Grimm Reviewz

THE THING (2011)

2012-03-27T16:03:00.003-07:00

First Thoughts
This film is actually a prequel based on the 1982 John Carpenter film with the same title. It doesn't really make too much sense to me why they didn't title it different like The Thing: The beginning. It's kind of stupid if you ask me, to title the prequel the same. But seeing as I'm a huge fan of the John Carpenter film I was stoked to see this movie. And I could only hope that it lived up to the 1982 masterpiece...

Now this film was directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., I don't know too much this guy has done so my initial thought was that I didn't know what to expect. It was either going to work or not, using a director who's not well known is always a gamble. However, the producers of the Dawn Of The Dead remake did this film so that gave me some hope. I thought the remake of Dawn Of The Dead was great, big fan.

Story Plot
This film is the origins of The Thing, it's the backstory of how it was found and how it escaped to wreak havoc in the 1982 film. This takes place with the team of Norwegian scientists finding a hot spot on their radar coming from under the ice of the cold Antactica.

After digging The Thing up from underground and seeing it in basically a huge icecube it's hard to really get a look at it through the thickness of the ice it's frozen in. I liked the fact that they didn't just show you the creature, you had to wait for it and just hope it was as good as your imagination envisioned. However, I didn't envision it to look like the way it did but I was pleased with it.

After showing you what The Thing looks like as it breaks free from its icy chamber caos ensues. We find ourselves in a guessing game of who is who when the team discovers that this alien can transform into any living creature, including them. This was alot like the Carpenter film to a certain degree but they go with a teeth test instead of a blood test like in the 1982 film. They start sorting out who's The Thing and who isn't by checking for teeth fillings, which back then were shiny silver and not white by today's standards to match your teeth. They do this because they discover that when immitatting things The Thing rejects any and all metal objects, therefore, anyone without fillings are suspects. I think that's the one time in your life where you'd be happy you drank alot of soda.

The film from here goes into everyone against everyone, because the people without fillings are raving that the others are crazy and are going to get them killed if they don't let them in their group. Here is where the conflict lies because that's a crappy situation you been in and you don't want to be the person accusing someone of being an alien and cause them to get killed by an alien (laugh).

After that the few members who are left of the team hunt down and search out the alien and put it out of it's mysery...or do they?

Special Effects/ Creature effects and design
I thought that the way The Thing itself looked when it broke out of the ice was pretty cool. Like I stated before, it wasn't what I was expecting but it was still a cool design. It looked alot like a menacing bug. A big black insect with sharp legs.

I also liked the way some of the other effects look but I feel that they dulled it down with bad CG, so that was disapointing. I also think they showed too much of The Thing and it's transforming ways. I would have liked it more if they showed it less to keep it scary. The more you see it the more used to seeing it you become. So the more you see it the less scary it is. Do glimpses or momentary shots to keep the suspense and mystery going. Not long drawn out shots like they did in this film.

I liked the two-headed Thing, it looked very close to the one they showed in the 1982 film. But they ruined it with the long scenes they did showing it. After awhile it just kind of showcased how bad the CG was and made is disapointing.

Final rating for the movie is
CG/Creature effects get a 2/4 rating from me.

Actors And Characters
This film has a pretty good cast although I think that for this movie, if they even wanted to try and live up to the Carpenter film, could have been better. There was definately room for improvement.

I think that Mary Elizabeth Winstead did a good job as the lead role but they should've gone for a stronger leading role.

I also wasn't a fan of Eric Christian Olsen. I usually never am though.

Casting/Characters gets a 2/4 rating from me.

Gore/Violence
The gore in this film was pretty decent, they definitely didn't go over board with it like most movies tend to do today.

The violence was pretty good as well but nothing memorable from either the gore or violence.

Gore/Violence gets a 2/4 from me.

Most memorable quote
"So, I'm gonna die before I floss?"

Final Thoughts
I started off really liking this film but as it went on it got progressively worse. I didn't like how much they showed the alien and I didn't like the ending at all. The spaceship scene ruined the whole movie for me. I thought it was utterly ridiculous. They showed too much ruining most of the mysery and making the movie a failure in comparison to the Carpenter film. This film had potential but I guess this is what happens when you get a weak cast and a unfamilliar director.

The movie overall gets a 2/4 from me.

Fright Night Part 2 (1988)

2012-02-28T16:31:00.001-08:00

This is such a hard movie to find and get ahold of that I'm very pleased I was finally able to see it after all this time. The DVD goes for almost $70 on amazon, and seeing as I've never seen it there was no way I'm spending that kind of money on a movie that I don't know if I like or not.

