***Official 20th Annual HTF October Scary Movie Challenge 2019*** (1 Viewer)

[Jeff Flugel]

027) 10/07/2019 Horror Express (1972)

(out of four)

Nifty British/Spanish chiller set aboard train leaving Shanghai. Scientist Christopher Lee is transporting discovered fossil that is actually still alive and eventually terrorizes the passengers. Peter Cushing is Lee's friendly rival. Lots of great ideas as the abilities of the creature are slowly revealed; good score too. Telly Savalas is over the top as Cossack who tries taking over train and seems to be acting in a different movie.

Love this movie! Will be giving it a spin later this month.

 

[Jeff Flugel]

3. In Search of...
1.16 "Dracula"
4.9 "The Abominable Snowman"
4.18 "The Ghost Ship"
5.16 "The Castle of Secrets"
Used to love this show as a kid, growing up in the '70s and early '80s. All of them are on YouTube, so I watched a handful. Each episode is pretty creepy, no matter the subject matter, what with the weird synth underscore and Leonard Nimoy's sonorous narration. They're all pretty short (21-22 minutes), so I'll count these four as one, movie-equivalent entry.

"Dracula" had some interesting background on Vlad Tepes, and the reenactments of the discovery of the Marie Celeste in "The Ghost Ship" were well done. But the most interesting one to me (as I knew virtually nothing about the story before) was the episode about Edward Leedskalnin and his Coral Castle. These shows are certainly dated in many ways (including Nimoy's pornstache and safari suits), but the best of them are still effective in creating a mood of mystery. And of course this was the granddaddy of all those ancient alien and bigfoot shows that clutter the cable airwaves today.

 

[sleroi]

10/8

Back to work for me today too, so I barely got one film watched.

18) Phantasm 2 - Blu ray ***1/2
(The ball is back!)

Mike and Reggie travel the countryside searching for the Tall man and also for a female who is psychicly linked to Mike.

The first five minutes is a great dream sequence that gives you eveeything you wanted from the first movie but didnt get: action, a look under the hoods of the dwarves, and lots of Angus Scrimm.

The rest of The film holds up too. Coscarelli really made the most of his slightly bigger budget. Great cinematography, both on the road in daylight and at night with that deep black starless sky. Making this a journey, and adding a female protaganist helped elevate this from its predecessor. But it still retains its creepy, scary vibe.

Ill have to wait until the weekend to watch the sequels, but Im curious to see how they keep the story going for three more films.

 

[Neil Middlemiss]

October 8: Halloween (1978) - 4 out of 5

(Last nights movie that I couldn't post about as I was travelling on business and didn't have my personal laptop with me )

Halloween is the story of a young boy (Michael Myers) on Halloween night, 1963, who slays his sister in a quiet suburban town of Haddonfield, Illinois. He is institutionalized only to escape 15 years later, heading back to his home town, once again on Halloween. Only Dr. Loomis, Myer’s psychiatrist, can fathom the evil that has escaped and where he is headed. Dr. Loomis arrives in Haddonfield to warn the local Sherriff and to try and put Michael Myers back where he belongs.

The Shape, the stoic, masked figure at the core of Halloween, has been haunting our Halloweens for more than 35 years, appearing in countless lesser sequels, a dispiriting remake (and its sequel), and most recently, a direct follow up that discards all of the other films, but John Carpenter’s original, masterful classic of horror remains firmly entrenched as a formative work. The independent production and remarkably modest budget were embraced by relative newcomer John Carpenter, who displays a confident directorial hand, with nods from time to time toward Hitchcock and other great directors before him, creating an atmospheric and deeply effective horror film.

I've reviewed this film a couple of times, most recently for the 4K version released last year. You can read the full review here: https://www.hometheaterforum.com/halloween-uhd-review/

 

[Neil Middlemiss]

October 9: Halloween (2018) - 3.5 out of 5 - First Time Viewing

It's been decades since Michael Myers terrorized Haddonfield, Illinois with his murderous rampage on Halloween night, 1978. While Myers has been incarcerated, Laurie Strode, the young girl that survived his attack, has suffered through failed marriages and seclusion, becoming a hermit survivalist and preparing for the day when Michael crosses her path again. That time has come as Myers has escaped and begins a rampage anew and Laurie might be the only one that can stop him.

