Sleepwalkers (1992) #463

 

"Sleepwalkers" is an often overlooked and forgotten horror film from the early 1990's, directed by Mick Garris and a written by Stephen King. This was in fact the first time Mr. King wrote an original script for a full length film that wasn't adapted from one of his of his own stories. The story revolves around the last two survivors of a vampiric species of shape shifters that can only survive on the blood of virgins. The movie itself has it's strengths and weaknesses but is still a pretty fair movie for the time.

Alice Krige ("Gretel & Hansel") and Brian Krause star as Mary Brady and her son Charles, two shape shifters that feed on the psychic essence of human female virgins. Their powers include strength and the ability to turn themselves as well as their car invisible. They can change the appearance of the car as well. They differ from standard vampires in most aspects; the sun doesn't hurt them being the first and foremost. The odd thing about these two, and perhaps one the more problematic aspects of this film is their incestral relationship between mother and son. This is how the two are able to pass the psychic energy that Charles consumes from his victims. It's awkward and unsettling to say the least. 

The Brady's intended victim is Tanya Robertson, played by Madchen Amick, who was best known at the time for her work on "Twin Peaks". She is a delight to watch and is one of the bright spots in the film, coming across as a genuine teenager (although she wasn't anymore). Her emotions as a girl with a new crush to being the final girl come across sincerely. 

My favorite, as well as many others I bet, thing about this movie is how it is packed with cameos of several masters of horror that include Stephen King, Clive Barker, Tobe Hooper, John Landis, and Joe Dante. I'm pretty sure this was how Mick Garris was able to forge the foundations for his series Masters of Horror, which would showcase work from three of the four artists. Mark Hamill and Ron Perlman as have small roles as well, both in law enforcement. 

Besides the cameos, I love the shape shifters unique weakness which is a mortal fear of cats. It seems that cats are their natural enemies and gather in large numbers wherever the Brady's live. When they get close enough, the cats would pounce and attack Charles and Mary. I love when cats are used in movies and are more than just a jump scare....which they are really good at. 

Gretel & Hansel (2020) #462

One of the few theatrical movie releases of 2020, "Gretel & Hansel" is a dark, modern retelling of the classic Hansel and Gretel fairy tale with the added bonus of learning about the origin of the evil old witch that likes to eat children. This is the kind of movie that I'll watch only once; it was very well made but it wasn't the kind of movie I normally would sit through. As many critics have written, the movie has a serious pacing issue that will test most viewers, even with a running time of only 87 minutes. 

While "Gretel & Hansel" does have it's issues with pacing, it does have it's strengths as well. The visuals are stunning and the cinematography is of the highest quality. The color palate used is the typical dark blues contrasted with warm oranges and amber. In an attempt to look artistic or to simply distance itself from other period horror movies, the witch's house is a very modern looking house. The interior looks like it feels the time period save for the cellar which looks like it was filmed in a modern painters/photographers art studio. It is a very interesting choice to make. The sound track is also nice and eerie and helps to set the mood with all of the dead, empty space of non-action.

Sophia Lillis, best known as Beverly Marsh in "It" and "It: Chapter 2", stars as Gretel. Having already proved her ability to star in a big budget horror film, Sophia looks at east carrying the weight of this film and it's attempt to create a dark and heavy atmosphere. She alone is responsible for her young brother Hansel after they are forced to flee from their home after their mother threatens to kill them with an axe. She continues to try to protect her brother after they meet Holda, an old woman who lives alone in the forest...

Alice Krige, who stars as the witch Holda, who does an incredible job of keeping things creepy. She lives alone and has no livestock but she always has plenty of food. Her fingers are permanently stained black, making her even more mysterious. The exchanges between Gretel and Holda are tense and keep the movie grounded. Holda alone knows the history of the Beautiful Child, a young girl who was banished after people began to die after coming to hear her premonitions.