*** Official 10th Annual HTF October Scary Movie Challenge 2009 *** - Page 24

100. Friday The 13th (2009) (extended)
Jason kills people that wander too close to his cabin. I know some F13 fans HATED this movie but I dig it. There's no way to recapture Jason's glory days but this movie is like a greatest hits version of the first 4 movies. Derek Mears is a good Jason- big, fast and scary looking. I just bought this today so I hadn't seen the extended cut before but it's got quite a bit more violence than I remember being in the theatrical cut.

Its probably the best remake of the decade - in that its actually gripping and intense in a way the weak tea originals were not. Still has its silly bits but yeah, a good effort.

Bring on more remakes like this I say!

Edited by Mario Gauci - 10/31/09 at 4:19pm

Mine is still aching.  Ghoulies!  Eck!  I remember the last time I watched the original hoping it would be kind of like Trolls.  I was bored stiff.   

Just completed my October viewing.  Whew!   I'll attempt to update my comments tomorrow but it may take a few days.  I left off on October 18th movie #70. 

Here is my final total.

Happy Halloween

1st Time Viewings In Red!

Films
October 1st
1. Frankenstein (1931) (4.5/5)
2. The Bride Of Frankenstein (1935) (5/5)
October 2nd
3. An American Werewolf in London (1981) (4.5/5)
4. The Thing (1982) (4.5/5)
October 5th
5. Shaun of the Dead (2004) (4.5/5)
6. Jaws (1975) (5/5)
October 12th
7. The Tenant (1976) (4/5)
October 20th
8. Låt den rätte komma in (2008) (4.5/5)
9. Baghead (2008) (3/5)
October 21st
10. Mark of the Vampire (1935) (4/5)
11. The Mask of Fu Manchu (1932) (4.5/5)
October 24th
12. Doctor X (1932) (4/5)
13. The Return Of Doctor X (1939) (3.5/5)
14. Poltergeist (1982) (4.5/5)
October 26st
15. Das Testament des Dr. Mabuse (1933) (5/5)
16. King Of The Zombies (1941) (2/5)
October 27th
17. Mad Love (1935) (4.5/5)
18. The Devil Doll (1936) (4/5)
19. The Black Sleep (1956) (3/5)
20. Dracula (1931) (4/5)
October 28th
21. Dracula (The Spanish Version) (1931) (3/5)
22. The Body Snatcher (1945) (4.5/5)
23. Cat People (1943) (4/5)
October 30th
24. Curse Of The Cat People (1944) (4.5/5) 
25. Let's Scare Jessica To Death (1971) (3.5/5)
26. 28 Days Later (2002) (4/5)
27. 28 Weeks Later (2007) (3.5/5)
October 31st
28. Amityville 3-D (1983) (3.5/5)
29. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) (4.5/5)
30. Diary of a Madman (1963) (3/5)
31. Phantasm (1979) (3/5)
Television
October 4th
1. Doctor Who: The Robots Of Death (4 episodes, 25 minuets each) (1977) (4/5)
October 10th
2. Count Dracula (1977) (150 minuets) (4/5)
October 13th
3. Doctor Who: The Space Museum (1965) (4 episodes, 25 minuets each) (3/5)
October 14th
4. Doctor Who: The Dominators (1968) (5 episodes, 25 minuets each) (3/5)
October 16th
5. Doctor Who: Time and the Rani (1987) (4 episodes, 25 minuets each) (1.5/5)
6. Doctor Who: Paradise Towers (1987) (4 episodes, 25 minuets each) (1.5/5)
7. Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace (1967) (4 episodes, 25 minuets each) (3.5/5)
October 17th
8. Doctor Who: The Space Pirates (1969) (6 episodes, 25 minuets each) (3/5)
9. Doctor Who: Pyramids Of Mars (1975) (4 episodes, 25 minuets each) (5/5)
10.Doctor Who: Underworld (1978) (4 episodes, 25 minuets each) (2/5) 
11. Doctor Who: The Twin Dilemma (1984) (4 episodes, 25 minuets each) (2.5/5) 
12. Doctor Who: Fear Her (2006) (45 minuets) (3/5)
October 18th
13. Doctor Who: Time Flight (1982) (4 episodes, 25 minuets each) (3/5) 
14. Doctor Who: Timelash (1985) (2 episodes, 45 minuets each) (2.5/5)
October 22
15. Doctor Who: The Talons Of Weng-Chiang (1977) (6 episodes, 25 minuets each) (4/5)

Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)

Another good one from Vincent Price. Though not as good as the first still a good nights entertainment. Nice to see Peter Cushing make a brief appearance.

 The Innocents (1961)  

Very creepy and disturbing tale about a governess who believes the two children left in her care are possessed by their former nanny and her lover. Deborah Kerr gives an outstanding performance of a victorian governess who we're not really quite sure is insane or if the events in her mind are really occurring. This is quite an effective ghost story done without special effects but good acting, story, sets and atmosphere. 

Outlander (2008)

Great little sci-fi/horror film about an alien who crashes on earth bringing a vicious dragon-like monster along with him. He lands during the age of the Vikings, is captured by one of the tribes, is considered an enemy at first but then aligns himself with them in order to defeat the monster. The surprise here is James Caviezel who plays the alien as a tough, no nonsense fellow who quickly gains the trust of the villagers. Surprisingly Caviezel was totally believable in his role. The rest of the cast including John Hurt as the king and Sophia Myles as his daughter were all excellent in their parts. There is some good swordplay here as well as good monster action. I was reminded slightly of the 13th Warrior but this is far better.

Well, I was hoping to finish with the Exorcist but time ran out. I managed to beat my total from last year.

Movies watched - 75. Of that total 58 watched for the first time.


