Hide and Seek (2005)

Robert De Niro is an excellent, beloved actor who never seems to be loved when he takes part in a horror movie. He's tried a few times over the years with films such as "Angel Heart" and "Mary Shelly's Frankenstein"; his performance in "Frankenstein" was panned so much that some critics could not understand why an actor who "does nothing but gangster films" be cast as the Monster. "Hide and Seek" is another film where the suspense and mood seem to never truly develop and the viewer is left bored and unsatisfied. I personally feel that this has more to do with the attempt to create a spooky psychological movie than De Niro's performance.


Dr. David Callaway and his daughter Emily move out to a quiet rural town after Emily's mother commits suicide. David and his daughter have a troubled relationship and he tries the best he can, using his background as a psychologist to make some kind of breakthrough. Emily begins talking about her friend "Charlie", whom David takes to be an imaginary friend. David's friend Katherine believes this is healthy, but when David finds angry messages written on the wall and the family cat drowned in the bath tub, Emily claims that"Charlie" did it. Soon "Charlie" becomes violent and David is powerless to find or stop Emily's dangerous friend. Will David and Katherine be able to save Emily from "Charlie" before it's too late?

Frankenstein (1994)

How appropriate or fair is it to compare a remake of a classic horror movie when the original film itself strayed from the novel? Such is the case when trying to compare the two best known versions of "Frankenstein". On one hand you have the timeless Universal classic that have us the image of a crazed mob with torches and pitchforks, and then on the other hand you have creator and creation chasing each other across the globe bent on destroying the other. These are two very different images but they both work extremely well. 

While this film is closer in nature to the novel, there are still several differences between the two pieces. The most glaring difference that the movie adds is the reanimation of Elizabeth and her subsequent suicide. The other details are small enough to be overlooked as many details are lost, ignored, or adjusted whenever a book is transformed into a movie.

The one thing I can't figure out is why so many people hate this movie. Why? Some say its because its too melodramatic but so is the book! Others took offense that Robert De Niro's role as the Creature, with most critics stunned as to why an actor who only does "mobster parts" cast in a period horror movie? (This is a question that I've read many times"). I like the film and enjoyed it immensely. Maybe it's because I was 18 when I first saw it and didn't know any better...or maybe I liked it because it is a good film. Yes, yes it is.

Angel Heart (1987)

After years of wanting to see the movie “Angel Heart “ I was finally able to remember to look for it in the used section of a video store and buy a copy. It was a wise choice because I was instantly impressed with it and wished that I had seen it when I first read about it. It’s a lovely mixture of film noir and horror with beautiful scenery in both New York and New Orleans. It’s stylish and well-paced, keeping the viewer engaged throughout.

Harry Angel is a New York PI who is hired by a mysterious client named Louis Cyphre, who wants a performer named Johnny Favorite found so he can repay his debt. Angel is told that Favorite was last seen at a private hospital receiving treatment for trauma that he received while serving in the War (WW2). This is just the beginning of a long series of events that lead Angel to one former associate to another, all whom had dealt with Favorite at some point before the War but not since. This chain of events eventually leads Angel to New Orleans where Favorite had performed and had previous relationships before being drafted. As Angel is performing his inquires, various associates are found murdered, causing the local authorities to suspect Angel. Angel wants out after the first dead body shows up but is essentially bribed by Mr. Cyphre to continue until Favorite is found. Eventually the truth is uncovered as magic, voodoo, lovers, and shady business partners all collide in a delicious manner. Mmm, gumbo!

Favorite moment – Angel meets Mr. Cyphre in a small café in New Orleans to give him an update on his investigation. During this exchange, Mr. Cyphre (played by Robert De Niro) delivers the best statement in the entire movie. “There’s just enough religion in the world to make men hate each other enough not to love.” It’s the perfect sentence for his character say….

Red Lights (2012)

The movie “Red Lights” is the least horror-like film I’ve reviewed so far but it contains supernatural themes and is a great comparison to the movie I reviewed yesterday, “Apartment 143”. Both movies are about proving, or disproving, supernatural phenomenon. While “Apartment 143” the lead seemed a bit aloof, the investigators in “Red Lights” are believable and are deeply invested in their work. “Apartment 143” used fancy gadgets that seemed too fancy but “Red Lights” used techniques that make sense and that could be used in everyday situations. The funny twist to this comparison is the fact that both movies were written by the same man!

Dr. Margaret Matheson (Sigourney Weaver) and her assistant, physicist Tom Buckley (Cillian Murphy), spend their time disproving supernatural occurrences when they are not busy teaching a college course on the same subject matter. Examples include hauntings in an old house and the medium that is trying to make contact the spirit to a convincing but ultimately fraudulent miracle healer. In both cases, their tricks are easily explained and even demonstrated for the class. Whenever Dr. Matheson tries to ask why such a brilliant person like Buckley remains at the college helping her with her work, he always changes the subject. He is clearly passionate about this line of work because he is instantly fascinated by the sudden return of the famous psychic Simon Silver (Robert De Niro). After Dr. Matheson suffers a major medical emergency, Buckley becomes obsessed and tries everything he can to prove that Silver is a fraud. Silver claims that his powers are real and agrees to undergo testing at the very university that Buckley works for. After completing the tests, Silver announces his retirement and final show just as the test results are to be verified and publically announced. Buckley goes to the show for one last chance to reveal the truth and a final standoff with the psychic.

Favorite moment – I really enjoyed the process of how Dr. Matheson, Buckley, and student Sally (Elizabeth Olsen) uncovered how the miracle healer was working his magic.