It's October baby....Horror flick time!

[Koravec]

On 10/10/2023 at 2:15 PM, Drunken Monk said:

I'm one of the few people on planet Earth that really likes the first one

I also really liked the first one, think I spoke well of it here. But after trying and trying to get myself to care about this sequel I just cant, so I have up. Unless I was full force on reviewing a horror film everyday this october Id see it. 

If it was a year after the first or even two Id probably be really into it still.

[KUNG FU BOB]

Halloween movie watches thus far (in October. We watch scary stuff all year long. )...

HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY (1981) 7/10

TOTALLY KILLER (2023) 6/10  Despite being so silly, my wife and I were entertained throughout.

MEG 2: THE TRENCH 2023 5/10  Only occasionally fun, but generally... not great.

US (2019) 5/10   I love GET OUT and really dig NOPE so I decided to give this a second look. Hmmm... I still feel the same way about it as I did last time (see my earlier review on Letterboxd if you care). The actors are fantastic, but the script is a mess for me.

DRAG ME TO HELL (2009) 8/10

THE BEYOND (1981) 8/10   My favorite Lucio Fulci film, just nudging ZOMBIE (1979, aka. ZOMBI 2 / ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS) out of the #1 spot.

[DrNgor]

Face (South Korea, 2004: Yoo San-Gong) - If you look at the cover and watch the first 10-15 minutes, it's a total bait n' switch from the actual movie you'll watch. This is not a post-Ringu horror film so much as it is a police procedural/crime lab film in which the long-haired Asian ghost is mainly an impetus for the main character to get off his rump and start doing his job.

The film begins with a woman in strapped to a bed in a clandestine operating room getting her heart forcibly removed by an unknown doctor-type. We jump to the present, in which Jin, daughter of Lee Hyun-Mi (Shin Hyun-Joon, of Barefoot Ki-bong and Stairway to Heaven), has just gotten a heart transplant and is having difficulties adapting to her new heart. After a stint in the hospital, Lee takes her to her grandmother's house in the sticks to recover and breathe some fresh air. Lee is a master in the field of face reconstruction, but is planning on leaving his job to stay with his daughter. Before he can do that, an up-and-coming young lady in the same industry, Jung Sun-Yong (Song Yun-Ah, of Jail Breakers and Wedding Dress), shows up at his house with a skull for him to reconstruct.

Initially, Hyun-Mi just wants to be left alone so he can be with his daughter. But after he starts getting haunted by a female ghost, he gets the message and starts reconstructing the face of the skull with Sun-Yong's assistance. Meanwhile, a detective named Min-ho (Oh Jung-se, of The Call and When the Camellia Blooms) has been investigating the case of all these skeletons popping up--apparently, Hyun-Mi and his workplace have already done more than a few for the police. His investigation takes him to the same hospital where Jin had gotten her heart transplant. And considering that the surgeon who performed the transplant, Dr. Yoon (Ahn Seok-Hwan, of Heartbreak Hotel and Shotgun Love), is reluctant to tell Hyun-Mi just who the donor is, things are starting to look mighty suspicious.

Face is creepy in the first fifteen minutes during the initial hauntings, but once Hyun-Mi gets to work reconstructing the face of the skull Sun Yong brings him, the supernatural elements take a back seat to what is more of a police procedural drama. There is a big twist right before the climax that is actually surprising, although the metaphysics of it make little sense if you stop to think about it. That said, besides the genre bait and switch, the problem with Face is the lack of immediacy and forward momentum to the story. Supposedly, he has to determine the identity of the victim in order to save his daughter, but the script and direction don't really convey a sense of urgency. In the end, the film has some interesting ideas, but fails in their execution.

[PandaPawPaw]

Jordan Peele should stick to comedy, his horror films suck ass! Awful movies.

[AlbertV]

Nightsiren: A young woman returns to her village in Slovakia after 20 years to learn her mother's house has burned down. She questions about what happened as her mom had died, but as she gets close to a herbalist, she is seen as a witch and a murderer. An excellent homage to folk horror in my opinion, having shades of Midsommar and The Witch and adding Slovak traditions along with a supporting character based on a real-life person that is seen as a witch in a small village, according to director Tereza Nvotova, who I interviewed today. 