10/01 01 Brides of Dracula (1960)
10/02 02 Voodoo Moon (2005)
10/03 03 Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)
10/03 04 Curse of the Werewolf (1961)
10/03 05 Vampires (1998)
10/04 06 Atom Age Vampire (1960)
10/04 07 The Haunting of Sorority Row (2007)
10/04 08 The Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
10/05 09 Stranger from Venus (1954)
10/05 10 Invisible Ghost (1941)
10/05 11 The Alligator People (1959)
10/06 12 The Child (1994) 
10/07 13 Phantom of the Opera (1962)
10/07 14 Darklight (2004)
10/08 15 Paranoiac (1963)
10/08 16 Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959)
10/08 17 Alien 3 (1992) 
10/08 18 In Her Mother's Footsteps (2006) 
10/09 19 The Incredible Petrified World (1957)
10/09 20 Kiss of the Vampire (1963)
10/09 21 Dead Men Walk (1943)
10/10 22 The Reaping (2007)
10/10 23 Predator (1987)
10/10 24 Voyage to the Prehistoric Planet (1965)
10/10 25 Nightmare (1964) 
10/10 26 Maniac (1934) no stars
10/11 27 Omega Man (1971) 
10/11 28 Screamers: The Hunted (2009)
10/12 29 Kong Island (1968) no stars
10/12 30 Van Helsing (2004)
10/13 31 Shaun of the Dead (2004)
10/13 32 Thralls (2004)
10/13 33 Attack of the 50 ft. Woman (1993)
10/14 34 Night Creatures (1962)
10/15 35 Darkness (2002)
10/15 36 King of the Zombies (1941)
10/15 37 Teenagers from Outer Space (1959)
10/16 38 End of the World (1977)
10/17 39 The Quiet (2005)
10/17 40 The Haunting in Connecticut (2009)
10/17 41 The Uninvited (2009)
10/17 42 Curse of the Living Corpse (1964)
10/17 43 Earth vs. The Spider (1958) 
10/18 44 Tales of Terror (1962)
10/18 45 Alien Contamination (1980) 
10/19 46 Alien Resurrection (1997) 
10/19 47 The Corpse Vanishes (1942)
10/20 48 Land of the Lost (2009)
10/20 49 Pit and the Pendulum (1961)
10/21 50 Theatre of Blood (1973) 
10/21 51 Darkwolf (2003)
10/21 52 Warriors of the Wasteland (1983)
10/21 53 Someone is Watching (1999)
10/22 54 Mr. Sardonicus (1961) 
10/22 55 Drag Me to Hell (2009) 
10/22 56 Madhouse (1974)
10/22 57 The Return (2006) 
10/23 58 Mesa of Lost Women (1953) no stars
10/23 59 The Howling (1981)
10/24 60 The Tingler (1959) 
10/24 61 Return of the Living Dead (1985)
10/24 62 All the Kind Strangers (1974)
10/25 63 Twice Told Tales (1963)
10/25 64 Wind Chill (2007)
10/26 65 Tremors (1990)
10/27 66 The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
10/28 67 Android Apocalypse (2006)
10/29 68 And Now the Screaming Starts (1973)
10/29 69 Perfect Creature (2006) 
10/30 70 Amityville Curse (1990) no stars
10/30 71 End of Days (1999)
10/31 72 The Fly (1958) 
10/31 73 Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972)
10/31 74 The Innocents (1961)
10/31 75 Outlander (2008)

Diary of a Madman (1963)
 

Reginald LeBorg
 

Vincent Price turns in another winning performance as Simon Cordier, a nice judge who goes to visit a man on death row and ends up having to kill him in self defense.  Unfortunately for Simon, the dead man's evil spirit follows him home and slowly starts to turn him into a murderer.  This film is certainly far ahead of its time and it's a shame that so many good ideas and performances are brought down a few notches because of some questionable direction.  LeBorg's credits include the really bad VOODOO ISLAND, the bizarrely awful HOUSE OF BLACK DEATH and the all-star lineup THE BLACK SLEEP.  While no stranger to the genre, LeBorg is clearly out of his league here because the psychological nature of the film never gets fully realized because it seems the director didn't know how to tell the story.  Several scenes just drag along when they should have zipped by and the entire film has a rather odd pacing that doesn't help matters.  The rest of the movie is pretty nice and, as I said, it was way ahead of its time.  The "voices of evil" that are haunting Simon is something probably expanded from the mental state of Norman Bates in PSYCHO.  This film takes that to a new level and really shows us that voice, which is constantly haunting Price and I thought it was done very nicely as we never know if the voice is there or if Price is just imagining it.  I think you also get a brief look at what would eventually become the giallo the following year with Mario Bava's BLOOD AND BLACK LACE.  During the murder scenes, Price is dressed in black with the famous black gloves stalking his victims.  This is certainly something that would become quite popular in the films of Bava and Argento but here it is before them.  The supporting cast features Nancy Kovack as the woman Price falls for and she delivers a remarkable performance.  Her and Price really sizzle on the screen together during the rather obvious sexual innuendo.  Chris Warfield is also good as her husband.  In the end, this is a pretty impressive film that probably works a lot better today than it did in 1963.  The film still isn't a complete success but one only wishes a stronger director was involved.  I can only imagine what would have happened had someone like Bava been brought on board considering he did work with Price.  The rich colors, marvelous sets and great costumes just add to what the film does offer.

I had a Movie Night with friends on Halloween Eve to cap off this year's challenge:

Son of Frankenstein (1939)

What's to say? Very good third film in the Frankenstein series has Basil Rathbone deliciously ripe and at his wit's end as the new baron who resurrects his father's monster (Boris Karloff). Bela Lugosi gives the portrayal of his career as Ygor, and Lionel Atwill as Inspector Krogh nicely compliments Rathbone scene for scene when they're together. Great photography and music... only thing keeping this from four stars is that it's a tad overlong. My guests saw this for the first time and gave it an enthusiastic Thumbs Up.

Phantasm (1979)

Our second feature was a complete flop that everyone disliked, except to laugh at it. I've seen this semi-classic a few times but I'm thinking I may be done with it at this point; it just doesn't hold up well in any way. I used to at least admire it for its nightmarish quality and the presence of the metal sphere that chases people, but now I just think the acting's terrible and the story has never made any sense whatsoever. I've already seen all the sequels and they get worse and more incomprehensible as they went on; PHANTASM IV: OBLIVION is on my personal list of "Worst Movies Of All Time".

Oh, it's not quite over for you just yet...


And yet the same principle doesn't bother you much in regards to the similarly attired and designed Metalunans of THIS ISLAND EARTH? Only in that case it's worse, as we're supposed to believe that the planet's foremost expert scientists like Rex Reason, Faith Domergue and Russell Johnson are not quite sure what to make of Exeter and just go along with him until it's too late. And I like THIS ISLAND EARTH! 

Finished up with a couple of 80's favorites:

Fright Night (1985) A

New next door neighbors have moved in and Charlie Brewster (William Ragsdale) is curious as he watches them carry a coffin into the basement. He soon has reason to suspect the neighbor, Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire, but he cannot convince the police, his friends, or the local "Vampire Killer," TV host, Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowell) to believe him. Can Charlie convince anyone the vampire is real, and figure out how to defeat him, before the vampire comes after Charlie?

One of my favorite creature features, and possibly the best vampire film ever IMO, Fright Night is an amazing little film. This is a real vampire, the way they should be, rather than the current fad where they're all brooding and sparkly. Sarandon's Jerry Dandridge is sexy and handsome when seducing his prey, but horrific and monstrous when his true nature is revealed by rage or hunger (reminds me of Brian Lumley's Wamphyri, from his Necroscope series of novels). He radiates evil and menace, even when seemingly engaged in polite conversation.

The film offers some amazing physical and makeup FX by the Entertainment Effects Group. Evil Ed's wolf transformation, Dandridge's full-on vampire makeup, and other assorted transformations and creatures. The art direction was very well done, with the Dandridge house itself almost becoming a character, with its forboding look and being constantly shrouded in fog. I also love the soundtrack of this film, filled with 80's synth pop and score by Brad Fiedel. A bit dated, but it fits well into the film.