The convoluted mythology of Michael Myers that zig-zagged through a collection of weaker and weaker sequels was completely discarded for this follow up, which only recognizes the events of the first film. That was a smart move. There may be moments and ideas that we'll miss as a result, but it was the right thing to do in the end.

The quality of this sequel, the respect it has for the original film and characters, immediately makes this the best sequel in this franchise, and the visual aesthetic is very Carpenter-esque, which, when combined with the score original composer and director John Carpenter provides (along with his son, Cody) delivers a film that feels like a true and authentic continuation of the 1978 classic. The violence is brutal and the shape stalking his victims terrifying.

Where this direct follow up falters a little is in the mix of characters that we don't really get to spend enough time with before they find themselves in the thick of things. We initially follow two documentary podcasters, then the reclusive Laurie, then her family, then Laurie's granddaughter and her friends, but its not enough to build the same effective terror the 1978 film managed. I did like that there were some surprises in where the story went, and there's some playful dialogue, too.

In the end, this has chills and blood and scares that work well making this a worthy sequel. With at least two more films planned in this continuation, it'll be interesting to see where they go from here.

 

[John Stell]

033) 10/09/2019 Scars of Dracula (1970)

1/2 (out of four)

Last of Christopher Lee's Gothic Draculas for Hammer; various young people show up at his dilapidated castle and meet with various fates. Routine for the most part but still enjoyable; Dracula is particularly vicious here and his demise is brutal.

034) 10/09/2019 Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)

Dracula is revived in 1972 and hangs out in deserted church while his acolyte brings him victims. But Dracula is really out to destroy the descendants of Van Helsing. Nice to have Peter Cushing back but this thing is hopelessly dated, with dialogue that is chuckle-worthy. Modern day vampires were better handled in The Night Stalker and the Count Yorga films.

035) 10/10/2019 Kill List (2011)

1/2

In September, USA Today ran an article listing the 50 best horror films of the 21st Century so far. This was number one. An out-of-work hit man agrees to take a job with is best mate. But there's something very strange about the victims' behavior when facing their execution. WTF-is-going-on thriller doesn't have the most likable bunch of characters but boy does it build to a love-it-or-hate it climax. I pretty much loved it, although there remain unanswered questions. Fast paced and gory; this will not be for everyone.

 

[TravisR]

Way behind (for me ) in watching and in posting.

October 2

7. Friday The 13th Part VII: The New Blood

A telekinetic girl raises Jason from his watery grave and then must stop him. A fan favorite but it's probably my least favorite of the Paramount F13 movies. Kane Hodder does make a cool Jason though.


8. Friday The 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan

Jason gets on a cruise ship bound for New York and starts killing the graduating class of the local high school. This movie has a ton of problems (the two most obvious are that the bulk of the movie is set on a boat rather than New York City and that Vancouver is the stand-in for nearly all of the parts set in the city) but it's enjoyably bad.


9. A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

A man kills teenagers in their dreams and when they die in the dream, they die in the real world. One of Wes Craven's best and there's points that are still legitimately suspenseful and scary.


10. A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge

Five years later, a teenager moves into the house on Elm Street and becomes possessed by Freddy. A lousy sequel that doesn't really follow the rules established in the first movie but at least they kept Freddy scary in this one. It also has arguably Freddy's greatest moment ("You've got the body, I've got the brains.")


11. A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

Freddy is still killing kids but a group of teens residing in a psychiatric hospital finds they can use powers that they have in their dreams to fight Freddy. The best of the traditional NOES sequels. The kids are likable so you care when they die and you want to see Freddy lose.


12. A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

A year later, Freddy returns and the dream powers of the characters from the previous movie get passed on to a quiet girl who becomes the Dream Master. This is the movie where Freddy just became a jokester. The jokes are generally funny and Robert Englund plays them great but the jokes rob the movie of suspense or scariness.


October 3

13. A Nightmare On Elm Street: The Dream Child

Another year later, Alice gets pregnant and her unborn child dreams resulting in Freddy's resurrection. They tried to pull back on the jokes and make Freddy more scary but it's not successful since the movie isn't particularly good.


14. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare

Freddy wants more teens to kill but his heretofore unmentioned child will have to stop him. Not a good movie (you know it's bad when the jokes are the most memorable bits) and unfortunately, Freddy's demise is lame.


15. Wes Craven's New Nightmare

In the real world, ANOES star Heather Langenkamp and her son fear that evil is using the form of Freddy to cross over from fantasy to kill people in our reality. Wonderful sequel and another highlight of Craven's filmography.


16. Psycho (1960)

A woman steals money from her employer and meets a young man who runs a motel and has a domineering mother. An all time classic. Out of all the great things in this movie, the score might be what I enjoy the most.


October 4

17. Psycho II

After 22 years, Norman Bates is released from a mental hospital and returns to his motel. Excellent sequel that actually pays homage to the original without ripping it off. Jerry Goldsmith had the unenviable task of creating a 'sequel' to one of the most famous scores of all time and he wisely goes his own way rather than just using the famous pieces from the original.


18. Psycho III

Shortly after the previous entry, Norman has his motel running again and Mother is killing people again. There's too much copying of the original movie in this one. It's not a bad movie (Anthony Perkins is good as always and Jeff Fahey is fun) but it copies too much from the original.


19. Psycho IV: The Beginning

Norman has been released from a mental institution (again) and he calls into a radio talk show to discuss his childhood. Solid prequel/sequel with an excellent performance from Henry Thomas as a young Norman and Olivia Hussey is also good as Mother.


I should be getting a few more movies in today.

 

[dpippel]

OCTOBER 9:

9) Daybreakers (2009) 2.5/5 stars - A worldwide plague results in most of the human population becoming vampires. As the remaining humans on Earth become more and more scarce, the vamps run "blood farms" to maximize their blood supply while working to perfect a synthetic blood substitute before it's too late. While this film has an interesting premise, it just doesn't work for a number of reasons. The cast (including Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, and Sam Neill) are fine, but the whole thing is really kind of silly. Great production values and effects work though.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

035) 10/10/2019 Kill List (2011)

1/2

In September, USA Today ran an article listing the 50 best horror films of the 21st Century so far. This was number one. An out-of-work hit man agrees to take a job with is best mate. But there's something very strange about the victims' behavior when facing their execution. WTF-is-going-on thriller doesn't have the most likable bunch of characters but boy does it build to a love-it-or-hate it climax. I pretty much loved it, although there remain unanswered questions. Fast paced and gory; this will not be for everyone.

Wow, interesting. I did not know USA Today had made that list and certainly would have never guessed that Kill List was chosen number 1. I do think it is an excellent horror film with unique ideas for characters and story and Ben Wheatley is an outstanding director. I will go have a look at USA Today's list now that you have brought it up, so thank you for that, John.

I can say that were I making a list of best horror films of the 21st Century, Kill List would certainly be on it as would Wheatley's creepy A Field in England...love the atmosphere and I think I would probably rate it higher than Kill List. They each provide a different sort of experience but are wonderfully conceived.

However, my choice for best horror film of this century is easy and to me truly stands out as a gorgeous and phantasmagorical piece of cinema and that would be Panos Cosmatos' Mandy. The "Wow factor" with this one is through the roof.

Here's the link to the USA Today list for all that are interested:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/ente...-21st-century-definitively-ranked/2194687001/

 

[John Stell]

Wow, interesting. I did not know USA Today had made that list and certainly would have never guessed that Kill List was chosen number 1. I do think it is an excellent horror film with unique ideas for characters and story and Ben Wheatley is an outstanding director. I will go have a look at USA Today's list now that you have brought it up, so thank you for that, John.

I can say that were I making a list of best horror films of the 21st Century, Kill List would certainly be on it as would Wheatley's creepy A Field in England...love the atmosphere and I think I would probably rate it higher than Kill List. They each provide a different sort of experience but are wonderfully conceived.

However, my choice for best horror film of this century is easy and to me truly stands out as a gorgeous and phantasmagorical piece of cinema and that would be Panos Cosmatos' Mandy. The "Wow factor" with this one is through the roof

I have not seen Mandy yet but have it on my list for this challenge, as I do for the other films on the list I haven't seen yet. My vote for best of the century thus far is The Wailing, which made #3.

