tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post116226574557593175..comments2023-10-31T12:35:17.907-04:00Comments on Crane's Inanities: "Grudge", "High Tension" and "The Queen". You Can Probably Guess What I've Been Up To This Weekend.Miller Sturtevanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07407592837398461072noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162601289453542552006-11-03T19:48:00.000-05:002006-11-03T19:48:00.000-05:00CentinaryCentinaryblankfisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495143271397023056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162586902314810402006-11-03T15:48:00.000-05:002006-11-03T15:48:00.000-05:00I think one way to revitalize the genre is to intr...I think one way to revitalize the genre is to introduce some new and seriously scary movie monsters. The shark in Jaws, the alien from Aliens, and Hannibal Lecter -- what since? No indelible and nightmare-giving monsters in movies since (Samara wasn't bad though). I'll just have to hope that the monsters Craig's writing about will do the trick. One other thing: it all has to do with directors. For whatever reason, the great old and exciting new directors aren't doing anything with horror these days (though props to Zemeckis for his attempt with "What Lies Beneath" and Spielberg for his recent "War of the Worlds"). It's considered slumming by critics, and most directors want Oscars more than they want to make quality scary movies, so we're stuck with the few bits that squeak through from first timers that happen to be good.Miller Sturtevanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07407592837398461072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162570345193431852006-11-03T11:12:00.000-05:002006-11-03T11:12:00.000-05:00Okay, now there's a list I can work from. Thanks, ...Okay, now there's a list I can work from. Thanks, Paul. I actually remember the reviews for the Devil's Rejects being pretty good. Anybody seen this? If so, do I have to sit through House of 1,000 Corpses for it to make sense? I don't know why, but I like the idea of Rob Zombie making good movies.<BR/><BR/>And, no, Mean Creek isn't a creepy kid movie. The kids are normal they just find themselves in an uncomfortable situation. Nobody walks down a dark hallway dripping wet in their night gown while rolling their eyes back in their head and whispering a nursery rhyme.<BR/><BR/>Still waiting on Crane to chime in. He wrote something on Craig's blog...but I guess he's too GOOD to comment on his own. Hmmph.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162536053329445932006-11-03T01:40:00.000-05:002006-11-03T01:40:00.000-05:00Shawn - let's day last 5-6 years best horror - goo...Shawn - let's day last 5-6 years best horror - good question. Difficult to answer because most horror films are bullshit - meaning they are unrealized potential. <BR/><BR/>If it is originality (not remakes) only I would say...<BR/><BR/>1) 28 Days Later<BR/>2) Shaun of the Dead<BR/>3) Open Water<BR/>4) American Psycho<BR/>5) From Hell (ok.contestable)<BR/>6) The Others<BR/>7) Dog Soldiers<BR/>8) The Ring<BR/>9) Cabin Fever (original, but not a good movie in its execution). <BR/>10) Saw (pioneering torture flick) - haven't seen one yet! <BR/>11) Passion of Christ<BR/>12) Dark Water <BR/>13) Devil's Rejects<BR/>14) George Romero's Land of the Dead<BR/>15)The Skeleton Key<BR/>16) Wolf Creek<BR/>17) The Descent<BR/><BR/><BR/>Now in terms of true quality I would say...<BR/><BR/>1) 28 Days Later<BR/>2) The Descent<BR/>3) The Others<BR/>4) Shaun of the Dead<BR/>5) American Psycho<BR/>6) Dog Soldiers<BR/><BR/>Too many remakes lately and straight to video schlock. In a way, someone needs to think of a new and unique perspective to horror films - and this mean maybe creating a new genre (Political horror, etc..). <BR/><BR/>To me, the best horror is always based on a sociological context of our times. A mileau where the worst nightmares of humanity are displayed and exorcised.<BR/><BR/> - PAPAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162528756626983352006-11-02T23:39:00.000-05:002006-11-02T23:39:00.000-05:00Obviously I meant it wasn't a teen movie like, say...Obviously I meant it wasn't a teen movie like, say, Scream or... Mean Creek? I think I remember a certain someone who resembles Kermit just a bit telling me they really liked that film. Is that not creepy kid movie?blankfisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495143271397023056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162521270199535452006-11-02T21:34:00.000-05:002006-11-02T21:34:00.000-05:00I know dude. I was just following your original a...I know dude. I was just following your original attack on my logic when you said The Ring didn't have teenagers. It's not a teen movie, agreed. It's a creepy kid movie though, isn't it? Yeah, that's original...<BR/><BR/>Would you call The Sixth Sense a horror movie? Because that's some solid entertainment that is both frightening, thrilling, and - at least to my knowledge - different from the rest of the crop.