The Horror Thread - Part 7

[Doctor Jones]

Last night I rewatched both "I Know What You Did Last Summer" films. The sequel has a very very poor reception but I need to admit that it has a PERFECT setting and atmosphere. The rainy, secluded and desolated paradise taps exactly into my previous comments about how a really good sense of creepy isolation works wonderfully with me, and I Still Know... is the perfect example.

I thought Broken Lizard's Club Dread did a better job at that ironically.

 

[CaptainWagner]

31 Day of Halloween

1. Sleepy Hollow (1999) 4.5 / 5
2. As Above, So Below (2014) 2.5 / 5
3. The Evil Dead (1981) 3 / 5
4. The Limehouse Gollum (2016) 3 / 5
5. Vampires vs. The Bronx (2020) 3 / 5
6. The Cabin in the Woods (2012) 3.5 / 5
7. Hubie Halloween (2020) .5 / 5
8. Ghost Stories (2017) 3 / 5
9. 1BR (2019) 4 / 5

10-13. The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)

I know this season has been divisive, but I wholeheartedly endorse it as better than Hill House. Both are incredible but very different types of ghost stories. It's not very scary at all, but Bly's story felt tighter to me, connected more emotionally and I loved all the characters and their relationships. And it was just such a "splendidly" beautiful reflection of love and loss. Horror doesn't usually leave you wanting to fall in love. Bly does. 5 / 5

14. Poltergeist (1982)

Another classic in the mix. I will never cease to be amazed with how absolutely chill nearly everyone seems to be about the insane stuff going down. One kid almost gets eaten by a tree, another disappeared by spirits and their approach just seems so matter-of-fact. That said, the scares are effective, the acting is strong and the influence on the genre is clear, so there's no mistaking why its stood the test of time. 4 / 5

15. Silent Hill (2006)

I feel like this is the ultimate "problem with video game movies" example. The overall production design and aesthetic are incredible, but the story, characters and dialogue are all... ehhhhh. It doesn't help that the early 00's CGI really undercuts the more "monstrous" monsters. Sean Bean somehow beats the meta odds, but only because his role in the story is pointless. It's so frustrating, because there's such great story potential, but the creative team just dozed off after mastering the style and never bothered to fulfill the substance. 2 / 5

16. Sweetheart (2019)

An excellent desert island/creature feature one-hander (for the most part). Kiersey Clemmons highlights her status as one of the most underrated young talents out there. She carries this firmly on her back, a brilliant performance with minimal words. Its expertly shot by Justin Dillard who, like Clemmons, is a very promising young talent I can't wait to see more from. The building tension is great and the creature design is one of the best I've seen in years. There's some attempts at social commentary that don't really fit in smoothly, but all and all its a thrilling new addition. 4 / 5

 

[chamber-music]

I'm struggling to get through The Haunting of Bly Manor. I dislike the Turn of the screw. I know it is a classic gothic ghost story but I've always found it incredibly dull. None of the prvious adapted versions have made the original source material any more engaging or entertaining for me.

 

[Gothamsknight]

Can't decide what to rewatch tonight. A Nightmare on Elm Street, Alien, or Texas Chainsaw Massacre? When you've seen so many horror films so many times it becomes hard to pick which to rewatch over again haha. Texas chainsaw is the one I've seen the least.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Watched Urban Legend. It was pretty bad. The opening was great though, and so is the idea. This is a reboot I'd be into if done actually scary.

I've heard people comment it's kind of like a Scooby-Doo episode. I don't know if it's been brought up but they even have a "version" of Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy at the very end.

 

[Sundancer]

So far this season:

• Dracula (1931)
• Spanish production of Dracula (1931)
• Daughter of Dracula
• Son of Dracula
• Midsommar -- messed me up a bit
• Don't Breathe
• Fright Night (remake)
• Nightmare on Elm Street 1,3, New Nightmare
• The Thing (1982)
• Freddy vs. Jason
• The Mist - (B&W special cut)

15. Silent Hill (2006)

I feel like this is the ultimate "problem with video game movies" example. The overall production design and aesthetic are incredible, but the story, characters and dialogue are all... ehhhhh. It doesn't help that the early 00's CGI really undercuts the more "monstrous" monsters. Sean Bean somehow beats the meta odds, but only because his role in the story is pointless. It's so frustrating, because there's such great story potential, but the creative team just dozed off after mastering the style and never bothered to fulfill the substance. 2 / 5

Someone once said it's like watchjing somone play Silent Hill instead of a movie, which fits my feelings exactly. I like Revelations because it's paced better and tries to pull the story into a more faithful adaptation. It defintely has it's problems.

