Ils (2006)

"Ills" aka."Them" is essentially the French version of the movie "The Strangers". It's all about a couple who live in a gorgeous house out in a wooded area who become the targets of a group of hooded individuals intent on inflicting harm. Both movies relish in the suspense they create and the build upon the feelings of helplessness and desolation throughout the film. In "Them", the couple are able to hurt, perhaps kill, one of their assailants before trying try to escape from the house. They eventually discover who is trying to kill them and the fact that the killers are played in a straight, non-unrealistic manner makes them come across as truly scary. 

Author's Note - French Horror

From what I’ve seen of the French horror scene, I’m thoroughly impressed! These films have such raw emotion and dare to push the level of comfort (for the audience) to the edge. The one thing I’ve noticed between the few French films I’ve seen and American movies is that the violence and gore is explained and/or justified. The reasons may not be the best but at least they’re there. These movies know what they want to do; tell a story and push the limits and intensity of each scene by having the characters suffer through such extreme situations. The film “Martyrs”, which I’ve already reviewed, is a great example and the version I rented began with the director of the film both apologizing for his work as well as thanking the viewer for watching. He was very sincere and but knew exactly what he had created, a movie that some (or a lot) of people were not going to be able to watch from beginning to end. 

A taste of things to come.....

"Sheitan"

"Haute Tension"

" À l'intérieur"

"Mutants"

Sheitan (2006)

"Sheitan" is the word for Devil in Arabic and is a reoccurring theme for this movie. First there is the opening scene with a DJ that goes by the name Sheitan and then later on there is a rapper (or perhaps it's the DJ again) with the same name. And then during a dinner conversation, the topic is discussed after the rapper's name is mentioned. Overall, it's an odd movie that appears to be uneven on purpose with a cast of characters that seem odd and discerning, a is set out in the countryside. Oh how the French love to set there horror out in the country!

Three friends are out at a club enjoying the night. Thai meets a cute girl on the dance floor named Eve, Ladj has a girlfriend but is busy talking to another cute girl, and Bart gets kicked out for being drunk and starting a fight. Once outside, everyone decides to go to Eve's house for the night. It takes all night to get there because she lives out on the country. When they get there they meet Joseph, the house keeper. He is a large and imposing man and quickly begins tormenting Bart like a big brother would. At Joseph's insistence, the group of friends go to the town's hot spring where they are joined by some locals who don't mind jumping in naked. Again Bart is picked on and is clearly not having a fun time. Back at the house, the group is having dinner and talking about why they aren't with their loved ones on Christmas Eve. This spurs a conversation about the Devil and Joseph shares a story about a man who wanted to be invincible and ended up sleeping with his sister, making her become pregnant and having to offer the Devil a gift in return. This creeps everyone out but not enough to go home or stop flirting with each other. But as the clock ticks closer to midnight, the oddities continue until all Hell breaks loose and Bart has a very, very bad time. 

Child's Play (1988)

One of my favorite movies about casting spells, besides "Lord of Illusions" which I've already talked about a few months ago, is "Child's Play". Yes, I'm serious; most people would never connect this movie with the theme of spells but that's how Charles Ray Lee's soul got trapped within a plastic doll, by using evil witchdoctor voodoo magic! This movie is clever and thrilling and doesn't have any of the dumb jokes or attempts at lame puns that were rampant in the sequels. I wish I had been able to see this movie without knowing anything about it or about Chucky because I would love to see if there is any real suspense in trying to figure out if the young boy Andy or Chucky is the real killer.

All Andy wants for his birthday is one of the extremely popular “Good Guy” dolls for his very own. He’s a lonely kid and his single mother Karen tries her best to be there for him and is heartbroken that she can’t afford the gift he wants. Her best friend finds a homeless guy behind their retail store that has one and Karen buys it from him. Unfortunately this doll has been possessed by the fugitive serial killer Charles Lee Ray, who transferred his soul into the doll after he was fatally shot by the police detective that was chasing him one night. Charles, now going by the name Chucky, befriends young Andy and begins to frame the child for his murderous deeds. Just because you’re a doll doesn’t mean that you have to give up your hobbies or let loose ends get out of hand. When Chucky learns that he has a limited amount of time to find a new host or else be trapped in the doll forever, he sets his sights on Andy; unfortunately the police detective and Karen are going to do everything they can to keep that from happening.

Favorite moment – I love the point-of-view camera moments when Chucky is running around. It’s close to the ground and gives the right feeling to what Chucky sees and how fast the little guy can go!

I’m also super impressed by how well the animatronics for Chucky are. This movie was made in the golden age before CGI and how they made his face move when he spoke is awesome. 

The Mother of Tears (2007)

“Mother of Tears” is one of Dario Argento’s more recent works and is the third chapter of his “Three Mothers” trilogy that includes “Suspiria” and “Inferno”. It’s an interesting film with a great premise but you know that you are watching a very Italian horror movie; not that there’s anything wrong with that but it should be kept in mind if you’re thinking about renting this or watching it online. It stars Asia Argento who has a very uneven performance, and the movie includes a brief scene with Udo Kier as a priest who tries to help Asia’s character with some vital piece of information. The film is beautiful to watch, doesn’t include a soundtrack by the band Goblin, and has a type of monkey that heralds certain doom.

When an urn from the 1500’s is unearthed during a construction project, an ancient evil is unleashed within the city of Rome. Mater Lachrymarum is the last surviving of the “Three Mothers”, three timeless sisters who perform dark magic, and once the urn is opened, she and her helpers descend onto Rome to retrieve the items within which includes a cloak that increases her powers dramatically. With the cloak in her possession, the people of Rome become violent and begin a rash of murders, destruction and suicide. Sarah Mandy helped open the urn and saw her boss killed by Marta Lachrymarum demon servants. Now Sarah is on the run trying to solve the mystery of Marta Lachrymarum while discovering that her own mother was a white witch who is contacting her from beyond the grave (WAY TOO MUCH like Obi Wan talking to Luke after he died!!!!!). The movie ends with a showdown between Sarah the White Witch and Marta Lachrymarum, the Mother of Tears.  DUN DUN DUNNNNNNN!

