The Hat Man: Documented Cases of Pure Evil (2019)

I have recently been in a research documentary mood.  I guess it comes with the territory of being limited by what I am allowed to do during my recovery.  While I have been slowly reorganizing my shop,  not being able to lift over 10 pounds frustrates me,  causing me to lose motivation.  One subject that has always interested me is the Hat Man, something that came back into focus when NFL Superstar Aaron Rodgers talked about his encounters with this mysterious entity.  So I dove back in with the documentary, The Hat Man: Documented Cases of Pure Evil.

Plot: Eyewitnesses share their stories of how they encountered an evil entity known as, The Hat Man.

I found this an interesting documentary that followed the tradition path with reenactments, interviews,  and documents pertaining to this mysterious character.  Of course, this one will be a like many others in this realm that engraved a specific theory and build upon it,  never fully dissecting into other theories that exist. Personally,  I like seeing things from every angle with serious discussions being brought forward.  Yes,  there the alternate theories were mentioned,  but never really explored to their fullest potential.  It is definitely trying to convince the audience of a potential theory instead of opening the doors of perception to create conversations. There are also some flaws with the technical aspects,  especially the audio quality throughout. The volume levels constantly needed adjustment creating some slight frustrations. In the end,  I did find  this interesting and informative although there was really no new infirmary given.   Yes, it won't be for everyone (exorcism skeptics). But, if you are a believer or are extension interested, you should enjoy it. 

The Nightmare (2015)

This has been an interesting month between college and softball and being the project manager for my groups assigned transmedia project has been a challenge. Hopefully, it turns out as good as I imagine it will. Needing a touch of a break tonight, I decided to kick back and watch a documentary and The Nightmare (2015) fit the bill.

Plot/ A look at a frightening condition that plagues thousands; sleep paralysis.

At first, I could not place whether this was a documentary or a mockumentary, soon the realism of the subject matter came through, and the subject captivated me. Luckily, I do not suffer from sleep paralysis, but I know some people who do. For them, this condition is almost debilitating. One of the things that drew me in was that talk of the shadow people, and how similar the stories were. These stories match what I have heard from friends that suffer from this. Yes, this is not a perfect documentary, as some of the visuals being better than others, but that is easily overlooked if you are interested in the subject matter. In the end, this documentary is worth watching and is an informative look at a subject that is often overlooked or dismissed.

Shadow People (2013)

As a researcher in the paranormal, one topic seems to be a lightning rod of controversy, Shadow People. What are the mysterious shadows that show up in the night? Are they just nightmares? Are they demons? Are they spirits? Or are they just figments of our imaginations? No one really knows for sure. That is why when I saw the 2013 movie Shadow People at Family Video, I had to grab it.

Plot/ A radio talk show host unravels a conspiracy about encounters with mysterious beings known as The Shadow People and their role in the unexplained deaths of several hundred victims in the 1980s.

It is very rare for me to hit a home run on an impulse rental when it comes to horror. Usually, I grab something and it never comes close to what I had in mind when I picked it up. That was not the case here, as Shadow People exceeded my low expectations. Much like what The Fourth Kind should have been, this movie does a great job creating a real atmosphere while mixing in true accounts. The acting was solid, storyline and scripting excellent, and the cinematography provided a few eerie moments. Yes, at PG 13 there was no gore or violence,  it was a touch predictable and it did have some slow parts, but those are just minor flaws. In the end, this was an enjoyable watch and one that had the daughters looking over their shoulders.  

Grizzly Flats (2011)

After a couple of flicks about possessions, I decided on something with another popular topic, shadow people. While there have been some interesting stories recently come out in research, this flick did not compare. The movie I decided on was Grizzly Flats (AKA Shadow People) from 2011.

Plot/ Sylvain, an engineer come vigilante inventor, has constructed a device. It is close to functional, but something isn't right. His wife, Mary Anne, is running out of patience. She loathes the woods in which they live and yearns for a return to the city. Problems arise when their already tense situation is exasperated by the appearance of shadow beings, which torment them during the night. 

When I picked this one up, I had very little expectations. I had seen a trailer, but never heard anything else. I am glad that I did not expect much, as this was even worse than I could have imagined. It honestly took everything in my power to sit through it. Everything seemed to have flaws, as the editing was off, the pacing bad, the storyline stale and the atmosphere was non-existent. While I could go on into oblivion with the flaws, I will not, I will just say this is bad for a low budget B-Movie. In the end, I could not recommend this for anyone, it has to be one of the worst films I have watched in some time.