[indiephantom]

Indiephantom's October Horror Movie Challenge 2009


My rating system:
****Most highly recommended
***Highly recommended
**Recommended
*Recommended with strong reservations
*Not recommended
**Avoid this crap!
☼ First time viewing
I indicate which format, online & cable channels that I watched each film on.

October 1
1. 30 Days of Night (David Slade, 2007) ☼ (Blu-ray)
This is one for fans of intense vampire horror. The Alaskan locations serves the story well. The most blood on snow I've seen since Gangs of New York. The CG f/x aren't too distracting and as far as depicting the frozen climate the shots resemble the comic its based on. Really good performances all around. Slade doesn't operated just in close-ups either, and we get a good sense of location and space throughout. Might make a good double bill with either John Carpenter's The Thing or Vampires. This one comes highly recommended and was a good kick-off to my personal horror marathon. ***

2. The Sadist (James Landis, 1963) ☼ (Public Domain Theatre-The Cinema Snob)
This film is like a precursor to films about young couples that terrorize like Badlands and Natural Born Killers. I loved the stark black-and-white look the film had and its careful attention to interesting and dramatic camera shots. Some very clever POV stuff that later directors most likely studied. I seem to recall Scorsese mentioning the film in one of appreciation documentaries. Anyway, I'm glad I finally spent some time with this one. The couple act a bit too dumb at times to get under my skin in a really sinister way. They're really just losers, and they don't have much imagination when it comes to tormenting their victims. Fun little watch. **

3. Fear Itself: Something with Bite (Ernest Dickerson, 2009) ☼ (DVD)
I'm not really a werewolf guru, but I certainly enjoy some of the classics of the subgenre. I don't we're ever going to get a transformation sequence that can compete with David Naughton's in An American Werewolf in London. Here in this mostly fun entry from the "Fear Itself" series we get a veteranarian who is bitten one night at his clinic by a fang-tooth beast that wears a collar ID badge that says "Michael". Yup...the son of John Landis has scripted a contemporary werewolf tale that mixes the kind of humor and uncertainty that his father's classic brought us a couple of decades ago. Too bad this hadn't been conconcted for "Masters of Horror" since the cable network would have allowed for more nudity and violence, although we get a bit of blood at least. I've seen five episodes from this series so far and consider me impressed. Everything I've seen has certainly kept me entertained and this was no exception. While somewhat predictable, I found this episode faithful to the '80s monster films it strives to emulate. Creative camerawork and some decent effects, but the tranformations are the same hokey off-camera types we always seem to get. Werewolf looks great though. I'm eager to hear what others think of this series. I've saved the rest of these for the rest of the month. **

October 2
4. Stepfather 2: Make Room for Daddy (Jeff Burr, 1989) ☼ (DVD)
1989 to me was the year the sequel died. At least for awhile, and particularly in the horror genre. There were lots of sequels that year including Friday the 13th Part 8 and Nightmare on Elm St. 5 and it was clear that these weren't shining moments in those particular franchises. I remember when Stepfather 2 was released, but even though I was a teenager and a fan of the first film, I still managed to avoid it until now...twenty years past. Terr O'Quinn returns to his father-knows-best-or-else routine with relish. After a bizzare escape from prison, he poses as a psychiatrist in a "perfect little town" that he learns about from a TV ad. The story is mostly predictable as O'Quinn finds himself with a much less interesting family this time. I really missed Jill Schoelen (who I had a big crush on) as the daughter in the first one. She knew something was up with this guy. In the sequel, the doubting character is done away with more quickly. Everything is pretty by-the-numbers. There are some great scenes with O'Quinn that find some humor and menace left in his character, but overall this exercursion is more tired. The finale is worth sticking it out for, though. This is the point in genre history where things were about to go into serious decline and, while there are some gems from the period, I'm going to call Stepfather 2 an okay film if you enjoyed the first, but tough to really recommend. Better to check out the original 1987 film or, a similar gem like The Dentist with Corbin Bernsen. *

5. Pandorum (Christian Alvart, 2009) ☼ (South Keys Cinema)
This is a pretty lifeless sci-fi horror excursion. It truly felt like it borrowed heavily from so many films that I began to lose count. Let's just say Event Horizon, Alien and its sequels, and every recent "end of the world picture". I'm a genre fan, so I don't mind that so much. It's just that there is no character or event of real interest here, beyond some decent gore and a creepy outer space setpiece. Unlike Alien and Event Horizon, the director has no patience for building tension. The frantic editing and really loud music and effects--which frequently drown out a cast that has an annoying tendency to speak in grunts and whispers--just gave me a headache. I had the theatre space all to myself. In empty theatre space when you want to scream, no one can hear you. That was a lame attempt to rip off the Alien tagline and I think it worked about as well as this film did for me. Avoid this! **