Malefique (2002)

“Malefique” is a French horror film about four men locked in a prison cell together who find a spell book that could possibly help them escape. This movie feels like it had a very low budget due to the film quality and lighting but the acting from the four principal characters more than makes up for that. It’s not a great movie but it keeps the viewer engaged and has an interesting storyline. It feels like it was written by someone who is big fan of H.P Lovecraft or even early Clive Barker because it most definitely has that kind of vibe. My main complete about watching this film was trying to get the damn DVD to play the movie in French with English subtitles; the first several attempts ended up with an English soundtrack and subtitles. I have never encountered such a reluctant DVD menu before!

The film opens with the Charles Danvers, a convict who has collected and written down various spells in his diary and is attempting to escape from his prison cell. The spell must have worked because he is never seen again and his name becomes almost legendary within the prison. Flash forward to today and the movie now focuses on Carrere who is serving time for a multi-million dollar fraud scheme. Unknown to him, his wife turned him in and divorces him while in prison, taking over his company and keeping their son to herself. In the prison cell, Carrere meets his new roommates. There is Marcus, a cross dressing violent man who looks like a French version of Meat Loaf’s character from “Fight Club”. Then there is Lassalle, a quiet intellectual who allows Marcus to violate him in order to keep the peace within the cell. Finally, there is Paquerette, a mentally challenged man who cannot stop eating things; in fact, he ate his little sister and that is why he is here in prison. The three men are all accused and convicted of murder, so Carrere tries to be careful while trying to include himself into their world after he learns that he isn’t going to be getting out nearly as soon as he had first hoped. It’s Carrere who first finds Charles’ book and recites a spell without realizing what he’s doing. With encouragement from Lassalle, the group tries a few spells in hopes of finding the one that Charles used to escape. When Paquerette  tries to eat the book, it strikes back at him, killing him in gruesome fashion. Marcus is outraged by this but Lasselle calms him down enough for the three to keep trying. When attempt after attempt fail, Marcus throws the book out the window, only for their new fourth roommate to come in with the same exact book in his possession. There is no doubt that the book has plans for the men and they explore that path is far as they can go.

The Wicker Man (1973)

Ritual sacrifice seems to be required for a variety of spells with various outcomes including the power of invisibility and to ascend into another plane of existence and to become immortal. In “The Wicker Man” the sacrifice is required to complete a spell of appeasement to the cult’s pagan gods in hopes of having a rich and abundant crop that year. “The Wicker Man” is highly acclaimed and is still held in high regard since premiering forty years ago in 1973. I found the film drab and uninteresting; this might be because several “events” in the film are no longer considered taboo in this day and age. I will say that the ending is effective and is the reason to watch this film.

Detective Neil Howie flies out to a remote island in Scotland to follow up on a missing persons report. He is there looking for a young girl but as he conducts his investigation it seems that no one, including the girl’s own mother, knows who she is. As Detective Howie interviews various members of the town, he is shocked time and time again by the public and frequent displays of Pagan practices around the town. He is a devout Christian and everything he sees goes against his moral fiber and standing. Detective Howie eventually finds a lead in his case but it into trouble with the island’s Lord Summerisle and the results are not in Detective Howie’s favor…

Penumbra (2011)

“Penumbra” is another horror film that focuses on the actions of a cult and the outsider that unwittingly becomes involved. What make this a great movie is the well-developed main character, Marga, and the experiences that she has over several hours. She is a fierce lawyer from Barcelona who is in Buenos Aires to rent an apartment that she and her sister own. She hates being outside of Spain, thinks she’s better than everyone else (including her coworkers and sister) and she makes sure that everyone knows this. It’s this arrogance, and an odd confrontation, that leads her to her ultimate downfall and in a situation that she could never have imagined. Although the film has several long scenes that feel like they don’t belong or that they’re advancing the story, everything comes together as the sense of a creeping paranoia takes hold and grows up to the big reveal. Paranoia is a difficult feeling to capture on film and I feel that this movie does an excellent job of doing so.

Marga is in Buenos Aires to rent an apartment that she and her sister own. Her sister hates dealing with people so Marga has to make time out of her busy schedule to meet with the realtor and close the deal. She goes into the building and finds a man standing outside the door. She assumes he’s the realtor and when asked, he says yes. They go inside and she shows him around. Marga is about ready to leave since he doesn’t have any paperwork with him but he tells her that his client is willing to pay four times the asked amount and that the paperwork is on its way. With the temptation of a large payout, Marga stays and places a few rude calls to her office to cancel her afternoon meeting. As the time goes by and Marga performs tedious tasks like cleaning and running to a store to buy supplies, more individuals show up claiming to be from the real estate agency. Eventually she realizes that they’re not with any real estate agency and when she tries to get help from those she’s insulted or put off, she becomes a hostage to a cult that wants her apartment, a place where unique drawings and instructions are painted on the walls that were covered up by wall paper and furniture that are required for a special ritual that can only be performed today during the total eclipse of the sun….

Borderland (2007)

"Borderland" mixes a Mexican drug gang,  human sacrifice, American tourists, and Sean Austin as a convincing murderous cult member into a thrilling horror film. It's about three friends enjoying a weekend of booze and loose women before moving on with their lives. When one of them is kidnapped for use in a Santeria ritual that is supposed to grant the cult members the power of invisibility, the two other friends do what they can to save him. With the help of a bartender and a former cop whose partner was brutally murdered by members of the cult, they break into the drug lord's compound moments too late. Retribution on both sides is sought and leads to a bloody, violent climax. This movie is one of After Dark Horrorfest's 8 Films to Die For.

