The Lords of Salem

I just did a THE LORDS OF SALEM rewatch and the film is really good. I enjoyed it whole heartedly and this was the third time I watched it. It holds up and proves to be a fantastic addition to the SATANIC CULT sub-genre.

I don't want to say a whole lot about the film itself. There are some basics that are rather clear from the start. Witches of Salem are looking to birth the anti-Christ, really. That was my take. And this poor DJ Heidi Hawthorne (Sheri Moon Zombie) is the vessel for the birth. And then we have the classic "uh...guys...my life is getting all strange" happenings that we've seen in films like THE SENTINEL and ROSEMARY's BABY. However, we're treated to it all being done in a rather grownup Rob Zombie style. There are no country hippy madmen in this film. No crazy people in clown makeup. It's just hipsters going to very bad places as the witch magic runs it's course.

The acting is restrained as well. Sheri Moon does a grand job in the lead role. We have Ken Foree, Dee Wallace, Bruce Davison, Jeff Phillips, and more just...working their roles wondrously.

Honestly, I don't understand the hate for Rob Zombie and his films. I wasn't really a huge fan of his recent effort 31, but other than that, I think things have been really fantastic. Even the spit upon HALLOWEEN remakes are great. It seems to me that people are just into saying they don't like his work so they can be cool.

"Rob Zombie? Oh...yeah...his stuff sucks. Yeah, I said it. I proclaim that it's AWFUL and BAD!"

Whatever. As you know, I run a HATE FREE ZONE for films for the most part. It's fine to say you don't like the films. I get that. But, it's just that. YOU don't like the film. It doesn't mean that they are not worth of someone else's love. :)

That being said, I think I love THE LORDS OF SALEM.

Check it.

Retake on Remakes

A while back in 2011, I wrote something that bashed remakes.

(( http://horrorsho.blogspot.com/2011/09/horror-remakes.html ))

The general take-away on it was that many remakes just don't do as well as the originals when you look at reviews and the like. Since that article was written, I've been knee deep in life. Work issues, my little girl going into the "Terrible Twos", a new baby, a daughter going into Stanford and the loss of my Father and all the fallout from that. It's amazing how one's views can change when real issues come on hot and heavy! :)

So...remakes. Whatever. It's fallout from a system that doesn't work in the artist's favor, honestly. Writers write new things, but many studios want a guaranteed return on their investments. Hell, I want that, why wouldn't they? So, they go with things that worked before over unproven ground.

Ti West pointed out in the Innkeepers Extras that there is a ratio that is industry wide.

more studio money = more studio involvement - creative control over the project + more cash

less studio money = less studio involvement + more creative control - less cash

So, it's great having the cash when you're making your movie, but you're going to be facing less creative control more often than not. And studios will remake or sequel out a franchise if it's made money in the past.

I've recently taken a look at some remakes and I've really tried to remove my old "TO HELL WITH THEM!" filter and I have to say it's not as bad as all that. The thing that drove me to do this was hearing some of the ranting from the other side. People bashing remakes to the point where they seem like they may be worse than murdering someone and eating them. :) "HOW DARE THEY TOUCH THAT SACRED FILM!" I've taken the tack of just not caring as much - there are so many more important things in the world to care about, really.

On that note, I re-watched  Rob Zombie's Halloween and I enjoyed it. It added some little side-note story items, had some nice "re-envisioning" of the classic Carpenter version and had that Rob Zombie look that you either love or love to hate on. All in all, I watched it and liked it. I'd watch it again for sure.

I've also started re-watching some other remakes like THE BLOB and writing about them as well. I'm sure they have SOMETHING to offer in the mix. I'm also sure that there's crap mixed in there as well (SEE: The Fog remake disaster), but that's a numbers game.

One of my favorite examples of right and wrong remakes can be found withing the LIVING DEAD series. The NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD remake was great and brought some grand things to the table - like the fact that the zombies were so slow you could really just walk around them if you had a little room. Fantastic. I love the DAWN OF THE DEAD remake, too. As a matter of fact, it got to me enough to were I actually had a little nightmare experience. A first in LONG while when it comes to horror and horror movies. I just don't scare anymore. hehehe  But, then you hit the rotten stench of the DAY OF THE DEAD remake and....ouch....it puts me back in the mindset of,  "Hmph, maybe they really shouldn't remake movies. That was horrid."

And...my gawd...the EVIL DEAD remake looks great to me and I'm so excited to see it, but the first thing I thought when I heard about it originally was "HOW DARE THEY TRY to remake that CLASSIC!!!" Well, that all ended when I saw the first, shake cam trailer view from Comicon. The second trailer has gotten me even more excited. So much so that I've cleared the decks and gotten flight ok from the Mrs. to go see it opening weekend! :)


How do you feel about remakes?

Are you sick of the moaning about remakes or are you a true believer that nothing should be remade?

More on remakes:

Night of the Demons VS - 
http://horrorsho.blogspot.com/2011/02/versus-night-of-demons.html

April Fools Day Remake Disaster - 
http://horrorsho.blogspot.com/2010/05/april-fools-day-remake.html



~M~