Pet Sematary (1989)

Yesterday I was searching for something to watch with the girls downstairs and decided to search my streaming services to find something. After some internal debate, I decided on the 1989 Stephen King adaptation Pet Sematary.

Plot/ Behind a young family's home in Maine is a terrible secret that holds the power of life after death. When tragedy strikes, the threat of that power soon becomes undeniable.

This is one of the Stephen King adaptations that have a place right in the middle of the catalog. While it is nowhere near as good as The Shining or Misery, it is not nearly as bad as Maximum Overdrive or Christine. For fans of King, this movie does have a better than average feel, mostly because King himself penned the script. The cast is an interesting mix, the scenery is amazing, the storyline interesting, the effects solid, and the performances are decent, yet even those positives cannot make this reach the potential that it held inside. Unfortunately, the characters feel underdeveloped, the atmosphere is flat, there really aren’t any scares, and a lot of the movie felt restrained to a point where things become overly predictable. In the end, this is another case where the book is much better than the movie adaptation. Is this a terrible movie? No, but it also isn’t anywhere close to being an effective horror movie.

Witchboard (1986)

Today was a long day. Between one daughter at taking a walk back in time to the colonial era at FestiFall and another one at softball practice, it felt like I never sat down. When I did finally find time to relax, I decided to venture into the 1980s for my next flick, the 1986 classic Witchboard.

Plot/ At a party, a guest brings out an Ouija board, and they attempt to contact a spirit he knows. The spirit does appear, but it becomes apparent to the one who brought the Ouija board that this is an evil spirit that is impersonating his spirit.

This was one of my favorites back in the 1980s and I have seen it many times and it never fails to entertain. Yes, it does feel a touch dated when I watch it today, but that is only a minor flaw in the film. This one is great for the Halloween season and one that adds to the lore of the Ouija Board. The performances are solid, the soundtrack does a great job promoting the mood, the cinematography is outstanding, and the scripting and overall storyline is both entertaining and interesting. Sure, there are a few parts of the film that feels a little underdeveloped and the ending may feel a touch forced, but those areas do nothing to hurt the movie. In the end, this one is well worth watching and is a great example of what horror could be without the crazy gore that was quite popular during the decade. If you have not seen it, check it out on Shudder, you too should enjoy it.

IT (2017)

As a horror fan, it is nice to see a buzz created within the genre. Hopefully, this attention leads to Hollywood taking some time and giving horror fans more movies, we can enjoy. With that buzz, I had to actually go see this one in the theater because the daughters have been yapping about it for a week. Last night I broke down and saw the 2017 Stephen King adaptation reboot of IT.

Plot/ In the Town of Derry, the local kids are disappearing one by one, leaving behind bloody remains. In a place known as The Barrens, a group of seven kids are united by their horrifying and strange encounters with an evil clown and their determination to kill IT.

Last night, I finally took the girls to see IT and was actually surprised by the overall experience. While this one was not as scary as I had heard (and would have liked), I thought it was an entertaining movie and one that was perfect for the daughters. The performances were solid and the actors and characters had great chemistry between them, the make-up was outstanding, and the cinematography, use of lighting, and overall visuals were tremendous. Even the scripting was able to create a somewhat darker atmosphere and keep the subtle comedic elements in play throughout. Unfortunately for me, the scares just weren’t there. Maybe it is because I have read the Stephen King classic or maybe because I consume horror movies all the time, but I found it a touch predictable. Plus, I am not a huge fan of CGI and there were some times where that process felt overused. In the end, I did thoroughly enjoy this movie. No, it wasn’t perfect or close to the best King adaptation, but it made for an entertaining evening and again proves why Clown Lives Matter. 

Get Out (2017)

After a couple days away from modern horror movies, I decided that I wanted to finish off May with something newer. After some thought, I decided to watch the 2017 horror flick Get Out.

Plot/ It's time for a young African American to meet with his white girlfriend's parents for a weekend in their secluded estate in the woods, but before long, the friendly and polite ambience will give way to a nightmare.

I had waited to pick this one up at Family Video for a few days. This wasn’t because I didn’t want to see it, it was because I swore in my mind I already had from the synopsis. Ironically, there is something about this flick that I can’t place because even as I watched it, I felt like I had seen it before. While some of the storyline was predictable and cliché (which could leave the impression as I have seen it before), it is an entertaining film that was a perfect blend of mystery, thriller, and comedy. Not only did I connect to the film, I found myself thinking about the potential twists that could pop out. The performances are solid, the cinematography creates a tremendous atmosphere, the pacing works for the genre, and the storyline is definitely thought provoking with some of the social commentary elements woven into it, much in the way of some of the classic horror/sci-fi tales in the past did. In the end, this movie was extremely entertaining and a film that definitely sits outside the typical rehashed horror/thriller cinema coming out of Hollywood today. If you haven't seen it, give it a shot.