[DrNgor]

The Wig (South Korea, 2005: Won Shin-yun) - The idea of "evil hair" showed up (first) in John Carpenter's Body Bags, an anthology that featured a story called "Hair," about a hair transplant and an alien parasite. It was parodied to an extent--along with The Hands of Orlac--in The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror IX", in which Homer wears a toupée of a recently-executed Snake, and then gets possessed. The Wig takes the general premise and treats it with the utmost seriousness.

Soo-hyeon (Chae Min-Seo, of Loner and Vegetarian) is dying of cancer. She apparently is in her last stages, judging from the emotional response of the orderly who is getting her belongings together before she leaves the hospital (presumably to spend her last moments at home with her sister). Said sister, Ji-hyeon (Yoo Sun, The Uninvited), shows up to bring her sister home with a little gift: a wig. If nothing else, she can at least enjoy her final days out and about the town without people looking at her funny.

Of course, as this film is called The Wig, you can imagine that things won't go so smoothly as Soo-hyeon simply taking walks in Seoul and then peacefully going in her sleep. There are a series of unexplained scenes at the very beginning that suggest something is not right. Moreover, a few brief shots of the wig suggest it might have a mind of its own. But once Soo-hyeon starts wearing it, that's where things start to change. At first it's a quick vision or two. Spooky, but manageable. But when a friend of Ji-hyeon's borrows the wig in an attempt to seduce her philandering husband into staying in their marriage, then things start to get weird. And it's not long before Soo-hyeon's personality starts to change, too.

The main problem with The Wig is that it tries to be a slow-burn horror, but takes too long to get to the interesting part, which is when Ji-Hyeon finally tries to find out what the deal is with the titular object. That portion is crammed into the third act, along with the climax, where the truth really comes out. Much time is spent trying to develop the characters, but considering the minimal dialog, the fact that Ji-hyeon is a mute (due to a random accident that makes sense at the end), and director Won Shin-yun's intentional obfuscation of story details, it's hard to really get a true feel for the characters. He wants us the viewer to meet him halfway with the story, but doesn't give us much to really work with until the last half hour or so. The finale is tragic, made even worse by the last-second introduction of information that further muddies the moral waters of a character's actions, But that said, The Wig is rarely scary, or even creepy. It's mainly melancholic with the occasional graphic image.

 

@One Armed Boxer - That's two K-horror films this week, with three more coming up.

Edited October 20, 2023 by DrNgor

[Shaolin Patriot]

On 10/18/2023 at 3:56 PM, KUNG FU BOB said:

Halloween movie watches thus far (in October. We watch scary stuff all year long. )...

HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY (1981) 7/10

TOTALLY KILLER (2023) 6/10  Despite being so silly, my wife and I were entertained throughout.

MEG 2: THE TRENCH 2023 5/10  Only occasionally fun, but generally... not great.

US (2019) 5/10   I love GET OUT and really dig NOPE so I decided to give this a second look. Hmmm... I still feel the same way about it as I did last time (see my earlier review on Letterboxd if you care). The actors are fantastic, but the script is a mess for me.

DRAG ME TO HELL (2009) 8/10

THE BEYOND (1981) 8/10   My favorite Lucio Fulci film, just nudging ZOMBIE (1979, aka. ZOMBI 2 / ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS) out of the #1 spot.

Great Fulci selection! I actually saw The Beyond at a film festival here in Los Angeles some years ago. Fabio Frizzi, the film's composer, was performing the entire film score live during the screening. It was quite an experience!

[PandaPawPaw]

Halloween (2018) was on TV the other day so watched some of it. Wait I hate having to put 2018 next to the title! Couldn't they have called it Halloween - Escapee/OAP/Laurie Mean Business! or something!

Anyway I hated it the first time I saw it and I still hate it. Utter pants. Laurie is beefed up to the stupid overpowered characters you get in Anime and Michael looks like a bitch in it!

