*** Official 14th Annual HTF October Scary Movie Challenge 2013 *** (1 Viewer)

[John Stell]

I'm guessing that S would denote streaming (Netflix, Vudu, etc.)?

That's just my own personal legend. Feel free to use it if you want and add the 'S' but there's nothing official about it as far as the challenge is concerned.

 

[Film]

First time viewings are in bold

10/01
Halloween II (1981)

TV
Tales from the Crypt 1. "And All Through the House"
Tales from the Crypt 2. "Dig That Cat...He's Real Gone"
Tales from the Crypt 3. "Collection Completed"

A couple of questions to those who have seen Halloween II several times. I may have missed it but how does Michael get in the nurses car on the way to the hospital? And Laurie, who appears to be catatonic at some point, awakens and leaves the hospital room just in time before Michael arrives. Did she already know Michael was in the hospital? Those two things bugged me and this was my first time watching it so I may have missed a few things.

 

[John Stell]

I can't edit no more.

When I was setting up the Track the Films You Watch threads I had to contact Adam Gregorich and ask to be allowed extended edit privileges in order to edit the original tracking list. You can send him a PM and see what happens. Other options are just to post a master list at the end, or keep a running list at the bottom of each post.

 

[Malcolm R]

I liked Insidious as well. Very well done, and recommendable to family and friends of all ages. I kind of wish they had come up with a different title.

In the extras on the BR, you can see on the marker board in a couple scenes that for a while it was being filmed under the title, The Astral. I think they also considered The Further. I think Insidious is better.

I kind of like the ominous, one-word titles. A number of these films have been pretty decent: Insidious, Sinister, Malevolence, Bereavement....

 

[Malcolm R]

When I was setting up the Track the Films You Watch threads I had to contact Adam Gregorich and ask to be allowed extended edit privileges in order to edit the original tracking list. You can send him a PM and see what happens. Other options are just to post a master list at the end, or keep a running list at the bottom of each post.

I sent an email to Mike Frezon on Monday, asking if we could be set up like that. He said he'd look into it, but I haven't heard back. I see John Stell is able to edit his posts at the top of the thread. Not sure if somehow it's restricted to the thread starter only?

 

[Ruz-El]

Wow, you guys are off and running! 24 hours in and I already feel like I've fallen behind and reading your reviews I think "I WANT TO WATCH THAT!!!" Ugh, this dumb challenge!

I got in two yesterday. This year finds me caring for elderly parents and part of that responsibility is watching a film with them in the evening. So I'm making them watch films this month that are not too gory. So on those I'll add my mums scare factor. You'd never think a little old white lady like my mum would act like the stereotypical black lady at the movies and shout at the screen, but she really gets into them. I'm probably taking years off their lives that I shouldn't be this month.

001 The Blob (1958) 4/5
I revisited this one via the Criterion Bluray. Top quality presentation, and the film is a heck of a lot of fun. Everyone plays it straight and while you might think an alien goo isn’t the greatest monster ever made, you are wrong. I watched this one with my elderly parents, and mum was suitably TERRIFIED, uttering a low “Oh my god!” nearly every time the Blob appeared and my favourite, "Why aren't the stupid idiots finding that dog?!?!" during the scene were Steve carries his girlfriend out of harms way in the supermarket. To hell with people, the Blob can have them, SAVE THAT CUTE DOG! Add in the great title song and this title is a total winner.
Mom Scare Factor: 4.5/5
002 Never Sleep Again : The Elm Street Legacy (2010) 5/5
Prior to the challenge I snuck in the new release “Crystal Lake Memories” a ridiculously epic documentary on all things Friday The 13th. It’s a good one, a solid 4/5. I figured I better watch this one as well so I got all 4 hours or so in yesterday. I prefer this one to the F13 one. The stories are better and less ass kissy. The uncut footage is pretty great and if you’re a fan of either series, these two documentaries are pretty much “Must See’s”. I give this one an extra star since it’s less exhausting to get through and more entertaining over all.

