And Now the Screaming Starts! (1973)

Last night I decided to continue venturing down that retro path and turned to Shudder to find something interesting. After some debate, I decided on the 1973 gothic ghost story And Now the Screaming Starts!

Plot/ England, 1795: the young Catherine has just married Charles Fengriffen and moves into his castle. She becomes the victim of an old curse that lays on the family. On her wedding night, she is raped by a ghost and gets pregnant.

This was a different film than I expected and I was actually quite entertained by the odd elements that were added in. From Amicus Studios, this gothic ghost story offers an interesting (albeit somewhat clichéd) storyline that was brought to life by an outstanding cast led by Peter Cushing. The performances were solid, the cinematography and setting were captivating, the atmosphere was heavy, and the visuals and color pallet used was amazing. Yes, the special effects were lacking in quality and the end game was a bit drawn out, but those are small flaws in what is definitely an underrated film in the studios' catalog. In the end, while there were some contradictory moments in the storyline and some of the low budget flaws rise up, for the most part, this one delivers. Yes, it is not perfect, but it is an entertaining movie and one that can be found on Shudder for free if you are in the mood for a classic gothic ghost story.

Wait Till Helen Comes (2016)

After Shin Godzilla and Phoenix Forgotten, I wanted to change direction. At first, I did some sports writing for one of the sites I manage, but that was not anything that really helped pass the time until Twin Peaks: The Return. That is when I decided on the next flick, 2016s Wait Till Helen Comes (AKA Little Girl’s Secret).

Plot/ When a reconstructed family moves to a converted church in the country, 14-year-old Molly must save her troubled stepsister from a dangerous relationship with the desperate ghost of a young girl.

I grabbed this one to have something to watch with the girls and it definitely served that purpose. However, for me, even with the creepy look of the house and the decent cinematography, this one did not move the needle. Sure, the performances were not bad and the storyline was believable, but that did not save it from being anything more than background entertainment. There was nothing new in this one, as the story was predictable (although I could have read this in my youth), it lacked atmosphere and tension, and there was nothing in this that made it in any way memorable. In fact, I may have already forgotten some of it. In the end, this one is a decent flick to watch with the kids if they are searching for a ghost story, but nothing more. Unless you are in that position, stay away.

The Axe Murders of Villisca (2016)

One thing that is a challenge during this time of the year is balancing the blog with my daughters travel softball schedule. This weekend was no exception, as we spent most of Saturday and Sunday in some brutal heat. Couple that with my Sunday evenings being dedicated to Twin Peaks and I have to skip some posts. That all changes on Mondays when I can get baVick to movies and the blog, like tonight when I ventured into the 2016 horror flick The Axe Murders of Villisca.

Plot/ Three outcast teenagers break into the Villisca Axe Murder house in search of answers but discover something far beyond their worst fears.

I had no idea what to expect from this one, but always being intrigued by the story of the Villisca Axe Murders, I decided to give this one a shot. Yes, there were some clichéd moments as the teens explore the house; yet, there is enough story development to make those moments easy to overlook. While the movie is not perfect, the storyline is interesting; the pacing works, and the atmosphere is much better than I would have initially imagined. Sure, the ending could have been better and there were some predictable moments, but that is somewhat typical in lower budgeted films. In the end, this one may not be for everyone and honestly; it did not reach its full potential. While it is not a bad movie, it could have been better.

The Eclipse (2009)

After watching a few classics, it was time to return to this era and find something different. After some searching on my different streaming services, I decided on the 2009 supernatural thriller The Eclipse.

Plot/ In a seaside Irish town, a widower sparks with a visiting horror novelist while he also begins to believe he is seeing ghosts.

As I was searching Shudder last night, this one seemed like a nice change of pace and I was right. This supernatural themed film does a great job at building atmosphere and drawing the viewer in. Yes, it may be a slow build, but it is there. The scripting is awesome, the performances solid, and the amount of emotion brought forth is really well done. Unfortunately, there are some clichéd moments and the ending feels a touch abrupt, but those are but minor elements that do nothing to bring down the film. In the end, this one is much better than I ever would have thought. If you like emotional supernatural movies, this one is for you. Check it out!

