Out of Darknes (2022)

Last night I had a chance to catch one of the AMC Screen Unseen events at our local theater. To me,  this was awesome,  especially being a horror film. I mean,  there is no better way to see things then before they are widely released. While this film was made in 2022, it was only released in Europe and went have its wide US release until February 9th. That movie in Out of Darkness.

Plot: About 45,000 years ago, a desperate band of early humans finds a new land to settle in. As they start to realize that something monstrous is hunting them down, they must confront a horrifying danger that they never could have imagined.

Not knowing anything about the movie I was about to watch,  I wasn't really prepared for this at the start.  While I do love watching foreign films,  I tend to skip subtitles unless I'm at home.  However,  as the movie progressed, the use of subtitles with this foriegn language film didn't bother me in the least, in fact,  I think it added to the atmosphere and tension.  While there is nothing groundbreaking in this one,  the performances,  cinematography, and overall message was entertaining; although,  I would not actually classify this movie as a horror film.  More of a drama/thriller, this one relies on the darkness and tension between the group of travelers and the unseen creatures tormenting them in the forest to create mood, and it does work.  Shot on a low budget, there is a lot to like.  However, there are some issues that jump out. The make-up, costuming, and lack of body effects don't mesh with the storyline. The gatherers are too clean, healthy, and made up to match the storyline.  What caveman has perfect teeth? Really, not an entire group.  While that's easily overlooked,  it did impact the overall feel of the film. There are also some holes in the storyline that are obvious and never really addressed, making it a bit of a head scratcher.  In the end,  this one was better than I expected, but it's not one I would have searched out.  

The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)

Yesterday was one of the final long softball days of the season and will admit it took its toll on me. I was beaten down and just wanted to sleep. When I finally cleared my head, I decided to watch something older. After some searching, I decided on the 1958 classic film, The Revenge of Frankenstein.

Plot/ Baron Frankenstein escapes from the guillotine and goes to Germany. There, he names himself Dr. Stein and plans to restart his experiments by using parts of dead bodies.

I was in the mood for some type of classic last night and decided to turn to Hammer Studios and that decision was rewarded. This is one of the more underpublicized films from the catalog, but it offers everything you could ask for from one of the early Frankenstein films. More atmospheric and creepy, this movie looks amazing. The sets, the lighting, pacing, and the cinematography are perfect, the performances were outstanding, and the storyline was full of twists and turns and added some depth that many entries in the historic life of Frankenstein do not have. Yes, it may be more of a drama or thriller than a horror film and as usual, the story is more about the doctor than the creature, but any fan of Hammer Horror should already expect those elements. In the end, this is an entertaining movie to watch and a perfect movie for a quiet night with Doctor Frankenstein. If you have not seen it, check it out.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

After watching Cujo last night, I decided that I needed something different before heading off to bed. Lately, I have been struggling with focus while trying to write and have been searching for something to just start that. Finally, while searching my streaming services, I decided on the 2007 horror musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Plot/ In the Victorian London, the barber Benjamin Barker is married to the gorgeous Lucy and they have a lovely child, Johanna. The beauty of Lucy attracts the attention of the corrupt Judge Turpin, who falsely accuses the barber of a crime that he did not commit and abuses Lucy later after gaining custody of her. After fifteen years in exile, Benjamin returns to London under the new identity of Sweeney Todd, seeking revenge against Turpin.

I will admit, I have a soft spot for musicals, especially if they trend in the direction of horror and this one did not disappoint. Being a Tim Burton movie and featuring Johnny Depp, it was hard to be excited, as their stuff has been hit or miss. Fortunately, this one was a hit and it is well worth watching. This one is a pure musical, but it does a great job at mixing the dark comedy and horror elements in a way that makes it extremely entertaining. The cast is amazing (although, I did feel like it should have been a Harry Potter reunion), Burtons’ imagery and cinematic choices were tight and crafted an atmospheric tale, the artistic elements were flawless, and the graphic horror elements, while brutal and gory, came across in almost a subdued way that fit perfect in this dark world. Yes, being a musical may turn some people off, but honestly, that shouldn’t be a factor as this one is much more than your typical musical. In the end, this is a movie that should be seen, and one that I feel does not get the respect that it deserves. It is everything a horror fan should enjoy and if you have not watched it yet, you are missing out.

