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An error has ocurred. Please try againIn the context of 20th-century literature and film, especially among English speakers and non-Italians in general, giallo refers specifically to a particular Italian thriller-horror genre that has mystery or detective elements and often contains slasher, crime fiction, psychological thriller, psychological horror, sexploitation, and, less frequently, supernatural horror elements.
Reviews
Trampa infernal (1989)
Average Mexican Slasher/Action Flick
'Hell's Trap' or as it's known in its original language 'Trampa Infernal' is a decent and somewhat effective 80's Mexican slasher flick that starts off with a strong opening that does a great job of setting the tone for what's to come with all the usual fun genre tropes thrown in for good measure. But things take a turn for the worse during the second act when the filmmakers decide to go for a more action-oriented direction which comes across as an odd choice and doesn't entirely work in the film's favour resulting in something very uneven.
The Plot = Two rivals Nacho (Pedro Fernandez) and Mauricio (Tono Mauri), along with a group of friends intend to hunt down a bear in a forest that has been killing people but find themselves stalked by a deranged masked killer.
There are some decent elements to this flick such as a cool looking killer with an impressive amount of weapons at his arsenal and a few effective kills, and while there are plenty of fun moments, the film unfortunately falls flat in quite a few areas such as the pacing feels a lot longer than the scant 77 minutes as there's too much padding and the acting isn't all that great and it doesn't help that the film doesn't do a great job of setting any of the characters up. The off mixture of horror and action elements doesn't work as both genre aspects feel a little short changed and left me wondering why they didn't just go with one or the other.
Overall 'Hell's Trap' is a very average slasher flick that does have some entertaining qualities to it and does manage to maintain some interest due to it being so strange, but it's not something that comes highly recommended.
Full Circle (1977)
Powerful and Thoughtful Slow Burn Ghost Story
'The Haunting of Julia' also known as 'Full Circle' is a chilling yet undervalued supernatural ghost story with an unnerving atmosphere steeped in existential tension and dread and along with an engaging narrative presented in a deliberate slow burn pace which results in an in a restrained horror film that doesn't need to rely on jump scares to make something incredibly effective and thought provoking.
The Plot = After the sudden and tragic death of her daughter, American homemaker Julia Lofting (Mia Farrow) leaves her husband Magnus (Keir Dullea) and moves to London to start a new life. All seems well at first until she finds that her new house is haunted by the ghost of a little girl who died many years ago.
This is one of those types of movies that deals with loss and grief more than it does actual horror, but that doesn't make this any less effective as it does have its fair share of creepy moments such as the devasting opening sequence that perfectly sets the melancholy tone for what's to come with a more restrained approach that leans more on atmosphere which gives off a hazy nightmarish feel to the production with an underlying sense of palpable sense of menace running throughout. This is something that leaves you the viewer to figure out whether the supernatural elements are actually real or a figment of Julia's imagination which may frustrate some people, but personally I enjoyed this subtle approach thanks to the superb direction by Richard Loncraine whose created something quite unique for its time period as his use soft focus cinematography pulls you into a fever dream nightmare of trauma and regret.
The cast performances are incredible across the board with Mia Farrow delivering a powerful and captivating performance by playing her role with real emotional depth and believably fragility, she carries the weight of the movie on her shoulders fantastically. Keir Dullea plays the role of the smarmy and controlling ex-husband rather well with such smouldering intensity that makes him such an engaging screen presence. Tom Conti provides some much-needed light relief with his likeable character and solid performance.
Overall 'The Haunting of Julia' is a criminally underrated classic supernatural ghost story that although far from perfect, it surely deserves better than its rather obscure status.
Braindead (1992)
Surreal Epic Nightmare and a true cult classic for the ages
'Braindead' aka 'Dead Alive' is a spectacularly gross slapstick infused splatter flick that focuses on the goriest aspects of the horror zombie sub-genre and with fantastic results. Brimming in manic energized splendour and deranged style Peter Jackson is on top form here as he creates a surreal nightmarish world filled with decaying zombies, memorable characters and plenty of over-the-top bloodshed and stomach-churning sequences which makes this a wonderfully weird cinematic masterpiece.
The Plot = Set in 1957 and follows a young man named Lionel Cosgrove (Timothy Blaine) who lives a sheltered life with his overbearing mother Vera (Elizabeth Moody). One day Lionel meets and falls in love with a shop girl named Paquita (Diana Penalver). Lionel's mother follows them on their date and gets bitten by a Sumatran rat monkey and gets sick and dies, but then comes back to life and starts a zombie apocalypse.
Weird, wacky and strangely compelling this darkly comic movie is a thing of insane obscure wonder that goes far beyond most horror flicks and comedically out of control. The production thrives in its off-kilter sensibilities that makes you got WTF at what's going on at the screen while at the same time thrilling you at every turn with fast paced sequences that are totally gross and mind bogglingly cruel. Peter Jackson directs the hell out of this in his trademark manic and over the top way and delivers an epic deranged cult classic nightmare and something that you'll never forget.
The acting performances here are great with Timothy Blaine giving a brilliant performance as the reluctant hero Lionel whose strange, awkward, goofy and yet sympathetic character and he brings it together into a surprisingly compelling package and carries the movie effectively on his shoulders. Diana Penalver gives a standout performance as the beautiful and innocent love interest Paquita. Elizabeth Moody chews the scenery wonderfully with her over the top performance as the overbearing mother. Ian Watkin gives a fun and cartoonish performance as Uncle Les and finally Stuart Devenie gives a fun and outlandish performance as the priest who kicks butt.
Overall 'Braindead' or 'Dead Alive' is fun, deranged, demented and astoundingly fantastic, a true cult classic.