 

[Malcolm R]

Here's the link to the USA Today list for all that are interested:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/ente...-21st-century-definitively-ranked/2194687001/

I'm not sure I trust them, as most of those that I've seen in their Top 10 I've hated (Get Out, The Babadook, It Follows, The Witch).

 

[JohnRice]

I have not seen Mandy yet but have it on my list for this challenge, as I do for the other films on the list I haven't seen yet. My vote for best of the century thus far is The Wailing, which made #3.

I definitely plan to watch Mandy this month.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

I'm not sure I trust them, as most of those that I've seen in their Top 10 I've hated (Get Out, The Babadook, It Follows, The Witch).

Well, I don't know exactly who compiled that list or what their criteria was but lists in general I just find fun to peruse. When John revealed they chose Kill List (basically a low budget British film that is probably not well known in the US) as number 1, I thought I have to take a look at this list. I actually am a long time lover of Brit Horror and feel the Brits are some of the best at it because they lean really heavy into the atmosphere which I really love and find very important in a horror picture.

I was not crazy about The Babadook either, have not seen Get Out yet (it's in my pile for this month), I enjoyed It Follows, and I loved The Witch and greatly look forward to seeing Egger's The Lighthouse.

I don't think you should really "trust" any list but just see what doors it may open.

 

[Malcolm R]

I don't think you should really "trust" any list but just see what doors it may open.

Definitely. Just a personal observation that my taste does not apparently match the person who generated that list.

 

[John Stell]

I don't think you should really "trust" any list but just see what doors it may open.

Exactly! I look at lists like this to find a gem I may have missed. I don't really worry about where they are ranked. The genre can be very divisive at times. For example, I thought Get Out and It Follows were wildly over-praised, while I loved The Babadook and liked The Witch. Others here have quite the opposite reactions. I'm really glad I saw Kill List and am looking forward to some of the others: Dark Song, Raw, Mandy, etc. I will say this about one of their choices, Goodnight, Mommy. Any horror fan worth his or her salt is going to figure this one out very early. That it made the list is mind-boggling.

There's a documentary out there called The 50 Best Horror Movies You've Never Seen which had some films I missed. Here's a link that lists the films included:

https://www.listchallenges.com/the-50-best-horror-movies-youve-never-seen

Thanks to this doc, I tracked down Splinter (2008) and had a great time with it. So I really do appreciate such lists.

 

[dpippel]

I'm not sure I trust them, as most of those that I've seen in their Top 10 I've hated (Get Out, The Babadook, It Follows, The Witch).

Wow, I've never seen It Follows, but you hate the other three? I loved them all. Personal taste and all...

 

[JohnRice]

Wow, I've never seen It Follows, but you hate the other three? I loved them all. Personal taste and all...

I don't mean to call anyone out here, but I don't understand the concept of "hating" any movie. I find that has a lot more to do with the viewer than the movie itself. I've seen all of them, and liked The Witch enough to buy it on a lightning sale. The others are all worth a revisit, IMO, but none struck me as a favorite. All are worthy movies, and far better than the standard horror fare.

 

[AshJW]

I didn’t get the chance to start my turn yet.
If I don’t get to it over the weekend I think I’ll decline my participation this year.

 

[Malcolm R]

Hate may not be the right word, though at the same time people are always throwing around "love" with regard to movies, so I'm not sure why one term is deemed acceptable and its opposite is not?

Of those four I listed, I enjoyed The Witch the best, and still actually have that blu in my collection and may revisit it in the future. I guess my thoughts on the other three were that they were blind buys, were highly praised by others, and definitely didn't live up to the hype for me. I just felt that I'd wasted a few bucks and 2 hours or so that would have been better spent watching something else.

I didn’t get the chance to start my turn yet.
If I don’t get to it over the weekend I think I’ll decline my participation this year.

Don't give up yet, Thomas. You only need 13 films to finish and there's still 21-1/2 days left.

I'm off to a fairly slow start, too.

 

[Ruz-El]

I didn’t get the chance to start my turn yet.
If I don’t get to it over the weekend I think I’ll decline my participation this year.

I wouldn't worry about it. Even if you don't hit the 13 or whatever, it's fun to see what people watch.