Rate the Last Movie You Saw

[Sock Monkey]

HALLOWEEN HORROR MOVIE #2:

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WHAT YOU WISH FOR (2023): I always try to include some genre-adjacent thriller movies into the mix during Halloween to break up the regular ghosts and monsters and whatnot. I find this especially helfpul when cranking through four or more horror movies a week. My first thriller selection is this film that I happened to miss when it was playing at Fantastic Fest last year. While I heard that this wasn't a stunner, I've always enjoyed Nick Stahl in almost everything I've seen him in (even in DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, which I really need to revisit) and was happy to see him return to acting after such a long absence, especially in WHAT JOSAIH SAW (2021). Now, that film had its flaws, but it had a wicked mean streak and it has grown in my appreciation over time. Unfortunately, this one, for me, toes the line between working well and just not working at all. I'll keep plot details light because going in as blind as possible is always recommended. Stahl plays a chef on the skids from a gambling debt seeking some relief from an old, and rather prosperous, friend in an unnamed Latin American country, only to find himself caught up in the friend's nefarious doings. First, I will say that Stahl continues to handle himself well and the centerpiece of the movie, while not perfect, gets darn close to firing on all cylinders. Unfortunately, the beginning of the film fails to set up what the ending needs to pay off, leaving the movie to finish on a deflated note rather than the much needed kick in the ribs it aims for. The movie is frustrating precisely because you can see how good it could have been. I'm still rather torn on the movie and can't quite decide where it'll land on repeat viewings, descending down or moving up despite its flaws. GRADE: C-

[dannyboy121070]

I watched THE FRANKENSTEIN COMPLEX on Prime the other night, a great documentary about special make-up effects in Horror films. Lots of fun.
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Last night was an unlikely double-feature: The new Max movie CADDO LAKE, which was really good. Do yourself a favor, and watch it without seeing a trailer or reading a description. Just let it unfold. I figured out what was going on about halfway through, but the film was still absorbing enough to hold my interest, and the ending pulled it all together perfectly.
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Then I watched a strange 1940 picture on TCM called YOU'LL FIND OUT, which features bandleader Kay Kyser playing a 21st birthday gig at your typical old dark house, with party guests Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, and Peter Lorre. As weird and fun as I expected, this one is highly recommended if you're in the mood for an oddball bit of fluff. The musical numbers were a lot of fun.
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[dannyboy121070]

I went on a bit of a Mike Mignola bender over the past two nights. First I bought the new Hellboy film, HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN.
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I had low expectations...the film is obviously low-budget, and went straight to home viewing, skipping theaters. But it cost twenty bucks, cheaper than it would have been to see it in a theater, I'm a HUGE Mike Mignola fan, and Amazon sent me a six dollar digital film voucher, so the stars aligned.

Annnnd.....It was WAY better than I could have hoped.

The smaller scale and budget suited the story perfectly. The source material is one of my favorite Hellboy stories, basically an Appalachian folk-horror tale, and the adaptation is fairly faithful. The effects, aside from a jinky-looking giant CGI spider in the opening scene, are well done, and the actors all acquit themselves well. I'm sure this will be a one-and-done, but I wouldn't mind seeing more from the same team. Your mileage may vary, but I really enjoyed it, and I can see myself watching it again.

That put me in the mood for DRAWING MONSTERS, a documentary about Mike Mignola's career and the creation and rise of Hellboy. Really well made, and I loved it.
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[Ben Staad]

Watched the Terrifier.

Hack, slash, and not much going on. There where some creepy scenes, interesting things, but overall not much to be excited about.

[sholloman81]

Watched the Terrifier.

Hack, slash, and not much going on. There where some creepy scenes, interesting things, but overall not much to be excited about.

Have never seen any of the Terrifier films and have always wondered if they were just one big gore fest. I'm sure that I may watch one at some point, but I'm not in a hurry.

[dannyboy121070]

The first two TERRIFIER films are fun, but the second was sooooo long. Way longer than a slasher film should ever be. Going to see the third this weekend, hopefully.

[dannyboy121070]

I watched ODDITY on Shudder last night. MAN, this really hit the sweet spot for me. I loved it! Like CADDO LAKE, probably best if you go in knowing nothing, like I did. Highly recommended!
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[Sock Monkey]

I watched ODDITY on Shudder last night. MAN, this really hit the sweet spot for me. I loved it! Like CADDO LAKE, probably best if you go in knowing nothing, like I did. Highly recommended!

