Brainscan (1994)

After a few duds over the past few days,  I decided it was time to reach into the past for something I haven't watched in years. My selection was the fun horror film from 1994, Brainscan.

Plot: A teenager is part of an interactive video game where he kills innocent victims. Later, the murders become real.

This is a fun movie and one that screams 1990s. The cast is decent and there are some great performances, especially that of the Trickster. Sure some of it feels dated today, the storyline, while fun, is outlandish, and the early special effects are hit and miss, but after that,  there is a lot to like. The atmosphere sittings,  the pacing is great,  and the overall feel really works. I am so glad that I decided to revisit it.  In the end,  this one may be leaving Tubi soon,  and that's a shame. If you are looking for a great throwback,  give this one a shot,  you would likely enjoy it.  

The Postcard Killings (2020)

Time does seem to fly by.  It seems like yesterday, I was walking through Point Pleasant searching for the Mothman. Today,  I'm just hanging out and watching some movies.  The first one I caught this month is the 2020 thriller,  The Postcard Killings.

Plot: A New York City detective investigates the death of his daughter, who was murdered on her honeymoon in London, and discovers the existence of a serial killer.

As a huge fan of procedural crime movies and shows,  this one seemed like a nice change of pace from what I have been watching.  Unfortunately,  there was something missing.  I'm not in any way saying this is a bad movie,  in fact, it has some great scenery, a solid cast with decent performances, and an interesting storyline.  However,  the movie never truly achieved anything to make it stand out.  It was actually quite pedestrian and bland; never capitalizing on its full potential to become something extremely memorable. So, in the end, this will help you pass some time, but it is nothing special and should be viewed as a middle of the road crime thriller.

Nefarious (2023)

It has been a busy day today as I did some work around the house.  Climbing on ladders still may not be the best idea, but oh well.  After that,  it was kicking back and really watching a movie I saw earlier in 2023, Nefarious. 

Plot: On the day of his scheduled execution, a convicted serial killer tells a psychiatrist that he's a demon who can possess his body. As the evaluation ends, he also tells the doctor that he will soon commit three murders of his own.

After watching this a second time, it validated everything I thought when I saw it in the drive-in, this is one of the best movies of 2023. While I know that some will look at it strictly from a religious perspective,  which is understandable in some ways,  but it is some much more. The performances were top notch,  the cast amazing,  and the tension in the dialog was outstanding. It's amazing what can be done with a minimal cast and this one series how to pack a punch. Yes,  the soundtrack may have been lacking and the ending felt a touch forced and filled with a touch too much religious messaging,  but other than that it is a tremendous film that should have had a larger reception. I definitely recommend this one to everyone. 

Watch Me When I Kill (1977)

After another day of miserable weather and just sitting around the house,  I decided to venture back into some classic Italian horror.  My selection was the 1977 giallo,  Watch Me When I Kill. 

Plot: When a pharmacist is murdered and a woman happens to see the culprit leave the scene, she soon finds herself being stalked by the killer. Her boyfriend tries to identify the murdered and stop him, but discovers there is more to the murder.

This giallo definitely pays homage to easily Dario Argento with many elements feeling like they are right from his classic Deep Red. While not a rip off,  the elements are noticeable. However,  this is an entertaining movie to watch featuring some good kills,  an interesting story,  and a fun soundtrack that takes you back into the 70s and classic Italian horror.  Technically,  there are some flaws with the audio flow and the language dubbing, and the effects are somewhat minimalistic, but those flaws are really covered by the storyline and performances.  In the end,  this is a solid movie and one that probably should be watched if you are a fan of giallo. 

Killer Book Club (2022)

October has been busy but also relaxing.  I have been able to catch up on some random horror movies as I prepare to continue my journey through spooky season.  So far,  the highlight was hitting the NARO for the classic,  The Thing last Friday.  Unforgivable,  it's not time to head back out to catch another classic,  so today,  I decided on the 2022 Netflix Original Killer Book Club.

Plot: Eight horror-loving friends fight for their lives when a killer clown who seems to know the grim secret they share begins to pick them off, one by one.

I know there are other movie or there for me to select,  but for some reason i decided on a slasher.  What i found was this uninspring  Scream knockoff,  Killer Book Club. From Spain, the dubbed dialog didn't flow,  maybe in the original Spanish, it would have been better. Unfortunately,  that was only the beginning.  The characters are rigid and unlikable,  the acting uneven, there is almost no atmosphere, and the scripting is almost a complete duplicate of Scream, making it tremendously predictable. he movie tries to pretend to be a "Spanish version" of Scream but it does not work. If there was a redeeming quality,  the soundtrack was at least entertaining.  Other than that,  there is no reason to watch it (and that isn't a good reason at all). Stay Away!

