Jul 27, 2013
Horror has always been popular to some extent, but the last couple of weeks, it proved once again how it can crush the box office with the surprise success of James Wan’s latest, “The Conjuring.” It also proved you don’t need gratuitous gore, violence, nudity or things jumping out and shouting “Boo!” at you to create a creepy atmosphere and an air of fear. In fact, the scariest moments are the most subtle, rather than the “Boo!” moments so common today in the genre.
The film revolves around a true paranormal case investigated by Ed and Lorraine Warren, the latter being most known as the psychic portrayed in “The Amityville Horror.” Yes, she’s real, and not only can you see her frequently on the TV series “Paranormal State,” but she has a cameo as one of the guests at a paranormal lecture in the movie. (The little old lady in the front.)
Anyway, she’s portrayed in this film by Vera Farmiga, and her husband Ed by Patrick Wilson. The Warrens took on a case in 1971 involving a Long Island family named Carolyn and Roger Parren (Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston) and their five daughters (Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Mackenzie Foy, and Kyla Deaver.)
Already, you have to give kudos to Wan on casting (Is there anyone who doesn’t still love Taylor in “Say Anything? Rhetorical question.)
So the Warrens apparently investigated this house and supposedly never released info on this case till now because it was so scary… even scarier than the allegations in “The Amityville Horror.” Yeah, smells a little fishy to me, too, but it’s a horror film, let’s just roll with it.
The film opens with a documentary style interview with some young women where we learn the backstory of the infamous doll “Annabelle” from the Warren’s collection of paranormal artifacts. This doll actually exists in the Warren’s collection and they swear that thing is pure evil, although it isn’t directly involved in the Parren’s story. We also see them lecturing about the paranormal work they do as a sort of parallel story while the Parrens move in and slowly discover their dream house is not the kind of dream they were looking for.
Without giving away major spoilers, the film relies on creating a sense of dread at mostly unseen and barely glimpsed horror, particularly at first. This is a case where it works, because Wan also understands the use of elements like the blindfolded game to make his subjects more vulnerable, creating a greater sense of horror in the viewer when the subject can’t see what we can. Or a single lit match in the total darkness, tapping into one of our most primordial fears.
As the film progresses, he shows more, until the climax with a scene of possession, which actually, seemed far less scary to me than the rest of the movie. I also wondered at the use of the sheet over the head… was there supposed to be some point of that, or just trying to save some special effects makeup cash? It was puzzling enough to distract me during that segment of the film.
But then, going off on a tangent with a question like that may just be a hazard of the profession.
That Wan — who also directed “Saw” and “Insidious” — created another quality horror film should be no surprise. That it has ruled the box office in the midst of summer and upstaged the likes of Johnny Depp in “The Lone Ranger”… that’s mighty impressive.
Does it live up to the hype? Well, that would be hard to do given how it’s been hailed as the Second Coming of Horror, but whether you think it does or doesn’t will depend mostly on how easily you scare, and how good you are at blocking out douchebags in the theater who want to add their laugh track to this and any horror film. But it’s rock solid horror, and has a great chance of being seen as a classic horror story in the long run, and will be another worthy addition to any horror collection when it comes out on DVD.
Learn more about what it was like working on the movie later this week when I post my exclusive interview with Shanley Caswell , who dishes on the surprise success of the movie and real vs CGI horror. Meanwhile, check out the interview I did with her a little over a year ago, when she was starting to work on a little film called “The Warren Files” at the time.
Jul 20, 2013
Clive Barker made an official announcement on his Facebook Friday night that his cult classic, “Nightbreed,” will get a DVD release of the “Cabal Cut” by Shout! Factory’s Scream Factory line.
Barker himself was harshly critical of the 1990 theatrical edit of the film and felt the studio completely mishandled the editing and marketing of the movie, which was a huge box-office and critical flop. The lost footage was found years later, but the studio had no interest in an extended release despite its rise to cult status. Then in 2012, Russell Cherrington, a senior lecturer in film and video production at the University of Derby, created a composite cut of the film using the footage found on both VHS tapes as well as the Warner Bros DVD. This version is the most complete version of Barker’s film available and has been dubbed The Cabal Cut, running 155 minutes long.
