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!

The Grudge (2004)

After checking out Hannibal, it was time to have a late night scary movie night with the daughters. While I have become more cautious about what they watch as the sit inside the dreaded tween years, it is still something I enjoy once in a while. My choice for the evening, 2004s The Grudge.

Plot/ An American nurse living and working in Tokyo is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse, one that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim.

It had been a while since I had seen this one, so it was a refreshing trip down the spiral. This is one of my favorites from the franchise, and it comes across in a way that it is a joy to watch with the daughters on a scary movie night (and at PG-13, it works as well). The acting is solid, the scare, while somewhat predictable, work, and the storyline and scripting are spot on. Yes, some of the story may be a touch incoherent, but that matters naught in this entry and the lack of blood and gore only adds to the atmosphere. In the end, this is an entertaining flick that holds up rather well a decade later. If you have not seen it, check it out!

The Woman in Black (2012)

When I ran to Family Video to take some flicks back, I decided to check and see what was available. For me, this heat has been miserable and even made me suffer inside on my first Memorial Day since I have retired. I did get out early in the morning to go fishing with my dad, catching three amazing trout, but that drained me to the point where I could not function. Luckily, I had something to watch in the 2012 Hammer Films atmospheric ghost story The Woman in Black.

Plot/ A young lawyer, struggling with work after the death of his wife, is sent to a remote village to settle the estate of a deceased eccentric woman who owns an English manor. The village residents want him to leave as they are trying to conceal a deadly secret.

It is not often, where you find a movie, surrounded by hype, which actually hits home. For me, that is exactly what happened with this one. Honestly, it was amazing to see Hammer Films return with this atmospheric gem. The acting was solid, with Daniel Radcliffe successfully carrying a layered character, the cinematography and design fit the storyline perfectly creating a dark and creepy dominion, the mood, atmosphere and feel just worked and there were enough subtle scares to keep it interesting. Yes, some of the pacing seemed a bit off and the cut-in visions added some confusion, but those flaws were minor. In the end, I am somewhat disappointed in myself for not going to see this one in the theatre; it would have been worth it. If you love ghost stories, check this one out!