As I've mentioned I've never seen this film up until now and I'm glad the opportunity finally arose. I have a few friends who have seen it and whenever I asked them how it was I just got the generic "it's okay, not as good as the first" reply. So I didn't have high hopes going in to this because they didn't exactly make it seem appealing.

But as the movie played and I saw not only William Ragsdale reprising his role as Charley Brewster but Roddy McDowall also reprising his role as Peter Vincent. So right from the start my feeling changed and I figured this would be a good movie after all.

This film takes place shortly after the first with Charley no longer believing in vampires due to seeing a shrink. He believes Jerry Dandridge was just a psycho and he imagined the vampire scenario. Peter Vincent however is still hosting Fright Night and believes in vampires. When Jerry's sister comes to town wanting revenge for her dead brother Charley starts to realize he's not crazy and that vampires are real. This leads him and Peter Vincent on another vampire hunt.

There were so many funny moments in this movie as well as jumps. It turned out to be a damn good sequel and did the first justice. The story was strong, the acting was good, the effects were cheesy but awesome. Alot of memorable moments came from this film including the vampire and werewolf bowling scene! Yes, I know it sounds ridiculous but it's a great scene.

Now the big question- is Fright Night Part 2 better than the first?
No it isn't. It's like Halloween H20 to the original 1978 Halloween. It was a good sequel and it kept the feel of the first and stayed true to it but it just didn't have the same amount of lightning in a bottle the first had. Good sequel though and I would proudly own it one day when I don't have to spend $70 on a used copy of it.

I found Jerry's sister, Regina Dandridge, very seductive and beautiful. Good job on the casting as well. But really to experience this movie you have to see it. It's funny and very entertaining. I'm glad to say that after all these years of wondering that Fright Night Part 2 did it's job with flying colors. It puts a smile on my face. And as I said in my review for the remake, I liked the remake alot so that means that all 3 films made in this franchise have my approval.

Seeing Charlie and and Peter Vincent together again was so cool! I didn't even know they were going to be in it!

3 stars for me. Trailer below.

The House On Sorority Row (1983)

2012-02-16T15:51:00.000-08:00

Now here is a movie that I've been wanting to see ever since I saw the horrible remake. I was so turned off by the remake and how bad it was that I knew the original couldn't be as bad, especially since it's an 80's film categorizing it as an 80's slasher.

What I liked about this film was the story and the way it was pulled off. Really kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing who the killer was. There were some great kills and some moments where the female in distress is doing dumb things that are only going to get her killed, but that's how these movies go. Regardless of how much we want to warn them or remind them how dumb and foolish they're being it doesn't matter, they're going to die anyway (laugh).

This film, as I mentioned before, has a strong story and the acting is pretty good also. I just wish I wasn't a baby when this came out so I could have seen it in all its glory. Much different than the remake, that didn't even make it on my review list, wasn't worth my time.

It's crazy thinking of how this film has slipped under the radar of just about everybody! Since it was in '83 that makes it an early slasher film and deserves more recognition.

Now the only thing that I disliked about the movie was the ending. It ended good BUT I felt like it could have gone on longer. Kind of like they cut the last 5 minutes out of the film. But I did like the ending. For what it was I shouldn't have expected anything less.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
A group of girls staying at a sorority house clash with the house's owner, who wants them out. They decide to play a prank on her, but it goes awry and she winds up dead. Panicking, the girls try to hide the body, but someone (or something) witnessed the crime and begins to stalk them.

I'm a fan of this movie and will gladly be adding it to my collection of on-growing movies. It never ends.

3 stars for me. Trailer below.

Bloody Birthday (1981)

2012-02-14T14:16:00.000-08:00

I breathed a sigh of relief when I found a stash of new slasher films to watch. Especially since they're from the 80's. The 80's slasher genre will always be my favorite genre of horror. The 80's was the best era for horror ever in my opinion.

Now going into this movie I wasn't expecting much...just eager to watch a slasher that makes me feel at home.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
In 1970, three children are born at the height of a total eclipse. Due to the sun and moon blocking Saturn, which controls emotions, they have become heartless killers ten years later, and are able to escape detection because of their youthful and innocent facades. A boy and his teenage sister become endangered when they stumble onto the bloody truth.

This was as expected, it wasn't very well acted or have a strong story, but it kept me entertained. It was a fun watch. The things I like about it are also the things I don't like. The camp was good but a little too much.

The kills were good and laughable, the whole movie was laughable. If you go into this movie wanting gold don't watch it. If you want to watch a movie that you can laugh at and relax with then watch this. I wouldn't go as far to say I'd buy this movie or own it, but I don't regret watching it.

The gore and acting were weak but that's the kind of things that made movies like that good to us horror fans. Just entertain us and we'll be happy. That's how I am anyway.