6. It's Alive 2: It Lives Again (Larry Cohen, 1978) ☼ (DVD)
I've enjoyed everything I've seen from Cohen up to this point. I had some trepidation because the first It's Alive wasn't really one of my favorites. This was more of the same, but also more aimless. There is little time spent on the horror. Much of the film is about suffering through the histrionics of the lead couple. Their arguments and ranting grew tiresome quickly. Add to this an earache of a Bernard Herrmann score and 3 screaching babies...migraine time. Cohen has a unique style and I love the feel of '70s and the fact that the film feels like what Cassavetes might do with a horror script. But having said that, I can't recommend this one. I will probably still give part 3 a go, though, since it's on the same DVD. *

October 3
7. Book of Blood (John Harrison, 2009) ☼ (Blu-ray)
This is a rather slow-paced film based on two of Clive Barker's Books of Blood stories. The film feels like it would have worked better as a short or part of an anthology. Why couldn't we have gotten a Clive Barker anthology movie instead? The piece certainly has some great moments and effects, and I think Barker fans (like my girlfriend) will get some of what they came for. It does sustain a dark tone that is true to the best Barker adaptations, but it feels like a warm-up for director Harrison. Nothing to really complain about...but not much to write home about either. *

8. Wicked Lake (Zach Passero, 2008) ☼ (DVD)
I wanted to see this for awhile because it was co-written by Chris Sivertson and co-stars Marc Senter. If those names mean nothing to you then I recommend checking out the film adaptation of Jack Ketchum's The Lost. I loved that film, but this kind of represents everything I hate about some of the worst indie horror of late. It's technically horrible. I'm not sure what kind of cameras were used, but this looks worse than some of the shitteo stuff from the '80s. The music is atrocious. It starts somewhat promisingly and I thought I was in for a pretty good sleaze revenge tale, but it falls achingly short of that potential. Somed good nudity and gore, but not enough to recommend. *

9. Shocker (Wes Craven, 1989) (DVD)
It's been 20 years since I first saw this in theatres. Talk about a film that has aged well. I don't think I could fully appreciate how deliriously fun and perversely twisted this film is back then. It's like a mash-up of Nightmare on Elm St. and The Hidden jacked up to 13. Horace Pinker (Mitch Pileggi) deserves more respect, and this film could be the most entertaining of Craven's overlooked stuff. It's available in a 3-pack right now at really good prices. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. So much energy and whacky imaginative stuff...Craven throws everything at the screen, and a few characters right through it! My highest recommendation and God I miss the '80s. ****

October 4
10. Fear Itself: Family Man (Ronny Yu, 2008) ☼ (DVD)
Having now seen almost half of the Fear Itself series I'm more than a little impressed. This entry is a dark body-switching story that finds a serial murderer inhabiting the body of a good church-going "family man". I must applaud the work of actors Clifton Collins Jr. and Colin Ferguson for their out-of-body imitations. You can tell they studied each other's mannerism and facial impulses. It really pays off. The story is briskly told by Ronny Yu with total focus on performances. It's nice to see this kind of thing from a director who's film Freddy vs. Jason was overly reliant on special effectss. One of the best entries in the series for me so far. ***

11. The Hills Run Red (Dave Parker, 2009) ☼ (On Demand)
There's a perversely interesting little story buried somewhere in this mess of a DTV exploitation film. I love the idea of notorious horror films that are "lost" because they went too far. It was the backbone for John Carpenter's mostly impressive Masters of Horror segment "Cigarette Burns" a few years ago. Here, the film celebre is an '80s slasher film that features a character with a ceramic baby's head affixed to his face, which supposedly featured actual murders. The cleverness ends with that concept. As the day progresses, I dislike this film more and more. Nudity and random gore effects are tossed in without any style or real sense. William Sadler is historically wasted as the filmmaker responsible for the film-within-the-film. Really, that films looked terribly boring too. Another opportunity for an interesting slasher missed. *

12. Firestarter (Mark L. Lester, 1984) ☼ (Cable-Movies From Space)
It's taken me a long time to get around to this film. I didn't even realize it was from the director of such favorites as Commando and Class of 1984 until seeing the opening titles. I'm kind of a sucker for films that deal with telekinesis. Drew Barrymore has a convincing approach to her cool burn techniques. "Back off...back off!" It's pretty effective. I love George C. Scott in pretty much anything and he gets some good scene munching moments here. All in all it's just a good matinee kind of film. Make a solid lead-in for Brian DePalma's far more effective The Fury. Still glad to have finally seen it. **

