OMM2024 - Night 30: Creep (2014)

We're almost there! Tonight's movie for #OctoberMovieMarathon is one I've had on my watchlist for awhile. Larry's joining me too!

It's been a blast and if I remember when I get back from Internationals- I might even do a recap/summary of the movies this year. I think that sounds like a fun thing... are you interested?

 

Night 30

Creep (2014)

8/10

Aaron responds to an online ad for filming services at a vacation home.

This movie is a high 8. It's not quite a 9, but it's close! It's another found footage movie which progressively gets more and more awkward and uncomfortable. It's frustrating in the best ways as you wait for the other shoe to drop. I think you could enjoy this either by yelling at the screen or sitting in mounting terror. I love it.

It's so neat to see a stalker story following a guy- give this one a watch. I'm still stunned that one scene, if taken out of context is just silly, is totally scary in the movie.

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

I really enjoyed how Larry and I were going back and forth about what was happening and how it was going to turn out for the first third of the movie. It does even out and sticks to it's throughlines by the end. But let me tell you- the final scenes- I didn't expect them to show Aaron's demise! And then the sudden short reveal of Josef putting the tape away next to a bunch of others?? Woah!

I think there is a sequel to this movie and I'm 100% going to watch it if it is. This one was so fun.

OMM2024 - Night 29: Bone Tomahawk (2015)

#OctoberMovieMarathon

Night 29:

Bone Tomahawk (2015)

8/10

It's the wild west in the town of Bright Hope. When 3 people are abducted by a strange cannibalistic group, the sheriff and his posse ride out to rescue them.

One of the big joys of this movie is the mood. The tone is set right at the start and it's solid all the way through. From the lighting and scenery to the costumes and mannerisms, it's fantastic. The characters are also great. Sometimes with movies that don't feature a lot of dialogue or exposition dumps can get confusing or let the characters blend together. But not our main 4 guys. They stay distinct and we really get to know them as we travel to the scene of the final climax. Kurt Russel and all our leading men are fantastic in this.

 

It's a bit on the gorey side for me- but thankfully we don't linger on visuals and rely on some effective (granted very disturbing) sound design. As good as the movie is, it is a bit long at over 2 hours. I feel like someone could very easily rate this a 9/10, but it just didn't hit that special something to push it above 8 for me.

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

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Surprisingly, I don't have much of an issue with the women in this movie. There aren't that many women in the story, but none of them are treated as simple props or emotional crutches. And then the fact that the story focuses mostly on the men doesn't feel like the women are unfairly sidelined. The only exception to this are the two female Troglodytes at the end, which just felt like an unnecessary gross out/"look how horrible these people are" moment. I mean we already got to see them chop a man in half penis first- did we really need to see two women in that state? Unneeded. And then we just... leave them? *shudders*

Other than that though, this movie was good. There's a bit of a reverse "Misery" scene (this one has a great use of sound and a cutaway), humanity for the jerk character, some excellent physicality expressing the physical pain the characters are in, and it's just good. If you like the wild west, but enjoy it being a bit more grounded and more serious- this is the movie for you.

OMM2024 - Night 28: Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

 Here we go team- it's late and it's time for the next entry in the #OctoberMovieMarathon! I first heard of this movie at a friend's house, when we were flipping through channels and this was on- we kept it there for... maybe a minute? before my friend saw the clowns and said we had to change it because she was scared of clowns and knew this movie had clowns in it. Then, this year I think, I was at my parent's house and this movie was on TV! I caught glimpses of it, but not enough to actually see the movie. So I was really excited to finally see what this movie is all about.

Night 28:

Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

8/10

A shooting star lands outside of town, but at the impact site is a... big top tent? With clowns that aren't from this planet.

It's getting an 8 for goofiness. This feels like another dimension's Rocky Horror Picture show. It's fine technically, good even! Though the Klowns themselves are the same level of animatronic as the live action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- it's still nice to look at. It's silly, it's funny, it's a good time.

I also think I really enjoy seeing gore/scary objects but put through a filter. Similar to Dave Made a Maze, where it's all filtered through a "cardboard box" theme, this movie is filtered through "clown/carnival". I was laughing the whole time- this was so fun! I'd watch it again 100%. Heck, let me come over and watch it with you!

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

I think my favorite part of this movie was the popcorn moving around the bathroom- that was just so fun and almost cute. They give me the same vibes as the soot sprites from "Spirited Away". The shadow puppet scene was also super cool. The effects were awesome! They're not super realistic or anything, but they hit the sweet spot between goofy-low-tech and dated that works perfectly. For sure an example of doing what you can with the budget and know-how you have. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that some of the costumes or props were actually really sophisticated, because they just work so well.

I also appreciated that the mean cop got what was coming for him- but it was still a funny scene.

I can see how this movie might have terrified young kids, from the scene with the girl at the restaurant it's clear this movie was made before clowns were a common phobia. Add to that the way the klowns move and you've got some grade A nightmare fuel. But watching it as an adult (who's not scared of clowns) it was just a fun time. And I really love how the klowns used clowny things as weapons and gimmicks.

And I have to wonder, this has to have been an inspiration for "Big Top Burger" by Worthikids on YouTube right? It's gotta be.

Anyways, this one is fun! If you're scared of clowns you might feel differently, but it's a goofy good time!

OMM2024 - Night 27: It Follows (2014)

It's the last days of the #OctoberMovieMarathon! I can't believe it's almost November, wow. And in just a few days I'll be heading off on a trip, it's been a busy month! I could have sworn I'd seen this movie, but after watching the opening- I think I've only seen scenes from it. So it's time for a proper watch!

 

Night 27

It Follows (2014) 

9/10

After having sex with her boyfriend for the first time, a girl discovers that she now has an entity following her- and the only way to get rid of it is to pass it on...

Wow!! Considering how simple the premise is, this was a fantastic film! They show you just enough to keep you hooked but leave everything else up to the classic fear of not seeing something scary. The tension is fantastic, the pacing is good, and though there was a brief moment of "ew gross please no", it's very, very good.

If you haven't seen this movie- seriously watch it! Add it to your scary movie list. It deserves a spot!

SPOILERS BELOW THE POSTER!

 

 

SPOILERS START HERE!

This is one of those movies that's scary, but I'm super excited to dive into a bunch of video essays on it. There's so much you can glean from this I can't wait to see what more context about it's production and the time it was filmed in can tell me. I wasn't expecting it to work so well, since I've often heard it described as "that one tumblr post about the snail, except it moves at a walking pace for people" and frankly I've seen too many tumblr posts about the best way to defeat the snail to take that seriously. But, even though I'd love to see those posts with this entity, it was still incredibly tense and just an all around great spooky movie!

 

I will say, the reason this movie doesn't get a perfect score is that I don't understand the use of the shapeshifting thing. Obviously, it seems that at first the entity is going to be strangers in group settings and a friend/family member in 1on1 scenes. And that is mostly true- but I don't understand why two of the big sequences feature parents. The scene with Greg's mom in particular was really... gross. I know it's not actually her- but it was still a jarring moment to see that. And then at the end we get a scene where the entity is her dad? EWW WHY? I don't want to think about that aspect movie >.<

The movie also has quite the unequal amounts of nudity. Boobs galore, and like a few guys with their shirts off, plus 1 fully naked man like 20feet away. So that could be better.

 

But overall- this was a great movie! I can't wait to see if the sequel comes out- apparently there's a "They Follows" in the works, due to start shooting in 2025. Huzzah!

