Demons (2017)

From the press kit:
"A psychological thriller that marries elements of The Exorcist, The Shining and The Big Chill, Demons tells of a celebrated fiction writer and former priest (Doleac, “American Horror Story”, The Hollow) who, along with his wife, are tormented by the ghost of her late sister, as the details of her grisly death are slowly uncovered."


I had no idea what I was getting into here. I just dove in cold. I have to admit that I was a little lost at the beginning. The film was playing with two different time periods and I wasn't sure which characters were which or if they were the same folks at all. However, it seemed like someone else might have pointed this out as well because they did a very handy little recap and it all fell into place. After that, I was set.


DEMONS leans more towards a heady drama rather than a strictly horror based film. There are major horror elements for sure, but I think the film goes more into interesting storytelling rather than thrills and chills. And the storytelling is very good, indeed.

We bounce back and forth between events of the past and how those events changed the characters in the present. Those events are dark and sad and it's left our leads in a bit of a state. I found the "Big Chill" style interactions to be fun. Be warned - there are many interesting conversations about spirituality, faith, and personal interactions and they may scare off a few gore hounds for sure, but the film is never preachy or heavy handed. I'm not a spiritual person, but I found the conversations to be very engaging and intriguing.

One interesting thing here is that I actually wanted it to just be a straight drama after a time. It totally could have played that way for sure. The characters and story were rolling along so well and I was so invested in their fates that I didn't find the more supernatural side of things to be as much of a draw.

The cast and story are super solid. It's like they've gone and done a search for "interesting actors with amazing voices" and cast a bunch here. Andrew Divoff's booming WISHMASTER voice and demeanor were perfect for the father, Gary Grubbs and his southern twang-rific voice as a priest was fun, and Kristina Emerson's voice was so...smooooooth. And...was that John Schneider?! :) But, I was riveted by Miles Doleac's performance as our male lead here.  The changes he undergoes within the film's runtime were part of my confusion. He really did become two separate people after the events of the past and that change was reflected in his performance. And, he wrote and directed the film as well. A busy guy!

I was half way through the film when I realized that I had been staring at the screen slack jawed and engrossed for over 55 minutes. No email checking. No texting. No side scrolling. I was completely hooked by the story and the characters on the screen. The film is shot beautifully thanks to Ben McBurnett's cinematography and it has a great color and lighting scheme that gives it a rich feeling.

I'd say that this would be a grand film for someone who wants some thrills, but really wants to care about the characters and the plot.

 An interesting watch. Give it a viddy!  IN THEATERS 10/6/2017

Andrew Divoff (Wishmaster), John Schneider (‘’Smallville’’), Lindsay Anne Willams (The Hollow), Steven Brand (Hellraiser : Revelations), Kristina Emerson (“NCIS : New Orleans”), and Gary Grubbs (Free State of Jones) co-star star in a powerful goosebump-stirring new spookfest from Historia Films, the makers of The Hollow and The Historian. 

XX

>> AS SPOILER FREE AS I CAN BE <<

 

I was finally able to sit down and watch XX - the film shouted about A LOT before it came out.
"LOOK! A film with nothing but FEMALE DIRECTORS!"

I TOTALLY get it, but it made me sad to think we live in a world where we need to do this sort of thing. A world where it's not just DIRECTORS WHO ARE GOOD. I think it's a sad state of affairs, to be honest. It's another sign that humans are still fighting ridiculous battles that really should have left us ages ago.

Know what's NOT ridiculous however? This film. XX was a fun and entertaining watch that I really enjoyed. 

This anthology had five main stories directed by five different directors:

Roxanne Benjamin ... (segment "Don't Fall") (screen writer / Director)

a writer and Director on SOUTHBOUND and a Producer on the VHS series. 

Karyn Kusama ... (segment "Her Only Living Son") (screen writer / Director)

Director of Aeon Flux, Jennifer's Body, and a few episodes of Man in the High Castle

St. Vincent ... (segment "The Birthday Cake") (as Annie Clark) (screen writer / Director)

relatively new to the game, really. Mostly known for her St Vincent music work

Jovanka Vuckovic ... (segment "The Box") (screen writer / Director)

writer and Director of several shorts and former Big Wig and writer over at FANGORIA magazine.