13. American Nightmares (Buddy G, 1984) ☼ (DVD)
This is the director's cut version of Buddy Giovinazzo's Combat Shock. I was very excited to finally see this. Depressing and satisfying in a way only great films can be. This ultra low-budget film achieves a pervasively dark tone and creates an urban setting that is comparable to the early films of Abel Ferrara. Grimy places and grungy people. I don't think anyone smiles in this film, unless during a fit of insanity. This is like reading William Burroughs. The occasional bad acting (some actors glance toward camera) somehow never distracts or provides any solace. I was sucked under. I look forward to watching the better-known theatrical version and listening to the commentary. Not for everyone--but I can't recommend it highly enough for fans of nihilistic cinema. ****

October 5
14. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (John McNaughton, 1989) McNaughton commentary (Blu-ray)
It's amazing to watch this after so many years and with commentary. McNaughton mentioned something very cool in that the use of video camera footage during the murder scenes was something very new back in the '80s. It is everywhere now. The atrocity I watched yesterday--The Hills Run Red appeared to use the technique more in an effor to save money. But seeing how effective its use is in Henry particularly during the home invasion (if you've seen the film, you know what the hell I'm talking about) was impressive. This film still holds power and this well-moderated commentary provides lots of interesting facts about the production and the players onscreen. If you're a fan of true crime depictions, this film is a must-see. It's also really funny at times, and I was glad to hear that fact brought up in the commentary. I love me some films with a sick sense of humor. This is a great double-bill with American Nightmares especially if you think '80s horror was just about slashin' good times. film rating-****. Commentary-***

15. Bloody Moon (Jesus Franco, 1981) ☼ (DVD)
Jesus, Franco, easy on the zoom-lens!! Seriously, this dude zooms in every scene and mucks up some truly beautiful compositions in the process. I love the guy, though. There's a funny-as-shit interview with him on Severin's excellent DVD. The film is Euro-cheese of the finest quality. Lovely women getting offed in very unkind ways. The plot is ridiculously fun and actually holds some surprises. The sleaze is never overindulgent (as in some of Franco's other stuff). It's a bit slow and awkward at the start and it features an actor that resembles a young Stellan Skarsgard with a makeup job on par with what Eric had in Phantom of the Mall (which would be my double-bill pick for this one). It's not going to garner new fans for the notoriously slipshod diretor, but I must say it's one of his more "thoughtful" and entertaining pictures. Did I just write that? Damn, I need sleep tonight! Anyway, if you're a fan of the man behind the lens then this is a solid endorsement, otherwise proceed with extreme caution. *

October 6
16. Darkman (Sam Raimi, 1990) (DVD)
Calleing Sam Raimi talented would be an understatement. It's hard to believe 1990 is nearly twenty years. This is as fresh as it was was, with makeup effects and camerawork more dazzling than most anything I've seen lately. I prefer this period for Raimi and I think everything from Evil Dead II (1987) through to The Quick and the Dead (1995) is his absolute best output with the somewhat forgotten Darkman right in the middle of it. Well-acted by Liam Neeson and Frances McDormand this film manages to combine genuine sentiment with action and horror. Arriving just on the heal of Tim Burton's Batman this work is fresher and more inventive both narratively and visually (I did prefer Danny Elfman's music score in Burton's film, however) A real treat if you've never seen it and for those that have, it is well worth another look. ****

17. Trick 'r Treat (Michael Dougherty, 2009) ☼ (DVD)
Well, after a couple of years of hype I'm glad to have been able to finally sit down and watch this. I'm a sucker for anthology stuff and we just haven't had much by way of features in that genre lately. But sadly, I felt more tricked than treated here. The stories just aren't that strong, scary, or original. The film struggles to find a tone and even at a very short running time (82 minutes) it feels like a bit of a slog. I can understand now Warner's reluctance to release this theatrically. It's just not very good despite some nicely demented scenes and a fun performance by the always reliable Brian Cox. This film doesn't come together in any satisying way. I would urge you to check out more interesting horror anthologies like Campfire Tales or Cat's Eye or, better yet, return to episodes of Fear Itself which I plan to do soon. *

18. Season's Greetings (Michael Dougherty, 1996) ☼ Wild Card #1 (DVD)
This is the animated Halloween short from Trick 'r Treat director Michael Dougherty that appears as a bonus on that DVD. It's an uncomplicated little piece that features the first appearance of a mysterious character from the feature. I understand the need for simplicity in shorts but after hearing about all the work that went into this...it was rather trite. I do love the hand-drawn look of the 2-D animation though. *