<BR/><BR/>Also, Paul that's a great list but I was talking mostly about not being interested in recent horror movies. Seen anything in the past five-six years you'd call a "great" horror movie???<BR/><BR/>Just curious. And where's Crane?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162498392672599632006-11-02T15:13:00.000-05:002006-11-02T15:13:00.000-05:00BTW 8327 - The sequel to 28 Days Later is called 2...BTW 8327 - The sequel to 28 Days Later is called 28 Months Later. And the first one <I>was</I> scary.<BR/><BR/>Harwell, dude, come on. Just because The Ring had teenagers in it doesn't make it a teen movie. With that logic, Giant was a teen movie. Now, <I>that's</I> ridiculous!blankfisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495143271397023056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162485954573968772006-11-02T11:45:00.000-05:002006-11-02T11:45:00.000-05:00Most post-modern horror films are quite derivative...Most post-modern horror films are quite derivative and superficial - although there are a few special ones that truly hit the zeitgeist of our times - like United 93 (a true horror film), Blair Witch Project, Jurassic Park (yes, it is classified as horror), The Others, 28 Days Later, The Descent, Touching the Void (survival horror), American Psycho and even The Ring - which for some reason scared the living shit out of me. <BR/><BR/>I propose you watch AMERICAN NIGHTMARE which is a documentary about horror films. They interview Wes Craven, Romero, Argento, Tobe Hooper, etc.. and it gives you their perspective on why they chose to make these films which have a history of unique independent artistic vision and one that was making a major statement about the Vietnam war and capitalist society in general. You could not get away with these critiques in any other genre, especially during the cold war. <BR/><BR/>I would start rewatching classic horror films from the late 60's and 70's to see why these are the films that are being remade today. <BR/><BR/>Because, like it or not - they truly had a political consciousness. <BR/><BR/>*BTW - forget the sequels as they were made purely for profit and nothing else. <BR/><BR/>**BTW 2 - not mentioning all the great B movie flicks and foreign gems. <BR/><BR/>Last House on the Left<BR/>The Hills Have Eyes<BR/>Nightmare on Elm Street (#1)<BR/>Cannibal Halocaust<BR/>Halloween (#1)<BR/>Friday The 13th (#1)<BR/>Suspiria or any other early Argento flick. <BR/>Dawn of the Dead<BR/>Night of the Living Dead<BR/>Day of The Dead<BR/>The Crazies<BR/>Martin<BR/>Henry, Potrait of a Serial Killer<BR/>Scanners and Videodrome, The Fly, Dead Ringers<BR/>Sisters<BR/>Carrie<BR/>Christine<BR/>Hellraiser (Cliver Barker is interesting)<BR/>Rosemary's Baby<BR/>Seconds<BR/>The Serpent And the Rainbow<BR/>etc...<BR/>The Omen<BR/>The Exorcist<BR/>Jaws<BR/>Alien (#1) <BR/>The Texas Chainsaw Massacre<BR/>Poltergeist <BR/>Psycho<BR/>Jacob's Ladder<BR/>Altered States<BR/>The Wicker Man<BR/>The Shining<BR/>The Dead Zone<BR/>Lord of the Flies<BR/>Evil Dead 1, 2, 3<BR/>Blue Velvet<BR/>Eraserhead<BR/>Lost Highway<BR/>Wolfen<BR/>The Howling<BR/>Near Dark<BR/>The Kindred<BR/>Invasion of the Body Snatchers<BR/>Peeping Tom<BR/>Don't Look Now<BR/><BR/>etc. ect. <BR/><BR/>These are all classics and the ones that TRULY got me into wanting to make films. <BR/><BR/> - PAPAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162446949202114912006-11-02T00:55:00.000-05:002006-11-02T00:55:00.000-05:00Richard Fullerton was in Cabin Fever? I had that ...Richard Fullerton was in Cabin Fever? I had that guy in my ten minute. Awesome. He's great.<BR/><BR/>And I forgot that I both saw and liked 28 Days Later. Aren't they making a sequel?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162445391827733072006-11-02T00:29:00.000-05:002006-11-02T00:29:00.000-05:00I'm not much for horror flicks, but "28 Days Later...I'm not much for horror flicks, but "28 Days Later" was some scary-ass freaky shit. <BR/><BR/>"Cabin Fever" had some effectively nasty moments, and featured NCSA all-star actors Robert Harris and Richard Fullerton. <BR/><BR/>I kinda liked "The Ring."Captain Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06313129816645199581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162430430854373112006-11-01T20:20:00.000-05:002006-11-01T20:20:00.000-05:00Hey, at the time SCREAM was awesome and everybody ...Hey, at the time SCREAM was awesome and everybody thought so. The fact that it had teenagers was okay because it made the point of poking fun at all the horror movies with teenagers who do stupid things and die for stupid reasons when they could've just followed Jamie Kennedy's rules.<BR/><BR/>Also, THE RING totally had teenagers in it: Amber Tamblyn and Adam Brody, in fact. I just looked it up, because I certainly didn't remember them in that boring ridiculous movie...<BR/><BR/>But I still love you Naomi Watts!