OMM2024 - Night 26: Level 16 (2018)

Tonight I'll be joined by Larry! Closing in on the end of the 2024 #OctoberMovieMarathon

Night 26

Level 16 (2018)

9/10

Vivian and Sophia attend a boarding school for clean girls, but as they advance through the levels they discover that things are not what they seem.

 

This movie was great! It's more of a thriller than a traditional scary movie- but it's pretty spooky. They do a lot with the set work and the costuming. Lots of little things that hint at what's happening without giving it away, and oh do you feel for all the girls in this movie. I love the world building and the characters. I also have to give it to our lead actresses- they portray their characters so convincingly as young girls- it's pretty impressive.

Give this one a watch! I'm going to have to add director Danishka Esterhazy and Canada as places to find more good films.

SPOILERS BEGIN BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

Without giving exactly what's happening away- Larry and I were immediately thinking along the lines of a "Get Out" or "Promised Neverland" situation. The story and reasonings are different though. I'm a little 50/50 on the ending for the Doctor, on the one hand I like that we don't get 100% clarity on who he's working with or how they started this whole thing- but on the other hand... I wanna know!! But if I think about it critically- that's not what this story is about. And an exposition dump/flashback/reveal scene would have just hamstringed the final act. There's for sure more things that could have been explored a little more- but that probably would have happened were this a book or a TV series. The limited time of a movie really makes you hone in on what's important for the story. And I think Esterhazy nailed that balance.

I like how the girls feel so different than other shows that feature kids in peril. The way they act, the decisions they make- it's heartbreaking but completely understandable knowing how they grew up. Watching these girls make decisions based on what we know about them is so believable.

I could go on and on about how much I liked this movie, but I don't want to give too much away. I mean from the start it's pretty obvious this isn't a normal boarding school and something sketchy is happening, but you should just watch it and find out for yourself! It's good!

OMM2024 - Night 25: Day of the Triffids (1963)

I got to watch this movie during my platelet donation, I often find these older movies are generally good for watching in a louder environment. They're usually a bit more over-the-top and feature loud music stings to keep you in the mood. #OctoberMovieMarathon

Night 25

Day of the Triffids (1962)

7/10

After a once-in-a-lifetime meteor shower, most of the world is stricken blind. At the same time, large and mobile plants, the Triffids, start to hunt down people. We follow a scattered band of survivors as they try to navigate this apocalypse.

A surprisingly solid movie! At least in my experience, these older movies from the 60's are a bit hit or miss. But this one had a solid premise and didn't try to make everything into a moral or harp on a specific trope. I really enjoy how we follow 2 distinct groups: some people on the mainland (which lets us see how the world at large is getting on and "run away" from the Triffids) and a scientist duo who are trapped on an island (which gives us the "boarding up doors and try to figure out how to kill them" plotline). The plants themselves are a bit... silly looking, but there are some moments where they seem decently creepy or threatening.

 

There is a dearth of characterization for the women in the movie (unsurprising for this time), and a bit of blasé attitude towards the newly blind population. We're for sure supposed to be following the specific 5 main characters and not really caring all that much about anyone else. The tension was good throughout- I like that there's not a full explanation of how or why- we just have to deal with what's happening.

 

 If you're in the mood for a bit of an older style movie- this one is fun! There's also lots of opportunity for riffing on it if it needs a bit of extra oomph for your tastes :)

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

This movie follows that classic "scary threat from ~someplace~ destroys humanity" feel, but it's surprisingly grounded. We get quite a lot of scenes where we visit with other people in peril and see how this sudden blindness is affecting them. A train station with people desperate to get to a taxi or call their family, a plane with the pilots desperately calling for help while trying to reassure the passengers that everything is fine, even a doctor at the start says "the optic nerve is gone" to explain why he can't see and then jumps out of a window. If the movie didn't move on so quickly from those scenes it would be incredibly dark.

As expected though, the women aren't treated with the same respect as the men. We get a lot of women screaming when they see the plant vs men just... getting eaten without much complaint (strong and silent I guess). The worst offender is probably the scientist duo, where the lady screams bloody murder at the sight of the Triffid, and the man fights it off only to then have to comfort her because she's not sobbing and terrified. Even though these plants are generally slow-moving and didn't actually get that close to her- it's the type of scene parodied in Austin Powers with the steam roller.

Two scenes that I did enjoy from a visual standpoint were when the Triffids are gathered en masse by the Spanish house- the sudden shot revealing So. Many. of them was shocking. It's like a forest of them! And a little later, when the Triffids are being burned we see their corpses, I guess? Which to me looked like 3 big vines with a skull in the middle. That might not have been intentional- but it was creepy to get to see what could almost be their faces. If true, it hints that they are not just plants but thinking sentient beings (cause what else would have a skull for a brain?). Or it's just a creepy looking corpse for a plant.

There's also a scene where a roving group of... escaped convicts? take over the house where our main guy and girl were staying and have trapped all the women in one room to make them dance for them. One girl is even half-dragged upstairs screaming before she is able to throw the guy down the stairs (good for her). But after our main guy sneaks in and is able to whisk the one lady who can see out of the room- we just... leave. Our main guy puts the girl and the lady in the truck and drives off as a bunch of plants slowly advance on the men- who are too drunk to realize what's happening. Leaving all the other blind women with them.

As I was watching this movie, I kept thinking- what if there was a reboot made where we get to follow some blind people? It makes sense that most of the population would suffer from panic at first, anyone would if you suddenly lost your vision. But there are people who are blind and would be able to navigate the world in the same way they were before. I think it could be a really cool film where suddenly the disabled population is the group who can handle everything and has to now care for and teach everyone else. We get a tiny bit of this at the end with the Spanish couple, but they don't really dwell on it. I'm no expert on disability representation- but it seems like an obvious choice to have people who are already blind lead the way in this new world as everyone else tries to adjust suddenly losing a sense.

There is a movie from the 80's as well as 2 TV series from the 80's and 2000's respectively. I don't know if they evolved the premise at all, but I'd be willing to give them a shot. This one is fun! Give it a watch- and if it's not quite good enough- you can probably riff on it enough to make it a really good time. :)

OMM2024 - Night 24: Sleepy Hollow (1999)

 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a ghost story I heard as a small child and for YEARS it terrified me. I don't even think I knew the details of the story aside from the Headless Horseman. So this story was a bit of a personal fear to overcome for the #OctoberMovieMarathon

Night 24

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

5/10

Detective Ichabod Crane is sent to the rural town of Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of murders.

 

I don't know what story I heard as a child, but even though I was primed for a terrifying experience- this movie didn't deliver. It is a twist on your typical Sleepy Hollow- with Ichabod being a detective instead of a teacher, and there being more of a focus on the mystery of what's happening and who's behind it.

But, to be honest, it doesn't hold your attention. Everything is is muted grey tones (with the exception of red) and the characters are all pretty flat. There's some attempt at a backstory with Ichabod himself and hints that the whole town knows something, but it doesn't go anywhere. And though the movie does feature Christina Ricci- they don't do anything with her or give her anything to do. Which is a shame.

I'll also say that I kept being brought out of the story because Katrina (Ricci's character) and Ichabod (Depp's character) are supposed to be love interests- but look at this poster and tell me it doesn't read as an adult man and a child. This tracks, since at the time of filming Depp was 36 and Ricci was 19- but it really reads like a huge age gap even in the movie with the costumes. *shudders* I swear for the opening bit I could have read the awkward relationship as a father figure thing, but nope.