October 7
19. Sleepwalkers (Mick Garris, 1992) (DVD)
Stephen King certainly has a passion for Americana. Lots of great classic music on the soundtrack and I love the scene with sexy Madchen Amik dancing by herself. The scene rivals Elishabeth Shues' solo bit at the start of Adventures in Babysitting. This film is from King's original screenplay and one I've not seen since its theatrical run and I'm so glad to have rewatched it. An incestuous relationship is at the core of the evil in this film. Brian Krause and Alice Krige are freakishly perfect as the "Bradys". Not exactly the kind of wholesome family unit we associate with that name. This is a very twisted film and shares a mother/son relatlionship similar to what we see between the young Norman Bates and his mother in Mick Garris' Psycho IV: The Beginning, which I'm also a big fan of. Look for lots of interesting cameos, including some "Masters of Horror". I'm not sure what kind of fanbase this film has, but it's another one from the often dismissed early '90s that may need reevaluation. Also, I'm a cat lover and the felines worked well in this film. Must have been a tough to direct them, though. I hear they can be primadonnas sometimes. ***

20. Spiral (Adam Green-Joel David Moore, 2007) ☼ (DVD)
Joel David Moore is remarkable in this film as Mason, an emotionally unstable man who seems to have a mysteriously disturbing past with the women he sketches. The less said about the plot the better, and boy I'm glad I didn't watch the somewhat deceptive and entirely spoiler-ish trailer for this film. Do yourself a favor and just skip right to the feature. This is co-directed by the man who brought us [i]Hatchet[/b], a film I wasn't too excited about. This is a step in a more psychological direction. I mostly recall Moore from his hilarious bit as video game designer in [i]Grandma's Boy[/b]. He's a talented guy and is the other half of the directing team here. Made with lots of energy and craft this gets a high recommendation from me. ***

21. Gutterballs (Ryan Nicholson, 2008) ☼ (DVD)
A welcome return to true Canuck exploitation with lots of Troma and a little softcore porn tossed in. A sick and fun little slasher that is so politically correct you really must take it into consideration if you're planning this for a group screening. Deeply misogynistic with a graphic rape scene that is basically a hardcore rendering of the pool room scene from The Accused. The black and offensive humor charges the film. If you like your horror hardcore with balls (literally) to the walk, seek it out. More timid horror buffs should certainly proceed with caution. Great makeup effects, which is director Nicholson's primarly forte. **

October 8
22. Beyond the Door (Oliver Hellmann-Robert Barrett, 1974) ☼ (DVD)
This notorious film suffered a costly lawsuit at the hands of the producers of The Exorcist and it's kind of understandable, but in no way is it a carbon copy. Juliet Mills is a mother who becomes possessed by demon. She is mostly confined to her bedroom and certainly exhibits the same behavior familiar to us from William Friedkin's classic film. Her head can do 360 degree turns, she spits green soupy slime, and blasphemes endlessly. In a way, I kind of enjoyed that aspect because why shouldn't this possession look the same? Maybe it strengthens the mythology of demon possession. Don't vampire and werewolf films share the same imagery and designs? I found this entertaining and occasionally quite creepy. Fun-as-hell really. ***

23. Combat Shock (Buddy Giovinazzo, 1986) ☼ Giovinazzo with Jörg Buttgereit commentary (DVD)
I'm glad I watched the theatrical version with this commentary. This is a loaded track with lots of really great information. Giovinazzo cut many corners (and used wedding gift money to finish the film!). The commentary is nearly as uncompromising as the film and if you will get a lot out of it if you enjoy low-budget war stories. Film-****. Commentary-****

24. Fear Itself: The Spirit Box (Rob Schmidt, 2009) ☼ (DVD)
Another fairly entertaining episode of the unfairly maligned series. Wrong Turn director Rob Schmidt keeps this entry atmospheric and well-paced. There are some pretty nice twists along the way and the stalker scenes in and around a high school swimming pool are suspensful. I thought the young leads basically delivered good performances and weren't as cookie cutter as young females tend to be in recent horror. The final scene had me rolling my eyes a bit, but not enough to break it. **

October 9
25. The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror III (Carlos Baeza, 1992) Wild Card #2 (DVD)
I'm not the biggest fan of The Simpsons. It's had a great run but I think that when so many people absorb and assimilate something it loses much of its force. These Halloween specials are among the most overrated episodes in the series. I didn't find the choices for film spoofs particularly inspired ("King Homer" was pretty flat) and there weren't many laughs either. I'm sure there are better ones, but I won't be seeking them out. *