 

[Ruz-El]

I see I can't edit my initial post either. So Mods, get on it eh!!

 

[John Stell]

10/01
Halloween II (1981)

A couple of questions to those who have seen Halloween II several times. I may have missed it but how does Michael get in the nurses car on the way to the hospital? And Laurie, who appears to be catatonic at some point, awakens and leaves the hospital room just in time before Michael arrives. Did she already know Michael was in the hospital? Those two things bugged me and this was my first time watching it so I may have missed a few things.

I don't think Michael got in the nurse's car to get to the hospital. He overheard a police report on some wandering yokel's boombox that said Laurie was taken the hospital. This moment is set up as a "jump scare" since the radio owner bumps into Michael, accompanied by music stinger.

There's nothing to suggest Laurie knows Michael's in the hospital ahead of time. I think it was just scripted that way for convenience purposes. Or you could say it was a reaction to the drugs she was given. There really isn't a good explanation for it.

 

[Radioman970]

When I was setting up the Track the Films You Watch threads I had to contact Adam Gregorich and ask to be allowed extended edit privileges in order to edit the original tracking list. You can send him a PM and see what happens. Other options are just to post a master list at the end, or keep a running list at the bottom of each post.

thanks. Running list is a great idea. Will do.. ...I'm bad about editing over and over...


------------------------------
N=New to me

Tuesday, October 1st
Movies:
1. Creepshow 2. "The Raft" and some other stuff. Best thing to say about it is, a sequel to a classic.

TV:
1. Dark Shadows. Episode 60. (oh what, oh what will happen next..?!) "Vicki finally has that dinner she's been talking about for episodes..."
2. Dark Shadows. Episode 61. "Maggie's letter is getting less and less 'safe'"

Wednesday, October 2nd
Movies:
2. ??

TV:
3. Dark Shadows. Episode 62. (still viewing) "??"

 

[TravisR]

I don't think Michael got in the nurse's car to get to the hospital.

Yeah, Michael is seen in the rear view mirror of a nurse's car right after she arrives but he's standing in the parking lot and not in the car.

10/01
Halloween II (1981)

And Laurie, who appears to be catatonic at some point, awakens and leaves the hospital room just in time before Michael arrives. Did she already know Michael was in the hospital? Those two things bugged me and this was my first time watching it so I may have missed a few things.

I'm not sure if the idea is that she's somehow faking it to get the nurse to leave so she can get out of the room to escape Michael or that she was briefly having a reaction to the medication but recovered quickly and just in time to get away. She's afraid that Michael is already in the hospital because the power and phones have gone out and she's still probably in a panic from the events of the first movie having happened a few hours before. Like John said, it's more a script convenience than anything else.

 

[Radioman970]

Oh! Little note that eztakes is giving away a different free movie download everyday. they've been doing lots of horrors.

today is : The Asylum. Of course, most here already have the dark sky version.

http://www.eztakes.com/store/categories/Free-Movie-Downloads.jsp

 

[Suzanne.S]

Day 2:

The Unknown (1927) with Lon Chaney, Sr., Joan Crawford and Norman Kerry, directed by Tod Browning
This is not so much of a horror movie as a psychological thriller. Completely worth the time for Chaney's amazing performance.

Three more episodes of The Addams Family.

I'm attempting to only watch movies from my personal collection that I have not seen yet. I have a habit of obsessively buying movies and not having time enough to watch them all. This is a good way of taking care of that.

And, reading everyone's posts is giving me ideas for more things to seek out. I won't live long enough to see all the movies I want to see.

Running Total: 2 Movies, 4 TV Episodes

 

[Radioman970]

N=New to me

Tuesday, October 1st
Movies:
1. Creepshow 2.