A remake is reportedly in the prelminary stages from Dreamworks.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) A-

The teens of Elm Street begin having surreal, yet realistic nightmares about a horribly burned man in a hat, wearing a dirty red and green sweater, and with knives for fingers. Turns out this is Freddy Krueger, a child murderer killed by the neighborhood parents years before, who has somehow returned to haunt the dreams of their children. And if Freddy kills you in your dream, you die for real.  So, whatever you do, don't fall asleep.

Wes Craven created another genre masterpiece with this film with a unique story and villain. Freddy started off as a truly scary and menacing presence, seemingly unstoppable since everyone has to sleep sometime. In the later sequels he became more of a comedian, as his trademark one-liners and some of the elaborate deaths became increasingly silly through seven sequels. Hopefully the upcoming remake will return some of the darkness and evil to the character.

I've also never really understood the scene near the end when Nancy calls her father and tells him to wake her up "in exactly 20 minutes," but she then proceeds to install a series of booby traps throughout the house. It seems like these elaborate set-ups would take any normal person several hours, at least.

But for all its faults (including some pretty wooden acting and some sketchy FX), it's still a great horror film, IMO. The remake of this one is due in theaters on April 30, 2010.

077) 10/31/2009 The Devil's Manor (1896)

The first film listed in Phil Hardy's Encyclopedia of Horror Movies had been a Holy Grail kind of thing for me.  It was finally released as part of a French Georges Melies set, buried in the special features.  It's an entertaining short film featuring bat transformations, sudden appearances of skeletons, witches, and ghosts, and the like.  I thought it made a good start to Halloween viewing.

078) 10/31/2009 Frankenstein (1910)

First version of Frankenstein cannot hope to compare to the 1931 classic, but it's a nice cliffnotes version.  It covers the creation, Frankenstein's rejection of same, and the creature's attempt at vengeance.

079) 10/31/2009 The Body Snatcher (1945)

Probably the best horror film of the 1940s, with Boris Karloff playing Cabman Gray, who snatches bodies for doctor Henry Daniell.  Extremely literate, involving, and frightening, especially that final grave robbery.  One of Karloff's best performances and one his most evil characters.

080) 10/31/2009 Halloween (1978)

All the imitators/sequels/remakes/ripoffs haven't tarnished this classic about madman who escapes from an asylum and returns to his hometown after murdering his sister 15 years ago.  Beautifully lensed and scored, with memorable performances by Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance.

081) 10/31/2009 The Howling (1981) 1/2

Dee Wallace plays a reporter whose plan to interview a suspected serial killer goes horribly wrong.  She's sent to a retreat by a consulting doctor that is anything but relaxing.  My vote for the best werewolf film ever made has some ideas in its script in addition to the excellent effects and Joe Dante's outstanding direction.  Great all around cast.  Most of the characters are named after directors of werewolf films, and Dick Miller is credited as Walter Paisley, the character he played in A Bucket of Blood (1959) for Roger Corman, who also has a cameo.

Here's my final list:

81 films, 14 first-time viewings
51 hour long TV episodes, all first-time viewings
5 half hour TV episodes
1 Stand-alone TV show

001) 10/01/2009 D Dracula (1931)
002) 10/01/2009 D Frankenstein (1931)
003) 10/01/2009 D Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) 1/2
004) 10/02/2009 D The Old Dark House (1932) 1/2
005) 10/02/2009 D The Mummy (1932) 1/2
006) 10/02/2009 R Secret of the Blue Room (1933) 1/2
007) 10/02/2009 D Invisible Man (1933)
008) 10/02/2009 D The Black Cat (1934)
009) 10/03/2009 D Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
010) 10/03/2009 D Werewolf of London (1935)
011) 10/03/2009 D The Raven (1935)
012) 10/03/2009 D The Invisible Ray (1936) 1/2
013) 10/04/2009 D Dracula's Daughter (1936)
014) 10/04/2009 D Son of Frankenstein (1939) 1/2
015) 10/04/2009 D Black Friday (1940) 1/2
016) 10/05/2009 D The Mummy's Hand (1940) 1/2
017) 10/05/2009 D Man Made Monster (1941) 
018) 10/05/2009 D The Wolf Man (1941)  
019) 10/06/2009 D The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)
020) 10/07/2009 D The Mummy's Tomb (1942)
021) 10/07/2009 D Night Monster (1942)
022) 10/07/2009 D Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943)
023) 10/08/2009 D Son of Dracula (1943) 
024) 10/08/2009 D The Mummy's Ghost (1944) 
025) 10/09/2009 D House of Frankenstein (1944) 1/2
026) 10/09/2009 D The Mummy's Curse (1944) 
027) 10/09/2009 D House of Dracula (1945) 1/2
028) 10/10/2009 R The Cat Creeps (1946) 
029) 10/10/2009 D Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) 
030) 10/10/2009 D The Ghoul (1933) 1/2
031) 10/10/2009 D The Undying Monster (1942) 1/2
032) 10/11/2009 D The Vampire Bat (1933) 1/2
033) 10/11/2009 D Mark of the Vampire (1935) 
034) 10/11/2009 D Return of the Vampire (1943) 1/2
035) 10/11/2009 D Condemned to Live (1935) 1/2
036) 10/11/2009 D The Return of Doctor X (1939) 1/2
037) 10/12/2009 T Zombieland (2009)
038) 10/12/2009 T Paranormal Activity (2009)
039) 10/12/2009 D Doctor X (1932) 
040) 10/12/2009 D Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) 1/2
041) 10/12/2009 D The Walking Dead (1936) 
042) 10/13/2009 B Trick 'r Treat (2008) 
043) 10/14/2009 D [rec] (2007) 1/2
044) 10/15/2009 D Freaks (1932) 1/2
045) 10/15/2009 D Mad Love (1935) 
046) 10/16/2009 D The Black Room (1935) 1/2
047) 10/16/2009 D The Man They Could Not Hang (1939) 
048) 10/16/2009 D The Man With Nine Lives (1940) 1/2
049) 10/16/2009 D Before I Hang (1940) 1/2
050) 10/17/2009 D The Devil Commands (1941) 
051) 10/18/2009 R Night of Terror (1933)
052) 10/18/2009 D Happy Birthday to Me (1981)
053) 10/20/2009 D Voodoo Man (1944)
054) 10/20/2009 D The Devil Bat (1940) 1/2
055) 10/20/2009 D Invisible Ghost (1941) 1/2
056) 10/22/2009 D Bowery At Midnight (1942)
057) 10/22/2009 D The Corpse Vanishes (1942)
058) 10/23/2009 T Saw VI (2009) 1/2
059) 10/23/2009 D Timecrimes (2007)
060) 10/23/2009 D Triloquist (2007)
061) 10/24/2009 D The Ape Man (1943)
062) 10/24/2009 R Return of the Ape Man (1944)

063) 10/24/2009 D Brotherhood of Blood (2007)