This one you can probably skip. There's a bit of the Burton charm in it, but not nearly as much as some of his other films. Though the scenes with the horseman are fun- the stunt work for him in particular was really cool. But I don't think that's quite enough to sit through the movie.

 

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

 

 

SPOILERS START HERE!

 

As I said earlier, the main "romantic" subplot just didn't feel like a real romance to me. Aside from the obvious age gap which makes it feel gross, there's no chemistry between the characters. The love triangle that's such a big part of the original story isn't here at all. There's also quite a few women in the story that just look incredibly young, even when they are supposed to be adult women with children. You can probably chalk that up to typical Hollywood casting choices, but I always find that to be a big turn off. Especially when the men have a wider range of ages and body types. A perfect example of this is the flashbacks with young Ichabod- where he's with his mother (we learn this later, at first it's just a boy being called Ichabod by a lady). His mother has a dress with so much cleavage the overhead shots felt like they were riding on a prayer that her boobs wouldn't pop out. This is a very odd choice when the flashback is between a child and his mother- why is she so boobalicious?

One of the main issues I have with this retelling of Sleepy Hollow is it feels confused. We start up with Ichabod saying that the current justice system is corrupt and needs to adapt to the new century and move away from the medieval torture they currently use. This was set up well with a man who has, very clearly, been beaten up by the cops bringing him in- who are asked "what happened to him?" "Nothing, arrested for robbery" and they throw him into a pit covered by iron bars. It's a great way to start off the movie by showing an issue and also giving us a clue that things will be overexaggerated for effect.

We don't keep this slightly theatrical style though, and in Sleepy Hollow everything is dull and grey and people are getting their heads chopped off and it's just... boring? The four heads of the town know instantly that it's the Headless Horseman, which Ichabod doesn't believe because "science and reason". We drift into a bit of a magic vs science ideas, where Ichabod is using new-fangled items to solve the crime- like saying the body shouldn't be moved, using chemicals to produce a reaction to prove something, etc. But this also isn't explored. In fact, from the flashbacks with his Mom, we learn that she was a witch of some sort- so if anything Ichabod should be totally on board with the idea of magic, since his mother was condemned by the justice system. Plus when Ichabod gets advice from a witch and later we see Katrina doing witchy things- he's nonplussed. I don't know why they set up this idea of "science vs magic" and then don't do anything with it.

Perhaps it's because they were going for the mystery aspect- of someone controlling the horseman and purposefully going after people. But they don't introduce that idea until maybe halfway through? And I feel like there weren't any actual clues that would allow you to guess who the real culprit was before the reveal, and I am a firm believer in that mysteries should have enough clues for sharp-eyed viewers to figure out the solution instead of a bait and switch that no one could figure out.

 

So yeah... all in all, a let down, and for sure not one of Burton's better films. Watch a different movie instead.

OMM2024 - Night 23: V/H/S 94 (2021)

 Let's keep it up! #OctoberMovieMarathon

Night 23

V/H/S 94

7/10

As a SWAT team raids a cult's compound and it's collection of VHS tapes, we witness 4 of the films.

This is a horror anthology, and the 4th in this VHS series. I feel like I may have seen one of them before, but I don't remember which one. I really enjoyed this one! Each segment is found footage/POV (a genre I'm biased towards). It was fun to see all the different ways the directors found to have a camera be utilized for each segment. The surrounding framing narrative is just okay, but I enjoyed basically all of the sequences. It got a little bloody and a little gorey, but not too bad. There were a bunch of jumpscares- which after a movie like "Come and See" I actually really enjoyed. Just goes to show you that even within a genre, you can still find variations and end up enjoying tropes or gimmicks you'd normally not use.

 

Each bit was written and directed by a different person and feels a little different. Out of the 5 segments, I really enjoyed 3 of them: "The Terror", "The Empty Wake", and "Storm Drain". All hail Ratmaa xD This film was just a campy good time. It's a little goofy, but the scares are still there. This would be a great one to watch with friends I think.

 

Now, I know the other entries in this series are also anthologies, so there's no guarantee that I'll enjoy the other entries this is a solid movie and I feel like I can give them a chance. Give this one a go!

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

Of my top 3 segments, "The Terror" was my favorite I think. It was played straight, but was still very silly. Watching this wanna-be militia try and fail in their plans was great. Plus the pyrotechnics were fun. That would for sure be a reason vampires would avoid the sun xD

"The Empty Wake" was the most tense of the segments- as we wait with Hailey at a wake where no one comes. Even if nothing were to happen, that's a creepy situation. By yourself with a stranger's body... as no one comes? And the family asked for it to be recorded? A bit strange and off-putting. And that's before you start hearing noises coming from the casket.

"The Storm Drain" is just fun- I like that they tied in the religious feel of it and how it was consistent between our cameraman and our reporter for who was "worthy". You could have easily had both our protagonists be jerks and get what's coming to them- but instead we get a really delightful (if a bit gorey) final scene that's just plain enjoyable. And then the cut to the Vegetable Masher? Hilarious.

"The Subject" and "Holy Hell" didn't land as well for me. But if you enjoy more of a shoot em up, revenge fantasy you might have a better time with "The Subject". "Holy Hell" is the framing narrative, so it's a little on the weaker side with story- but that could just be because I haven't seen the previous 3 films. I have no idea if they tie together at all aside from "spooky VHS tapes". This movie makes it seem like there's a cult trying to take over the world (?maybe?) and that's where these other films come from, so that could be built on the last movies, perhaps it was more vague in the first VHS but by #4 they've given a clearer story to it? That's complete speculation on my part, that could be totally wrong.

But overall- this was a lot of fun! It feels a lot like "Wrong Turn" did for me this year. Just a good time were you get to be scared a little bit, but we're not going to have nightmares or anything. Sometimes you just need a fun movie to have a good time without it causing a big existential crisis.

OMM2024 - Night 22: Come and See (1985)

No #OctoberMovieMarathon would be complete without at least 1 movie that features Nazis. This is that movie.

Night 22

Come and See (1985)

9/10

Flyora is a teen in Byelorussia in 1943, he joins with the Soviet partisans against the occupying Nazi forces and witnesses the atrocities being committed.

 

This movie is... it's good. It's fantastic even! Our main star was 14 at the start of filming and it's an amazing performance. The movie is both realistic and surreal with some stomach turning scenes. It's... disturbing, in a way that I think a lot of films dealing with WWII aren't. There's no overexaggeration of what's happening, it's just shown to you. It's a bit obtuse though, and I'll put more details on why in the spoiler section.

 

This isn't your regular horror film, but it's so unsettling it fits the genre. However, you do have to sit up and pay attention, the surreal elements can very easily make you lose where you are the movie. It's not a fun movie, but it is good.

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

I have to shout out the camera work with this movie. There are so many shots that feel so incredibly intentional with framing that I feel like if I researched a bit more, I could find that multiple moments might be recreations of actual photos taken during WWII.

There's other moments like this where maybe if I had a better idea of this history or the people making the movie I'd get more out of it. A good way to show that is the title itself "Come and See" which is a reference to Revelations in the Bible- when the Lamb says "Come and see!" to reveal Death riding the pale horse. This is not referenced in the movie, there's no Bible/religion mentioned at all, and if you don't know that reference the title just seems... random. Other things that happen in this movie seem like if I had a bunch of footnotes I'd understand better. That could be because it's a Soviet Union film and I'm not locked into that culture, but I think there's also things left purposefully vague or only for those "in the know".