The Cat and the Canary (1939)
One of the finest Horror Comedies ever made
'The Cat and the Canary' is a highly entertaining Hollywood classic comedy horror film from the 1930's that acts as a remake to the 1927 film of the same name. This movie acts as a fun spoof of the old dark house murder mysteries and featuring all the classic tropes of the genres while at the same time manages to be a prime example of one thanks to its enjoyable narrative, spooky setting and an excellent cast that makes this a worthwhile viewing experience.
The Plot = Set in an isolated mansion in the Louisiana bayous when an eccentric family gathers for the reading of their late uncle Cyrus's will 10 years after his death, and soon murder and madness follows as there's an escaped lunatic known as 'The Cat' begins stalking the grounds.
The movie's familiar structure really enhances your enjoyment as you can just sit back and enjoy it for what it is an engaging thriller with a good sense of humour and boasts an equal share of laughs and frights thanks to its elegant direction by Elliot Hugent who keeps the runtime at an effectively brisk pace and takes full advantage of the genre cliches such as the haunted looking mansion, creepy shadowed hallways and secret passageways and makes clever use of them thanks to the southern gothic atmosphere and heightened moments of tension and suspense that leads to a chilling climax.
The cast here does wonderful work with the material they are given with Bob Hope delivering a fantastic leading man performance with his charisma and rapid-fire quips that gets plenty of laughs that makes him a great in the heroic role. Paulette Gooddard gives a fine performance as the beautiful yet plucky heroine and makes the most out of her role and shares tremendous on-screen chemistry with Bob Hope. Gale Sondergaard is great as the housekeeper Miss Liu and provides plenty of scene stealing moments with an underplayed balance of creepy and comical.
Overall 'The Cat and the Canary' is well and truly one of the finest horror comedies ever made.
After Midnight (1989)
Nowhere near the best Horror Anthology out there, but its an entertaining and brisk effort
'After Midnight' is a fun and entertaining late 80's horror anthology flick that features three interesting and well-made stories of spine-tingling terror in a rather weird and wild wraparound segment and features good production values and some genuinely creepy moments that even manages to take a few fun twists and turns and yet at the same time doesn't shy away entirely from the familiar formula.
The Plot = A college professor named Edward Derek (Ramy Zada) teaches a course titled 'The Psychology of Fear' and one night he invites a group of students to his house, where scary stories are told.
The first story "The Old Dark House" is about a couple entering an old abandoned haunted house where rumoured murders took place after their car breaks down. This first tale is a lot of fun that calls back to a more vintage era of horror and does a nice job of subverting your expectations with a mean twist at the end.
The second story "A Night on the Town" is another solid tale that involves a group of girls getting lost while out having a good time and ends up on the wrong side of town where they are attacked by a deranged man and his pack of killer dogs. This story features some great tension and suspense, a great cast and a few over the top moments that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.
The third and final tale titled "All Night Operator" is definitely my favourite out of the bunch that follows a telephone operator at an all-night messaging service being stalked by a crazed murderer. This may not be the most original storyline of the bunch, but it has a creepy realistic quality to it and features plenty of unsettling moments and an abrupt yet effective ending.
The professor storyline wraparound segments titled "Alison's Story" begins and ends the movie on a bizarre yet effective note.
The performances from the cast are decent all round with the standouts being Ramy Zada, Marg Helgenberger, Judie Aronson & Alan Rosenberg.
Overall 'After Midnight' is a decent yet quite underrated horror anthology film that moves along at a brisk pace and never comes off as boring. Although it's nowhere near a lost masterpiece or the best horror anthology out there, but's it's an entertaining effort.
Mirror Images (1992)
Sleazy and Entertaining Erotic Thriller
'Mirror Images' - A fun early 90's erotic thriller with slasher elements in this hazy dreamlike world of switched identities and seductive pleasures laced with political intrigue and murder and what could be more enjoyable than that. The movie is a rather entertaining and sleazy whodunit that features a fun cast, cheesy dialogue and plenty of deaths mixed with some classic T&A from the likes of Delia Sheppard and Julie Strain.
The Plot = Kaitlin Blair (Delia Sheppard), a bored and sexually frustrated woman adopts her twin sister Shauna's (also played by Delia Sheppard) identity when she goes out of town, but Kaitlin soon finds herself involved in a murder case.
Okay it would be a stretch to class this flick within the horror genre as it's more of a 90's sex thriller, but it does feature some light slasher elements within' its storyline and while it isn't the most original or exciting thriller out there, but the plot despite it's unoriginality is interesting enough to keep you invested and the erotic scenes are well crafted, even if the serial killer subplot and slasher elements isn't all that engaging and everything leads to a predictable and convoluted climax.
Delia Sheppard gives a convincing performance in the dual roles of the twins and proved to be good at playing both the naïve and innocent Kaitlin as well as the sexy and seductive Shauna. The rest of the cast were entertaining as well with John O'Hurley as the detective and fellow penthouse model Julie Strain as Gina and the real standout in terms of acting is Jeff Conaway as the sleazy and slimy husband.
Overall 'Mirror Images' is an entertaining and sleazy erotic thriller that features a lot of sex, some bad acting and an absurd plot that was fun if a little too ambitious to fully succeed.
Il mulino delle donne di pietra (1960)
Haunting and Surreal Italian/French Gothic Horror
'Mill of the Stone Women' also known as 'Drops of Blood' is a beautifully gothic and effectively haunting early 60's Italian/French horror film with a stunning picturesque central location that's overflowing with plenty of atmosphere, stylistic touches, unnerving tension and an interesting cast of characters to bring it all together in this rather brilliant and forgotten underrated gem of Italian horror cinema.
