Gifts I'm preparin'
For some Christmas sharin'
But I pause because
Hangin' my stockin'
I can hear a knockin'
'Zat you, Santa Claus
Sure is dark out
Not the slighest spark out
Pardon my clackin' jaws
Uh, who there
Who is it
Uh, stoppin' for a visit
'Zat you, Santa Claus
Are you bringin' a present for me
Something pleasantly pleasant for me
That's what I've been waitin' for
Would you mind slippin' it under the door
Four winds are howlin'
Or maybe that be growlin'
My legs feel like straws
Oh my, my, me, my
Kindly would you reply
'Zat you, Santa Claus
Yeah
Oh hangin' my stockin'
I can hear a knockin'
'Zat you, Santa Claus
Yeah, say now
Hey there, who is it
Stoppin' for a visit
'Zat you, Santa Claus
Whoa there Santa you gave me a scare
Now stop teasin' 'cause I know you're there
We don't believe in no goblins today
But I can't explain why I'm shakin' this way
Well I see old Santa in the keyhole
I'll give to the cause
One peek and I'll try there
Uh-oh there's an eye there
'Zat you, Santa Claus
Please, please
I pity my knees
Say that's you Santa Claus
That's him alright
Uh....I'm really confused here. I think the director is actually taking this movie seriously. It's...odd. Of course, I've never been interviewed on anything, so....
He said he hired people from the Academy of Art to do the 3D. Resounding bonus advert for the Academy, I'm sure.
BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR is...unique.
Wild.
Interview with the director James Nguyen on THIS WEEK IN HORROR. He's amazing.
I love this.
Joss Whedon gives us more, unique goodness with CABIN IN THE WOODS.
The tag is "You think you know the story, but you're wrong." or something to that effect and it seems like that is so true it hurts. Whedon seems to be taking a plunge into the meta - calling out typical horror movie stereotypes and turning them on angle like the creators of TUCKER AND DALE V. EVIL did.
Most of the time I try to ignore these more mainstream, teen horror movies. However, while the film is somewhat predictable and seems like it's freely borrowing from Asian cinema, FORGET ME NOT has a plot that I really liked, so I forgave much of it.
I don't want to say too much about the plot for fear of giving something away. Suffice it to say that it's a supernatural horror of the teen variety. A band of "teens" (they all look like they are in their late 20s, of course) are graduating. We have all varieties represented - again, standard fair. The jock, the slut, the bitch, the brain, etc. However, the group seems like it may have actually been a real group. While they vary, they seem like they might actually hang out in the same space. There are no "people of color" here, which, as a person of color myself, I found interesting. Usually a casting director will insist on tossing in an Asian or black character just to keep things "well blended".
We have a "Set 'em Up and Knock 'em Down" plot, but the plot is actually interesting enough to have held my interest for the 90 plus minute run time. And, as the plot drives along, I actually found myself being more and more interested in just how the story would play out - not just starring at the time waiting for it to resolve so I could be done with it and move on.
The execution is...well...fine. It's obvious that Asian horror is being copied. Scary things happen by scary creatures that jerk around and open computer-augmented mouths too wide as they roar. Ok...it's kinda creepy...sure. If I go through the process of "Whoa...what would I do if I was there and saw that?", then it's even more effective. Right when I started to get a bit bored with things, the plot ramped into play yet again and I was back into the film.
Tyler Oliver wrote and directed the film. This can go either way as well. Sometimes this is a fantastic combo and sometimes the precious baby of the writer really needs a trimming and molding by a new person. The writer/director combo works well here, however.
All in all, FORGET ME NOT was worth the time investment. If you're a fan of the FINAL DESTINATION franchise or like the shocks films like JU-ON or RINGU provide, give this film a whirl. And, if you like plot lines found in TALES FROM THE CRYPT, THE NIGHT GALLERY or TWILIGHT ZONE, check this out as well. It's also perfect for the "work and watch" set - people who like to watch a movie as they work or clean. You have it on and look up when the screaming starts.