064) 10/24/2009 D A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) 1/2
065) 10/26/2009 D Black Dragons (1942) 1/2
066) 10/26/2009 D Viy (1967)
067) 10/26/2009 D Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)
068) 10/27/2009 D Man Bites Dog (1992)
069) 10/27/2009 L Island of Lost Souls (1933) 1/2
070) 10/27/2009 R Murders in the Zoo (1933)
071) 10/28/2009 R Valley of the Zombies (1946)
072) 10/29/2009 R The Creeper (1948)
073) 10/29/2009 D Messiah of Evil (1973) 1/2
074) 10/30/2009 B Night of the Creeps - The Director's Cut (1986)
075) 10/30/2009 D The Stepfather (1987) 1/2
076) 10/30/2009 D The Stepfather 2: Make Room For Daddy (1989) 1/2
077) 10/31/2009 D The Devil's Manor (1896)
078) 10/31/2009 D Frankenstein (1910)
079) 10/31/2009 D The Body Snatcher (1945)
080) 10/31/2009 D Halloween (1978)
081) 10/31/2009 D The Howling (1981) 1/2

Television

001) 10/04/2009 D Angel Season 2, Episode 16: Epiphany (2000) 
002) 10/04/2009 D Angel Season 2, Episode 17: Disharmony (2000) 
003) 10/05/2009 D Angel Season 2, Episode 18: Dead End (2000) 
004) 10/06/2009 D Angel Season 2, Episode 19: Belonging  (2000) 
005) 10/06/2009 D Angel Season 2, Episode 20: Over the Rainbow (2000) 
006) 10/06/2009 D Angel Season 2, Episode 21: Through the Looking Glass (2000) 
007) 10/06/2009 D Angel Season 2, Episode 22: There's No Place Like Plrtz Glrb (2000) 
008) 10/07/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 01: Heartthrob (2001) 
009) 10/07/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 02: That Vision-Thing (2001) 
010) 10/09/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 03: That Old Gang of Mine (2001) 1/2
011) 10/09/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 04: Carpe Noctem (2001) 
012) 10/11/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 05: Fredless (2001) 
013) 10/12/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 06: Billy (2001) 
014) 10/12/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 07: Offspring (2001) 
015) 10/13/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 08: Quickening (2001) 1/2
016) 10/13/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 09: Lullaby (2001) 
017) 10/13/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 10: Dad (2001) 1/2
018) 10/14/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 11: Birthday (2001) 1/2
019) 10/14/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 12: Provider (2001) 
020) 10/14/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 13: Waiting in the Wings (2001) 1/2
021) 10/17/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 14: Couplet (2001) 
022) 10/17/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 15: Loyalty (2001) 1/2
023) 10/17/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 16: Sleep Tight (2001) 
024) 10/17/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 17: Forgiving (2001) 
025) 10/18/2009 D It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
026) 10/18/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 18: Double or Nothing (2001) 
027) 10/18/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 19: The Price (2001) 1/2
028) 10/18/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 20: A New World (2001) 1/2
029) 10/19/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 21: Benediction (2001) 1/2
030) 10/19/2009 D Angel Season 3, Episode 22: Tomorrow (2001) 1/2
031) 10/19/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 01: Deep Down (2002) 
032) 10/20/2009 D Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?: Vampire Bats and Scaredy Cats
033) 10/20/2009 D Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?: A Gaggle of Galloping Ghosts
034) 10/20/2009 D Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?: That's Snow Ghost 1/2
035) 10/20/2009 D Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?: Which Witch is Which? 1/2
036) 10/20/2009 D Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?: The Headless Horseman of Halloween
037) 10/20/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 02: Ground State (2002)
038) 10/20/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 03: The House Always Wins (2002)
039) 10/20/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 04: Slouching Towards Bethlehem (2002)
040) 10/20/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 05: Supersymmetry (2002)
041) 10/21/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 06: Spin the Bottle (2002) 1/2

042) 10/21/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 07: Apocalypse, Nowish (2002)

043) 10/21/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 08: Habeas Corpses (2002) 1/2
044) 10/21/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 09: Long Day's Journey (2002) 1/2
045) 10/21/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 10: Awakening (2002)
046) 10/22/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 11: Soulless (2002)
047) 10/22/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 12: Cavalry (2002)
048) 10/22/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 13: Salvage (2002)
049) 10/23/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 14: Release (2002) 1/2
050) 10/23/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 15: Orpheus (2002) 1/2
051) 10/24/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 16: Players  (2002) 1/2
052) 10/24/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 17: Inside Out (2002) 1/2
053) 10/25/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 18: Shiny Happy People (2002)
054) 10/25/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 19: The Magic Bullet (2002)
055) 10/28/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 20: Sacrifice (2002)
056) 10/28/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 21: Peace Out (2002)
057) 10/28/2009 D Angel Season 4, Episode 22: Home (2002)

It's got a much better monster and more suitable "thing from another world"  (the creepy mutant) but I'm not a big fan of THIS ISLAND EARTH either and it's almost just as dull. But then again, THIS ISLAND EARTH is nowhere hear as sacredly/absurdly praised to be a "great classic" like THE THING is (and it even got lampooned by MST3K!). Now, perhaps if Howard Hawks or Michael Curtiz had directed it, suddenly popular opinion would change....    

As for the TIS mutant wearing pants, yeah it's also absurd and unexplained, and so too are scores of other similar creatures in so many of these movies. But not all factors in movies strike me the same way, depending on the circumstances, and THIS ISLAND EARTH doesn't come off as pompously intelligent and relevant as THE THING tries to be; it's just another outerspace monster movie that's for fun.   

Well I wasn't able to beat my record of last year (33), but I was able to get in 27 movies this month. I did however beat my own record of new movies watched. Last year it was 11 and this year it was 15 new movies. I had fun as always. Good luck to those of you who managed to watch so many. I will surely be back next year to join in.

I watched Halloween and Halloween II last night but since I already watched them as part of the challenge, I won't count them again. All in all, I watched 100 movies with 7 new viewings (eventhough it was the first time I saw the extended cut of the Friday The 13th remake, I'm not going to count that as a new viewing since I had seen the theatrical cut previously).