The House by the Cemetery (1981)

After some creature features and a disaster flick, I decided to go back a few decades and visit some Italian horror. My first selection in that genre for this week is the 1981 Lucio Fulci entry The House by the Cemetery.

Plot/ A New England home is terrorized by a series of murders, unbeknownst to the guests that a gruesome secret is hiding in the basement.

This is definitely a polarizing flick from the Fulci catalog, but it is one of my favorites. This Italian splatterfest has enough blood and gore for any horror fanatic and is backed by an outstanding soundtrack that sets the moods perfectly. The make-up and special effects work, the cinematography is solid, and as I already mentioned, the soundtrack was eerie and dark. Yes, the performances are a touch uneven, there are some plot holes, and the gore may turn some viewers off because of the overall violent tones (more of a problem today with all the sensitivities that exist), but those elements do not harm this one in any way. In the end, Fulci is one of those filmmakers that can be a lightning rod and many will either love his work or hate it. However, if you look within his films, the shocking aspects act as cover for some important social issues that are still problems today.  If you love blood, gore, and violence, you should check this one out. It definitely isn’t the sugarcoated horror of today.

Spider Baby or, The Maddest Story Ever Told (1967)

There are times when I really want to watch something from the classic era of horror cinema and take a stab at something different. That was the case tonight when I picked the 1967 cult classic Spider Baby or, The Maddest Story Ever Told (AKA Cannibal Orgy).

Plot/ A caretaker devotes himself to three demented siblings after their father's death.

This low budget Lon Chaney Jr. gem is quite different than what I would have imagined considering the era. A true cult classic, this one features a unique storyline that spans many taboo subjects including cannibalism, necrophilia, and inbreeding (as well as murder). The performances from the stellar cast, the cinematography, and the characterizations are all outstanding. Yes, there is some humor that may or may not have been intentional and there are a few directorial choices that seem a bit off, but those elements do not really damage the overall feel of the movie. In the end, this film is well worth finding and watching. Sure, it is a touch odd, but it is also an enjoyable 80 minutes of relaxation in a grim world.

Attack of the Monsters (1969)

As I said yesterday, I needed something mindless and turned to my 12 Creature Features set. Even after the first movie from the set I watched last night, I needed more. That is when I broke down and continued a Gamera marathon with Attack of the Monsters (AKA Gamera vs. Guiron) from1969.

Plot/ Aliens kidnap two children and take them to another planet for the purpose of getting knowledge from their brains, but Gamera follows and tries to rescue them.

So, I went down a Gamera rabbit hole last night and did not come out until I was two movies into it. Incredibly, this flick was even more ludicrous than the first one, but it was also quite entertaining and laughable. This entry had everything fans of this genre will appreciate including crazy monsters made from rubber suits, uneven audio dubbing, and a fascinating storyline that goes off in multiple directions when you least expect it. More of a kid-centric film than the tamest Godzilla entry, this schlockfest is both entertaining and comical, plus it features some decent acting and decent cinematography for what it is. Yes, all of those technical aspects could be considered flaws (and will be from those who didn’t grow up with these creatures), but they are part of the charm. In the end, while I did like Gammera the Invincible more, this one was rather entertaining and did a great job taking me back to my youth. If you are like me and a fan of 1960s monster driven schlock, give this one a shot. It is a blast and kept me entertained.

Little Shop of Horrors (1986)

Last night, I went for something serious, and although it was entertaining, I decided that I needed something different tonight as the typhoon comes down outside. After some debate, I decided on the 1986 musical comedy Little Shop of Horrors.

Plot/ A nerdy florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed.

