Train (2008)

It had been a few days since I looked through FearNet to see what it had to offer. Tonight, I decided to venture into that arena and see what I could find. That is when I decided on the 2008 horror flick Train.

Plot/ In Europe, a group of American college athletes unknowingly board a train that will become one deadly ride.

While I was not expecting much, part of me had quietly hoped for something much better. Sure, it was not terrible for there was A LOT of nice gore sprinkled throughout, it was close. This hour and a half romp through the world of torture porn and survival horror is really nothing that has not been seen too many times. In fact, even the amount of blood cannot save the film from itself, the combination of common storyline, illogical plot and terrible acting definitely doomed this project from the outset. For me, there are so many other flicks that I wish I would have chosen on a Friday night, I definitely think you should stay clear (unless you just want to see some gore).

The Dunwich Horror (1970)

After last nights movie, Finale, I decided to dive into the mind of H.P. Lovecraft and watch the 1970 version of The Dunwich Horror from 1970. Starring Sandra Dee (the original Gidget) this Roger Corman production is one of my favorite Lovecraft adaptations.

Plot/ Wilbur Whateley pops over to the Arkham Miskatonic University to borrow the legendary Necronomicon. But little does anyone know, Whateley isn't quite human.

Being one of the first movies based H.P. Lovecraft's works, it was definitely a tricky endeavor (as that is still a challenge today). While the flick boasts the title, there are many changes to the story that appears to be attended to attach a modern occult feel inside the confines of the original work. Yes, at times it keeps a lot of the mood of Lovecraft's tale, but in the end it is a completely different take. While a bit slow and choppy, there are some creepy moments that definitely help create a eerie and heavy atmosphere throughout the film. The acting like the pacing is a bit choppy and uneven at times and the ending seems a bit forced, but overall it is far from terrible. In all, this is an interesting take and a film that is definitely worth watching.

Finale (2009)

After watching a couple of interesting flicks to start the year, I felt it was time to venture back into the world of the occult for my next addition of The Ringmaster’s Realm (a day late after dealing with Blogger issues last night). This was especially apparent when the voices in my head made me do some work on my fictional zombie messiah (from my epic zombie apocalypse poem that I have been struggling with) to put on my writing page (As My Tears Run Red). With that in mind, I decided on 2009s Finale.

Plot/ A mother descends into madness after finding her son hanged. With her family convinced he committed suicide; she alone unravels the blood-soaked mystery. Is her daughter's high school a recruiting ground for occult rituals and grisly murders? Torn apart by denial and paranoia threatening her own sanity and her daughter's life, the mother's only escape is the very route attempted by her dead son - confront the demon lurking in mirrors.

This is nowhere near a blockbuster, but there is something here for fans to hang their hat on. Yes, the acting is choppy, there are some cliché moments and the cinematography has some flaws, but overall, it is not a terrible or bad film. The plot sports some interesting twists and the scenery is a bit unsettling, with the directors vision featuring some very stylized elements to achieve his effects. While not for everyone, this indie flick is an entertaining film that horror and occult fans may enjoy.

Walled In (2009)

After a long day breaking in the New Year at work, it was time to relax. What a better way to unwind than watching something that I never heard of until I saw it on Showtime, 2009s Walled In.

Plot / A young woman who recently graduated from engineering school travels to a remote location to supervise the demolition of a mysterious building. She soon discovers the horrifying secrets of the building and its past inhabitants, many of whom were victims of a vicious murderer who entombed his prey alive within its walls. Now she must turn the tables on the killer before she becomes his latest victim.

This is a far from perfect attempt that is definitely more psychological thriller/mystery than horror. There are some creepy moments, but those are definitely outnumbered by the illogical twists that were thrown into the mix. Because of the twists, the plot never seems to fully develop and that takes a lot away from the flick. The acting is choppy and some of the camera work is a bit discordant, yet, there are still a few moments that really work because of the atmosphere. While I would not run out and buy this one, it is worth watching if you catch it on Showtime or some other On Demand avenue.

I Sell the Dead (2008)

With a new year upon us, I figured it was time to finally get back to watching some entertainment that could put a smile on my face. Yes, the Steelers dominant performance today did fall into that category, but, I am sure there will be many stories written about that one. So, with that all in mind, I decided to watch a flick that I had only heard of, and had no expectations about, I Sell the Dead.

Plot/ 18th century justice catches up with a pair of grave robbers. With only a few hours to go before his date with the guillotine, Arthur Blake tells his life story to Father Francis Duffy. Before long, Arthur spills the beans on how he got started in the grim corpse peddling business with seasoned ghoul Willie Grimes.