The Woods (2006)

Let’s start SPELL WEEK off right with a movie that is about witches and the evil things they do. “The Woods” is a wonderful example of a movie about a small coven of witches that are hiding in plain sight, waiting for the right moment, and the right girl, in order to complete the ritual that they have been preparing for, for all so long. It has a cast of then up-and-coming actors including Agnes Bruckner and Rachel Nichols, as well horror movie favorite Bruce Campbell.

Heather is a teenage with anger issues towards her mother. After acting out, by burning down part of their home, Heather’s parents send her off to a girls’ boarding school in the middle of the woods. The dean, Mrs. Traverse, allows Heather to join the school after she completes a test that contains occult symbols and meanings. Unknown to Heather, she is being groomed by Mrs. Traverse and the other teachers for a particular magical ritual that they want to complete. Meanwhile, Heather is being bullied by some of the other girls at the school and ends up befriending Marcy, another girl who is being groomed because she posses special powers of her. As Heather continues to lash out at her tormentors and instructors, she comes to realize that some girls have gone missing and the local authorities are under the sway of the school’s staff. Even when her parents come to take her back home, the powers of the coven prevent them from getting very far. The climax reveals the dark secrets of the woods and how it’s history is having a direct influence on the school and those within. 

Author's Note - Spells

When you stop to think about it, there are plenty of great horror movies that are about spells. Maybe it’s a single spell that really gets the story moving forward or perhaps the movie is all about preparing for the ritual. The great thing is that not all movies that have spells in them are about witches; this is great because so many witch movies feel the same and that’s one reason why I’m not writing a theme week about them. I want to keep this week full of variety and surprising choices. And chances are that I'm going to discover several great movies with spells in the weeks following this topic....yay! 

30 Days of Night (2007)

One of my all-time favorite vampire movies, “30 Days of Night” is a great example of how far removed vampires can be from being the stereotypical hopeless romantic archetype that had become so popular since the 1990’s. These vampires are ruthless predators that speak only when necessary. They have evolved, or perhaps devolved, into killing machines that treat people as nothing more than livestock. I love movies that take place in environments with snow, so an Alaskan village that is without daylight for thirty days is perfect for me. I also enjoyed the cast and I wish that Josh Harnett was in more films like this. Melissa George (Amityville Horror) is also a great casting choice as Eben’s ex-wife.

Eben Olsen is the sheriff of Barlow, Alaska, a town that experiences thirty days of night once a year. As the town is quickly getting ready to leave or preparing to stay for the month long event, a mysterious ship approaches the town and single row boat comes forth from the vessel. This stranger is up to no good as he kills the sled dogs and destroys the communication tower before going into a dinner where he is arrested after making threats. Eben takes him to the police station and locks him up but the stranger just mocks them and talks about their coming doom. The “doom” comes quickly after sundown when a mob of vampires, who were waiting within the ship, come to town and begin a bloody rampage and feeding frenzy. Eben and several others, including his brother and ex-wife Stella, survive the initial onslaught and take refuge in an abandoned house with a secret attic. After barely living through the first endless night, the group has to try and stay alive for the next month until the sun rises once more.

Favorite moment – the scene when Eben kills his first vampire, a newly turned local, at a swing set behind some houses. This scene is purely beautiful; the use of silence as the snow falls and the almost stark black and white scenery is stunning.

Lost Boys (1987)

"Lost Boys" is one of the best vampire movies of all time and is easily the number one vampire film from the 80's. It has an amazing cast, a storyline that is constantly raising the stakes (no pun intended) for its characters; characters that you actually care for. The film has some thrilling moments, knows and uses vampire lore and mythos expertly, and even though the movie is obviously from the mid 1980’s it still feels almost timeless (except for the rock band on the beach, but we can overlook that). This is the movie that really launched Kiefer Sutherland’s career as well as being the first movie to feature both Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. Edward Herrmann and Dianne Wiest help round out the stellar cast.

Michael, Sam, and their recently divorced mother Lucy move in with their grandfather who lives in Santa Carla, California. The boys quickly get a feel for the beach side scene with Sam making “friends” with the Frog Brothers while Michael meets a cute girl named Star. Unfortunately Star is already with David but that doesn’t stop Michael from trying to win her from him. One thing leads to another and before he knows what’s happening, Michael has been inducted into David’s gang….of vampires. Sam realizes what has happened to Michael before Michael even knows, and with the help of the Frog Brothers, Sam and Michael go on the hunt to cure Michael before he turns completely into one of the undead.

Near Dark (1987)

“Near Dark” is a decent horror film that came out during the resurgence of serious vampires movies. It may have had a better run in the box office if it hadn’t been released just three months after the super fun movie “Lost Boys” in 1987. The cast of vampires in “Near Dark” include the always charismatic Lance Henricksen, Jenette  Goldstein, and Bill Paxton, who was cast as the sadistic Severen; I should point out that these three actors had major roles in “Aliens” and that the directors of these two films, Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron, would eventually be married…for two years. With these great casting choices, I’m thoroughly confused why such an untalented unknown was cast in the lead role as Caleb. This actor had very little presence and wasn’t convincing in his part.

I personally feel that there should never be a cure for someone after they become a vampire, but if it must happen then it should be the one that Bram Stroker originally gave, which is to kill the lead vampire; this might cure you but it still leaves you pretty messed up for the rest of your life. I thought the cure in “Daybreakers” was cheesy and I downright do not like the cure in this movie; a simple blood transfusion! How does a complete blood transfusion cleanse your body from that state, and how did a veterinarian have enough human blood to make this transfusion…twice??

The other thing that really bothered me about this film is that the vampires healed from their burn marks way too quickly or the film crew’s make-up department was really lazy. If being exposed to sunlight for 90 seconds causes to explode, then I would imagine that the burn marks you receive after being hit in the face directly by middle-of-the-day sunlight might take more than a few hours to heal up. Am I wrong? This small detailed bothered me a few times throughout this movie.