1 1/2 stars for me, judging on the movie itself. Entertainment factor would be a 2 1/2 out of 4.

Grave Encounters

2012-02-13T14:15:00.000-08:00

I was a little worried going into this movie seeing as I haven't heard much about it and that usually isn't a good sign.

This film is about a film crew doing the 6th episode of their reality ghost show (strongly mocking Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures) in a mental institution that's been abandoned for a long time. The crew doesn't take it seriously and they aren't even true believers, they just put on a show for the money they make. But it all goes south when it turns out that the institution is haunted and they've wore out their welcome.

So for the first time they actually have to fight for survival against malevolent spirits until they can find a way out. The scares build slowly and slowly but they did it in a very good way to keep you waiting and anticipating things to start happening.

I was kind of thrown off by this movie because there were actually alot of things that I liked about it but there were alot of bad things too. I guess you'd say it was one of those movies that has alot of potential but the people making it didn't know how to deliver it properly. So unfortunately the potential and build up was wasted on a bunch of cheap and weak scares.

There's a scene where they go into a room after hearing screaming and they record a woman in the corner weeping. Now this scene had me on the edge of my seat, I was ready to be creeped out and even jump just to see they used crappy CGI to make the woman look scary. It was such a shame because that scene had ALOT of potential just to be thrown away with some PG-13 crappy scare. I was angry at how bad they did this scene. I wanted this scene to deliver.

Another scene I hated was when they went into a room that was full of black arms coming out of the walls and ceiling. I don't know what this scene was supposed to do for watchers but it sure as hell wasn't scary. It was kind of dumb and pointless. They could have gone without that scene.

I guess the things I liked about this movie was the potential it had but it didn't pull through so it's kinda pointless. I was disapointed in this film regardless. I did like the idea of the movie. I just wish they knew how to make an impact. Instead it's totally forgettable.

2 stars for me. Trailer below.

Hostel Part 3

2012-01-21T21:04:00.000-08:00

I was a little behind in my horror game when I found out they were adding another installment in the "torture porn" series Hostel. I own the first 2 on dvd and have seen them several times each. I like the torture in them as well as the gore. And I find them entertaining. However, I will be the first to tell anyone that they are far from great.

I liked Hostel a tiny bit more than Hostel 2 but I liked them both. So I got excited when I heard they were doing a third. But the caution sign went up when I saw it wasn't an Eli Roth picture.

I felt that with this installment that they went with more of a thriller feel than a hardcore gore movie like the other two. Had the acting been better it could have maybe pulled it off.

There were a few things that I did like about this movie, I liked the few deaths that they did show (the lack of is one of my main flaws with this movie) and I liked how in this one they made it more like a game when there was an audience watching the deaths.

But it just didn't deliver and come off like a Hostel movie, it came off as a cheap copy. But I guess I truly couldn't expect more.

The best way I can put it (and I mean this as a compliment) is that it's a okay movie in decent movie series.

2 stars for me. Trailer below

Synopsis taken from IMDb
While attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas, four friends are enticed by two sexy escorts to join them at a private party way off the Strip. Once there, they are horrified to find themselves the subjects of a perverse game of torture, where members of the Elite Hunting Club are hosting the most sadistic show in town.

Neca doing a Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter Jason Voorhees figure

2012-01-16T20:45:00.000-08:00

TEASER PIC RELEASED BY NECA

Now I love all the Friday The 13th movies for all they're camp and gore and kills. I'm a horror fan. To be a horror fan and not be a fan of the Friday The 13th franchise is unheard of.

Neca, in my opinion are the best at making 7" highly detailed action figures and here lately they've been on a role. First the do 2 waves of Freddy Krueger figures, one from the first 4 A Nightmare On Elm Street movies and they came out fantastic. Now they're doing Evil Dead 2 figures which look amazing and next up they're doing a Friday The 13th part 4 Jason! I'm uber psyched over this 'cause that just happens to be my favorite of the series.

Now my sources tell me that they're doing a few waves of figures like they did with Freddy doing one Jason from a few of the movies. One can only hope and pray this is true. That's all the news I know for now but believe me, I'm on top of it. If and when more news pops up I'll be spewing it on here ;)

Dexter Season 6

2012-01-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

That's right everybody, your favorite serial killer/father is back for a sixth time in this suspensful and highly anticipated drama. After where season 5 left of with both story and disapointment among fans this was thought to be a shot at redemption. However, contrary to what people may have said, I was a fan of season 5. I'm a fan of every season! This show is the best show on TV hands down and my personal favorite.