Spiral (3021)

It was such a dreary day outside,  as the rain came down almost all day.  Unfortunately,  there are no signs of it letting up for a few days.  All was not lost though,  as I was able to get a few more tubs sorted in the toy area and watch a few entertaining movies.  Some were new and others I haven't watched in some time,  like the 2021 entry Spiral.

Plot: A criminal mastermind unleashes a twisted form of justice in Spiral, the terrifying new chapter from the book of Saw.

I am a huge fan of the Saw franchise and I unapologetically love every installment,  including this one. With that in mind, this was not my favorite installment. There were some very good moments in this one although it was pretty predictable. The characters were interesting, the idea of a new storyline branching off from the mythos was a nice change, and the nods to the orhiginals speinkled im a solid touch. Unfortunately, i felt the film was a touch flat, with uneven acting, a predictable twist, and an overall feeling that there was more there to be developed. In the end, I'm sure this will be (or was) a polarizing flick with opinions all over the place. I am biased and I loved it, but I also needed some Saw in my life. Not the best, but not the worst of the franchise, I'd say it sits in the middle. 

The Black Phone (2021)

Wow,  it's been a few weeks since I added anything. I know I said I was going to post more,  and intend to.  But as i continue my recovery recovery from the liver transplant,  I find myself busy with many of the things that I neglected while being on the wait list. Hopefully, I can get into some food of regular routine.  Getting back to it, I present 2021s The Black Phone,

Plot: After being abducted by a child killer and locked in a soundproof basement, a 13-year-old boy starts receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the killer's previous victims.

Thus is one i waited to see instead of going to the theater and i may be regretting that. This one is both emtertaing and enjoyable, but i do think the overall claustrophobic feel would have hit harder on the big screen. Ethan Hawke is amazing and does a magnificent job at embracing the character, but even his performance may have been outdone by his young co-stars, More of a thriller than horror film, this slow burn entry demonstrates what can be done with a solid storyline.  Dark and atmospheric, there are a lot of moments that drag you in and make you want more,  especially as the creepiness seems to rise throughout the film. Yes,  the movie does lack a complete backs story and the pacing does feel choppy at some points, but those are just some very minor, almost nitpicking, flaws.  In the end,  this was definitely one of the fest movies I have watched in some time and a movie that should be watched. Check it out!

Fade to Black (1980)

Having just returned from a local indie comic show, I decided that I needed some downtime and wanted to revisit something from my youth. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, there was a lot of classic horror and this one was a favorite, 1980s Fade to Black.

Plot: A shy, lonely film buff embarks on a killing spree against those who browbeat and betray him, all the while stalking his idol, a Marilyn Monroe lookalike.

Horror movies from the 80s are a mixed bag, but some stand tall. This is one that I love to revisit from time to time as it is quite memorable. Shot with a dark gritty style, this movie does a great job at creating an air of madness and demonstrates what can be accomplished with an interesting storyline. While it is somewhat predictable, there are many moments that are memorable and help create a feeling of despair. You can tell that this did have a lower budget, as the performances are uneven, there are some extremely disjointed moments, and the characters are somewhat unlikable, but those monents seem to add character to the film. While there are some flaws within the storyline that cause it to fall short of its potential, this movie is a fun and mindless trip back in time. It probably isn't for everyone, but fans of the 80s should enjoy it.

Split Second (1992)

It was busy around my shop yesterday with 3 online sales on top of the two packages that I had to send out. Fortunately, I have the time to focus on that on days when that happens. So far today has been quieter, allowing me to start rebuilding the workshop after neglecting it during my transplant hiatus. Once I finished yesterday, I decided to dive into the world of Rutger Hauer with the 1992 flick Split Second.

Plot: In a flooded future London, Detective Harley Stone hunts a serial killer who murdered his partner, and has haunted him ever since. He soon discovers what he is hunting might not be human.

I love Rutger Hauer movies and it is still hard to fathom that he is no longer with us. Onereason that i have always enjoyed his films is that he always seems to enjoy the project he was working on. This movie again shows that side of him. While this is clearly a B-Movie and far from a classic like like Blade Runner, he played his character perfectly. This is a lower budget film that has definitely built a solid cult following with a dark gloomy post-apocalyptic atmosphere, an interesting storyline, and decent scripting. Sure, this one will never boast great effects, truly believable moments, or being a cinematic masterpiece. But, if you enjoy fun, low budget, not bad but misunderstood movies and can appreciate schlocky Sci-Fi, this movie is for you.