The world may be a much happier place if it were a musical. There I said it. While I understand the absurdity of that statement, I do also see the power of that platform. Yes, horror movies are hard to get right (although Cannibal the Musical was hilarious), but that genre also has a way (along with sci-fi) of being a solid platform for the comedic side of the genre. This entry, based on a classic Broadway musical, embraces that and creates a tremendously campy, comedy-horror combination that is both entertaining and memorable. This homage to the classic low budget schlockfests of the 50s and 60s features a great cast, perfect pacing, some awesome performances, decent effects, a hilarious storyline, and a musical score that is both catchy and darkly funny. Yes, it is schlock-filled, campy, and totally laughable and absurd, but that only adds to the comedic charm contained within the timeline. In the end, this is a movie that I feel has long been underappreciated and a movie that comedy, horror, and musical fans can enjoy. If you have not seen it, give it a shot. And who knows, maybe it will be a primer for the eclipse that sits upon our horizon in August.

American Mummy (2014)

After spending yesterday with the family, I figured that it would be a good time to jump back into the blog with another low budget entry that I grabbed at Family Video. That selection is the 2014 entry American Mummy (AKA Aztec Blood)

Plot/ A group of university students in the New Mexico desert unearth an ancient mummy, on which one of the students performs a secret, primeval blood ritual. This awakens the death-hungry spirit of the Aztec Lord Tezcalipoca, intent on finishing his centuries-old reign of terror. Soon, the mummy's curse possesses the students' souls, turning them against each other in a bid to spread his evil to the entire world.

When I picked this one up, I expected a low budget, mindless horror flick and that is exactly what I got. This one was extremely laughable from start to finish with uneven performances, strange soundtrack choices, an incoherent storyline that was a head scratcher at best, and a script that not only left many things unexplained created some weird dialog choices. Yes, there was gore and blood, but even the overall feel of the effects was nothing memorable or to write home about. In the end, I can look past the titling and the description (although keeping the title Aztec Blood would make more sense), but the execution was not there even for a low budget flick. Honestly, this one felt more like a school project that a true production. Stay away, you can definitely do much better.

Split (2016)

It is nice to be back home after a trip to North Carolina. While it is nice to visit with family, that it a long drive and I often return exhausted and worn out. Plus, I usually miss my typical horror fix. To get back into the swing of things, I went to Family Video and picked up the 2016 thriller Split.

Plot/ Three girls are kidnapped by a man with a diagnosed 23 distinct personalities, they must try to escape before the apparent emergence of a frightful new 24th.

As many already know, movies by M. Night Shyamalan can range from awesome to terrible, and honestly, you never know what you will get. I was relieved that Split fell closer to the good productions. While not a perfect film and it does have a few clichéd moments, the performances within the storyline (especially James McAvoy) make it easy to overlook those. Besides McAvoy, the performances are solid, the story is engaging, and the direction was solid. This one was definitely an atmospheric thriller that was better than I expected. Unfortunately, it was somewhat predictable and the twist ending was not needed. In the end, there was a lot to like about this movie and it appears that Shyamalan has again put together of entertaining thrillers. Hopefully, he keeps up this trend with his next entry.

Alive (1993)

While I spent some time working on finalizing the re-release of Walking Before Dawn after the edits, I decided to take a break from the blog. With some time on hand today, I decided to jump back in with a review of a movie I caught the other day: 1993s Alive.

Plot/ A Uruguayan rugby team stranded in the snow swept Andes are forced to use desperate measures to survive after a plane crash.

I have to admit, watching Alive again so many years after watching it in the theater definitely changed my perspective of it. Honestly, everything that I did not like or thought it lacked seemed to be in place this time around. This is one of the best true story adaptations I have seen and it is a great film to watch. The cast was wonderful with outstanding performances across the board, the cinematography was amazing, the story both bleak and uplifting, and the soundtrack was a perfect vessel to create the chilling tone of the movie. Yes, it did lack some emotion and felt subdued in some parts, but that is nitpicking. In the end, this is a great film and a movie that should weigh on your mind long after watching it. Check it out.   

The Ecstasy of Isabel Mann (2012)

I have many different writing projects going, and I absolutely love it! Last night I finished a rewrite of the back page description for Walking Before Dawn, knocked out two blog posts, and did some work on my After the Static project. Today, after some yard work and answering a few emails, I kicked back and enjoyed my last flick from Family Video: 2012s The Ecstasy of Isabel Mann.

