Rate the Last Movie You Saw

[Sock Monkey]

From the Dept. of Laziness....

I missed a slew of Halloween movies that I just didn't have time to write up, including the above-mentioned FROM BEYOND, THE HAUNTING, which was a poor choice for Halloween night, since I had seen the movie a few times already, and finished the book the same day. I had just had enough of Hill House, I suppose. I also watched THE SENTINEL (Schlocky, surprisingly dirty 1970s Satan hokum, but I enjoyed it), and a new one on Shudder called AZRAEL, an almost completely silent post-Rapture film about a girl on the run from a religious cult. Honestly, I had to Google the film after I watched it, because the silent nature of the presentation made me feel lie I had maybe missed a clue or two (I did...), but I still give this an enthusiastic thumbs up.

My wife and I saw the new A24 film, HERETIC, and we both enjoyed it. Hugh Grant was great, as were the two female leads. It is very slow and talky, but I found the theological debate hugely engrossing, and the battle of wits between Grant and the Mormon girls was captivating. Recommended.

I'm in the same boat as far as getting behind on writing up the Halloween movies. I'm dead set on getting it done, though. Nobody else may care, but I do!

I watched THE SENTINEL a few years back and though it is kind of derivative of some other horror fare from that era, I actually kinda dug it. It doesn't always work, but it is off-beat and strange and creepy and sometimes that's all I need. I also watched AZRAEL, but won't comment on it since I'm going to do a write-up, darn it! But, in short, I liked it.

I also really want to see HERETIC. As I forego normal cinemas, I was kinda hoping that the local drive-in would show it, but it looks like it's been bypassed for the last VENOM film and RED ONE. I'll just have to wait for a physical media release, which is fine by me. I like Hugh Grant and I even like "grumpy old man" Hugh Grant, but I also have been slowly becoming a fan of Sophie Thatcher. She's one of the few bright spots in YELLOWJACKETS, especially in the second season, so I curious to see her in more films and shows.

[dannyboy121070]

From the Dept. of Laziness....

I missed a slew of Halloween movies that I just didn't have time to write up, including the above-mentioned FROM BEYOND, THE HAUNTING, which was a poor choice for Halloween night, since I had seen the movie a few times already, and finished the book the same day. I had just had enough of Hill House, I suppose. I also watched THE SENTINEL (Schlocky, surprisingly dirty 1970s Satan hokum, but I enjoyed it), and a new one on Shudder called AZRAEL, an almost completely silent post-Rapture film about a girl on the run from a religious cult. Honestly, I had to Google the film after I watched it, because the silent nature of the presentation made me feel lie I had maybe missed a clue or two (I did...), but I still give this an enthusiastic thumbs up.

My wife and I saw the new A24 film, HERETIC, and we both enjoyed it. Hugh Grant was great, as were the two female leads. It is very slow and talky, but I found the theological debate hugely engrossing, and the battle of wits between Grant and the Mormon girls was captivating. Recommended.

[dannyboy121070]

I watched FROM BEYOND right before Halloween, and it didn't hold up from my last viewing (When it was first released theatrically), aside from Barbara Crampton, who I still have a crush on.

[Ben Staad]

I don't think I've re-watched Re-Animator in forever. I should rectify that.

Love me some From Beyond! Give me That & Re-Animator as a double-feature any day!

[sholloman81]

I hadn't watched much lately but did stumble across "From Beyond" a few weeks ago. Cheesy, fun, and some disturbing scenes.

3 out of 5 stars. Something about it clicked with me. It's not a must watch or even re-watch worthy but it was entertaining.

Love me some From Beyond! Give me That & Re-Animator as a double-feature any day!

[Ben Staad]

I hadn't watched much lately but did stumble across "From Beyond" a few weeks ago. Cheesy, fun, and some disturbing scenes.

3 out of 5 stars. Something about it clicked with me. It's not a must watch or even re-watch worthy but it was entertaining.

