Paranormal Activity – Film Reel Reviews

A couple begins suffering increasingly disturbing ghostly activity as they desperately try to find a solution for the problem.

Written and directed by – Oren Peli

Starring – Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Mark Fredrichs, Amber Armstrong, Randy McDowell, Ashley Palmer, Tim Piper

I was dying, DYING, to see this movie. I never get scared in horror movies. Sure a really loud noise and a masked killer will occasionally cause my butt to leave my seat for a second, but it’s hard to really scare me. The kind that gets your heart pounding and your blood pumping leaving you light headed afterwards and sleeping with the lights on for weeks. Other than some films I may have watched as a child, Shutter is the only film to really scare the crap out of me in the recent years. Excited would be an understatement when I heard of this film. Everyone shouting up and down the streets how scary it is and how it will be frightening people for years to come.

You know what? It didn’t scare me in the slightest little way at all. It’s a great movie, don’t get me wrong and the scenes that should be scary did carry alot of tension in them. They just didn’t scare me. Like a huge build up with no payoff, it left me a little disappointed at the end. My girlfriend has taken to watching an excessive amount of Ghosthunters lately and that’s just about what this movie really is. Plenty of night vision shots of doors opening and closing, lights going on and off and creepy voices coming from nowhere.

Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat carry the movie quite well.

The most interesting part of the movie is all the talk of the multiple endings. Before I watched it I was browsing around the net and started hearing about them. I almost started reading about it but with such huge hype surrounding the film, I didn’t want to ruin it for myself. Sadly, that’s the biggest problem with the movie for me. I wouldn’t dare go into even the slightest of hints towards any part of the film besides the ghostly happenings, it’s still a great movie that shouldn’t be ruined. But having read all the different endings, I can’t decide which one would suit the film the most. Ya know what, I don’t want to say anymore than that.

Expect to see this shot alot. If that bothers you, skip this flick.

This movie suffers from one of two things. It either doesn’t live up to the hype of its fear factor or I’m just not easily scared anymore. I’m thinking it’s a bit of both. It’s still a great movie but it won’t be for everyone. My girlfriend still found it to be scary but the scares are cut between long scenes of the couple talking about what may be happening or just going about their daily lives. It’s a great change of pace from ‘masked killer slices and dices teens’ and certainly has a tension that can be cut with a knife at times. The fact that you pretty much know when something creepy or spooky is going to happen kills what scares there could be but some of those scenes are really impressive. I’d tell you my favorite but you’ll just have to see for yourself.

I still say the scariest movie around is Shutter, and not that terrible American remake that destroyed all the really good scares. This one can’t compare to that in my books. It’s an interesting blend of Blair Witch (Oh come on, you knew the comparison was coming), The Exorcist and any ghost hunting TV show you may have seen and while it didn’t frighten me, it entertained me. It’s also one of those great movies that can silence an audience, everyone holding their breath as they wait for something to happen. Those flicks don’t come along often enough for me and I love to be a part of them. Don’t assume you’ll be scared so badly that you’re sleeping with your teddy bear again, but most people should really enjoy it. I’m just waiting for the DVD so maybe I can see all these other endings I’ve been hearing about. What a great marketing tool!

Under the marquee – Will

The Ghost of Frankenstein – Film Reel Reviews

Ygor is back and has found the resting place of the Monster. However, the Monster is too weak to do anything so Ygor searches for Ludwig Frankenstein, the original doctors son to aid in returning the Monster to life.

Directed by – Erle C. Kenton

Written by – Scott Darling, Eric Taylor

Starring – Cedric Hardwicke, Ralph Bellamy, Lionel Atwill, Bela Lugosi, Evelyn Ankers, Janet Ann Gallow, Barton Yarborough, Doris Lloyd, Leyland Hodgson, Olaf Hytten, Holmes Herbert, Lon Chaney Jr.