My complete list (new viewings in bold)
1. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
2. Pandorum
3. Jaws
4. Jaws 2
5. Zombieland
6. Jaws III
7. Jaws: The Revenge
8. Grizzly
9. Day Of The Animals
10. Piranha
11. Black Christmas (1974)
12. Black Christmas (2006)
13. Prom Night (1980)
14. He Knows You're Alone
15. Terror Train
16. Maniac (1980)
17. My Bloody Valentine (1981) (uncut)
18. Eyes Of A Stranger
19. Graduation Day
20. The Burning
21. Happy Birthday To Me
22. Hell Night
23. The Prowler
24. April Fool's Day (1986)
25. Cat People (1942)
26. I Walked With A Zombie
27. The Leopard Man
28. The Seventh Victim
29. The Ghost Ship
30. The Curse Of The Cat People
31. The Body Snatcher
32. Isle Of The Dead
33. Bedlam
34. Scream
35. Scream 2
36. Scream 3
37. Night Of The Demons
38. Cabin Fever
39. Hostel (director's cut)
40. Hostel Part II (uncut)
40.5. Thanksgiving trailer
41. May
42. The Woods
43. Someone's Watching Me!
44. The Fog (1980)
45. The Thing
46. Christine
47. Prince Of Darkness
48. Body Bags
49. In The Mouth Of Madness
50. The Stepfather (2009)
51. Village Of The Damned (1995)
52. Vampires
53. Ghosts Of Mars
54. A Nightmare On Elm Street
55. A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge
56. A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
57. A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master
58. A Nightmare On Elm Street: The Dream Child
59. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare
60. Wes Craven's New Nightmare
61. The Evil Dead
62. Evil Dead II
63. From Dusk Till Dawn
64. The Hitcher (1986)
65. Creepshow
66. Creepshow 2
67. The Funhouse
68. The Blob (1958)
69. The Blob (1988)
70. The Strangers (extended)
71. Deranged (1974)
72. Saw
73. Saw II (extended)
74. Saw III (uncut)
75. Saw IV (uncut)
76. Saw V (uncut)
77. Saw VI
78. Paranormal Activity
79. The Car
80. Halloween (1978)
81. Halloween II (1981)
82. Halloween III: The Season Of The Witch
83. Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers
84. Halloween 5
85. Halloween: The Curse Of Michael Myers
86. Halloween H20
87. Halloween: Resurrection
88. Halloween (2007) (director's cut)
89. Friday The 13th (1980) (uncut)

90. Friday The 13th Part 2

91. Friday The 13th Part III
92. Friday The 13th- The Final Chapter
93. Friday The 13th- A New Beginning
94. Jason Lives: Friday The 13th Part VI
95. Friday The 13th Part VII- The New Blood
96. Friday The 13th Part VIII- Jason Takes Manhattan
97. Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday (uncut)
98. Jason X
99. Freddy Vs. Jason
100. Friday The 13th (2009) (extended)
-- Halloween (1978)
-- Halloween II (1981)

Once again, another great month of horror movies, everybody!  I made some great discoveries this year and look forward to next year.

My final list (reviews for each are back on page 2 of this thread).
FINAL 2009 Horror Movie Marathon List:
1. The Golem
2. Onibaba
3. Fire in the Sky
4. Abbot & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
5. Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer
6. Ju-On
7. The Fearless Vampire Killers
8. The Girl Next Door (2007)
9. Deep Red
10. Deadgirl
11. Frightmare
12. Zombieland
13. Paranormal Activity
14. The Nightmare Before Christmas
15. Deathdream (aka Dead of Night)
16. Trick 'r Treat
17. Mother of Tears
18. A Tale of Two Sisters
19. Dance of the Dead
20. Nightmare
21. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1931)
22. Valerie and Her Week of Wonders
23. Blacula
24. Them (aka Ils)
25. Hour of the Wolf
26. Silk
27. Phantom of the Opera (1962)
28. Blue Sunshine
29. Opera
30. Wizard of Gore
31. Daughters of Darkness
32. Fear(s) of the Dark
33. Halloween

I'm late to posting, but I managed an even 50 films this year:

First-time viewings in BOLD.

Ratings:

**** - Excellent
*** - Good
** - Fair
* - Poor
Fun Factor - an additional rating for films rated below 3 stars, where unintentional entertainment value trumps the technical and/or creative limitations of the filmmakers

1. MONSTERS VS ALIENS (2009, animated) Blu-ray ** watched on 10/1
2. FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER (1958) DVD *1/2 (Fun Factor: ***) watched on 10/7
3. THE EXORCIST: THE VERSION YOU'VE NEVER SEEN (1973) DVD ***1/2 watched on 10/9
4. THE HAUNTED HOUSE OF HORROR (1969-British) DVR ** watched on 10/10
5. DAUGHTER OF HORROR (1955) DVD *** watched on 10/10
6. MOTHRA (1961-Japanese, subtitled version) DVD *** watched on 10/10
7. HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN (1970-British) DVD **1/2 watched on 10/11
8. KONGO (1932) DVR *** watched on 10/11
9. KILL, BABY, KILL (1966-Italian) DVD *** watched on 10/11
10. THE WALKING DEAD (1936) DVD *** watched on 10/12
11. DRAG ME TO HELL (2009) Blu-Ray *** watched on 10/14
12. BLIND WOMAN'S CURSE (1970-Japanese) DVD *** watched on 10/15
13. THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY (1945)  DVD *** watched on 10/16
14. THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON (1954) DVD ***1/2 watched on 10/17
15. SHIVERS (1976-Canadian) DVD **1/2 watched on 10/18
16. TOWER OF EVIL (1972-British) DVR ** watched on 10/18
17. THE NIGHT GALLERY (1969, TV-Movie) DVD *** watched on 10/18
18. TOMB OF TORTURE (1965-Italian) DVD ** watched on 10/19
19. THE OMEN (1976) DVD *** watched on 10/20
20. THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON (1959) DVD ** (Fun Factor: **1/2) watched on 10/21
21. Documentary: SPINE-TINGLER: THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY (2007) DVD *** watched on 10/22
22. LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN (1971-Italian) DVD ** watched on 10/22
23. THEM (1954) DVD **** watched on 10/24
24. BLACK MOON (1934) DVR *** watched on 10/25
25. THE DARK (1978) DVD ** (Fun Factor: ***) watched on 10/25
26. FRANKENSTEIN (1931) DVD **** watched on 10/25
27. MY BLOOD RUNS COLD (1965) DVD-R *** watched on 10/25
28. PERFECT BLUE (1998-Japanese, animated) DVD *** watched on 10/25
29. DRACULA (1931) DVD ***1/2 watched on 10/26
30. SCREAM OF FEAR (1961-British) DVD *** watched on 10/27
31. THE BLOB (1958) DVD *** watched on 10/27
32. ANATOMY (2000-German) DVD *** watched on 10/27
33. THE BLACK CAT (1934) DVD *** watched on 10/28
34. THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935) DVD **** watched on 10/28
35. BLOODY PIT OF HORROR (1966-Italian) DVD *1/2 watched on 10/28
36. HALLOWEEN (1978) DVD ***1/2 watched on 10/29
37. HALLOWEEN II (1981) DVD *** watched on 10/30
38. THE QUATERMASS XPERIMENT (1955-British) DVD [R2] ***1/2 watched on 10/30
39. HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH (1982) DVD **1/2 watched on 10/31
40. BLACK SABBATH (1963-Italian) DVD **** watched on 10/31
41. NIGHTMARE CASTLE (1965-Italian) DVD *** watched on 10/31
42. WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) DVD **** watched on 10/31
43. ARSENIC & OLD LACE (1944) DVD **1/2 watched on 10/31
44. HORROR OF DRACULA (1958-British) DVD **** watched on 10/31
45. CURSE OF THE DEMON (1957-British) DVD **** watched on 10/31
46. THE H-MAN (1958-Japanese, dubbed version) DVD ** (Fun Factor: ***) watched on 11/1 (wee hours)
47. THE TINGLER (1959) DVD **1/2 (Fun Factor: ****) watched on 11/1 (wee hours)
48. THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD & MR. TOAD (1949, animated) DVD *** watched on 11/1 (wee hours)
49. THE WOLF MAN (1941) DVD **** watched on 11/1 (wee hours)
50. THE WITCH'S MIRROR (1960-Mexican) DVD *1/2 (Fun Factor: ***) watched on 11/1 (wee hours)

First-time viewings: 19
Greatest number of films viewed in a 24-hour period: 12 (thanks to caffeine and DST's extra hour, midnight 12/31 - 6am 11/1) -- a marathon blowout that also included:

* The Ub Iwerks "Flip the Frog" cartoon, SPOOKS (1931)
* The classic TV special, IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN (1966)
* Two Halloween-themed episodes of BEWITCHED, "Trick or Treat" (1965) and "Twitch or Treat" (1966)
* ROUTE 66: "Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing" (1962)

Happy Halloween!

