Cigarette Burns (2005)

John Carpenter is in rate form with his first entry for the "Masters of Horror" series. His episode "Cigarette Burns" is easily one of my favorite productions that he has directed and my overall favorite of the series. It's a simple tale of a man who is hired to find a film that was reportedly destroyed after it was screened once during a film festival, after the audience became violent and started killing themselves. It has a similar vibe that "The 9th Gate" had , as the investigation takes the hero to various countries and meetings with interesting characters. It also has a religious undertone, as the film that is being sought after has a scene where a real angel has its wings cut off. The episode is filled with mysterious tension and suspense which is perfect for this piece. Staring Norman Reedus as the protagonist Kirby, I highly recommend this episode above all other in the "Masters of Horror" series!

Halloween (2007)

Just because you grew up loving a movie doesn’t mean that you should one day make your version because that version is going to turn out to be a horrible piece of crap that insults the original more than anything else. And for god’s sake, do not ruin the magic of the original by creating some insipid and horrible reason as to why a child grows up to be an unstoppable killing machine. This is the crime that Rob Zombie made and is convicted of by legions of horror movie fans across the planet when he made his version of “Halloween”. This film is a perfect example of what happens when a film maker tries to recreate something and he is clearly out of his league….or out of his mind. He takes the simplicity of the Michael Myers mythos and explains everything, that Michael had a horrible childhood with a P.O.S dad, typical bullies at school, and way too much time on his obsession with masks and his mom asking him to take them off. In fact, Zombie takes the first 35 or so minutes of the movie to explore Michaels’ childhood and how Dr. Loomis tried to help him before everything goes horribly wrong.

Once the movie moves forward and introduces the high school aged Laurie Strobe, the film finds its groove and becomes the remake that we (or maybe just myself) were hoping for; an updated version that trades in the slow and steady build of tension for a more deliberate sense of adrenaline and violence. I’m still not sure how I feel about Malcolm McDowell as Dr. Loomis but I think this is because he plays such a prevalent role in the part of the movie that I don’t care for; his part in the later scenes is quite enjoyable. I do approve of the casting choices of Tyler Mane as an adult Michael, Dee Wallace as Cynthia Strobe,  Brad Dourif as the town Sheriff, and a slew of special appearances including Sid Haig, Ken Foree, Udo Kier, Danny Trejo, Bill Moseley. Scout Taylor-Compton did a great job as Laurie considering who she was replacing; the role of Laurie Strobe almost felt like it was written for the young Jamie Lee Curtis so you can’t be too harsh on Scout for giving it her best to fill this legendary role and making it her own. It’s obvious that the character of Laurie Strobe is not meant to be played the same just by the lines of dialogue.

What I didn’t like –

1.       The first 35 minutes.

2.       Michael killing the Strobes.

3.       The actor who played young Michael. Oh, I guess that’s a part of the first 35 minutes…

What I liked –

1.       The scene in which Michael escapes from the mental hospital.

2.       The kids that Laurie babysits.     

3.       Scout’s version of playing Laurie.

Actor Scout Taylor-Compton as Laurie Strobe (in the middle)

Actor Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strobe (on the left)

Actor Malcolm McDowell as Dr. Loomis

Actor Donald Pleasence as Dr. Loomis

Michael Myers 1978

 Michael Myers 2007

Michael Myers 2007

Michael Myers 1978 saying "Hello!"

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!

End of Days (1999)

“End of Days” is a great example of a movie about cults. You have a group of dedicated individuals who have committed theirs lives to kidnapping and then raising a girl who has been cosmetically chose to be the bride/sacrifice to Satan himself at the turn of the millennium. And in proper cultist/deity fashion, the Devil (Garbriel Byrne) has no problem killing a follower or two when he gets pissed off. On the other side of the coin, you can almost call the priests who are trying to stop the Devil from completing his sacrifice a cult as well; they are members of the Catholic Church but belong to an ultra-secretive sect. So it’s Cult vs. Cult in deciding Robin Tunney’s fate…and there’s Arnold Schwarzenegger doing what he does.

1999 is quickly coming to an end and Jericho, a private top notch security/body guard stumbles upon a plot that involves a group of unknowns that are trying to kill a young woman named Christine. While saving Christine from Church assassins, Jericho finds out that Christine’s adopted family are a cult that worships Satan and that Christine is to be sacrificed so he may walk the Earth again in his real body (he is possessing the body of Gabriel Byrne at the moment). More priests die, more cultists die, Jericho’s friends are possessed and die, a train blows up, and a final showdown between Jericho and the Devil takes place in a church. Happy New Year, it’s Y2K!