HALLOWEEN RESURRECTION

This is not a good movie. In fact it is a bad one and it also ruins the effect of the previous showstopper before it. That being said it is quite a bit of fun and although it's nowhere near as good as the previous film it feels more like a Halloween sequel than that one did. The film centers on a doomed reality show that happens in the Myers house on Halloween night. Of course Myers is there and systematically stalks and brutalizes the wannabe stars. Some of the entertainment is of the so bad it's good kind from Sarah shattering a glass with her powerful scream to Busta Rhymes entire performance. The kills are fun and Rick Rosenthal of 1981s Halloween II sets a decent atmosphere. Although this sequel is completely unnecessary and doesn't move the franchise forward in any way it's marginally entertaining even though it's embarrassing.

3/5

IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS

This may be my favorite Carpenter movie besides Halloween of course. His Lovecraftian, Stephen King inspired tale of monsters and madness is terrifying and trippy. Sam Neil (Jurassic Park) stars as an insurance investigator looking for the missing author named Sutter Cane whose horror book series is driving people absolutely mad. While searching he accidentally stumbles upon the fictional town from his novels where the horrors seem to exist. The movie is unique in its premise and inspired in its execution. The movie works on many levels from its complex creature design to it's trippy rollout. Neil is fantastic in the lead and the perfect actor to take the audience along for his wild, scary ride. Although not initially successful critically or financially the film has since developed a deserved cult following and a reexamination by critics with justly successful results. Carpenter masterfully mixes his inspirations into a terror fueled apocalyptic nightmare. It's truly a modern horror classic.

4.5/5

WHITEOUT (2009)

Buried by it's studio with only a quick little release. Whiteout is without a doubt a bad movie. Kate Beckinsale stars as a US marshall with a troubled past who tries to track down a serial killer during a crazy storm season in Antarctica. Director Dominic Sena of the criminally underseen Kalifornia establish a decent atmosphere but the proceedings are so hammy and overblown. Nothing really feels genuine or believable. Worst of all it's not very engaging or interesting. It's a by the numbers horror tinged thriller that could have been exciting with its wild concept and location but pretty much phones it in all the way through. A very sexy Gabriel Macht (The Spirit) also stars.

2/5

HALLOWEEN (2007)

I've been a fan of Rob Zombie since he released his innovative House of 1000 Corpses. It wasn't perfect but it was clear he had a knack for the dirtier and more wildly creative side of the genre. He followed that up with the unexpected and surprisingly layered Devil's Rejects and so on and on. His films have always interested me. Even when they were hot messes like Lords of Salem. They were at least unique and intriguing. And stylistically inspired. So I was excited when first seeing this film back in 2007. I mostly like what he did with it. I really liked the first half with the dissection of Michael and his enviorment. And was quite blown away by Sheri Moon Zombie as his mother. It's by far her best performance. But when we get to the actually remade part it suffers from some of the same problems that plagued the franchise but with a meaner and less entertaining streak. Also the casting of Scout Taylor Compton is all wrong. She's just unbearably annoying and her friends are as well. I lived the ferociousness of his character but his journey was a little nonsensical.

The Boy (2016)

To get ready for it's superior sequel I rewatched this overly mediocre but ultimately disappointing genre entry that liberally borrows from other films including the much better under watched gem "housebound". The film centers on a young woman leaving an abusive relationship who ends up accepting a position in the English countryside as a nanny. Soon after arriving she discovers that she'll be watching a doll named Brahms. At first she thinks it's humorous but than feels like she's taking advantage of them. But strange things begin to happen leaving her wondering if the doll is alive. The movie is well shot with some amusing nightmare sequences. William Brent Bell of the dumb but fun Stay Alive builds a mildly effective atmosphere but because it's so misleading the end result is disappointing and only marginally entertaining. The main characters soap opera back story feels for ed as well. It all culminates in a fun but disappointing finale. The end result is another forgettable but somewhat entertaining horror flick.

