31 Films in 31 Days - Horror Challenge Subset
#126
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Thread Starter
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Nah, sound likes another falls victim to the Hollywood remake machine - the flashy "MTV style" editing, WB channel eye candy and high production values just to cash in on name recognition. Shoulda caught the original first! The same thing happened to me with the American version of "The Ring".
I'll definitely be revisiting the original, bought the Blu Ray actually. Perhaps I let the 30 years of hype affect me. I usually don't do that though, and really expected to enjoy it. But the pacing was horrible, the character annoying, and the scares too few.
And btw, I am not alone in thinking that America got one right in their The Ring remake. It soundly beats the Japanese original.
#127
Needs to contact an admin about multiple accounts
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It took me quite a while to get into the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. When I first saw it I was annoyed and couldn't figure out how such annoying characters and zero production values could have made it considered a classic.
However, for various reasons (usually hanging out with other people who had never seen it) I watched it again a few more times through the years and it began to really grow on me.
Now Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a film I enjoy a lot and part 2 with thick doses of black comedy is also a fun viewing. I imagine now that the hype of it is gone you'll go into it with a different viewpoint later and might enjoy it more. However, I'm still annoyed as hell with Franklin.
Friday the 13th on the other hand has never gotten much better to me. It was mediocre at best the first time I saw it and remains that way today.
However, for various reasons (usually hanging out with other people who had never seen it) I watched it again a few more times through the years and it began to really grow on me.
Now Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a film I enjoy a lot and part 2 with thick doses of black comedy is also a fun viewing. I imagine now that the hype of it is gone you'll go into it with a different viewpoint later and might enjoy it more. However, I'm still annoyed as hell with Franklin.
Friday the 13th on the other hand has never gotten much better to me. It was mediocre at best the first time I saw it and remains that way today.
#128
Needs to contact an admin about multiple accounts
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just noticed a couple of back-to-back films on the list share a common "theme"...
"The Shining" and "Re-Animator" both borrow very heavily from the opening theme songs of older horror films. The former from "The Return of Dracula" and the latter from "Psycho". Coincidence? Probably.
"The Shining" and "Re-Animator" both borrow very heavily from the opening theme songs of older horror films. The former from "The Return of Dracula" and the latter from "Psycho". Coincidence? Probably.
I remember it being in Roger Corman's The Undead and I know it appears in one or more of the later Amicus anthology horror films. It's a striking and an effective piece.
#129
I'll be in the minority and state that I love this series. The Creature is my favorite Universal monster design. I've seen the 3D version of the first film several times at a local theater. I really love "Revenge" and having the monster attack mainland and marineland. When I was kid I hated "The Creature Walks Among Us" because he only appears as himself in the beginning. Watching the DVD a few years back I was surprised at how good the story really was. Again, I realize I'm alone in this but I am a fan for the gil-man.
#131
Needs to contact an admin about multiple accounts
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll be in the minority and state that I love this series. The Creature is my favorite Universal monster design. I've seen the 3D version of the first film several times at a local theater. I really love "Revenge" and having the monster attack mainland and marineland. When I was kid I hated "The Creature Walks Among Us" because he only appears as himself in the beginning. Watching the DVD a few years back I was surprised at how good the story really was. Again, I realize I'm alone in this but I am a fan for the gil-man.
#132
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Thread Starter
The Wolf Man
Never noticed before that this is set in Wales. My grandfather immigrated from Wales, and I was able take my father there a few years ago to track down some of our ancestral heritage; visiting record offices, cemeteries, and distant cousins. No werewolves found.
Also never knew that there was an earlier Universal werewolf movie, Werewolf of London. It's on the legacy set, perhaps I'll watch it later this month.
Also never knew that there was an earlier Universal werewolf movie, Werewolf of London. It's on the legacy set, perhaps I'll watch it later this month.
#134
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
When I was a kid, I didn't realize that Wolf Man was in Wales, either. I always thought it was odd that everyone in Transylvania was English. Now, of course, it all makes sense. Still don't know why Larry is so American, though. He couldn't have been gone that long.
#136
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Thread Starter
The Wolf Man
When I was a kid, I didn't realize that Wolf Man was in Wales, either. I always thought it was odd that everyone in Transylvania was English. Now, of course, it all makes sense. Still don't know why Larry is so American, though. He couldn't have been gone that long.
I loved these films as a kid, and love it when they put the various monsters together. Some, heck most, of the sequels combining them were quite cheesy, but fun cheese. There are still a few I need to track down on DVD.
There have been a couple more modern tales combining old classics that I quite enjoy, The Monster Squad and the Alan Moore League of Extraordinary Gentlemen graphic novels (not the abomination of a movie w/ Sean Connery).
#137
DVD Talk Gold Edition
I did not watch a movie last night for the first time this challenge (I had to catch up on some DVR overflow), but I will be watching the typical Friday night Manos-Exorcist combo.