End of Days (1999)

Having watched a wide variety of flick over the past few days, I wanted to get back to something closer to my After the Static project. While that is zombie/outbreak themed, there are some religious/apocalyptic overtones inside the book. With that in mind, I decided to watch the 1999 action/horror flick End of Days.  

Plot/ At the end of the century, Satan visits New York in search of a bride. It's up to an ex-cop who now runs an elite security outfit to stop him.

I remember seeing this when it came out and even after watching it again, I can say that my initial thoughts will still ring true: viewers will either love or hate this film. Really, there is no in between, especially with the religious overtones that are woven throughout the movie. For me, this was an entertaining flick that I still find intriguing. The storyline, while uneven, is interesting, the performances and effects are decent, and the dark cinematography works well with the soundtrack and the theme of the movie. Yes, some of the characterizations could have been darker, some of the scriptings were uneven, and it was highly implausible, but that is what makes movies like this engaging. In the end, this one will be polarizing due to many different factors including actors, religious beliefs, and tone; but, at the end of the day, it is just a fun and mindless good versus evil flick that should be seen.

The Forest (2016)

After spending a portion of my day without service at softball practice, it is nice to finally relax some at the house. Now, maybe I can get to one of the projects. Over the past few days, I decided to check out a few different genres, and I continued that last light with 2016s The Forest.

Plot/ A woman goes into Japan's Suicide Forest to find her twin sister and confronts supernatural terror.

Last night after watching my final flick, I settled on The Forest, thinking that it would be a nice change of pace. While it did do that with its creepy atmosphere and interesting premise, it still left much of its potential on the table. The acting is solid, the cinematography works, and there is enough tension built throughout that makes you want more. Unfortunately, there is not enough meat to the attempted scares and they often are predictable and flat, the scripting almost ignores the forest, and some of the editing feels off. In the end, while this one has its positives, it never reaches its potential and ends up missing the mark. There are definitely better options out there.

Shut In (2016)

Having worked late last night, I was rather exhausted when I got home. Fortunately, I already had something to watch and was excited to relax and work on the rewrite/reformat of Walking Before Dawn. Unfortunately, my selection, Shut In may not have been the best background for that project.

Plot/ A heart-pounding thriller about a widowed child psychologist who lives in an isolated existence in rural New England. Caught in a deadly winter storm, she must find a way to rescue a young boy before he disappears forever.

When I sat down to watch this one, I had some small expectations and that is exactly what I got. While this is not a terrible film, it is rather predictable and is stuffed with way too many clichés. Yes, the performances are solid (especially Naomi Watts), there were a few scares (at least for my daughters), and the tension woven into the atmosphere builds throughout, but it still felt like something was missing. Of course, this could be from the predictability or clichés, some of the strange actions and decisions, or even the reveal that felt rushed. Overall, it was just a little disappointing. In the end, there is really nothing special in this movie and it should be viewed with that in mind. It isn’t terrible, but it isn’t memorable either. Be warned.

The Craving (2008)

Now that I am settling into a groove with the blog to start the year, it is fun to get back into some of the low budget horror flicks that I have always enjoyed. The next movie up for review is from that nine-movie set I picked up over the holidays. It is the 2008 no-budget entry The Craving from Brain Damage Films.

Plot/ A group of college students embarking on a cross country road trip to the Burning Man Festival find themselves stranded in desert. Come nightfall a vicious predatory monster comes out searching for a meal.

This is another micro-budget flick that I found on that nine-movie set and a movie that I expected to suffer from many of the same flaws that the other films of this budget suffer from. This movie does have its share of flaws and is somewhat clichéd, but there is some positive elements that I would not have expected at first glance. The scripting was not bad and the pacing allowed the tension to build throughout, the atmosphere matched the scenery, and there was enough blood and violence sprinkled in to overcome some of the clichéd moments. Yes, there are some strangely placed sex scenes, the sound quality was all over, and the performances were uneven, but I have seen a lot worse in movies with larger budgets. In the end, this may not be a perfect flick, but it is a decent no-budget entry. Sure, it will fall into the love/hate vein, but don’t most horror flicks do that?

Flatliners (1990)

There are some movies that we take for granted and ignore. This is done for many reasons, but often, it happens because they hold up as solid entries into the cinematic world no matter how long it is since its release. One movie that falls into this category is the 1990 horror/thriller Flatliners.

Plot/ Four Medical students experiment on near death experiences that involve past tragedies until the dark consequences begin to jeopardize their lives.

Flatliners is one of those films that has stood the test of time and created a dark atmosphere that makes it both memorable and entertaining. The movie has a great storyline that is both enlightening and entertaining, something that often is overlooked in the genre. The cast and performances are tremendous within the detailed script that offers both an interesting plot and tuned subplots that draw viewers into the minds of the different characters. On top of that, the setting and cinematography of the film work perfectly with the script making everything flow in a great manner. Yes, the ending does still feel a touch rushed, but that is really the only marked flaw in a finely crafted horror/thriller. In the end, this is a film that is still memorable and shows what a great cast can do with a tremendous script. If you have not seen it, check it out. It is an entertaining and thought provoking film.