[Sock Monkey]

Halloween Horror Movie #10:

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Burn Witch Burn (aka Night of the Eagle) (1962): Based on Fritz Leiber's novel Conjure Wife, the film follows a college professor (played by Peter Wyngarde) who uncovers that his wife (Janet Blair) is practicing witchcraft and begins to see his luck shift when he forces her to stop. With a script penned by Richard Matheson and Charles Beaumont (along with George Baxt, who also wrote the film I watched early this month The City of the Dead), it's no surprise that this feels very much like a feature-length episode of The Twilight Zone, but in all the best ways. I read and enjoyed the Leiber book, so I knew where the plot was kinda heading, but that did not take away from the enjoyment of this film in the least. The build-up is fantastic, and the movie is actually rather dark as the professor is actually accused of rape at one point. While some might not like the special effects in the climax, it actually made me love this movie even more. While I wish that we had a little bit more as far as the final resolution, this movie is an absolute hidden gem of a film and deserves more recognition than what it gets.

For physcal media fans, the Kino Lorber blu-ray is very nice. It includes both versions of the film, the original UK version Night of the Eagle, and the American edit Burn Witch Burn. While the title of the American version is so much more provocative than the UK, the UK cut is actually better in my opinion. As a quick aside, I think that Leiber's title is the best of the three. Now, from what I have gathered on a quick review of the US version, the only difference between the UK and the American version is that at the beginning of the American version is the addition of beginning sequence where a William Castle-esque narrator tells the audience that the film actually contains spells and that another spell must be cast to protect the viewer, and then proceeds in a bunch of "spell-casting." And then there is a card that comes up at the film's climax asking the viewer if they now believe in witchcraft. Neither of which really fit the tone of the film, which is very smart and character driven. So I'd suggest watching the UK version. There is also an audio commentary for the film by Richard Matheson that I am very keen to listen to, but I just haven't had the chance yet. Once again, highly recommended! Grade: A

Halloween Horror Movie #11:

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You'll Never Find Me (2023): This very contained two-hander focuses on a middle-aged man alone in his small mobile home gets a knock at his door late at night, only to find it to be a young woman seeking refuge from the storm raging outside. What ensues is a cat-and-mouse game of who the characters really are and what their true motivations might be. I'm a sucker for these kind of chamber pieces and while there are a couple of moments of the script spinning its wheels and straining reasoning as to why these characters are staying with each other, I found this movie to be so interesting. The movie builds to its climax and pays off in a way that I found to be so compelling. To say any more would be to ruin the film, so I'll remain vague. There are a lot of complaints in reviews that this "isn't a horror film," and while I agree that this tends to be more in the psychological thriller vein and works mostly on a slow methodical build-up of tension and suspense, where the film ultimately lands as far as its psychological implications is very horrific. While not for the "jump scare crowd," if you like a slower build to your films, then this could be your cup of tea. Grade: B+

Halloween Horror Movie #12:

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You're Next (2011): This home invasion movie about a young woman and her boyfriend who attends a family gathering to celebrate his parent's wedding anniversary only to find the entire family under siege from masked killers was a rewatch for me and I still really like this film. Some of the acting is rather rough in my opinion and the movie doesn't necessarily do anything new with this plot, but it's fun and effective. Sharni Vinson in the lead role is so good that it makes me wonder why we never see a lot more of her in bigger films. Ultimately, I still really enjoy this film and I'm glad that I revisited it. Grade: B

[Sock Monkey]

I'm glad you liked Caveat! While it didn't work for me, there is definitely something there that others might latch onto. It's an interesting film, for sure. And the corpse is absolutely unnerving in the film. I really need to revisit The Hidden. I have very faint memories of it, but haven't seen it in forever. It's been on the "need to buy the blu-ray" list for a long time.

[dannyboy121070]

Some REALLY good films over the past few days:

First up was THE HIDDEN, a gem from 1987 that I saw in our local Bronx dive theater the weekend it was released. Cop Michael Nouri joins forces with weird FBI agent Kyle McLachlan (This has to be how he got the TWIN PEAKS role...) to discover why seemingly random people are going on murderous crime sprees. Great practical effects, Claudia Christian in her prime (and very little clothing), and early in their careers bit part appearances from Lin Shaye & Danny Trejo, who basically looked old even 40 years ago. Also, Jake the dog should have won some kind of Oscar for his performance...what an actor! This is one of those movies that it seems no one but me has seen. Rectify that!