Like many recent horror films that reach into the sequel pile too often, Ghost of Frankenstein is probably a visit to the famous Monster we could have done without. That fact is enhanced even further by the presence of Lon Chaney Jr. as the Monster. Chaney is a superb actor, but nobody can fill the very large boots that Karloff wore in the previous films. Thankfully Bela Lugosi returns as Ygor, a role which he plays quite well.

The story is starting to wear a little thin in the fourth outing and the Monster is merely a bit player now. Chaney doesn’t have the same presence as Karloff did, but with the little screen time he gets here it doesn’t make too much of a difference. Once again, Ygor just wants his friend back. Of course Ygor only wants his friend back for reasons that are anything but good. By the end of the film, Ygor is trying to get Ludwig Frankenstein to put his brain in the body of the Monster, so they can live together for eternity. Not to mention that it’ll give the mad Ygor power that he so longs for.

Try as he might, Chaney just doesn't cut it as the Monster.

While the acting may still be well done, the story is just thrown together and just isn’t entertaining. It’s a shame as I was really starting to love this series of films. I guess getting three good movies should be enough when there are lots of times that they can’t even pull one good one off now. When the first moment the Monster is shown and it’s not Karloff, the film just didn’t feel right. It’s short running time of just over 60 minutes helps ease the pain but I missed the grand feeling of the previous films.

Now it wouldn’t be a Frankenstein movie without a small child in there would it? I can see how the child represented the Monster itself, not as intelligent as everyone else and almost innocent in a way. In this film the Monster seems to want to have the child’s brain put into his body. I’m not really sure what that helps but I didn’t write the movie did I!

In the end, this one just wasn’t as good as all the other films. Without Karloff as the Monster it really begins to fail. If we had at least been treated to his performance again it may have saved this one, without him it’s safe to say avoid this flick and stick to the original three.

Under the marquee – Will

Son of Frankenstein – Film Reel Reviews

Wolf Frankenstein, the son of Henry Frankenstein who created The Monster, returns to his father’s land to claim his inheritance. There he meets Ygor who convinces him to try and resurrect The Monster.

Directed by – Rowland V. Lee

Written by – Wyllis Cooper

Starring – Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill, Josephine Hutchinson, Donnie Dunagan, Emma Dunn, Edgar Norton, Perry Ivins, Lawrence Grant, Lionel Belmore, Michael Mark, Caroline Cooke, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Lorimer Johnston

The third entry in the Frankenstein franchise and the last time that Karloff would truly play the Monster was an entertaining film. It’s too bad that Karloff wouldn’t return because he really plays the Monster perfectly. This is also the first time that Ygor is in the series, even though everyone believes that Ygor was there from the start. It’s funny how so many things one might assume about the Frankenstein mythology aren’t really true.

This is a great film, although you can see how the Monster is becoming less and less of the main feature, with Bela Lugosi as Ygor stealing much of the screen time. Again, the performances of the cast are very well done and most of them have not only a tinge of comedy to them but also a very serious air about them. Of course I could just be inserting humour where there should be none.

Ygor and the Monster. Lugosi and Karloff, true horror icons.

It’s great to see Lugosi and Karloff together and Lugosi steals the show as the twisted Ygor, left crippled when the villagers hung him. Looks like dying wasn’t part of Ygor’s plan but revenge is. He uses the Monster to destroy those same people who had sentenced him to death. This just may be the best of the Frankenstein films. While I enjoyed the fact that the Monster spoke in the previous film, Karloff didn’t and the Monster is back to being a mute and ominous presence.

Basil Rathbone does a great job as Wolf Frankenstein (why does his name make me chuckle like an inside joke?) and Lionel Atwell as the Inspector is probably my favorite part of the film. He stomps around the sets, swinging his wooden arm about and asserting his authority with power and a touch of laughs. His loss of an arm came at the hands of the Monster and he wants to make sure that the Monster doesn’t return.

Wolf Frankenstein believes that he's failed at bringing the Monster back, but has he?

