2011
DIRECTOR: ADAM WINGARD
WRITER: SIMON BARRETT
STARRING: SHARNI VINSON, JOE SWANBERG, AJ BOWEN, NICHOLAS TUCCI, AND BARBARA CRAMPTON
I THINK I HAVE MY UPCOMING HALLOWEEN COSTUME NARROWED DOWN...SHOULD I BE THE LAMB, THE TIGER, OR THE FOX?
IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT WINGARD AND BARRETT ARE NOT JUST A DIRECTOR AND A WRITER, BUT THEY ARE SIMPLY ARTISTS. THIS DUO AESTHETICALLY SPLATTERED THE BLOOD WHILE TELLING A HORRIFIC, YET REALISTIC TALE.
IT STARTED WITH A CLIMAXING BOOM...LITERALLY. THE BEST WAY TO REEL IN THE AUDIENCE IS TO DISTRACT THEM WITH SOME BOOBIES RIGHT BEFORE SCARING THE LIFE OUT OF THEM. MY BIGGEST PET PEEVE IS BEING FORCED TO WAIT MORE THAN FIFTEEN MINUTES TO SEE THE FIRST TRACE OF BLOOD IN A HORROR MOVIE. THIS OPENING WAS THIRST QUENCHING TO SAY THE LEAST.
EVERY KILL SCENE WAS UNIQUE AND HAD ME JUMPING OUT OF MY SEAT. I DUG THE CHOICE OF WEAPONS, ESPECIALLY THE BOW AND ARROW. IT ALMOST MAKES ME WANT TO BUY ONE PROBABLY BECAUSE I ALREADY OWN A MACHETE AND AN AXE. I FEEL LIKE THIS WEAPON CREATED FEAR SIMILAR TO THAT OF A GUN BECAUSE IT PREVENTED THE VICTIMS FROM FEELING SAFE ENOUGH TO RUN AWAY. THIS WEAPON WAS SIGNIFICANT IN THAT SENSE, ALONG WITH THE SHOCK OF THE FIRST FAMILY KILL. THE PROCEEDING KILL WAS ALSO A SHOCK AND NOTHING SHORT OF JAW DROPPING...JUST SAYING.
THE MOST ARTISTIC MOMENTS IN THE MOVIE I FOUND RESTED IN THE CAMERA ANGLES. SOME OF THE DIALOGUE SCENES WERE UNMISTAKABLY SO CLOSE TO THE CHARACTER'S FACES. I LITERALLY COULD COUNT NOSE HAIRS AND PORES. I NOTICED THIS IMMEDIATELY, AND KEPT IT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FILM UNTIL I REALIZED WHAT IT MEANT. IN MY OPINION, IT WAS FORESHADOWING THE VIEWER TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CHARACTERS BECAUSE ONE OF THEM IS DIRTY.
ULTIMATELY, I LOVED THIS MOVIE AND I'M GOING TO TELL THE WORLD!
SPEAKING OF WHICH, IT WOULD BE EASIER TO TELL THE WORLD IF I COULD FIND A MASK! TIRED OF SEARCHING THE WEB AND HALLOWEEN STORES (IT IS A FUCKING PLASTIC ANIMAL MASK I AM SPEAKING OF), I DROVE ALL THE WAY TO MARYLAND FOR THE MONSTER MANIA HORROR CONVENTION IN THE HOPES OF FINDING ONE... AND TO MEET MICHAEL MADSEN OF COURSE. APPARENTLY THEY WERE GIVEN OUT FOR FREE AT THE CHERRY HILL CONVENTION WHICH I ATTENDED BUT WAS OBVIOUSLY TOO LATE. L.C. HOLT, THE MAIN KILLER IN THE FLICK, COULDN'T EVEN TELL ME WHERE TO BUY ONE. I'VE EXTENDED MY SEARCH AND REACHED OUT TO LIONSGATE SO WISH ME LUCK!!! ALSO, DOWNLOAD THE FREE HORROR MOVIE MAKER APP-YOU'RE NEXT EDITION!