Michael C. Hall delivered again in this season, showing that he is perfect for this role and a fantastic actor. This guy's got skills. I know that everyone says that if someone on a show were to quit or something tragic happen they couldn't continue the show without them. Now for some people and shows this may be true like Charlie Sheen and Two And A Half Men. However, Michael C. Hall could not be replaced.

He simply is the role. He's the face. Hell, I read the books (which aren't half as good as the show by the way) and I hear his voice as Dexter in my mind while reading. I simply can't imagine someone else's voice or someone else's appearance in this role.

Now in this season Dexter is realizing what it's like to be a single father and what Harrison will be imprinted with from him being his dad and a serial killer. Wondering if his psychotic ways will rub off on his son somehow. So Dexter starts to think what his legacy will be that he leaves to Harrison and he finds himself befriending a former criminal turned preacher. This puts all sorts of religious thoughts in his head. Although he doesn't believe in God or anything that he feels isn't logical he can't help but be curious and possibly open his mind to other possibilities. And of course, if it'll be good for Harrison to grow up with a positive essence in his life like religion.

And this season's villain is a twisted bastard who kills because he believes he'll bring on the apocalypse and rid the world of it's existance. He actually wants to end the world and so he kills people with re-enactments from The Book Of Revelations in the Bible. The media dubbs him DDK, short for Doomsday Killer. DDK (played by Edward James Olmos) has a sidekick who helps him by the name of Travis (played by Colin Hanks) who doubts if his older and wiser companion is really talking to God or is just insane. This doubt causes major trouble between them.

This season also shows you Dexter's sister, Debra getting promoted to Lieutenant and how this effects her relationship with Detective Quinn. You also see the Morgan's old family friend and Chief of police Detective Mathews get into a mess.

I don't want to go into detail and ruin anything for anyone so I'll stop there. But if you haven't seen this season you need to jump on it. And if you've never watched Dexter before at all I find if fit to call you crazy (laugh). Seriously this show is great. The finale was great and the season's twist was downright jawdropping.

Despite the negative reviews some so-called fans gave it I liked this season alot and consider it to be one of the best yet. I'll be impatiently awaiting the 7th season. 'Til then I'll be buying this season on dvd and re-watching it.

Dexter got renewed for 2 more seasons, however they will be the last 2 seasons of this show. And they both will be about the aftermath of this season's finale. And boy, what a finale t was.

Dexter season 6 gets 3 1/2 stars from me.

The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest

2012-01-13T21:32:00.000-08:00

This 3rd and final installment in the Millenium trilogy was a good but open way to end this series. I was very pleased after watching this film and now I'm going to make myself read the books to see how the movies measure up. Overall I am very much a fan of this trilogy and am pleased that I wasn't let down and that they actually lived up to their hype.

The Girl Who Played With Fire was the weakest link for me but after rewatching them I disagree. I think that this film is the weakest but I still really liked it. These films didn't really have a weak point to focus in on and pick apart. All around very good and entertaining movies.

This film is practically nothing but Lisbeth's trial and if she'll go to jail or not for the events that happened in the previous 2 films. I was intrigued by where they were going with the trial because at first they had Lisbeth's back in the corner, hitting her and the judge with alot hard evidence. I thought for a second that this might not end happy. Not that the first two would leave me to believe there'd be a happy ending (laugh).

But then Lisbeth and her attorney turn things around proving that not only is she innocent but that the prosecution was lying about the details to events that had occured. This was very edge-of-you-seat for me because the prosecution could and was making her out to look crazy. You didn't know what the judge would rule. The prosecution did have Lisbeth's old doctor from the institution she stayed at after burning her father alive. And that caused all sorts of hell with him having documentaion and stories of how Lisbeth is mentally insane and dangerous. He was crooked as hell.

I thought that the end of the film ended kind of flat but I liked where they went with it. It was a fitting ending and I'm glad I gave these movies a shot.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
After taking a bullet to the head, Salander is under close supervision in a hospital and is set to face trial for attempted murder on her eventual release. With the help of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and his researchers at Millennium magazine, Salander must prove her innocence. In doing this she plays against powerful enemies and her own past.

I give this film 3 stars.

Grimm's 87 horror movies of 2011

2012-01-07T20:40:00.000-08:00

Now technically I watched 263 movies total this year that I've never seen before. But since this is my site for horror I'm going to name off all 87 of them that were horror. Earlier last year I made a decision to write down every new movie I watch for a whole year and count. I was going for 365, that way it's like I watched a new movie everyday but I obviously failed at that. These movies are ones I haven't seen before until last year, ones I've already seen do not count.

I gotta say it was alot of fun to keep track like this, it was kind of like a competition for me to push myself into seeing as much as possible. I think I did alright considering that I'm a whole 102 less than I wanted.