Lights Out (2016)

I am usually pretty good at buckling down around over the Halloween season. Unfortunately, this year I have been caught up with some of the stupidity that has made this one of the least fun seasons on record. When towns and stores are infringing on our rights as citizens to dress-up as common characters, there is a giant problem. Honestly, the amount of political correctness and attempts to sissify society is unbelievable. Next up for review is the 2016 ghost story, Lights Out!

Plot/ When her little brother, Martin, experiences the same events that once tested her sanity, Rebecca works to unlock the truth behind the terror, which brings her face to face with an entity that has an attachment to their mother, Sophie.

Personally, I have been having a hard time finding any type of ghost story that has been worth watching over the past few months. That changes with this one, as it was one of the best that I have seen in some time. There is so much to like about this one, with an interesting storyline (although a very basic premise), solid performances, and tight cinematography that marries every aspect of the film (visuals, sound, and tension). Yes, it is not a masterpiece and there are some predictable moments woven within the premise, but those are easily forgotten (especially with one of the best endings for a movie in some time). In the end, this is one of the better ghost story’s to come out in some time and a movie that would be perfect for Halloween. Check it out!

Crimson Peak (2015)

After taking the night off last night to relax and work on my script for class, it was time to get back to some horror and check out a flick that caught my eye some time ago. With a few hours in place and needing a break from scripting, I sat down to watch the 2015 gothic horror Crimson Peak.

Plot/ In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds - and remembers.

I had been waiting some time to see this flick, and was excited to see it finally sitting on the shelves at Family Video. As a fan of Guillermo del Toro, I love the way he is able to capture stunning visuals no matter the storyline. While this is not a perfect film, and at times feels forced and disjointed, there are many aspects that made it both intriguing and entertaining. The artistic characteristics are top notch, with an amazing combination of architecture, costumes, cinematography, and stylized visuals that were both dark and vibrant. Unfortunately, the characters and performances were uneven and the overall storyline was somewhat cliché and predictable. In the end, this may not be the best movie in the del Toro catalog, but it is not the worst. If you enjoy gothic dramas with a touch of horror, give it a shot.

Hollows Grove (2014)

Winter Storm Jonas appears to have come and went with a bang, leaving behind roughly two feet of snow behind for us to deal with. Fortunately, it was not worse, and I was able to maneuver around town a couple times today. Now, it is time to curl up and spend the night watching some horror. First up for review tonight is the 2014 found footage flick, Hollows Grove.

Plot/ A young filmmaker documents his ghost-hunting, reality show friends as their routine investigation of an abandoned orphanage turns into a nightmare from which they can't escape.

What could be better than watching low budget horror featuring Lance Henrikson during a blizzard? OK, I can think of a bunch of things that could be better, but those are not readily available tonight as we recover from Winter Storm Jonas. Actually, Hollows Grove was not a bad consolation. While this found footage flick is not perfect with some uneven performances (Maybe even subpar performances) and predictable moments, there was a lot to like. This movie featured a solid storyline that was actually rather layered for the found footage genre, the atmosphere was rather creepy at times, and for a found footage flick it is actually somewhat entertaining. In the end, this is a decent example of how found footage could work. Is it perfect, no, but it is also one of the better low budget examples to come out in some time. I would not run out and buy it, but if you have some time on a winters afternoon, give it a shot.

The Visitant (2014)

After watching the Steelers beat the Bengals and keep their playoff hopes alive, and then finishing my freelance article assignment with a piece on Hollow Earth theory, I decided to kick back and watch something mindless. After some searching, I settled on the 2014 thriller, The Visitant.

Plot/ Samantha plays the role of a Fortune Teller, but she is a thorough skeptic about the paranormal and all things supernatural. One night alone in her house, she learns that there are dark forces that do not care whether she believes or not.

I am all for independent cinema, and I love when I stumble upon interesting movies within that realm. Unfortunately, this one was nothing that I had hoped for reading the description. The acting is uneven, pacing is off, the background music is overdone and excessively loud throughout, and the scripting is rather unoriginal and riddled with clichéd moments. Yes, there are a couple of creepy moments sprinkled inside and the cinematography is better than many movies that sit inside this realm, but those elements can do nothing to save this one. In the end, this movie is not memorable in any way, and does nothing to make it worth watching.