October 10
26. Psycho II (Richard Franklin, 1983) (DVD)
I enjoyed showing this to my girlfriend for her first viewing. It was great to see it through the eyes of someone very familiar with the original film who managed to avoid the sequels for years. This is my favorite horror series and I count it as one of the best sequels ever. It doesn't just rehash the original film and it finds a logical way to continue the story of Norman Bates 22 years later. Great cinematography and performances. I wish Dennis Franz had a bit more screen time because he's so much fun here. Robbert Loggia is another favorite actor, and this is a perfectly understated performance which contrasts his more swaggering work. Meg Tilly has a difficult role and pulls it off well. Love returning to this film whenever I can. I'll gladly buy it again when it hits Blu-ray. Oh, and my girlfriend loved it too.****

October 11
27. Hideaway (Brett Leonard, 1995) (DVD)
I've wanted to return to this film for so long and was able to find a cheap DVD copy so I couldn't resist picking it up and adding it to my marathon picks. Glad I did! This is pretty uncompromising stuff. Released during one of the genre's more neglected periods (and about a year before Scream would resurrect the horror film) it may be time for reconsideration. Jeff Goldblum's character gains the ability to see through a killer's eyes and that killer has been in contact with his daughter. The dilemna this time is that the killer, played creepily by a young Jeremy Siston, can also see through Goldblum's eyes. Once the characters figure this out it provides the cat-and-mouse nature of the film with a fun jolt. It's been done many times now, but here it's mostly quite effective. Brett Leonard doesn't exactly have a light touch with his material (if you've seen the more recent Feed you'll know what I mean) and there are some shocking and upsetting sequences. The ending has a rather silly effects sequence with religious overtones that spoil some of the fun, but I think this is a great little horror film. Watch for a cool additional sequence after the credits! ***

October 12
28. Psycho III (Anthony Perkins, 1986) (DVD)
This one gets better with age. Perkins takes over as director and delivers the sleaziest and most graphic of the Psycho films with Bates visibly interacting with his deceased mother throughout the film. The film opens shockingly. Over black screen we hear a young woman shout: "There is no God!" The film does its best to make that seem true. The Bates Motel is like a delapited last resort for rejects and people on the fringe of society. Bruce Surtees photographs this film in primary colors in a way reminiscent of Dario Argento's classic Suspiria. Perkins reallys want to push the color in this one and to make it as darkly beautiful as Hitchcock's original was in black-and-whilte. Blood in neon. Jeff Fahey is memorably sleazy as a drifter Bates hires to run the Motel. Diana Scarwid is effective as a blacklisted young nun who reminds Norman of Marion Crane. There is a phone booth murder that Bates ends up having to scrub clean...for his mother. Another great entry in the franchise. ****

October 13
29. The Craft (Andrew Fleming, 1996) (Blu-ray)
Why exactly does this film have a Restricted rating? There's little blood and unless I missed something, no nudity. The primary audience for this film is clearly teenage girls, and I see nothing overly objectionable. It's a fantasy piece for young women who may be outsiders at their own schools. A chance to imagine what it might be like to have the powers of witchcraft at your disposal and to use those powers to enact revenge, or get the boy you're crushing on to fall madly for you. The film holds up okay and I wanted to see it again because I've been giving some of the '90s horror a second look. In this case, the film remains nothing too special. The acting is fine and Fairuza Balk relishes her bad girl turn. Director Fleming stages a gruesome final sequence that would scare anyone with a phobia for snakes, worms, and other creepy-crawlers. I wish there were more of that kind of thing, and cetainly something to warrant the R rating. **

October 14
30. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (Stephen Chiodo, 1988) ☼ (DVD)
It's hard to believe it's taken me this many years to check out this film. What a fun little carnivale. The makeup and special effects are inventive and entertaining and there is always a great clown gimmick to be explored. I loved the crawling popcorn, the sniffing baloon dog and--most of all--the cotton candy cocoons! This is Invasion of the Body Snatchers for Circus freaks! I highly recommend this '80s gem of a funhouse ride that most everyone should enjoy except maybe the coulrophobic. Would make a nice double bill with Chuck Russell's remake of [i]The Blob[/b] which came out the same year. ***