Now with this came the negative side, seeing so many bad horror movies! My site looks like it's to bash horror films, but it's really not. I just saw alot of horrible horror movies this past year and alot of them got reviewed up here. I was on a serious dry spell of bad horror movies. It wasn't because of budget or acting or any particular thing that didn't work about them. Just the movie (s) as a whole were unbearable!

I like horror movies of all sorts, foreign, torture porn, slasher, psychological thriller and horror/sci fi films. I like B lovies and low budget movies. But what some of these movies had in commom was that they had atleast one single thing going for them and these had hardly anything. The worst horror movie I've seen this past year is easily Psychos In Love...awful. Best horror film I've seen this past year goes to Bereavement.

So here they are good ones are in blue and bad are red. Enjoy!

87. Fears Of The Dark
86. Pontypool
85. Pirahna (original)
84. Dead And Burried
83. Hatchet 2
82. Resident Evil Afterlife
81. Red Dragon
80. Frozen
79. Night Of The Demons remake
78. I Spit On Your Grave remake
77. The Human Centipede
76. Jennifer's Body
75. Let Me In
74. The Entity
73. 30 Days Of Night Dark Days
72. Wolfen
71. Suspiria
70. Dolls
69. Saw 5
68. Dead Girl
67. City Of The Living Dead
66. Shock
65. Shock Waves
64. It's Alive remake
63. Splice
62. Survival Of The Dead
61. Audition
60. Pirahna remake
59. Night Of The Demons 2
58. Primal
57. The Unnamable
56. Bride Of Re-Animator
55. The Collector
54. Basketcase
53. Nightwish
52. Thankskilling
51. Lost Boys The Thirst
50. Saw 6
49. Saw 7
48. The Birds
47. Eraserhead
46. The Crazies
45. We All Scream For Ice Cream
44. Popcorn
43. Incident
42. Mom
41. The Sitter
40. Dark Night Of The Scarecrow
39. Scream 4
38. Being Human season 1
37. Demons
36. Demons 2
35. Howling 2
34. Howling 3
33. Never Sleep Again The Elm Street Legacy
32. The Rite
31. Insideous
30. I Am Legend
29. True Blood Season 4
28. The Changeling
27. The Resident
26. Evil Laugh
25. Vault Of Horror
24. Tales From The Crypt
23. Prom Night remake
22. Tenebre
21. Bereavement
20. Mirrors 2
19. Fright Night remake
18. Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark
17. Cold Prey
16. Trollhunter
15. Let's Scare Jessica To Death
14. I Ate Your Skin
13. Night Of The Comet
12. Alone In The Dark
11. Mountaintop Motel Massacre
10. Terror Train
9. He Knows You're Alone
8. Shutter remake
7. Virgin Among The Living Dead
6. Don't Go In The House
5. Savage Weekend
4. Bloodsuckers From Outterspace
3. Psychos In Love
2. Cannibal Holocaust
1. Triangle

I guess this list speaks for itself, huh? Lots of baddies in this list but hey, atleast I gave 'em a shot right? So my list officially starts over now seeing as it's 2012. Let's see if I can outdo last year.

I challenge you all to try it out and see what diamonds in the rough you find! Let me know what you think.

'Til next time
Grimm

Batman Year One

2011-12-29T18:43:00.000-08:00

This was one of the many movies I asked for for Christmas and luckily Santa didn't hold out. Now I know it's not likely for me to do a comic/animation movie review but because it's Batman I'll make an exception.

The graphic novel of this title was great so I was really excited to see this movie. I really enjoyed it. I thought for what it was it was very cool and well done. The action scenes were done just right. The story was good and kept me entertained and the animations were on point.

This story centers around Bruce Wayne and how he became Batman and how Commissioner Gordon moved to Gotham and his struggle with corruption in and outside the police station. I liked how the stories of these two interacted and to see where Gordon and Batmans relationship stemmed from.

3 stars for me. Check it out if you're a Batman fan.

The Girl Who Played With Fire

2011-12-23T07:19:00.000-08:00

This film lacked the feel of the first one in my opinion. The first one was more gritty and this one didn't seem to be or come off as limitless like the first. Don't get me wrong, still a good movie, just not as good as the first. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo set such a high standard for this one to live up to and it simply didn't.

The acting in this one was on point as was the story and plot. I found myself not as interested or entertained by this one as I was with the first. This one seemed to drag out a bit in the beginning and it took a while to get started but by the end I was hooked.

The violence in this one as well as the effects were also on point. I think the thing I liked most about this movie is seeing more of Lisbeth's past and getting to understand it. However, I don't think she's a well enough character to base the whole movie around. I think she's like Hannibal Lecter, as a supporting character she works well. But when you put the spotlight on her by herself she doesn't shine. Just look at how awful Hannibal and Hannibal Rising were. Sometimes you have to let a character stand aside to shine.

