Nightbreed (1990)

Nightbreed (1990)

Listening to one of my favorite podcasts, The Bloody Good Horror Podcast ep37, I found myself enjoying their coverage of the 1990 Clive Barker flick Nightbreed. I recommend your downloading and listening to the cast when you can, it is lively, entertaining and thoughtful -- and silly, but heh, that's what makes it fun. http://www.bloodygoodhorror.com

Now, Nightbreed isn't a movie that I remember fondly nor did it make a great impression on me. I've had the opportunity to catch again from time to time and find myself not really interested in doing so. With that said, I wasn't really interesting in listening to guys from BGH chat about it for a half hour or so -- meh. However, it turned out to be a good listen and I found myself intrigued with the movie, if just ever so slightly.

Trying to remember what I didn't care for when I first saw this film, I recall that it was all over the place and lacked a solid focus. I remember being confused by the variety of monster, none of which had much pathos to them - say like a Frankenstein. I also remember being confused by the mad Dr. Decker character played by David Cronenburg. I also remember that the lead Craig Sheffer (Boone) didn't do much for me either - I wasn't drawn into his plight. While I enjoyed the character effects and design work, the direction and story left me cold and distant.

The podcast brings this up as a common reaction to the movie at that time. Could it have been that the movie was just made at the wrong time for the audience to relate - could it have been the social climate, the state of horror or just different trends? Hmmm. Interesting.
Okay, so now I have to give it another try sometime. Yet another film to add to my TiVo wishlist. Even though the guys at Bloody Good Horror made a good case for taking another chance on this film, I would wager that it won't live up still. Benefit of the doubt however. I'll give it another try and with my mind as open as possible.

So here it is ... Nightbreed: http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/nightbreed/trailer

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

We interrupt the regularly scheduled program for jaunt to a more recently released horror movie trailer - recent as in 5 years old instead of 30 - heh. Today, let's take a look back at the 2003 release and remake of Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Last night I was talking to my son about some of the classic horror movies that have changed or inspired cinema in profound ways: Alien, Jaws, Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and Exorcist. As conversation continued we talked about remakes and the thought that they suck but then sometimes don't -- Dawn of the Dead, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Ring -- and that we are looking forward to the upcoming remake of Friday the 13th.

Then I remembered how the trailer alone for the Texas Chainsaw remake was so successful converting many doubters in about 2 minutes 10 seconds. This trailer is brilliant in its execution. It sets you up quickly with a series of introductions and events and leads you into a collection of increasingly tense moments each cut with a freeze frame, camera flash and sound. Then, the selling moment of the clip, the screen goes black and you hear Jessica Beal wimpering and then footsteps surrounding her. As you feel yourself lean into the screen itself you hear a sudden roar, the unmistakable sound of the chainsaw firing up and grinding for something to tear and rip into .... then it appears, violently, out of the darkness and the trailer picks up.

This is one of the best trailers in the past few years. With the same production team and director handling the Friday the 13th remake early next year, one can only hope, beyond hope, that it too will live up. Recently released footage from San Diego Comic Con gives all horror fans hope.

TCM 2003 was directed by Marcus Nispel and stars Jessica Beal, Jonathan Tucker, Eric Balfour and the great R. Lee Ermey.

So here it is ... Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Tales From The Crypt (1972)

Tales From The Crypt (1972)

In 1972, Amicus Productions released Tales from the Crypt directed by Freddie Francis from a screenplay by Milton Subotsky. The tag line reads "Death Lives in the Vault of Horror" which is ironic since the next film from Amicus was titled Vault of Horror.

The story follows five strangers who get lost in a crypt together and meet the Crypt Keeper. The Crypt Keeper weave tales of terror in which each stranger discovers how they will die.

The film has a wonderful cast including Joan Collins, Peter Cushing, Roy Dotrice, Richard Greene, Patrick Magee and Ralph Richardson. The movie has some classic images including Peter Cushing's character rising from the grave and, of course, Joan Collins being chased around by a sadistic evil Santa Claus. The poster also has an astounding image of a skull with an eye remaining it one of its sockets -- even if the image doesn't appear in the movie. Great stuff.

So here it is ... Tales from the Crypt

Vault of Horror (1973)

Vault of Horror (1973)

Seventies horror anthology week continues with Vault of Horror. Milton Subotsky produces again for Amicus Productions and provides the screenplay and brings in Roy Ward Baker to direct. The story has five strangers trapped in a sub-basement to discuss their recurring nightmares. These nightmares present the stories we get: Midnight Mess, vampires; The Neat Job, dismemberment; This Trick'll Kill you, mysticism; Bargain in Death, gravedigging scam; and Drawn and Quartered, voodoo powered paintings of death.

The film brings in an interesting cast: Terry Thomas, Dawn Addams, Denholm Elliot, Curt Jurgens, Tom Baker, Michael Craig, Terence Alexander, Glynis Johns, Mike Pratt and Robin Nedwell.

To here it is ... Vault of Horror

Midnight Meat Train (2008)

Midnight Meat Train (2008)

With this week’s extremely limited release of Midnight Meat Train comes some controversy with the idea that serious mainstream horror is getting ignored by the distributors. As more and more horror films are being released with PG-13 ratings, the R rated American Horror film is getting the shaft. On the internet and in the press, Midnight Meat Train has recently been getting the spotlight for a film falling into this absent-minded mindset.

So, imagine how shocked I was when I found out that this flick was playing in a local (Raleigh, NC) theater and at $1.50 no less. What? Were my eyes deceiving me? No, there it was at the local second run theater on its opening night. While I thought I was going to have to decide whether or not I was going to pluck down the bucks to see the third Mummy movie or not, I found myself scrambling to get to the theater to see Midnight Meat Train.