It’s a beautifully shot film and after having watched the fourth film in the series, Ghost of Frankenstein, this is probably the last great one. The story is well done, the acting is top-notch and it looks amazing. Frankenstein and his Monster have become part of horror mythology and it’s easy to see why.

Under the marquee – Will

Halloween Contest Winners!

While it’s been a terribly busy and sick week around here, I had to make sure to pull all the winners names out of my fancy hat. There was a great response this time and plenty of thanks goes out to LAMB and to Win Free Horror S**t. Both those blogs helped put out the word and a big thank you to them. I recommend you check both of them out. Seriously, go, now! Actually, you should wait to see if you win first!

I’ll be sending out all the emails to the winner’s today and tomorrow and the quicker I get responses from everyone, the quicker I can get all those shiny DVDs sent out. And now for the winners!

Contest 1 for The Shining – 2 Disc Special Edition goes to Fitz! Check his blog here.

Contest 2 for A Nightmare On Elm Street – 2 Disc Special Edition goes to Shane Brown! Check his work here. Seems he has quite the project lined up right now.

Contest 3 for Alien goes to Cello! Check his blog here.

Contest 4 for High Tension – Unrated goes to Teresa W!

Contest 5 for The Stuff goes to Heather! Check her blog here.

Contest 6 for Bigfoot: I Not Dead goes to April!

Congratulations to everyone. Those are all great movies and if I didn’t own them before the contest than I bought myself copies.

On a side note, I know there’s been tumbleweeds blowing through the blog lately. I was without a computer for a few days, I got really sick for another couple of days and the strain of October took its toll on me. But now I’ve got a shiny new computer (minus all my shiny programs I used!) and some pretty drugs from the doctor to heal my sick mind! Everything is coming up Milhouse!

Under the marquee – Will

Bride Of Frankenstein – Film Reel Reviews

Dr. Frankenstein returns and is convinced by another scientist that they must continue his work together, building his monster a bride.

Directed by – James Whale

Written by – William Hurlbut, John L. Balderston, Mary Shelley, Josef Berne, Lawrence G. Blochman, Morton Covan, Robert Florey, Philip MacDonald, Edmund Pearson, Tom Reed, R.C. Sherriff

Starring – Boris Karloff, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson, Ernest Thesiger, Elsa Lanchester, Gavin Gordon, Douglas Walton, E.E. Clive, Lucien Prival, O.P. Heggie, Dwight Frye, Reginald Barlow, Mary Gordon, Ted Billings

I’m continuing my Halloween fun here with the second helping of Frankenstein. I’ve still got 3 more films to watch and 4 more to post about so I better get to it.

I never would have thought that The Bride of Frankenstein only had the bride in it for about 5 minutes but that’s how it worked out. It goes to show how burned into our psyche some images can be. I’m sure anyone can tell you what the bride of Frankenstein looks like and yet she’s really just a minor character. And man, did this movie ever make me think of Re-Animator alot! HAHA!

Considering this movie was made in 1935 (I believe it’s somewhere around there) there was some impressive effects like when one scientist shows Dr. Frankenstein how he’s also created living creatures. These monster/humans/whatever you want to call them are only around 6 inches tall though. I was impressed at how they pulled it off, having these little tiny humans set up in front of the regular size actors. I’m sure I”ve seen cheaper looking, and more fake looking, effects in movies made today.

The Monsters's bride isn't too happy to be married!

The entire atmosphere of the movie seemed to be a little more comical than Frankenstein with some of its way over the top characters. It’s also the first time the Monster speaks, which is both funny and touching. While on the run he happens across a lonely cottage in the woods where a blind man lives. This works out for both of them as the Monster frightens anyone who sees him which isn’t a problem for someone who can’t see and the blind man has been praying for a friend.