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162425536971132072006-11-01T18:58:00.000-05:002006-11-01T18:58:00.000-05:00Scream had teenagers. The Ring did not. Your logic...Scream had teenagers. The Ring did not. Your logic is as sound as a Joe Corey family drama plot line. Dude, if you didn't like The Ring but liked Scream, then I'm afraid it's a lost cause. Abondon faith all ye Harwells who enter the theater.blankfisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495143271397023056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162417870987019482006-11-01T16:51:00.000-05:002006-11-01T16:51:00.000-05:00And what a great year that was! Ha. Long live the ...And what a great year that was! Ha. Long live the Bruce...<BR/><BR/>I understand what you're saying Peggy and there are horror movies I like, but there hasn't been anything since SCREAM (though I kind of liked RED DRAGON if that counts), really, that has got me excited enough to seek it out (watched the RING on video for free; still disappointed).<BR/><BR/>Somebody tell me a horror movie made in the last five years that is REALLY good and that I should really make an effort to see. And then I will do just that.<BR/><BR/>Is there one that doesn't involve teenagers? Maybe that's my problem. I hate me some teenagers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162413878801589322006-11-01T15:44:00.000-05:002006-11-01T15:44:00.000-05:00Bruce Cole also was responsible for selecting a ye...Bruce Cole also was responsible for selecting a year to do nothing but tell lies.blankfisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495143271397023056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162403040868060592006-11-01T12:44:00.000-05:002006-11-01T12:44:00.000-05:00What's left for you and Cole? Sex. With each other...What's left for you and Cole? Sex. With each other. And Reggie.blankfisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495143271397023056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162402964257843942006-11-01T12:42:00.000-05:002006-11-01T12:42:00.000-05:00Yes, you are being a bonehead.Beyond the story, ho...Yes, you are being a bonehead.<BR/><BR/>Beyond the story, horror movies exist to allow the watchers to experience emotions that other movies don't give them the opportunity to experience.<BR/><BR/>Like chick films, which allow viewers to cry, horror movies, which focus on fear and adrenaline, are not for everyone, just the people who want to have that experience.<BR/><BR/>Just like I don't care about Master & Commander . . . <BR/><BR/>Anyway, horror movies serve their purpose and should not go away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162382524144116742006-11-01T07:02:00.000-05:002006-11-01T07:02:00.000-05:00You guys remember when Bruce Cole said something i...You guys remember when Bruce Cole said something in class (I think it was Lisa Muskat's) about how he felt horror as a genre could never be considered "art"? I think it was after Amanda Carsner had given a presentation on Dario Argento (and forgive me if I get that name wrong), and boy did Amanda disagree with Mr. Cole.<BR/><BR/>At the time, I thought it was a pretty boneheaded thing to say and I certainly still feel that what constitutes "art" is entirely subjective. And yet, more and more I realize I really don't give a damn in the least about the entire genre of horror whatsoever. I basically have no desire at all to watch any of these movies. My horror libido, if you will, is kaput.<BR/><BR/>And reviews like these - which seem to make an appearance on this blog about once a month or two - aren't doing anything to change my mind.<BR/><BR/>Am I being a bonehead? I thought THE RING was ridiculous, no matter how decent the hook, so if that's the cream of the crop what's left for guys like me and Bruce mofo Cole?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16113999.post-1162345484636599422006-10-31T20:44:00.000-05:002006-10-31T20:44:00.000-05:00The J-Horror Ringu seems to follow the same blasé ...The J-Horror Ringu seems to follow the same blasé sort of 'decent hook but overall uninspired plot line' movies like Ju-On and Dark Water give us, I think. The Ring is great, but not because Ringu was equally as good. Ringu was about a videotape that when you watched it you'd pass away seven days later. That's a decent hook no matter how ridiculous, and if you tried to pitch that idea to any studio in Hollywood, they'd laugh you off their lot. <BR/><BR/>The thing that made The Ring great was the b-story. It was Samara's story, in particularly, that seemed to steer away from the Japanese version. And not because she died in a horrible, horrible way which is indicative of movies like Ringu, Ju-On and Dark Water, but because she was born in conflict of a natural birth - that was the American twist. Here were two people, a married couple, and they wanted a child. The husband was a horse breeder and the mother was unable to produce a child. They leave their island home for nine months and return with a child who, coincidentally, had round, black eyes just like a horse - a crime against nature had been committed. We can look at a story like that and think, 'yeah, that's not right, so, yeah, that could probably have repercussion'. And, that's when the videotape became incidental.blankfisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01495143271397023056noreply@blogger.com