The Monster (2016)

The Monster (2016)

Actors:
Zoe Kazan (Ruby Sparks), Scott Speedman (Underworld) & Ella Ballentine (The Calling)
Director:
Bryan Bertino (The Strangers)
Runtime:
1hr 31 minutes

Plot:
A mother and daughter must confront a terrifying monster when they break down on a deserted road.
Trailer:


Review:
The mother, Kathy is taking her daughter Lizzy to be with her father. On the way they break down in the middle of no where after hitting a wolf on the road. After which, a monster terrorizes them.
Zoe Kazan plays the alcholic, disfunctional mother and is great at it. Ella Ballentine, who plays the daughter, is has a great career ahead of her. This is an atmospheric movie. The monster's makeup was all practical and was beautifully done.
While this was a decent film, it was very emotional between the mother and the daughter and that is not really seen in horror. 

Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016)

Ouija: Origin of Evil  (2016)

Actors:

Lulu Wilson, Annalise Basso & Elizabeth Reaser

Director:

Mike Flanagan

Runtime:

1 hour 39 minutes

Plot:

In 1965 Los Angles, a widowed mother and her daughters add a new stunt to bolster their seance business and unwittingly invite authentic evil into their home. When the youngest daughter is overtaken by a supernatural spirit, the family confronts unthinkable fears to save and send her possessor back to the other side.

Trailer:

Review:

This film is the prequel to the 2014 film Ouija, which takes place in the same house but 50 years earlier. And is also directed by Mike Flanagan (director of "Hush" and "Oculus") and with his special touch makes the movie far better than the first film. This film has generic story plot said countless times before, but told in a brilliant way.

The cinematography makes a creepy atmosphere. The actors' skills are all around first rate for any film, not one bad egg. As for the special effects, though not original by any means, are done very well and on the creepy side. 

For horror fans, there is a surprise and the end of the credits.
All around I would give this movie a 7.5 out of 10.

31 (2016)

31  (2016)

Actors:

Malcolm McDowell (Halloween), Richard Drake (Doom) and

 Sherri Moon Zombie (Lords of Salem)

Director:

Rob Zombie

Runtime:

1 hr 42 minutes

Plot:

Five carnival workers are kidnapped and held hostage in an abandoned, Hell-like compound where they are forced to participate in a violent game. The goal of which is to survive twelve hours against a gang of sadistic clowns.

Trailer:

Review

In my opinion, you are either a fan of Rob Zombie's work or you're not. i for one am a fan, personally I think that he has the demented mind that today's horror needed. 

Sherri Moon Zombie always plays a bad-ass chic, whether or not she is a good guy or a bad guy and in this movie she comes through yet again. As always with a Rob Zombie film, the lighting, special effects and acting are some of the best in the genre. 

As far as the clowns are concerned, they are originally demented and sometimes it made me wonder what he was on when he wrote this film.  You have a little person, Mexican, Nazi clown, a pair of back-hills, chainsaw toting brother clowns, A tutu wearing, crossing dressing clown, a Anime-ish, Dom clown and a Victorian era jacket wearing ultimately demented clown. 

There is no lack of blood and guts in this film.

I would say this is a 8 out of 10 stars movie.

Not posting for a while

Due to some family medical issues, I will not be posting for a while. I hope you all have a great Halloween season. 

Let Us Prey (2014)

Let Us Prey (2014)

Actors:

Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones) Pollyanna McIntosh (the Woman) & Bryan Larking (London has Fallen)

Director:

Brian O'Malley

Runtime:

1 hr 32 minutes

Plot:

A mysterious man arrives at the police station in a rural secluded Scottish town and unleashes terror on the cops and criminals inside. 

Trailer:

Liam Cunningham plays a mysterious man (if you pay attention you can figure out who early on) and starts getting into peoples minds. 

Since starting this blog I have watched more foreign horror than I have before. And I have noticed that no matter what the budget they tend to be very well made (including this film). The set, plot, lighting and special effects (including the blood looking real not fake) are excellently done. Hot giving away spoilers, there police officers are worse than the criminals they have in the cells. This is one messed up film that I totally loved. 

  Highly Recommend.

The Blood Lands (2014)

The Blood Lands  (2014)

Actors:

Pollyanna McIntosh, Lee Williams & Joanne Mitchell

Director:

Simeon Halligan

Runtime:

1 hr 23 minutes

Plot:

It's Ed and Sarah's first night at their new home - an isolated farmhouse on the Scottish borders. Fleeing London's rat race they find unexpected horrors.

Trailer:

Review: (spoiler)

This film takes some time to get started. The set design, lighting and camera work are top notch. The setting is a beautiful country side. What is it about horror movies & pig masks? Just asking there.

While categorized as a horror/ thriller this film falls more on the thriller side. The male lead disappears when the action actually gets going leaving the female lead (Pollyanna McIntosh) to play the smart wife who has to save her husband. An evected family wants their land back, so they torture the new home owners to take it back.

P2 (2007)

P2  (2007)

Actors:

Rachel Nichols, Wes Bentley & Simon Reynolds

Director:

Franck Khalfoun

Runtime:

1 hr 37 minutes

Plot:

A woman who is the last to leave her office on Christmas Eve must rely on her wits to survive when she is trapped in a parking garage with a deranged security guard.

Trailer:

Review:

While upon theatrical release this movie bombed and critics had mixed feelings, I find that this movie is a hidden gem. This movie is a shining example of how studios under publicize well made low budget films. 

The camera work, lighting and set design were what you would expect from a high budget film. Angel's (Rachel Nichols) Christmas Eve goes from bad to worse. After working late and her car does not start, she gets locked in a parking garage with a security guard Thomas (Wes Bentley), who turns out to be a bit of a psychopath. While it takes sometime to get the action to get going, once it does you tend to over look the flaws in this film. 

The acting is done by two solid actors, both which make the film enjoyable to watch. ( can you say a horror is enjoyable?) Wes Bentley's performance is eerily, creepy realistic. This film is underrated by critics, precisely why I don't listen to their views.