 

Hellraiser: Judgment (2018)

What a crazy week! What I had hoped to be a quiet and relaxing business focused week decided to turn into some craziness featuring a nice broken pipe in the kitchen. That was a watery mess and one that I could have done without. I did need some down time to recover, so I ventured into the world of the Cenobites with 2018s Hellraiser: Judgment.

Plot/ Detectives Sean and David Carter are on the case to find a gruesome serial killer terrorizing the city. Joining forces with Detective Christine Egerton, they dig deeper into a spiraling maze of horror that may not be of this world.

I honestly was not quite sure how I would feel about this one with the changes to the cast, but I gave it a shot anyway. Having been a fan of Clive Barker for a long time, I had hoped that the film would do the franchise justice. What I found was a flick that took the series back to its roots and allowed fans a glimpse of what made the original such a classic. The imagery was outstanding, and the direction and cinematography created a very tense and atmospheric film. Even the new version of Pinhead felt right. Sure, some of the performances were uneven and the storyline (especially the subplot) felt a little too familiar, but honestly, this one was much better than I would have ever guessed. I am sure that there will be some people who don’t like it (especially because there is no Doug Bradley), but I would personally disregard them. If you love Clive Barker and Hellraiser, give this one a shot!

A Blade in the Dark (1983)

After spending a lot of time binging on a few different television series, I decided that it was time to take a look at something a touch older and in ways darker. That is when I stumbled on the 1983 giallo A Blade in the Dark in Shudder.

Plot/ A killer stalks a composer staying at a posh Tuscany villa while writing the score to a horror film which has an incriminating clue to the killer's identity.

To me, there is nothing more fun in cinema than sitting back and taking in a classic Italian giallo flick and that is what this Lamberto Bava entry is. This one has enough mystery and suspects to offer many different avenues for Bava to orchestrate the formula perfectly. While there are some flaws (which we will get to), it is the positives that make this one an entertaining watch.  The pacing is solid, the atmosphere dark, and heavy, the performances are decent, and the storyline is detailed and layered (plus, there is a decent amount of blood and gore). Sure, there are some head scratching and uneven moments, the body count is relatively low (up until the ending), and there are times where things do feel a touch rushed with the dubbed dialog, but those elements are easy to overlook when thinking about the entirety of the film. In the end, this is both an entertaining and finely crafted thriller that is a solid entry into the giallo archives. Sure, there are things that could be debated, but for me, I think it is a great entry in the Bava catalog and a movie that should be seen.

Mindhunter - Season One (2017)

After finishing my binge of Salem, I was drawn in by the idea of creating a true crime series off a nonfiction best seller. What I found was amazing, as the Netflix Original series Mindhunter is truly captivating.

Plot/ In the late 1970s, two FBI agents expand criminal science by delving into the psychology of murder and getting uneasily close to all-too-real monsters.

Having read Mindhunter when it came out, I was fascinated by the subject matter. When I found the show on Netflix, I had no idea what to expect, but what I found was better than I would have imagined. With a heavy atmosphere and dark storyline, the show comes across in much the same manner as the true crime serial killer entry Zodiac (a must see by the way). While the series does differ from many crime dramas, with little to no actual crime scene visits, the information and power of the dialog truly bring this true crime series to life. The series features solid characters that are perfectly captured by the outstanding cast and their performances, dark and detailed cinematography, and an amazing storyline. Yes, the pacing at times can feel uneven and there is little mystery involved in the overall plot, but those elements are easily overlooked. In the end, it appears that Netflix has hit another home run with this true crime drama. Mindhunter is a tremendous achievement and a show that demonstrates the power of storytelling in a truly educational psychological drama.

Saw VI (2009)

After being disappointed by both Annabelle and Clowntergeist, I decided that it was time to finish what I started last week and write my last review from the Saw franchise. With that plan in place, here is the review of Saw VI from 2009.

Plot/ Agent Strahm is dead, and FBI agent Erickson draws nearer to Hoffman. Meanwhile, a pair of insurance executives finds themselves in another game set by Jigsaw.

