BEETLE REVIEWS THE ROCKY HORROR GLEE SHOW

This is my first ever review if a TV episode...so bear with me guys.

Normally I wouldn't review a TV episode...let alone a TV episode of Glee. I'm not very big into Glee to be quite honest. I love the songs they choose to cover and I appreciate how the show is making the arts popular and appealing to the mainstream. I am a big supporter of theatre and the arts and think it's great that this show is getting the news out about it. That said, I don't think the show has an appealing plot or any real staying power so I've more or less just stuck with the Cds they've made. I've never actually seen a full episode of the show until now. I had heard that the show was planning on doing a Rocky Horror tribute episode so me being the big Rocky Horror fan that I am, of course I was intrigued. When the episode was finally released online I gave it a viewing. What was my reaction???? well...it was good for what it was.They added a few more sing-songy parts than were in the original film (understandable, this is a theatre tv show after all) and they chose a chick to play Frank N Furter (A SIN I SAY...A SIN!!!! Probably made this choice so they would not offend the censors) as well as changing a few lyrics (once again...censors). But, surprisingly there was more good than bad. the cover versions of the songs were all pretty fun and definently enjoyable. Adding to the fun was the surprise appearance of Uncle Jesse from Full House playing the role of Eddie (John Stamos) as well as another surprise appearance by Barry Bostwick (Brad from Rocky Horror). The people that were chosen to play Brad, Riff Raff, Magenta, and rocky all fit in quite nicely with their roles (My favorite was Rff Raff of course).

So overall, The episode gets props from me for having the balls to actually do a rocky Horror tribute, quite possibly the raciest movie in history. I'm hoping that the episode will get those virgins out there curious enough to go give the film a rental. While the episode didn't help to spike my interest in the show overall it still did get a respectful nod for doing something quite brave. this is one episode that I reccomend for a Halloween night viewing (online) if there is nothing else scary enough on the TV.

3/5 Stars

FRIGHT FEST REVIEW: BEETLEJUICE

"Let's turn on the juice and see what shakes loose."

Oh Beetlejuice. What a fun, crazy film. Right from the opening credit score which deftly mixes the opening of classic song "Day-O" (Which will come into play later on in the film) with an original opening by Danny Elfman most should know they've walked smack dab into something unique.

Beetlejuice is the story of happily married couple Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin). One day, while driving into town they actidentally drive their car off a bridge and when they finally arrive home, come to the startling realization that they are dead...a fact that both don't take too kindly too. Their home is sold off to city folk Delia ( Catherine O' Hara) and Charles Deetz( Jeffrey Jones) and their gothic daughter Lydia (Winona Rider). Pushed one step too far when the Deetz's decide to so some redecorating, Barbara and Adam turn to Bio-exorcist Beetlegeuse/Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) to help them rid their home of the unwelcome guests. Of course, what the Maitlands don't realize is that whenever Beetlegeuse is involved things are bound to get a little complicated.

For the first half of the film brilliant director Tim Burton treats the audience to what his version of the afterlife is like. During this part things are little bit slow but still amusing nontheless, aided by Burton's mean dark humor streak he injects into the film. Of course the part everyone is waiting for is the grand entrance of that loveably wacky Poltergeist Beetlegeuse, and what a grand entrance it is. The film continually teases the viewer with pop-up appearances by the ghoul until he finally enters the film as one of the key players, and once he is introduced, well, that's when the real fun begins.

Beetlejuice (For all those who haven't seen the film) is a fast talking, loud mouthed, crazy, wild west type poltergeist that bills himself as the afterlife's most famous bio-ecorcist. His specialty?? Ridding homes of the living. He bursts forth onto the screen in all his uncontrolled ADHD-type glory. He is a sight to be seen and remains one of the most unforgettable screen antagonists ever dreamed up. In Beetlejuice he steals the spotlight in every single scene he appears in and acts as the films's more-or-less villain...even though the V word is a little too harsh in my opinion. He's a prankster that likes to mess stuff up and doesn't care about what the consequences of his actions are. Does this make him a villain??? Kinda...but not totally.

The film is chock-full of memorable scenes such as Beetlegeuse's main entrance, a hilarious dinner scene set to the tune of Day-O, and the Grand finale in which Beetlegeuse is called upon to save the day and then some. While most of the film is somewhat slow, all is made up for by the prescence of Keaton as his most memorable role to date (screw Batman). If you're in the mood for some knee-slapping fun and all out hilarity then feel free to slip this one into your DVD player. A good time is just about guaranteed.

3/5 stars

FRIGHT FEST NEWS

Ok folks...since we are unfortunately running dangerously close to the end of my Fright Fest ( I know...try to hold in the tears guys) I am now going to post a quick list of all the other films I will be reviewing before Halloween.

The Goonies

Fright Night

The Lost Boys

Beetlejuice

Trick 'r Treat

and a very special review of the ultimate Halloween film ever dreamed up...what is it you ask?? Well, you'll have to wait until Halloween to find out.