Judy Greer is annoying as is her stupid husband

Spoiler

(glad they both died!).

There are some really cool shots of MM though.

I liked KILLS because of how MM goes ham on everyone! ENDS was just utter shit.

[KUNG FU BOB]

10 hours ago, Shaolin Patriot said:

Great Fulci selection! I actually saw The Beyond at a film festival here in Los Angeles some years ago. Fabio Frizzi, the film's composer, was performing the entire film score live during the screening. It was quite an experience!

Wow, what a treat that must've been! Just seeing the film theatrically would be a thrill, let alone with that going on.

I rewatched ZOMBIE recently too. Though my wife loves horror films, she's not as into stuff like Fulci, so I took some recent opportunities to watch the last two by myself.

5 hours ago, PandaPawPaw said:

Halloween (2018) was on TV the other day so watched some of it. Wait I hate having to put 2018 next to the title! Couldn't they have called it Halloween - Escapee/OAP/Laurie Mean Business! or something!

We can agree on the lame choice of studios to lazily name films. Either calling it the same thing or only adding a plural S or THE before the title is a pet peeve of mine. Three films all named HALLOWEEN are two too many. Get creative people- how about HALLOWEEN, AGAIN, or HALLOWEEN TIME, or HALLOWEEN 2018... something different.

[AlbertV]

Hands of Hell: Saw this one today and it's actually a low-budget gem. The film meshes Natural Born Killers with the likes of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Motel Hell of sorts. A serial killing couple take over a small motel by killing the owners. When three couples come to the motel, the new "owners", especially the female, decide to keep the bloodlust going. The film was written and directed by Gianna Lutz, who also plays the female serial killer Bianca, who meshes beauty with psychopathic. Adam Kitchen is also great as her lover Zeke. Their backstory comes in the form of an argument where we learn their story. Some great kill scenes, including a great homage to TCSM. 

[DrNgor]

Into the Mirror (South Korea, 2002: Kim Sung-Ho) - Much like Face, this is another thriller in which the horror elements mainly exist to set up a police procedural. In contrast to that film, this movie has a more interesting story, more well-developed characters, and ultimately a better pay off. It does run a little long at 113 minutes, but it's the most satisfying of the past three K-horror films I've watched this month.

The movie begins at a department store that is a few days away from its reinauguration following a deadly fire the year before. An employee named Choi Mi-jeong (Lee Yeong-jin) is leaving the place after hours, but not before pilfering a few items from the establishment, including a stainless steel pizza cutter. After a false scare involving a security guard, Choi heads to the bathroom in compose herself before leaving. Curiously, her work badge falls off when she's looking at herself in the mirror. But when Choi bends over to pick it up...her reflection stands completely still...and then takes the pizza cutter...

After Choi's body is found in the bathroom, there's a media circus involving the corpse, both because of the upcoming inauguration and the fact that the company still hasn't paid reparations to the families of those who perished in the fire. Nonetheless, the president of the company, Jeong Il-sung (Gi Ju-bong, of Joint Security Area and Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance), only cares about the reinauguration and the bottom line. So it annoys him to no end when Police Inspector Heo Hyun-Su (Kim Myung-min, of Monstrum and The Battle of Jangsari), shows up to transform the department store into a base of operations for a homicide investigation. His presence is cemented by the mysterious elevator death of another employee.

Enter the president's nephew: Woo Yeong-min (Yoo Ji-tae, of Oldboy and The House that Jack Built). Woo is a disgraced former detective and now the head of security for the mall. The director of the mall, Choi Sang-gi (Kim Myung-soo, of Joint Security Area), asks Woo to run a parallel investigation. So, while Inspector Heo is looking into the history of the department store and the fact that the victims of these mysterious deaths worked in the same administrative department, Security Chief Woo begins to investigate the one member of the team who died in the aforementioned fire, which brings him into contact with her mentally-ill sister, Lee Ji-hyeon (Kim Hye-na, of Melo and Red Eye). Ji-hyeon spent time in a mental institution and used to believe that she could communicate with her sister through mirrors. In fact, according to her, her deceased sister is still hiding inside the mirrors...