The Plot = Set in 19th century Holland, a young man named Hans (Pierre Brice) visits Amsterdam to do research on the famous yet reclusive sculptor professor Wahl (Herbert Boehme). But he is shocked to find out Wahl's horrifying secrets when women begin to disappear.
Vibrant, imaginative and macabre; this classy production boasts a mysterious and compelling storyline that it's time to build up the suspense and tension resulting in a well-crafted yet fully realized tale that feels genuinely creepy yet vividly surreal. Another strength of this flick is its gorgeous use of colours and cinematography that's presented in a dreamlike quality and blends beauty with the macabre with marvellous results.
The performances are solid as well and a does a remarkable job with bringing this morbid tale to life. Pierre Brice giving a strong performance in his leading man role. Scilla Gabel gives an alluring and captivating performance as the mysterious Elfie Wahl. Herbert Boehme is outstanding as the sinister Gregorious Wahl and finally Wolfgang Preiss rounds out the cast nicely as the shady and possessive Doctor Bohlem.
Overall 'Mill of the Stone Women' is a brilliant gothic horror production that relishes in the mystery that it presents in that classic approach and therefore creating a haunting and surreal Italian/French horror flick.
The Caller (1987)
Entertaining, Bizarre and yet Unique
'The Caller' is a classy yet well-crafted and suspenseful tale that revolves around an enigmatic mind game between two strangers with an intriguing narrative and deliberately off-kilter vibe this is something very difficult to describe without giving anything away and refuses to fall within any clearly defined genre for most of its runtime. However, that doesn't make this horror/thriller/sci-fi flick any less entertaining that works perfectly throughout most of its runtime.
The Plot = A woman (Madolyn Smith), living alone in an isolated cabin allows a mysterious stranger (Malcolm McDowell) to use her telephone.
This is a fascinating little thriller that can either thrive or fall flat on the strength of its performances; fortunately, it succeeds in that aspect thanks to the powerhouse performances from both Malcolm McDowell and Madolyn Smith. Malcolm delivers a compelling yet largely restrained performance with calm demeanour and measured manipulation that drives the narrative forward relentlessly. Madolyn Smith more than holds her own as she creates an interesting character that goes through a variety of emotions throughout as more and more details at peeled back.
The movie's deliberate pacing, enthralling mystery and mannered yet interesting dialogue manages to grab your attention along with some taut sequences and intense twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat right up until the bizarre climax that does come as a total shock even if it isn't entirely successful and does fall apart quite a bit as the movie tries to explain what in the hell is actually going on, but I was totally surprised though as you think its gonna go one way and instead goes somewhere polar opposite.
Overall 'The Caller' is not quite a lost masterpiece and despite a couple of flaws here and there, it still manages to be a unique and effective viewing experience that deserves far more attention.
The Ring (2002)
Not only an excellent remake, but also an effective ghost story in its own right
'The Ring' is an eerie and atmospheric supernatural horror flick from the early 00's that simultaneously entices and yet disturbs you at the same time with its creepy imagery and chilling and melancholy atmosphere which gives off an unnerving sense of dread and an oppressive hypnotic tone that sears its way into your subconscious, which alone is good for several terrifying and spine-tingling moments that keeps you tenterhooks throughout its runtime. A remake of the classic Japanese horror film 'Ringu' and a fantastic adaptation to boot that kick started the American J-Horror craze of the 2000's, however this stands as the very best of a rather mediocre bunch.
The Plot = A journalist named Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts) must investigate a mysterious videotape which seems to cause the death of anyone one week to the day after they watch it.
The movie manages to take the terrifying original premise and grounded it into reality and the experience it provides and disturbs the audience on a psychological and subliminal level in way that very few horror films can attempt to especially for a remake which is astounding and even to this day this movie remains quite unique and memorable. Another aspect that works so well here is how it deftly puts its dramatic elements into its horror beats and balances these elements effectively and yet still manages to be creepy, intense and gut wrenching in equal amounts. The film's central mystery is incredibly intriguing and offers some fun twists and turns into its engaging narrative. The direction by Gore Verbinski is of course top notch as he gives the film a cool gothic and isolated look to the production and provides many intense set pieces that manages to sustain your interest right up until the final climax.
The performances here are strong with Noami Watts providing an excellent leading performance and proves more than capable of carrying the film on her shoulders. The supporting cast are well chosen with Brian Cox providing a memorable and engaging performance and Martin Henderson and David Dorfman both does fine work in their respective roles.
Overall 'The Ring' is not only a fantastic remake but an effective ghost story in it's own right that proves that filmmakers doesn't have to rely on cheap tricks and jump scares to make a good horror film just some good old fashioned great storytelling and a genuine sense of creeping dread.
D-Tox (2002)
Solid Underrated Action/Thriller/Slasher gem
'D-Tox' aka 'Eye See You' is a decent and well-made psychological crime thriller flick that features an interesting storyline with a great setting, exciting set pieces and plenty of gruesome entertainment along with its effective combination of action and slasher genre elements that makes this a good time overall. Yes, it's very much a been there done that type of movie, but the solid production value and impressive cast place it heads and shoulders above the usual direct to DVD crapfest.
The Plot = FBI Agent Jake Mallory (Sylvester Stallone) is devastated by the loss of his wife Mary (Dina Meyer) at the hands of a serial killer. He heads to a secluded rehab facility for treatment and finds that the same serial killer has followed him there and begins killing off the other patients one by one.
Criminally underrated and while this may not be perfect its an enjoyable little thriller that didn't deserve to be shelved for 3 years before being dumped on the video market. This had quite a lot going for it with its original concept of mixing together the original novel 'Jitter Joint' with quite a few horror sub genres and watching them mix together into something quite fun, although the originality did get a little lost amongst all this. The movie's tight paced narrative keeps you invested throughout as the first half of the flick plays out like an entire movie within' itself where a violent cat and mouse between Stallone and the serial killer before the isolated horror elements kicks in during the second half and that's where the real fun begins with its murder mystery slasher elements and makes for a joyful viewing experience. Okay, there are flaws such as it's predictable nature, boring kills and wasting a lot of the cast's potential, but the good does outweigh the bad here.