So going into this movie, I knew very little about it. I knew it was based on a Clive Barker book of blood and that Vinnie (Juggernaut) Jones starred as the butcher. I discovered I’d been caught up in the ‘press’ of it all instead of the movie itself. How fascinating. I was going to go see a horror film, in the theater, with little to no expectation of the movie itself – besides the bare basics on the plot and stars.

I sat in the theater around 4:30 in the afternoon with about a dozen or so fellow North Carolinians. I wondered if it was going to be subpar or just gross or just silly. Why wouldn’t they wide release the film I was about to see. I hadn’t seen the first ad on television, only the online trailer – and that was some time ago.

The film itself is shot, directed and photographed very professionally. The actors are fine, better than usual in fact. Hey, is that Brook Shields and is that the guy from Desperate Housewives? Hey, there’s Sam Raimi’s brother – again. Bradley Cooper stars as Leon a photographer who stumbles onto the mystery of missing persons cases after he shoots a Model the night she goes missing. Later he pieces together that a mysterious Butcher (Vinnie Jones) was with the Model (on the train) that night as well. From there, things go downhill for Leon as he delves deeper into solving the puzzle. His girlfriend Maya (Leslie Gibb) and best friend Jurgis (Roger Bart) get drawn in as well trying to save Leon from his self-destructive obsession. Then it gets weird – in a good way.

Vinnie Jones makes a striking figure giving this film a much needed center; he’s quiet and imposing. The director, Ryuhei Kitamura (Versus, The Messenger, Godzilla: Final Wars), guides the movie with a steady and focused pace very unlike his other films. Only a few times during the film would I recognize his trademark kinetic style such as the climatic fight scenes on the train and some of the more graphic killings – watch out Ted! For the most part the film is a surprising success.

The film is not without its flaws however. To its credit it takes it time setting up the story, giving us some glimpses into the horror we’re bound for – sometimes these glimpses are too jarring for the narrative and upset the balance. The tension that should be surrounding the Butcher isn’t quite all there either. As we’re aware he kills on the train, he is not as imposing when the film spends time following him around when he’s not on the train. Also, the last act of the film builds to what should be a fantastic reveal to the mystery of the Butcher and his train, but it stutters and only gives us a brief unrewarding look into the bigger picture. That and the fact the ending is predictable make the film fall just short of being what it really wants to be – a classic. While I certainly enjoyed the film (especially for $1.50), I fear it will be known more for the film that got the shaft on its release than a film that known for its own merits.

6 out of 10

Asylum (1972)

Asylum (1972)

This week we continue our trip through the trailers of the seventies. For me, this was a great time for horror, full of experimentation and transition. Some of my favorite sub genres of horror unfortunately were transitioning out, such as the anthology. Amicus discovered their own formula for creating a long string of hit horror anthologies begininng with Dr. Terror's House of Horrors in 1965.

Today's focus is Asylum released in 1972. This pic has a great threading plot with a young psychiatrist's first day on the job where he interviews four inmates. Those interviews give us our tales of terror. Surrounding all they flashback mayhem is the mystery of what happened to the last psychiatrist.

I remember seeing this film when it was released in the States as House of Crazies, one of the rare horror films I was able to see in the theater (it was rated PG). The idea of the disembodied creeping arm coming after its victim and the frightening (at the time) visage of the wrapped head drew me in. And it delivered.

The movie was directed by Roy Ward Baker (The Vampire Lovers, The Vault of Horror) and written by Robert Bloch (Psycho, Twighlight Zone, Night Gallery). The film stars Peter Cushing, Britt Ekland, Herbert Lom, Patrick Magee and Barry Morse.

So here it is ... Asylum

Event Horizon (1997)

Event Horizon (1997)

This week I was listening to the 42nd episode of the HorrorEtc Podcast featuring SciFi Horror. Initially, I was thinking "I don't like SciFi Horror" prefering the supernatural to the spacebound fare. However, I found myself surprised on how many SciFi Horror films I really truly love: Alien (the entire series), The Thing, The Blob (both original and remake), and all the great giant bug films of the 50's. Oh man, give me Them! any day.

One movie they focused on was Event Horizon, a movie I have seen but dismissed. I don't remember this movie making any kind of impression on me. So in the spirit of things, I thought I would revisit it, beginning here with the trailer. So give the HorrorEtc podcast a try here: http://www.horroretc.com. In the meantime, I'm going to put Event Horizon on my TiVo search list and I will get back to you with a review once I get a chance to see it.

The movie was directed by Paul W. S. Anderson (Alien Vs Predator) and written by Phillip Eisner. The movie has an impressive case featuring Laurence Fishburne (A Nightmare on Elm St. 3: Dream Warriors), Sam Neill (Jurassic Park), Kathleen Quinlan (The Hills Have Eyes 2006), Joely Richardson and Jason Isaacs.

So here it is ... Event Horizon

Gosa: Bloody Mid-Term Exam (2008)

Gosa: Bloody Mid-Term Exam (2008)

As always, Fridays at the rant are for spotlighting new and upcoming horror films. Today, we're taking a decidedly left turn from what we've covered in the past, usually USA films. Opening in early August in Korea is Gosa: Bloody Mid-Term Exam with the enticing tag line, "For every wrong answer, one student dies. Let the test begin."

With this film, the Korean summer horror market moves from the eerie teenage ghost stroy into slasher territory. The top 20 students of a high-class high school gathered for a special summer class with highly respected teacher. The test however is much different than they've ever encountered before. With each question a student's life hangs in the balance; if they answer wrong, the student dies!

So here it is ... Gosa: Bloody Mid-Term Exam