iMurders

 

iMurders 2008

Director: Robbie Bryan

Writers: Robbie Bryan and Ken Del Vecchio

Starring Gabrielle Anwar, William Forsythe, Tony Todd, Frank Grillo, Terri Colombino, Wilson Jermaine Hereida, Charles Durning, Billy Dee Williams, Margaret Colin, Justin Deas, Joanne Baron, Brooke Lewis, Miranda Kwok and Christie Botelho

 

    There are so many different slasher movies that come down the pipeline, so it is very hard to come up with a original and fresh take on the genre.  There have been a few different takes on the internet as a modus operandi for a slasher film, the most obvious being Feardotcom, and also the most forgettable.  iMurders is the latest in this subgenre and by far the most well executed and the most memorable.  It uses the plot device of a internet chat room as the locale of the murders and works this scene very well.  IT also combines the slasher with a police procedural very well.  Another thing that works well for the film is the great genre cast it entails.  With great genre stalwarts like Forsythe and Todd it guarantees that horror fans will definitely check the film out and hopefully word of mouth will ensure that the film will get the most encompassing audience it deserves.  Also, unlike most recent slasher films, it throws you many curve balls on who the killer is until the final reveal at the end.  It is very rare that I am surprised by who the killer is, but this film succeeds and it really deserves accolades for succeeding with that.

    The plot basics are this, Sandra (Colombino) has just moved into town for her job as a party planner and has just moved into a new apartment.  She along with a group of other people are involved with a chat room mystery game.  It always varies from month to month and this month it involves a murder mystery, but unbeknownst to the players the mystery is real.  It seems as if the players are being picked off one by one.  Sandra soon becomes romantically involved with one of her neighbors in her new apartment building, Joe Romano (Grillo), who is an ex cop who’s past is mysterious and he does not divulge.  Soon, 2 FBI agents (Todd and Lewis) begin to investigate and it seems as if Sandra may be the culprit behind the chat room killings.  This causes Joe to investigate and it seems as if he is being led down a path that he may not like what he discovers.  How it will end will be a surprise to Joe and my end badly for everyone else.

    This is a good film.  The direction by Bryan is very good.  He hides the identity of the killer effortlessly, so the viewer really never has a idea of who it may be.  There are many red herrings sprinkled throughout the film, and it always keeps you guessing.  He also sets the stages for the murders well and they are shot expertly.  The script is great too.  It balances a huge cast of characters, but they all get their fairs hare of screen time and all seem to be fully realized.  From Billy Dee Williams shady lawyer to William Forsythe’s sleazy and opportunistic college professor.  The cast is excellent, they all work well off of each other.  IT is interesting how you see one person as the lead and it just jumps to another actor with the next scene, so as you become more drawn into the film the viewer has no idea who to really root for.  Forsythe and Williams are the shining stars of performances in the film though.   Forsythe is very sleazy and perverted and is a delight to watch.  While Williams at first seems like a genuine good lawyer, but as the plot twists you see how his character really is.  The SFX and effects in the film are great too and very bloody.  My personal favorite is when the stay at home mom is killed, that was brutal and unnecessary, but still fun nonetheless.  This is a definite breath of fresh air in the slasher genre and well worth seeking out.

This one gets 4 out of 5

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Friday Flashbacks Creepshow

 

Creepshow 1982

Director: George Romero

Writer: Stephen King

Starring Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Fritz Weaver, Carrie Nye, E.G. Marshall, Viveca Lindfors, Ed Harris, Ted Danson, Stephen King, Tom Atkins, Tom Savini and Gaylen Ross

 

    The horror anthology has long been a favorite style of horror fiction and horror films for me.  From classics like Tales from the Crypt and the Amicus anthologies of the 60’s and 70’s, all the way to modern films like Tales From the Hood and Trick R Treat.  Creepshow though, is by far my favorite of these films.  A no brainer collaboration between Stephen King and George Romero, this film does everything right.  The way the film actually looks like a E.C. comic and the great performances really puts this film a step above all other anthologies.  The way romero uses over exaggerated lighting and sound effects really makes the stories come to life and leave a definite impression on your mind.  The effects in the film are mind blowing too, with by far the best rotting and walking corpse I have ever seen in a film.  The stories are quick and too the point and never stay around any longer than is needed toe have the viewer get the point.  The framing sequence too, is one of the best in a anthology film and it goes full circle at the end, making it it’s own story.