The cast here are great with Sylvester Stallone giving a strong performance in the lead role and handles his character's turmoil brilliantly. Charles S. Dutton does fine work as Stallone's best friend and partner. Kris Kristofferson is well cast as the tough, yet heartfelt Doc. Jeffrey Wright does okay in his role although like many felt underused. Tom Berenger is good as the quirky groundskeeper Hank. Stephan Lang is fun as the serious red herring character. Polly Walker provides a solid performance as the female lead Jenny.
Overall 'D-Tox' is a solid atmospheric slasher action thriller that may not be a classic of any of its genre, it's still a fun underrated flick that deserves more love and attention.
Cabin Fever (2002)
Absurd, Grotesque, Funny and Unique
'Cabin Fever' is a fun schlocky and weird no hold bars horror comedy that features a simple yet effective premise that serves as an homage to classic old school horror flicks with its mix of grotesque horror, bizarre humour, sexual tension and of course plenty of awesome over the top gore sequences which makes this an entertaining viewing experience and a rather solid directional debut from Eli Roth who manages to put a unique spin on the horror/comedy sub-genre.
The Plot = Five college graduates Paul (Rider Strong), Karen (Jordan Ladd), Bert (James DeBello), Marcy (Cerina Vincent) and Jeff (Joey Kern) rents an isolated cabin in the woods, but as soon as they arrive chaos ensures, and the group begins to fall victim to a horrifying flesh-eating virus.
The movie is something that you'll either love or hate, but personally I loved it, and you've got to admit that it's an experience that you'll never forget due to its absurd nature and lack of subtlety. While it's very lacking in the scares department which doesn't entirely make this a successful horror flick, but it does feature plenty of laughs and graphic violence which should satisfy fans of splatter movies. The direction by Eli Roth is incredibly strong and gives the film plenty of stylish visuals, excitement, tension and well-paced story telling that works to give the movie its own unique flavour. This is a solid offering that despite its flaws holds up pretty well despite being more than 20 years old.
The acting performances from the main cast members are strong and memorable with solid turns from Jordan Ladd, Rider Strong, James DeBello, Cerina Vincent and Joey Kern, all are equally good and does their part in serving the narrative.
Overall 'Cabin Fever' offers a fun unique spin on the tired splatter horror genre and while it may not be to everyone's taste, it's a hell of a fun ride from start to finish.
Se7en (1995)
Brutal, Depressing, Intense and downright Flawless
'Seven' is a dark, chilling and disturbing neo noir psychological horror thriller masterpiece that draws you into its twisted and bleak world thanks to its engaging premise with a compelling mystery that not only holds your attention for its entire 2-hour duration but packs a powerful punch that leaves an almighty ever lasting impression. This is a timeless flick that still plays flawlessly today as it did back in the 90's.
The Plot = Two detectives, a rookie Mills (Brad Pitt) and a veteran Sommerset (Morgan Freeman) are paired up to hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motive.
This is so much more than just an entertaining film, as there's so much substance and weight to the production with themes such obsession, madness, justice and depravity of mankind which makes this an intensely cerebral film that keeps you enthralled right up until its shocking and unsettling climax that will haunt you long after the film ends. What makes this film so special besides an amazing cast and a great script is the outstanding direction by David Fincher and its masterful cinematography, compelling visuals and dense and gritty atmosphere which focuses on the seedy, unpleasant side of the anonymous downtown setting which gives the production an unrelenting sense of decay both moral and physical with its constant unbearable bleakness and foreboding sense of gloom.
The movie benefits from having an incredible cast with Morgan Freeman an excellent actor in general giving perhaps one of his finest performances of his career as the world-weary detective on the verge of retirement. Brad Pitt gives an incredible performance as the hot shot rookie and the two actors shares amazing screen chemistry together. Gwyneth Paltrow shines in her limited role that certainly leaves an impression. Then finally Kevin Spacey proves to be a firm standout with his captivating performance.
Overall 'Seven' is brutal, depressing and downright captivating and one of the very best horror/thrillers movies ever made.
Leprechaun (1993)
Stupid yet Entertainingly Mindless 90's Horror Comedy Fluff
'Leprechaun' is outrageous, totally ludicrous and yet extremely entertaining cult classic horror comedy flick with a silly premise filled with oddball fun and wacky pint-sized antics thanks to the lead star Warwick Davis and his devilish and brilliant portrayal as the wickedly evil titular 'Leprechaun'. This demented little gem really goes for it with its Irish mythos and insane cruelty while introducing us to a truly unique style of slasher villain who delivers quick puns and some satisfying death scenes.
The Plot = An evil, sadistic Leprechaun (Warwick Davis), who was once locked in a basement is unleashed and goes on a killing rampage in search of his beloved pot of gold.
The movie is a wild and surreal cinematic roller coaster thrill ride that will keep you entertained from its strange beginning to deranged end and while it may not be to everyone's taste due to it's stupid and cheesy nature and the movie obviously has its fans otherwise there wouldn't be several sequels made. However, this is far from a classic entry within the horror genre but it's an extremely fun one with an interesting mix of horror and comedy that uniquely does its own thing even if it's just basically mindless popcorn fluff.
The performances here are pretty decent and does a great job of injecting fear and fun into the production. Warwick Davis is the main reason why this film works as well as it does with his iconically evil and demented performance. Jennifer Aniston is solid in her acting debut as the fresh-faced city girl. Ken Olandt plays the hunky heroic Nathan rather well. Mark Holton is good as the dim-witted Ozzy and gives the role plenty of heart. Robert Hy Gorman rounds off the cast nicely as the smart mouthed punk kid.