However I'm really looking forward to seeing The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest (which comes today via Netflix). And after that I'll be venturing to see the American remake by David Fincher hopefully. If not atleast I'm caught up with the originals.

I'd give this film 2 stars.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
Mikael Blomkvist, publisher of Millennium magazine, has made his living exposing the crooked and corrupt practices of establishment Swedish figures. So when a young journalist approaches him with a meticulously researched thesis about sex trafficking in Sweden and those in high office who abuse underage girls, Blomkvist immediately throws himself into the investigation.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

2011-12-21T21:30:00.000-08:00

When I saw the trailer for David Fincher's American remake I was sold on having to see the originals. So I have David Fincher to thank for watching this movie. David Fincher, of course, is the guy who gave us Fight Club and Se7en. So before I see his more recent take on the 2009 movie I wanted to go back and give the originals a shot. P.S. I heard David Fincher and the gang are preparing to shoot the sequel very soon.

My first impression of the movie when I was watching was that I was going to really like it. I liked the build up and the true grittiness of this film. I knew I was watching a movie with no boundaries and that's exactly what it was. It was a near perfect movie. I'm truly impressed. I'm already itching to see the next one.

The acting in this movie was just so convincing and believable, it was incredible. The story was top-notch and was so twisty and turny that I was almost confused but then it all came together wonderfully, it fit perfectly.

This movie didn't hesitate to bare it's sharp little teeth at us and shock me as well as awe me and I loved that, I like a movie that isn't predictible. I'm even debating reading the books now. Maybe something to do for the new year.

All I can say is that if you haven't seen this film you really, really should. Really, really.

3 1/2 stars for me. Solid movie.
Synopsis taken from IMDb
Forty years ago, Harriet Vanger disappeared from a family gathering on the island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger clan. Her body was never found, yet her uncle is convinced it was murder and that the killer is a member of his own tightly knit but dysfunctional family. He employs disgraced financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the tattooed, ruthless computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to investigate. When the pair link Harriet's disappearance to a number of grotesque murders from almost forty years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history. But the Vangers are a secretive clan, and Blomkvist and Salander are about to find out just how far they are prepared to go to protect themselves.

Super 8

2011-12-18T14:28:00.002-08:00

It's hard to describe how I felt in the moments after watching this film. I had mixed emotions and I wasn't sure if I did or didn't like it. You gotta understand that I hardly ever have that reaction when finishing a movie. I either like it or I don't.

The train wreck in this film was incredible, a little over exaggerated, but still very very cool. I've never seen anything like this before. Well done.

The acting in this movie was surprisingly good and I found it more of a character study instead of a monster movie, like Cloverfield. And that wasn't what I was expecting.

The build up was well done, nice and spread out. But it got very serious very sudden and I enjoyed that. However, for some reason I don't feel that this film delievered or lived up to what it could have been. I felt like it was a waste. I just didn't get it although I admit I liked several parts. It just didn't work well for me. I didn't particularly like the Alien's look either.

Synopsis taken from IMDb

In the summer of 1979, a group of friends in a small Ohio town witness a catastrophic train crash while making a super 8 movie and soon suspect that it was not an accident. Shortly after, unusual disappearances and inexplicable events begin to take place in town, and the local Deputy tries to uncover the truth - something more terrifying than any of them could have imagined.

I would rate this movie a solid 2 stars.

Captain America The First Avenger

2011-12-18T14:28:00.000-08:00

I was never truely a Captain fan to be perfectly honest but I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. Other than The Green Lantern this was a pretty good year for comic book movies with Thor and X-Men First Class. But I heard that Captain was really good from some friends whos opinions I trust. I have been so backed up lately that I'm just now getting to watch this movie. But I'm glad I did.

This movie was stacked in all areas! Good acting, good story, good action, good effects and good direction. This is one of the best comic movies made, no doubt. It's not the greatest comic movie ever but it ranks high. I enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. Chris Evans did a great job as did Tommy Lee Jones. For a comic movie/period piece I thought it delievered.

Synopsis taken from IMDb

It is 1942, America has entered World War II, and sickly but determined Steve Rogers is frustrated at being rejected yet again for military service. Everything changes when Dr. Erksine recruits him for the secret Project Rebirth. Proving his extraordinary courage, wits and conscience, Rogers undergoes the experiment and his weak body is suddenly enhanced into the maximum human potential. When Dr. Erksine is then immediately assassinated by an agent of Nazi Germany's head of its secret HYDRA research department, Johann Schmidt aka the Red Skull, Rogers is left as a unique man who is initially misused as a propaganda mascot. However, when his comrades need him, Rogers goes on a successful adventure that truly makes him Captain America and his war against Schmidt begins.