    The plot basics are this,  A father (Atkins) is punishing his son for reading a grisly horror comic, and as he leaves the comic seems to come to life.  The first story involves a anniversary party of the killing of a rich old miser, who was killed by his eldest daughter (Lindfors), but he rises to enact bloody revenge.  Next we meet  Jordy Verrill (King), a country hick who discovers a meteor and finds that his contact with it is transforming him.  Next, we meet Harry Wentworth (Danson), who is having a illicit love affair with the wife (Ross) of Richard Vickers (Nielsen).  Vickers discovers this and plots a wicked revenge that comes back to bite him.  Next we meet a college professor (Weaver) who has a friend (Holbrook) who he plays chess with and is enduring a brow beating wife (Barbeau).  He discovers a crate in his lab, which contains a carnivorous beast and he comes to his friend for aid, and he decides to use it to do away with his nagging wife.  Finally, we meet Upson Pratt (Marshall), a business mogul who is cutthroat and a recluse, living in his climate controlled penthouse.  It seems he has a bug problem and it seems they are trying to overtake him, but will they?

    This is an exceptional film and one of my all time favorite horror films.  The direction by Romero is flawless.  He conveys the mood of each story perfectly and uses the lighting and music to really heighten the mood and really gets the viewer to feel the way he wants them to feel.  The script by King is no different, each story is very tight and as minimalistic as possible.  These kind of horror stories were always more about the plots than the characters and that works to the films advantage.  All the characters are very overblown and melodramatic and are a delight to watch.  The ensemble cast is excellent, Barbeau and Marshall are probably the 2 biggest scene stealers in the film.  Barbeau as the nagging wife Billie in “The Crate” is a delight and you really hate her and want to see her meet her vicious end.  Marshall as the caricature of Howard Hughes is great as well, he chews every scene of his with great relish and the viewer definitely cheers when he gets his due.  The SFX and effects by Tom Savini is amazing.  The walking corpse of Nathan Grantham and the creature in “The Crate” are the 2 high points of the film and in all of horror films in general..  The final ingredient in this great film is the score by John Harrison, which personally is my favorite horror film score.  It just sets the playful and eerie mood of the film perfectly and I am always humming it for days after I watch the film again.  This is a perfect horror anthology and one of the best films by both Romero and King.

This one gets 5 out of 5

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Thirst

 

Thirst 2009

Director: Chan-wook Park

Writers: Seo-gyeong Jeong and Chan Wook-park

Starring Kang Ho-song, Ok-yin Kim, Hae-sook Kim, Ha-kyun Shin, In-hwan Park, Dai Suh-oh, Young-chang Sung, Mercedes Cabral and Eriq Ebouaney

 

    The vampire film is a tried and true sub genre of the horror film and every so often it gets reinvigorated.  The latest stem in popularity, mainly is due to the Twilight phenomenon, which is primarily geared towards adolescent female teenagers.  And a lot of the modern vampire films, books and TV shows are following in its footsteps for better or for worse.  Thankfully Chan-wook Park’s Thirst has come to breathe new life into it and it really succeeds.  The film like most good vampire films is at its heart a doomed love story, but it also is very sensual and overtly violent, with some great bits of dark humor sprinkled throughout the film.  At it’s most basic the film makes me think of a vampiric  version of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.  Though it is more sad and frightening than lovely.  This film is a great alternative to films like Twilight and well worth a horror and vampire film fans time.  I have not seen a vampire film I have as thoroughly enjoyed this much since 30 Days of Night.

    The plot basics are this, Sang-Hyum (Ho-song), a priest volunteering at a hospital, decides to volunteer for a secret test that is developing a vaccine that will hopefully eradicate a deadly virus.  The virus takes over his body and he nearly dies, but somehow he miraculously recovers.  But, as time passes he discovers that the testing has transformed him into a vampire.  After this, He fights internally withe the carnal pleasures that taking someone’s blood  brings out in him..  Soon, he runs into a old childhood friend Tae-ju (Kim) who asks him to help him her out of her abusive family relationship.  Old feelings come to rise and soon he finds himself in a illicit relationship with her and he cannot seem to pull back away from it.  She reveals a dark side with each more insidious thing she gets him to do.  Now he wonders, if he can stop her and what it will cost him that he has not lost already.