Overall 'Leprechaun' is a silly yet fun 90's horror flick with enough unrelenting devilish entertainment that's definitely worth a watch.
Raising Cain (1992)
Solid, Stylish, Campy and a bit Flawed
'Raising Cain' is a stylish and campy psychological horror thriller with a twisted sense of dark humour from director Brian De Palma. It's a tale of suspense, mystery, revenge, kidnapping, and murder in De Palma's thrilling signature style even if it doesn't entirely work, this is still a solid thriller with a macabre yet engaging premise, plenty of melodrama, diabolically fun twists and turns and a fantastic powerhouse performance from John Lithgow who's worth the price of admission alone.
The Plot = Respected child psychologist Carter Nix (John Lithgow) takes time off from his practice to study his daughter's development. His wife Jenny (Lolita Davidovich) suspects that he has an unhealthy obsession with their child, unaware that her husband suffers from multiple personality disorder which leads to deadly consequences.
This movie doesn't quite rank up there with De Palma's best work due to its rather muddled storytelling, self-indulgent style and over the top campy tone which stops this from being taken seriously, but it does manage to be pure entertainment that knows how to build tension throughout with its interesting dreamlike cinematography and as the stakes ramps up it leads to a cracking finale where everything comes together by the end, even if the journey getting there was rather confusing and fractured.
The performances here is what makes everything worthwhile especially from John Lithgow who easily steals the show here with his compelling role where he goes from scenery chewing with wild and manic actions, and yet still manages to be effectively menacing and portrays each of his multiple personalities superbly. Lolita Davidovich delivers a strong performance as the wife and provides many layers to her role as the movie progresses. Steven Bauer does fine work as Jack and manages to be quite likeable despite some of the awful things his character does. Frances Sternhagen delivers a flawless and memorable performance as Dr Waldheim.
Overall 'Raising Cain' is a solid, suspenseful and weird 90's thriller that sure has its flaws, but overall manages to be a tight offering from Brian De Palma.
Pet Sematary II (1992)
Unhinged and somewhat enjoyable sequel
'Pet Sematary 2' is a ridiculously unhinged and yet somewhat enjoyable sequel to the cult classic original film from 1989, and while that ended on a perfect note with nowhere else to go there was no reason why a follow-up was needed, but kinda glad we did as this entry is deliriously entertaining with its twisted dark humour, fun gore sequences and overall b-movie charm despite the fact that it misses out on just about everything that made the original so haunting and unnerving.
The Plot = After his mother's untimely death, Jeff Matthews (Edward Furlong) and his father Chase (Anthony Edwards) moves to her hometown of Ludlow Maine to start over. Soon enough Jeff and his new friend Drew (Jason Maguire) discovers the ancient Native American pet cemetery that has the power to raise the dead.
Now this movie has quite a few problems such as the premise is essentially a rehash of the first film, only here it feels very disjointed and the tone here is lacking that foreboding atmosphere and doesn't feature any real scares and instead focus's more on shock value, which is okay I guess, but that doesn't make this a better movie. However, there are some positives to be had here such as the strong production values which gives everything that grungy 90's MTV look to the film, great special effects and the morbid sense of humour running throughout its storyline featuring several offbeat surreal sequences which makes this less grounded sets it apart from its predecessor.
The cast here ranges from great to inept with Edward Furlong giving an okay performance as the angsty teen even if he doesn't show much range. Anthony Edwards feels very subdued and lacking in his role as the father and their father son relationship doesn't feel authentic. Jason Maguire gives a fine and likeable performance as the friend. But if there's one reason to watch this then its for the manic performance of Clancy Brown who saves the movie with his scenery chewing and over the top performance, he's simply a blast to watch and makes this film far better than it has any right to be.
Overall 'Pet Sematary 2' is a pretty entertaining follow-up even if it doesn't in any way compare to the original in any way, but its still worth a watch for Clancy Brown's performance alone.
Serial Mom (1994)
Pitch Perfect Black Comedy Slasher Satire
'Serial Mom' is an excellent and hilarious satirical black comedy slasher flick directed by the legendary filmmaker John Waters with its sharply written dialogue that features endlessly quotable lines, a wickedly demented yet fun premise and a stellar cast that thrives in this strange, tongue in cheek world created by John Waters himself. This may be the most mainstream effort he's ever done but that stop this from being an underrated cult classic masterpiece of 90's comedy.
The Plot = Beverly Sutphin (Kathleen Turner) is the perfect all-American housewife and mother who tends to the picture-perfect home along with her caring husband Eugene (Sam Waterson) and their two children Misty (Rikki Lake) and Chip (Matthew Lillard). However, beneath the surface lies a deadly serial killer who'll kill anyone who gets in her way.
The movie isn't horror by any means, but it totally works as a dark comedy slasher that satires true crime obsessions and the way Americans tend to turn serial killers into celebrities. While at the same time it's a fantastic send up of suburbia with all its rules of conformity and the movie plays with all these themes cleverly and effectively thanks to the stellar script and superb direction by John Waters. The movie also manages to work as a straight up comedy thanks again to the sharp writing and the committed cast performances led by Kathleen Turner in a flawless leading performance and a deadly force of nature and pulls off every aspect of the role to perfection.
The rest of the cast are also outstanding as well with Matthew Lillard giving a solid turn as the horror obsessed son in his first role. Sam Waterson is fantastic as the caring husband and plays it straight and counterbalances Kathleen Turner's performance beautifully. Rikki Lake makes a strong impression as the daughter and Mink Stole provides a scene stealing performance as Dotty Hinkle, the perfect foil to Turner's character.
