Category: horror
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It Follows [2015] ★★★
If you’re a sucker for horror movies, then “It Follows” is the scarefest for you. It’s one of the best and most original horror flicks I’ve seen in a very long time. Writer-director David Robert Mitchell has clearly been inspired by the likes of John Carpenter and Wes Craven. But Mitchell adds something extra special to this…
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The Woman In Black 2: Angel Of Death [2015] ★½
The first one (released in 2012) was a solid haunted house movie and a perfect vehicle for its leading man, Daniel Radcliffe. The plot wasn’t all that original, but the movie itself was atmospheric and the scares were pretty effective. The new one, this time around set during WWII, bored the shit out of me.…
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Tusk [2014] ★★
This weird-ass movie from writer/director Kevin Smith is proof that the man is still crazy as fuck. And I don’t mean that as a compliment. The always likable Justin Long isn’t so likable here, playing Wallace, half of an L.A. podcasting team. He and his partner Teddy (Haley Joel Osment aka that kid from “The Sixth…
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The Babadook [2014] ★★½
You know something is up when an Australian horror movie comes out of nowhere to win several awards at the Gerardmer Fantastic Film Festival earlier this year. Truth be told, “The Babadook” doesn’t completely live up to its potential, but it does know how to creep you out. Amelia (Essie Davis) and her son Samuel (Noah Wiseman)…
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Ouija [2014] ★½
“Ouija” is the latest in a long line of “scary kids” movies like “Children of the Damned”, “The Ring”, and even “The Grudge”. So you have to admire filmmakers who can pretend that these movies never existed as hit films or as spawners of multiple ripoffs.The silly plot follows a young woman named Laine (Olivia Cooke from “Bates…
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Horns [2014] ★★
If you’re looking for a fun Halloween night at the movies, “Horns” will most likely disappoint you. Daniel Radcliffe plays Ig Perrish, a local boy suspected of murdering his girlfriend, Merrin (Juno Temple). We think he’s innocent, but it doesn’t help that he grows horns and starts looking like the devil. Don’t ask. The movie, directed by Alexander…
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Annabelle [2014] ★★½
Confession: I’m a sucker for James Wan’s horror movies. So naturally I was looking forward to “Annabelle”. Last year’s “The Conjuring” took everyone (even non horror fans) by surprise and became a huge hit. Naturally, it had to spawn a prequel. Gordon Gekko (That’s Michael Douglas, just in case) may reform in the Wall Street sequel,…
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Dracula Untold [2014] ★½
It’s been a horrible year for classic “Universal” monsters. First “I, Frankenstein” back in January and now “Dracula Untold”, which tells the story of Vlad the Impaler (Luke Evans), before and after his days as the famous vampire monster. The movie has its moments, but the overall result is an insult rather than a tribute…
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The Cat And The Canary [1927] ★★★
The mother of all haunted house movies. A movie that inspired so many remakes and quite possibly a few Scooby Doo episodes. Plot involves relatives of a millionaire who gather in his spooky mansion on the 20th anniversary of his death for the reading of his will. Then someone…wait for it…dies! German Expressionist director Paul Leni…
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The Quiet Ones [2014] ★
Painfully boring horror movie about a Professor who conducts an experiment on a young girl who claims to be possessed by an “evil” entity. 10 bucks says you stopped reading after “painfully boring” and I don’t blame you. This derivative paranormal nonsense will encourage even die-hard horror fans to shout rude things at the screen.…
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The Purge: Anarchy [2014]
The first “Purge” cost $3 million to make and ended up making $64 million. I thought you should know this fact because it’s the only damn thing left for Hollywood to exploit in a franchise. This ridiculous sequel is more of the same, only less likable; Once a year, for 12 hours, the government condones robbery, rape…
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Deliver Us From Evil [2014] ★★
Horror movies have fallen on hard times. Amidst the deluge of pointless remakes (“Friday the 13th”, “Nightmare on Elm Street”, “Carrie”…) and some original ideas (“The Conjuring), “Deliver Us From Evil” goes with “based on a true story” to try and shock its audience. But isn’t it always the case? Eric Bana (why oh why?)…
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Oculus [2014] ★★
Here’s a hit and miss horror film that doesn’t live up to its potential. Why? Because director Mike Flanagan wastes a solid premise with repetitive cliché. Damn shame, I really wanted to like this one. The setup is achingly familiar: when brother/sister Tim (Brendon Thwaites) and Kaylie (Karen Gillan) Russell were kids, their father murdered their…
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Nurse 3-D [2013]
This horror show from director Douglas Aarniokoski will be heaven for devotees of B slasher flicks and zero star hell for pretty much everyone else. Paz De La Huerta (“Boardwalk Empire”) plays a homicidal nurse who preys on cheating men by night with her syringe and scalpel (how original!). Then she meets Danni, a recent…
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In Fear [2013] ★★½
Two people find themselves lost in a maze of backwoods roads. If you ask why, “In Fear” is so not the movie for you. Logic goes south the minute Tom persuades his girlfriend Lucy to go on their first weekend getaway as a couple. Bam! They’re lost in a maze for nearly 90 minutes. And…
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Devil’s Due [2014]
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the movies, here comes another “found footage” horror flick about a couple expecting the devil’s child. This is the cue for directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gilett (yes it took two people to direct this) to throw a collection of clichés that soon turns…
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I, Frankenstein [2014]
Here’s a shrieking bore of a January movie that’s meant to spice things up by casting Aaron Eckhart (a decent actor) as the classic Frankenstein monster. I’m calling bullshit. After an Ok prologue that pays homage (well not entirely) to the classic Mary Shelley story, this loud, noisy, video-game like mess made my eyes bleed.…
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Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones [2014]
There’s a reason why Hollywood studios dump their worst movies in January. They must think audiences won’t notice (or care), still trying to digest the holiday turkey. Well we do, especially when it’s a craptacular horror movie like “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones”. From the amateur acting, writing and directing to an ending that is shocking…
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Curse Of Chucky [2013] ★½
Straight-to-DVD sequel finds Chucky (from the “Child’s Play” series) terrorizing yet another family on a stormy night. That creepy little doll is still fun to watch, even after all these years, but the film is utterly worthless until the final 15 minutes. Its unexpected finale saves it from a “Fiasco” rating. Rating: 1.5/4
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Insidious: Chapter 2 [2013] ★★½
When it comes to horror movies, sequels can be a tricky thing. Which is why I’m glad to report that “Insidious 2” isn’t as bad as I feared it would be. Credits go to director James Wan, who did a fine job with the first “Insidious” and this year’s “The Conjuring“. “Insidious 2” doesn’t live…
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