THE INTRUDERS is being held up as a better INSIDIOUS and those are high marks to hit. Insidious took the country be surprise and scooped up a lot of cash as this sort of sleeper hit - a mainstream ghost story with some creepy scenes, good writing and a few good shocks.
In The Intruders, we see some of the same plot lines come through. Kids being stalked by Boogie Man like entity. Scary bumps in the night. Parents trying to sort it out. On paper, it's the same damn movie. So, what will it offer it's audience as differentiators? There needs to be something more than just having TWO kids in TWO different places. And, what's this secret they need to sort out.
A female ghost hunter (interesting twist) goes in search of ghost to debunk them, but a boys school might have her believing in ghosts by the time she's through.
The film stars Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Dominic West (The Wire) and Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter), so there should be some fine acting to carry the story forward, but I hear that there might be a "standard course" set in the storytelling, so ghost movie fans might be able to see the end coming. The gothic gloom has me wanting to see it at once.
And so we have THE INCIDENT (notably called "PARANORMAL INCIDENT" in the trailer below) about a group of folks who spend the night in an insane asylum. You may think you've seen this movie or plot before. Don't worry, it's only because you have. About 1389 times. :)
But, of course, I'll still seek it out and see it even if it's only on Netflix streaming. It looks amusing.
New nugget from Ti West, the
Director of the amazing HOUSE OF THE DEVIL.
THE INNKEEPERS looks like it's going to be a fun little ghost tale. I hope he can keep up the energy and suspense that House of the Devil had. Unlike HOUSE, however, this looks like it's rather F/X heavy. Has Hollywood tossed too much money at Mr. West? That tends to happen when you make your first mega hit.
"Here! Here's MORE MONEY! You can make an even BETTER movie with MORE MONEY, right?"
Not always the case. As a matter of fact, I think many more interesting films are made with LESS money because it forces the movie makers - good ones, at least - to focus on story, pace and execution instead of just swirling some computer madness around for 90 minutes.
Fingers crossed Ti keeps hits wits about him...
Due to be released February 3rd, 2012 - just in time for my birthday! Or, for those who can't wait, the film will be available ON DEMAND on December 30th, 2011.
About The Film
After over one hundred years of service, The Yankee Pedlar Inn is shutting its doors for good. The last remaining employees -Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy) - are determined to uncover proof of what many believe to be one of New England's most haunted hotels. As the Inn’s final days draw near, odd guests check in as the pair of minimum wage “ghost hunters” begin to experience strange and alarming events that may ultimately cause them to be mere footnotes in the hotel’s long unexplained history.
Well...LUST FOR A VAMPIRE was my least favorite in the Hammer Karnstein Trilogy. I won't take much time with it.
It's plot is a bit messy. Carmilla Karnstein is basically hanging out at a girls school and running through the ladies like a hungry man at a sushi boat restaurant. One man pines away for her love while the other pines away for being a vampire himself.
Girls go missing, man go missing, and cover up operations abound, but I found that I didn't really care about anyone in the film much.
Yutte Stensgaard tosses her Denmark blonde hat onto the Hammer Glamor list and doesn't seem to have a problem baring her...soul...for the role.
Ralph Bates does well as the driven school teacher who wants to be a vampire and the wooden performance of Michael Johnson is fun to watch as he bumbles about. But, the real awesomeness of the film comes from Mike Raven doing his best Christopher Lee impersonation. His booming voice and over the top "I'm a bad man" presence is a joy to watch. It's fun stuff.
Watch LUST for the trilogy aspect, but feel free to do something else while it's playing in the background. :)
The HAMMER FEST continues with TWINS OF EVIL from 1971.
