***Official 4th Annual HTF October Scary Movie Challenge*** (1 Viewer)

[Matt Stone]

Only one film to add today...

Prince of Darkness - I mis-spoke earlier when I said that The Fog was my last uncharted Carpenter film. In any event, this is one hell of a creepy film. Here's my advice to budding horror flick directors...use bugs. Bugs always work Not the best Carpenter film, IMO, but a damn fine entry into the collection of his work.


Full List
1. Day of the Dead
2. The Hills Have Eyes
3. They Live
4. The Fog
5. Return of the Living Dead
6. Cube
7. Halloween
8. Halloween 2
9. The Evil Dead
10. Suspiria
11. The Thing From Another World
12. Scream Unrated DC
13. Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter
14. In the Mouth of Madness
15. It's Alive
16. It Lives Again
17. Disturbing Bahavior
18. Halloween 3
19. Night of the Living Dead
20. The People Under the Stairs
21. Wrong Turn
22. Creepshow
23. Valentine
24. Prince of Darkness

Red = First Timer

 

[Justin_S]

Final Destination 2- Hugely entertaining sequel with some of the coolest death scenes in recent memory, and one hell of a crash sequence! Very, very fun horror film!

Jack Frost 2- My friends were over, and they had just bought this, and wanted to watch it after FD2. It was pretty ridiculous to put it lightly. It was sorta funny, but pretty much a waste overall.

Jason X- Jason in space, and I loved it. Much better than the previous two before it, and just a damn good time. One of my favs of the series.

The Prowler- One of my favorite slashers. The Tom Savini gore effects are some of the most realistic I've ever seen, and the prowler is a creepy son of a bitch with some pretty sweet weapons. It has a few slow spots, but that's all. Excellent slasher!

The Burning- Another of my favorite slashers here. Aside from the Black Christmas killer, Cropsy is the only other slasher to scare me. He's a mean, frightening sucker, and the kills are amazing once again thanks to Tom Savini's amazing effects work. The score is nice and eerie, the film has a pretty grim tone, and the raft scene is fuckin' awesome!

WATCHED (* = first time viewing)

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter
Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III
The Night Flier
Lord of Illusions
The Initiation
They Live
The Serpent and the Rainbow
Session 9
Hellbound: Hellraiser II
Burnt Offerings*
Freaks
Ghoulies II
The Devonsville Terror
Blood and Black Lace
Suspiria
The Sentinel
Cujo
From Dusk Till Dawn
The House of the Dead*
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Funhouse
Society
Frailty
The Blob 1988
Rosemary's Baby
Final Destination 2
Jack Frost 2*
Jason X
The Prowler
The Burning

 

[Brook K]

I'm back at home and able to watch my Netflix again.

1st up is the enjoyable Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things in which an annoying and abusive theatre director takes a pack of young actors to a deserted island with a cemetary on it to enact dark rites and play around with a corpse. Of course he releases dark forces beyond his control and delightful zombie mayhem ensues.

Bob Clark of Christmas Story fame delivers the goods with solid zombie effects and a finale that features camera movements and framings that go beyond the usual micro-budget early 70's horror flick. The strangeness of the characters actions and personalities also keep us interested in a story which features both the usual setup of young people in an isolated locale, and where virtually nothing "horror" oriented happens for the first 65-70m of the movie. Recommended to zombie fans.

Next up: Candyman, May

October List: (* First time viewing/Ranked by quality and enjoyment)
1. Day Of The Dead
2. Play Misty For Me *
3. The Vanishing *
4. Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things *
5. The Tingler *
6. Identity *
7. Willard *
8. The Legend Of Hell House *

 

[jimbo w]

Getting started late but I will make the 13 no problem

1. The Mummys Ghost
2. The Mummys Curse

Didnt recall seeing either of these 2 but got lucky and found the oop disc for 7 dollars at a closing video store

 

[Scotty_McW]

Wrong Turn Not a really bad film, but not terrible either. As has been said before, some good moments with a lot of missing logic.

Frist time viewing

1. Frailty
2. Scream
3. Stir of Echoes
4. From Hell
5. Wrong Turn

 

[Brian Kissinger]

An American Werewolf in London (1981)
directed by John Landis


John Landis is that special kind of guy. When he hits one, he hits it out (Innocent Blood, Animal House, Kentucky Fried Movie) and when he doesn't hit it out, he strikes out (Beverly Hills Cop 3, Three Amigos!, Spies Like Us). I'm happy to say that An American Werewolf in London is a 450 foot moon shot to dead center.

It's not much of a secret that I love good humor. And good humor in poor taste is also another cherished love. Mr. Landis is able to deliver both in a good old fashioned horror film here. A horror film more noted for it's groundbreaking special effects, rather than it's superb and downright funny story.