Oct. 31:

Films:

Mortuary (2005)

This one looked somewhat promising from the description of it, but it turned out to be fairly bad.

Dracula (1931)

Final tally:

Films: 42 (six of these were first-time viewing)

Television episodes: 24 (ten of these were first-time viewing)

Update:

Films:

01. The Creature From the Black Lagoon (1954) 1/2
02. Burnt Offerings (1976)
03. R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (2007) 1/2
04. The Three Stooges ("We Want Our Mummy") (1939) 1/2
05. The Three Stooges ("Spook Louder") (1943)
06. The Three Stooges ("Hot Scots") (1948)
07. The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971) 1/2
08. Games (1967)
09. The Monster That Challenged the World (1957)
10. Halloweentown (1998)
11. The Screaming Skull (1958) 1/2
12. Tales of Terror (1962)
13. Halloweentown II (Kalabar's Revenge) (2001)
14. The Fly (1958)
15. Them! (1954) 1/2
16. Signs (2002) 1/2
17. Halloweentown High (2004) 1/2
18. Return To Halloweentown (2006)
19. Revenge Of the Creature (1955)
20. The Bad Seed (1956)
21. The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) 1/2
22. Mostly Ghostly: Who Let the Ghosts Out? (2008)
23. The Three Stooges ("If A Body Meets A Body") (1945)
24. The Three Stooges ("The Ghost Talks") (1949) 1/2
25. The Haunted Mansion (2003) 1/2
26. Tower of Terror (1997) 1/2
27. The Giant Gila Monster (1959) 1/2
28. The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951)
29. Frankenstein (1931)
30. House On Haunted Hill (1959)
31. The Blob (1958) 1/2
32. Return of the Fly (1959) 1/2
33. Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
34. Scooby Doo (2002) 1/2
35. I Bury the Living (1958)
36. The Hand (1960)
37. Curse of the Fly (1965) 1/2
38. The Wasp Woman (1959)
39. The Giant Leeches (1959) 1/2
40. Dr. Phibes Rises Again (1972) 1/2
41. Mortuary (2005)
42. Dracula (1931)

Television episodes:

01. The Avengers ("Castle De'ath") (1965)
02. Charmed ("From Here To Eternity") (1999)
03. Scooby Doo, Where Are You! ("A Night of Fright Is No Delight") (1969) 1/2
04. Scooby Doo, Where Are You! ("That's Snow Ghost") (1969) 1/2
05. Mr. Monk Goes Home Again (2005)
06. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
07. Dark Shadows (Episode no. 78) (1966)
08. Dark Shadows (Episode no. 79) (1966)
09. Scooby Doo, Where Are You! ("Bedlam In the Big Top") (1969) 1/2

10. Scooby Doo, Where Are You! ("Scooby-Doo, and a Mummy Too") (1969) 1/2

11. Wizards of Waverly Place ("Franken-girl") (2009)

12. The Waltons ("Ghost Story") (1974)

13. 7th Heaven ("Halloween") (1996) 1/2
14. Jonas ("The Tale of the Haunted Firehouse") (2009)
15. Charmed ("All Halliwell's Eve") (2000)
16. The Nightmare Room ("Camp Nowhere" pts. 1 and 2; "Don't Forget Me"; "Full Moon Halloween") (2002)
17. Wizards of Waverly Place ("Monster Hunter") (2009)
18. Strawberry Shortcake ("Moonlight Mysteries") (2005) 1/2
19. Dark Shadows (Original series) (episode no. 46) (1966)
20. Dark Shadows (Original series) (episode no. 47) (1966)
21. Dark Shadows (Original series) (episode no. 48) (1966) 1/2
22. Dark Shadows (Original series) (episode no. 49) (1966)
23. The Nightmare Room ("My Name Is Evil"; "Scareful What You Wish For"; "Tangled Web"; "Fear Games") (2002)
24. Zoey 101 ("Haunted House") (2005) 1/2

Well, here's my complete list. I rated the films from one to four stars on the first page of this thread. I only watched three films I've never seen before, but I love to revisit the old classics at this time of year.It was loads of fun.




1)CHAMBER OF HORRORS(1966)
2)HALLOWEEN(1978)
3)NOSFERATU(1922)
4)ED WOOD(1994)
5)DRACULA(1931)
6)DRACULA'S DAUGHTER(1936)
7)SON OF DRACULA(1943)
8)MARK OF THE VAMPIRE(1935)
9)HORROR OF DRACULA(1958)
10)BRIDES OF DRACULA(1960)
11)THE WALKING DEAD(1936)
12)RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE(1943)
13)FRANKENSTEIN(1931)
14)BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN(1935-35mm theatrical screening)
15)KING KONG(1933)
16)THE ADVENTURES OF ICHABOD AND MR. TOAD(1949)
17)THE MAN WHO LAUGHS(1928)
18)MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE(1932)
19)THE GHOUL(1933)
20)FREAKS(1932)
21)WHITE ZOMBIE(1932)
22)THE OLD DARK HOUSE(1932)
23)THE STRANGE DOOR(1951)
24)SLEEPY HOLLOW(1999)
25)WEREWOLF OF LONDON(1935)
26)THE WOLFMAN(1941)
27)NIGHT OF THE DEMON(1957)
28)THE MUMMY(1932)
29)THE MUMMY'S HAND(1940)
30)THE MUMMY'S TOMB(1942)
31)THE MUMMY'S GHOST(1944)
32)THE MUMMY'S CURSE(1944)
33)THE BLACK CAT(1934)
34)THE RAVEN(1935)
35)THE INVISIBLE RAY(1936)
36)THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA(1925)
37)THE INVISIBLE MAN(1933)
38)DRAGONWYCK(1946)
39)VAMPYR(1932)
40)ISLAND OF LOST SOULS(1932)
41)IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN(1966)
42)SON OF FRANKENSTEIN(1939)
43)THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN(1942)
44)FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN(1943)
45)HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN(1944)
46)HOUSE OF DRACULA(1945)
47)ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN(1948)

Finished up the challenge with some personal favorites and two new viewings that I caught on TV.