THE INVISIBLE MAN

I have to admit my expectations were a bit on the high side walking into this one. Although normally I try to keep them in check because so many movies are utterly disappointing. Well I'm happy to sat this film completely blew me away.

 Leigh Whanell has created his masterpiece. A super update inspired by the invisible man but something completely new altogether. The brilliant Elizabeth Moss stars as Cecelia a damaged woman in an abusive, controlling marriage. As we begin the film she escapes and soon after finds that her ex has committed suicide. Following that she discovers that she will inherit five million dollars as long as she doesn't commit any crimes or is ruled mentally incompetent. 

All of that is a red herring for what's to come. Soon after she comes to realize that her new found freedom is an illusion and that her sociopathic ex is stalking her but is invisible. I don't want to get into the details because I refuse to spoil this for anyone but wow. From the opening moments Whannel concocts a mounting feeling of chest tightening dread and keeps it uncomfortably fluid throughout. The small moments of laughter and a feeling of freedom are only to distract you from what's coming. 

And trust me it's worth the wait. The film unfolds unexpectedly is utterly driven by Moss's vulnerable yet resilient performance. She's so smart and driven it's easy to root for her and to relate to her seemingly hopeless plight. The film succeeds in establishing Adrian as an utter monster. And the invisibility is a device that works so well because had he been given a steady face and performance, it would have humanized him. And it's all the more effective that it didn't. Despite being a reimagining this is a really new film. It feels fresh in every aspect and even though you might think you know what's going to happen the utter brilliance in which it's executed is utterly astounding.

4.5/5

h20 halloween 20 years later

The first real showdown of Jamie Lee Curtis's Laurie Strode and Michael Myers happened 20 years after the original film and it's fun but not much more. Getting the brilliant Kevin Williamson of Scream to jump on board was a smart decision to capitalize on the smart slasher craze of the era but in truth it's only mildly successful. It does nothing to really correct any of the franchise's inconsistencies unlike the 2018 version. It is however a hell of a lot of fun. They take in joy in playing up the expected cliches as well adding to the meta execution with stuff like Janet Leigh a.k.a. Psycho a.k.a Curtis's real life mom complaining about the shower drains and driving her original car. After a series of decent kills we move on to a short but effective finale where the two behemoths go head to head. Something completely ruined at the start of the next film. Sexy Josh Harnett, future Oscar winner Michelle Williams and LL Cool J hamming it up also star. Michael himself is different and I'm not sure I love it. He seems mindless and a little goofy with a spiky hairdo and I do wish they used the iconic score more instead of reject Scream tracks. All in all it's a bit of mindless fun that closes out her story nicely.

3.5/5

Halloween 6 the curse of Michael Myers

This review is for the theatrical cut which I prefer. As long as we ignore Michael getting his eyes shot out at the end of 2. This entertaining but flawed sequel has some definite lapses into weirdness with the druid stuff the Myers worshipping cult. 

But I love the feel of the movie. It's one of the more seasonal entries of the bunch. It also has a creepy, dread inducing atmosphere and it's quite stylish in its execution. The cinematography and rock version of the theme are cool and Paul Rudd is fun and sexy as a grown up Tommy Doyle. 

Sure it's filled with cliches and it's all a bit goofy but it's another solid entry in the Myers franchise.

3.5/5

psycho (1998) a stylish reimagining

You know I just don't get all the hate this film gets. I mean I know the shot for shot thing feels a little redundant. But this is really a very different film. Gus Van Sant's disturbing, psycho sexual execution is very stylish and unique. Vince Vaughn's goofy, insecure but oddly seductive Norman Bates is a underrated treat. 

Anne Heche, Viggo Mortensen and especially Julianne Moore's feisty take on their characters are all solid. Although the original film is undoubtedly superior. This unique reimagining pays the ultimate tribute to the material while retaining a dark magic of its own.

4/5