I'm not sure which one to watch first. Do I want to get Manos out of the way first? I think so. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the non-MST3K version. My buddy bought me the DVD as a gag gift and at least I can knock it off my unwatched movie pile.
Side question -> Why aren't some of the people who chose the movies discussing them after the assigned viewing day is over?
I'm not sure which one to watch first. Do I want to get Manos out of the way first? I think so. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the non-MST3K version. My buddy bought me the DVD as a gag gift and at least I can knock it off my unwatched movie pile.
Side question -> Why aren't some of the people who chose the movies discussing them after the assigned viewing day is over?
#138
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Thread Starter
The Exorcist / Manos: The Hands of Fate
I'd watch The Exorcist first, a film that genuinely scares the crap out of me and leaves me sleeping with the lights on and hopefully not alone. Watching Manos afterwards would take the edge off and enable me to recover from the possession experience.
#139
Also never knew that there was an earlier Universal werewolf movie, Werewolf of London. It's on the legacy set, perhaps I'll watch it later this month.
#140
DVD Talk Legend
It's a good thing WB included English subs on Freaks, as Harry Earles is basically unintelligible. Fans of his should track down Tod Browning's silent The Unholy Three, in which Earles plays a jewel thief disguised as a baby. Quite bizarre. What happened to the fat black guy at the end of Texas Chainsaw Massacre? He just waddled slowly off into the distance. Nice aim with the wrench though. I'll check out Claw of Terror tomorrow, though I don't think I can endure another viewing of Manos - once is enough for any lifetime.
#141
But sadly, both the subtitles and the captions have no idea what Schlitzie is saying aside from "So What?".
#142
Senior Member
I did not watch a movie last night for the first time this challenge (I had to catch up on some DVR overflow), but I will be watching the typical Friday night Manos-Exorcist combo.
I'm not sure which one to watch first. Do I want to get Manos out of the way first? I think so. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the non-MST3K version. My buddy bought me the DVD as a gag gift and at least I can knock it off my unwatched movie pile.
Side question -> Why aren't some of the people who chose the movies discussing them after the assigned viewing day is over?
I'm not sure which one to watch first. Do I want to get Manos out of the way first? I think so. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on the non-MST3K version. My buddy bought me the DVD as a gag gift and at least I can knock it off my unwatched movie pile.
Side question -> Why aren't some of the people who chose the movies discussing them after the assigned viewing day is over?
Watching Manos solo for the first time in years was pretty painful; it actually goes really well with a crowd and a few beers.
#143
DVD Talk Gold Edition
"You have failed as Torgo!"
Re: "Manos" the hands of fate... a.k.a. "Attack of the Moths"
The tagline for this movie is "It's Shocking! It's Beyond Your Imagination!"
Truer words have never been spoken. This movie is (a) shocking (shockingly horrible) and (b) beyond my imagination (I never thought a movie could possibly be this bad.)
I did, however, feel for Torgo. This guy had some nasty arthritis in his knees, and he was obviously addicted to Meth. I'm guessing that he was a former NFL player and the players union wouldn't pay for his knee replacement surgery after he retired. Poor guy, all he wanted was a nice gal. I've tried the "shaky hand on the shoulder and hair slapping" move when I was out at the bars in in college. It usually worked when I combined it with the "say everything twice and have unusually long pauses between dialogue" maneuver. It was a killer one-two punch.
They must have hired a big gun for the screenplay. The dialogue and pacing was impeccable. Who could forget the famous line "They'll never think of looking for us in the house!" And who was the costume designer? The dual hand garment was all the rage in the late 60's / early 70's. Finally, the music was ahead of it's time. It's an amazing trick to play the clarinet out of an orifice other than one's mouth for a movie soundtrack. Excellent job...you!
P.S. Bravo to steelpotato for re-introducing me to this....uh...movie? I think I'll go start my hand on fire, cut it off, and then go running into the darkness now... in 32 second increments, of course.
The tagline for this movie is "It's Shocking! It's Beyond Your Imagination!"
Truer words have never been spoken. This movie is (a) shocking (shockingly horrible) and (b) beyond my imagination (I never thought a movie could possibly be this bad.)
I did, however, feel for Torgo. This guy had some nasty arthritis in his knees, and he was obviously addicted to Meth. I'm guessing that he was a former NFL player and the players union wouldn't pay for his knee replacement surgery after he retired. Poor guy, all he wanted was a nice gal. I've tried the "shaky hand on the shoulder and hair slapping" move when I was out at the bars in in college. It usually worked when I combined it with the "say everything twice and have unusually long pauses between dialogue" maneuver. It was a killer one-two punch.
They must have hired a big gun for the screenplay. The dialogue and pacing was impeccable. Who could forget the famous line "They'll never think of looking for us in the house!" And who was the costume designer? The dual hand garment was all the rage in the late 60's / early 70's. Finally, the music was ahead of it's time. It's an amazing trick to play the clarinet out of an orifice other than one's mouth for a movie soundtrack. Excellent job...you!
