviews of the Phantasm franchise, now my plan is to continue with the Alien franchise, with the 1986 sequel Aliens.

Plot/ Fifty-seven years after Ripley survived the moon LV-426, all communications with the terraforming colony on the outpost have been lost. The Company enlists Ripley to aid a team of space marines on a rescue mission to the moon to find out if there are aliens or survivors.

It isn’t often when a sequel may be more satisfying than the source material, but that may indeed be the case with the classic franchise. Aliens is both more entertaining and more diverse than the original Alien. While this may not be by a gigantic amount, it is still the case. This one has all of the elements that made the made the original fun with an awesome soundtrack, a claustrophobic atmosphere, a tremendous cast with outstanding performances, and of course the tension that continued to build throughout. Really, every part of this movie was just as good (if not better) than the original including the action and scripting. If there were a downside, it would be the fact that the computer technology presented in both the facility on the ground and in the ship did not really seem to develop as much as it should considering the timeframes that were being used  (57 years in a long time), but that would be nitpicking. In the end, this film is one of the best Sci-Fi movies ever made and one of the most memorable. With another sequel on the horizon, it is a great time to revisit all of these to get primed. Check it out!

AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

After having an enjoyable birthday dinner last night, I decided to bypass the blog (and twitter) for most of the day today. But, that could only last for so long, and I decided that it was time to enjoy some type of sci-fi/horror flick for the evening. After some debate, I decided to breakdown and watch the 2004 entry AVP: Alien vs. Predator to see two of my favorite characters in action.

Plot/ During an archaeological expedition on Bouvetøya Island in Antarctica, a team of archaeologists and other scientists find themselves caught up in a battle between the two legends. Soon, the team realizes that only one species can win.

I have stayed away from this movie for some time because I had a feeling that I would be disappointed by the results. While I was not very disappointed, I was not overwhelmed either. In fact, while there were some positive aspects, I could not help but think that this could have been better if it would have pushed past the PG-13 threshold into an R category. I did enjoy the storyline, some of the visuals, and the cinematography and pacing, and felt it was really well done. Unfortunately, scripting was an issue where the characters felt flat and much of the dialog was beyond forgettable. In the end, this was not a terrible movie, it just did not move me as much as I expected. If you have not seen it and are a fan of the two franchises, give it a shot. However, unless you are looking for a flick to introduce a younger generation to these classic creatures, stay away.

Stung (2015)

Needing to pass some time while doing homework and waiting for the kids to get to bed so I can watch the final episode of American Horror Story Coven, I wanted something mindless to help get me through. In searching for something mindless, I decided upon the 2015 horror/comedy Stung.

Plot/ A fancy garden party turns into upper class prey when a colony of killer wasps mutates into seven foot tall predators.

When I saw this one, I figured it would be the perfect mindless creature feature that I could use to bridge the gap until I put on the final episode of American Horror Story Coven. When I got inside that is what I found. Sure, it was not quite as funny as I expected it to be, but it had enough over the top moments, unbelievable action, and goo to add at least a little humor. The performances are uneven bur cult icon, Lance Henriksen, more than fills his role. The effects and cinematography are solid, the storyline ridiculous but funny, and some of the effects are decent. In the end, this may not be the greatest horror comedy or creature feature to come out, but it is a decent flick to watch with just enough bloodshed to help pass time. If you have some time and need to watch something, give it shot.

Harbinger Down (2015)

Still feeling the remnant of yesterday’s miserable experience with Martian Land, I decided that I needed to go in a different direction for my next flick. After some thought, I went with some low budget horror, with 2015s Harbinger Down. 

Plot/ A group of grad students have booked passage on the crabbing boat Harbinger to study the effects of global warming on a pod of Belugas in the Bering Sea. When the ship's crew dredges up a recently thawed piece of old Soviet space wreckage, things get downright deadly.

