Extraordinary Tales (2013)

Having watched Crimson Peak last night, I needed something else to help me focus on my final script project for my film writing class. After some debate with the voices in my head, I decided to venture into the mind of Edgar Allan Poe with the 2013 animated adaption Extraordinary Tales.

Plot/ The film is an animation-accompanied narration of some excerpts of some of the short stories written by Edgar Allan Poe. The movie contains: The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell Tale Heart, The Facts In the Case Of M. Valdemar, The Pit and The Pendulum, and The Masque of the Red Death.

If you have read this blog, you should already know how I feel about Edgar Allen Poe. Not only was he a genius who set the stage for modern American horror, his influence on both the cinematic and literary community may never truly be matched. Unfortunately, some of his popularity has waned in recent years, as the rise of technology has reduced the amount of kids interested in the classics. While this may not be a perfect adaptation, it is an interesting journey into the mind of the master and some of his epic tales. Complete with a diverse animation backdrop, the segments range from great (The Pit & The Pendulum) to the uneven (The Tell-Tale Heart). Of course, the opinions will vary because of the different styles used. What made this even more intriguing is the group of actors used to bring it to life. Legends such as Roger Corman, Sir Christopher Lee, and Bela Lugosi, were joined by Julian Sands and Guillermo del Toro to create a movie that could easily serve as an introduction to Poe for a new generation of fans. In the end, this one will not be for everyone, but it is an entertaining journey into the macabre visions of a literary genius.

POE: Project of Evil (2012)

With the NFL Draft finally in the books, I can finally take off my Steelers 101 hat and take a break. While I still have some work to do with a total recap and undrafted rookie profiles, it will be nowhere near the intensity of the past three nights. With some extra time on my hands, I decided to venture into the mind of Poe for my next review. My selection for the evening was Brain Damage Films, POE: Project of Evil (AKA P.O.E. 2) from 2012.

Plot/ In this twisted horror anthology, eight talented Italian directors present their takes on the disturbing tales of Edgar Allan Poe, each in a very personal and modern way. Prepare to experience the terror of POE like never before!

Before I get deep into my review let me start by saying if you are a Poe purest you should stay away from this film. If, like me, you enjoy strange anthologies and love the master of macabre, than you may enjoy this one. Clearly art house cinema, this Italian entry has a lot to like, as it uses the classic Poe tales as a backdrop for surreal journey’s into the macabre. The acting is solid, the cinematography top notch, effects really work. Unfortunately, for many this is not the straightforward horror flick they will expect and much of the incoherent and bizarre interpretations will go over their heads. This one is clearly not for everyone as the combination of violence and nudity sit outside the typical world of Poe. However, in the end, I totally enjoyed it. This was one of the more original films I have seen in some time and one of the more intriguing art house cinema pieces that has made their way onto video store shelves. If you enjoy strangeness and can watch it with an open mind, check it out; it is worth it.

The Raven (2012)

 

 

As any reader of the blog will know, I am a huge Edgar Allan Poe fan. I have collected his writings, movies based on his material and even dressed like him. Honestly, his works have inspired much of who I am. With that in mind, I could not wait to sit down and watch The Raven in the comforts of my living room. Yes, I understand these movies are often a sketchy proposition, but as a fan, you have to watch.

 

 

Plot/ When a madman begins committing horrific murders inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's works, a young Baltimore detective joins forces with Poe to stop him from making his stories a reality.

 

 

When I saw that this movie was being filmed, I was really not looking forward to it. Do not get me wrong, I love everything Poe, but I feared that this one would fall into the category of Poe inspired films that fell short. Fortunately, my fears were wrong. This movie is much better than I could have imagined and was an interesting take of the last days of the literary genius. What I really liked was the dark and graphic way they combined different parts of Poe classics. These ideas within this layered story worked well with the solid acting, characterizations, and effects. More importantly, it portrayed Poe as a human and author, and did not try to create something more than he was. In the end, this was one of the better Poe themed movies that I have seen and one that should be seen. If you have not watched it, check it out.