One thing I liked is how the two parallel investigations allow the viewer to learn more about what's going, albeit from two different angles. While Woo and his interactions with Lee Ji-hyeon help paint a picture of who the film's resident spectre is, it's the investigation of Inspector Heo that puts context to the ghost's backstory and raison d'être. Both stories push the entire plot forward, as opposed to Face, which is mainly about the main character getting the gumption to mold clay onto a face while the supporting police guy just figures out stuff that we ourselves already have noticed. The strained relationship between Chief Woo and Inspector Heo is also compelling as the two slowly come to terms with the tragic incident that ended Woo's police career. Compare with Face, where the police investigation subplot runs independent of the main story thread until the very end.

Is Into the Mirror scary? After the initial batch of supernatural deaths, not very. But the story is engrossing and there is some neat photography, especially some tracking shots that made me think of Dario Argento in his best moments. The use of mirrors as a modus operandi for the ghost's killings is neat, but they also serve to show us how Chief Woo is wrestling with his past self and what he'd like his present self to be. The finale is a bit protracted before the expected supernatural retribution takes place. The film ends on a twist that I didn't see coming and should have viewers pondering its implications for a few days.

[nectarsis]

 

 

Been out of the halloween movie loop for a while, getting back into it with a much of maligned entry

[PandaPawPaw]

The Shining (1980) - Seen it lots of time and while it's interesting, it is a little long and Shelly Long gets a bit annoying near the end. Jack is great and his slow turn into a mad git is really well acted.

[Drunken Monk]

Movie # 17

Dracula (1931) - While I appreciate the artistry, this just wasn’t for me. At times great, at other times not. I think my interest I. Dracula, The Mummy, Frankenstein etc. may have to begin with Hammer Horror and not the originals.

6/10

[Drunken Monk]

Movie # 18

Night of the Hunter (2023) - A lukewarm sniper survival horror that’s dragged into utter annoyance by being peppered with a barrage of political monologues from the film’s “big bad.” Anti-gun, anti-abortion, anti-big Pharma etc. I agree with these stances but fuck me, they’re heavy handed here. Awful.

4/10

[Drunken Monk]

Movie # 19

The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) - Not a movie but eff it, I’m counting it. Mike Flanagan’s latest Netflix series is the greatest piece of media made this year. Better than John Wick 4, better than Across the Spider-Verse… This is truly original horror executed perfectly. Stellar cast too. Unbelievably good.

10/10 

[DrNgor]

A Tale of Two Sisters (South Korea, 2002) - I don't feel right doing a full-length review after just one viewing. I'll have to watch it again and get a better feel for it. As it stands, well photographed, well acted, well directed, and just well made all around.

Audition (Japan, 1999: Takashi Miike) - Another one of the classic Asian horror films made in the past 25 years or so. I ruined this one by assuming (years ago) that I would never see it--during my more puritanical moments--and reading major spoilers, which I then never forgot. So, I was expecting the second half more than experiencing it. But man, actress Eihi Shiina is gorgeous and has what seems to be a naturally-cute anime voice, especially when she's saying, "Deeper...deeper..." (people who have seen this will know what I'm referring to. And dude, is there any Japanese film that Jun Kunimura isn't in?

[Drunken Monk]

Movie # 20

Saw X (2023) - A surprisingly good film and probably the second best Saw movie after the first one. Flat out entertaining. Gory as hell, well plotted and featuring a memorable Tobin Bell performance. I highly recommend it to horror fans, even if you haven’t watched the rest of the series.

8/10

[AlbertV]

Shrunken Heads (1994): Danny Elfman's big brother Richard directed this nostaglic feel horror superhero film about three teens who after being killed by their bullies become the titular "shrunken heads" thanks to newspaper stand owner/voodoo priest Mr. Sumatra (the legendary Julius Harris). Danny composed the film's theme music with Richard Band doing the music. Richard's son Bodhi plays one of the bullies, who works for local mobster "Big Moe", played by the ever excellent Meg Foster. Aeryk Egan, Bo Sharon, and Darris Love play the heroic "shrunken heads", one who can emit electricity, one a vampire, and the third the ability to produce a switchblade from his mouth. Streaming on Tubi.