So who is it? Who's mask makes your blood run cold? Who's theme music forces tingles down your spine? Who's bloodcurdling voice keeps you up at night?
Although there are so many different types of horror, I think everyone's beliefs influence what really scares them. I personally find that my weakness lies in any situation that can happen in real life. Everyone's interpretation of realistic horror differs, but I think we all can agree that a "Saw" killer or even a Kevin Spacey character from Se7en can physically kidnap and kill you at any second in any place. But how does everyone feel about The Forth Kind or any of 484,739 movies about exorcisms? Just because it doesn't scare me on my television doesn't mean I am certain of its incapability of really happening.
So I am curious...I want to know what scares YOU!
Although I think this movie rocked, I do think some things could have been better. If you have ever read any of my blogs you should know what I think about the first ten minutes of horror movies. Somebody has to get bloody and die! After all, it is why people watch these kinds of films. The introduction was okay, but instead of showing surveillance footage of beatings, I think the movie should have opened up with a flashback from last year's purge. A girl is running late while coming home from work. She steps inside her home a few minutes into the twelve hour purge session and takes a breath of relief. All of a sudden...BOOM! Masked people attack and the scene cuts and flashes back to the present day where Ethan Hawke's character is driving home. I feel this would have added immediate tension and suspense to the story.
As I said in my previous blog, the ending was slightly predictable with the homeless victim helping the family in the end. I personally thought the mother should have been killed, leaving the children, with the help of the homeless victim, to fully participate and indulge in what the purge is all about. I really thought the little boy was going to live up to his creepy presence and kill someone, but I was let down. I feel that it would be ironic for the kids to be the murdering heros and protectors in the end because they, like most of the people in the audience, admit they have too big of a heart to perform such things, but I believe when you and your family's lives are at stake your capabilities will surprise you. I also was not impressed when the mother let her neighbors keep their lives. I mean, is that going to be awkward for them tomorrow?
The leader of the purge gang is played by Rhys Wakefield. I really admired his performance. I thought his attitude and personality were sinister. He portrayed a realistic and emotionless sociopath. His odd balance of politeness twisted with his evil were effective on screen. He had "the look" in his eyes, and a smile that can make your spine tingle.
I really dug the whole story line with the daughter's boyfriend. I was expecting him to contribute to the family's night of horror, however, I was not expecting him to shoot and die so quickly and at the same time the brother was letting a stranger into their home. The suspense was overwhelming! I also liked how the neighbors came into play. I liked how I was thrown off with their random, heroic acts, only to be later blinded by their evil. It's just a shame more people didn't die in the film. (Although I did like that face smash by the mom in the end!)
Oh, and by the way...can anyone tell me who the masked girl was? After Ethan Hawke's character kills her and takes off her mask, the camera studies her face too long to be an accident. Unfortunately, I did not recognize her, but I have a feeling it must be his secretary who he speaks with on the way home from work in the beginning of the movie. If my memory is correct, she is the only female in the story aside from the main characters and neighbors. Let me know if you caught that!
2013
DIRECTOR: JAMES DEMONACO
WRITER: JAMES DEMONACO
STARRING: ETHAN HAWKE, LENA HEADEY, MAX BURKHOLDER, ADELAIDE KANE, AND RHYS WAKEFIELD
It's way better than I expected! After all, it's not my movie ideas that are bombing and causing everyone to see past the scary previews and into the soul of the shitty plots of recent movies. Well, I am happy to say that this film lived up to its expectations plus more!
Since I have been urging people to see this, I will not spoil a single thing for you;) In return, I ask that after you watch it, read my second blog where I discuss specifics about the film.
This movie had everyone jumping in their seats from the moment they walked in until the credits began to roll. I have to admit, this is one of the most suspenseful movies I have ever laid eyes on. It certainly helped that the volume was BLASTING in AMC last night.