Here we have the return of the Karnsteins in the final film of the Karnstein trilogy...of evil. Frieda and Maria Gellhorn - adorable twins - come from Vienna to stay with their uncle Gustav (The most awesome Peter Cushing) after their parents pass away. They are proper young ladies, but not proper enough for their witch burning, bible loving Uncle - the leader of THE BROTHERHOOD of witch hunters. And we soon find out that the young twins have very different personalities, too. One is good...and the other has the touch of evil. This makes her most desirable to Count Karnstein, especially after he gives his soul to the devil and becomes a vampire. Can Gustav and the townspeople reach the Count before he and the wicked Frieda escape?
This film is in line with the others in the trilogy. I'd say this is my second fave of the three behind THE VAMPIRE LOVERS and before LUST FOR A VAMPIRE. We hear about Mircalla Karnstein (I believe she even makes an appearance) and the Karnstein line and their wicked deeds. We see the Karnstein devil influences. All in all, it's an enjoyable addition.
We get the usual Hammer cleavage as well, but it pales compared to THE VAMPIRE LOVERS. The Collinson twins are very cute and work well as the films leads. They don't have the same presence as Ingrid Pitt or Yutte Stensgaard, however, but it is hard to keep that level of screen presence. Especially casting true twins.
The film has some nice gimmics in it. When Karnstein signs his soul away, he can not be seen in mirrors. They did a simple trick where the mirror was taken out and a duplicate of the room was created so that it looked like there was no reflection. Simple, but effective. There were several "witch burning" scenes with the classic "fire in front of the camera" routine. Again, effective. This was another almost bloodless vampire film. When someone is bitten, small dribbles of blood are shown on the neck. It was truly a more simple time when it came to horror.
The story is simple, but the real fun comes from the relationships between characters - one of my favorite parts of Hammer films. I don't watch them for the "horror" (they are really tame) , but LOVE their character interactions. TWINS has some fantastic interplay.
Cushing as Gustav Weil is not a nice guy here. He's horrid, driven and blind to anything but leading the Brotherhood in their witch hunt. He hunts down and burns several women in his hunt for evil with no trial or mercy all in the name of good. Karnstein is his main enemy even before he's changed. He represents the impure nature of man - full of lust and impropriety. Karnstein, in turn, loves provoking Gustav because he has political ties that prevent Gustav from doing anything to him. Very handy especially after he's made into a vampire.
The twins run the same - Frieda wanting to escape the tyrannical uncle and Maria wanting to remain the good girl. They love each other, but there is a great tension between them as well. Maria is so kind that she even pretends to be her sister when her uncle checks in on them so her sister won't get into trouble.
There's also a rather forgettable love interest in the story, but the only thing I liked about him was a scene where he thinks about launching a spear into the chest of Count Karnstein even though he happens to be holding Maria in his arms...at chest level...up on the second floor. A villager stops him and says, "You can't! You might hit Maria!" and the love interest lowers the spear with a "Oh yeah, I guess you're right" look on his face. Comical.
TWINS OF EVIL is a fun little gothic horror drama and is well worth checking out.
It's Friday in the 80s and you and your horror fan friends are planning on running out directly after school, hitting the video rental store, stopping by the Safeway to pick up sodas and snacks, then going to the designated home of the eve to watch movies all night until sunrise.
Ah...those were the days! :)
Movies for the night might have included...
I re-watched THE VIDEO DEAD recently and, I have to say, it's still a guilty pleasure of mine. Silly fun.
What were some of your faves as a teen? Have you seen them recently? Still like them?
This 1963 gem is "trilogy of terror" type film - three stories with a loose (and sometimes rather silly) hosting by Boris Karloff himself. The great Mario Bava (Black Sunday) is credited as Director, but Salvatore Billitteri shares directing credit. While the whole film looks the same artistically for the most part sporting Bava's amazing color pallet, the time periods and quality of story vary greatly.