Plot/ A violent sect of day-walking vampires seduces teenager Isabel Mann. Her classmates start to go missing, attracting two detectives. Things get weird as the disturbed teenager kills at will in the nearby woods.

This was the last movie that I picked up at Family Video and probably the one I enjoyed the most. While there were some of the typical low budget flaws present, for the most part, it came off in a rather impressive manner. The performances are decent, the storyline interesting, the cinematography and direction spot on, and the soundtrack blended perfectly with the script and movie. Yes, the pacing was a touch slow, the sound quality was uneven, and some of the elements may seem better suited for an art house film than true horror entry, but when you look at the movie as a whole, they are minimal issues. In the end, this movie is a different approach to the vampire mythos and one that works. Sure, some viewers may not like it (and that is understandable) because of the diverse scripting and scene choices, but those are only minor flaws. Check this one out.

Blood Feast (1963)

There is nothing like watching one of those memorable films that helped shape my love of the horror genre, and that is exactly what I did last night. What was that movie? It was the 1963 splatterfest Blood Feast!

Plot/ An Egyptian caterer kills various women in suburban Miami to use their body parts to bring to life a dormant Egyptian goddess, while an inept police detective tries to track him down.

There are times where it can be difficult to trace the origins of a storyline or genre. That is definitely not the case with this movie, as it is one of the most influential movies of the splatter/gore movement in horror. This movie by Herschell Gordon Lewis may not be the most technically sound, it mat lack a coherent plot, and the effects are laughable at best, but its place in horror history is cemented by the blood, guts, gore, and beauties that became all the rage in exploitation and 1980s big box cinema. In the end, this may not be the best movie of its kind and it has some major problems besides what I already mentioned, but that does not matter one bit. This movie takes no prisoners and does not care that it offends, which makes it one of the best gorefests to ever grace the screen. If you have not seen it; you are wrong! Check this one out.

Clown (2016)

With all of the talk about clowns recently plaguing some areas in the South, I believe that it is quite fitting to spend some time in the world of the clowns. While I was not able to head out and see something at the drive-in, I was able to check out something new at Family Video, Eli Roth’s 2016 entry Clown.

Plot/ A little boy's birthday party is ruined when his clown cancels. His father finds a clown suit and becomes the new entertainment but something is weird about it, there is an evil curse and it won't come off and he specializes in eating little kids.

I know that the thought of clowns drive many people up a wall. To me, they are just part of life, and having dressed as a clown before, I know #ClownLivesMatter. Now this movie hats the clown to an all-new level, and I know that many will never look at them the same (much like It!). There is a lot to like in this one, with blood, murder, and mayhem. But, there is also some sound performances, an interesting storyline, decent cinematography, and the costuming is perfect for the storyline. Yes, some of the characterizations are off, many of the kills take place off screen, and there are many clichéd moments woven in that are noticeable. In the end, viewers will either love or hate this one (which is the case with many horror movies), although for me it was a perfect way to end a weekend. If you love horror or clowns, you should definitely give this one a shot. I loved it and highly recommend it.

The Green Inferno (2015)

After discussing a horror comedy last night, I decided that tonight I would head in a complete different direction for my review. After all, there is nothing truly like cannibalism and honestly, we could use more flicks from that vein. Next up is the 2015 cannibal inspired entry The Green Inferno.

Plot/ A group of student activists travels to the Amazon to save the rain forest and soon discover that they are not alone, and that no good deed goes unpunished.

While I knew that this would not rise to the famous Cannibal Holocaust when I went into it, I at least left satisfied by what was created, especially considering where we are with society and the mainstream disdain for horror. Unlike the 1970s/1980s when horror could grow and the shock was everything, today in this hypersensitive era, it is amazing that the subject matter of this film was even allowed to see the light of day. Yes, it is not a perfect film by any means featuring uneven performances, a stripped down plot, and some head scratching moments that seemed to develop from weird editing choices, but it was not all that bad. This movie featured some awesome visuals, great practical effects by Greg Nicotero, and enough believability to make it interesting. In the end, this film by Eli Roth is definitely not for everyone because of the gore and subject matter. However, if you are looking for something outside of the PG-13 horror box that is populating the shelves of horror flicks, five it a shot.