The Horror Thread

[TheDreamMaster]

I actually kind of hate that I liked Rosemary's Baby so much when I watched it years ago. I watched it with my old roommates, thought it was great, and then it was actually later that I found out about all the Roman Polanski stuff, so on a personal level, I want to hate everything he has ever done, but that movie was just awesome (at least it was made BEFORE all that other stuff went down).

I tend not to think about that. And I even feel for Polanski a bit regarding the Manson killings. But I don't tend to think of the director's personal life while watching unless the film was made for a particular reason. Case in point, Kubrik was awful to everyone on that film, but I still love how the film came out.

 

[66 Face]

I'm looking forward to Hammer Studios next film The Quiet Ones

Me too. I'm pretty much a Hammer nerd.

Their classic blu ray releases have been outstanding. There must be at least an hour and a half of bonus material on every disk. I can't wait for The Mummy. Pretty much the Jason of its time. The mummy gets hacked at, shot and Peter Cushing puts a poker through him and he still keeps coming. You can see how that movie spawned such classics as Halloween (JC readily admits it) and Return of the Living Dead.

 

[Rocketman]

In fact, I turned off Paranormal Activity probably less than halfway through, and I never do that. I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I hated it. It was just so dull for the stretched I watched, and the characters gave me nothing to care about, either, so it wasn't like one of those where you build up to the big payoff because the movie just failed to engage me and make me care at all.

I respect your opinion, but I love the whole series (so far). PA5 seems to be going through some troubles, considering it should've been released 2 months from now.

However, you bring up a good point, and one that I'd like to bring up in the entire discussion...

Have you noticed that a lot of horror films tend to have nothing going on in them for the first 45 minutes to an hour? I mean absolutely nothing, aside from getting to know the characters in order for us to care about them when they finally go through their horrific ordeal.

One example would be the first Paranormal Activity, another would be Wolf Creek. Wolf Creek in particular has almost nothing happening in it for the first hour. Hostel kind of drags along for a half hour / 40 minutes as well.

So my question is... Why is there so much build-up? Why can't we just have a scary movie from beginning to end?

 

[Piper Maru]

Audition's not bad, but I personally don't think it's as frightening as the majority opinion seems to think. I suspect it is scarier to male viewers in a way that supposedly Fatal Attraction scared the bejeezus out of men back in the 80s.

Are there any other Asian horror movies you'd recommend? I'd be very interested in checking them out!

 

[steintym]

However, you bring up a good point, and one that I'd like to bring up in the entire discussion...

Have you noticed that a lot of horror films tend to have nothing going on in them for the first 45 minutes to an hour? I mean absolutely nothing, aside from getting to know the characters in order for us to care about them when they finally go through their horrific ordeal.

One example would be the first Paranormal Activity, another would be Wolf Creek. Wolf Creek in particular has almost nothing happening in it for the first hour. Hostel kind of drags along for a half hour / 40 minutes as well.

So my question is... Why is there so much build-up? Why can't we just have a scary movie from beginning to end?

I agree with what you're saying to a certain extent, although I've found the opposite to be true. I find the build up to be great and then there's no payoff at the end (or I'm disappointed in the payoff). A couple that immediately come to mind are Paranormal Activity 4, Insidious, Sinister and Mama.

I was sucked in by these movies, love the set up ... and then the payoff just wasn't that great. I still enjoyed the movies, but I felt there could have been more.

 

[Ant-manic]

Does anyone remember that anthology movie Nightmares? I just watched it for the first time in years.

i collect the anthology films (my favorite of the genre). and i do have Nightmares. but i don't enjoy it as much as Body Bags or the Creepshow franchise. that's not to say that it's not fine for a lazy afternoon or rainy day. it's just that the Emilio Estevez story is the only one of them that really stands out. and it wasn't that scary.

 

[Ant-manic]

Has anyone noticed that 2009 was a damn fine year for horror films?

Paranormal Activity (2009)
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
The Final Destination (2009)
The Fourth Kind (2009)
Friday the 13th (2009)
Halloween II (2009)
The Human Centipede (2009)
The Last House on the Left (2009)
Orphan (2009)
Pandorum (2009)
Survival of the Dead (2009)
The Unborn (2009)
Trick 'r Treat (2009)
The Uninvited (2009)
Zombieland (2009)
Jennifer's Body (2009)
The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)
Splice (2009)
Sorority Row (2009)
Saw VI (2009)
My Bloody Valentine (2009)
The House of the Devil (2009)
The Grudge 3 (2009)
The Descent 2 (2009)
The Collector (2009)
Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever (2009)
Case 39 (2009)
Carriers (2009)

the bolded are what i remember fondly.

 

[Piper Maru]

i collect the anthology films (my favorite of the genre). and i do have Nightmares. but i don't enjoy it as much as Body Bags or the Creepshow franchise. that's not to say that it's not fine for a lazy afternoon or rainy day. it's just that the Emilio Estevez story is the only one of them that really stands out. and it wasn't that scary.

