October Horror Movie Marathon

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Justin101

I'm glad that's good, I have it lined up for this weekend with my friend

Is it already on Netflix for free? Must be shit.

[Justin101]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Is it already on Netflix for free? Must be shit.

No, it’s not streaming lol

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Justin101

No, it’s not streaming lol

Actually hit UK cinemas then? I thought it may have missed them with it flopping badly in the US.

[Justin101]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

Actually hit UK cinemas then? I thought it may have missed them with it flopping badly in the US.

I don’t think it has been on UK screens, I don’t really check these days since the local Odeon is a crèche for badly behaved teenagers.

It’s out on disc and digital rentals in America which means it’s available worldwide for viewing if you know where to look etc…

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Dragonwyck (1946)

A lush Gothic melodrama starring Gene Tierney, Vincent Price and Walter Huston that focuses on social class and the stark differences between the wealthy and the poor in nineteenth century New York State as young Gene Tierney is enlisted to work as a child minder at the Dragonwyck mansion.

Dragonwyck the house is a fantastic Gothic chateau and is one of the films more memorable aspects along with the radiant Tierney, whilst Vincent Price, still in the early stage of his career oozes a proto-menace, hinting at what is to come years down the line but at the time of Dragonwyck isn't quite there yet, as he festers and then succumbs to a breakdown in a marvelously overwrought horror-lite finale.

Around the two thirds point there was a tremendous scene which showcased Gothic cinema in all it's glory. A dark and stormy night, lightning crashing, the camera in long shot slowly zooms in on the mansion, before highlighting Price sternly gazing through the window from outside. It's haunting, it's brooding and quite wonderful.

Although really a costume melodrama Dragonwyck's final twenty minutes aren't a million miles away from the events of The Fall of the House of Usher as Price descends into madness and murder.

[nicholasrope]

Blood Rage

A boy kills a Teenager at a Drive-In but is able to frame his Brother, who is sent to a Mental Institution. However 10 years later, he escapes which allows his Brother to resume killing.

Originally, I thought that this was unobtainable in the UK and that I'd have to get a Spanish DVD (With Spanish Title) however I was shocked that Arrow had released it (When they released this type of stuff before the type of product they do now and it was a Blu-Ray/DVD Combo) so I picked it up in the HMV Sale and it was as advertised, Bloody and the F/X was good (For 1983 standards) but the script and acting left a lot to be desired but at under 83 minutes, it didn't outstay it's welcome.

It's not fancy but as I said, it delivered on what was expected.


A Nightmare On Elm Street Part II: Freddy's Revenge

A new family moves in to Elm Street and Freddy terrorizes the eldest Son. I feel that this is a much maligned Sequel as other than mentions, Nancy isn't in this and if Dream Warriors was the 2nd Film in the Franchise and this is the 3rd, then I believe that this would be looked upon more fondly.

It's short, has some good kills and is quite entertaining especially the Pool Party Scene.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

The Hollow (2004)

Coming some five years after the classic that was the similarly named Sleepy Hollow this had to be something a bit different to stand any chance of being remembered. So using the general ideas from Washington Irvine's story and bringing them kicking and screaming into the modern day works well, sort of.

The story involves a high school student (Kevin Zegers) and his discovery that he's a descendant of the legendary Ichabod Crane from Irvine's story and the newly resurrected Headless Horseman has come back from the dead once more to collect his head.

Part teen high school movie but thanks to some likable characters - Zegers does really well in the lead role and Kaley Cuoco - who always seems like someone you could talk to - (If anyone's interested she suits her cheerleader outfit quite nicely) meaning you have a couple of leads to root for rather than wish dead from the opening minutes. The film also benefits from a couple of veteran stars namely Stacy Keach and Judge Reinhold who both have significant screen time, especially Keach as the grizzled old timer / fountain of knowledge of all things Washington Irvine.

The Hollow is probably too much of a teen movie early doors to be viewed as any sort of essential Halloween viewing but as it progresses and we go on a haunted hay ride things take a turn for the creepy and Halloween traditions and Irvine's story are carefully examined.