    This is a expertly done vampire film.  Park’s direction is flawless, he has lost none of his deft touch since Oldboy.  The way he slowly sets the stage for what you are about to witness is amazing.  At first, the film seems to be primarily a love story, but then he changes direction and it becomes a bloodbath of Fatal Attraction proportions.  The script is very good too, you really empathize with Sang-Hyum and feel his pain as he struggles with his obsessive love that will not allow him to see any of the faults with his lover.  Tae-ju is another great character who starts out as what appears to be a being of pure innocence, but as the layers are pulled back you see how malevolent she is and always was. The ending of the film has some of the best moments of black humor I have ever seen in a film and I was busting a gut as I was watching it.  The cast is great as well. Ho-song is a great protagonist with a dark side he is trying to suppress.  You never lose your siding with him, which is always a hard thing to do in a film like this.  Kim is magnetic and overtly sexual as the victim who turns into a predator.  She gives a great performance and is definitely the best role in the film.   The SFX and effects are great.  The film can be very disturbing and graphic at times and they show this very realistically on screen.  If you are sick of the Twilight crap and want a fresh and innovative take on the vampire legend, definitely seek this one out.

This one gets 5 out of 5

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The Canyon

 

The Canyon 2009

Director: Richard Harrah

Writer: Steve Allrich

Starring Yvonne Strahovski, Will Patton and Eion Bailey

 

    Open Water with it’s popularity has seemed to started a new sub genre of horror films.  The couple that is isolated and in grave peril with little hope of surviving.  The Canyon is the latest addition to this genre.  It uses the Grand Canyon as the location and as the main threat a hungry pack of wolves/  The film sets up the situation very well and keeps the tense up till the ending, where you think everything is going to end badly.  However, it actually ends worse than if they had died.  The denouement of the film reminded me a lot of the ending of The Mist and just like that film the ending leaves an indelible mark on you long after viewing it.   This film has a very small cast, but quite effective.  Will Patton does the most with his small part and really steals the thunder of the leads anytime the film is focused on him.  This film has some tense moments too and one of the most hard to watch amputations I have ever seen. 

    The plot basics are this, Nick (Bailey) and Lori (Strahovski) are newlyweds on their honeymoon and on Nicks behest they plan on going on a scenic hike through the Grand Canyon.  However, when they get there they have a problem getting a guide to take them there, as they need a park voucher to be able to traverse the canyon.  They are about ready to just give up and enjoy their honeymoon when they come in contact with a grizzled guide, Henry (Patton) at a local bar.  Lori is unsure at first but acquiesces to his expertise and they all head out for their adventure.   Everything proceeds well until Henry is bitten by a viper and now they have to find help and escape the traverses of the canyon.  Though, the more they try to adapt to their situation, the more things go horribly awry.  Soon, they are constantly stalked by a ravenous pack of wolves and it will take all of Lori’s inner resolve to defend her and Nick’s lives.

    This is a expertly crafted film.  The direction of Harrah is woven intricately, at first it starts out as a idyllic romantic film, but it quickly devolves into a story of survival of man vs nature.  He creates a great feel of menace with the pack of wolves and really ratchets up the tension during the amputation scene.  The script is very taut.  It has a great sense of tension throughout the film and the characters are very three dimensional and you really empathize with them and their ordeal.  The cast is excellent.  Patton as Henry is the shining point of the film.  He plays a grizzled guide with perfection.  Strahovski and Bailey are very good too, it is great how you see their relationship unraveling as they get in deeper dire straits.  It shows the viewer that their whole relationship seems to be built on the flimsiest of frames and anything that is placed upon it seems to make it buckle and tremble.  The SFX and effects are very good, with one of the most tense and realistic amputations I have seen on film and with all the horror films I have seen that is saying a lot.  This is a hidden gem of a film and definitely worth a look. 

