The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

 

As I said in my last post, I headed out to see a couple classic silent movies last night at the NARO Cinema. With a soundtrack performed by the Invicible Czars, this was quite an evening. If you haven't seen them, both Nosferatu and the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) are must watch material for horror fans. 

Plot: Hypnotist Dr. Caligari uses a somnambulist, Cesare, to commit murders.

First let me start by discussing the music.  The Invincible Czars were amazing.  They not only added to the overall feel and atmosphere,  they created a mesmerizing soundtrack that kept the viewer engaged throughout.  It made it one of the next silent film experiences that I have ever been a part of. Having watched this classic silent film on many occasions, it is hard to find anything negative to say. For the time,  the quality is insane, every facet of the film works in a way to continually build throughout. The performances are good and the story is quite original (especially for the era) and it delivers what may be the first twist ending in cinematic history. Of course,  this is a silent film,  so some will automatically discount its relevance, but for any true horror fan this movie,  especially if you can can catch it while the Invicible Czars are on tour, is must watch cinema.

Spree (2020)

I really do love this time of the year,  it gives me a perfect excuse to immerse myself into all things spooky, strange, and horror related. Like last night,  I got to go out to watch the silent classics Nosferatu and the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with a live band playing an incredible soundscape. The Invincible Czars were amazing! Today, I've watched a couple things,  including this movie Spree from 2020.

Plot: Desperate for an online following, a rideshare driver has figured out a deadly plan to go viral and he will stop at nothing to get his five minutes of fame.

When I selected this one this morning,  I had no idea on what to expect and was actually pleasantly surprised by what I found.  Unfortunately,  I already know that this will be a movie that will be very polarizing, and the audience will either love it or hate it. It's it a good film,  technically not really.  The dialog is so-so, the performances are uneven,  and the end sort of spirals. But,  there is something here within the idea of the storyline that adds a realistic view of the viral streaming community and the many different parts of society that want to join those ranks. Personally, I love social media (@ringmasters_realm on Instagram) and could understand everything that was taking place within the movie.  But, that might put me in a minority. In the end, this wasn't great, but it was a fun way to spend some time watching something outside the typical cookie-cutter horror that has become common. Not for everybody, but will appeal to a social media generation.