As for the headless horseman? Well there's no real comparison to Tim Burton's brilliant thunder hoofed Headless Horseman and there's not much in the way of gore as the film was originally made for ABC's Family Channel (It was cut when shown) but everything has been re-inserted for this dvd including heads getting lopped off, brief nudity (with a literal idea of 'giving head') and gory remains.

Fun and one i often revisit at this time of year but not essential.

[MrBarlow]

Hell House LLC III. 2019.

This one is set 9 years after the Haunted House disaster and entrepreneur Russell Wynn purchasing the Abaddon Hotel for his own walk through version of Faust. This is a interesting installment that does get a bit better on viewing a few times, but its not one I can watch over and over. Some of the characters can be annoying or be a bit OTT on the acting. It doesn't have much jump scares but can hold your attention as to what the main character is trying to plan with the hotel. Be interesting to see what the next installment Will be like.

[Nordicdusk]

30 Days of Unseen Horror

Day 16

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Julias life is left in shambles after her parents and their housekeep are killed in a car crash and with no where left to go Julia moves in with her aunt and her family. Rachel Julia's cousin tries to make her new home as comfortable as possible and introduce her to her friends but something doesn't feel right about Julia but Rachel is the only one that seems to feel that way and she is largely ignored apart from one of her professors who specialises in the occult. As time goes on Rachel discovers more and more signs that her cousin may be a witch in league with the supernatural.

After reading an interview with Linda Blair yesterday I decided to seek out some of her early films luckily this one was on YouTube and seeing that Wes Craven directed this made for TV film I was extremely intrigued.

The majority of the film is building the characters and the tension between Rachel and Julia what starts as suspicion soon turns to hatered with blazing arguements between them both becoming more and more regular but Julia seems to have the family wrapped around her little finger even stealing Rachels boyfriend. Although it's a slow build I really enjoyed the film there isn't a creepy atmosphere or anything thing just an increasing feeling of annoyance with Julia and eventually I was thinking what a complete bitch

There was one scene towards the end that had me in stitches and even today in work when I think about it I can't help but laugh I wish I could say something but it's too close to the end

It does feel more like a family drama for the most part but I really liked it and the ending was fun too. I think it's worth the watch.

[Frankie Teardrop]

SOCIETY – Bill is a suburban teenage nihilist facing the prospect of growing up and joining the ‘real world’ of his posh family and wider neighbourhood. From where he’s standing, turning into an adult doesn’t look like it’s going to be all that, and suddenly questions arise – is the world I’m about to enter full of good intentions? Or is it all a front for some polymorphous blob orgy conspiracy? ‘Society’ is one answer, and it’s a good one if you happen to be into polymorphous blob orgy conspiracies. I always used to feel a bit disappointed after seeing ‘Society’, but I like it more now. Back then, I thought I’d be in for ninety minutes of prosthetically enhanced gunk a la ‘The Thing’, only to find that the film was teasing its Screaming Mad George-facilitated money shot all the way till the end. But even though I never think Brian Yuzna has the deftest touch when it comes to narrative, the ‘slow simmer’ approach works better for me these days; ‘Society’ unfolds in the manner of the classic weird tale, where odd details accumulate layer on layer until the final flowering of the uncanny, and it’s to Yuzna’s credit that before he bares all with an outlandish punchline that tells you all you need to know about what really goes on in those golf club back rooms, he takes care to cultivate a pulsating atmosphere of surreal noir and thereby fashions ‘Society’ as a film that’s as much about build as it is pay-off. The whole ‘Beverley Hills 90210: the body horror remix’ thing feels more intriguing than it did, maybe just because of the changing landscape (both horror and otherwise), and the way the nineties look on film nowadays – nostalgia for the woes of entitled brats in oversized jeans has its rewards when it’s as squishy as this. ‘Society’ has a kind of satirical obviousness that you couldn’t really get away with in the present times, but it’s still probably Brian Yuzna’s best film and remains a high point of that late-eighties / early nineties era of horror.