There’s a fitting ending to the movie which I won’t reveal except to say that we finally get to the ‘bride’ part of the movie. I was surprised that it was such a short part when it seems like the bride of Frankenstein is such a large character in horror history. I’m certainly enjoying watching these old classics every day instead of some pile of crap that typically gets made now and I can’t wait to get into the last few films I have of Frankenstein and his monster.

Under the marquee – Will

Frankenstein – Film Reel Reviews

A scientist obsessed with the secrets of life builds a monster from body parts and brings him to life. The monster soon breaks free and causes chaos for the nearby small town.

Directed by – James Whale

Written by – Mary Shelley, Peggy Webling, John L. Balderston, Francis Edward Faragoh, Garrett Fort, Robert Florey, John Russell

Starring – Colin Clive, Mae Clarke, John Boles, Boris Karloff, Edward Van Sloan, Frederick Kerr, Dwight Frye, Lionel Belmore, Marilyn Harris, Francis Ford, Michael Mark

I’m embarrassed to admit that I have never seen the Frankenstein line of films until now. It’s one of those movies that is so embedded in the culture that you’d think you had already seen it anyway. Searching through my movie collection for something to watch made me realize that I’ve had this for so long and never seen it, so in it went and I was introduced to Frankenstein for the first time.

I’ve always loved the old monster movies and Boris Karloff owns this role. His monster was great to watch and he looks just as creepy as any villain they come up with now. I’ve quickly become obsessed with the classic horror flicks, buying up anything I can get my hands on from posters to books to DVDs and watching this reminded me why I love them so much.

There’s no screwing around in these flicks. The scientist is crazy, here’s his monster, destroy the countryside, destroy the monster and fade out. They get right to it and end just as quickly. Perfect for any small child, short and sweet and not too scary. I’m sure it was part of the interest I had in these films in the first place. I always enjoy the fact that they didn’t have much to work with then. The story had to be interesting, the makeup was basic and so were any stunts and you can’t just CGI a bunch of townsfolk into the movie. Movie making at it’s best if you ask me.

A fitting introduction to The Monster played by Boris Karloff.

Everyone knows the story of Frankenstein, it’s something that even the smallest child could probably relate to you. Even knowing what happens, it felt like I was finding out about it for the first time. I guess there’s something to say about seeing the classics for yourself. The grand set design and that over the top kind of acting charm that I find in all the old films. But the star of the story is The Monster. Maybe they hold a special place in my heart from my slightly shadowed childhood. The kind of creepy, spooky things that a horror fan like me was brought up on but every time that Karloff was on the screen I was filled with a joy that I just don’t get from movies now.

Creator vs creation.

If you love the classics and have somehow not watched this like I had, nows the time to see it. There was something that screamed Halloween in my head as I sat back with my bowl of popcorn and watched this black and white classic. It’s heightened my obsession with the monsters of years gone by and increased the excitement that had been missing from my Halloween season this year. Anyone who grew up on these early introductions to monsters couldn’t do any better than revisiting them now. I promise they’ll still be just as good, if not better, then everything else out there now.

Under the marquee – Will

How To Be A Serial Killer – Film Reel Reviews

Mike Wilson is a motivational speaker and his motivation is killing people. He takes Bart, the local video store clerk, under his wing to train him on the ins and outs of letting yourself go through the act of murder.

Written and Directed by – Luke Ricci

Starring – Dameon Clarke, Ryan Smith, Laura Regan, George Wyner, Mary Jo Catlett, Douglas Dickerman, Mark R. Gerson, Matthew Gray Gubler, Ramon Hilario, Gonzalo Menendez, Jose Ordaz, Lindsay Stidham, Ari Welkom, Gary Wolf

Another mockumentary style flick, although this one has only small moments that would classify it as mockumentary. It’s not the best movie I’ve seen lately but Dameon Clarke in the role of Mike, the motivating serial killer, left me with a few laughs.