31. Children of the Corn (Donald P. Borchers, 2009) ☼ (DVD)
I'm guessing this film sticks closer to the original short story since Stephen King is credited with helping adapt this time. I saw the original for the first time during the summer and thought it was pretty mediocre fare. This one has does improve on some aspects, and certainly has a darker final act. The couple is portrayed much differently. No longer a doctor and his young bride. Here we have a period piece set sometime in the '70s. This interracial couple argues a lot and Vicki's dialogue wasn't doing much to make me care what happened to her. She is constantly berating her husband Burton and makes reference to his possibly raping vietcong grandmothers and other heinous things. Huh? It's pretty over-the-top. His Vietnam experience does add a cool element and I enjoyed seeing him go toe-to-toe with some of the children. The kids flat-out suck this time. Casting them younger has a price in terms of effectiveness and it just didn't work for me. Let's face it, how scared do you expect to be of Cody from Dexter? His dialogue here still sounds like he's reciting dialogue from that elementary school play. *

October 15
32. Rogue (Greg Mclean, 2008) ☼ (Blu-ray)
Mclean's follow-up to Wolf Creek is a beautiful looking film. I watched it on Blu-ray and that turned out to be a perfect choice. There are images of nature here that are on the level of Terrence Malick. The opening scene leading into the title sequence is particularly breathtaking. The film is nothing groundbreaking as far as nature attack films. It's not really as fun as something like Anaconda but I did enjoy it more than Lake Placid. The cast is decent although I felt that after such a long set-up, there was nothing really crucial provided that would further my understanding of these people. The screenplay does little to bring them to life in interesting ways and I feel that we needed more variety in characters to make the relationships more authentic and interesting. The 'gator effects are quite good but I still knew what I was seeing was largely computerized and it takes some of the fun out of it. Definitely worth a look, but I still preferred Alligator. **

October 16
33. Zombieland (Ruben Fleischer, 2009) ☼ (South Keys Cinema)
Certainly there are a few funny moments here and there but the zombie comedy genre can't die quickly enough as far as I'm concerned. Fido and Shaun of the Dead were more interesting, but all of the films suffer from a kind of "one-joke' syndrome. And it's a joke that gets old pretty quickly. The actors appear to be having fun and there are several great location setpieces (the carnival, the Indian souvenir shop, and a certain celebrity's digs). The action slows to a halt too often and the film is never as clever as it thinks it is. If you can't enough of zomedies then you'll probably like it. I'd recommend waiting for cheapie theatres or rental. But it does having the best opening title sequence since Watchmen *

34. The Stepfather (Nelson McCormick, 2009) ☼ (South Keys Cinema)
Once again a remake that doesn't measure up to the original. It's not as perversely funny and is toned down considerably. For a moment while I was sitting in the theatre I envied the young girls around me that were seemingly unaware they were watching a remake, munching loudly on their popcorn between jump scares. There a few of these jolts, including the overused "cat-scare" that genre fans are so familiar with. Still, I was mostly entertained. Dylan Walsh does a dark spin on his troubled Nip/Tuck character and the supporting cast is pretty darn good. The decision to go with a stepson this time works better than expected. But seeing Amber Heard as the young girlfriend interact well with Walsh in one scene made me wonder how it might have played out if she had been cast as the stepdaughter. Oh, well...looks like they're hoping for a sequel. Make room for daddy! **

October 17
35. Paranormal Activity (Oren Peli, 2009) ☼ (World Exchange Cinema)
Only heard about this film yesterday. No hype for me. But easily the worst film I've seen theatrically this year. Scary? Creepy? Just glancing at some of the reviews over at Rotten Tomatoes makes me giggle. Seriously, though...someone let me in on the joke. This thing looks like it was made over a long weekend. Boring couple tape themselves and trivial horror cliche's are caught on tape as they sleep. Bad acting is about all you have to fear in this one. Very surprised I was able to see something this amateur in a major theatre. This had no right being anything but a DTV release. I've had scarier nights in my own apartment when the girlfriend awakes suddenly from night terrors. Now, that's some crazy stuff! I shoud film it! Anyway, I'd recommend avoiding this. **

October 18
36. Fear No Evil (Frank LaLoggia, 1981) ☼ (DVD)
Easily the strangest film I've watched in my marathon so far and among the most entertaining. The antichrist arrives in the form of actor Stefan Arngrim. He's a creepy-looking dude who will unsettle you during the simplest of scenes, much like the little boy in Richard Donner's The Omen. This film isn't content to be just another possessed teen flick, though. It throughs in carnivorous zombies, a jerk who date-rapes with a handgun, a passion play that turns real bloody, a game of gym dodgeball that that turns deadly, and an attack on the antichrist in a men's shower that ends with a fierce homoerotic kiss. It could be argued that the antichrist in this film is possessed by homosexual urges. If William Friedkin's Cruising was attacked it made homosexuality seem like a disease, then this film could be charged with making homosexuality seem devilishly anti-christian. In one amazing scene, the date-rapist suddenly has female breasts, apparently the antichrist attempting to show him his true "urges". The newly endowed victim then stabs himself to death (through the breasts) screaming "Fuck you!" LaLoggia really brings a lot to this little low-budget film and I look forward to hearing the commentary. Lots to enjoy here in this overlooked '80s gem. ***