Next was CAVEAT on Shudder...If I had known that this was by the same folks that made ODDITY, I would have watched it first. No relation or connective tissue, aside from the same creepy rabbit appearing in both films, but they both have the same vibe. Sock Monkey references the film on a previous page, writing:

"Caveat (2020): There was quite a buzz around this movie when it first came out and I can see what draws people in about the film. The movie centers itself around a man who recently has had an accident that impairs some of his memory and he to get some money he agrees to watch over a young woman with some mental health issues in a rundown house on an isolated island. Upon arriving, though, he finds that he has to be strapped into a harness that chains him to an anchor in the basement and limits his movement in the house, assumedly in an attempt to foster a sense of safety for the young woman. Twists and turns and possible supernatural occurences abound and should have been my cup of tea, but unfortunately, a lack of clarity in some twists and some leaps in logic that just went a little too far pulled me out of the movie. The director did a great job building up atmosphere and tension, but the script needed a little reworking to pull off what they were hoping. And, finally, yes, that bunny is freaking creepy.
Grade: C-"

I liked it a lot more than he did. The basic premise is one of those "I would be out of there so fast..." plot devices that I usually find hard to swallow, but I bought it here, due to the main character's head injury. This film features the creepiest corpse this side of the old lady in BLACK SABBATH, the aforementioned creepy rabbit, and the best dog side-eye look I've ever seen. (The dogs were KILLING it this weekend!) I had a real good time with this one.



And, totally randomly, an article popped up on my phone raving about I SEE YOU, a film that I had never heard of. The spoiler-free rave made it seem like a Horror movie, which it wasn't, but it is certainly Horror-adjacent enough to fit into my Halloween viewing. Amidst a backdrop of local boys disappearing, the investigating detective and his wife, whose marriage is crumbling due to her infidelity, are plagued by odd incidents around their house. I really enjoyed this film, and had to go back and rewatch a chunk of the middle so I could fully appreciate how they pulled off some of the revelations in the last half of the movie. Really well done. Totally unrelated aside, but why do actresses get plastic surgery? Given the choice between looking her age and looking like a cross between MASK's Rocky Dennis and HANNIBAL's Mason Verger, post face-skinning, Helen Hunt REALLY chose wrong. Her face was incredibly distracting every time she was on screen. Just age, ladies. Just age.

I'm not posting the poster image, because it is a little spoilery...I'd probably avoid the trailer, as well. Just go in blind.

[Sock Monkey]

COFFEE TABLE and EXHUMA sound like winners! I'll add them to my list!

I'd be interested in your thoughts. EXHUMA is a safe recommendation if one likes Asian horror mythology, but THE COFFEE TABLE very much only works if one buys into the premise. Anyways, if and when you get around to them, I hope you like them!

[dannyboy121070]

Halloween Horror Movie #7:

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Exhuma (2024): The one downside to watching (and reading) a lot of horror is that I can situate myself within a narrative pretty quickly and while I’m not one of those people who like to be two steps ahead of a film, it isn’t very often where I pause the movie like I did with Exhuma and turn to my viewing companions and be like, “I have no idea where this is going.” This movie starts off being about a group of four individuals—a female shaman and her protégé, a geomancer, and a guy who works in the morgue—working together to rid a Korean family of a curse and then morphs into something completely different, but includes ancient secrets, demons, and Korea’s relationship with Japan. While I feel like some of the nuance was lost on me due to cultural specificity, I really enjoyed this film and loved the mythology that it covered. Highly recommended if that sounds like your jam. Grade: A

Halloween Horror Movie #8:

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The Coffee Table (2022): There’s very little that I can say about this film that won’t ruin it and, honestly, knowing even the hook dampens the effect. Here is what I can tell you: Jesus and Maria have just had a baby and being new parents is taking its toll on the couple. Jesus, in an attempt to assert himself, digs his heels in on his choice of a coffee table for their apartment, a choice that sets off a chain reaction of events with devastating consequences. I feel this is kind of a “love it or hate it” type of film and for me and the wife, this was absolutely a “love it.” Not horror in the traditional sense, but very unnerving. Grade: A

Halloween Horror Movie #9:

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Big Bad Wolves (2013): You know, when you’re making your way through close to two dozen films, there’s gonna be at least a couple of misses…and this was most assuredly one of them. Ostensibly a dark comedy about a rogue cop and the father of a murdered girl teaming up to kidnap and torture a confession out of the girl’s suspected killer, this film is neither funny, suspenseful, or scary. Instead, it’s a chore. Not even a last minute twist could save the film. If the synopsis sounds like it could be your cup of tea, then I’d suggest foregoing this one and instead watch another 2013 film, Prisoners, starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. It isn’t perfect, but a lot more compelling than this one. Grade: D-

COFFEE TABLE and EXHUMA sound like winners! I'll add them to my list!