The surrealism is also pretty subtle. At the beginning our main kid gets partially deafened and we get lots of shots where the audio is distant or fuzzy, which adds to our confusion and feeling of being unsettled. A cool effect to be sure, but a bit hard to understand as well.

Another cool thing that I didn't even realize was happening until the end was how our main character is aging. Kinda. He's still 100% a teen, there's no magic/supernatural things happening- but he goes from a smiling tow-headed kid to someone with wrinkles, grey hair, and a permanently shell-shocked face. It's honestly incredible that a child actor can pull it off. My favorite moment of the film is probably at the very end, where Flyora walks up to another boy, who is dressed exactly like he was at the start of the film- and there's a moment of recognition- that this boy hasn't yet seen the horrors that Flyora has. And likely is going to experience the same things, including the simple act of saying "Hello" to the other men in his group and being met with silence and stares. It's crazy how this kid almost feels like a grandfather by the end of the film, even when you see him next to another person who's the same age as he is.

Honestly, this movie probably should be rated higher- because it's so well done. It's a great anti-war film- as no part of the movie seems glamorized or fun at all. There's no fun characters, no tough-but-nice boss, no victory, there's not even a drive to survive (or at least for us to root for survival). I think what hurts it for me is the lack of overall story. We're dealing with a very dark time in history, and it feels incredibly personal. And because of that, it feels like a cop-out to complain about the lack of story. Because it feels like it's just showing you how wave after wave of terrible things happen in war, and there's no "reason" behind any of it. No one is targeting you specifically, it's just happening. (I could also be tying this into the book "City of Girls", which I just finished, which actually features that theme for one of the characters. "Things happen to/around you")

But for me at least, it would have made the scenes easier to follow if I felt attached to any character beyond just "civilian/child I don't want to die". It almost feels like we're watching Flyora stumble from one terrible scene to another just because we need someone to follow with the camera. And with the surreal aspects you do get a bit confused as to what's happening and how people are feeling, it's hard to watch. But... maybe that's the point? I was going to rate this as a 7 for my own personal enjoyment, but I have to give it another point for showing me a different atrocity of WWII I didn't know much about, and for how incredible the child actor was. If you want to watch this movie, expect an anti-war message and horrific scenes with 0 levity and no good resolution, just like actual war.

OMM2024 - Night 21: Rear Window (1954)

I've seen this movie referenced so many times I had to watch it- what better chance than during my #OctoberMovieMarathon?

Night 21

Rear Window (1954)

7/10

Photographer L.B. Jefferies is recovering from a broken leg and has one week left trapped in his apartment. To stave off boredom, he watches his neighbors through their windows, until he sees that something is wrong with one of them...

Don't get me wrong, this was a solid movie. The visuals are top-notch, I love how we can figure out what's happening even though many scenes are witnessed from far away. The acting is fun and the characters are great! I really enjoyed Lisa's character, it's kinda rare to have the love interest be so intelligent and proactive. She and Stella were my favorite parts of the movie! I was expecting this to be a bit more... dramatic? It was a lot funnier than I thought, and much more focused on the people watching than the neighbors being watched. A very fun movie with a slow build. But honestly, the director being Alfred Hitchcock should tell you the quality of the movie is up there.

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

The only reason I didn't give this movie a higher score is because I thought it was going to be much scarier. When I think about it though, I think that's a hallmark of Hitchcock's films, they're not "scary" per say, they're more tense. Although I also found this one to be quite humorous. It's a lot more lighthearted until the climax at the end. I'd say that's the only point where it felt traditionally scary.

I did not expect this movie to focus so much on the photographer. I expected everyone to buy into his story even less. I think most of the references to this movie make it seem like no one believes anything was witnessed. However, in the movie, lots of people buy in almost immediately. Perhaps they don't think it's as serious, but they think something weird is happening if nothing else. Lisa especially bought in almost instantly, (and had a lot of good insights because of her knowledge of women).

I also really enjoyed how everyone got a happy ending. Though it is a bit heteronormative/romantic focused (almost everyone ends up as a couple), it's still a really sweet way to end the movie- showing that the neighborhood comes together to help and then find connection between them. I like it.

OMM2024 - Night 20: The Last Exorcism (2010)

 Another exorcism entry this year- and it's another one that doesn't follow the tropes of this genre. #OctoberMovieMarathon

Night 20 

8/10

A preacher decides to come clean about his fraudulent ways by documenting a trip to a rural Louisiana to perform his last exorcism.

I liked this movie! It surprised me as beat by beat it kept me guessing what was happening. I also had no idea this was a found-footage mockumentary movie. I think the best part about this, is it starts off with the preacher and he's not committed to the idea that demons are real at all. In fact, he starts off the movie, not with a crisis of faith, but with the acceptance that comes after a crisis of faith where faith didn't win out. He's charismatic and it's just an interesting perspective to have the preacher be the one who's not convinced. I think this one is well shot, well acted, and I enjoyed this different take on an exorcism movie. Definitely put this one on your list to watch!

And two fun facts for you: most of the characters share a first name with their actors and Ashley Bell (who plays Nell) does all the bends and twists herself! She's really that flexible!

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

It's such a cool idea to have the reluctant one be the preacher, and the family is totally convinced (well almost all of them). I really didn't know where things were going towards the end, there's a lot of twists I don't want to spoil. In face the final reveal had me gasping with my hand over my mouth at how it changed what I just watched.

Nell is so likeable and sweet, but she's got great physicality and control over her face. Very spooky. I especially loved the first exorcism, where we cut back and forth between Cotton (our preacher) explaining how he plans to "fake" the exorcism and the exorcism itself- where Nell (our possessed girl) and her father are filling their roles exactly. It's so... freaky to watch someone calmly explaining "here's how I'll trick them" and then our poor girl getting actually worked up and freaked out by what's happening.

I do get a personal quandary from this sequence in particular. Since the conflict rests in us, the audience, knowing that Cotton doesn't believe what he's saying and is still profiting off of it. And though in the normal church at the start that seems to be fine- things feel different when we get to see the horror and confusion the family deals with during this first exorcism. Even if they feel better afterwards, does that make it okay? It's a topic I've often had shower arguments with myself... if "no one gets hurt" is there harm? And I honestly think this scene might readjust my own beliefs on that front... Which ironically, is where Cotton starts this film off at- he's already disillusioned and has decided he's stopping and documenting what is wrong about his setup. (such a good setup, I said that already but it's so true!)

Oh and the pictures! The drawings that give you some foreshadowing- I love that then we don't need to actually see what happens at the end since we saw them. It makes for a very tactful final climax.

The other thing I appreciated was that we don't ever really get to know the documentary people. They're in the action, and as the story goes more and more off the rails- we hear them talk more. But the movie doesn't go out of it's way to show them, their faces, or even their names. They are actually shooting their footage like professionals, they don't talk when the camera is running, we don't see them on screen very much, and it just feels more real that way. It's a subtle touch, but a really nice one that makes the opening sequence grounded, and emphasizes how scared everyone is getting as that professionalism starts to disappear.

I don't want to spoil the ending here- but I can say I'm very happy that I own the DVD of this movie, because I'm very interested in the director's commentary that's included. Shout out to physical media!

OMM2024 - Night 19: Stop Motion (2023)

Caught up to the proper night and with a plan for the rest of the month! #OctoberMovieMarathon has another top rated movie for you tonight.

Night 19: stopmotion (2023)

10/10

Ella's mother is a legend in the stop motion animation world, but has lost the use of her hands. Now for her mother's last film, her mother is the brains and Ella is the hands. But when her mother falls into a coma, Ella gets the chance to make her own film...

