thewlisian_afer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thewlisian_afer) wrote2007-10-26 12:14 am
thewlisian_afer) wrote2007-10-26 12:14 am
[REVIEWS] Film: Horror
Horror! Well, it's October. That's what I watch in October.
1408 [Unrated version] (2007)
In this thriller based on a Stephen King story, writer and paranormal debunker Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is determined to demystify the ghostly events of room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel, even though the clerk (Samuel L. Jackson) begs him to rethink his plans. Mike needs to write another book, and room 1408 may be his big ticket. But will he survive even one night? This unrated version includes extra footage and an alternate ending.
Stephen King's short stories tend to translate to screen much better than his novels do but I was worried about this one. I mean, most of the story is the scene between John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson (who plays the manager, not the clerk) in the manager's office. That'd make for a pretty damn boring movie. It wasn't boring, though. I liked the things that were added; they really built on the characters and situations while remaining true to the spirit of the story. John Cusack's performance was fantastic, I thought. I've never really given him a second thought; I always saw him as a moderately cute guy who managed to get himself cast in a few decent films. But he was really great here. And! This almost never happens but I'm pretty sure if I'd seen it in theaters, I would've jumped in my seat a time or two. [Rating: 3.5 stars]
Dead Silence (2007)
In the wake of his young bride's mysterious death, grieving newlywed Jamie Ashen (Ryan Kwanten) is forced to return to his haunted hometown, where he butts heads with the ghost of a creepy ventriloquist who was infamously murdered years ago. Amber Valletta and Donnie Wahlberg co-star in this chilling horror offering from James Wan and Leigh Whannell, the same team that created the Saw trilogy.
Well... The overabundance of blues and greens and darkness seriously beats the audience over the head with its "This is scary!" message and while dolls and dummies have always scared me, this ... didn't. The acting is mediocre. And the storytelling is very slow in some places and too rushed in others. There were several good points, as well, though! The opening credits rocked. I want the soundtrack. The ruined theater, whether it was a set or a miniature or green screened, I'm not sure, but it is made of awesome. And the ending was unconventional and satisfying to me. Overall: not something I'll ever feel the need to watch again, but I don't feel like my time was wasted. [Rating: 1.5 stars]
Cursed (2004)
In Los Angeles, an estranged brother and sister (Christina Ricci and Kevin Foley) must deal with the recent loss of their parents. But heaping more misery into their lives is a life-altering attack, one dark night, by a vicious werewolf. Directors (and horror maestros) Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson incorporate their hip, edgy style and put their unique signature on this classic tale of lupines running amok. A real howl!
Unless you're one of those people (like me!) who wants to see every werewolf movie ever, this is... Well, it's typical Wes Craven fare, so take that as you will. It's not a big compliment coming from me. I think he's generally pretty overrated. I will say this, though. There was a lot of pretty in this movie. Christina Ricci walking around, moving like a wolf and sniffing things? Is hot. Smokin' hot. Overall: I wouldn't object to watching it again if someone wanted to, but I don't see myself ever actually seeking it out again. [Rating: 2.5 stars]
The Beast of Bray Road (2005)
A wolf man terrorizes a small town in Leigh Scott's hair-raising creature feature based on actual events. Beginning in the early 1990s, dozens of people reported seeing a werewolf-like creature stalking the cornfields of southeastern Wisconsin. In this fictional account, a big-city cop and an off-kilter scientist must protect the town's citizens from the werewolf. Jeff Denton, Tom Downey, Tom Nagel, Heather Conforto and Joel Hebner star.
Wow. Redneck stereotypes, gratuitous nudity, an overabundance of gore simply for shock value, bad acting... This sucked. A lot. A whooooooole lot. [Rating: 1 star]
The Company of Wolves (1984)
On the surface, the classic "Little Red Riding Hood" seems nothing more than a dark children's tale with an ending that exemplifies the proverbial triumph of good versus evil. But Neil Jordan's retelling makes it a lush and complicated mystery, with an adolescent girl, Rosaleen (Sarah Patterson), encountering the first stirrings of womanhood and being preyed upon by wolves. Co-stars Angela Lansbury, David Warner and Stephen Rea.
ahahahahahaha Stephen Rea, what were you thinking? Congratulations to this movie for the grossest transformation scene ever. (The first one, not the others.) And they used some really gorgeous animals, too. It took me several tries to get through the film, though. Probably because it didn't really have a very strong overall plot... It was more like a collection of vaguely subject-linked short films. And none of those stories struck a particular chord with me, even though it was all werewolves. [Rating: 2 stars]
1408 [Unrated version] (2007)
In this thriller based on a Stephen King story, writer and paranormal debunker Mike Enslin (John Cusack) is determined to demystify the ghostly events of room 1408 at the Dolphin Hotel, even though the clerk (Samuel L. Jackson) begs him to rethink his plans. Mike needs to write another book, and room 1408 may be his big ticket. But will he survive even one night? This unrated version includes extra footage and an alternate ending.