P.S. Bravo to steelpotato for re-introducing me to this....uh...movie? I think I'll go start my hand on fire, cut it off, and then go running into the darkness now... in 32 second increments, of course.
Last edited by Numes; 10-17-08 at 09:54 PM.
#144
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Then I just couldn't stop watching claw man.
As bad as it was, I just couldn't turn it off.
Would've responded sooner but I just now got some free time and I also had some problems when I switched from DSL to cable this week.
#145
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Thread Starter
The Exorcist / Halloween
Just noticed a couple of back-to-back films on the list share a common "theme"...
"The Shining" and "Re-Animator" both borrow very heavily from the opening theme songs of older horror films. The former from "The Return of Dracula" and the latter from "Psycho". Coincidence? Probably.
"The Shining" and "Re-Animator" both borrow very heavily from the opening theme songs of older horror films. The former from "The Return of Dracula" and the latter from "Psycho". Coincidence? Probably.
Are there any better themes than these two (one)?
Last edited by Trevor; 10-18-08 at 07:04 AM.
#146
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Thread Starter
Night of the Living Dead / Rosemary's Baby
I never got the bashing of Night of the Living Dead's performances. Give me amateur acting over hammy overacting (Day and Dawn) any day. Besides, Duane Jones turns in the finest, most believable performance of the entire trilogy. Plus, the scene in which the daughter butchers her mom with a spade still shocks today. I love Rosemary's Baby - the frumpy, nosy characteristics of the elderly satanists make them far more credible than the typical long haired, Manson-esque devil worshippers we're used to seeing.
But must admit that I haven't watched Day and Dawn yet, maybe this month. Not sure how I've managed to put them off this long, part of my "safe the best for last" thing I sometimes do.
#147
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Thread Starter
Manos: The Hands of Fate
#148
Challenge Guru & Comic Nerd
Thread Starter
Scream Bloody Murder (aka Claw of Terror)
The first time I caught it was at work. I got hooked on the beginning when he had the accident.
Then I just couldn't stop watching claw man.
As bad as it was, I just couldn't turn it off.
Would've responded sooner but I just now got some free time and I also had some problems when I switched from DSL to cable this week.
Then I just couldn't stop watching claw man.
As bad as it was, I just couldn't turn it off.
Would've responded sooner but I just now got some free time and I also had some problems when I switched from DSL to cable this week.
Was that The Tall Man we saw early in this film? It was!
Congrats on upgrading (I imagine) to cable.
#149
DVD Talk Gold Edition
The Exorcist
I viewed "The Version You've Never Seen Before" version of the movie. I had seen the VHS version (I'm assuming it was the theatrical version) about 10 years ago.
It was a little hard to remember what was new. IMDB helped me out a bit on that. The most obvious change was the ending. I really didn't like the ending on this version, I thought the theatrical ending was much better. The whole idea about the detective asking if they wanted to go to the movies was very odd and to end the movie on that note was pretty lame.
For those of you who have seen the two versions, what are your thoughts?
As for the movie, in general, it is really a classic. In general, if I have seen a movie before, it becomes much less scary the subsequent times I see the movie. That was the case for The Exorcist. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat during the movie, but it would have been so awesome to view this in the theater when it first came out.
It was a little hard to remember what was new. IMDB helped me out a bit on that. The most obvious change was the ending. I really didn't like the ending on this version, I thought the theatrical ending was much better. The whole idea about the detective asking if they wanted to go to the movies was very odd and to end the movie on that note was pretty lame.
For those of you who have seen the two versions, what are your thoughts?
As for the movie, in general, it is really a classic. In general, if I have seen a movie before, it becomes much less scary the subsequent times I see the movie. That was the case for The Exorcist. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat during the movie, but it would have been so awesome to view this in the theater when it first came out.
#150
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Claw of Terror
Ok, first off. Why doesn't he use THE CLAW to kill everyone? Hello?
This movie was bad, but not Manos bad. I actually though the main character was a pretty creepy guy. I'm kind of with Mister Peepers in the fact that it was in intriguing start to the movie, in a weird-cheesy sort of way. Why would they rename the movie "Scream Bloody Murder"? How could they not go with "Claw of Terror"?? "Scream Bloody Murder" is such a lame/generic title for a movie and doesn't distinguish it at all.
I think this quote sums up the movie:
"I get groceries, and clothes, and art stuff, and kill people and do you appreciate it? NO! N-O!"
This movie was bad, but not Manos bad. I actually though the main character was a pretty creepy guy. I'm kind of with Mister Peepers in the fact that it was in intriguing start to the movie, in a weird-cheesy sort of way. Why would they rename the movie "Scream Bloody Murder"? How could they not go with "Claw of Terror"?? "Scream Bloody Murder" is such a lame/generic title for a movie and doesn't distinguish it at all.
I think this quote sums up the movie:
"I get groceries, and clothes, and art stuff, and kill people and do you appreciate it? NO! N-O!"