The film went with a somewhat chilling little Brother's Quay-like stop action creepfest as it's wrapper instead of having another story wrap the whole of it. This really worked for me. It was fun to see the little strange narratives play out in between the stories.

The stories themselves were solid overall, though I think only on of the segments was classic "HORROR" while the others were more...disturbing than anything else. Again, well done and engaging - they all really held my interest.

Maybe this was the "female" feel of the story writing and direction? I'm not sure. All but one of the segments was very "female-centric" as far as the main character and their journey. Well...all of them had that, really. It's just that one of the destinations was...more feral than the others. :::grin:::

I don't even want to go into story lines for this spoiler free review. That would ruin some of the stories for sure. I'm just going to say that I loved something about every story and that the acting was strong in every one as well. 

I was happily surprised to see Melanie Lynskey in here. Fantastic and interesting as usual.

I also enjoyed seeing Angela Trimbur. I saw her DANCE LIKE NOBODY'S WATCHING segment and I have to say that I have a little crush on her. :::sigh:::  :)

I think your best bet for watching this film is going into it expecting something more along the lines of "chilling" rather than "horrifying" for the most part. The stories are strong, the acting is grand, and the direction is interesting in every case. I wish i purchased the VOD version as soon as it was available instead of waiting so long. I would not have been disappointed.

Currently available on NETFLIX.

The Witch Who Came from the Sea

The Witch Who Came from the Sea is one of those interesting films that gets a sort of pass for some of it's shortcomings due to the fact that it's such a time capsule of the time it was created in - in this case, 1976.

Millie Perkins plays (Aunt) Molly, a somewhat sad waitress at a bar who is struggling through working, drinking too much, and memories of a very shattered past. Her boss, Long John (Lonny Chapman) helps her out when he can as does her sister and two nephews, but things start to unravel and spiral down a very dark path when Molly turns into a kind of siren - luring men in and slaying them viciously. The reason behind her violent actions is rather easy to figure out, but watching it play out on screen is very interesting.



This is more an exploration of sexual trauma than a horror film, but there are horrific elements in the film to be sure. The film leans towards an art house esthetic as well as the scenes play out with dreamlike and nightmarish twists and turns as she falls deeper and deeper into a state of mental illness.

There are also interesting references to television. As a matter of fact, I think it's safe to say that television itself is a major character in the film. The sexual and drug morays of the day also play out wondrously as people party, speak freely about drugs and sex, and wander from lover to lover like shaking hands.  

Matt Cimber's direction is rather interesting.  He takes his time with shots and really lets you sink into the scenes as they unfold. He introduces certain elements throughout with care and grace, but some he just shoehorns in almost as an afterthought. There are some police characters that seem like Cimber is just showing them because he has to and he jumps away from them quickly so he can linger on more of Molly and her madness.

I caught this on SHUDDER and almost switched over to something else when I saw the look and style, but it slowly pulled me in and held my interest. Fans of 70s films really should check this out. It's a slow burn, but the acting and overall visual interest of the shots and clothing and acting style make it a fun watch.

Funeral Home

FUNERAL HOME is a wonderful start to the world of 80s horror. It's a strange blend of so many tropes that will be seen as the cornerstones of horror of the 80s. The creepy old location, the strange cast of characters - some you don't even know the names of as they stomp around the set, the obvious red herring moments...  It even has an off screen conversation between two people that you just see in shadows - PSYCHO style.
The one thing it's missing is shocks and gore. It's a slower paced little tale, but a fun watch.

Lesleh Donaldson plays Heather, a...teen ager? Maybe? Maybe 23 years old? Maybe 16?...who goes to help her Grandmother run her new bed and breakfast. Yup...in what used to be a funeral home. And...let the mysteries begin! Who's Grandma talking to in the basement? What happened to the WAY over the top couple who was at the B&B humping around IN SIN? Where did this other guy go who seemingly buried his own car under a bale of hay? And...why does a black cat freak Heather out so much?