October 19
37. Diabolique (Jeremiah S. Chechik, 1996) ☼ (DVD)
Whatever happened to Chazz Palminteri? He certainly was on a hot streak in the mid-1990s. Here he plays the head of a boy's school who is married to Isabelle Adjani and seeing Sharon Stone on the side. Now that's just asking for trouble I guess. I haven't seen the original version so I didn't come into this with that kind of bias. It's basically a noir thriller with a touch of gothic horror/mystery. There is a bathtub scene that had me cringing. Drowning at the hand of others looks like a terrible way to go and that sequence it pretty effective. Less effective is Adjani. I'm never sure if this woman has a clue in any film. Here she seems downright stupid most of the time and it was hard to feel sorry for situation. She's literally seems in over her head. Stone is in the bitchy mode that she sustained through most of that decade. Kathy Bates does her best Columbo and was easily the most convincing of the female leads. She was lots of fun and I could have used a bit more of her. This is worth a watch, though. The finale wasn't totally satisfying, but not a bad ride. **

38. Fear Itself: New Years Day (Darren Lynn Bousman, 2008) ☼ (DVD)
Messy entry into the series that features more blood & guts but a less than interesting story. Bousman's intercutting of events from New Year's eve and New Year's day are frustrating and add little to the impact. This is certainly the most graphic of the director's cut versions in the [i]Fear Itself[/b] collection. It reminded me most of Tobe Hooper's ill conceived Dance of the Dead from the first season of Masters of Horror, but unlike that effort, this one doesn't even feature a memorable performance from Robert Englund. Pretty lame. *

October 20
39. Fear Itself: The Sacrifice (Breck Eisner, 2008) ☼ (DVD)
And the second real letdown for me from the Fear Itself collection. It's hard to believe this was the episode that NBC chose to launch the series with. Bad decision. There are some creepy moments and the short does start promisingly. I had little idea of where we were going at first, but once the main characters end up in Amish territory with some very strange young women, things go from bad to worse both for the "heroes" and for the viewer. Pretty boring script from the eternally uneven Mick Garris. He does better when King writes for him. This is more or less a hackjob, but Rachel Miner does well in a supporting role. I hope my last few episodes from this series pack more punch. *

October 23
40. Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (Paul Weitz, 2009) ☼ (Silvercity Gloucester Cinema)
Strange as hell little film. I walked into this because I still had a few hours to kill before Saw VI was starting. I hadn't heard of the boys before and it was somewhat refreshing to see something where I knew nothing...not even a trailer. It will encourage me to do that more often. That's the experience I remember enjoying so much from film festivals--entering into something totally without preconceived notions. This film felt truly felt like '80s material aimed at youngsters. I was reminded of The Goonies and The Monster Squad. I have a confession, though. I was never a big fan of those films. I do admire the look here and the lack of quick cuts. It really has a quite beautiful canvas. It was fun to see Willem Dafoe (and totally unexpected). If you're looking for an offbeat diversion with some clever creatures and something you can watch with the kids, this might be the ticket. I just didn't find myself getting caught up in the story or characters much. *

41. Saw VI (Kevin Greutert, 2009) ☼ (Silvercity Gloucester Cinema)
This is the first Saw I've seen in theatres since #3. I wasn't a fan of that film but earlier this year I decided to rent 4 and 5 and was mostly pleased with what I saw. You have to admire this series for attempting the continuity it does. It seems totally devoted to fans who've seen the films multiple times and it can be a bit confusing if you don't remember certain characters and situations from the earlier films. This film has some of the most original kill scenes of the past couple of years. The "carousel scene" was a standout for me. Graphic, funny, and uncompromising all at once. Naysayers be damned: Saw VI is great genre cinema and among the best horror releases of a rather mediocre year. ***

October 24
42. Wrong Turn 3: Left for Dead (Declan O'Brien, 2009) ☼ (DVD)
After a great opening sequence involving tits and arrows, this film sinks fast into DTV sequel sludge. I'm not a fan of the second film either, but all the copies of Dead Snow were rented and on this occasion to the rental store I didn't want to leave empty-handed. But in a sense, I did anyway. Poor and inept in pretty much every capacity. It might be fun if you've got friends around and are in the mood for mocking bad cinema, but I can't recommend this even to hardcore fans. *