Woah! This movie was really cool! The concept is fantastic and well executed, the visuals are horrifying, and I really have no complaints about the movie. I love that there are stop motion sequences integrated into the live action movie. The story leans more towards the psychological side of horror, but there's plenty of gruesomeness to enjoy. Though there is gore, it's well done, so I'll allow it.

I love how you don't get to know exactly what's going on, and I feel like some people might be able to piece together where the movie will go- but that doesn't take away from the reveals. It's more like a reward for recognizing the foreshadowing and callbacks.

 

From the opening sequence to the end I couldn't look away (though I did hide behind my hands at some points). This is an excellent movie and I highly recommend it.

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

The DEATILS! I feel like I want to watch this movie again just to see how many extra details I can pick up on. The way things are framed, the dialogue, even the sound design all seem to have hints as to what's really going on. I especially love the subtlety of the squeaking noises when Ella moves. I didn't pick up on them until the back half of the film, and that makes me think there's other things I missed at the start! I'm still not entirely sure what the orb thing is about, but it does not feel like a plot hole- just something I could understand better on a second viewing.

The Ashman is terrifying, and every new version of him is somehow even worse than the last. Extra points go to this movie for not having there be some sort of sexual tension/analogy to the "the second night, he touches her". I really appreciate that the horror is simply the creature entering into the physical realm and not literally... entering anything. Thank you!

The ending had me equal parts repulsed and sad. This one's going to stick with me for awhile. Not in the "that one scene will haunt my nightmares" (like "The Taking of Deborah Logan") but in the thematic sense. I certainly relate to Ella and her struggles... and yeesh does this movie show me a dark path that could go down. I think the best horror movies can end up feeling so personal, because that's the horror that sticks with you.

OMM2024 - Night 18: The Horror of Dracula (1958)

Night 18 of the #OctoberMovieMarathon let's go!

The Horror of Dracula (1958)

4/10

Jonathon Harker accepts a role at Count Dracula's castle under false pretenses, when he's found out- his friend Dr. Van Helsing takes up the fight against Dracula.

 

This movie definitely feels like it's from the 50's. Heavy orchestra hits, melodrama, and very detailed sets. There's not a lot of meat to the film, it's more about the story beats than the characters (which are always stories I have a harder time getting behind). I don't actively dislike it, but it wasn't fun enough for me to fully enjoy myself. There's potential for this to be a movie you can riff on, so that counts for something.

I don't really have much to say on this one! It's your classic horror movie that's good for it's time, but doesn't hold up on it's own. I've seen Christopher Lee mentioned as one of the best Draculas, but I don't have enough Dracula watching time to declare that. And fun fact, this film is actually just titled "Dracula" but was retitled to "The Horror of Dracula" so that it wasn't confused with Universal Studios 1931 "Dracula".

If you enjoy the vibe of old Hollywood movies- you'll like this one. But if those movies don't do anything for you, you can skip it.

OMM2024 - Night 17: Wrong Turn (2003)

 Let's goo! We're over the hump and into the back half of the month. #OctoberMovieMarathon

Night 17

Wrong Turn (2003)

7/10

A man on his way to Raleigh takes a detour down a dirt road to avoid the accident blocking the highway.

A surprise hit! I wasn't expecting to like this movie, but it's pretty fun! Not as gorey as the opening scene made me think it was going it be. A great movie for screaming at the characters: "Don't do that!" "No! Watch out!" and enjoying the shenanigans.

 

Usually I'm big on characters needing to be 3-dimensional. But in Wrong Turn everyone is just a person.  Maybe it's because they weren't just caricatures or stereotypes. There was just enough different about them to make it feel like someone, if not real, at least next door to it. You're not meant to really relate to the characters, they are vehicles for us to romp through the woods and get chased.

 

Do understand, this is NOT a comedy and truthfully there aren't any jokes in the film. It's not a "Dale and Tucker vs Evil" sort of feel and not a "so bad it's funny" movie, it's just a good time. More like a roller coaster- "danger" but you're really just screaming because that makes it more fun.

SPOILERS BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

This movie also features a group of characters who are committing violence for no good reason, but unlike The Strangers, they're at least getting joy out of their hunt. They're eating people and... collecting some bones and such? It's not clear, but you at least get the sense that they've got their own internal logic. I also appreciate the movie not doing all the same scares as other movies. For instance, the bait and switch with the first guy going missing and the girl looking for him- and then the other couple do the "disappear to scare my friend" bit instead- and the girl gets attacked? Great subversion of expectations. I think the villains were well designed (if sometimes looking like they had a pillow under their shirts- I'm looking at you cannibal who got in the police car) and I appreciated all the little details in their house and car park.

The gore, which is something I'm sensitive too, was not too bad. It's mostly blood, and the few shots with body parts don't stick around past their need. I thought the opening showing a bit of blood was a hint that the movie was going to go way too far in showing injuries- but it didn't do that. And though the movie did end up using the trap of "cannibals save the girl because she's pretty/they want use her body" but it didn't go very far. Thank goodness. A lesser film would have used that as an opportunity to strip their female lead. This movie, was classier than that.

OMM2024 - Night 16: I Was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)

 I'm going for a double-feature today! #OctoberMovieMarathon This movie was suggested by Caren!

Night 16

I was a Teenage Werewolf (1957)

6/10

Tony is an angry teenager, but reluctantly goes to seek help from a hypnotherapist- who might not have his best interests at heart.

A very solid movie! Not quite "scary" as much as a thriller, I did not expect there to be a man/werewolf hunt in the middle. There's a couple of scenes that drag a bit, but I really feel for our main character Tony. The characters are simple but effective- and you feel for them having to deal with this terrifying situation. The teenagers were also pretty convincing and felt like real people, and usually that's something I don't get from older films. It's not a super high score because it's not too scary and it does sag in the middle- but this is a great addition to a spooky movie lineup, especially if you want an older movie that isn't one of the "classics". Give this one a watch! I like it!

This one I actually found on YouTube. So that's an easy place to watch it if you're interested! (*cough cough SmartTube or YouTubeVanced cough cough*)

 

SPOILERS BELOW THE POSTER!

 

SPOILERS START HERE! 

I don't have too much to say in terms of deep thoughts. The ending morale is a bit forced I think... the "it's not for man to interfere in the ways of God" feels more like the ending punchline to a Twilight Zone episode than the wrap up of a movie. And though it features a doctor who's trying to- regress humanity to restart society (I think?) I don't really feel a pull between the natural/godly world and science as much as a pull between personal gains vs working with people. In fact, I think an ending moral about having to "adjust" to society and that being a good thing would have resonated more with the characters in the film.

Poor Tony, he really did want to find a way to be better and he had so many people pulling for him! If only the doctor he was recommended wasn't evil... Tony! No! :'(

If you've had anger issues in your life I think Tony will resonate with you. I just wish he got a happier ending... maybe he could have saved someone during the final fight instead of just killing the doctor... though I'm glad he got his revenge, I think...

Effects are good for this era, and I appreciate the camera effects to hide the makeup changes for the werewolf transformation. Perhaps it's a little goofy today, but it does what it needs to and I think it adds a bit of hazy, hypnosis-y feel to what's usually shown as a gruesome transformation. Overall, pretty fun- I like it!

OMM2024 - Night 15: The Strangers (2008)

 Tonight's entry for the #OctoberMovieMarathon comes from my friend Kris!