Requiem for the Damned (2012)

I was going to did out The Wicker Man, instead, I decided to venture into the darkness that is Edgar Allan Poe. I love Poe and the deep stories he created. He was truly a genius and he was lost before his time. While The Raven is all the rage, I decided to venture into something different, the 2012 Indie entry, Requiem for the Damned.

Plot/ For nearly two hundred years his stories of the macabre have shocked and terrified audiences. And now, inspired by five of Poe's most terrifying tales, five filmmakers have banded together to create the ultimate tribute to the master: Edgar Allan Poe's Requiem For The Damned - featuring adaptations of : The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Black Cat, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Murders in the Rue Morgue.

I will have to admit, as a Poe fanatic, I hate watching failed interpretations of his works. While, I personally enjoy some of the modern twists, they have to be done right, and that is often a tall order. In this flick, Allegheny Image Factory did their best to apply modern twists to his works, some worked, while some did not (The Tell-Tale Heart was bad, very bad). For me, the flick was uneven, scripting off and acting all over the place. Honestly, it had an extremely low budget almost student film type quality. I did like the surreal feel of The Black Cat (although, it was too over the top) and The Pit and the Pendulum was intriguing in what seemed like a post-apocalyptic world. Unfortunately, as a whole, this flick is flawed and definitely will not appeal to everyone, watch at your own risk!

Tell Tale (2009)

After watching Stuart Gordon’s adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum, I was still in sort of a Poe mood tonight. Luckily for me, I found a movie (loosely based on Poe) that I have been thinking about for a while, 2009s Tell Tale.

Plot/ A man's newly transplanted heart leads him on a dangerous journey to find out who murdered its donor.

Much like Dorian Gray and its interpretation of the Oscar Wilde classic, Tell Tale is definitely more inspired by the Poe classing than based on it. In fact, there are very few similarities in this modernized version. However, even with those small similarities, this film is does a great job at crafting a story the Poe might have been proud of. More of a thriller than horror, there is a heavy and depressing atmosphere that permeates the film, actually carrying a bit of suspense throughout. The cast and acting are solid and both add to the story. Plus, there is a touch of blood and violence that add just enough to tie it together. Yes, it is not a perfect Indie flick, with some of the characters creating a gauche feel and mood. In the end, this is a decent stand-alone flick that may turn off the Poe fan that was not educated about its premise. Personally, I thought it was a good interpretation with a lot to offer, and a flick that can be enjoyed by many!

Poe's Tell-Tale Heart (1960)

Being a huge fan of the works of Edgar Allan Poe, it was just natural that when growing up I enjoyed the Poe adaptations starring Vincent Price. So many of those movies left such a lasting impression on me, and I am sure a lot of horror fans. Those are not the only Poe related movies that have crossed my DVD collection though. In fact, I am always on the lookout for different films and show that I have not seen to add to my ever-growing bookcase of horror.

This weekend I stumbled upon an adaptation I had never seen at the flea market, and for a quarter I did not hesitate to grab it. This one was the 1960 British rendition of The Tell-Tale Heart, starring Laurence Payne. To be honest, this melodramatic story is only loosely based on Poe, revolving around a troubled librarian Edgar (Lawrence Payne) who falls in love at first sight with a newly moved-in girl Betty (Adrienne Corri) living across the street. Edgar asks Betty to have a dinner with him, and she accepts, but he later finds that she is really in love with Edgar's friend Carl (Dermot Walsh). Angry and in despair, Edgar does what you know he will do anyway in his desolate house where he lives alone.

While the script is not very original, the acting is good with Lawrence Payne's performance being on par with some of the better movies of the day. The movie also has a great deal of stylish cinematography for its age (although the transfer of the film to DVD could be a better). In all, this moody and at times risqué film is one of the better interpretations of a Poe tale. This interesting movie has somehow survived untouched by the corporate cinemas that are ruining film.