Caleb is a young guy who meets a young vampire girl named Mae. He offers to drive her home and on the way we see that Caleb is just a horny boy who cannot take a hint that Mae is not interested. As dawn quickly approaches, Mae wants Caleb to get her home but he gets creepy by stopping the truck and hiding the keys, telling her that she has to kiss him first. She does so, for a while, before she gives him a bite on the neck and then jumps out of the vehicle to run the FOUR miles that she said her place was.

• -          Why did she bite him? Was it out of hunger? Was it as a punishment? Did she just have pointy teeth at the moment and it was just an accident?
• -          Why and how did she run four miles and not burn up? She was a full blown vampire and it looked awfully bright to me.

Caleb is now a vampire and begins to smolder as he walks home. He’s almost home, close enough that his sister and dad can see him all smoky. Then all of a sudden an RV comes racing through the field and grabs Caleb before racing away. It’s Mae and her “family” of nomadic vampires that travel back and forth along the southern US killing and burning stolen vehicles and truck stops.

• -          Why did they come and grab Caleb? Was it because they don’t leave any witnesses behind? Only Mae knew that he had been bit and none of them claimed to have had a slow night and needed a snack before getting some sleep.
• -          Why do vampires like the south? Do they like warm nights? Is it because the truck stops and rest stops are frequent and not very busy? At least Jesse, their leader, tells Caleb that he fought for the South during the Civil War.

No one is happy that Caleb is a vampire. Homer, the little boy who turned Mae is pissed off, Jesse just wants Caleb to prove himself, and Severen just wants to kill him. Caleb fails to impress the crew at a truck stop killing spree but redeems himself during a shootout with police in the morning. But just as things are looking up for the vampires, Caleb’s sister and dad find them at the hotel that they’re at. Caleb and his real family run out into the morning sunlight (the sun rise really quickly in less than two minutes!) and goes home for a good old fashioned blood transfusion in the barn. And BOOM, he’s normal again. But now he has to deal with four angry vampires who want to kill him and explain to Mae as to why he chose dad and sister over her.

Southern Gothic

The vampires in “Southern Gothic” are nothing more than the worse Southern stereotypes that are poorly acted out. The inexcusable dialogue that William Forsythe was given and his rendition as a backwoods preacher who has an addicted to strippers is downright insulting. The lead character, Hazel Fortune, is a decent character that the audience might care for if only he wasn’t in such a dull movie with a plot that never shifted out of first gear. I did not enjoy this film (as you can tell) and the technical flaws like the lighting a sound are more than enough nails in this coffin to convince me to find another movie to watch and wash away the bad taste of this film.  

Daybreakers (2009)

“Daybreakers” was a great idea that turned into an ok movie. While it has some “meh” moments in the plot such as how Willem Dafoe’s character is cured from his vampirism, I do appreciate the side effects of what happens to a vampire when they don’t drink fresh human blood after a while. Turning into an animalistic killing machine is pretty cool and makes sense in addition to being awesome to watch and a great motivator to solve the vampire society’s most pressing issue. Besides some weak story choices, “Daybreakers” does offer a cast of known actors such as Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill, and Willem Dafoe to keep us entertained.

In 2019, most everyone has become a vampire and the human blood supply is quickly running out. If you don’t drink your blood, you’ll eventually turn into a mindless beast that kills anything and everything you see, so the vampire boss types want to find a cure as quickly as possible. Edward is a scientist who is working on finding a cure but falls into the wrong crowd, normal humans, and finds a cure that he was not expecting. Now cured but human, Edward is in a world of trouble and is being hunted down by his boss because becoming human and losing your vampire powers was not the objective!

Favorite moment – Sam Neill being creepy as the vampire boss, trying to have as much fun with the role as he can.

"I can be a vampire and look all pensive like Brad Pitt too!"

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

There’s no doubt that the vampires in “From Dusk Till Dawn” are not your lovey dovey type of bloodsucker; they exist to drink your blood and steal your stuff. This movie presents the perfect situation for several dozen vampires to together and feed while enjoying some great tunes from the undead band. The foul beasts give the wicked Gecko Brother’s a run for the honor of being the most vile and it looks like an even race until Seth kills his baby brother (who’s been turned) and works with the family that he had taken hostage earlier in the film. So the vampires win the honor and prove that vampires can be downright nasty. 

The screenplay was written by Quentin Tarantino who also served as a co-producer and starred as the sick Gecko Brother Richard. The film also boosts a talented cast led by George Clooney and Harvey Keitel, along with Juliette Lewis, Tom Savini, Cheech Marin, and Salma Hayek. Oh, and it was directed by the one and only Robert Rodriguez!

"From Dusk Till Dawn" is about the Gecko Brothers, Seth and Richard, who are racing towards the Mexican border after committing a bank robbery and leaving several people dead in its wake. Things go from bad to worse for the brothers when Richard gives into his violent/perveted tendancies by raping and killing their hostage. With the Law closing in, Seth and Richard kidnap a family of three with consists of a pastor who has lost his faith and his two children. By gunpoint, Jacob (the father) takes the group across the border and to a truck stop where Seth has set up a meeting with a man name Carlos. They decide to spend their time waiting for Carlos inside the truck stop/strip club called "The Titty Twister". And once inside they quickly realize that they may have made the wrong decision after finding out that the truck stop is a front for a nest of sadistic, hungry vampires.

Favorite character - Tom Savini as Sex Machine. Enough said! I love (most) chances to see him on stage as well as his famous make-up creations!