Night 15

The Strangers (2008)

4/10

A couple return to an isolated vacation home after a wedding. Then a stranger knocks on the door.

This might be a bit of a low rating for this movie, because it's decently well done. Shots are composed nicely, I like the introduction to the characters (very good use of show don't tell), and I enjoyed that it's not just a big gorefest torture porn movie. But... maybe it was my mood tonight, but I just didn't get into it. Maybe the payoff wasn't enough for me. It kinda feels like the movie is a bunch of buildup- but then nothing happens.

 

It did lose a few points for the needless narration and "based on true events" bit at the beginning. Cause it's not. However, your mileage may vary. I'd say give this a shot if you want some okay scares and a tense atmosphere. Just don't expect any answers.

I really liked the song "Mama Tried" they played in the movie! Maybe that was supposed to be a hint at what was going on with the Strangers, but idk if that landed. The song however is very nice.

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

 

SPOILERS START HERE!

From a quick Wikipedia search, it seems like the events that inspired this movie were a couple different murder cases/incidents. And even though I know it's technically correct to say "based on true events" it still feels a bit like a cop-out publicity stunt. I don't expect those types of movies to be accurate representations of something- but at least others are just based on one event and then expound on that idea. You could say everything is "based on true events" if you pull from multiple sources and experiences. So that lost points from the get-go. Also why did we have such a dramatic narrator? He never came back... we could have just read the words onscreen. I think the narration made me think it wasn't true- so that kinda backfired.

Ultimately I think the big thing that did this movie in for me was the Strangers themselves. At some points, it almost seems like they're magic or supernatural. They must have found a way into the house somehow at the beginning but I don't know how. The movie is otherwise pretty solidly grounded in real life, so I can't figure out how they got in/out at first and how the one was able to touch James on the shoulder and then vanish. We see him get touched and react and then a shot outside the car- showing no one was around. How?

I also dislike how they seem to just be there... because? There's no monologue from them or backstory- or even taking to each other. They just lurk silently terrorizing these people- but don't seem to be having fun especially. It's almost like they're doing a job? But we don't get any reasoning behind it. No crazy religious undertones, no talking to a mysterious boss, not even a hint that they're actually demons. It's just... people being murdurey... because I guess they just are? Maybe the film was trying to go for the idea that violence is unjustified and bad things just happen to people sometimes. But that contradicts the amount of know-how and work the Strangers put into this. I honestly thought that maybe the twist at the end was going to be it was James and his buddies getting revenge on Katie for saying no to his proposal. Instead it's literally some strangers who... wanted to murder? But the ending opens it up to a sequel with one of them saying "it'll be easier next time". Next time? Why? It seemed like you had everything handled well with these two what needs to be easier? Were you conflicted? That might have helped you feel more like real people instead of just "creepy people in masks" (which sidebar, I've never gotten the appeal of putting your villains in plastic cheap masks. I get it's supposed to be something anyone could get- but it just feels so cheesy to me, a huge turn off horror wise for me)

I did very much enjoy the quiet, intensely awkward and sad opening. We never see James pop the question, we just see the aftermath. The two coming home quiet, obviously having just been in a huge fight- and the house is all set up for a romantic weekend, rose petals, champagne... and they're just... trying to get through the night. It's heartbreaking to watch. You can tell they're still so close, and wanting to lean on each other for support... but they know their relationship is over, and it's so sad. But as the film progresses I can really see how they don't work together. James why are you so dismissive of finding your would-be-fiance crying terrified holding a knife in the bedroom? "There's no one there" Why aren't you taking her seriously? And Katie, why are you always whispering and asking what's going on? She really doesn't do much in the film aside from look scared and run around barefoot.

It's a well done movie, the tone is consistent and the scares are effective. But I think it's just not for me. I just never got into it, I was kinda riffing on it the whole time- though it wasn't bad enough to really warrant that treatment. Oh well.

OMM2024 - Night 14: The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)

One movie at a time! This is one that was on my Netflix watch later before I cancelled that service. Finally time to watch it! #OctoberMovieMarathon

Night 14

The Taking of Deborah Logan (2014)

9/10

Deborah is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and on the urging of her daughter, allows a film crew to document her condition.

 

Okay, woo, uh wow, this one got to me. The opening premise is already an emotional bomb, as we see Deborah dealing with losing her independence and mind from Alzheimer's and her adult daughter coming to grips with trying to help her ailing mother. That premise alone could make for a dramatic film. But as the movie goes on, it gets creepier and creepier and I was blindsided by all the twists and turns. Seriously, I had no clue where this movie was going- but in the best possible way. You think you know what tropes you'll be seeing- but you'll never guess what's going to happen next.

I highly suggest this one. If it weren't for a few technical things that brought me out of it (it's a found footage, but there's some parts that feel a little... forced) this would get a perfect score. But as it stands- 9/10 is fantastic. I actually like this movie the best out of everything I've seen this year. Absolutely terrifying. I was literally hiding under a blanket at one point. To be honest, I feel like how horror movies felt as a kid- and I need to go watch Winnie the Pooh to clear my head because otherwise this is gonna stick with me. (That was my tactic as a kid and it's never let me down).

 

Love it. Horrifying. If you're at all interested- please PLEASE watch it before reading the spoilers. This one deserves you going in blind.

 

SPOILERS BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS BEGIN HERE!

 

The best part about this movie is you don't know where it's headed. We start off with a documentary feel, with some classic not-all-above-board filmmakers who seem to be more interested in getting a good story than giving the family the dignity and support they need. Then, we slip into a haunted house vibe. Watching the dark corners and backgrounds of the shots to see what that flash was. We even get cameras set up in the house- to perfectly prime us for seeing spooky ghostly activity.

But then, we switch AGAIN! Maybe it is just a tragic case of a woman losing her mind, as we get some fleeting (but gruesome) attacks. The physicality of Jill Larson (who plays the titular Deborah) is fantastic. I was legitimately worried for this frail woman and couldn't figure out if she was under attack or causing something.

Things change again when we shift to a cold-case from the town's past, then a shift to demonic possession. By coincidence- this movie also featured an anthropologist who had studied the cultural phenomenon of "possession" just like in last night's movie, The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

I don't even want to tell you the next shifts because it's just such a jarring change of pace. But I mean that in the best way possible. You feel like the characters in the movie, just grabbing on to the next idea- hoping this one will reveal the way out- the way through. This was the part that had the few technical issues however. I think there were moments where they wanted one character to go first, but they had to just... get the camera in order for us to see what they see? But huge props- because this didn't happen until literally the very end of the movie, and only for a short bit before the camera goes back to someone you'd expect to have it. I also appreciate that the camera has a light on it- which explains why it's being used throughout the climax- literally they're using it as a flashlight.

Speaking of the climax... *shudders* the effects are especially good and so freaky. It's probably CGI- but it meshes so well with everything else onscreen that it's haunting. I'm 100% serious on needing to watch something lighthearted and colorful to get that visual out of my head. I can't say it will hit everyone the same way as it does me- but it's such an effective scare. (and I'm not even scared of snakes)

This was a top tier entry for the movie marathon. And a fantastic "found footage" movie. Highly recommend it, and I've gotta see if the director has made any other films. I want more of this quality.

OMM2024 - Night 13: The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

 Looks like during this year's #OctoberMovieMarathon it's easier to find time to watch movies during the week instead of the weekend. Interesting...

Night 13

The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)

6/10

Emily Rose dies after an exorcism. A lawyer is charged with defending the priest against negligent homicide in court.