Spirit in the Woods (2014)

Last night, I could not bring myself to a point to type up this review, I was so frustrated by the movie and the overwhelming amount of predictable and clichéd moments. What was that film? It was the 2014 no budget found footage flick Spirit in the Woods.

Plot/ The fate of five local college students who went missing in the infamous Spiritual Woods is finally unraveled as previously unreleased footage is made public for the first time. Long thought to be dead, the truth turns out to be much worse.

There are times where found footage can be used effectively and create something interesting. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true and the movies do not pan out even when they have a decent storyline. That was definitely the case with this film. While I do applaud any movie that grew out of a Kickstarter project, and I love no-budget horror, there are times when I just cannot relate or feel anything in a film, and for me, that happened with this film. In fact, I lost so much interest because of the lack of connection, that it did not create any type of reaction. The dialog was all over, the performances uneven at best, and much of it made very little sense (unless you can totally relate to wandering in the woods). Really, it just felt like a subpar version of the Blair Witch Project. In the end, even with my love of low budget and crowd-funded horror, I could not see anything that would make this worth watching again. Stay Away!

Creature Feature (2015)

After taking the night off to enjoy some free entertainment, I decided that it was time to get back at it Fortunately, I have some more material from my Brain Damage Films marathon to get back to the blog without subjecting Bren to more low budget horror (although I am right now with another entry). Next up is the 2015 anthology, Creature Feature.

Plot/ five interwove tales of terror that occur one foggy Halloween night in Georgia. A babysitter learns a new appreciation for fine art and hard lesson about the consequences of being irresponsible.

After watching Holidays, I was in the mood for more anthologies and that is what I found with this entry from Brain Damage Films. Like Holidays this entry is somewhat uneven, but due to the lower budget involved, that was expected. This entry does have some cliché moments, but it also has more than enough originality and surprises inside to keep any horror fan entertained. The performances are OK, the storylines work well, and the throwback comic book feel comes together to create an entertaining and not overly serious horror flick. Yes, it is short and there are some rough patches, but this one is a great entry that rises above the low budget limitations. In the end, I am sure this one will not be for everyone, but if you love boobs, gorefests, and mindless horror, give this one a shot!

Sinister 2 (2015)

After some sci-fi last night, I decided to venture out to Family Video to see what came out this week. Fortunately, there were a few newer movies that I had not seen. One of the first flicks that I picked up was the 2015 sequel, Sinister 2.

Plot/ Following the events from the first film, a different family; a mother and her 2 sons move into a rural house that is marked for death. When the deputy from the first film learns that this family is next in line to fall to the demon Bhughul, he races before time to stop it and save them from the same fate.

Sequels are always hot or cold, and sometimes face the impossible task of building into a developed storyline. While this one is not the worst sequel, it is also not the best one to come out. Sinister 2 has an interesting storyline, and develops as a solid continuation from the source material. In fact, the potential is there to take this one beyond the original, but somewhere it loses focus, and never reaches that point. The scripting is decent, the visuals dark (especially the 8 mm scenes), and there is some uniqueness to the idea. Unfortunately, the atmosphere is inconsistent, the performances uneven, and there are too many attempts at jump scares that miss the mark or are at predictable spots in the story. In the end, this one may not match the overall quality of the original, but it is not a terrible movie and has some entertaining moments. Personally, I did not think Sinister needed a sequel, and that could be one of the reasons this movie did not fully resonate with me, but that is me. If you loved the first one, give this one a shot, you may feel the same as I do, or you may just love it!

The Gift (2015)

After spending a few days in past decades, I decided to come back to modern times to find a movie for the evening. Luckily, one such film made it to the DVD player after a trip to Family Video in the 2015 thriller The Gift.

Plot/ A young married couple's lives are thrown into a harrowing tailspin when an acquaintance from the husband's past brings mysterious gifts and a horrifying secret to light after more than 20 years.

The Gift was an odd movie for me to watch and review. While it was a good movie overall, it really did not speak to me as much as I expected. A solid thriller, that definitely seemed to channel a lot of from the past in the way it was presented with a genuine creepiness and tension throughout. It really felt like a modern journey into a classic Hitchcock film. The performances were solid, the scripting worked, and the cinematography and direction was spot on. Unfortunately, while the movie was good and atmosphere awesome, I could not truly connect to the characters and truly felt like an outsider watching it. Of course, that could be due to the fact that the pacing was strange, the runtime was short, and the somewhat expected violence never materialized on screen. Honestly, I am not sure why I felt so disconnected. In the end, this is a decent thriller and movie that I may have to watch again to truly appreciate. If you are searching for an atmospheric thriller, give it a shot!