I remember originally watching and now after watching it again, how much better this installment was than Saw V. This movie definitely channeled some of the power of the initial installments and created a movie that brought everything back to where it should have been. This one did make some needed changes to the formula and those were for the better. The performances were solid, the pacing felt perfect, the storyline featured a nice mixture of flashbacks and modern musings, and as usual, the traps were awesome. Yes, there were some uneven moments and the ending did not have quite the effect that the twist endings usually had, but those flaws are minor in comparison to some of the other flaws in the series. In the end, this entry was one of the better installments in the series and a film that must be seen by horror fans and those of the Saw franchise.

Saw V (2008)

Last night I took a break from the computer to go watch Jolene in her advanced theater production of The Elevator Family. With that now over, I figured it was time to get back to my trip into the mind of Jigsaw with Saw V from 2008.

Plot/ Following Jigsaw's grisly demise, Mark Hoffman is commended as a hero, but Agent Strahm is suspicious and delves into Hoffman's past. Meanwhile, another group is put through a series of gruesome tests.

It is funny how much things change, as you grow older, and this movie kind of fits in with that ideology. Up until re-watching the Saw franchise last week, I held this entry in higher regard, but now I have a completely different viewpoint. For me, this one lacked the tremendous plot twist and tension that made the other earlier installments memorable, and most of all not having Jigsaw as a true primary character on screen was quite depressing. While the idea was solid and the storyline had potential to deliver something amazing, this was the first time in the series that everything felt rushed. Sure, the effects were decent, the traps intriguing, and there was enough blood, but even those elements could not make up for the lack of the Jigsaw. On top of that, the performances were uneven and the atmosphere was rather flat. In the end, this entry had a chance to build upon the solid foundation that was left by the earlier entries but failed to hit the mark. More of a thriller than true horror film, this one did not deliver and was rather predictable. If you haven’t seen it, you aren’t missing much.

Saw IV (2007)

I was rather shocked when I discovered that I had never reviewed the entire Saw franchise, as it is one of my favorite series to watch. Of course, that also gave me an excuse to re-watch them for review purposes. Next up for review is 2007s Saw IV.

Plot/ Despite Jigsaw's death, and in order to save the lives of two of his colleagues, Lieutenant Rigg is forced to take part in a new game, which promises to test him to the limit.

I remember wondering after watching Saw III how the series would continue and went into this one with some trepidation. What I found when watching this one was a layered and complex storyline that took the Jigsaw storyline to a new level and darker depths. As a fan of the series, the twist that the end was perfect, and was something that seemed to almost transport us back to the original ending. The storyline is interesting especially as they dove back into Jigsaw’s history and take you through his journey, the special effects and traps are awesome, and the performances are solid. However, it is the way they overlapped time and stories that really made this one stand out for me. Yes, there are some moments where things seem too coincidental or random and there are a few times, where it almost feels predictable, but those are only minor flaws in the overall production and don’t really impact the quality of the film. In the end, while it did lack some suspense, it made up for that with a quality storyline that is extremely memorable. This is definitely one of my favorites in the series and an entry that must be seen.

Saw 2 (2005)

After spending last night at the Edgar Allan Poe reenactment, I decided that I wanted some violent horror for my Halloween night. Thinking back over the past month, I couldn’t believe that I had never reviewed half of the Saw franchise and figured that I would start that undertaking by revisiting Saw 2 from 2005.

Plot/ A detective and his team must rescue eight people trapped in a factory by the twisted serial killer known as Jigsaw.

The original Saw was one of the best horror/thrillers I had seen. It was atmospheric, dark, and the storyline was tremendous. Creating a sequel to a movie such as that is almost an impossible task. Yet, now after revisiting Saw 2, it is clear that Darren Lynn Bousman did just that with a tightly woven storyline that differs from the original but captures the essence of the classic perfectly. I remember when this one first came out and the clear differences between the two made it an uneven watch for me. However, today, that feeling is completely different. The change with having multiple players in Jigsaws game was the perfect step for the franchise and added layers to the legend of Jigsaw that would pay many dividends throughout the rest of the series. The cast is tremendous, the performances are solid, the dialog, scripting, and storyline were fantastic (the twists made it even more worthwhile), and the gore, traps, and special effects were amazing. Sure, the pit of needles was blah (and honestly still a letdown) and some of the arguments and decisions made by the participants were annoying, but those are only minor flaws. In the end, I am glad that I decided to revisit this one tonight on Halloween; it was so much better than I remembered and a movie that fans like me could have easily overlooked as it was sandwiched between the two best movies made in the franchise (and possibly the genre). If you haven’t seen it or revisited it in a while, I think you should. This is an outstanding movie and one that is perfect for the Halloween season.