Poltergeist (2015)

This has been a long week with a strange sickness taking over the house. Fortunately, as we head into the holiday weekend everyone (including me) seems to be feeling better. One thing that did not help though was going to see the 2015 remake of Poltergeist when it opened, as again, it shows why classic films should not be touched or remade.

Plot/ A family whose suburban home is haunted by evil forces must come together to rescue their youngest daughter after the apparitions take her captive.

This movie should be the death nail for Hollywood and their endless stream of remakes. Like many of the classics that have been redone, Poltergeist in no way comes close to the original, and honestly, I am not surprised. While I was in no way captivated by the movie, with even my daughter calling it cheesy (and she was the one who really wanted to see it). To be honest, there were some interesting parts, the acting was decent, and some of the 3D effects worked really well. Unfortunately, the flat characterizations, the forced scripting that tried to keep some classic moments by subtly changing them (and in many ways ruining them), and the pace felt off and almost rushed. In the end, if you are a fan of the original stay far away from this one, like me, you will be disappointed. However, if you have not seen the classic Poltergeist, and this will be your first entry into the world, it does have some entertaining moments (although predictable) and could be a fun trip to the movies for the family. Personally, I would just rent (or buy) the classic and skip this altogether. 

The Last House on Cemetery Lane (2015)

The weather has been insane today. Snow, sleet, now rain, with a forecast to change back to snow and ice, at least, I was able to make it to lunch with dad to celebrate our birthdays. It was an awesome time, and it was my treat, so he enjoyed it even more. Now that I am home, it has been a slow afternoon, but I did catch a low budget supernatural entry (based on a true story?)  that will make my next review: the 2015 flick, The Last House on Cemetery Lane.

Plot/ A screenwriter staying in an old manor house in West Wales discovers that it's haunted by malevolent spirits.

Every once in a while I stumble upon a low budget entry that is better than I expected it to be when I picked it up. I realize that with this type of movie, there are often flaws that are inherent to them, and I expect them and will not totally discard a movie just because of them. In this case, while some of those were present, it did a good job at overcoming the damage. The acting is decent with a small cast of relatively unknown actors, the storyline worked (even with some clichéd moments), and the soundtrack fit the storyline. Yes, there were some questionable cinematic moments with the camerawork, the pacing was slow, and some of the effects were a touch uneven, but those elements did not totally ruin this film. In the end, this movie was better than I expected and definitely helped pass a dreary Saturday afternoon. Sure, it is not perfect, but for a low budget entry, it could have been a lot worse.

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.

Gothic (1986)

Every once in a while, I enjoy venturing back into the 1980s to find a classic film I enjoyed during my teenage years. While many discount that decade, there was some great cinema created, especially in the horror genre. One of my favorites from that decade is my next selection; the 1986 entry Gothic. 

Plot/ This is the story of the night that Mary Shelley gave birth to the horror classic "Frankenstein." Disturbed drug induced games are played and ghost stories are told one rainy night at the mad Lord Byron's country estate. 

Ken Russell’s Gothic is one of my favorite movies from the 1980s. Atmospheric, dark, and intriguing, this interpretation of how the classic Frankenstein came to life is an interesting flick. The acting is solid, the script is entertaining and the storyline comes to life on the screen with its stunning imagery. Yes, it does have some incoherent moments, pacing issues and may be a bit complex in many areas, but those flaws are extremely minor. In the end, if you enjoy surreal horror that provides some food for thought, you must see this film. Not for everyone, this is an entertaining flick that offers a stimulating story as to how a horror icon was created. 

Haunter (2013)

This has been a strange week. Between crazy weather and a rogue illness, I have had a rough week. Honestly, when I sleep for over 13 hours straight in an night, there is something wrong with me. On top of that, I just lacked energy and did not watch anything. This weekend I did get caught up on my health and with some movies. First up, the 2013 ghost story Haunter. 

Plot/ The ghost of a teenager who died years ago reaches out to the land of the living in order to save someone from suffering her same fate. 

The ghost story genre has been more bad than good in recent years, with found-footage and handcam movies being all the rage. This ghost story was one that came with a bit of a surprise. Complete with an interesting and layered storyline and some solid acting this one had the potential to be even better. Unfortunately, the repetitive script and lack of overall atmosphere never allows the mood to build into any consistent scares. In the end, this one is better than most and is actually an original ghost story. Yes, it is flawed, but most films are flawed in some way. Give it a shot.