This isn’t the only time Barker’s work was misunderstood and mishandled by studio execs. “Lord of Illusions” suffered a similar fate of being over-edited, and critical failure. But the extended cut adds back much need elements to the story, and is one of the more disturbing horror films out there. Which, it should go without saying, is considered a compliment here.
It’s not so hard to figure out why the man stopped directing.
Barker is such a mad genius of dark fantasy, he’s beyond anything Hollywood could possibly ever grasp. And “Nightbreed” presents a shining example of a world created by Barker, full of creatures who form their own tribe as outcasts of humanity, or the Nightbreed.
No details on release date or extras, but Shout! Factory has quite a collection of special editions, including films like “Prince of Darkness,” “Terror Train,” and “The Funhouse.” Or, you could read the book “Cabal” while you wait for the “Nightbreed” release.
Jul 18, 2013
The new character posters for “I Frankenstein.”
If the director for the upcoming “I, Frankenstein” is as tasteful as the graphic designer, we should be in for at least a visual wonder when the film is released in January 2014. But then, whenever you have the producers of “Underworld” involved, you can pretty much presume horror eye candy is about to be unleashed.
Yes, new posters for “I, Frankenstein” were released at Comic-Con, so feast your eyes on them above.
Now, maybe I’m a little confused, but the last time I read Mary Shelley — you know, like… the book — I don’t remember any demons or gargoyles. Nor do I remember the monster being named Adam (no, that’s not a heavy-handed Biblical reference… not at all.) Of course, I don’t exactly remember him having six pack abs either, so, jaded old snooty horror fan I am, I’m going to try to go with it. Especially with Aaron Eckhart starring, and the always delightfully-evil Bill Nighy as that demon-thingy.
Sweet.
Speaking of sweet and those six pack abs, check out this still:
(Am I the only one who sees this and gets that Color Me Badd song “I Wanna Sex You Up… ” in my head?)
That’s for you, ladies, and a few of you guys, too. We believe in equal opportunity lechery around here, regardless of sexual orientation. We’re trailblazers that way.
Jul 10, 2013
Still from the upcoming horror film, “Rigor Mortis.”
What is it with Americans and their need to water down horror with so-called humor? Thank goodness the Japanese brought back creepy dread several years ago, infiltrating several American film studios as well, so we at least have something to look forward to besides idiotic college kids fucking and showing off their fake tits in the woods.
But then I suppose we taught them a few things about horror too, but let’s not get political.
Instead, let’s watch a cool movie trailer of the latest Japanese horror flick, “Rigor Mortis.” And not just Japanese horror, but Japanese vampires. Bring that shit on.
Jul 3, 2013
"Jacob's Ladder" is the latest good horror film to get an unnecessary remake.
They’re doing it again.
By “they,” of course, I mean Hollywood execs without one ounce of original thought, who sit in meetings pillaging old films to remake. The latest classic horror remake on the table is 1990’s “Jacob’s Ladder,” starring Tim Robbins as a Vietnam vet having very bad and demonic hallucinations.
Now, someone watching it today might not be as impressed but the creepy “shaking head” special effects of the creatures, but when the movie first came out, that had never been seen before. Of course, having Robbins on board and Adrian Lyne directing didn’t exactly hurt, either, but this somewhat lesser known film was very creepy and disturbing.
In other words, they got it right the first time around.
PLEASE explain to me how you can make this scene any scarier. And why you even feel you need to try to.
No actors have been attached yet, but “The Midnight Meat Train” screenwriter Jeff Buhler will be writing the remake.
I suppose this should be expected from the recent success of the “Evil Dead” remake. But that film put it’s own spin on the camp classic, playing it for straight horror. That won’t be possible this time around, so let’s hope they don’t get the “brilliant” idea to make it “funny.”