TV:
1. Dark Shadows. Episode 60.
2. Dark Shadows. Episode 61. "Sam finally stops drinking long enough to talk"

Wednesday, October 2nd
Movies:
2. Seventh Sign. (1988). with Demi Boore. I mean Moore! Proud to say I made it through all seven of em! Not easy... I like Demi in the film she'd do next... We're No Angels. Then Ghost. Much better films. But this is of the "could be worse" vain.

3. The Willies. (1990) (N) If the word makes you giggle, you'll like it. It's actually strange and goofy. After a long stretch I had to finally ask myself why I was sitting there watching the kid from Salute Your Shorts play with flies. Still, if this had come out 8 or so year before it did I'd be going on and on all nostalgic about it.

 

[TravisR]

3. Psycho III

Norman Bates starts to fall for a former nun and mother isn't happy about that. The movie sure isn't as good as the first two but the new Blu-ray is pretty good.

 

[Malcolm R]

Grave Encounters​

​

Grade: B-​

Lance Preston and his crew are filming the paranormal reality series, Grave Encounters, at an old, abandoned mental hospital (of course). We're told in a brief introduction by the network producer that the footage we're about to see was obtained during the filming of episode six and that it has not been altered in any way, but only edited for time. During the "non-broadcast" footage, Preston and his crew are revealed to be skeptics and not above staging a spooky event or bribing a groundskeeper for a made-up anecdote about paranormal happenings at the facility. Through the first five episodes, they hadn't uncovered anything to change their non-believing nature. But before the seemingly endless night is over, Dr. Friedkin and the eternally tortured patients of Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital will convince them otherwise.

Another addition to the "found footage" genre of horror films. It breaks no new ground or brings anything particularly original to the table...the old, haunted asylum setting; the doctor who performed unethical experiments on its patients; the paranormal researchers making a show; etc. But there are some cool effects and pretty decent scares, though after you've seen the first apparition, it's kind of just more of the same.

We're told the asylum was built in 1893 and has been abandoned for over 50 years, but the construction looks pretty modern and the building is surprisingly clean and well-maintained for its age so the actual building they used for filming does not seem to fit the back story. I assume most of the dialogue was ad-libbed, as well, as it's mostly just the group arguing among themselves and talking over each other once the spooky happenings begin. There were some nice touches in the way they dealt with the passing of time and the space/layout of the facility, but there's not much of a payoff in the end. I went back and forth between B- and C+ for a grade, but it was an enjoyable film so I bumped it up to the higher one.

There is a sequel, which is how I actually discovered this film. I saw the sequel in Walmart yesterday with a cover design that really grabbed my attention. Hopefully it'll live up to that first impression (not really likely, but we can hope).

---

The Report Card
= First Time Viewing

[*]Insidious A
[*] Grave Encounters B-
[/list]

 

[Michael Elliott]

I Spit on Your Grave 2 (2013) * 1/2 (out of 4)

Vile, sadistic and rather repulsive film is basically just a remake of the first film, which of course was a remake of the notorious 1978 film. This time out wannabe model Katie (Jemma Dallender) answers an ad, which turns out to be the mistake of her life when three brothers kidnap, rape and torture her. Katie manages to survive the ordeal and then sets out for vengeance. I'll admit that I was a fan of the 1978 film and I thought the 2010 remake had a few interesting ideas but sadly there's really nothing that works here. The entire film remains watchable if you're into the entire rape/revenge genre but there's just no question that very little thought went into this thing. It's clear that director Steven R. Monroe just wanted to push the boundaries of taste and make the viewer squirm as much as he could. He didn't really succeed because to be honest the rape scenes aren't nearly as graphic as one would expect. Even the death scenes are all pretty forgettable with the exception of the final one, which I won't ruin here but in its uncut form it certainly crosses a line that most torture/porn flicks wouldn't dare do. What really amazes me is how stupid a lot of the picture is including an entire subplot dealing with a priest and the worst thing is that the screenwriters decided to give Katie God-awful one-liners as if we were watching some cheap action picture from the 80s. The special effects in the film aren't all that bad and if you like watching torture then there's going to be a lot of it here for you. The performances are all decent for the most part, although Dallender can't pull off enough to make the role all that memorable. That there is another problem as you simply don't care about the victim and you really don't care about her vengeance. I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE 2 is a cheap and somewhat worthless exploitation film that's trying to cash in on the success of the first one. As with a lot of sequels, any brains have been left behind and instead we're just given another version of the original but it can be skipped.