Man Red Skull was awesome!

Savage Weekend (1979)

2011-11-26T08:02:00.000-08:00

This movie was a total letdown. I don't really know what I expected out of it but it did not deliver. The suspense wasn't good. The acting was just as bad and the storyline was very cheap. There were a few scenes that made me think this movie was possibly redeemable, but it wasn't.

This movie is about a gang of couples go to the the country to watch a boat being made and they start being stalked by a weirdo in a mask. And of course they throw all sorts of suspicions out on who it could be and they try and make you guess who it is but honestly you just don't care. You want the movie to be over with.

The only kill that had potential was the final kill in which he has a woman tied down to a power saw. However, like the rest of the movie it failed. I was amused by the fact that it claims to be one of the original slasher films but now I know why I never heard of it. A totally forgettable film.

I really need to get back on a kick with some good horror films. Here lately I've been off.

1 star for me. Trailer below.

Don't Go In The House (1980)

2011-11-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

Another popcorn horror movie night has come and gone as my latest Netflix movie arrived titled Don't Go In The House. I never really heard anything about it but it sounded like a winner to me (laugh).

Let me start by saying that there was a kill in this movie that was totally and utterly brutal! Not in the gory way, in the "totally screwed up" and "that was painful" way. This guy burns a babe alive while she hangs from the ceiling by chains! And they practically show the whole thing. Probably my favorite part of this movie.

The movie started off strong and then kind of got slow. It ended kind of dumb in my opinion but I still didn't hate the movie. I liked it for it's similarities to Psycho. It achieved a creepy atmosphere and just kind of had me yelling at the girls in the movie for being so dumb by letting this weirdo pick them up.

I did enjoy this movie although it isn't a favorite and could have been better.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
A slasher film about a victim of child abuse (Dan Grimaldi) who grows up to become a maniacal construction worker. He stalks women at discos, takes them home, then hangs them upside-down in a special steel-walled room and sets them on fire.

2 1/2 stars for me. Trailer below.

He knows You're Alone (1980)

2011-10-29T08:28:00.000-07:00

The title alone told me I had to see this film, topped by the fact that it is labeled as an 80's slasher. So I got this from Netflix the other day and I sat down and watched it...

I really appreciate what they were trying to do with this movie but they let the Halloween influence come on a little too strong to the point of it coming off as a rip-off Michael Myers film. Some of the shots were exact as in Halloween as well as the terrible attempt at mocking the music.

This film had potential and still wasn't terrible but I just felt that had they gone their own way and showed some creativity this film would have been alot better and wouldn't have come off as such a Halloween mockery.

I did appreciate the kills and the suspense as well as the atmospheric creepiness and that's what saved this movie by a thread from being disregarded as trash. However, this film was Tom Hanks' film debut, kind of funny seeing Tom Hanks in this kind of film.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
A reluctant bride to be is stalked by a serial killer who only kills brides and the people around them. While her friends get whacked one by one, a hard boiled renegade cop whose bride had been killed years before tries to hunt him down before it is too late. Meanwhile, the bride has to figure out if it is all in her imagination or not, aided by her ex-boyfriend...

2 stars for me. Trailer below.

Mountaintop Motel Massacre (1986)

2011-10-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Reading the title says it all. This film feeds on the brutality of things and it really worked to a certain point. It came off like a Friday The 13th/ Sleepaway Camp film at first, so I was really digging it. The style, the kills, the creepiness. But after awhile you realize that the story didn't matter because they never went into anything, it just became a bloodbath and a body count movie and that's what ruined it for me.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
After several years in an insane asylum, Evelyn, the keeper of the Mountaintop Motel, is released and resumes doing business. She kills her young charge out of anger, but convinces the police it was an accident - and pushed into insanity, she then proceeds to target her guests, first by releasing vermin into their rooms, but then by using her trusty sickle...

I was disapointed in this film but still liked it due to it just having that 80's feel to it. Man, I miss 80's horror.

2 stars for me. Trailer below.

Night Of The Comet (1984)

2011-10-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

I had heard from a friend that this is a film I'd like due to it being a total 80's film and that's my favorite genre for horror. And my friend was right! While this is far from great I still enjoyed it. It had cheese, humor and bad acting. But was a great watch and very enjoyable. A total popcorn flick like Killer Klowns From Outter Space.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
Two pretty high school girls (one a cheerleader!) don't like their stepmother or her new boyfriend ("Daddy would have gotten us Uzis!"). One morning, they wake up to find that everybody in Los Angeles has been turned to dust by a Comet except them, a guy who looks like Erik Estrada, some zombies and the occupants of a secret underground government installation.