This one gets 4 out of 5

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Nightwatcher

 

Night Watcher 2008

Director: Will Gordh

Writers: Daniel Vincent Gordh and David Murray

Starring Daniel Vincent Gordh, Kelly Huddleston, Christopher Kadish, Rachel Owens, Robert Petrarca, Phillip Roebuck, Zack Stewart, Jillian Tobey and Allison Tyler

 

    This is the latest in Lionsgate’s endless stream of straight to DVD horror films.  The premise sounded intriguing, so I thought I would check it out.  It is a solid genre film, if it is rather predictable.  Any horror fan who has watched as many films as I have will figure out the killer’s identity long before it is revealed in the final act.  That being said, this is a entertaining and a pretty suspenseful film.  Has a decent story, some good acting and a good amount of fore in the kills.  It is just a shame they could not have thrown more red herrings in the story to throw you off the true identity of the killer, but there is not much mystery in who it is, as their is not many characters to chose from, so it is a simple case of elimination to figure out who is the likely culprit.  But the conceit of the film is a good one, people you think that have killed themselves are actually being killed by someone with a vendetta against them.

    The plot basics are this, Angela (Tyler) is crushed by the apparent suicide of her mother and she begins to attend grief counseling to deal with her grief.  She befriends another person, Brian (Stewart) who’s father has committed suicide as well.  Things seem to be progressing well until Angela receives a videotape of her mother’s final moments.  This causes her paranoia to reach gargantuan levels.  She believes that she is being stalked and with so many apparent suicides in her town, she and Brian begin to investigate and discover that none of these were suicides and they may be next.  It all leads down a path that Angela never saw coming and she will be lucky if she survives it.

    This was a fairly well done film.  Gordh’s direction services the film well, but it does not hide the fact that the film is rather pedestrian.  He films the attack scenes well, but the pacing is off, so there is no mystery on who is behind all the murders.  The script is adequate but it holds no surprises to constant viewers of the slasher genre.  There also is very little character development for the characters, they are all pretty much stereotypes and adds nothing fresh or real to the proceedings.  The cast is decent.  Tyler is a decent protagonist, as is Stewart.  They do as well as they can with what they have to work with.  Kadish is very good as the sympathetic Professor Lopes, he is very empathic and disarming.  The effects in the film are probably the best part of the film, the blood flows freely and copiously.  The death of the murderer is probably the most effective and makes you go Hell Yeah when he bites it.  This was a entertaining and diverting 90 minutes but not groundbreaking in anyway.  If you don’t expect much from a film, I would say check it out.

This one gets 3 out of 5

 

The Butcher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Butcher 2007

Director: Kim Jon-Win

Writer: Kim Jon-Win

Starring Kim Sung-Il and You Dong-Hun

 

    Korean horror films seem to be some of the best ones coming out of the Asian market these days.  I had heard a lot about his film, about how brutal and shocking it was, and it did not disappoint.  This film is an assault on the senses and one of the most mind numbing films I have seen since Inside.  It is a unflinching and brutal look into the world of snuff filmmaking and it grabs a hold of your psyche and does not let go until long after the film ends.  It uses the technique of the hand held camera very well and it does become nauseating, but I think in this case that is what the filmmakers were aiming for.  The conceit of switching between the POV of the makers of this film atrocity and the victims are a great idea and it is handled wonderfully in this film.  This is one of those films that after viewing it you cant believe you were able to endure it.  But, after thinking about it the film grows on you.  It is kind of the same way that I was affected by seeing Cannibal Holocaust for the first time.  That is now one of my favorite films, so you never know what kind of impression a film of this type will make upon you.

    The plot basics are this, at a undisclosed location, the film opens in a slaughterhouse where it seems some anonymous people are going to begin making a film.  This is no ordinary film though, as the filmmakers are preparing to torture and kill some unsuspecting couple for the amusement of someone who is willing to pay for this experience.  The filmmakers put cameras on their victims heads, so they can witness the POV of them as they torture, degrade, rape and kill them in the most profane ways.  The director makes a deal with the husband and shockingly he takes it at the shock of his wife, just so he can survive.  He then makes his escape and does whatever is humanly possible to survive this ordeal, regardless of how much of his sanity and morals are left intact at the end.