 

[NDX]

31 Nights of Halloween

01. Repulsion
02. The Cabin in the Woods
03. Night of the Creeps
04. The Tingler
05. Bloodsucking Bastards
06. Vampires vs The Bronx
07. The Blob '88
08. Don't Let Them In
09. Silent Night, Bloody Night
10. The Evil Dead
11. Evil Dead 2
12. Army of Darkness [Theatrical Cut]
13. Chopping Mall
14. Crawl

Gonna try and watch a few more tonight

 

[Fincher]

Not trying to do 31 days or anything, but I have been watching some slasher films I've never seen before. So far it's been Friday the 13th and Friday the 13th: Part II, Prom Night and Prom Night II, The House on Sorority Row, and the The Nightmare on Elm Street remake. Prom Night II and The House on Sorority Row are actually the best pre-Scream slashers I've seen (if you count Prom Night II as a slasher, which I guess people do). The House on Sorority Row I think had the best mix of characterization, tension, and style, and Prom Night II was entertainingly weird, like if Tim Burton decided to make a full on horror movie circa Beetlejuice.

 

[Kane52630]

31 Day Horror Marathon 2020
Day 1 | Host (3.5/5)
Day 2 | Amulet (3/5)
Day 3 | Sputnik (3.5/5)
Day 4 | Vampires vs. the Bronx (3.5/5)
Day 5 | The Other Lamb (4/5)
Day 6 | Black Box (3/5)
Day 7 | 1BR (4/5)
Day 8 | The Stuff (4/5)
Day 9 | The Invisible Man (1933) (5/5) (REWATCH)
Day 10 | The Invisible Man Returns (4/5)
Day 11 | The Invisible Woman (3/5)
Day 12 | The Invisible Agent (3/5)
Day 13 | The Invisible Man's Revenge (2.5/5)
Day 14 | Nocturne (3.5/5)
Day 15 | Martin (3.5/5)
Day 16 | Alien (5/5) (REWATCH)
Day 17 | Aliens (5/5) (REWATCH)
Day 18 | Alien 3 (4.5/5)
Day 19 | Alien Resurrection (2/5)
Day 20 | The Slumber Party Massacre (3/5)
​

 

[Doctor Jones]

Watched Urban Legend. It was pretty bad. The opening was great though, and so is the idea. This is a reboot I'd be into if done actually scary.

I've heard people comment it's kind of like a Scooby-Doo episode. I don't know if it's been brought up but they even have a "version" of Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy at the very end.

View attachment 38744 View attachment 38745

Awful movie. Soundtrack is good though.

 

[Doctor Jones]

1. Sleepy Hollow
2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
3. Hush
4. Summer of 84
5. One Cut of the Dead
6. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
7. The Pool
8. Day of the Dead
9. The Thing (1982)
10. The Last House on the Left (1972)
11. An American Werewolf in London
12. 30 Days of Night
13. Evil Dead 2
14. The Village
15. Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives
16. Hellraiser
17. House of 1,000 Corpses
18. Christine
19. Scream
20. Scream 2

 

[KaijuDude1992]

I mean I can still have some dumb fun with movies like Urban Legend or even I Still Know What You Did Last Summer which were the weakest of the late 90's/early 2000's slashers, but I get why most wouldn't enjoy them.

They all pale in comparison to first two Scream films IMO which is what pretty much every studio back then was cashing in on, but because I grew up with those movies I don't mind watching them whenever I want a cheap thrill every now and then, especially around Halloween time.

 

[Fincher]

I like Urban Legend. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer was awful, though.

 

[KaijuDude1992]

I like Urban Legend. I Still Know What You Did Last Summer was awful, though.

It's not a good movie by any means, but like someone else said the atmosphere and the location is pretty great and I have always enjoyed the fact that its actually a much gorier film than its predecessor.

I don't even mind the characters, but the story is a mess and the way they end up on the island in the first place is still stupid asf and makes no sense lol.

 

[Captain Tired]

I also like both films. It helps that I very rarely walk into a slasher movie with the expectation of seeing high art.

 

[NDX]

31 Nights of Halloween

01. Repulsion
02. The Cabin in the Woods
03. Night of the Creeps
04. The Tingler
05. Bloodsucking Bastards
06. Vampires vs The Bronx
07. The Blob '88
08. Don't Let Them In
09. Silent Night, Bloody Night
10. The Evil Dead
11. Evil Dead 2
12. Army of Darkness [Theatrical Cut]
13. Chopping Mall
14. Crawl
15. Halloween '78
16. Halloween II [Television Version]

Okay, I think that's good for tonight. Not nearly as behind as I was 8 hours ago.

 

[Mani-Man]

I mean I can still have some dumb fun with movies like Urban Legend or even I Still Know What You Did Last Summer which were the weakest of the late 90's/early 2000's slashers, but I get why most wouldn't enjoy them.

They all pale in comparison to first two Scream films IMO which is what pretty much every studio back then was cashing in on, but because I grew up with those movies I don't mind watching them whenever I want a cheap thrill every now and then, especially around Halloween time.

Yeah, they have the idea, the setting and premise...but overall they are way weaker than most of the 90s/2000s slashers.
You can have fun with them, but compared to Scream for example...they arent as strong.