Dracula (1931)

“Dracula” is an amazing film that has truly earned any and all accolades that it has been given over the years. This classic captures some, but not all, of the magic from Bram Stroker’s novel about a vampire that wants to feast upon the teeming “millions” of London. There is nothing romantic about this vampire that is portrayed by Bela Lugosi, he is cunning and deadly and is only polite when he needs to be. He is a monster to be reckoned with, but I must admit that I was not aware that Renfield was so creepy in this version. This was the first time I’ve watched this film since I was really young and now I’m thrilled that I’ve rediscovered a classic. In my opinion, what makes this film really frightening is the lack of a soundtrack; this small detail heightens the jerky movements of Lugosi and the silent motions of the vampire “sisters”.

If you haven’t seen this version or read the book….then shame on you!

Author's Note - Vampires, the Beast

Vampires are one of Hollywood’s favorite horror monsters and this statement is proved true merely by looking at all of the titles that have come out over the past few decades. Why? Because vampires are so powerful and versatile. They’re strong, sexy, commanding, and deadly. They can be the villain or the hero of any story. And they are the monster that we can empathize with and understand the most. But I like to look at the movies in two distinct categories. On one hand you have the sexy, tortured souls that have been made popular by films like “Interview with the Vampire” and “Bram Stroker’s Dracula”. These seem to be the style of vampire that is popular with movie goers. But on the other hand you have the vicious, deadly, blood sucking nasties that we know from such films like “Lost Boys” and “From Dusk till Dawn”, and these are the kind that I want to explore and talk about this week. Beginning with the most famous Universal Monster of all, the timeless film “Dracula”!

The Devil's Advocate (1997)

Al Pacino as the Devil? Yes Please! In a role that allows him to be deadly serious and yet cheesy as Hell (pardon the pun) at parts, “The Devil’s Advocate” is the perfect film for him and the amazing cast that includes Charlize Theron, Craig T. Nelson, Jeffrey Jones, Delroy Lindo, and Keanu Reeves. I consider this film a guilty pleasure because it does have an uneven Keanu Reeves performance as the main character but I’m able to overlook this because Pacino and Theron are so freaking amazing. I really enjoy the story, the special effects, and the quick flow of the final act. And for once the results of the final confrontation with the Devil are not an all or nothing/the end of the world as we know it type of situation.

Kevin Lomax is a defense attorney in Gainesville, Florida who has never lost a case. At times his clients include people who have done some very bad, very despicable acts that he knows that they are guilty of, but his job is to prove that they are innocent and he refuses to lose. His stunning record attracts the attention of a New York City law firm who ultimately hires and relocates him and his wife Mary Ann. Kevin’s abilities are tested with various tasks including picking a jury and defending a voodoo priest before he is given a high profile case defending a billionaire who is accused of murdering his wife, one of his children, and a maid. As Kevin spends more time with the firm’s lead partner, John Milton, and working on the murder case, Mary Ann begins a horrifying descent into madness, seeing visions of demons and a baby holding her bloody uterus. Kevin only begins to realize that something strange is going on when the office manager, Eddie Barzoon, is murdered by two homeless men/demons while running through Central Park and the sudden death of a U.S Attorney asking about John Milton. When Kevin finds Mary Ann covered in deep cuts and naked in a church and then learns that Milton is responsible, Kevin confronts his boss and learns exactly what he has gotten himself and his loved ones involved with.

Favorite moment – “favorite” is not the correct word to use here, but the most intense scene in the movie is when Mary Ann kills herself in the mental ward, unable to deal or live with what has happened to her. 

Demon Knight (1995)

“Demon Knight” was the first official movie presented by “Tales From the Crypt” and features Billy Zane as the demonic Collector and a cast of B-actors from other beloved movies…like “Gremlins”! This is the kind of movie that you can’t take seriously and is meant to be watched just for the fun of it. It is a product of “Tales From the Crypt” after all, even if it wasn’t originally meant to be as such.

“Demon Knight” is about a drifter who finds himself trapped inside an old church that has been converted into a boarding house for the down-on –their-luck types. He’s trapped because he has been being chased by a demonic agent known as the Collector and all the Collector wants is the 7^th and final mystical key that is needed for demon-kind to take over the world. The drifter, Brayker, has been protecting the key since World War One, when he was first given the duty as its protector. But tonight is the night that the Collector and Brayker have their final showdown and the poor people trapped inside slowly become casualties or pawns in this ancient game.

Devil (2010)

“Devil” is a movie that could have been so much more than it turned out to be. I feel the largest distraction in the film is the character Ramirez, a security guard who opens the film with a voice over about how his mother would tell him stories about the Devil, and then he proceeds to tell anyone who listens that what’s happening in the plot is just like those stories. The next failing point about this movie is its lack of real scares; there are a few moments but the great concept isn’t used or explored to its full potential. And finally, the Devil that we see in this film lacks the presence or feeling of evil that we have come to expect from such a character. Overall, this movie is ok the first time through but is a burden to watch again.

Five strangers become trapped inside an elevator within an office building. When one of them is viciously murdered while the lights are out, a pair of police detectives jump into action, having already been at the building following up on a suicide the occurred earlier that morning. They realize that they only know who four out of the five people are (they signed a form before getting on the elevator), so this adds to the mystery of who’s who. People continue to die until there is just one victim and the Devil itself. The end.

The Prophecy (1995)

For me, “The Prophecy” is a film of highs and lows and the inability to find a consistent rhythm. I felt teased at how little screen time Eric Stoltz had and what he did during those few moments. His role started out strong but faltered. After he died and Christopher Walken became the focal point, the movie felt ok but had an annoying lack of definition; my main complaint is how did Simon (Eric Stoltz) know that Arnold Hawthorne was the soul that Gabriel (Christopher Walken) needed? But then all of a sudden Lucifer appears (Viggo Mortensen) and gives one of the best “I’m the Devil and this is what I want” speeches that I’ve ever seen. His slow, refined delivery and his complete presence were perfect for that character and moment. In the next scene we see Gaberiel with his new minion Rachel, a scene that seems more comical (although very dark) than trying to keep the suspenseful vibe that just took place. Overall, it’s a fun movie filled with big name stars (or people still coming up), half of which went “Pulp Fiction” to this film.