David Kessler (David Naughton) is an american touring Europe with his pal Jack (Griffin Dunne). Then one fine night they are attacked by a werewolf, leaving Jack dead and David a beast-to-be. Madcap hi-jinks and gore ensue.

The movie works on both levels, comedy and horror. But the beautiful thing is that it doesn't resort to corny one-liners ala Nightmare on Elm Street. And it doesn't pull any punches when it comes to biting the head of police chiefs either. Besides, how could a movie featuring a assembly of our hero and the folks he has just murdered in a porn theater be bad? It can't!


:star: :star: :star: :star: out of :star: :star: :star: :star:

Gore Factor-Blissful
Flesh Factor-"A naked American man stole my ballons"
Best To Be Viewed-With a hot chick who isn't offended by porn or beheadings....and actually might be turned on by a naked David running around and who might be inclined to use said lust on you.....or at 9 o'clock.....whichever works best for you.


The Shining (1980)
directed by Stanley Kubrick


After some of the tamer classics I've been viewing, I needed a fix. Nothing like this double bill to give you that special pick-me-up.

The Shining is one of the most rarest of feats. It's a movie that doesn't follow its very popular source material very well, yet still succeeds. I actually consider the two (the book and the movie) separate entities. You can't really compare the two. While they each share similar characteristics, they are separate offspring.

While King's novel was the first book I ever read that scared me (actually its the only one), Kubrick's film works an altogether different vibe. Both give the same end result. King relies more on your imagination, and Kubrick delivered the visuals on a silver platter. So which is better? The book scared me, while the film did not. However, the scene with the bloody elevator has stayed with me much more than anything I ever envisioned from the book. I call it a draw.

Great performances (with the exception of Shelley Duvall...whose whiny voice at several points makes me want to bash her brains right the fuck in too) and superb atmosphere make this one of the all time greats. It's rare that a mere conversation between a guy and a butler can be frightful, but it is here.

:star: :star: :star: :star: out of :star: :star: :star: :star:

Gore Factor- Not a whole lot, but the psychological aspect can't be denied
Flesh Factor-The best naked grandma in the tub film bar none
Best To Be Viewed-Late at night alone

 

[Matt Stone]

Here lies the horrific story known as today's update...

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (remake) - What a grim film. Most comparable to this year's Wrong Turn, but much more unsettling. The remake factor will turn of some of you, but hey, look at The Thing. My only problem was that Leatherface was a little over-utilized. On the whole, one of the better horror films of a year packed with great horror films.


Full List
1. Day of the Dead
2. The Hills Have Eyes
3. They Live
4. The Fog
5. Return of the Living Dead
6. Cube
7. Halloween
8. Halloween 2
9. The Evil Dead
10. Suspiria
11. The Thing From Another World
12. Scream Unrated DC
13. Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter
14. In the Mouth of Madness
15. It's Alive
16. It Lives Again
17. Disturbing Behavior
18. Halloween 3
19. Night of the Living Dead
20. The People Under the Stairs
21. Wrong Turn
22. Creepshow
23. Valentine
24. Prince of Darkness
25. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(remake)

Red = First Timer

 

[Scotty_McW]

The Howling I don't know how I ever missed this movie. Fairly good atmosphere, even if the werewolves look more like large rats than wolves. I really like scary movies that use a lot of foggy nights.

Identity Saw this in the theater and I still think it is a pretty darn good movie. The ending is a little unsettling, but I think this might have to be added to my collection.

First time viewing

1. Frailty
2. Scream
3. Stir of Echoes
4. From Hell
5. Wrong Turn
6. The Howling
7. Identity

 

[Alex Spindler]

Off to a slow start myself. I'm adding these three as first watches for me:

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) - Not a bad remake at all, although it could have been improved in some ways.

The Last House on the Left (1972) - This one is very disturbing, mainly because of the cruelty on display seems a bit to real. However, it is marred by some pivotal coincidences and some unconvincing performances by the parents.

The Hills Have Eyes (1977) - Quite good overall, and the embattled family was well played.

 

[Brook K]

May - Doesn't completely work as a horror film, both because I found the shifts in her character jarring and unconvincing and also, because of my affection for the "good" May. The first 2/3'ds of the film is a wonderful, warm, and sad story about a sheltered young woman seeking to come alive and find her place in the world while her "best friend" a treasured doll, peers spookily out of her box.

*Brook Horror Corrolary #3 - Dolls and kids are spooky

Poor May just doesn't quite know how to act around others and takes things just a bit too far in her interactions. Her neediness and vulnerability will unfortunately lead her to more pain and loneliness until at last she lashes out.