    This is a very well executed film.  It is not a fun thing to watch, but the direction by Jon-Kim is captivating till the bittersweet ending.  The way he balances between the POV’s of the filmmakers and the victims are jarring and it works very well.  The film has a short running time, but the director knows that the viewer does not need to be subjected to theses horrors any longer than what is necessary.  The script is really good.  You feel the terror of the victims and the sheer depraved joy that the filmmakers get out of inflicting these horrors.  The cast is good, they convey all the senses that the viewer needs in a tense and shocking film such as this.  The way they portray the roles without giving the viewer too much too latch onto really makes the viewer a kind of sick voyeur in the process and that works really well.  The SFX and effects are very good.  The blood is jarring and the torture scenes are really quite effective.  The best example of this was when the female was killed, it was sickening but you could not look away.  This was a original and creative take on both the Hostel type of film and the hand held camera horror film and is well worth seeking out for horror fans looking for something different to whet their appetite with.

This one gets 5 out of 5

 

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It’s Alive 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Alive 2008

Director: Joseph Rusnak

Writers: Larry Cohen, Paul Sopacy and James Portolese

Starring Bijou Phillips, James Nurray, Raphael Coleman, Skye Bennett, Owen Teal, Ty Glaser, Arkie Reece and Todd Jensen

 

    This was a remake I was looking forward to seeing because I was never a big fan of the 1974 original film.  When I think Larry Cohen I usually think of The Stuff, that is my favorite work of his.  I am pleased to say that this is a superior remake and in my estimation loads better than the original.  It has a great cast which is well anchored by the performance of Bijou Phillips, a solid story with a nice and plausible explanation of why the baby is a mutated aberration and great gore and splendid kills.  I think another reason the film worked so well was the dynamic of the mother protecting her child at any costs no matter what the cost.  This made the film had a lot of similarities to the recent baby shocker Grace.  But, where that film was mainly interested in skewing and satirizing things like new age fads, It’s Alive was more interested in being a scary and suspenseful horror film.  And I believe it really succeeded on those terms.  This was one of the big surprises in horror I have seen recently, I was not expecting much but this film really delivered the goods. 

    The plot basics are this, Lenore (Phillips) is in college and expecting her first child and she decides to take a leave of absence to have the baby and raise it a bit before returning to her studies.  She goes to live out in the country with her architect boyfriend Franck (Murray).  Everything is going well until the fetus had doubled in size and then the doctors have to go ahead and perform a Caesarean.  Everything goes well until they cut the umbilical cord and the baby kills everyone in the surgery room except for Lenore.  When she comes out of the room Lenore is questioned by the police but she remembers nothing and is allowed to go home.  Though, the police want her to talk to a psychologist to see if they can discover anything she may remember.  Soon, the baby bites her, while she is breastfeeding and discovers a taste of blood and soon Lenore is covering up the trail of bodies her baby is leaving behind him.  Lenore refuses to believe her baby has something wrong and it comes down to Franck and his wheelchair bound brother (Coleman) to put a end to the insanity.

    This was a great horror film.  Rusnak’s direction is taut and palatable.  He sets up the tension of what the baby might be and slowly reveals it scene by scene.  He films the attack scenes very expertly, and you never see much of the baby attacking and that works really well.  The script is very well done too.  The viewer really gets to feel the pain and discomfort Lenore feels as she tries to protect her homicidal newborn.  Also, the explanation of why the baby is mutated is handled really well and I totally accepted Lenore’s reasoning.  The cast is good, I loved Phillips as Lenore, she was the anchor of the film and you felt everything that she felt and sympathized with her.  I also liked Bennett as her college friend, she was very annoying and I think that was how she was supposed to come across and I think that is why her death is the most fulfilling for me.   The SFX and the effects are great too, you never see much of the baby and that really works well for the film.  The deaths were bloody and fun, especially when Bennett gets killed and you see the baby’s hand come out of her mouth.  This was a great film and it proves what can happen when a remake makes the story it’s own.  You sometimes come back with a superior story.