As I mentioned, I had no idea what to expect with this flick. That being said, I really did not expect to find such an enjoyable venture. While the story is quite simple, it is extremely entertaining, combining a great mix of horror and comedy that has not been seen in quite a while. The acting is solid and add just enough to the characterization to bring everything together. The cinematography and soundtrack work well enough to create a great mood and some great atmospheric moments. Yes, there is some blood and guts throughout, but mostly it is quite tame. Sure, this is not a true horror flick, but it is a very interesting film that does a great job crossing genre elements.

The Walking Dead - Episode 5 - Wildfire

 Having traveled last month, I missed out catching the ending of The Walking Dead. However, with the snow coming down and a blizzard at hand it was nice to finally be able to get caught up on what I have missed.

Plot/ Rick tries to make contact with Morgan to tell him his location. Back at camp, after the fight with the zombies, Jim has been bitten and is slowly beginning to change; Andrea mourns over Amy's death; and Shane blames it all on Rick for leaving. Now that camp isn't safe anymore, Rick decides that it's time for them all to move out. He plans to take them to the C.D.C., a military base, to find a cure for Jim and, hopefully, more survivors.

As I am finally catching up and finishing the Walking Dead, it was nice to see the focus change up a bit in this episode, focusing on the humanity of the situation at hand. While the pacing was a bit slow for my taste, I have to admit that it allowed for some very good moments within the developing story. Unfortunately, the season is about to come to an end. To me, the six episode format is something that has hampered this series from the beginning, with such a constricted timeline allotted to develop all of this intricacies of such a vast storyline, many parts have been truncated maybe too much. Still, this is one of the best television series I have seen and I look forward to finally catching the finale.

Dead End (2003)

As the countdown to Santa’s arrival nears, I was searching for something to watch. That is when I stumbled upon, the 2003 semi-holiday horror flick Dead End.

Plot/ For the past 20 years, Frank Harrington has grudgingly driven his family to celebrate Christmas with his mother-in-law. This year, he takes a shortcut. It's the biggest mistake of his life: The nightmare begins. A mysterious woman in white wanders through the forest, leaving death in her wake. A terrifying black car - its driver invisible - carries the victims into the heart of the night. Every road sign points to a destination they never reach. The survivors succumb to panic, to madness; deeply buried secrets burst to the surface, and Christmas turns into a living hell.

I was extremely surprised by this flick. It was really an excellent example of what can be done with a low budget. The directors proved that with a minimalist concept of great story, solid small cast and a few locations, a great movie can be created. This movie excels by mixing a stripped down instrumental soundtrack with a claustrophobic aura that creates a paranoid atmosphere that drives everything. Throw in a script that has just enough comedic and sarcastic moments, and you have a winner. This is definitely a MUST see and a holiday horror that often gets overlooked

Tales from the Crypt (1972)

With the Steelers game on last night, it was not until late in the evening that I could relax and decide on another holiday horror classic. After some searching, I decided on the 1972 Amicus entry Tales from the Crypt.

Plot/ Five people are trapped in a crypt and are shown their futures by the evil cryptkeeper. They are given the option of avoiding their fates - by avoiding living out the rest of their lives.

This may be the best adaptation of the once controversial comic book, taking each of these stories directly from the pages. These tales are definitely a combination of the strange, terrifying and often baffling elements that seem to come out and perplex people. The script was solid, the cinematography was good and the atmosphere was tremendous. More importantly, the acting, which featured a cast with the likes of Peter Cushing, Joan Collins, Patrick Magee and Sir Ralph Richardson as the crypt keeper was very believable. In all, this is a fantastic piece of 1970s British Horror and one that make perfect viewing during the holiday season.

Black Christmas (1974)

After taking a night away from the computer to work on some Christmas items, it was back at it with the Bob Clark forgotten classic Black Christmas from 1974!

Plot/ A sorority house is terrorized by a stranger who makes frightening phone calls and then murders the sorority sisters during Christmas break.

This is a true horror classic! To me, it is clearly one of the biggest influences of the slasher genre and a film that helped shaped horror as we know it today. The atmosphere created does a masterful job of carrying a feeling of terror and dread throughout the film. Amazingly, this classic has stood the test of time, with a decent array of acting, believable plot, and a great use of sound and visual elements that really work. Truly an often overlooked masterpiece that may be the greatest holiday horror flick ever made and one that is a MUST see!