"Theatrical Showing" Reviews/Discussion - 2011 Horror Challenge: Bonus Day

[Chad]

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Theatrical Showing
http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n172/dvdchad/MovieTheater.jpg

Tucker & Dale vs Evil | Dream House
The Thing | The Skin I Live In
Paranormal Activity 3 | Red State
& More
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IMDB - IN THEATERS (http://www.imdb.com/movies-in-theaters)

These "October Horror Movie Challenge" threads are for the discussion of the films in the 31 FILM SUBSET (http://forum.dvdtalk.com/10392593-post257.html).

MAIN THREAD (http://forum.dvdtalk.com/dvd-talk/578743-100-movies-31-days-6th-annual-october-horror-movie-challenge-10-1-10-31-a.html) | LIST THREAD (http://forum.dvdtalk.com/dvd-talk/579437-6th-annual-october-horror-movie-challenge-10-1-10-31-list-thread.html)

The plan is for everyone to watch this film on the October day in the thread title, and to start discussing it the morning of the following day.
You may start discussion early if you want, but the preferred plan is for this to be as much of a group exercise as possible, with all of us viewing it "together" and discussing after.

Of course, you are totally encouraged to participate in these threads even if you haven't watched the movie on the designated day.
Even if you haven't watched it in years, or are not participating in the Horror Challenge, please feel free to chime in.

Spoiler tags are unnecessary in here, so if you have yet to see the film BEWARE OF SPOILERS.

OHMC7 HOME (http://forum.dvdtalk.com/dvd-talk/578743-100-movies-31-days-6th-annual-october-horror-movie-challenge-10-1-10-31-a.html)
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[Trevor]

So I doubt that I'm going to get to the theater this month. This was optional, right? I can still count my theme night checklist as 100% (presuming I do these last four days)?

[Chad]

100% optional. Just an extra chance to still complete the subset list if you missed one of the 31 picks.

Nothing for me either. Too bad Tucker & Dale wasn't playing in a theater near me. If anyone has it playing locally, go see it. Now.

[Trevor]

100% optional. Just an extra chance to still complete the subset list if you missed one of the 31 picks.
Ah! So it works as a wildcard? Good to know. If my BD of Repulsion craps out on me on Monday I'll just run to a theater and watch something horrific.
Nothing for me either. Too bad Tucker & Dale wasn't playing in a theater near me. If anyone has it playing locally, go see it. Now.
Loved that one when I saw it at a fest last year. I'll be buying that one someday for sure.

[Undeadcow]

Here's some spoiler limited thoughts on Paranormal Activity 3; which I recommend only to fans of the first two. I admire that Paranormal Activity has rules it follows although they're really starting to stretch things.

All footage must be in "found footage" motif so the film takes forever to set-up by plotting how so much random footage was taken to capture events. Beyond one point the characters don't even seem to respond to the footage (which might be realistic not to catch everything). Also the camera limitations are used for cheap sight gags that feel particularly un-natural in PA3.

This is not a series of films just centered around a found footage gag; it is also a mythos surrounding specific characters, a prequel. It is gutsy for the filmmakers to weave an advancing plot (versus just filming random disconnected found footage cash-ins) and I appreciate the continuity. However, PA3 does lose something being so married to these characters that it narrows plot progression and opportunities.

Hidden for major plot spoilers...
I though the grandmother witch was predictable being a stereotype (elderly bag witch) and given the character emphasis but lack of involvement early in. However, did anyone understand her motivation for targeting the demon on her family? I assumed it was because she had been haunted and like in PA2 tried to pass the buck but even that seemed unconvincing.

[Trevor]

^ Yeah, if I let myself think about it I'd agree with all those shortcomings. But relaxing my brain, it scared the pants off me and I enjoyed it more than the first two in the series.

The Thing (2011) was useless. It would be a decent film if the original didn't exist, nowhere near a classic, but mediocre and enjoyable enough. But with it adding nothing new or particularly well done, it is perhaps the most useless film I've ever seen.