Stephen King's short stories tend to translate to screen much better than his novels do but I was worried about this one. I mean, most of the story is the scene between John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson (who plays the manager, not the clerk) in the manager's office. That'd make for a pretty damn boring movie. It wasn't boring, though. I liked the things that were added; they really built on the characters and situations while remaining true to the spirit of the story. John Cusack's performance was fantastic, I thought. I've never really given him a second thought; I always saw him as a moderately cute guy who managed to get himself cast in a few decent films. But he was really great here. And! This almost never happens but I'm pretty sure if I'd seen it in theaters, I would've jumped in my seat a time or two. [Rating: 3.5 stars]
Dead Silence (2007)
In the wake of his young bride's mysterious death, grieving newlywed Jamie Ashen (Ryan Kwanten) is forced to return to his haunted hometown, where he butts heads with the ghost of a creepy ventriloquist who was infamously murdered years ago. Amber Valletta and Donnie Wahlberg co-star in this chilling horror offering from James Wan and Leigh Whannell, the same team that created the Saw trilogy.
Well... The overabundance of blues and greens and darkness seriously beats the audience over the head with its "This is scary!" message and while dolls and dummies have always scared me, this ... didn't. The acting is mediocre. And the storytelling is very slow in some places and too rushed in others. There were several good points, as well, though! The opening credits rocked. I want the soundtrack. The ruined theater, whether it was a set or a miniature or green screened, I'm not sure, but it is made of awesome. And the ending was unconventional and satisfying to me. Overall: not something I'll ever feel the need to watch again, but I don't feel like my time was wasted. [Rating: 1.5 stars]
Cursed (2004)
In Los Angeles, an estranged brother and sister (Christina Ricci and Kevin Foley) must deal with the recent loss of their parents. But heaping more misery into their lives is a life-altering attack, one dark night, by a vicious werewolf. Directors (and horror maestros) Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson incorporate their hip, edgy style and put their unique signature on this classic tale of lupines running amok. A real howl!
Unless you're one of those people (like me!) who wants to see every werewolf movie ever, this is... Well, it's typical Wes Craven fare, so take that as you will. It's not a big compliment coming from me. I think he's generally pretty overrated. I will say this, though. There was a lot of pretty in this movie. Christina Ricci walking around, moving like a wolf and sniffing things? Is hot. Smokin' hot. Overall: I wouldn't object to watching it again if someone wanted to, but I don't see myself ever actually seeking it out again. [Rating: 2.5 stars]
The Beast of Bray Road (2005)
A wolf man terrorizes a small town in Leigh Scott's hair-raising creature feature based on actual events. Beginning in the early 1990s, dozens of people reported seeing a werewolf-like creature stalking the cornfields of southeastern Wisconsin. In this fictional account, a big-city cop and an off-kilter scientist must protect the town's citizens from the werewolf. Jeff Denton, Tom Downey, Tom Nagel, Heather Conforto and Joel Hebner star.
Wow. Redneck stereotypes, gratuitous nudity, an overabundance of gore simply for shock value, bad acting... This sucked. A lot. A whooooooole lot. [Rating: 1 star]
The Company of Wolves (1984)
On the surface, the classic "Little Red Riding Hood" seems nothing more than a dark children's tale with an ending that exemplifies the proverbial triumph of good versus evil. But Neil Jordan's retelling makes it a lush and complicated mystery, with an adolescent girl, Rosaleen (Sarah Patterson), encountering the first stirrings of womanhood and being preyed upon by wolves. Co-stars Angela Lansbury, David Warner and Stephen Rea.
ahahahahahaha Stephen Rea, what were you thinking? Congratulations to this movie for the grossest transformation scene ever. (The first one, not the others.) And they used some really gorgeous animals, too. It took me several tries to get through the film, though. Probably because it didn't really have a very strong overall plot... It was more like a collection of vaguely subject-linked short films. And none of those stories struck a particular chord with me, even though it was all werewolves. [Rating: 2 stars]
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I remember this. Granted, I was between the ages 4 to 9 at the time but still. It's become WI's own urban legend.
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