This one gets 5 out of 5

 

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Dead Air

 

Dead Air 2009

Director: Corbin Bernsen

Writer: Kenny Yenkel

Starring Bill Moseley, Patricia Tallman, David Moscow, Corbin Bernsen, Dan Lauria, Elle Travis, Susan Ruttan, Larry Drake, Lakshmi Manchu and Federico Dordei

 

    This was a film that piqued my interest mainly due to the fact that Bill Moseley and Patricia Tallman were in it.  It sounded like a very cool concept, a besieged late night radio talk show besieged by zombie attacks.  The film did not disappoint it was like Talk Radio combined with 28 Days Later.  The film is anchored by the excellent performances by Moseley and Tallman, they are always a delight to watch and here there is no difference.  The film has a very isolationist and claustrophobic feel and it works very well.  It also feels a lot like a 3 person play and I could definitely see it played on the stage.  Also, the idea of terrorist biological warfare is a theme that everyone can relate too in these modern times.  All of these conceits are melded together well and it ends up being a great little horror film.

    The plot basics are this, it seems to be another average night for late night radio talk show host Logan Burnhardt (Moseley) who decides to talk about paranoia tonight, but that seems to be a prophetic choice of topics.  When a group of terrorists unleash a biological attack on the city, he sees things begin to unravel and soon he is the only person on the air that is able to warn people about what is happening.  It seems that the infected begin to act like zombies and anyone who is outside will be torn to pieces.  Not long after, one of the terrorists (Dardei) breaks into the station and holds Burnhardt captive along with his co worker and ex girlfriend, Lucy (Tallman).  It seems the terrorist wants to take over the broadcast and trick the city’s denizens into going outside so more people are infected and now it is up to Logan to find a way to stop him before more blood is shed.

    This was an exceptional film.  Bernsen’s direction is taut and suspenseful and there are lots of times where you feel nothing is going right for the characters.  They way he filmed it reminded me a lot of Talk Radio and that is one of my favorite Oliver Stone films.  The way Burnhardt eggs on and goads both his audience members and his coworkers is mesmerizing to watch.  Bernsen also films the attack scenes very well they are frenetic and quick and that works well in propelling the film forward.  The script is great too, you really get into the head of Logan and see how his brain machinations work.  He can be thoughtless and rude, but you also see sparks of his humanity in there and that makes him more than a stereotype.  The cast is phenomenal, Moseley steals every scene he is in and when he goes on one of his diatribes on the air, you are transfixed.  Tallman is another great member of the cast, you watch as she tries to get the humanity to come out of Logan, and you can see it is an uphill battle, yet she still perseveres.  The SFX and effects in the film are quite effective, there is not much but what is used is used effectively.  The film is more about mood and atmosphere and that works really well in this film.  If you want a original and fresh take on zombie films with something to say, definitely seek this one out.

This one gets 5 out of 5

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Friday Flashbacks: Poltergeist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poltergiest 1982

Director: Tobe Hooper

Writers: Steven Spielberg, Michael Grais and Mark Victor

Starring Jobeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Beatrice Straight, Dominique Dunne, Oliver Robins, Heather O’Rourke, Zelda Rubinstein and James Karen

 

    Haunting films are getting really popular of late, and all of them seem to take a nod from Poltergeist, which in my book is the best haunted house film.  A lot of people are more fans of The Haunting, but I think the everyday family feel of the film puts it a step above that film.  It is a film that I get more enjoyment with every viewing.  It has a great story, excellent cast and some excellent special effects.  The film is really anchored by the heartfelt performance of Jobeth Williams as the mom that will do anything to keep her family safe.  Another great thing about this film is how it has given many viewers phobias of clowns.  I never looked at them the same way after watching this film and it has the most terrifying clown until Pennywise from IT.  The film has a real casual feel to it, so from the opening shot you are pulled in and it doesn’t let you go till the final frame of the film.