[Sock Monkey]

A mixed bag over the past few nights, in terms of subject matter and quality.

First up was Neil Marshall's DOG SOLDIERS, which didn't hold up as well as I had hoped. I struggled with the thick accents, and a lot of the soldier's personalities grated on me. The werewolf effects still got the same response from me a few decades later: An innovative approach, but they basically looked like Cirque De Soleil performers in bodysuits, on stilts, with immobile dog masks on. I loved it when it first came out, but didn't thrill me as much the second time around. It was, however, great to discover that my favorite GAME OF THRONES actor, Liam Cunningham, appeared in the film.
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The next night found me finally giving in and watching NIGHT OF THE DEMONS, which I have put off for years. I'm glad I pulled the trigger...It was the kind of film my friend Bryan and I would go to our local dive to see every weekend in the 80s. My move upstate must have caused us to juuuuust miss this one, as it would have been right up our alley. The final girl is maybe the worst actress I have ever seen in a movie like this, and that's saying something. The effects and gore were a lot of fun, and I'm sorry I put this one off for so long.
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Finally, after a day that dealt me some truly life-altering news, I felt like I needed a laugh, and since I'm reading her autobiography, I decided to watch ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK, which did the trick, and provided me with a lot of smiles, and a few unexpectedly deep belly laughs. (I had to pause the film when Elvira is messing with the letters on the theater marquee, because I was laughing so hard, and didn't want to miss anything.) Unexpectedly dirty for a PG-13 movie....I had another great laugh when, after getting bonked on the noggin, Elvira is asked "How's your head?", to which she replies "I haven't had any complaints." And it was written by the guy who played Jambi the Genie on PEE WEE'S PLAYHOUSE! I had a lot of fun, and may just watch the sequel tonight.
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Man, I love Dog Soldiers. It's been so long since I've seen it that now I'm worried I'll have the same experience you have had. I've never seen Night of the Demons, but did catch the first half of the remake that came out a while back and I've never felt the need to go back and finish it. Maybe I'll check out the original one day. And I really liked that Elvira movie when I saw it when it first came out. I remember it being a lot of fun, but haven't seen it since then. Maybe something else to revisit one day!

[Sock Monkey]

Halloween Horror Movie #7:

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Exhuma (2024): The one downside to watching (and reading) a lot of horror is that I can situate myself within a narrative pretty quickly and while I’m not one of those people who like to be two steps ahead of a film, it isn’t very often where I pause the movie like I did with Exhuma and turn to my viewing companions and be like, “I have no idea where this is going.” This movie starts off being about a group of four individuals—a female shaman and her protégé, a geomancer, and a guy who works in the morgue—working together to rid a Korean family of a curse and then morphs into something completely different, but includes ancient secrets, demons, and Korea’s relationship with Japan. While I feel like some of the nuance was lost on me due to cultural specificity, I really enjoyed this film and loved the mythology that it covered. Highly recommended if that sounds like your jam. Grade: A

Halloween Horror Movie #8:

952557-the-coffee-table-0-1000-0-1500-crop.jpg?v=903619d456.jpg

The Coffee Table (2022): There’s very little that I can say about this film that won’t ruin it and, honestly, knowing even the hook dampens the effect. Here is what I can tell you: Jesus and Maria have just had a baby and being new parents is taking its toll on the couple. Jesus, in an attempt to assert himself, digs his heels in on his choice of a coffee table for their apartment, a choice that sets off a chain reaction of events with devastating consequences. I feel this is kind of a “love it or hate it” type of film and for me and the wife, this was absolutely a “love it.” Not horror in the traditional sense, but very unnerving. Grade: A

Halloween Horror Movie #9:

p9913797_p_v10_aa.jpg

Big Bad Wolves (2013): You know, when you’re making your way through close to two dozen films, there’s gonna be at least a couple of misses…and this was most assuredly one of them. Ostensibly a dark comedy about a rogue cop and the father of a murdered girl teaming up to kidnap and torture a confession out of the girl’s suspected killer, this film is neither funny, suspenseful, or scary. Instead, it’s a chore. Not even a last minute twist could save the film. If the synopsis sounds like it could be your cup of tea, then I’d suggest foregoing this one and instead watch another 2013 film, Prisoners, starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal. It isn’t perfect, but a lot more compelling than this one. Grade: D-

[dannyboy121070]

A mixed bag over the past few nights, in terms of subject matter and quality.