October 25
43. Dexter: The Third Season (Various, 2008) ☼ (Blu-ray)
Ah, Dexter. I decided to watch the entire season this month and just count it as one title. Supporting characters are better developed this season. I really enjoy Jennifer Carpenter's Deb character and her foul-mouthed tomboy nature. She has lots of screen time this season. I also loved Jimmy Smits. What a great character and fun to watch Dexter make "friends". I can't say that this was the best overall season (I think the previous seasons were more satisfying in terms of story) but the memorable performances put this one high on my list of great recent television. I'm hearing amazing things about the new season and I look forward to checking it out. ***

October 26
44. Happy Birthday to Me (J. Lee Thompson, 1981) ☼ (DVD)
Finally got around to this one. I'm a fan of J. Lee Thompson's films with Charles Bronson, particularly the grisly 10 to Midnight. He certainly lays down some impressive atmosphere and there are some great kill scenes that feel more like gialli than American slashers. There also is clearly an influence from Friday the 13th here in terms of the story and the visual approach to those murder-set-pieces. The film takes a few unexpected diversions in ways that recent remakes and retreads seldom dare to. The ending is kind of hilarious, kind of outrageos, and kind of chillling all at once. Great photography and the "restored" music score seal the deal. Expect something a little different here and you will have lots of fun. ***

45. Fear Itself: In Sickness and in Health (John Landis, 2008) ☼ (DVD)
Not one of Landis' better efforts. I'm a big fan of his and hoped this would be on par with his recent Masters of Horror efforts. Not quite. I figured out the twist early on and was hoping I was wrong. A couple of eerie well-edited moments in a church notwithstanding this just isn't a very good entry in the series. The cast is pretty weak, too. Even if you don't see the ending coming a mile away, I think you'll be nonplussed. *

46. Prince of Darkness (John Carpenter, 1987) (Mayfair Theatre)
What a pleasure to witness this on the big screen for the first time. Carpenter's widescreen compositions are best appreciated on the big screen and it's sad that we haven't seen much of him up there recently. This is one of his darkest and overlooked films. Love the setting of the church in the big city. The foreboding tone of the film doesn't let up from the impressive opening titles sequence. Carpenter is great with these claustrophic spaces and there are moments that reminded me of both The Things and Assault on Precint 13. This was part of a lower-budget two picture deal he had with Universal at the time. The other pic was the excellent They Live which would make a perfect double-bill choice. I really want a copy of this orginal music score! ***

October 28
47. Phantasm II (Don Coscarelli, 1988) (DVD)
The most action-packed of the Phantasm films with the best special effects. James LeGros as Mike didn't bother me too much, but it's a bit distracting in the overall series. I loved the use of the spheres this time, but the Tall Man (Angus Schrimm) is a bit less effective and menacing this time. It's less about atmosphere and more about action. Kind of similar to the differences between Alien and Aliens in that way. Still lots of fun and a great sequel. ***

October 29
48. Deadgirl (Marcel Sarmiento-Gadi Harel, 2009) ☼ (DVD)
This film had been getting a lot of discussion on here and I was happy to finally check it out. There has been a recent upsurge in twisted coming-of-age stories. I guess its the zeitgeist version of John Hughes. The scariest thing of all is not what's found in the basement of a creepy old mental institution, but what the characters do with it. Atmospheric, darkly funny, and bold as hell...one of the most original and best acted horror films of the year. You will want to take a bath, though. ****

49. The Lost Boys (Joel Schumacher, 1987) (Bytowne Cinema)
I've seen this film a few times and I was there back in '87 when it premiered. I had read the tie-in movie novel that summer leading up to it. Seeing it on the big screen again was interesting. I liked Jason Patric better than I remember. Dianne Wiest had a scene with him where I felt like I was watching her psychotherapist character from In Treatment. Seeing Corey Feldman as the young Edgar Frog proves that he did do a good job in the lackluster sequel (probably the only reason to see that film). My favorite element of this film has always been the soundtrack, though. So many great musical moments. These bloodsuckers are cooler and nastier than any recent versions, including those on True Blood. But Near Dark remains a superior film. ***

October 31
50. Fear Itself: Spooked (Brad Anderson, 2008) ☼ (DVD) Personal Goal achieved
I've never understood the problem people have with Eric Roberts. Even though his career didn't follow through on the early promise, he remains damn interesting onscreen. He elevates the material here, which is kind of a noir ghost story that felt a bit like Stir of Echoes in its most effective moments. The location is one of the creepier I've seen this month (bested primarily by the church in Prince of Darkness). This falls somewhere in the middle of the series as far as quality. The best entries in Fear Itself are ones I watched before and after October. Check out Skin and Bones by Larry Fessenden and Stuart Gordon's Eater. **