    The plot basics are this, the Freelings (Williams and Nelson) live in a idyllic housing division and everything is going great.  Until their youngest daughter Carol Anne (O’Rourke) begins connecting with otherworldly beings through their TV set.  At first it seems to be innocuous pranks but soon it takes a horrifying turn and Carol Anne is taken by the spirits and they will not let her go.  The Freeling’s then get a group of ghost hunters and they bring in a medium to rescue Carol Anne and exorcise the home of its demons.  At first it is a resounding success, but then the house attacks the family yet again and tries to prevent Diane (Williams) from saving her kids.  It all leads to them finding out the secret of the building of their house and why they have been besieged by vengeful spirits.

    This is a near perfect film.  Hooper’s direction is flawless, the mundane feeling of suburban life he sets the film up with feels completely natural and the way he slowly cranks up horror elements is a work of greatness.  It is like each scene is like making a cake and he is adding another layer with each scene.  The script is great as well, you really feel the dilemmas the family faces as the combat this spectral attack on their well being.  The characters of the mother and father are crafted very well and before all the horror falls upon them they are built up as very full and sympathetic characters.  The cast is amazing.  The lynchpins of the cast are of course Williams, O’Rourke and Rubinstein.  Williams is the moral and emotional anchor of the film and this is by far her best role.  O’Rourke is great as Carol Anne and she really portrays the precocious and frightened little daughter very well.  Rubinstein’s role is not much more than a extended cameo, but she is such a vital part of the film that it would not be the same without her.  The SFX and effects by ILM is stupendous.  The scene that always sticks with me is the ghost hunter who peels his face off in the bathroom, that still freaks me out.  The climax of the film with Williams in the pool surrounded by corpses is gut wrenching as well.  The score by Jerry Goldsmith is the final piece of the film that brings it all together.  The score is at times both harmonious and ethereal.  It really fits the film and if you hear the first few notes you know exactly what kind of film you are seeing.  This is a great Haunting film with a great sense of a family sticking together and fighting to overcome all the obstacles in their way.

This one gets 5 out of 5 

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Beast Within

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beast Within 2008

Directors: Wolf Wolf and Ohmuthi

Writer: Wolf Jahnke

Starring Anna Breuer, Phillip Danne, Marvin Gronen, Thomas Heubeck, Jesse Inman, Nikolas Jurgens, Joost Siedhoff and Birthe Wolter

 

    This is yet another entry into the ever burgeoning zombie genre with some modern health scare terror in it thanks to the avian flu.  This makes the film seem more potent than it normally would be, combining a zombie outbreak with the bird flu.  It is kind of surprising no one had thought to combine these two disparate devices and make a new kind of horror.  It comes together well in this film and the way the film plays out it has elements of both Night of the Living Dead and John Carpenter’s The Thing.  It works really well.  The bleakness of the film is another great part about this film.  There is never any feeling that anything that happens in the film is going to end well and that is refreshing.  It is nice to see a horror film that is unrepentantly dark and with totally unsympathetic characters that you cannot wait to see die horribly.  I wish we got more American made horror films like this.

    The plot basics are this, a professor discovers a new strain of avian flu that when it infects humans they become ravenous zombies.  He is attacked and killed and not long after a group of twenty something’s looking to have a good time, arrive at his home where his grandson (Danne)  is going to sign some papers to take over the home.  It has been a long time since he has been there and he does not seem very welcome by the local authorities.  Soon, many people get infected with this zombie strain of bird flu and now they are all fighting for their lives.  But, there is infighting between the group and this leads ultimately to their doom and it looks as if this zombie virus will spread worldwide.

    This was a damn good film.  The direction is very good, unlike most modern zombie films it is filmed as a movie and not as some viral video, which seems to be the norm these days.  It is very classic in its style.  The direction really plays well within the style of the classic zombie siege film.  The movement of the zombies and their attack styles are fun and exciting to view.  The script is quite good too, I loved the conceit of a avian flu variation that creates zombies.  The characters were interesting too.  I especially liked Patrick, he was hysterically paranoid and that made him a delight to watch as his psyche unraveled.  The cast was good too, with a special nod to Gronen as Patrick, he really relished his part and was by far the best actor in the film.  The SFX and effects are great too, they never look too fake and always bring out the desired effect in the viewer.  This was definitely one of the better zombie films that I have seen recently and well worth a look for zombie fans.

This one gets 4 out of 5

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