I'm too lazy to look up the actress's name, but her performance was outstanding, full of small nuances in movement and facial expression that make this shy girl come to life. I only wish it had a conclusion that was worthy of the rest of the film.

Mr. Vampire HK film about a ghost hunter and his bumbling assistants who's client becomes a vampire during a reburial ceremony. Now the vampire must be stopped before something really bad happens (I guess).

This is the famous "hopping vampire" movie where the vampires move solely by hopping around, which never ceases to be funny. Unfortunately the rest of the movie is more obnoxious than entertaining, with the assistants slapstick antics filling up much of the running time to annoying levels. The final showdown scene is pretty good, but its a struggle to stay awake to get there.

Next up: Candyman

October List: (* First time viewing/Ranked by quality and enjoyment)
1. Day Of The Dead
2. Play Misty For Me *
3. The Vanishing *
4. May *
5. Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things *
6. The Tingler *
7. Identity *
8. Willard *
9. Mr. Vampire *
10. The Legend Of Hell House *

 

[Brian Kissinger]

Concerning May

This one is very disturbing, mainly because of the cruelty on display seems a bit to real

This is most definitely one of the most brutal films I've ever seen. I re-watched it not long ago, and the age of the film gives it more of a documentary type feel, thus evoking a more horrific response. Not a film I'd watch very often.

 

[Brian Kissinger]

Oh and by the way, where is one able to find the complete Brook Horror Corrolary list?

 

[Alex Spindler]

You know, you're exactly right. For some reason, the notable '70s films seem to share that charactaristic (as did the original TCM), which makes them seem all the more disturbing.

 

[Matt Stone]

Regarding LHOTL...

You guys are dead on. I'm only 21, so the film was released long before I was up and walking, but when I was younger, my Mom always told me about how it was the only film she ever walked out of. I always assumed it was because it was really crummy, but she (of course) explained because it was the only movie that ever scared her on a very real level. I finally saw it for the first time in 2000 when it showed up on IFC, and the whole time I'm watching it I was thinking..."Well, this is pretty cruel, but it's not walk-out worthy."

...lo and behold, as I tried to sleep that night, I found myself curiously unable to. It was 2 years before I was able to watch it again, and I don't know if I have the balls to watch it for this challenge. Truly frightening.

 

[Scott Weinberg]

Recent additions:

Inspired by the Appreciation Thread, I ran BWP a few weeks early. Still love it. Also rented Cronos (which I'm sorry to say kinda bored me), a Killer Lolita flick starring Rose McGowan ( ) called Devil in the Flesh, and the somewhat obnoxious but still fun Aussie zombie flick Undead.

Interesting note: www.CreatureCorner.com runs a daily lineup of Horror on Cable TV throughout October. So if you're looking for something to watch, check their listings and you'll find something scary.

October List!

Blue = First-Time Visits

1. The Howling (1981)
   Sleepless Nights (2003)
   I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
   Prom Night 3: The Last Kiss (1989)
   Prom Night 4: Deliver Us From Evil (1992)
   Cannibal Ferox (1981)
   Howling 5: The Rebirth (1989)
   Howling 6: The Freaks (1991)
   Fear No Evil (1981)
   Dead and Buried (1981)
   Night of the Demon (1957)
   The House of the Dead (2003)
   Burnt Offerings (1976)
   Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter (1966)
   From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
   Hellraiser (1987)
   Frailty (2002)
   The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
   The Hills Have Eyes (1977)
   The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
   Scream (1996)
   The Blair Witch Project (1999)
   Undead (2003)
   Devil in the Flesh (1998)
   Cronos (1993)[/list=1]

 

[Matt Stone]

Watching my beloved Boilers come trough in the clutch against the Badgers inspired me to watch as assload of horror flicks today...here lies the today's update.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - Seeing the remake last night made me want to watch the fantastic original. What can I say that hasn't already been said about this monumental film? Probably nothing. A very simple story of a great day that quickly turns to madness. Horrifying, haunting, unsettling, and many other -ing words.

The Last House on the Left - I did work up the balls to watch Wes Craven's classic. Well, sort of. In order to distance myself from the horrors taking place on my television, I decided to watch the flick with the (fantastic) commentary on. See my last post for some thoughts on the film.

Phantasm - One hell of a mind-fuck. Logic goes out the window, and a creepy sci-fi/horror film enters. A great editing technique and a fantastic score combine to make a very unsettling experience.

Cabin Fever - I cannot wait until this is released on DVD. I know feelings were reletively mixed regarding this film on the forum, but I'm with Scott all the way...this is a modern classic.