I think the problem with the movie is that it’s going the comedy route and comedies just never work for me. Very few have impressed me over time and they always have many hurdles to overcome to entertain me. To me, this is like the comedy version of Behind The Mask, which I just watched not too long ago. There are rules to Mike’s world of serial killing and he shares his insight with Bart. Mike’s determined to get Bart to open up and just go with his gut in life.

Serial killer in training, Bart.

Most of the laughs come from the little rules that Mike has. You can’t kill children, even if Mike can’t stand them. You shouldn’t hurt animals, leave the homeless out of it because they’re the result of society and not something they’ve done themselves. Mike just may be the serial killer with a heart of gold, unless you tailgate him! Mike even carries on a relationship with his girlfriend complete oblivious to his secret life.

Even Mike the serial killer needs love.

Throughout the entire movie, Mike has it all together which means that it’s all going to fall apart eventually and fall apart it does. I couldn’t spoil it for anyone that may be interested in seeing this one but it’s a drastic switch, although a predictable one.

In the end the movie winds up being average. Maybe it’s my odd disapproval of comedies in general that ruined it for me. I’m sure there’s lots of comedy in there that others may find entertaining but I didn’t. What I liked about the movie is anytime Mike and Bart are in the middle of their lessons on serial killing. These were my favorite parts and where I found the most fun.

Under the marquee – Will

Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon – Film Reel Reviews

A documentary crew is allowed to follow the ‘next great’ serial killer as he explains his rules, his life and his plan to murder a group of teens.

Directed by – Scott Glosserman

Written by – Scott Glosserman, David J. Stieve

Starring – Nathan Baesel, Angela Goethals, Robert Englund, Scott Wilson, Zelda Rubinstein, Bridgett Newton, Kate Lang Johnson, Ben Pace, Britain Spellings, Hart Turner, Krissy Carlson, Travis Zariwny, Teo Gomez, Matt Bolt, Jenafer Brown, Kane Hodder

I loved and hated this movie all at the same time and I’m still undecided on whether that’s a valid opinion or not. I’ll start with what I loved.

The first hour of the movie is basically a documentary crew following Leslie Vernon around as he plans his killing spree. Every minute was full of fun for this part. Leslie explains the rules of the serial killer, name drops Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers, (since the film places them in reality) introduces us to his inspiration who is a retired serial killer and walks the film crew, step by step, through his plan of action. What’s so great about this is there’s little explanations for the reasons these killers do what they do. Why is a closet a safe place to hide, the workouts to be able to look like you’re walking and still keep up with the running victims and the imagery behind things like the weapons the victims choose to use against the killer or the woods they run into.

It’s an explanation of all the horror movie cliches and it works perfectly. It almost gives you new respect for the endless amounts of times you’ve had to watch those cookie cutter kids get slaughtered in the woods. It’s smart, funny, creepy and a hell of a good time to watch. Most of that credit is going to Nathan Baesel in the role of Leslie Vernon. He plays the role perfectly with the right balance of good and evil, so well in fact that I really liked him and was cheering for him.

Leslie introduces us to his role model.

While the first hour was great, I was disappointed by the last half hour. Here’s where it turns into a typical slasher flick. That wouldn’t be so bad normally but the first hour was so smart and creative that it made the last half hour seem even more brainless than it was. I guess I was expecting too much since the movie is about a slasher and the last half hour is a slasher flick. The most annoying part about that final half hour is the fact that the last thing the film crew asks about is how you really would escape one of these serial killers and then ten minutes later they can’t even take the advice.

The film crew becomes part of the film.

Looking back on it now, it all makes sense. The victims act the way they do because they always do. No amount of advice could change that. Overall it’s still a great movie, much better than plenty of other horror flicks I’ve watched lately. It’s basically two movies in one. The first part is the documentary and that’s the superior part, the second half is good old fashioned slasher movie. Not quite as good as the first part but it brings back memories of the good old days. It’s not going to turn the genre on its head but it’ll give you something to think about the next time you watch those dumb teenagers head for the barn when they’re being chased by the latest psycho.

Under the marquee – Will