Twists and turns slice through the plot when you're least expecting it, and the problems that arise are overwhelming at times! The ending is a little predictable, but it really is not that relevant in the overall story. The plot is so intense that it didn't really matter how it ended. Oddly enough, I feel like the plot did not make or break this film because it is an original and unique movie.
ENJOY!
2011
DIRECTOR: MICHAEL GOI
WRITER: MICHAEL GOI
STARRING: RACHEL QUINN AND AMBER PERKINS
I stumbled across this film on Netflix while browsing for a horror flick I haven't seen yet. I put this on by fluke, and immediately realized it wasn't what I had initially expected. For some odd reason I was intrigued. I only had time to watch the first half, but my curiosity pushed me to finish it at a later sitting. My life is somewhat altered as a result.
I am still pondering if I find this recommendable or not. It somewhat reminds me of Kids from 1995 because its raw and disturbing scenes make it hard to watch, however, the message is so powerful I'm thankful I did. I absolutely suggest educating yourself about this movie prior to viewing it, which is why this will prepare you with the bulletproof vest full of spoilers!
Before watching the second half of this, I logged in to the handy IMDB where the real horror was exposed. If i didn't cheat with IMDB and Google, I think I would have been even more damaged from a particular image. An image I could not even stomach saving to my computer to post on this blog. Typically I search for the most shocking pictures on the internet for this blog, but not this time. It's far too sensitive and serious to justify any mockery.
WARNING! You will need a shower after reading this...
Megan is Missing features two girls in their early teens who are tortured, raped, and murdered shortly after being abducted by an internet predator. It is filmed with a hand held camera, giving it that realistic touch that documentaries do. Similar to The Blair Witch Project, it keeps you wondering if this really happened or not. While reading up on this, I learned that it is not completely true, however, it is based on a combination of several similar, true events. According to some viewer's reviews, I believe a strikingly similar story, including the blue bin and all, did occur in Portland, Oregon in 2002.
The two best friends get kidnapped separately, resulting in the first half of the movie revolving around their backgrounds and then all the questions and possibilities about the first girl going missing. The second half of the film is heart wrenching, as the viewer gets a front row seat to the torture the second girl endures. The "last 22 minutes" are unforgettable in the sense that we helplessly watch a child get molested prior to being buried alive in the same blue bin holding the bloody corpse of her best friend who was confined in a disturbingly demented sexual contraption before her death.
Contrary to much negative feedback I've read from the public, I have so many things to address and highlight. Even though I will NEVER watch this a second time, I have to say the shock value is touching enough to scare kids straight, or update their mindset and awareness of what monstrosity the internet can hold. Sometimes seeing the horror, as opposed to reading or hearing about it, reminds us that nobody, including children, is invincible and these things can happen to anyone at any second.
I can't pay enough compliments to Michael Goi, the writer and director of this film. Although the idea is based on true events, the way he told the story was unique and abstract. Although some scenes were long and drawn out, I feel like the feeling of the message was successfully delivered as a result of this. I don't know where he came up with some of these scenes, and more importantly, who the fuck constructed that torture chamber thing, but the message was certainly delivered.
Rachel Quinn is the actress who plays the girl in the "trap", and I cannot credit her enough. Props to her for being able to participate in this film because I do not think just anyone can brush off that feeling of humiliation with a simple director's "cut" call. I also am curious how long it took to strap that thing on her. Clearly I am still scarred.
I found the predator to be realistic and practical. His voice was soothing, and his story was frighteningly believable. People can sit here all day and claim they would never be that trusting and stupid, however, children are vulnerable and unaware of the reality of danger that exists in the world today.
In conclusion, I feel this movie is worth your time as long as you know what to expect when you watch it. If you are looking for something similar to Saw or Se7en, keep browsing because this may be disappointing, misconstrued, and underrated if it is advertised towards an inappropriate target audience and misplaced in the wrong genre.