If you have my kind of taste in films. Check this out. You may not love it but you'll enjoy it!

2 1/2 stars for me. Trailer below.

Alone In The Dark (1982)

2011-10-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

This film has Donald Pleasence in it so I knew I should check it out. To be honest I enjoyed this film, it had a few good scares and jumps. And a twist that I didn't see coming at all. The ending could have been better and ultimately is what hurt the film.

The acting was great in this film, atleast by the main cast. And the story was downright creepy. There were a few scenes that throw you off but it all makes sense in the end. But man did that ending suck! It could have ended much, much better. I feel as if they just last minute threw the ending together without thought.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
Thanks to a major power cut, a gang of psychopaths breaks out of the Haven maximum security mental institute in order to lay siege to the psychiatrists who have tormented them over the years with their bizarre theories...

2 stars for me. Trailer below.

Let's Scare Jessica To Death (1971)

2011-10-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Now, I've always loved 70's horror films. The 70's had some of the best that still to this day stand the test of time. The Shining, Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Sentinel, etc.

So just by the title I knew that I'd like this movie and I was right! Very good movie. It relies on suspense and mystery to tell the story like most of the movies back then did and it works very well. The movie just gives off a creepy vibe while watching and so it makes the experience all the better.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
Jessica has just been released from a mental hospital. Wanting to "start over", she moves into an old New England farmhouse with her husband and a friend. Before they even arrive Jess starts having strange encounters, and after they find a young transient in their new home, things start getting rather nasty. Seems this redheaded hippie chick is in fact a vampire, a onetime resident of the house who drowned on her wedding day, and all the old guys in town are her harpies (they all have scarred necks and arms). Or is Jess really having another breakdown? Who knows...

The fact that you hear Jessica's voices in her head confusing her and the viewer as to what is really going on worked great for me. 3 stars. Trailer below.

Troll Hunter

2011-10-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

Even though the title is ridiculous I had to give it a shot anyway.

This movie really, really tried but just couldn't pull it off. The concept was good and original and the acting was pretty good. But in the end it's Trolls and Trolls aren't scary to me so it was just kind of boring and laughable. I appreciate how they tried to be inventive with this movie but Trolls aren't good material for scary movies unless you intend on it being cheesy, which is what this film was.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
A group of students investigate a series of mysterious bear killings, but learns that there are much more dangerous things going on. They start to follow a mysterious hunter, learning that he is actually a troll hunter.

I'd give this film 2 stars. Trailer below.

Cold Prey

2011-10-01T10:50:00.000-07:00

Now here is a movie that comes all the way from Norway and is said to be one of the best slasher films ever. Now seeing as foreign films are usually good with horror and seeing as I love me some slasher films it was obivious I had to watch this.

Now being totally honest I do not agree that it's the most perfect slasher film ever made BUT I do agree that this movie kicks major ass! I loved every second of this movie, this is one that didn't disapoint. The kills were great, they were spaced out well and not overdone and the story was awesome.

A group of friends go skiing and on of them breaks their leg so they have to find help. But instead they find an empty building and take refuge in it until they can find help. Only the building insn't empty like they all thought. It's the home of a brutal serial killer and he starts picking them off one by one. It's up to the few survivors to try and find help and to survive the wrath of this psycho as well as find out why he's doing this.

This movie had good jumps, good acting and good effects. I'm a fan. IF YOU LIKE HORROR FILMS YOU NEED TO SEE THIS FILM. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. It comes highly recomended from me.

3 stars for me. View the trailer below.

Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark (2010)

2011-09-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

Saw this movie last night after some anticipation due to the screenplay being written by Guillermo del Toro, who I'm a huge fan of. But I have to admit that I was extremely disapointed in this film. I truly didn't find it scary at all, there were a few cheap jumps and that's it.

I overall wasn't impressed. I didn't care for the story, the creatures and the ending. I'm not saying I hated the movie but I definitely am not a fan. It could have been alot better. Since this movie is still in theatres I'll save any spoilers and not give anything away.

This film also had a great cast with Guy Pierce and Katie Holmes, I truly expected more. I just didn't live up to what I had envisioned.

Synopsis taken from IMDb
A young girl is sent to live with her estranged father and his girlfriend at their new home. The father, Alex has plans to spruce up the home with the help of his interior decorator girlfriend, Kim. The previous owner of the home was a famous painter who mysteriously disappeared. Alex's daughter, Sally, soon discovers the cause of the painter's disappearance.

I'd give this movie 2 stars. View the trailer below.