Ok, is it just me or did Elias Koteas come across as Bill Paxton’s doppelganger in this film? I swear you could have replaced one with the other and no one would have noticed.

“The Prophecy” is all about the angels in Heaven having a second war amongst each other over the idea that God loves humans more than angels because humans have souls. The war is not about over throwing God so I’m not sure what would happen if the angels who feel that they were second place would do if they won; I guess that is covered in one of the many sequels that followed. Anyway, Gaberil wants to find the darkest soul on Earth and recruit it to join his army of unloved angels. Simon, an angel who’s ok being second best, comes to earth and finds the soul and eats it. Simon goes to the town where the evil soul lived and hides it in a young girl. The girl’s teacher and a cop who almost became a priest are left trying to fend off Gabriel and his brought-back-from-the-dead minions. 

Sinister (2012)

"Sinister" was my favorite horror movie that I saw in the theaters last year. I was hooked and enthralled from the very beginning and up to the last 15 or so minutes. When the big reveal came as to why and not who the killer was, I was sadly disappointed. I was really hoping for any other reason than for the one that was given. In my opinion a secret cult would have been the most awesome explanation. But when I noticed that the dates of the murders were at times too close for a mentor/victim relationship to occur, I knew that my hopes were dashed. But this is still an awesome movie with its storyline, spooky home movies, and decent cast. 

Ellison Oswalt is a true crime novelist who is struggling to write his next big hit. He moves his family into the house where a gruesome murder took place and doesn't tell his wife about it. He soon finds a box full of Super 8 home movies that contain graphic murder scenes including the one that happened at his new home. He becomes obsessed with finding out who filmed the movies, hoping that he can solve the murders and gain the fame (and fortune) that would come from it. Unfortunately it only leads him and his family further down a dark and dangerous.

Favorite moment - there is a scene that was very beautiful in the way that it was timed. Ellison (played by Ethan Hawke) is walking through his house, surrounded by the ghost/spirits of children. They move out of his sight just at the right time, running around him and simply being creepy.

Insidious (2011)

I felt that the movie “Insidious” offered a unique and refreshing look into the theme of possession and other worldly spirits. This is the only film that I can think of offhand that involves astral projection and the way that it’s used here is pretty clever. Like Carol Ann from “Poltergeist”, young Dalton is a beacon to lonely ghosts and a rather dangerous demon that wants to possess the child and cause havoc in the real world. The difference here is that Dalton has the ability to astral project his conciseness while he sleeps and he does this often enough that he gets “lost” and is kept hostage by the evil spirits until they can control his body. Only his father Josh can save him because like his son, he can project himself as well and by doing so, he must face the dangers that he has fought since his own childhood. To say anything more would ruin the movie!

“Insidious” was created by the same team that started the “Saw” series; written by Leigh Whannel and directed by James Wan. They took a different path, making a film that was PG-13. The movie is still has their sense of intelligence and smart use of effects to tell this creepy demon/ghost story that keeps the viewer entertained and engaged.

Wishmaster (1997)

"Wishmaster" is a perfect example of a movie about a dangerous and deadly demon, specifically a demon known as a Djinn. It's a great update to the classic story premise of a "genie" that grants three wishes and once those wishes are fullfilled, he is released and unbound in our realm. 

One of the fun aspects about this film are the various horror movie veterans that appear here and there throughout. From Robert Englund (who plays a main character) to James Hodder and Tony Todd. It even has Ted Raimi! Angus Scrimm even has a small part as the narrator. It's a fun treat for horror fans of the 80's and 90's.

An ancient Djinn is trapped within a gem and which was then encased in a statue. When the statue is broken, the gem is discovered and given to a jeweler to appraise it. She accidentally released the Djinn and begins a deadly game to banish him before he's set free and opens the portal between our world and his.

Favorite moment - when the Djinn collects the souls from the unknowing victims who made a wish that he granted throughout the movie. 

Author's Note - Angels, Demons, and the Devil

Not every Demon wants to possess some unlucky soul; sometimes they just want to rip your soul, or flesh, apart. But at the same time they're not all as cool and eloquent as Pinhead. Elegance and refinement are more often traits saved for the Devil himself. And logic dictates that if there is a Devil then there must be Angels as well. So this week I dedicate the theme to Angels, Demons, and the Devil. 

Frozen (2010)

“Frozen” was one of those movie selections that I randomly made on Netflix one night which turned out to be one of the best surprises in a long time. This movie is a wonderful physiological thriller, placing the main characters in a situation that gives them time to think of what to do and to realize how stranded and dire their predicament is. Staring Shawn Ashmore (The Ruins), the movie is about two old friends and a girlfriend who tagged along on a weekend trip to the mountains for skiing and snowboarding. Sneaking in one last run before the resort closes for the weekend, the three end up becoming trapped high above the ground on the ski lift after the operations close down without checking for them. It’s a harrowing situation where they have to deal with the freezing temperatures, a storm that’s coming, hunger, and hungry wolves pacing below their feet.

Joe wants to spend the weekend skiing with his childhood friend Dan, but Dan has brought his girlfriend, Parker, along and she’s not very skilled in either skiing or snowboarding. Dan is also cheap and convinces Joe to bribe the lift operator to let the three of them up. As the day progresses Joe becomes more frustrated that they aren’t going down the hills that he and Dan can handle. So as the resort is closing, the three go up for one last, real run. But since the operator is expecting two people and not three, when the replacement operator sees two people come down the hill, they turn off the lift and go home. Unfortunately the three are still on the lift and no one realizes this.

At first there is plenty of blame among the three. They try to get the attention of a snowcat but the driver doesn’t notice them. Blame turns into worry and despair as they realize that they have been forgotten and a storm is approaching. Frostbite begins to set in as well as hunger. Dan decides to jump down from the lift but lands wrong and breaks both of his legs.  A pack of wolves were waiting nearby and attack and kill Dan.