I really like the set up here- it feels a bit like a good fanfiction, in that instead of seeing the main event (the exorcism) we see the fall out afterwards (the trial of the priest). Plenty of spooky scenes and some freaky moments, and there was a time when the clocks in the movie said 11:14pm and it was 11:14pm for me in real life! I think the movie did well to set up our lawyer character and give some growth for her. It did drag a bit at the end, it got a little monologue-y for my tastes. But a decent watch. It's a nice change of pace that still feels like a spooky movie.

SPOILERS BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

I think my favorite part was the opening of the trial- where we see the flashback of Emily in her dorm room. I love that we get to see it as a demonic possession and then we see it shot as though it was a seizure. It put me in the same place as the jury- I don't know what happened and I'm trying to figure out the truth based on what I hear from the testimony. That's such a cool concept!

Sadly, we don't stay in this place of not-knowing. We get scenes where spooky things start to happen to our lawyer (shout out 3am) and we only get flashbacks that show what happened as an actual possession. Basically, the movie starts off as a mystery- then transitions into a "how will they get out of this one?" Which really cuts the stakes down a bit, as I couldn't see the movie taking the route of "proving demons are real in court" and then pulling the rug out with "the jury doesn't believe! we're doomed!"

Granted, we do end up with a guilty verdict- which surprised me, but I think it was handled well. Mostly because they didn't have the jury explain their decision. I was confused about what "time served" meant, as I didn't really have a firm grasp on how long ago the exorcism was. ("time served" means the court takes into account time already spent in custody into the sentence- i.e. if someone would be sentenced to 5 years in prison, but have been in prison for 3 years between arrest/trial/sentencing- "time served" means they only need to spend 2 years in prison)

As I said above, it drags a bit at the end. It almost feels like a secret "God's Not Dead" movie, which really took the drama away for me. It is spooky though, and I like how the scenes looked.

OMM2024 - Night 12: They Live (1988)

 Night 12 of the #OctoberMovieMarathon, a movie that Larry's been wanting to see:

They Live (1988)

2/10

A man travels to the city for work and learns the terrible truth- THEY walk among us, controlling us.

 

Bad movie. I expected more from the same director as "The Thing" but this movie was boring. A slow start, hardly any excitement after the reveal, and a mediocre ending. I think Larry summed it up best as "they're trying to bring a muscle head aesthetic to a conspiracy movie." And that just doesn't gel for me. And again, we get very few names/backstories to the characters. Perhaps that's a John Carpenter thing and not an 80's thing after all...

 

Also this movie was not spooky at all. Not Halloweenish or scary at all. It should not have been on this list >.<

 

Clearly my dislike of the film shows that the aliens have gotten to me. xD

SPOILERS BELOW THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

Here's what happens: a guy moves for work, gets a construction job, goes to a homeless camp and across the street there's a church that's a front for a resistance because there are aliens controlling the whole world. Our main guy discovers this through sunglasses that let him see through the... illusions? Mind control?

On the way, he shoots up a bank, kidnaps a woman at gunpoint, gets into an entirely unnecessary and drawn out fist fight, gets guns from the resistance, goes to the bunker and kills a bunch of aliens, and takes out the disk sending their signal around the world. We end on a naked woman (full boobs) having sex with an alien who asks "What's wrong babe?"

It's like the movie is trying to be serious, but also is just very silly. There are a bunch of one-liners that do not land at all. Did you know the "I'm here to chew bubblegum and kick some ass, and I'm all out of bubblegum" comes from this movie? Did you know it's delivered like wet cardboard? It's almost like the characters walk into a scene and think "I should say something cool" then blurt out something ridiculous.

It's astounding how good "The Thing" was and this movie came from the same director.

But I can believe it because I also can't get behind the theme of this movie either. A big idea is that all the commercials/shows/magazines/etc are there to keep everyone complacent and docile. And yet, a large majority of the things shown as examples of this are aimed at women. Fashion shows, press on nails, Lamaze class, who served what at dinner. We do see an alien talking to another guy about getting a promotion and just waiting for it to come- but do you see the disparity here?

And our main character (who isn't actually named in the movie) is just... some white guy? Perhaps it worked better in the 80's, but from a 2024 lens, I just can't buy the idea that he's supposed to be the everyman we can all relate to. Especially when he kidnaps Holly- YIKES. I couldn't even get behind his struggle to be unable to tell her what's happening because- you just JUMPED a woman in the parking garage with a GUN and made her drive you to her house after learning that she lives ALONE. That's the start of so many horror stories I cheered when she hit him and threw him out the window. I think maybe I was supposed to intuit that she was under the alien's control and that's why she was so calm about it? But that doesn't translate well, and especially not 40 years later.

Another idea is that it feels like the movie is clinging to the idea that all the problems in the world are "someone else's fault". In this movie, it feels like it's saying if the aliens weren't here things would be great. But if this movie were made today- there would be more about the people "selling out". There'd be something about profiting against your own people. Maybe even an insinuation that systemic problems may have started with aliens- but were perpetuated by people trying to game the system. I don't think the "one boogeyman" works as well as it once did. Or at least, it doesn't work for me. I have been reading a lot of books that challenge the ideas of revenge/getting even and if it's even possible... but that's a different post.

I think the memes that are lifted from this movie are funnier. This movie was terrible. Skip it.

OMM2024 - Night 11: Darkness Falls (2003)

 I was donating platelets today and had a couple hours to kill, so why not take in a movie? Night 11 of the #OctoberMovieMarathon

Darkness Falls (2003)

5/10

Matilda was an old woman would would trade a gold coin for lost baby teeth, but gets disfigured in a fire. Unable to stand the light, she only comes out at night. When 2 children disappear, Matilda is blamed and the town hangs her. She curses the town: "What I took before in kindness, I will take forever in revenge". The next day, the missing children are found and the incident is buried and forgotten.

100 years later, when a child loses their last baby tooth, she appears. Kyle peeked as a child and lost his mother as a result. He is called back to his hometown when his friend's kid brother starts to say he sees her too.

 

I like the idea of this movie. I was scared of the dark as a kid, so I wanted to see how you would bring that fear into a story with adult characters. I love the shot in the beginning where child Kyle is hiding in the bright white bathroom and the camera slowly moves out to show the dark hallway and this... creepy ghostly figure above the doorway. Half-floating and half-clinging to the wall- it's evocative! And I like the idea of an unfair death haunting a town until the once righteous urge for justice twists into a sick sense of revenge on those who don't deserve it.

 

Sadly, nothing else is really that great about this movie. It's honestly, a bit of a let down. If they had gone harder on the execution of light and dark this could have been neat. Overall, just a meh movie, and not even bad enough to really hate watch.

SPOILERS START AFTER THE POSTER!

SPOILERS START HERE!

I think a lot of my problems stem from the story itself and the fact that technically, the story doesn't treat it's light/dark motif well. This review might be a bit wordy...

We get an opening monologue describing Matilda and her curse on the town before cutting to our main character Kyle. He's losing his last baby tooth (so probably a preteen in middle school). That night, he wakes up and catches a glimpse of Matilda. While he tries to escape he finds that if he's in light she cannot get to him. Sadly, his mother goes into his dark room to show him that no one is there and Matilda kills her. Kyle is blamed for his mother's death and is sent into foster care. The police chief is surprisingly cold to him considering the town is labeled a "small town". (Usually, cold police are for cities in movies)

At this point, there's a lot of opportunities. And with the scene with the bathroom/ghost looking cool I had hopes for this movie pulling off it's concept. It would be a technical challenge to be able to communicate the creature in the darkness and the characters needing to be in shafts of light while still allowing the audience to be able to see what you need them to see. This awesome type of shot is sadly, not repeated.

