Rate the Last Movie You Saw

[dannyboy121070]

Halloween Horror Movie #5:
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Night of the Hunter (1955):

This has been on my "To Watch" list for so long and I'm really glad that I finally got around to watching it, but I don't think I was prepared for what the movie was. While the plot centers around the battle between two children to keep stolen money away from what is essentially a serial killer posing as a preacher (played by Robert Mitchum, who deserves all the acclaim he receives for his portrayal), there is so much subtext in this movie around sexuality, violence, religion, and morality. I was really stunned how thematically dark the film was in the themes that the film touches on. There's a sequence about a teenage girl basically prostituting herself for affection from the boys in town and the viewer really has to pay attention to what's being said to grasp this whole dynamic, but it is so compelling as to how it situates itself into the narrative as a parallel to Shelley Winters's character. The cinematography and set designs are amazing and it does lend itself to feeling like a fairy tale in parts. While I do think this is much more of a noir than a horror film, I can see why so many horror aficionados claim it as one of their own. I really liked this film, but I know that I'll grow to love it upon repeat viewings. Grade: A

Phenomenal film. I believe it was also the only film Charles Laughton ever directed. I might have to try to squeeze this in before Halloween.

[Sock Monkey]

Halloween Horror Movie #5:
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Night of the Hunter (1955):

This has been on my "To Watch" list for so long and I'm really glad that I finally got around to watching it, but I don't think I was prepared for what the movie was. While the plot centers around the battle between two children to keep stolen money away from what is essentially a serial killer posing as a preacher (played by Robert Mitchum, who deserves all the acclaim he receives for his portrayal), there is so much subtext in this movie around sexuality, violence, religion, and morality. I was really stunned how thematically dark the film was in the themes that the film touches on. There's a sequence about a teenage girl basically prostituting herself for affection from the boys in town and the viewer really has to pay attention to what's being said to grasp this whole dynamic, but it is so compelling as to how it situates itself into the narrative as a parallel to Shelley Winters's character. The cinematography and set designs are amazing and it does lend itself to feeling like a fairy tale in parts. While I do think this is much more of a noir than a horror film, I can see why so many horror aficionados claim it as one of their own. I really liked this film, but I know that I'll grow to love it upon repeat viewings. Grade: A

[Sock Monkey]

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.

Yeah, I had the same the feeling about the stuffed animal moment. I gave the film a little bit of a pass on it because while I would have turned to my kid and been like "sucks to be you," I feel like the film did establish not just the lengths that the dad would go to get the stuffed animal back when it was left behind at the beginning of the film, but also his reaction when being complimented about how he was "a hero" for doing that for his daughter. I can see where stuff like this is a breaking point for some viewers, though.

[dannyboy121070]

A couple of goodies over the past few days:

First up was the ROSEMARY'S BABY prequel, APARTMENT 7A, on Paramount+
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Much better than I expected it to be! Granted, nowhere near as good as the Polanski film, but it held my interest, which most prequels do NOT, and had some good performances, especially Dianne Wiest channeling Ruth Gordon. I had a good time.

Next up was a 35-year-later rewatch of THE WICKER MAN, which I have put off forever because I feel like I remember it too well to watch again. Turns out I remember the plot and the ending, and nothing else, so it was like a new film, basically. The joys of getting older! I forgot that it was, for all intents and purposes, a MUSICAL, with some very ear-wormy tunes! Christopher Lee looks like he had a blast making this film....he positively radiates joy. Lee in drag towards the end is a sight to behold. And who knew that there was a SEQUEL??? Although it doesn't appear to be streaming anywhere, I'm excited to finally learn that THE WICKER TREE is out there. Someday.....
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[dannyboy121070]

Just got back from seeing TERRIFIER 3. I am amazed that a film like this can be seen in a theater in this day and age.....it took me back to my early teen years in The Bronx, when it seemed like there was an unrated gorefest playing in our local dive theater almost every few weeks. RE-ANIMATOR, EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN, DAY OF THE DEAD, etc. This was a real throwback. Mercifully, it was shorter than the last one, but at the expense of the story flow. By the finale, you could tell that a lot of connective tissue had been snipped out to shorten the run time. I can't say that I enjoyed this film....it's more of an endurance test than anything else. The gore is almost unlimited, and mean as hell, but that stuff doesn't really bother me. I would probably refrain from telling Horror-haters that I saw this film, as this is the type of movie that would make people assume you were crazy for paying to see, lol.
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[dannyboy121070]

MAXXXINE hit Max yesterday, so that was last night's film. (Mild spoilers to follow.)
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I've found the trilogy to be OK so far....X was fun, but overrated, PEARL was great...this one was a slam dunk until the end, with a revelation that was always in the back of my mind, but seemed to be too ridiculous to really consider. And that was the way they chose to go...? Ugh. Not bad enough to ruin the film, but ludicrous enough to taint all that has gone before. Fun performances all around, some really gnarly gore, and I loved the 80s aesthetic Not too shabby, but someone should have vetoed that end reveal..

[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.

[Sock Monkey]

Halloween Movie #4:

Speak-No-Evil-2022-movie-poster.jpg
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

[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]

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.

[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.

[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 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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[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]

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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