The next morning Joe attempts to jump down, which he also hurts himself. But he is able to defend himself with a ski pole and manages to slide down the hill, promising to send help. The day turns into night and in the morning, Parker decides to try to climb down; as she is trying to do so, the lift chair breaks and she falls to the ground. She hurts her ankle but is able to make it down the mountain, finding Joe’s body torn up from wolf bites. She is able to find help and return to civilization.

Open Water (2003)

Like the film “247°F”, “Open Water” is a horror based solely on the suspense of a situation caused by an accident that never should have happened. On paper it’s a very griping story about two scuba divers left behind and must fend for themselves in the middle of an ocean. On film it’s a decent movie with thrilling moments and characters that you sympathize with. The problem with this movie is that you know what’s going to happen when you first start watching it, or at least you can guess several intense outcomes that are all highly possible; so at a running time of only 79 minutes, “Open Water” still feels super long. 

The Descent (2005)

“Hostel” is an example of the kind of trouble guys can get into while “The Descent” is an example of what could happen to a group of women who enjoy extreme sports who accidently pick the wrong set of caves to explore. “The Descent” is the second film that writer/director Neil Marshall created after his amazing first feature film, “Dog Soldiers”. In this film, we see a group of women dealing with both natural obstacles such as getting lost in unmapped tunnels and becoming stuck in very small, tight passage ways as well as dealing with a more unnatural, evolved race of cave dwelling cannibals. The tension is thick and heavy in this movie and the violence and terror is relentless. This film is unique in that the main characters are all women, a rarity in the horror genre as well as most movies in general. Mr. Marshall also attempted to try to create characters that weren’t just clichés and standard stereotypes. He intentionally cast actors with different accents so the viewers could tell the characters apart while they are in the dark and underground.

The main character, Sarah, is dealing with the tragic loss of her husband and daughter who both died in a horrible car accident after one of Sarah’s extreme sport outings. Like Jenna from “247°F”, this event has a direct impact on Sarah’s choices and actions in the film. But unlike Jenna, Sarah is believable and convincing; we care about Sarah and we are rooting for her to survive the ordeal. The ending is made stronger and stings more because we know the source of Sarah’s pain and we can relate with her.

Five friends gather once every year for an extreme sporting event; Sarah goes even though she is still emotionally recovering from losing her husband and daughter in a terrible car accident the previous year. This year the group heads down into some caves in the Appalachian Mountains. Almost as soon as they begin they become trapped after a cave-in, forcing them to try to find a way out. The person who planned this adventure admits that she doesn’t know the cave system at all, saying that she thought it would be great if they explored an uncharted area. While they go deeper into the tunnels, they begin to realize that they are not alone; a cannibalistic clan that were trapped as well begin attacking and feeding upon the friends. It’s a living nightmare that seems to have no escape…

Favorite moment - The scene where everyone is trying to squeeze through the small passage way and when Sarah becomes stuck, escaping right before the passage collapses is super intense. 

Hostel (2005)

Each horror movie that’s about a vacation has an obvious rule that should have been followed; if the rule was not ignored, everyone would still be alive. Don’t use the sauna, don’t drink the water, and don’t go to the ruins off the beaten path. In “Hostel”, the rule might be as simply as to not travel with a group of horny guys, make sure that there is a girl there that will keep you from being seduced and separated by sexy foreign girls. “Hostel” is another genre defying film written and directed by Eli Roth. Again, he brings the viewer a different kind of horror movie with odd moments of black comedy sprinkled here and there. And like “Cabin Fever”, there is a moment where the main character tells a story that has nothing to do with the main plotline but adds a certain flair to the film.

Two Americans, Paxton and Josh, and their Icelandic friend Oli are backpacking around Europe. When they get bored of hanging around Amsterdam, they are told about an undocumented hostel near Bratislava and how the town there is filled with beautiful women and barely any men (because they are all off at war). The three friends go and are quickly seduced by their roommates Natalya and Svetlana. It turns out that Natalya and Svetlana, as well as the guy who told them about the hostel back in Amsterdam, all work for a company called Elite Hunting, a group that kidnaps tourists and sells them to be totured and murdered by rich businessmen from around the world. It doesn’t take long before Oli, and then Josh, to be taken away in the dead of night and transported to the old factory where Elite Hunting provides its services. Paxton finds Natalya and Svetlana and demands that they take him to his friends, which they do. Soon Paxton learns the truth and tries to survive the rest of his vacation…

Favorite moment - I really like that Jay Hernandez (Quarantine) plays the lead, Paxton. The casting was just a smart choice.

The Ruins (2008)

Camping can be fun but others prefer to hit the beach, all across the Americas. Mexico has some beautiful beaches and some ancient, gorgeous ruins. Why not try to fit a bit of culture and history in between stretches of lounging on the beach? Be sure to stay to the standard tourist traps though! “The Ruins” is a great film that builds suspense and desperation throughout the film as a group of college age friends find themselves trapped on an ancient Mayan temple in the middle of the jungle. If they stay, they will be consumed by the vines that grow wildly all over the stone or if they try to leave the temple they will be shot by locals who know the truth about the vines. What gives this movie its strength is its cast and the choices they face and follow through with. This movie, just like moments in “Cabin Fever” leave you wondering what would you do in that situation.