Good to hear! It's slotted into my Halloween viewing for this year, but a little bit closer to Halloween itself. Typing this up right now, I'm realizing just how far behind I am on posting my movie reviews for this year. I always start out with the best intentions and then life gets in the way! Hoping to get caught up this week. Unfortunately, not today, though. I have an essay that's calling my name.

[dannyboy121070]

Last night was Ti West's THE SACRAMENT om Peacock. Basically a sad retelling of the Jonestown mass suicide. Not what I would call enjoyable, but compelling nonetheless. I did wish that West would have made up his mind about whether or not this was a found footage film or not....Found footage, then it becomes more of a traditional film, then found footage....pick a style! And something about the basic plot of the film itself made zero sense, but I'll keep it to myself for fear of spoilers.
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[dannyboy121070]

Last night's film was JENNIFER'S BODY on Peacock. This was just a spur-of-the-moment decision...I saw it there on Peacock the other night, and felt in the mood for some possession, despite avoiding the film like the plague for the past 15 years. I think I made a bad pre-judgment originally. Much better than I expected, with some good performances, as well as quick appearances by a baby Chris Pratt and J.K. Simmons with hair and a hook hand. I had a good time. I used to plan out what I would watch, but now I just kind of drift from night to night and see what I'm in the mood for. It seems to be working out so far....
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[dannyboy121070]

Last night was a TCM double feature: THE BODY SNATCHER and MARK OF THE VAMPIRE.
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I've seen both before, but I was still blown away by Karloff's performance in THE BODY SNATCHER. A kindly old cab driver to a child, and a menacing murderer to the Doctor who uses his after-hours services. Phenomenal ending, as well.
MARK.....I watched it again because it was a short enough film to squeeze in as a double-header, but the Scooby-Doo aspect was, and remains upon this repeat viewing, ridiculous, as well as a cheap out.

[Sock Monkey]

I feel the same way about THE SACRAMENT. I found it interesting, but also slightly off-putting in the switch back and forth. It isn't West's strongest film, but still very interesting. Maybe I need to give it a rewatch at some point.

JENNIFER'S BODY, on the other hand, has been getting a pretty big repraisal lately and I think rightly so. It got lumped into a whole lot of Megan Fox/Diablo Cody backlash when it came out and the initial reviews don't really do it justice. Yes, the dialogue is hyper-stylized and, no, it isn't really scary, but it has have a lot more on its mind then what you'd think. I rewatched it a couple years back and really enjoyed it.

[Sock Monkey]

Halloween Horror Movie #3:


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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-

[Sock Monkey]

Halloween Movie #4:

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Speak No Evil (2022): While I've heard very good things about the remake starring James McAvoy, I'm a sucker for viewing the original film first, especially if it's foriegn. Akin to Funny Games in the way that it plays with the way politeness is exploited as weakness, this bleak thriller follows a family as they find themselves increasingly unnerved on a weekend visit to some new friends they met on a recent vacation. Speaking any further about the plot gives away too much, but this will not be a film for everyone what it reveals itself to be is almost nihilistic. All that being said, while this isn't a film I'd necessarily revisit often, it is well made and I did enjoy it, though there is something in its build up and pay off that holds it back from being an absolute must see. Like I said, if bleak horror is your jam, then you might want to give this one a shot. Grade: B

[dannyboy121070]

Halloween Movie #4:

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Speak No Evil (2022): While I've heard very good things about the remake starring James McAvoy, I'm a sucker for viewing the original film first, especially if it's foriegn. Akin to Funny Games in the way that it plays with the way politeness is exploited as weakness, this bleak thriller follows a family as they find themselves increasingly unnerved on a weekend visit to some new friends they met on a recent vacation. Speaking any further about the plot gives away too much, but this will not be a film for everyone what it reveals itself to be is almost nihilistic. All that being said, while this isn't a film I'd necessarily revisit often, it is well made and I did enjoy it, though there is something in its build up and pay off that holds it back from being an absolute must see. Like I said, if bleak horror is your jam, then you might want to give this one a shot. Grade: B

I saw this when it first hit Shudder a while back, and, while I thought it was well done, I just found it incredibly stupid that these people would basically stay in a really weird, potentially dangerous situation, just to be polite. I mean, at one point, they left, and came back for a stuffed animal...? Buy the kid a new one.