Mr. Jones (2013)

One of the movies I grabbed the daughters (besides I, Frankenstein) was another PG-13 entry. Personally, I am not a fan of that rating and feel like studios overuse it. However, having kids there are times where I must suffer through movies like 2013s Mr. Jones just so I can keep them involved in the horror genre.

Plot/ A young couple moves to the woods and soon finds their nightmares and reality colliding.

I had very low expectations when I picked this up for the daughters. At this point, I feel that found footage flicks have lost their edge and at PG-13, there was not going to be a ton of horror elements. While this movie is uneven, with some weird camera decisions, some of the storyline that is interesting. The supernatural and occult aspects of the scarecrows / totems and the folklore / magic behind them were an intriguing twist. Of course, it did have some flaws with uneven acting, a disconnect between the first and second acts, some weird acid trip vibes and a strange dream state ending. In the end, I did find it an entertaining flick and enjoyed the incoherent nature in the second part of the movie. This one is definitely not for everyone, but it is also not the worst film found footage film out there.

Fields of the Dead (2014)

After taking a few days off with this being my birthday week, I decided to sit back and find some type of horror flick for my Saturday viewing. Unfortunately, I could not find anything that screamed to me. After some thought, I decided on the 2014 entry Fields of the Dead. 

Plot/ even friends find themselves on an isolated farm. Here, they discover an ancient book, which summons demons from the surrounding woods. Now, these friends will have to find a way out of the fields, if they want to survive. 

I had a feeling this low budget entry was going to have some flaws, and I was right. While there are a few moments that are pretty good with some Ok cinematography, unfortunately, most of it felt pushed.The acting is all over, the story a bit incoherent, and there was very little, if any, atmosphere. In the end, this is just another forgettable horror flick which allows its disjointed storyline drag it down. Sure, there are worse movies out there,  but there is nothing here that cries out for a recommendation. 

Oogles... Old Wives Tale or Reality?

 

 

Charleston, SC. is one of the most haunted cities in the United States and their citizens are extremely proud of it. On almost every corner you can see advertisements for a haunted tour of some of their most famous haunts, they have it all, haunted cemeteries, haunted gardens, jails and islands. These haunted establishments and locations also sit in the middle of one of the most historic locations in the world.

 

A quick walk through the cobblestone streets can fill even the least interested person full of thoughts and questions when you consider you are walking in the footsteps of our famous ancestors such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. There is also a darker side to the history of this beautiful city. Pirates such as Blackbeard (Edward Teach) and Stede Bonnet all spent large portions of their lives in this area. It is this darker side of Charleston that seems to come to life.

 

When cities are rich with paranormal activity, many superstitions seem to arise and Charleston is no exception. Located in the "Lowcountry" as locals call it, many different legends and tales have been passed down for generations. One such legend is that of the Oogle. Lowcountry legends state that an oogle, a smallish, strange-looking clay figure should be carried around at all times to protect you from any type of ghost or goblin.

 

These oogles are needed because every night when the sun goes down, the streets of the low country fill with ghosts and goblins that come out in search of innocent bystanders without oogles. Do they protect you? Legend says yes, for me, only time will tell. If you are going to think about one thing when you are heading into a haunted location on vacation, think about picking up and taking an oogle along. It may be your last line of defense against the unknown.