The first and strongest segment is The Drop of Water and it's by far the most chilling of the three tales. It tells the story of Helen Chester (Jacqueline Pierreux) - a woman tasked with helping prepare the body of a medium for burial in what looks like a time period around the early 1900s. We're told by the servant that the woman must not touch anything in the room because the medium said a horrible curse would befall anyone who did. Heavy handed and clunky, true. Let's move on. :) Of course, the woman sees something she just has to have...and the ensuing nightmare conclusion is friggin' horrid and so damn creepy it gives me chills just thinking about it! I wish the film ended with this segment - it's the strongest of the three tales and packs the biggest punch. It also plays with shadows and light very well. It has deep, dark areas that push things back while bright and colorful lights illuminate the foreground and add to the nightmare look it has.
The second, more modern segment is called The Telephone and I think I enjoyed it for all the wrong reasons. :::grin::: I think I got a little caught up with the delicious curves and beauty of Michèle Mercier who plays Rosy in the segment. I kept thinking, "Man...she's really gorgeous" and "Ah, that's when women looked like WOMEN" as I watched her dive deeper and deeper into the terror of...phone calls. Yes, poor Rosy is getting calls from someone who definitely should not be calling her. Disturbing from a stalker standpoint for sure, but the segment pales in comparison to the Drop of Water tale.
The last story is a tale based further back in time again - around the 1800s. We've been shepherded along by Karloff, remember, so the switching of time periods isn't as jarring as it could have been. Plus we have Bava-color to tie everything together nicely. Now we hear about The Wurdalak - a vampire, basically - and how it has a VERY adverse affect on it's family. Will Sdenka (Susy Andersen) make it to safety with her boyfriend? Maaaaaaybe. We get Karloff being very "Karloff" and a series of passionate deaths, but most of this tale fell flat to me. All but one scene in particular where a family member comes back...walks toward the family home...and calls out...that it's cold. So cold. :::shiver::: That moment rang through me and was the closest to capturing the chills the first tale had. However, that's where the chills ended for me. The tale even wraps with a strange, comical scene with a horse running away in "comical fast motion" with a wacky, dark musical score. Similar to the "Da da da - da da da - DA!" wrap up, punchline tune used for jokes. Jarring.
I might have enjoyed this film a bit better if I had not just finished watching a bunch of Hammer films recently. I hold them in high regard and it was hard to see the Bava version of gothic afterward. However it's worth watching - available via Netflix streaming as of the time of this posting. The Drop of Water alone is worth the price of admission! (And, the triple bill of Pierreux, Mercier and Anderson is easy on the eyes!)
One of my favorite movies is GHOST STORY. (Sadly, I tried to read the book and didn't like it as much as the movie....)
My wife was listening to the song "You Belong To Me" and a shiver ran down my spine. It's kinda creepy if you listen to the lyrics. Especially when it's sung by
Patience & Prudence.
So, why not combine the creepy song and some creepy GHOST STORY visuals? :)
95% of the human genome is composed of redundant gene sequences. They
appear to have no known biological function. Could a chance event
reactivate them?Genetic freaks wander the streets courtesy of irresponsible pharmaceutical companies.
I love this. Not only is it top notch storytelling (STORY telling), but it also has some deliciously creepy 3D visuals to back it up. Fantastic.
The great and powerful Yoshihiro Nishimura (involved in various ways in TOKYO GORE POLICE, MACHINE GIRL, SUICIDE CLUB, VAMPIRE GIRL v. FRANKENSTEIN GIRL) is back with more gore madness - HELLDRIVER.
These films make me happy. They are pure stupidity on some levels, but also a lot of fun and hyper-kinetic on dangerous levels. There are times I think they might give me a seizure or some other sort of brain damage. But, the gore and over the top, comic style is very enjoyable. If you're into that sort of thing.
And "That Sort of Thing is what it really boils down to. I've seen movies like MACHINE GIRL in a theater with people howling, screaming and laughing all the way through, then clapping wildly at the end. It's a lot like being on a roller coaster. You know that you're basically going to be doing the same things - up up up, screaming down into a series of flips and turns and curves, then peacefully back into the station to continue your day. You are not disappointed when that's all you get. Unless you're 5 years old or something.