Overall 'Serial Mom' is that pitch perfect black comedy satire that holds up incredibly well after all these years.
Beyond Re-Animator (2003)
Fun and Gory Thrill Ride, but doesn't compare to the first entries in the trilogy
'Beyond Re-Animator' is the third and final instalment in the unhinged cult classic 'Re-Animator' trilogy and despite a massive dip in quality when compared to the first two entries there's still plenty to enjoy with plenty of over-the-top gruesome set pieces with a dash of the usual slapstick humour thrown in for good measure and enough macabre monster action fun to satisfy fans of the series even if it doesn't quite end the series on an almighty bang.
The Plot = Taking place 13 years after the events of the last film, the mad scientist Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs) is locked up in a maximum-security prison still trying to continue his experiments using the limited resources. However, with the arrival of a young prison doctor Howard Phillips (Jason Barry) who also wants to learn the secrets of how to reanimate dead people. Soon enough mayhem and carnage ensure.
Despite having a different feel to the first two movies, this third entry still has the signature elements that made the series so enjoyable in the first place such as the awesome gore effects and the pitch perfect performance of Jeffrey Combs as the loveably manic Herbert West. The horror aspects have been toned down and lacks any sort of scares or tension which normally wouldn't be a problem, but the writing here is very sub-par and the look of the film itself looks very dull and mundane. The direction by Brian Yuzna is solid and manages to bring everything he can by keeping things moving at a reasonably brisk pace with a solid opening and a gore-tastic finale with plenty of humour peppered in throughout which makes the very by the number's narrative engaging at the very least.
The performances here are very much a mixed bag, but at least we get the return of Jeffrey Combs who provides the very heart and soul of this franchise and here he's no different as his excellent and iconic performance effectively carries the movie. What this movie was sorely missing was Bruce Abbott who opted not to return here and instead we get Jason Barry who does provide a decent performance, he's a poor substitute for the West and Daniel dynamic from the first two movies. Elsa Pataky gives an okay performance as the reporter Laura and her chemistry with Jason Barry helps give the film warmth and Simon Andreu gives an over the top and menacing performance as the villainous Warden Brando.
Overall 'Beyond Re-Animator' is a fun and wacky little horror comedy with enough gory entertainment, but pales in comparison when compared to the first two entries.
The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Decent once in a lifetime viewing experience that will never have the same impact after repeated viewings
'The Blair Witch Project' is a creepy, polarizing and yet one of a kind supernatural found footage horror film that would take the world by storm and become a global phenomenon thanks to its clever marketing gimmick that would fool countless people into believing at what you're seeing is real and despite not being the first "found footage" movie to ever exist, it would popularize the sub-genre and would go onto change the horror genre forever.
The Plot = Three film students Heather (Heather Donahue), Michael (Michael C. Williams), and Josh (Joshua Leonard) each disappears after travelling into a Maryland forest to film a documentary on the local Blair Witch legend, leaving only their footage behind.
The movie's premise is simple yet effective as the events that unfolds almost by accident, with every scene builds tension leading to many terrifying moments with an underlying suspense and unnerving dread that holds the narrative together. The filmmakers do an incredible job at making an already creepy wooded area and making it come alive thanks to the films documentary style which brings a chilling air of realism to an unbelievable tale. The writing and direction by both Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez are top notch and does the most with such a limited budget by finding a way to tap into the audience's fears of the unknown and creating one of the most unsettling and engaging viewing experiences of all-time. The performances from the 3 main leads are fantastic and each brings their own essence of intrigue and sympathy to their roles and their mostly improvised dialogue brings even more greatness to their performances.
However, while this is a good movie, its nowhere near a perfect film as with repeated viewings the movie never recaptures that same first-time experience, which is something a lot of movies can suffer from and the scares gets rather repetitive towards the end and there are a few patchy pacing problems here and there, but on the whole you can't deny its hype and impact on the horror landscape and that's what makes it something special and a once in a lifetime experience.
Deep Rising (1998)
Dumb Fun Action/Horror/Sci-Fi B-Movie
'Deep Rising' is a fun late 90's sci-fi action horror creature feature that features some splendid action set pieces, solid gory sequences, a fun cast of characters filled with snappy dialogue and plenty of schlocky cheesy moments which makes this a rather fun viewing experience despite its cliched plot that doesn't offer much in the way of originality and derivative nature, the movie more than makes up for that by being pure b-movie popcorn entertainment.
The Plot = A group of heavily armed hijackers led by John Finnegan (Treat Williams) board a luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific Ocean to rob it, only to find that the passengers and crew have been killed by a large tentacled man eating sea monster.
The movie is a brisk and stylish good time with enough excitement, suspense and thrills to keep you interested throughout its runtime. The production values are strong with stellar cinematography and plenty of imagination thrown into the mix with slick direction by Stephen Sommers who really makes the most out of the obvious decent sized budget and injects plenty of energy into the flick and keeps the plot going at a decent pace which leads to an over the top and fantastic climax. However, there are a few flaws such as the dated special effects which gives the movie that dated 90's look with dodgy CGI and the horror elements are also very lacking as there's no real scares to be had here. Other than that, you can just enjoy the movie for what it is and don't expect anything more or you will be disappointed.
The cast here are fantastic and they're exactly what you want and expect from a popcorn entertainment flick like this. Treat Williams gives a strong and likeable performance as the loveable rascal John Finnegan and carries the movie effectively with his charisma. Famke Janssen gives a fun and sultry performance as Trillian St James, her sharp wit and she's able to hold her own against the primarily male crew. Kevin J O'Connor provides a great performance as the comic relief character and Wes Studi gives a delightfully sinister performance in his villainous role. The finally, Anthony Heald rounds out the cast nicely and gives a memorable and solid performance.