First up was Neil Marshall's DOG SOLDIERS, which didn't hold up as well as I had hoped. I struggled with the thick accents, and a lot of the soldier's personalities grated on me. The werewolf effects still got the same response from me a few decades later: An innovative approach, but they basically looked like Cirque De Soleil performers in bodysuits, on stilts, with immobile dog masks on. I loved it when it first came out, but didn't thrill me as much the second time around. It was, however, great to discover that my favorite GAME OF THRONES actor, Liam Cunningham, appeared in the film.
p30014_v_v10_aa.jpg
The next night found me finally giving in and watching NIGHT OF THE DEMONS, which I have put off for years. I'm glad I pulled the trigger...It was the kind of film my friend Bryan and I would go to our local dive to see every weekend in the 80s. My move upstate must have caused us to juuuuust miss this one, as it would have been right up our alley. The final girl is maybe the worst actress I have ever seen in a movie like this, and that's saying something. The effects and gore were a lot of fun, and I'm sorry I put this one off for so long.
images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRO6ivxGUEk6tVJ122PT9FF2vz_yCiZ6Qj-TA&s.jpg

Finally, after a day that dealt me some truly life-altering news, I felt like I needed a laugh, and since I'm reading her autobiography, I decided to watch ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK, which did the trick, and provided me with a lot of smiles, and a few unexpectedly deep belly laughs. (I had to pause the film when Elvira is messing with the letters on the theater marquee, because I was laughing so hard, and didn't want to miss anything.) Unexpectedly dirty for a PG-13 movie....I had another great laugh when, after getting bonked on the noggin, Elvira is asked "How's your head?", to which she replies "I haven't had any complaints." And it was written by the guy who played Jambi the Genie on PEE WEE'S PLAYHOUSE! I had a lot of fun, and may just watch the sequel tonight.
images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTHgZj5P2AEG7CEPsWOCRwz-2cXEJPtS6k1Bw&s.jpg

[Sock Monkey]

Halloween Movie #6

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Annabelle Comes Home (2019): This movie was nowhere near being on my Halloween viewing agenda, but we had a dinner with some of my wife's work friends and they all decided that watching a horror movie would be fun. As a pretty diehard movie fan, I helped put together a list of movies, but really didn't want to weigh in too heavily because there's horror fans who do super deep dives into things and then there's horror fans who kinda skim the surface of mainstream fare. I'm not judging either because everyone's got their tastes, but being in the former camp, it is very easy to misjudge what other people think is "scary." I'd hate for someone to be, like, "I want to see a very scary movie" meaning like The Conjuring or Scream (which I like both), but I show up with like I Saw the Devil or Martyrs or something way off the wall. Anyways, they settled on this trilogy-capper to the Annabelle franchise. I did watch the first Annabelle and didn't think too much of it, so I skipped both the second and third film. This one kinda works as like The Conjuring 1.5 and I still like Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in the roles of Ed and Lorraine Warren, even if the movies don't quite match up to their chemistry. Unfortunately, most of the film is about the Warrens' daughter, her babysitter, and the babysitter's friend battling it out against the demon in control of the Annabelle doll. To be fair, I actually really liked all the characters and there was a lot more emphasis placed on character development and suspense than I had anticipated. Yet, the movie falls victim to the problem I have with a lot of James Wan's movies and their spinoffs: they show the ghosts/monsters/demons too darn much. When the movie gets cranking it's all weird werewolf ghosts (that can tear up a car, but gets scattered into mist when hit with a guitar?) and possessed dresses and visions of dead parents. It all ends rather abruptly, but, overall, it's perfectly fine. If I was 15, then this might have absolutely been my jam and I did enjoy it for what it was. Grade: C-