 

[Joe Karlosi]

I'm debating if I want to contribute, only because I like to save the old Universal Classics and other 30s and 40s films to watch for Halloween season each year -- but then that means I'm always writing the same old reviews every year! But I also showed a 1950s entry to a friend yesterday, so we'll see what happens ---

01) Dracula (1931) *** (of four)
-- nothing new to say except that the blu-ray release of last year has really elevated the enjoyment of this movie for me. It looks and sounds so much more appealing than ever before, and really helps it.

02) Dracula: The Spanish Version (1931) **1/2 (of four)
-- I hadn't seen this in a long time, and I was really getting mesmerized by the more interesting camera work and better usage of sets as compared to the Tod Browning film; but then when Carlos "Hilarious" appeared as Dracula, it got a bit ruined for me. He makes such a poor vampire, IMO. I still prefer the US rendition because it's got a better cast, and especially Bela Lugosi as the King Actor Of All Vampires. As "dull" as the American film is said to be, the Spanish one is just as draggy and talky, and waaayyy overlong at over 100 minutes (!!?).

03) Monster on the Campus (1955) **1/2
-- Arthur Franz is a scientist who becomes a neanderthal throwback after being exposed to the tainted blood from a prehistoric fish (that's about the best I can do for a quick synopsis). I showed this to a friend of mine at the house yesterday, as he'd seen and enjoyed "The Thing That Couldn't Die" on cable and wanted to see more '50s stuff from Universal-International. This one starts out well and has a good pace, but ultimately tapers off a bit. The monster's face is obviously a rubber mask with holes for the eyes, which can always be fun in these types of cheesy movies ... except that THIS one was starting out better than that and deserved better makeup. There are a couple of strong scenes for a '50s movie, like a woman hanged from a tree by her hair, and an axe to the head.

 

[Greg Black]

First time viewings in blood red.

Movies:

10/03 They Live (1988)


Television:

10/02 The X-Files, S03E05, The List (October 20, 1995) [60 min.]

 

[Film]

10/02
The Cabin in the Woods (2012) B

A horror movie made with no intentions of being scary, mostly intended to poke fun at the cliches in the genre. The trailer initially threw me for a loop.

First time viewings are in bold
10/01
Halloween II (1981) C
10/02
The Cabin in the Woods (2012) B
TV
Tales from the Crypt 1. "And All Through the House"
Tales from the Crypt 2. "Dig That Cat...He's Real Gone"
Tales from the Crypt 3. "Collection Completed"

 

[Neil Middlemiss]

I'm trying to watch 31 scary movies in October - Not sure that I will be able to keep up one a day, but I'm going to try.

I began with 1985s Re-Animator,which I am ashamed to say I had never seen. A real treat and watching Jeffrry Combs' unhinged but likeable character was a pleasure. (4/5)

For night two I watched The Frankenstein Theory - a found-footage tale from the makers for The Last Exorcism. It starts slow and rolls in some unconvincing characters, but once it makes it to the Arctic circle, it becomes creepy enough. Overall I was disappointed in it, but it had a few moments that worked. (2/5)

In addition to the movies, I have watched the first 5 episodes of Millennium again (Chris Carter's dark and unnerving cousin to his X-Files TV show). This show was years ahead of its time and is more polished, convincing, better performed and effective that just about anything I have seen on network television since the turn of this new century (with few exceptions). One of my all-time favourite television shows and Frank Black (Lance Henrickson) is one of the great characters.