1. Scarecrows Revenge
2. Alive
3. Frankensteins Army
4. Bones
5. Haunt
6. Boar
7. Leprechaun Returns
8. Terrifier
9. Bram Stoker's Dracula
10. The Fly (1986)
11. Michael Bay's Texas Chainsaw Massacre
12. House of Wax(2005)
13. The Thing (1982)
14. Train to Busan
15. Friday the 13th (2009)
16. Scream 1
17. The Curse of Sleeping Beauty
18. The Gallows
19. Drag me to Hell

20. Scream 2

This works really well if you dont remember anything about it.
Im not sure if i like it more than Scream 1, it has some things i definitly like more...but something about the first one just feels more unique.

 

[Captain Tired]

I like Scream as a franchise, but for some reason it's a series that has never been an especially big point of interest for me like Halloween, F13, Nightmare or even Child's Play have proven to be.

 

[DyeLorean]

What I really like about the Scream movies is that the killer changes every time. That's the main difference between that slasher and the Halloween/Nightmare/Friday series. The whodunit aspect of it is what makes it very fun and entertaining for me.

 

[Mani-Man]

1. Scarecrows Revenge
2. Alive
3. Frankensteins Army
4. Bones
5. Haunt
6. Boar
7. Leprechaun Returns
8. Terrifier
9. Bram Stoker's Dracula
10. The Fly (1986)
11. Michael Bay's Texas Chainsaw Massacre
12. House of Wax(2005)
13. The Thing (1982)
14. Train to Busan
15. Friday the 13th (2009)
16. Scream 1
17. The Curse of Sleeping Beauty
18. The Gallows
19. Drag me to Hell
20. Scream 2

21. Dracula (1931)

Man, those good old Universal Monster Movies just hit different.
Always a joy to watch them.

 

[Captain Tired]

I adore Dracula '31. And the hype around Bela Lugosi is totally warranted. He is astonishingly good in the part, and the bar for all other actors who take on the role.

 

[Doctor Jones]

1. Sleepy Hollow
2. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
3. Hush
4. Summer of 84
5. One Cut of the Dead
6. The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
7. The Pool
8. Day of the Dead
9. The Thing (1982)
10. The Last House on the Left (1972)
11. An American Werewolf in London
12. 30 Days of Night
13. Evil Dead 2
14. The Village
15. Friday the 13th Part 6: Jason Lives
16. Hellraiser
17. House of 1,000 Corpses
18. Christine
19. Scream
20. Scream 2
21. Army of Darkness

20. Scream 2

This works really well if you dont remember anything about it.
Im not sure if i like it more than Scream 1, it has some things i definitly like more...but something about the first one just feels more unique.

I go back and forth between 1 and 2 as my favorite and even the best. But I think perhaps the first has a hair's edge over the second. Maybe. The script is impeccably constructed as a subversive script and mystery. But I think Scream 2 might be equal because Sidney and Gale's characters arcs are better in that movie and are the pillars of it.

If you look at Scream 2 like the first, where the script's mystery is built on being subversive of horror films, Scream 2 falls short there. While there are still great twists and turns, Scream 2 plays more as a straightforward Agatha Christie-set in a single location whodunit which I would argue, the central theme is about how real life reflects movies and vice versa. The movie within the movie stuff is brilliant and meta, but it serves more of the above theme than a meta sequel idea, which is more of a red herring. Sometimes it's difficult to know if that was intended or what the exact theme is at times; whether it's about sequels or the above mentioned. It could be because the script was rewritten and they had less time to do it. By no means does this make the movie sloppy. Despite all of this, I do think the movie kicks ass and is a great sequel. I think some of it might be luck too because you have Wes Craven.

I think my one criticism

Spoiler

is that Mickey disappears for 45 minutes. After that dining hall scene he doesn't show up until he unmasks himself. You sort of forget about him. Apart of me wishes he showed up at least another time between that.

 

[Guts]

‘The Conjuring 2’: James Wan Shares Images of the Animatronic Demon That Was Replaced by Valak

 

[Mani-Man]

Looks pretty cool, but a bit too much i think...and imagine missing out on Valak, her design is just so damn creepy and cool.

1. Scarecrows Revenge
2. Alive
3. Frankensteins Army
4. Bones
5. Haunt
6. Boar
7. Leprechaun Returns
8. Terrifier
9. Bram Stoker's Dracula
10. The Fly (1986)
11. Michael Bay's Texas Chainsaw Massacre
12. House of Wax(2005)
13. The Thing (1982)
14. Train to Busan
15. Friday the 13th (2009)
16. Scream 1
17. The Curse of Sleeping Beauty
18. The Gallows
19. Drag me to Hell
20. Scream 2
21. Dracula (1931)

22. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

The Movie has not lost any of his flavor, the way it was shot and the production design still works as good as always.
But you will never get me to like the final act look of Leatherface, the suit just looks dumb.

 

[Captain Tired]

Really?! Aw Mani-Man, you're breaking my baws here. I love the suit look. I always love it when a character's barbarity is immediately contrasted with what should be the dignity and poise offered by a suit. Patrick Bateman is another great example. Freddy Krueger also wore a tuxedo in one of the later Nightmares. I think even the low effort of Jason actually tucking in his shirt and wearing a belt in Jason Goes to Hell conveyed the idea rather well.