Once BEETLE'S HALLOWEEN FRIGHT FEST ends I will be starting a new feature on the site called Movies I Love. Expect past reviewed films and new films to be brought up. No review will be posted, instead I will go into my history with the film and why it is I love it.

Ok, with all that out of the way let's continue on with BEETLE'S FRIGHT FEST

BEETLE'S FRIGHTASTIC TRIP REPORT FROM HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS 20

Hey there Beetle-heads!!!! It's that time of year again...thats right, it's time for my trip report from scare central: Halloween Horror Nights 20.

Let me start out by asking if there is anything better than coming home smelling like fog? HHN uses copious amounts of fog and I've got to be honest, I'm addicted to the smell of it...smells like Halloween, and I do love coming home drenched in that scent.

This year Jumpy and I have had a falling out (he's turned into a major douche), so I decided to hang with some new friends: Sissy (a cute girl that considers me her big brother, hence her nickname), Schweet (a cool dude), Invisible Man (IM for short, he's very quiet), and Horndog (my partner in crime, one of my bros up at college).

So we entered the gates at around 6:45 and walked right into the Chainsaw Drill Team all dressed up in camo. Sissy freaked and immeadietly wrapped her arms around me and Horndog. I wanted to stay there to see what they would do but the rest of the group decided this would be a bad idea so instead we made our way over to HHN 20 years of Fear. This is a pretty neat scarezone set up to resemble the HHN props warehouse. Once inside the area (With sissy still wrapped around me and horndog, my arm was wrapped around her waist and I would allow her to squeeze my left hand at odd intervals) we ran right into some of my favorite characters from past years including Wolfman, Frankenstein, and some chainsaw Dudes. They quickly chased us out of that zone and right into Fear Revealed.

Fear Revealed is mainly a zone set up to introduce guests to the Go of Fear himself: Adaru. Now, I had my doubts about how this character would end up looking but Uni. did a bang-up job with him. Adaru towers above evryone else in the zone and is truly an imposing figure to approach. I snapped a few photos before we moved on to our first house of the night: Horror Nights The Hallow'd Past.

This house ranks in at the number 4 spot for the night. It's got a really neat set-up. the theme is that we have just entered the props warehouse for HHN, and something appears to be amiss inside. Our first clue is that the electricity appears to be out as we pass by props from previous years, our 2nd clue would be when we enter a swirling vortex to find ourselves smack dab in the middle of an alternate universe where memorable scenes from past houses come to life. This house had quite a few great scares. One time some dude jumped out into my path, Me, Sissy and Horndog were essentially tyed together (Sissy was in the middle of us and had her arms wrapped around both of us), so when I jumped to the side of the dude to avoid running into him my action resulted with Horndog having his leg rammed into one of the steel poles. He continued to complain about his leg for the rest of the night. The most memorable scenes were the warehouse scenes for all the cool props and characters that you encounter throughout them (especially liked the final warehouse scene where the warehouse had essentially come to life). Despite the cool factor in this house I still feel like they may have crammed too much into one house.

After all the screaming and running we did in the Hallow'd Past Sissy decided she needed a break so Horndog and IM took her on the Jaws Ride at Night while Schweet and I hit The Orfanage: ashes to ashes. This was my least favorite house of the night, ranking in at number 8. The theme here is that of a burned down orfanage where one of the previously unseen characters of the past; Cindy; has taken over. the result is a few fire effects, the constant scent of burning wood (and flesh?), and some freaky orphans attacking you. While Schweet liked it I felt that it was very poorly themed and just wasn't scary enough for me.

After this Schweet and I hit the Jaws ride. During Halloween Horror Nights they have intensified the effects and brought back the much missed ring of fire effect at the exploding gas dock scene (right before the finale). So, if you want to see the Jaws ride in its full Bad-ass glory then HHN is the time to give it another try. Schweet and I both gave it 2 thumbs up.

Shortly after getting off the ride we hooked back up with Horndog, IM and Sissy and traveled onwards, running right into Zombie Gras. Zombie Gras is a cool little zone themed to a Mardi Gras parade that has fallen victim to a zombie outbreak. There are tons of cool zombies to mess with here. it's not a very scary zone per say but I did get a few good jump scares here.

After Zombie Gras we hit the next house in sight: Zombiegeddon. The story here is that the US has been hit pretty hard by the North American Zombie Virus, luckily most of the zombies have been killed or captured and the US is now hiring independent companies to help clean up the remainding zombies. One of the companies is a low-tech one named Z.A.P (short for Zombie Awareness Program), a group of bad-ass zombie killers that have taken it upon themselves to teach civilians the proper zombie killing methods. We are about to enter one of their civilian training facilities named Z.I.P where hoards of zombies have been pacified by the use of some clunky collars and are now being used for training purposes. With Sissy securely fastened to me and Horndog's waists we entered the facility. The facade is pretty cool. It is a very industrial looking street that leads into the entrance to the facility. Once inside we run into one of the Z.A.P members that is coaching us on proper zombie killing methods. All seems fine for the first 2 or 3 rooms, but during the 4th room we can make out the image of a parade float (apparently there was a celebration going on outside) crashing into one of the walls of the Z.I.P Facility. There is the silhouette of flames, we canb hear screams of people outside. The lights flicker and we can hear the terrifying sound of the electricity going out completely and the lights go black. The collars keeping the zombies pacified now off, the zombies bare able to break free of their restraints and terrify the innocent civulians inside. Sissy didn't do so well in this house, she was freakin out quite a bit (This is where I would allow her to squeeze the crap out of my left hand). Despite her freakin out she still made it out ok (THANK GOD). I thought this house a nice effort on Uni.'s part and I loved all the different zombie references found inside. With this said I still felt that there was something missing and that is why the house ranks in at the Number 6 spot.