Jigsaw (2017)

The weather outside today is absolutely miserable and I have until tomorrow for my trip to Haunted Hills Estates. While I could have sat and watched some type of horror flick, instead, I decided to head out to the theater to see the next entry in the Saw franchise, 2017s Jigsaw.

Plot/ Bodies are turning up around the city, each having met a uniquely gruesome demise. As the investigation proceeds, evidence points to one suspect: John Kramer, the man known as Jigsaw, who has been dead for ten years.

I was fun being back in the theater for one of my favorite franchises. For me, it has been too long, with the last time being for the Halloween re-release of the original a few years ago. While this one did not quite reach the level of the originals, there were many facets that left me again wanting more. The pacing was perfect, with the layered storyline continually moving forward instead of wavering during the non-action sequences, the storyline was interesting and tied into the series in a perfect way, the characters again were diverse and amazing, and the way the layers of the storyline worked together to create a subtle mystery was again refreshing. In fact, for me, those layered aspects of the story have always been one of the strong points of the series and often go unnoticed or are underappreciated by those that are watching the series. While all of those aspects worked, the performances were a touch uneven with the delivery of some of the well-placed humor in the script falling short, the graphic elements that made many entries of the original series were lacking by comparison, and the overall tension seemed a bit flat (which again falls on the uneven performances). In the end, while this one does not rise to the original Saw or Saw 3, it does do a great job at bringing the storyline back to life and hopefully, allow for more entries in this series. Is it perfect? No, but it was much better than many of the recent horror flicks I have seen over the past few years and a great way to bring some blood back to the Halloween season. Plus, it wasn’t PG-13, a fact alone that should make horror fans happy.

Cult of Chucky (2017)

After spending last night in Morgantown at the WVU symphonic band concert watching my beautiful and talented daughter perform, I decided that tonight I wanted to watch something that could help continue the build-up to Halloween. At first, I debated my selection until I found one I have been looking forward to,  2017s Cult of Chucky.

Plot/ Chucky returns to terrorize his human victim, Nica. Meanwhile, the killer doll has some scores to settle with his old enemies, with the help of his former wife.

It has been some time since I ventured into the world of Chucky and while I am usually entertained by the series, a viewer really has no idea what to expect with a sequel (especially the 7th installment). In this case, Chucky was definitely back to his old self (complete with Brad Dourif perfectly bringing his voice to life), the series was intricately tied together, the effects are outstanding again proving that practical effects are much better in horror than CGI, there are some good moments with the blood and gore, and the performances were solid. Yes, the plot felt a little underdeveloped and there were some pacing issues that seemed obvious when watching it the first time. Both of those are somewhat expected when one considers that the budget was smaller than many other films of its stature. In the end, this film is a worthy addition to the Child’s Play franchise and a movie that was quite entertaining. Is it perfect? Absolutely not, but it is a decent flick and one that definitely should make fans want to see more installments in the future.

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. 

IT (1990)

As I prepare to go see the new blockbuster IT, I decided that I wanted to venture back into the mind of Stephen King for a few days this week. So I figured that there was no better way to end this week than a trip back to 1990 for the King classic IT!

Plot/ In 1960, seven pre-teen outcasts fight an evil demon who poses as a child-killing clown. Thirty years later, they reunite to stop the demon once and for all when it returns to their hometown.

As I prepared this week to go see IT, I don’t think it would be prudent to see the film unless I revisited the 1990 miniseries that made people fear clowns. First off, Tim Curry is amazing as Pennywise, interpreting the darkness of the evil clown perfectly. Based on a huge novel by Stephen King, the adaptation was sound; striking a nice balance between the materials from the novel that was necessary and unnecessary. Yes, some of it was a touch bizarre, but that fit the storyline. Other than that, the cast was interesting and because it was a made for television event the lack of gore and onscreen violence is to be expected. Unfortunately, the production values reek of lower quality television, the visuals are average at best do not capture the atmosphere in the way that it should, and the performances are a little flat. In fact, because of the run-time, it is debatable on whether or not the film is too long or short, an answer that even watching it again has me questioning. The worst part is the ending, which was somewhat of a letdown in comparison to the craziness from the source material. In the end, this was a fun and nostalgic look back at a miniseries that did leave an imprint on society. While it is rough in some spots, I feel that it is a great primer for the movie I am about to see. It may not be perfect, but if you haven’t seen it, give it a shot.