2013
DIRECTOR: ANDRES MUSCHIETTI
WRITERS: NEIL CROSS (SCREENPLAY), ANDRES MUSCHIETTI, AND BARBARA MUSCHIETTI (SCREENPLAY AND STORY)
STARRING: JESSICA CHASTAIN, NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU, AND MEGAN CHARPENTIER
I know it's Mother's Day weekend, but don't bother spending your cash on Mama.
With the current lack of horror flicks in the theaters and on DVD, I can't express the immensity of disappointment I felt after watching this. The potential glistened in the first fifteen minutes only to be shattered moments later. Let's face it...Mama's appearance just wasn't scary. It's 2013 and I can easily tell this budget was more than likely exploding in the millions category. Her presence was built up perfectly between the scary music and the pop up action, but unfortunately that frightening emotion was scattered away by an accidental comic relief. I've seen scarier halloween decorations and awkwardly convulsed more while playing those "scary prank games". Sorry, but her computer generated face makes me wonder if Michael Jackson is still alive.
The ending of a film is one of the most crucial points. It truly has the power to make or break a movie. Sorry to spoil it, but this ending was terrible. The children should have never been separated from each other, let alone the youngest of the two being swept off a cliff to her death. Seriously, what the fuck? It's just wrong in so many ways. I know this film was labeled with the eye-rolling sci-fi genre sticker, but it really couldn't be any more unrealistic in every aspect you look at it.
The day after I watched this cluster fuck, I vented about it to a friend. As I was filling in the general details about the story, I was reminded of how many unanswered and irrelevant happenings that occurred. Is it me or did we ever find out why the husband shot his wife and attempted to shoot his children? Also, what was Mama's motives? Yes, they showed us a glimpse of the last few seconds of her life, but what was her deal? I just cannot grasp what these writers were thinking. Not even enough to explain a synopsis effectively.
2007
DIRECTOR: DAVE MEYERS
WRITERS: ERIC RED (also screenwriter for the 1986 original film), JAKE WADE WALL, AND ERIC BERNT
STARRING: SEAN BEAN, SOPHIA BUSH, AND ZACHARY KNIGHTON
It was love at first sight with this movie. Initially I thought, finally the lead female role is played by a hot brunette. Then I met "the hitcher" and was terrified and fascinated all at the same time.
I recently watched the original, and must admit it was good considering its age. As big of a horror fan as I am, I still find great difficulty in watching older flicks because it's hard to place yourself in the character's shoes and get the shit scared out of you. Our generation is spoiled with special effects and modernized technologies to call for help with.
What I really like about this movie are the characters. Ironically, I feel like horror movies contain the least amount of character development Nobody watches a scary film to learn about the characters' past because we want to see blood. RIGHT NOW. Although we don't know much about the main characters in this movie, their actions and mannerisms tell us their story. I still want to stress how rare this is for this genre.
Sean Bean plays "the hitcher" and he is fucking scary. Personally, I think he makes the movie. His relentless violence, yet calmness are brilliant and makes me route for him in the end! Pretty much, I feel like his character naturally portrays a real life serial killer.
Sophia Bush plays the lead female role who finds herself running in circles in this sociopath's game of control. I actually like her and not just because she's beautiful. I think she's tough without being obnoxious and butched out, and she's easily likable as a result of her common sense. Her boyfriend on the other hand, is a pussy. I actually think his character is intentionally portrayed as the soft spoken, unaggressive type because that's the vulnerability "the hitcher" sniffed out when he targeted them. It is humorous when the boyfriend is called out on this.
There is one scene in this film that stretches my eyes open wide while my arm hair stands up like an ovation. Near the end there is a car chase scene where the police are trying to capture the boyfriend and girlfriend. Just when it seems like the couple is about to surrender to the shooting police cars and helicopter, that adrenaline rushing Nine Inch Nails song "Closer to God" starts playing. "The Hitcher" catches up to the commotion and takes every last fucking siren out. I am not a sucker for action scenes, but I can't help but to admire how bad ass this killer is!