Couples Jeff and Amy, Eric and Stacy, are vacationing in Mexico when they meet a German tourist named Mathias. He offers them the chance to come with him on a day trip to a secret Mayan temple that his brother is working at. They decide to go, along with Mathias’s friend Dimitri. When they finally get to the ruins, the group is surrounded by a mob of locals who are holding guns and bows. When Amy steps on one of the many vines at the site, the mob becomes angered and raise their weapons. They shoot Dimitri in the head when he moves towards them. The group begins to climb the temple and avoid the risk of getting shot at. Once on top, they hear the ring tone of the phone that Mathias brother had. They find it inside the temple, but as they are trying to retrieve it, Mathias breaks his leg in a fall and Stacy is also injured when she tries to rescue him. They eventually get everyone out but the damage is done; Mathias has a broken leg and Stacy, Amy, and Karen have touched more vines than they ever should have. They also become aware that the vines can move and mimic sounds, like the phone’s ring tone. The situation becomes dire when the vines start attacking and the group loses all hope of escape.

Favorite moment - I love who quickly the climax escalates into pure chaos after the breaking point is found; it's a "now or never" kind of moment.

Cabin Fever (2002)

Summer is the perfect time to go camping and sadly so many young adults are killed by various silent maniacs wielding machetes and other sharp objects. So imagine what a breath of fresh air the film “Cabin Fever” presented to the horror movie loving masses. You still have a group of young college age friends, you still have nudity for the target audience, and you have people dying. But “Cabin Fever” doesn’t have a person killing people but rather a contaminated water supply. The movie also has some of the best unexpected moments of black comedy thrown in to keep the viewer engaged. This film was Eli Roth’s big picture debut as a writer and director and he impressed the hell out of me.

Five college friends (Paul, Karen, Bert, Mercy, and Jeff) go out to the woods for a camping getaway to celebrate the end of the school. They meet some interest locals at the gas station/market, making a great first impression. Once they are at the cabin the group breaks up to do their own thing; Paul and Karen go swimming, Macy and Jeff have sex, and Bert goes off alone to shot squirrels…and eventually a homeless guy. Later that night the homeless guy shows up at their front door, bloody from the gunshot wound as well as something else. He’s sick and wounded and when they refuse to help him and he realizes that Bert is in the cabin, the homeless guy goes to their truck and begins to get blood all over the inside. They manage to chase him away in the morning they split up to find help. But unaware to them, they have been drinking the same water that affected the homeless guy. Soon they begin to show signs of the infection and things only go downhill from there.

Favorite moment – Watching how the group treats Karen and the process of her decay. It’s hard to imagine how a group in real life would approach this situation and the way the movie handled it is a very likely possibility. 

247°F (2011)

“247°F” is an interesting movie about four friends who go out to an island for a pagan themed holiday. One of them has an uncle who lives on the island and he’s been building new additions to his house. The newest addition is a three friends who become trapped in a sauna while their drunk friend and their uncle watch fireworks and get high. The sauna continues to build heat after the trapped friends break a window for fresh air, making the room to become dangerously hot. They try everything they can to stay cool and find a way out but they are completely trapped. The end result, when the uncle finally finds them, is sad and somber. It’s a decent film in that it builds suspense and shares the big “reveal” at the end, a reveal that is believable and not a shocking twist.

The only thing that I didn’t like about this film was the main character, Jenna. We see that Jenna had a finacee that was killed in a car accident three years earlier and that she’s still pretty torn up about it. She’s taking anxiety pills to deal with her issues but decides to skip them when she is paired up with Ian. Because of her skipped her pills, she becomes the cause for the real problems that occur when she, Ian, and Renee get trapped after Renee’s drunk boyfriend Michael leaves to go get high. I just feel that Jenna’s story is weak and poorly played out. It could have been great but misses the mark.

Favorite moment - Seeing Tyler Mane in a lovable and sympathetic role as Ian's uncle. 

Author's Note - Vacations

It’s the beginning of August so that means that people everywhere might be tempted to go on a quick weekend getaway or an extended vacation abroad. Many horror movies include groups of people trying to enjoy some time away because it’s an easy and convenient reason for a number of possible victims to be at the same place at the same time. The only real problem with this is that the characters are often underdeveloped and shallow. The movies I’ve chosen for this week are entertaining and thought provoking, not always in the best of ways. 

Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005)

In the mid 1980’s, Lance Henriksen was offered the role of Uncle Frank in the original “Hellraiser”. He turned it down only because he wanted to star in the vampire film “Near Dark”. So almost twenty years later Mr. Henriksen is offered and accepts a role in the “Hellraiser” franchise, staring as The Host in ”Hellraiser: Hellworld”. This film also stars the yet unknown actor who would one day be the next Superman, Henry Cavill. “Hellworld” also marks Doug Bradley’s eighth appearance as Pinhead, a horror icon as timeless as Jason, Michael, or Freddy.  This is also Rick Bota’s third and final “Hellraiser” film that he has directed.

“Hellraiser: Hellworld” is considered by most to be the most disliked of the “Hellraiser” films, or at least it was until “Revelations” came along. I personally really enjoyed “Hellworld” because as I’ve mentioned before, I was a fan of the “Hellraiser” comics of the 1990’s and this feels like it could have been one of the stories. “Hellraiser” at its core it all about the human condition and what people are willing to do to fulfill their desires. In this instance, it’s not about pleasure or wealth but about revenge which as we all know is still one of the seven deadly sins.

The Host has lost his son after committing suicide, being driven to do so after becoming addicted to an online game based on “Hellraiser”, the Cenobites, and the Lament Configuration. The Host blames his son’s friends because they introduced him to the game and didn’t try to stop him from killing himself. So two years later he throws a party and invites the friends (who think they won the invites by beating a section of Hellworld”. They arrive at a house out in the woods that is full of sexy revelers, all who wearing masquerade masks. Each person is given a cell phone and a mask and is taken on a private tour by the Host himself. No one knows who the Host is so they don’t have any reason to be suspicious. Because of this, he is able to poison the friends before letting them join the party. The film continues with hallucinations of Pinhead and other Cenobites, waking up in a coffin buried alive, and dying from their terrors. Two survive and the Host meets his end when he solves the real Lament Configuration and learns that “Hellraiser” is not a game….