Prince of Darkness (1987) - John Carpenter's masterpiece about a priest enlisting the help of a college professor and his students in preventing the coming of the Anti-God. Yep, I said masterpiece. I consider this to be Carpenter's crowning achievement. In fact, it's my favorite horror film aside from the original Black Christmas. Carpenter really hit gold with the script, as it's both intelligent and thought provoking. The film is slow burning, yet intensely unnerving. The overall mood, the creepy street people, the church itself and the eerie occurences caused by the Anti-God's growing power all make for an unsettling watch. I also must make mention of the recurring dream projections via tachyons. A brilliant idea that adds an even deeper level to the film's frightening nature. The sense of hopeless isolation that Carpenter is able to convey despite the church being in L.A. is yet another impressive accomplishment in a film that never fails to impress. It's a rare case when I have not one bad thing to say about a movie, but this is one of those instances. It all works beautifully for me.

The Devonsville Terror (1983) - 300 years ago, three women suspected of being witches were executed in the small township of Devonsville. In the present day, the citizens are still fearful of a curse supposedly placed on the town as a result of the executions. When a local grocery merchant murders his barren wife, the curse is seemingly reactivated with three young women arriving in town shortly afterwards. Are they the three witches reincarnated? Ulli Lommel is not a very well respected filmmaker, and with good reason. He has churned out horrible DTV movie after horrible DTV movie. That aside, this is his best film. Not saying much, but I actually like this one quite a bit. The rural town atmosphere is so thick, you can almost smell it. It makes for perfect Halloween viewing. We also get a terrific score and an interesting story. Witch tales are among my favorite genre material, and this one puts some unique characters front and center in the form of the Devonsville residents. Walter Gibbs and the Pendletons are certainly memorable sorts, and we also get Donald Pleasance as a doctor suffering from a family curse that causes worms to eat him from the inside. As the female lead, Suzanna Love is attractive, but her acting is relatively stiff. Not a big deal though, as her character is meant to be a bit of an enigma anyway. The finale, complete with exploding and melting heads (ala Raiders of the Lost Ark), is definitely the highlight of the picture. Love it!

Panga (1991, FTV) - an American bride's sister is visiting her and her husband in South Africa. While out one afternoon, the sister disrupts a native tribe's voodoo ceremony in an attempt to keep them from sacrificing a goat. As a result, a witch doctor puts a curse on them. It isn't long before a demon from the sea is stalking the family and anyone else they know. This is also known as Curse III: Blood Sacrifice, but none of the four films in that series have anything to do with each other. While this is far from a great movie, it's certainly watchable. The African locations make for nice eye candy and we get Christopher Lee in a secondary role as a doctor who may be involved in the killings. Jenilee Harrison makes for an attractive leading lady, but her character can be rather annoying. No one else in the cast makes much of an impression, but they're all machete fodder anyway. That's right, this demon uses a machete. It's funny to note that the director's last name is Barton, also the last name of the director behind Zaat, which I watched earlier. The fish-like demon on display here reminded me of the creature from that film, only with much better effects work courtesy of Chris Walas. The score for this film is rather odd, but you can't deny that it's catchy. Speaking of odd, there's a neat sequence where a character is burned alive after he's caught spying on the main characters from a reed field. You'd have to see the scene to realize how bizarre it is.

Murders in the Zoo (1933, FTV) - Mr. Gorman hunts down exotic wildlife for a zoo back in the States. He also has an intense jealous streak when it comes to men interacting with his wife. So jealous that he's more than willing to kill any man he deems a threat, and his weapons of choice are the animals that he has access to. This is a solid 30's horror picture with a unique storyline. It also has a pretty potent mean streak for a film of it's time, one scene involving an alligator pit coming immediately to mind. Lionel Atwill has an effective screen presence as the sinister Gorman. His encounter with a python makes for a memorable scene. My main qualm with the film is a problem that plagues many pictures of the era, that being the style of comic relief that was popular back then. The Peter Yates character is pretty annoying, and we're treated to a particularly absurd scene where he pops a lion on the head. However, this is worth seeing. It's also well paced, clocking in at just a little more than an hour in length.

The Blair Witch Project (1999) - in 1994, three student filmmakers went into the woods near Burkitsville, Maryland to shoot a documentary about a legendary witch. They were never seen or heard from again, but a year later, their footage was found. This is the film I always watch last on Halloween, the traditional close to my October horror marathon. Ten years after it hit theaters, it's still the scariest film I've seen. As I was watching it earlier, my dog bumped into something in the kitchen behind me and I nearly jumped out of my skin. This thing works like a charm every time. Even when nothing is happening in the early moments, just the knowledge of what's to come is enough to rattle you to the core. At least it was for me, anyway. Different things scare different people, but I feel that there is no greater fear than that of the unknown. There have been several instances in cinema where certain films have exploited this fear to superb effect, but none have done it as effectively as this little indie. Thus, this is the perfect choice for my late night Halloween finale. A great film that gets my imagination working overtime and has me looking over my shoulder, closing the blinds and listening closely to any noises I may hear as I try getting to sleep.


This challenge has really gotten me back into the habit of reviewing movies again. I think I may revive that old horror thread and do so regularly from now on, just for kicks if nothing else.

My mistake, I thought you rated THIS ISLAND EARTH high in an old 'Track' thread, maybe it was Mario.  Whether or not you liked it, I still think you are being unduly harsh on THE THING for being one of the first of a kind (ex. "it feels like one of any number of sci-fi '50s flicks that came along after it").  That sounds like the type of thing you give a movie CREDIT for.

Also, I know how you love to be the maverick and I think you are slightly overstating the reputation of THING.  Just as an example, THIS ISLAND and THING are a mere star apart in Maltin so it's not like THE THING is unimpeachably sitting alone at the top of the heap, although clearly it is well regarded within the genre.  

You're also charging it with pomposity, but where specifically? In the execution (overlapping dialogue, smart-aleck banter, but hardly pompous) or in the story? Because story-wise I don't think it's quite as ambitious as INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, FORBIDDEN PLANET, THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN or THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, films I also think are significantly higher regarded.  

I do think you're right about the bump THING gets with the Hawks association, to some degree.  Directors reputations and filmographies only matter to a small subset of cultists, but they can set the agenda. THING is clearly a Hawks film (I'm pretty sure I read an interview with Kenneth Tobey one time where he said Hawks directed it), and perhaps without that it would just be another really good genre film like THEM! or THE FLY.       

 Hey All! Sorry to be MIA throughout the challenge. I've been watching the films, just haven't had time to write up the reviews. So here's my final tally. I didn't include the 25 times or so my son begged me to watch Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride! He's a freak for those two flicks. Chip off the old block.