These films basically tell you "So, we're going to have nudity, blood spraying all over the place, insane action, even more insane weapons, head and limb chopping and various other items that will have you whispering What the HELL was that?!"
Don't get me wrong, it's a film made in the 70s, so it has 70s pacing and 70s acting, but there's a charm in that. A charm that works so very well with the gothic vampire theme. Ideal for a cold winter night.
Ingrid Pitt the lead in the film - the mysterious Marcilla. But, is she who she says she is? She slips into the homes of families as an invited guest and the beautiful daughters of the homes start dying. Slowly.
Now, there is really nothing to spoil here - it's a vampire story. So, there are vampires. The story itself is classic. Vampire anemia making young girls waste away while strapping young men and noble older men try to find the vampire or vampires and do away with them before the young innocent dies. The Hammer Studios stamp is all over this film. Fantastic, gothic sets with fog and candles all around. Men ride horses through forests while lovely ladies with cleavage abound. It's lovely.
The film poster above is not for the film I saw. This poster would have you believe there are women ravaging men in chains. "Not for the mentally immature." Hilarious. In truth, this film has more of a lesbian twist. Pitt makes the young, sweet ladies swoon as she drains them of their life essence. And man, it has scenes of smoldering passion, that's for sure. (Again, 1970s style) NETFLIX even has it with a Gay and Lesbian tag. Whatever it is, it's sexually charged and fun to watch.
The pace will through a few people off, I'm sure. The story itself is sound and moves along like you're reading a novel. However, people with modern day pacing sensibilities will hate this film, I believe, kicking their feet and clawing the arms of their chairs as they wait for a car chase or explosion. Even the "gore" - little as there is - is far more tame than today's films. (I just saw PIRANHA and the first 10 minutes was more gore filled than Vampire Lovers.)
If you need another reason to watch this film, it's Peter Cushing. While he doesn't have a lot of screen time, the time he does occupy is golden as usual. He is serious as ever and his performance is top notch.
There's another character that I wasn't 100% sure about. If someone knows who he is, please let us know in the comments below! He's a vampire who is in on the charade of Pitt and who seems to be the leader of the vampire house guest plan, yet the story never says who he is or who he could be. I read that this film is part of a Karnstein Vampire Trilogy: VAMPIRE LOVERS, LUST FOR A VAMPIRE and TWINS OF EVIL. I'll have to see if the character reappears in those films. They are on my list.
So, if you're a fan of the fantastic HAMMER HORROR films of the 70s and have somehow missed this film, check it out and play along with the Karnstein Vampire Trilogy! If it's been a while since you've seen the film and remember liking it, revisit it and let us know if you still approve.
And, as always, let us know if you didn't like the film and why and maybe we can have a...dialog?
YouTube has these movies available. While not the best viewing experience, it's great for "instant grat" people like myself.
HAMMER HORROR returns yet again with THE WOMAN IN BLACK!
The engaging WAKE WOOD was a fine return for HAMMER and I hope The Woman in Black finds a hold and manages to be even better. I think the biggest hurdle for the film is Daniel "Harry Potter" Radcliffe in the starring role. Depending on the rating, it could help the movie - sending flocks of teen girls swooning towards the theaters. However, it can also send horror fans screaming away from the theater and away from Potter.
I'm looking forward to the film, personally. It looks like a great horror ghost story.
Wat are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments!
This
Is looking fantastic. Can't really go wrong with the troop that made CORALINE. What a fun look and feel! I dig it. According to IMDB, A misunderstood boy who can speak with the dead, takes on ghosts,
zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.
It's nice to see some more original items coming out of this studio. In 2005, Laika Entertainment came out with CORPSE BRIDE. While it was filled with buzz thanks to Johnny Depp and Tim Burton, I'm not sure it was a huge hit. Moongirl and Slacker Cats followed. Yeah, I didn't hear about those either. :) Coraline was amazing, I hope ParaNorman follows it's lead.
It has a great look. The lighting and character designs are grand.
I can't wait!