There are these fantastic moments in the film that date it wonderfully. Things like the Grandmother - played by a wondrous,  scenery chewing Kay Hawtrey - hearing that the two "kids" have gone into the basement area and want to know if there is more "cool stuff" in the cellar to which she replies, "The CELLAR? :::pause::: You must NEVER go into the CELLAR."

And Heather muttering things like, "It's awful the way he just disappeared...without anyone knowing what happened to him," with a far away look in her eyes.

The movie stumbles along spinning it's tale with a fun look and feel. There are flashbacks and side stories that really keep this film moving, even though there are moments where it's not moving at all. hehehe 

Yeah...this is kind of a hot mess, but it's a fun hot mess. It's an interesting move from 70s horror into the world of 80s nastiness that was still to come. It even snatches some nuggets put out by FRIDAY THE 13th mere months before like the flashlight in the face/who's that? gag and shadowy, back-lit killers.  However, there are some new reveals that are rather creepy as well.

 

The story is rather complex and and plays out nicely. It manages to bring a few "Ah Ha!" moments into play. It would be a good "starter horror" for someone who wants to explore the genre, but doesn't want anything too crazy. It has it's "slasher" moments, but all the scenes play out far tamer than your FRIDAY THE 13th films.

And, if the simple story still confuses you when the movie ends, don't worry, there's a full recap as the credits role by Alf Humphreys as he talks to a reporter and pets the real hero of the story, the black cat from the beginning of the movie. :)  This film was a lot of fun.

Give it a watch. Also available on Amazon Prime at the time of this posting.

The Sacrament

I'm doing smaller, quicker posts this round just to get little reviews out. Short, sweet and to the point.
So...






 "Eli Roth presents"....THE SACRAMENT.   I like Eli more when he tosses cash at things to get them made. :)

My boy Ti West is back at it with this found footage nugget which I liked, but not as much as his other work. Let me explain. :::grin:::

SACRAMENT is a great film with some great performances for sure, but I wasn't ready for it.  Up to now, we have ghosts and the devil and all sorts of creepy from West. However, this is just...Jonestown, really. A nutty leader with some nutty followers and some followers who want to leave, but can't due to El Nutters armed "protectors".


Again, grand performances and some gripping scenes, but I kept waiting for...I don't know. A devil? Demon? Ghost?  Nope, not that film. So, here I was, thinking I was going to get a zinger GOT YA! at the end, but...no, it's just a great found footage flick about how people follow a guy to their doom. Honestly, the film was a bit too real for me. Demons and ghosts are highly entertaining to me, but sad, brainwashed followers dying is just too close to nightly news for this to be super entertaining.


I'm glad I saw it. AJ Bowen turns in another fab performance along with fellow regular Joe Swanberg. Kate Lyn Sheil and Amy Seimetz - also fab. Kentucker Audley sells a HORRID little scene...REALLY well. But, Gene Jones takes the cake as the cult leader "Father". He's spot on and perfect in the role. He doesn't overplay it at all. Highly believable.


Great film and well worth the watch. My fault for assuming Ti West would toss a zinger in at the end. :)  Check it out! 

Here Comes the Devil

There are times - though sometimes few and far between - where I get really excited about an upcoming, genre film. V/H/S 1 and 2, The Innkeepers, House of the Devil, Grindhouse...they all had me drooling and counting off days until their arrival.

Well, I just saw the trailer for HERE COMES THE DEVIL directed bu Adrián García Bogliano and...whoa...tick-tock! Is it December yet?! :)  

December 13th - you guessed it, a Friday - is the date for iTunes on-demand and theater release. I'm going to make an real effort to make it out to the theater for this one! (It can be a challenge with a 3 year old and 11 month old - we'll see. They can't read yet, so the subtitles will be difficult for them... :::grin:::)

The red band trailer is....amazing. Yes, it's FAR from work safe. The sex and violence is all in there.


FROM TWITCH:
"It's not often that you hear a film described as being "sleazy", "exploitative", "creepy", "intelligent" and "terrifying" all at the same time, but apparently Adrián worked wonders here. At Fantastic Fest last month it won Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress. Bam!"
http://twitchfilm.com/2013/10/watch-the-red-band-trailer-for-here-comes-the-devil.html

Yes, please!