Overall 'Deep Rising' is a big dumb yet fun action/horror/sci-fi flick where you can just sit back and enjoy without overthinking it and just have a good time.
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Intelligent, Multi Layered, and utterly Captivating
'The Silence of the Lambs' is an intelligent, multi-layered, compelling and utterly spellbinding psychological horror crime thriller masterpiece that is easily the greatest horror movie of the 90's and will forever stand the test of time for all its remarkable achievements in filmmaking. Adapted from the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, this is something that has fully earned its praise and huge success and is rightfully considered as one of the greatest movies of all-time.
The Plot = Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), an FBI trainee, seeks help from Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a psychopathic serial killer and former psychiatrist to help catch another serial killer known as Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine), a sadistic madman who skins his female victims.
The true horror of this flick doesn't come from jump scares or the on-screen violence as the storyline plays out more like a character driven police procedural than anything that's come before or after it, but the true horror comes from how everything plays out within narrative itself with several moments of chilling terror, nerve racking suspense and fear inducing psychological sequences that not only delves deep beneath the surface, but will stay with you long after its over. The direction by Jonathan Demme is simply outstanding as creates an authentic yet creepy atmosphere with masterful cinematography, stunning visual designs and an excellent production design which gives the movie a slick yet believable look to it. The script by Ted Tally is intelligent and excellently written with fully fleshed out characters and skilful plot structure that makes this a wonderful adaptation of the original classic novel.
The superb cast performances are what makes everything work as well as it does, especially from the two main leads as without them I doubt this movie would have been as iconic as it is. Anthony Hopkins is simply magnificent as the intense and insane Hannibal Lecter with his unforgettable yet engaging screen presence, his cold hard stare, intelligence and sudden bursts of aggression is what makes him so frightening and fully deserved his Oscar win for this role that will forever go down in history. Jodie Foster is an equally fantastic as Clarice Starling as she carries the narrative with her powerful yet authentic performance and conveys so many emotions with just her presence, another well earned Oscar winning performance for her role that she will always be remembered for. The rest of the cast are impressive as well, although not quite on the same engaging level of the two main leads, but Ted Levine comes close who gives a chilling and captivating performance as Buffalo Bill and provides several moments in this flick that will forever be embedded into your subconscious.
Overall 'The Silence of the Lambs' is one of those true classics of modern cinema that seems to improve with age and will never be diminished. What more can I say about this masterpiece that hasn't already been said.
Crescendo (1970)
Deserves to be forgotten and that's it
'Crescendo' is a very rare and mediocre British psychological horror thriller from Hammer studios and despite having a familiar feel to some of their better thrillers such as 'Taste of Fear', 'Hysteria' or even 'Paranoiac', this effort falls flat in almost every possible with its lacklustre storytelling, dull atmosphere, zero suspense or thrills and poorly written characters. Boring movies like this is the reason why Hammer Horror films started to fall out of fashion by the 1970's.
The Plot = Susan Roberts (Stefanie Powers), an American music scholar visits the South of France to work on her thesis research on a recently deceased composer, staying with his eccentric relatives and soon realizes something sinister is going on.
The only positives I could give is that the direction by Alan Gibson is somewhat competent and the acting performances are solid with Stefanie Powers giving an intelligent and fierce leading lady performance. Joss Ackland and Margaretta Scott roles adds a nice touch of class to an otherwise lacklustre production. James Olsen was fine as the wheelchair bound son. But Jane Lapotaire's performance as the French maid felt like a caricature and was just awful all around.
There's nothing much to recommend here as there's really not much worth mentioning. The so-called plot twist was one of the most obvious and worst shocks I've ever seen, the horror aspect was non existent as the death scenes lacked any spark. The premise could have had some potential, but the poor pacing and lack of any excitement bogs down any sort of potential this may have had.
Overall 'Crescendo' fully deserves to be forgotten and that's it.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Weakest entry in The Conjuring trilogy, but far better than most of the spin-off's
'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It' serves as the 3rd instalment of 'The Conjuring' series and 8th entry overall in the ongoing franchise and while it's a solid supernatural horror flick with plenty to enjoy, sadly it's not up to par with the first 2 films due to it lacking that special something which made those previous films so great. But it does rank as one of the better entries in the very hit and miss franchise overall.
The Plot = Based on a real-life event of a young man named Arne Cheyenne Johnson (Ruairi O' Connor) who stabbed his landlord to death, claiming to be under demonic possession. Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorainne Warren (Patrick Wilson & Vera Farmiga) investigates the case and try and prove his innocence.
The movie's opening was a hell of a lot of fun offering some intense scares, suspense and genuine thrills which effectively sets the tone for what's to come. The premise while not as gripping does offer a slight change of pace when compared to the first 2 films with the main leads doing some investigating and adds a nice touch of intrigue to the narrative, but the pacing did get a bit slow at times and the scares here are very much a mixed bag with an over reliance on cheap jump scares and the rest of the movie struggles to live up to the very promising intro. However, things do pick up towards the end with a shocking plot twist which jolts some much-needed energy into the flick and leads into a strong final climax that thankfully ends the movie on a high note. The absence of James Wan's direction is sorely missed here and while Michael Chaves does do a decent job but struggles to maintain the same momentum throughout as James Wan does.
The main selling point of these films is the compelling performances of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga and in this flick they're as fantastic as ever and gives these movies a high level of credibility and you can't help but feel invested in their characters relationship. Ruairi O' Connor gives a solid and likeable performance in his role, and John Noble gives a memorable performance in his small role as Kastner and provides an engaging screen presence.
Overall 'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It' is a more than decent supernatural horror flick even if it is the weakest entry in 'The Conjuring' trilogy, but its far better than most of the franchise's spin off's.
Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Fun, Wild & Brisk Haunted House Thrill Ride
'Annabelle Comes Home' is a wild, silly and yet entertaining supernatural horror film that serves as the 3rd entry in the 'Annabelle' series, and as the 7th instalment in the ongoing 'The Conjuring Universe' and just when things were looking to become stale after the horrible critical receptions to 'The Nun' & 'The Curse of La Llorona', this entry manages to not quite breathe new life into the franchise, but get things back on track by delivering an exhilarating funhouse nightmare that will keep you on tenterhooks throughout.
The Plot = Judy Warren (Mckenna Grace) and her babysitter Mary Ellen (Madison Iseman) are left alone in her house after her parents Ed & Lorraine Warren leaves to investigate a case. However, Mary's friend Daniela (Katie Sarife) unknowingly sets Annabelle free and unleashes demonic activity in the house.
This movie takes a lighter approach than the previous entries with its simple premise, tighter pacing and plenty of fresh new ghosts and monsters which gives the production a fun haunted house attraction vibe with colourful lighting and throws everything at you at breakneck speed, and that's what makes this so exciting and enjoyable. These elements also help set it apart from the previous franchise entries. The direction by Gary Dauberman is slick and manages to retain the scares and intensity thanks to its eerie atmosphere and inventive rapid fire set pieces. This isn't perfect by any means as there are a couple of flaws here and there such as the first half of the flick can be a bit sluggish at moments and the narrative is perhaps a bit too simple for its own good, but if you're looking for a breezy fun watch then check this out, just don't go expecting anything heavy or groundbreaking or you will be disappointed.
The characters here are fantastic with stellar performances from all three key cast members McKenna Grace, Madison Iseman & Katie Sarife who each adds integrity to their respective roles and gives the production a solid foundation.
Overall 'Annabelle Comes Home' proves to be a solid and entertaining 3rd outing in the 'Annabelle' series and ends the trilogy on a high note.
The Nun (2018)
Flawed yet Fun Ghost Story
'The Nun' is a fun yet uneven supernatural horror flick that serves as the 5th entry in 'The Conjuring Universe Franchise' that features a cool gothic atmosphere that evokes plenty of unsettling sequences filled with an unnerving sense of dread and tons of creepy yet striking religious imagery which makes this a strange yet enjoyable entry in the franchise, even if it's lacking in several qualities that could have made this great.
The Plot = A priest Father Burke (Demien Bichir) and a novice sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) travel to Romania to investigate the death of a young nun and confront a malevolent supernatural force in the form of a demonic nun.
This bizarre little offering isn't nowhere near as bad as it's made out to be, but there are a few flaws that holds it back such as the sloppy writing and the narrative is oddly structured and falters during the middle where things become a bit tedious after such a solid build up. Thankfully the pace picks up during the final act with features plenty of over-the-top nightmarish visuals and macabre fun. However, there's still plenty to enjoy here such as the wild and manic energy of the production, some well crafted scares and the interesting cast of characters. The demonic nun Valak herself is truly terrifying but felt rather sidelined at times despite her ominous presence. The abbey location itself looked awesome and gives off a haunting yet ethereal look and really helps with the gothic tone that the movie is going for. While this may lack the highbrow horror of some of the previous entries, this is still a fun horror thrill ride viewing experience.
The performances from the small cast of intimate characters. Demian Bichir gives an engaging performance as the priest with a haunted past. Taissa Farmiga is excellent as the young novice nun and finally Jonas Bloquet gives an enjoyable and standout performance as Frenchie.
Overall 'The Nun' is an entertaining ghost story that sure doesn't rank as a classic of the genre, but it's a decent watch, nonetheless.
Annabelle: Creation (2017)
Not perfect but a definite improvement over the first 'Annabelle' flick
'Annabelle Creation' is the surprisingly good follow up prequel to the original 'Annabelle' flick from 2014 which was terrible. This entry manages to rise above the poorly acted and dull first film by being decent and out does it in every way possible with its creepy atmosphere, better writing, strong acting performances and most importantly it actually features some genuinely scary and intense moments which was something sorely lacking in the previous entry.
The Plot = Twelve years after the tragic death of their daughter, a doll-maker Samuel Mullins (Anthony LaPaglia) and his wife Esther (Miranda Otto) welcomes a nun Sister Charlotte (Stephanie Sigman) and several girls from a shut down orphanage into their home. Soon enough the girls become the target of the possessed doll, Annabelle.
The shocking opening moments instantly grabs your attention with its disturbing content and the rest of the movie effectively builds the tension and suspense towards the final climax where it becomes a supernatural horror chill-fest. However, this isn't a perfect horror flick by any means as it does have a few flaws such as the struggle to make all of the characters feel vital to the plot as it seems to only focus on a select few. The pacing was decent for the most part but there were a couple of slow spots here and there, and there was also an over reliance on jump scares which did become rather predictable. Other than that, this still managed to be a solid supernatural fright fest. The direction by David F. Sandberg is fantastic as he takes a more stripped-down approach with skilful camera movements and effective atmospheric lighting which gives the film a more natural and subdued creepiness to the production.
The acting was really decent here with Lulu Wilson and Talitha Eliana Bateman both giving terrific and standout performances in their respective roles as two of the orphaned girls. Anthony LaPaglia and Miranda Otto each adds a touch of class to the flick, but both were criminally underused. Stephanie Sigman gives a decent performance in her role as the kindhearted nun, her character didn't feel as prominent as it should have and felt rather sidelined until the final climax.
Overall 'Annabelle Creation' is a step in the right direction for the 'The Conjuring Universe Franchise' and while not perfect it's a definite improvement over the first 'Annabelle' flick.