I remember Creepshow 1 & 2, is there a part 3?

 

[Tanin]

I remember Creepshow 1 & 2, is there a part 3?

Yes but i suggest you don't watch it.

 

[jonathancrane]

Yeah, it's terrible.

 

[Rocketman]

I'm pleasantly surprised to see that so many people liked the Friday the 13th remake.

 

[jonathancrane]

It is one of my favorites in the franchise and of the preceding decade. It is the mode Friday the 13th film: great casting (esp. Paladecki,) Easter Eggs (the masks, the barn from Pt 3, ) good ideas (networks beneath Crystal Lake,) and some terrific shots (the interview with the townspeople, shots of the lake at night).

 

[Farren]

Are there any other Asian horror movies you'd recommend? I'd be very interested in checking them out!

A Tale of Two Sisters - not particularly scary but very very good
The Curse (Noroi) and Occult -- these are Blair Witch-esque "found footage" movies -- I think by the same director -- kinda cheesy but I thought they were genuinely creepy
Cure - more of a thriller than horror but good
Battle Royale
Suicide Club - ok
Three Extremes - ok
Strange Circus is probably the weirdest I've seen though I can't say I disliked it
Tales of Terror: Haunted Apartments (something like that) - I have a soft spot for this one as it had some funny moments (to me anyway), but it did take a sudden tone shift near the end
There's also a Korean mini anthology called "Coma" -- it was a bit long and overly complicated for what the ultimate reveal was, but I liked it.

Most of the Asian horror films that have had Western remakes are generally thought well of. It's been awhile since I've seen Ju-on (The Grudge) or Dark Water (I forget it's name in Japanese), but I don't recall having anything against them.

 

[Tanin]

Dark Water is titled Dark Water Pretty Decent film too.

The Host is pretty good Korean film.
House is surprisingly fun.

 

[Piper Maru]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll be looking into them!

 

[TheDreamMaster]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll be looking into them!

I've got a few more to add to those:
White- Korean film that was pretty good.
Audition- very slow build up but worth it.
Gozu- this film is just weird, but pretty good.
Ichi the Killer- not exactly horror but plenty of gore.
Versus- weird Japanese zombie film.
Tokyo Zombie- this is comedy/horror and some cultural jokes went over my head but still good.

Ill add more when I'm home and can go through my collection.

 

[Rocketman]

Isn't Audition pretty much summed up in its final 10 minutes?

 

[Tanin]

Isn't Audition pretty much summed up in its final 10 minutes?

I suppose it is, but then... so are quite a few horror films.

 

[Ant-manic]

I'm pleasantly surprised to see that so many people liked the Friday the 13th remake.

it did the job that the Nightmare on Elm Street remake didn't quite do (although there are definately people who liked it). they made a Jason film that fit within the franchise but wasn't a wholesale copy. it also made pre-zombie Jason seem formidable (and clever).

 

[Ant-manic]

I remember Creepshow 1 & 2, is there a part 3?

i wouldn't suggest part 3 to my worst enemy. it has nothing in common with the other two. it's not particularly horror-centered either. :cries:

 

[66 Face]

it did the job that the Nightmare on Elm Street remake didn't quite do (although there are definately people who liked it). they made a Jason film that fit within the franchise but wasn't a wholesale copy. it also made pre-zombie Jason seem formidable (and clever).

I flat out loved the first 10-15 mins of the remake. I really think its some of the best moments of any of the 13th movies. I remember people going nuts when Jason came running up swinging the machete and then cut to the breathing. I also really like baghead Jason. I wish they would have found a way to go between the sack and the hockey mask instead of one or the other.

I thought the rest of the movie was OK but kind of hollow. I would rather of seen Clay pull out news paper clippings and go into Jasons past like charaters from Part 2 and The Final Chapter. Hints about the family instead of anything close to a prequel.

I really didn't like the idea of homes around the lake and the older lady knowing about Jason. You kind of lose that isolated feeling. Also gotta say that I hated the ending.

 

[Tanin]

Creepshow 3 apparently did well enough to have Creepshow 4 made and filmed but for some reason I can't seem to find it was shelved and never released.

 

[Tanin]

I'm about to watch 'Magic Magic'

I'll let y'all know what I think.

 

[TheDreamMaster]

Creepshow 3 apparently did well enough to have Creepshow 4 made and filmed but for some reason I can't seem to find it was shelved and never released.

I think that company, Taurus Entertainment, just has money to blow. The have cashed in on several franchises they ended up with the rights to. Creepshow 3, Creepshow 4 (although like you said, not released), Day of the Dead Contagium. All are crappy films just using branding to try and sucker in fans for a quick buck.

 

[Teelie]

Creepshow 4 is listed as "in development" on IMDB as releasing in (????) so whether it will ever actually see the light is questionable.