You're Next

The trailer for You're Next is up and it's looking pretty dern grand.

Now, I'm not thrilled with the home invasion theme of the film, the players are some heavy hitters in the genre. I'm a huge fan of Director Adam Wingard (Pop Skull, V/H/S , ABCs Of Death) and writer Simon Barrett (V/H/S - writer / actor, ABCs Of Death, V/H/S2) and can see them knocking it out of the park again.

Odd point - IMDB has You're Next dated 2011. I looked it up and it was due to it being shown at the Toronto International Film Festival. And, here we are years later with it hitting screens. LIONSGATE picked up the film in 2011 and it had a 2012 released planned, but that didn't happen.

I'm really hoping that this genre crew does what it usually does and provides something that takes this specific, home invasion idea to a new level and presents some more interesting content than something like The Strangers managed to do. (Not a bad film, just predictable.)

So...do you think Wingard, Barrett, AJ Bowen, Ti West, Kate Lyn Sheil et al can win our hearts as the try to stop them with You're Next? :)

My Name is Kris Kringle

More dark, DARK visions from the ever so talented Drew Daywalt and the DAYWALT FEAR FACTORY. 

NOT one for the kiddies! Yikes.

"He knows when you are sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good....so be good....for goodness sake."

Lake Mungo

NOTE: This review has spoilers below the fold towards the bottom of the page - out of site if you don't want to see them before watching the film. I highly recommend viewing the film BEFORE reading anything "spoilery".  It's a powerful film.  


I loved this film on so many levels.

Lake Mungo tells the sad tale of the Palmer family and the tragedy that struck them on a trip to Australia's Lake Mungo in New South Wales. June and Russel Palmer lost their daughter, Alice on that trip. Together with their son Mathew, the Palmer's try to overcome the great loss, but it isn't easy to forget that your 16 year old daughter has passed away.

Especially if your son's photos and videos of the house reveal images of her. Interviews with family and friends and the help of a psychic reveal that young Alice may have had many secrets.

One of the many haunting visuals in the film

The film is focused on interviews with friends and family and uses those interviews to tell Alice's sad story.  The pace is slow, but as her story unraveled, I found myself saying, "Whoa..." out loud several times - fascinated by the twists and turns the story made as it progressed.

There are some great "B-Roll" shots of the area in the film as well. Time lapse images of the house and the lake that show stars in the sky sweeping by and light play from passing cars that helped to set the mood. The attention to both the family interviews and the supporting footage was impressive.

The interviews are touching. The space that is left when a loved one passes is difficult for family members - we all know that. But, there is also a space left for friends that can be difficult to acknowledge at times especially when the focus is usually on the Family. The loss for friends is life altering as well. The interviews show this side of loss as well.

But, why is this film on THE HORROR SHOW if it's just interviews about how sad people are? Because of the photos and videos shot by Alice's brother. They are so haunting. So creepy.  They are really hard to overlook and must have been very hard for the family to deal with at the time. To see that your daughter is still present. To see that your sister is still around the house - as if she is standing and waiting for you to help her. Man...disturbing.

This is NOT a Paranormal Activity-like tale with action and wow factor. This is a document to family loss with some really creepy elements and visuals that are peppered between the video interviews. Fascinating and well worth a watch for fans of the paranormal!

The Palmer Family

Psychic brought in to help the family

Footage from Alice's friend's phone

~~~ S P O I L E R S     B E L O W    ( IN  GRAY ) ~~~

The most interesting aspect of this film was that it wasn't real! It was a mocumentary, but the acting and the story and the way everything was put together was fantastic. Better than Paranormal Activity or other efforts like it made to date. The actors pull off their roles and are believable. The story twists were fantastic and really did have me saying "Whoa" and "What?!" out loud. When the film was over, I had to jump on the internet at once t see if it was real. I was SO happy that I did this after it was over and not before. It really is far better NOT to know before viewing. Double switch reveals, plot twits and betrayals. I loved it! 

Please let me know if you have seen this film and what you thought about it. I thought it was fantastic!