12 years later, Kyle gets a call from his childhood crush Caitlin- who's little brother is so afraid of the dark he won't sleep more than 10 minutes and claims "she" is coming to kill him. Kyle does return and faces a lot of flack from the people in the town who think he murdered his mother.

We now have Kyle, who's maybe 25 at this point. Caitlin, who's Kyle's age, has a little brother (Michael) who's... maybe 10? I'm totally fine with a large age gap between siblings, but Caitlin and Michael are at the hospital dealing with intense treatments. There is no mention of the parents at all. Where is Michael's parents? Why is his sister dealing with this? It almost feels like they wanted Kyle to come back to deal with the Tooth Fairy going after the next generation- but didn't want Caitlin to have a kid by someone else. After all, in the beginning of the film, Kyle and Caitlin are just starting to be an item- about to go to their first boy-girl dance together. And the way Caitlin acts to Michael is much closer to a mother than a sibling. All this could have been solved with a line about the parents being dead or something, but we don't get that. It's just Caitlin making the medical decisions for her brother and the parents just... aren't there.

And this leads me to the other part of the movie that bugged me. Kyle is shown to be taking lots of medications for depression, anxiety, and psychosis. And it's hinted that Michael is on the same path, since the doctor's are treating him the same way. But everyone is so... mean. Kyle reluctantly goes to a bar and is almost immediately physically attacked by a guy who thinks Kyle murdered his own mother. And I don't understand why this man is so upset by it. Is he just angry that murder happens? The way it happens it feels more like school bullying than anger at the justice system or something. It's weird and seems to only be there to excuse that guy's later death at the hand of the Tooth Fairy. Who I guess is after Kyle again now that he's back in town. And there's an interrogation scene where the chief of police pulls out Kyle's pills and says something to the effect of "you take anti-psychotics because you might become psychotic?" Which I'm sure is a real thing that happens to people which is just gross and rude and terrible.

While writing this, I looked at the Wikipedia article for this movie, and apparently there was a plan to have Kyle be more suspicious as a killer and the Tooth Fairy more of a twist reveal. I think that would have helped with how harsh the townspeople are to Kyle. Because from the audience's perspective, everyone is being really mean to someone who's mother was just killed in front of him!

 And poor Michael is not given any comfort at all. At the end of the movie, the doctor suggests they put him in a sensory depravation chamber to "prove there's nothing in the dark"? I guess the idea being he'll face his fears and then be fine afterwards. But this seems like more harm than good because they also think Michael is causing the scratches he gets himself? So they have to strap him to a table?? And this is supposed to make him calm down??? It's much closer to the "cures" 1900s sanitariums had, which seem more like torture than something that would actually help.

Don't worry, Kyle ends up saving everyone and the Tooth Fairy is killed. The climax is not very exciting and felt like going through the motions. By the end of the movie I just didn't care anymore. I couldn't root for anyone. Kyle was boring, the townspeople were all horrible and mean, Caitlin and Michael were just kinda there... even the ghost doesn't get to do anything fun after the opening.

But the worst part is they had this concept of the creature only being in the dark- and the light being safe. But then we get weird moments where people get attacked instantly the moment they're in the dark one minute and being in the dark for awhile but being fine. And the ghost started off going after people who've seen her? But then she just starts killing anyone in the dark at all? There could have been a lot of interesting shots showing people in the light/dark and crossing that line. There is one moment where the ghost starts to reach and gets burned as soon as it's fingertips hit the light. But that's only one scene.

A frustrating movie, but nothing super duper bad. But skippable for sure.

OMM2024 - Night 10: The Thing (1982)

 Night 10 features me facing one of my movie fears- The Thing. I've never seen it, but I heard that it was super gory and scary and I have honestly been avoiding it... But Larry was home tonight and was able to accompany me- so I finally felt brave enough to watch it. #OctoberMovieMarathon

The Thing (1982)

10/10*

Researchers in Antarctica face off with an unknown creature that can imitate anything... or anyone.

 

*This is a great movie, a 10/10 movie- but there is a small asterisk... because I didn't like it. Don't get me wrong, this was scary. Larry and I were both screaming multiple times while watching. The hype is worth it. The effects are fantastic. It doesn't feel incredibly dated. It's a good movie. It's just... not for me. But even saying that, I can't think of a reason to dock it points. Perhaps if I watched it with a fine tooth comb I could find things to complain about? But nothing sticks out to me from this first watch.

 

My only warning to those who are iffy on watching it- there is a lot of gore/body horror, and the movie does not ease you into it at all. But I, squeamish gal that I am, was able to watch the whole thing- just with a lot of screaming.

 

However, I do think it's worth a watch- it's clear why this movie is lauded as such a fantastic horror film. The effects alone are incredible. But unlike, say the original Frankenstein, it still holds up as just a regular movie- not just a historical curiosity.

 

But skip the popcorn, trust me, you won't want it.

 

SPOILERS START BELOW THE POSTER!

 

 

SPOILERS START HERE!

I mentioned that this movie didn't feel dated- and that's true! But there is one thing that I think gives away it's age: the characters.

 

The characters are barely characters in this film. None of them go beyond their basic summaries: MacCready is a pilot, Cooper is a doctor, Garry is the captain?, there are... other guys? The communications guy, the 2 black men (one more stoic, one more comedic), the autopsy/old man character? None of them have any backstory as to why they're here or in the positions they're in. Aside from the doctor and pilot none of them even have official jobs. Were this movie made today- I think the characters would each have something- someone waiting for them at home, a reason why they're on this research team, perhaps a mission that brought them here. They'd have something.  But this was made in 1982, and I think a lot more movies had characters that were just archetypes back then.

Normally, that would be reason enough to dock a few points- but this movie didn't need any character development. Heck, we barely needed characters beyond them being people in the wrong place at the wrong time. The pacing is so tight, any backstory would have just crowded the already tense atmosphere. And the tension in this movie never ever lets up. You never get a break, just like the researchers.

 

It is no wonder this movie has such a reputation for practical effects. Even the still figures the camera lingers on are just freaky to look at. Slimy and bloody and... so so strange. It's hard sometimes to wrap your brain around what exactly you're looking at. And it's wonderful. The sequences where the Thing attacks are viscerally gross. And since we're not attached to anyone in particular- you never know who to root for or who to suspect. There was a point were I was convinced MacCready had been infected and we were going to be watching the other characters. That didn't happen, but I was never sure who was infected or not. Even at the end.

 

Heck I'm not even sure if everything was okay at the end! It leaves you with this sickening sense that the Thing didn't get defeated- or maybe, just like our researchers did, someone will come in spring and reawaken it somehow.

 

I'm pretty sure I'll have nightmares about this one, and it's gonna stick with me for a long time. And even though I don't have anything bad to say about it- I still feel conflicted. It's a great movie and I think it deserves a 10/10. It has really stood the test of time as a fantastic film. But, I don't think I'll ever watch it again. Is it too scary for me? Is it because the characters left me with nothing to hold onto? Are the effects too creepy for me? I can't put my finger on it. Larry's suggested it might be the themes of the movie: isolation, suspicion, being unable to trust anyone, the sheer bleakness of it- that feels like it's getting closer, but I'm not sure.

 

It's still a great movie. Even better for the fact that I'm still rating it 10/10 even though I wouldn't watch it again. But you should.