After suffering through last night’s low budget misery from The Asylum, this Kickstarter funded entry demonstrated what can be done with a smaller budget. Sure, it is not perfect, but I believe it met the goal in creating a non-CGI horror flick using practical effects. Personally, I loved the classic 1980s low budget feel and was amazed at how much it reminded me of these dark evening that I had growing up with my local video store. In all, this flick had some solid performances, including a solid outing from horror favorite Lance Henriksen, so decent effects, and a solid premise. Unfortunately, this one did feel like the storyline was taken straight from the classic entry The Thing and the scripting was uneven, but those elements were only minor in the grand scheme. In the end, this one may not be for everyone, but if like me, you love 1980s big box horror, then you should definitely check this one out.

Gingerclown (2013)

I cannot believe that it has been almost a week and I am still fighting off the last parts of this stomach bug. I have no idea what it was, but damn, it has been knocking me out. During this time though I have had a chance to catch a few flicks, one of them is the 2013 cheesefest Gingerclown.

Plot/ To impress the girl of his dreams, Sam enters an old amusement park, where torturous monsters roam the grounds.

Growing up in the 1980s, I have seen my share of big-boxed horror cheese, and honestly, this one fits right it with those. With that being the case, if you do not love that era of straight to VHS schlockfests, this movie will definitely not be for you. Gingerclown is in no way a perfect movie, in fact, it is likely one of the cheesiest, and cliché riddled flicks to come out in some time. Couple that with bad animatronic effects (classic 1980s cheese) that make SyFy Channel CGI look impressive, and it is easy to see where we are headed. Yes, it does have some decent actors doing voice work for the animatronics (Tim Curry and Lance Henriksen) and it does create the feel that it was made in the 1980s, but those are about the best parts. In the end, this movie is bad, but it embraced that realization by trying to recreate one of the best eras of low budget horror. Definitely not for everyone, but if like me you want taken back to your youth and love 1980s schlock (minus the boobs), suspend all reality for a while and give it a shot…

Mind Ripper (1995)

After diving into the Matrix, and spending, a good bit of time in Sci-Fi land, I decided to try to find something more horror related inside the genre last night. After some searching, I did just that with the 1995 low budget entry Mind Ripper (AKA The Outpost).

Plot/ A top secret experiment intended to produce a superhuman has gone terribly wrong. Now the creators, trapped in a remote desert outpost, are being pursued ruthlessly by their creation. With the door sealed from within, there is no way out.

This is one that I did not catch when it originally came out, and I am surprised I missed it, as it was a decent schlockfest. From executive producer Wes Craven, this one had a lot more action than I expected, the storyline (albeit clichéd) was interesting, and there was a darker atmosphere woven into the pacing.  Yes, the lower budget is apparent, the performances are uneven, and there is really nothing new crafted inside the cliché moments, but it is still a fun way to spend a few minutes passing time with a low budget creature feature (especially if it is free). In the end, if you love low budget cheese, this one has some entertaining moments, and is probably better than it should be. Sure, there is a dated feel, but one can do a lot worse.

The Horror Show (1989)

After enjoying my trip into the dark world of Rosemary’s Baby last night, I decided I wanted to catch something different tonight as I worked on some homework. First, I watched Left Behind, as some Antichrist vibe was needed as I worked on my project. When that was done, I ventured into the 1980s with the 1989 flick The Horror Show (AKA House III).

Plot/ Detective Lucas McCarthy finally apprehends "Meat Cleaver Max" and watches the electric chair execution from the audience. But killing Max Jenke only elevated him to another level of reality. Now Lucas' family is under attack, his sanity in question, and his house haunted. Aided by a disreputable college professor, can Lucas reclaim his mind, house, and family?

The Horror Show is nowhere close to the classic that I watched last night. However, it is a great example of the splatter/slasher craze of the 1980s. While it is far from perfect, it does have a decent storyline, some solid performances, and a large amount of blood, gore, and violence, all elements that made movies from the 1980s rock! Unfortunately, the pacing is off, the comedic allusions did not work, and the scripting was uneven. In the end, this one is nothing special and not worth searching for. Yes, it is entertaining and would be worth watching if you catch it on Netflix, but remember it is nothing spectacular.

Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer (2010)

Growing up, I always liked mysteries, I always wanted to be a detective and work for the FBI. I wanted to go back in time and solve the Jack the Ripper case, yeah, I was a bit of a dreamer. I remember reading the book Journey into Darkness; for the first time seeing the demented minds of serial killers. The reality of what drove them and knowing that they could be standing next to me was a scary thought. Since then, I have always had a soft spot for movies based on serial killers (and occasionally write about them when I do write anymore). One of the latest movies I have watched on the subject was an interesting indie flick, Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer from 2010.  

Plot/ An independent TV reporter and her camera operator interview a man in regards to a serial killer the man knew by the name of Cyrus. The man traces back through the story of the serial killer and why he became the monster he is.

Reality can be dark, and serial killers often make the world darker. Movies about serial killers can be hit or miss, with many suffering a clichéd death. That pain is felt on this one, as there are many cliché moments throughout. However, with this film being loosely based on the life of a real serial killer (Fritz Haarmann – the butcher of Hannover), those moments and some of the storyline should be a bit familiar (even if it is a movie). Overall, I found the storyline interesting (albeit a bit predictable), the acting solid with just enough of graphic visuals to keep things dark and even a bit disturbing (breastfeeding anyone?).  Sure, some of the pacing is a bit slow and some of the characterizations are off, but those are easily overlooked. In the end, this flick is nothing new, but it was an entertaining trip into a story about a serial killer and his demented ways. Sure, it is not for everyone, but if you like movies based on serial killers, you should definitely like this one.  

When A Stranger Calls (2006)

As I said in an earlier blog, Jillian picked out a few movies to watch this past weekend. Having a young daughter who is a Sci-Fi / Horror fan is a challenge. While I enjoy the fact that she has some darker movie interests, balancing what she can and cannot watch is a bit difficult at times. Fortunately, with the political correctness and conservatism that is destroying Sci-Fi and Horror running amuck, it is becoming easier to find something that fits my guidelines every time I go to the video store.  Of her flicks, we have already watched both in the Planet of the Apes and now the 2006 version of When A Stranger Calls.

Plot/ During an otherwise routine babysitting gig, a high-school student is harassed by an increasingly threatening prank caller.

“The call is coming from inside the house,” I remember watching the original as a teen and having that line etched into my psyche. All these years later, it was an enjoyable afternoon watching this remake with my young daughter, hoping that it would have that lasting effect on her. Sure, this version is nowhere near the original failing to capture and maintain the dark feel of the original. Most of the acting was decent, the storyline solid and the cinematography pretty good. Unfortunately, there was really no characterization, no blood or no gore (and the suspenseful moments were rare). In the end, I truly preferred the original. My daughter loved the movie and was at the edge of her seat, but she has not seen the first one yet (and she is nine). Honestly, there are worse flicks out there, but if you have a chance, catch the original, it is much better.  

The Pit and the Pendulum (1991)

After enjoying Dorian Gray, I was finally able to sit down and watch another period piece, the 1991 Stuart Gordon adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum.

Plot/ It is the time of the Spanish Inquisition. Maria does not like what is going on during the "Auto De Fe". When she speaks out, she is arrested and accused of being a witch. Torquemada has plans for her!

Like many, I strayed from watching this adaptation of the classic Edgar Allan Poe tale. To be, honest, I thought that the Corman / Price classic was perfect in so many ways that an updated version was not needed. However, after sitting down to this flick last night, I may have been wrong. Director Stuart Gordon crafts a tale of atmosphere and dread, which is truly better than I ever imagined. True, it does not feature a tremendous amount of gore or violence, but it does contain an interesting blend of scenes that are terrifying. The acting is solid with Lance Henriksen maybe having his most powerful performance. In the end, this is much better than many believe and recommended to fans of Poe, Gordon and anyone into historical based atmospheric horror.