 

[Drunken Monk]

Movie # 21

Jennifer’s Body (2009) - Definitely misunderstood at its time of release. Marketed as a film for teenage boys to masturbate over when it’s, in fact, a black feminist comedy. Some of it’s a little strained but I had a good time with it. Solid comedy and solid horror.

7/10

Movie # 22

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) - A dark, engrossing psychological horror that really sticks its landing. The twist is an absolute bombshell and the film builds the tension steadily before it gets to its big reveal. Lots to explore in this one. A fantastically layered film about grief and loss.

8.5/10

Movie # 23

Phantom Kung Fu (1979) - A rather dull kung fu movie that really doesn’t get up and running until 45 minutes in. Considering it has “kung fu” in its title, it’s surprisingly low on fight scenes. Though the fight choreography is solid.

4/10

[DrNgor]

Revisited Bewitched (1981) . Full Review here: https://abeautifulfilm.blogspot.com/2023/10/bewitched-1981.html

[Drunken Monk]

Movie # 24

When Evil Lurks (2023) - An incredible take on the “possession” sub genre. This Spanish language film is one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. Violent, shocking and genuinely thrilling, this one should entertain everyone. Is it the most logical and realistic film? No. But sit back, relax and just enjoy the craziness.

9.5/10

The Wailing (2016) - One of the best and possibly the best Asian horror film of all time. You need patience with this one though. There’s a LOT of confusion to be had in the first two acts of this one but the third act payoff is huge and an utter delight. With that said, there’s also a lot of post-film discussion to be had. What does it all mean?? Great stuff.

9.5/10

[nectarsis]

time for a classic

 

[AlbertV]

Watched this yesterday on Amazon. It's another time travel to stop serial killer movie in the vein of Happy Death Day. However, in this case, 36 years after a trio of girls were killed in a small town, the killer returns to kill our heroine's mother. When he attempts to kill the heroine, his knife sends her on a time warp to 1987, where she meets the teen version of her mom. She decides if she can try to stop the killer in 1987, she will be safe. Some fun bits in the film and retro homage to horror with the teens from the 80s, especially the popular ones, always being horny (a trope of 80s horror where it would equal death). Some decent twists along the way. Solid "B" film to me. 

[Drunken Monk]

Movie # 26

Cobweb (2023) - Really enjoyed this one! It kept me guessing for its first two acts and genuinely had me pretty complex. In the third act, the film takes a sharp right turn and goes absolutely bonkers. Which I actually really appreciated. Spooky and fun as fuck.

8.5/10

Movie # 27

The Exorcist: Believer (2023) - David Gordon Green seems to think that his premise of "What if TWO girls were possessed?" is enough to impress audiences. Well, it didn't impress me. Yawn worthy and derivative. Watchable but it's nothing new at all. Maybe one or two cool moments but I've forgotten them already.

4/10

Movie # 28

Zombie Holocaust (1980)  - A total gore fest that will please most splatter fans. There's even some cheeky bush for those that like their zombie films a bit sleazy. Unfortunately, the plot isn't much and beyond the violence and female nudity, it just isn't all that exciting. If you're not a fan of the red stuff, you might want to stay away from this one.
Weirdly, this isn't a very controversial film but I actually think it's more violent than Cannibal Holocaust. Less rape and real animal slaughter though.

5/10

Movie # 29

Hell House LLC: Origins (2023) - Unfortunately, the director of this one thinks he's Paul Thomas Anderson and that he has some all important story to tell. This film should have been a frame upon which to hang scares. But no. The creepy moments are few and far between and instead, we get lashing of boring exposition.
When it is spooky, some of it's original and fun. However, horror audiences have seen most of it before. To make matters worse, it fizzles out and delivers a really, really shitty ending. Fun as a one time watch.

5.5/10