1. Deadgirl
2. Zombieland
3. 30 Days of Night
4. My Name is Bruce
5. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920)
6. The Shining
7. Night of the Living Dead
8. Mysterious Intruder
9. Evil Dead 2
10. Trick R'  Treat
11. The Mummy (1932)
12. The Wolfman
13. The Machinist
14. Frankenstein (1931)
15. Halloween
16. Paranormal Activity
17. House of Usher
18. Drag Me To Hell
19. Ghostbusters
20. Boo
21. Eraserhead
22. Gremlins
23. Mulholland Drive
24. Donnie Darko
25. Vertigo
26. Sixth Sense
27. Spellbound
28. Timecrimes
29. Dracula
30. Frantic
31. Creature From The Black Lagoon
32. Dracula's Daughter
33. Dead End
34. The Omen
35. The Nightmare Before Christmas
36. Blue Velvet
37. Corpse Bride
38. The Pit and the Pendulum
39. Sleepy Hollow
40. Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman
41. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1919)
42. REC
43. Beyond the Wall of Sleep
44. Them!
45. House of the Devil
46. Shadows and Fog
47. Happy Birthday to Me
48. The Birds
49. Alien
50. Halloween (Yeah I watched it a second time. It's that damn good!)

- 15 first time viewings (not a great percentage this year)
- Best first time flicks: House of the Devil, Shadows and Fog, Paranormal Activity, Trick R' Treat
- Best revisit: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (can't get enough of this gem)
- Favorite screening: Watching Halloween on Halloween night after shooting footage for my new flick earlier that day and night. I was so pumped up after reviewing the footage we got, that it really put me in the Halloween spirit and just added to my enjoyment of watching Carpenter's masterpiece.
- Planned films I ran out of time for: Nosferatu, The Fog, Dial M for Murder, Spirits of the Dead, The Val Lewton doc, and pretty much everything TCM showed on Halloween Eve. Thank god for DVR!

Cheers,

Jason

Without him I think THE THING would have been better, but that's just me, probably literally! I like THEM! and THE FLY much more. 

With the intranets being the networking thingies they are, I can't mention what is taking my attention away from this. As soon as I can I'll list everything out with less detailed comments. Producing my write ups on each flick got too much to handle this year and now there are things happening out of my control. But I will finish it as soon as I can.


I'll reveal that I had a fun time this year with many many highlights. I ended up hitting 122 with my final film being CREEPSHOW. I got the region 2 version for this year and I really enjoyed seeing it again. The region 1 release of that was a nearly useless DVD but this one has loads of extras (which I'll check out later) and a pretty decent print too boot! The film reminds me of the best friend I ever had. I still remember a lot of my friend's comments while we were watching it when it first hit cable TV. Me and him both liked the segment with SK himself turning into a plant. That's still my favorite.

Yes, this line caught my eye as well, prompting me to post what I did above.  If nothing else, when I purchase the film, some of the royalties ought to go to Joe for his undue influence on me with regard to this film.

 

DAY EIGHTEEN:  OCTOBER 18TH

 

70. RASPUTIN THE MAD MONK.  (around 1960)  So, you think you work for a manipulating bastard?  Ha! Christopher Lee is the mad monk who gets it if he whats it...and never stops partying like it's 1899 too!  I remember this being a real fun day of movie watching and chose this Hammer production to start it off since I'd never seen it before that I remember.  The transfer quality is a bit of a disappointment compared to the other Hammers I've bought over the years. I really liked the film but it's far from my favorite Hammer.  

 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL:  8

 

71. LET'S SCARE JESSICA TO DEATH. (1971)  In the late 70s and early 80s this atmospheric, and surrealistic trip like CARNIVAL OF SOULS, used to play all the time on the weekend local movie horror show "Shock Theater" in Augusta, GA where I lived at the time.  I distinctly remember walking down the school hallway a Monday after it played and other kids were talking about watching it.  It really does get under your skin with all that creepy atmosphere it has to spare.  And there's something about that Jessica character... That actress is really good at animating her strange thoughts on her face and looking pretty despirate throughout the thing, looking like a lady who is trying not to looking like she's loony tunes.  And the interactions of her group with the strange residents of that town is wildly effective. Looks like they got some real locals and scared them up for this thing. This one leaves me feeling a certain way and, if I make careful choices, enhances the ones I watch just after it. The film looked just fine on my new equipment, which was something I was worried about.      

 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL:  9

 

The rest (from 72 to 122) are going to be quickes: 

 

72. TROLL. (mid-80s)   This Gremlins-inspired little monsters flick is one of the most fun kid b-movies of the 80s if you ask me.  The little blond girl and the small fella who plays her “little friend” make it worth watching.  Certainly, silliness to spare with this kind of thing. 

 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL:  9

 

73. THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK 2. (1990s)  I wanted a big budget monster movie that would look good on my new equipment.  I’d watched JP1 earlier in the year so I settled on the sequel.  Really looked and sounded spectacular!  Very much enjoyed.  I remember seeing this at the theater and being slightly disappointed by the storyline of a group of hunters showing up to hunt the dinos. That is rather lame.  The must hated 3^rd film in the series has a better story if you ask me.   

 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL:  9

 

74. GOTHIKA. (2000s)  I had no idea what to expect with this one.  The DVD case gives nothing away.  Hell, within a short period I was rivited!  It has some nice twists, I guess one of them but not the other.  Great stuff!  A highlight to the weekend. 

 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL:  10

 

75. BEETLEJUICE. (80s)  I got a little preoccupied about how lacking the DVD transfer was.  This is one of the films my niece and neph watched 5 or 6 times a week after we bought or recorded them on tape.  The others were Batman (Burton), Hook and House.  It reminds me of them, both now adults.  I love this little film and somehow forget about the Beetlejuice character until near when he’s to appear.  Ain’t that weird?  Brain damage?

 

HORRORTHON SUCCESS LEVEL:  8

 

DAY NINETEEN:  OCTOBER 19TH

 

76. ASYLUM. ()  This was a Monday I believe.  After the awesome weekend I had, I decided to take more chances on stuff.  I’d started this Amicus anthology in the morning and finished when I got home from work.  None of the stories are overly impressive as they are in something like Creepshow, but overall it ain’t too bad.    

 

77. DECOYS. (2000s)  Well, somebody has to watch crap like this!  I just thought it would go good on a Monday and I was right!  Terrible…but it was fun watching them attempt to make a cheap and goofy horror film with cgi and pretty alien girls and such.  But I don’t recommend anybody watch this ever ever…unless they have a group of friends who can throw a MST3K party all over this shit. 

 

78. POLTERGEIST. (1981)  Among my most favorite films of all time.  I got preoccupied on this transfer as well.  I’ll be getting the Blu Ray when I start buying those.  Also will get Twilight Zone The Movie, since it’s very close to this one as worthy of triple dipping.  I really love the film and it never gets old.  This was a great viewing...reminds me of my best friend just like Creepshow does.  I remember us watching this and then prowling the neighborhood one night looking for trouble.  God, those were the days.  The ending theme makes me tear up a little. That’s what the film means to me. 

 

79. EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS. (2000s)  This was an excellent looking DVD.  The transfer is impressive and really shows off the effects.  I felt some of the leads didn’t play it over the top enough.  That’s a great character who has the ostrich farm but I felt a better actor could have played it more to the hilt.  Arquette is also weak.  Those roles needed more energy.  Still, damn fun homage.  Had a great time watching this again. 

 

(will continue asap)

Edited by Radioman970 - 11/3/09 at 10:04am