News : Paranormal Activity 3 Trailer Hits...

Another Halloween approaches, and whereas for the last seven long years we've been hit with a SAW movie at the cinema's come our favourite holiday, the chalice appears to have been passed on with the parallel releases of the final SAW movie last year, and the second PARANORMAL ACTIVITY movie.

Whether the PA franchise will run as long as the SAW franchise is anyone's guess. I don't see it as having a wellspring of ideas that can run that deep, but what the hell do I know?

Review : Black Christmas (1974)

 

Director:

Bob Clark

Writer:

Roy Moore (screenplay)

Stars:

Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea and Margot Kidder

"Hardly anyone ever heard The Velvet Underground, but everyone who did formed a band..."

The same could arguably be said for Bob Clark's third and most accomplished foray into the world of Horror, BLACK CHRISTMAS. A film with such a wide reaching influence on modern horror, its a sin that its so often overlooked, underrated and pushed aside for the more user-friendly Horror that rode on its mighty wave. Its only now, in the years after Clark's death, (killed along with his son in a tragic, drink driving incident), that this atmospheric masterwork is beginning to invoke the love its so long been denied.

News : THE THING (2011) Trailer has surfaced.....

 Anyone who reads this site will know I'm no fan of trailers. In fact, I avoid them like the plague. Seems that these days in order to sell a film to an audience, the producers feel its necessary to give away the entire plot, all the twists, and showcase the best scenes, minus the context. After watching INSIDIOUS, I decided to watch the trailer and was shocked by how many revelations were in there. A trailer should hint at whats to come and nothing more. And to be honest I'm at a loss as to think of any recent trailer that's took the subtle route. Not to mention TV spots, Internet 'leaks' and whatever the fuck else they deem we should see. if you think back to the face rape that was Platinum Dunes ELM STREET remake, they released practically every scene with cat face Freddy online. There was nothing left to surprise or titillate the viewer during the show.A bad example I know, seeing as the film made grown men cry and women grow a third boob, but you get my point.

Review : Quarantine 2 - Terminal (2011)

Director:

John Pogue

Writers:

John Pogue (screenplay)

Stars:

Mercedes Masöhn, Josh Cooke and Mattie Liptak

The original REC was a hard hitting Spanish shocker that showed the west how to REALLY make a first person Zombie epic. It was brutal, energised and paced to within in inch of its life. Perfect zombie anarchy. Then came the unsurprising remake, (reading subtitles is apparently a thing of the past), with the new title QUARANTINE, and whereas most remakes of foreign classics turn out inevitably shit, this one actually worked, mostly by virtue of closely copying the beats and scares of the original, and by having a lead actress with some serious acting chops, (and a scream to match) Next came REC 2, the sequel to the original Spanish classic, and it was every bit as brilliant and razor sharp as its original. Surely it would be remade by our good ole boys in Hollywood? A direct reworking? Well, no, as it happens.

Review : Insidious (2011)

 

Director:

James Wan

Writer:

Leigh Whannell

Stars:

Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne and Ty Simpkins

in·sid·i·ous/inˈsidēəs/Adjective

1. Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects.

2. Treacherous; crafty.

I arrived at the party pretty late on this one. I'd noticed a lot of buzz in the horror community about this film before its release, and a great deal of hype from its many admirers afterwards. Somehow, through all this I managed to stay in the dark as to what the films plot was. I knew it was directed by James Wang, who's SAW and DEATH SENTENCE I had enjoyed, and who's film, DEAD SILENCE, I absolutely adore. I was very keen to lay my eyes on this puppy. I just never found the right opportunity.

Review : The Ghosts of Crowley Hall (2008)

 Posing as a factual document of a paranormal investigation that went very wrong sometime in recent years. GHOSTS OF CROWLEY hall follows the blueprint of ghost hunting shows such as Britain's MOST HAUNTED, and Americas GHOST HUNTERS.

What in gods name was THIS? I'm at a loss as to what I just sat through. Even now, at the end I have no idea if GHOSTS OF CROWLEY HALL is factual or fictional. Now, for a found footage film that is surely a great sign. After all, look at the success BLAIR WITCH PROJECT enjoyed by fooling the masses. In this sub genre, reality is, of course, key to success.

Book Review : Mental Shrillness - Todd Russell (2011)

The cemetery is full of the reputations of once credible reviewers, dig deeper and you will always find the same causes of death....

The first of these most fatal threats is FREE SHIT. Thats right, kids. At some point you'll be asked personally by a writer/director/actor to have a look at their work and let the world know what you think. If your a big boy like that Harry Knowles guy, then that means your getting flown to Hollywood and having your ass kissed till its shiny red, all in a concerted effort to have you sell out your dignity in the name of FREE SHIT. If your a small time alley cat like me, its less of an issue. The issue a guy like me has is every bit as dangerous, and its known, of course, as COMPASSION.