Full List
1. Day of the Dead
2. The Hills Have Eyes
3. They Live
4. The Fog
5. Return of the Living Dead
6. Cube
7. Halloween
8. Halloween 2
9. The Evil Dead
10. Suspiria
11. The Thing From Another World
12. Scream Unrated DC
13. Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter
14. In the Mouth of Madness
15. It's Alive
16. It Lives Again
17. Disturbing Behavior
18. Halloween 3
19. Night of the Living Dead
20. The People Under the Stairs
21. Wrong Turn
22. Creepshow
23. Valentine
24. Prince of Darkness
25. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre(remake)
26. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
27. The Last House on the Left
28. Phantasm
29. Cabin Fever

Red = First Timer

 

[Nick Sievers]

Some friends came over to my place last night and we had a bit of a horror night.

The Thing - I've seen it many times, but it was great to watch it with a couple of people who hadn't seen it (one hadn't even heard of it). The two who hadn't seen it, loved the film while the other one had passed out on the floor about 20mins into it.

The Evil Dead - a lot of fun, I only purchased the Book of the Dead edition recently and it is the first time I have seen the flick on DVD.

Halloween & Halloween: Resurrection - the former is a great film the latter is an atrocious film.

List (Green = First time visit):

Dagon
The Evil Dead
Halloween
Halloween: Resurrection
The Howling
The Thing

 

[Nick Sievers]

I've seen a few of you guys talking Cabin Fever up a bit, I only saw the trailer for the first time today. Looks interesting enough, I think it opens soon. Definitely be checking it out.

 

[Brook K]

I'll have to work on that horror corrollary list Brian.

Hope you're right on May and it grows on me. I seriously think the "good" May is an Oscar worthy performance not that she would ever get any attention for it. Mr. Vampire needed more fights and hopping vampires and far less of the two assistants. Netflix has it, otherwise its a mid 80's HK movie, so I don't know how successful you'll be finding it in video stores. It did have a limited theatrical run a couple of years ago which is how I heard about it. It just took me awhile to finally rent it.

Agreed on Last House. I also liked Cabin Fever quite a bit, but I wouldn't call it a modern classic or anything. I'm kind of despairing that we'll ever see horror movies again as good as those of the 70's/late 60's. The 80's still had some very good stuff, and we're seeing some good movies now, but nothing I've seen, with the possible exception of Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Cure matches the classics of the 70's. They had a realistic feel, even in fantasy situations, that just doesn't exist today. Many of the best 80's and up horror movies rely as much on comedy as they do horror.

Candyman was underwhelming to say the least. It does have a pretty good, if overly complicated, setup. But Tony Todd's Candyman is more laughable than menacing. The decision to manipulate the audio whenever he spoke didn't work for me. And what's up with the bees??! As if a killer with a hook hand and Barry White powers of persuasion isn't enough, they had to make him full of bees too?? Virginia Madsen gives it the old college try but its basically horror movie 101 stuff with an unintentionally funny ending. The only really good thing about it is Philip Glass's score, but its too good for the movie and overwhelms it.

Next Up: Extras on Day of the Dead while waiting for next batch of Netflix (listened to Romero/cast/crew commentary tonight)

October List: (* First time viewing/Ranked by quality and enjoyment)
1. Day Of The Dead
2. Play Misty For Me *
3. The Vanishing *
4. May *
5. Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things *
6. The Tingler *
7. Identity *
8. Willard *
9. Mr. Vampire *
10. Candyman *
11. The Legend Of Hell House *

 

[Greg Black]

Slowly getting there. I just finished a wonderful movie which has immediately found its way to being one of my favorites, despite only seeing it once.

6. The Birds (1963) viewed on 10/19/03

Wow. I cannot believe that I had never seen this fantastic film before. I have seen other Hitchcock movies and loved them dearly. North By Northwest, Vertigo, Rear Window, and Psycho are some of my favorite movies of all time. I think Alfred Hitchcock is probably my favorite director; I'm simply fascinated at how he made works of art. So how was it that this movie escaped me all this time?

The Birds is the quintessential lesson in pacing and character development. The viewer is slowly drawn into a love story between Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren's characters, which is cleverly interspersed with moments of terror, building up to a fantastic climax (if you could call it such). Absolutely top-notch performances all around. Hitchcock had impeccable taste when it came to choosing his leading actors, especially the leading ladies, of which Tippi Hedren might just be my personal favorite.

This film is wonderfully moody, with its beautiful setting in Bodega Bay. The matte paintings and special effects techniques (which were ground breaking at the time) are simply amazing. The documentary on the DVD "All About The Birds" explains alot of the wonderful processes used on the film, and gives you a much greater sense of appreciation for the movie.

I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed this movie. I am so thankful that I took the time tonight to properly enjoy this movie by myself. This is an absolute classic from the master himself. Very highly recommended. 10/10

-Greg Black