Once we had escaped from Zombiegeddon, we stopped for a quick bite to eat. Afterwards we decided to hit the Saws N Steam Scarezone. Sissy wrapped herself around Horndog and I and refused to enter the scarezone so we left her with IM and Schweet as we ventured further into it. I love the story here, the citizens of a small town have lost their minds when sea vents open up under their home and turn the place into a scorching hot foggy zone devoid of water. Once you enter the citizens turn their sights on you, the water in your body now a coveted resources that they will do anything to get. I later revisited this scarezone several times. this is where I met C_D and Giant (Friends of mine from a forum we belong to). Giant quickly responded when I called out his name, charging forth to block my way. I smoved back a step...he didn't have to do anything to scare me, his size doing the job for him. It took C_D a few minutes to respond to his name, but when he did it nearly sent me running. He put his chainsaw against my leg and revved it up (I was wearing jeans) and then proceeded to circle me. Overall this scarezone was very fun and is a definite DO-NOT-MISS for it's inventive use of Sting Alley (All fogged up with random mists of water spraying guests) and the look of the scareactors that inhabit (STEAMPUNK FTW!!!)

After Saws N Steam Horndog, Schweet and I split up from Sissy and IM as they went to go rife The Mummy and my group decided to go hit more haunted houses. The next Haunted house we decided to hit was Hades: Gates of Ruin. In this house the theme is that we are traveling into the depths of the greek mythological version of Hell. Inside you run into Medusa, Cyclops, Minotaurs (I pointed one out before he had time to make a scare so he ran up to the corner I was aquickly approaching and exacted his revenge on me....LESSON LEARNED), and other mythological creatures that you may or may not recognize. The facade here was pretty neat, It's set up so that you're entering through the mouth of a skull that has fog pouring out its nostrils. Once inside there is no safety to be found as the citizens of this mythological hell come after you from all angles. I highly enjoyed getting to visit some of my favorite mythological characters (and having them scare the snot out of me). The atmosphere found inside is also very neat with it's fiery look, cavernous setting, and neat set-pieces (In one area your vision is encompassed by a thick fog, truly creepy as you wait for the next unavoidable scare). This house ranks in at the number 2 spot.

The next house we hit was Legendary truth: The Wyandot Estate. This house is themed to a paranormal research teams (picture Ghost Hunters TV show)investigation into the very much haunted Wyandot house. Here we are invited to join the team as honorary members as we help them dig into the house's storied past and uncover the mystery surrounding the house. This haunted house was highly built up by Universal as having some cool effects never before seen in a haunted house. Some of these effects include a ghost sliding underneath the floor, skating past behind a wall, some items coming to life, lights flickering, and some low-key anamatronics. the house I feel relys too much on its effects and not enough on its actors ability to scare guests, and while the effects ARE pretty cool I feel that this was the wrong decision. It's still a fun little house that is pretty beat to walk-though (The facade is the best one of the night, you enter the house from the outside, up its steps, right into its front door...I spazzed out). this one ranks in at number 5.

Once out of LT we decided to take a jog through The Coven scarezone. Once entering the first thing you will notice are the burning figures of puritan men roped up on stakes beneath fire pits. As you continue on through the zone you will see some hot witches roaming around but beware for in dark corners lurk ugly hags that like to surprise unwitting guests (I wanted to tell one of the hot ones to take alook because that will be her in 30 years...Never got a chance to say this though :( ). In this zone I got to complement a hag on the eyeball she was carrying (This apparently got her to give props to me since she pointed at me and gave me a sign I took to mean that she agreed). Near the end a small witch scared me...the scare didn't last long once I realized the scareactor was a midget...All I could say was ohhhh...so cute. Overall while the scarezone isn't long or eleaborate it's still pretty cool and can hold a few good scares.

After we had exited the Coven we decided to hit up The Catacombs: Black Death Rising. The story here is that in 19th century France a nasty plague popped up and started infecting people. The infected were quarantined in a catacomb and Plague Doctors (people wearing long back robes, goggles, and bird masks) went inside to watch over them. Unfortunately the townspeople panicked and locked the infected and the plague doctors inside the catacombs. Several hundred years later we are part of an excavation crew that is clearing out the catacombs only to discover that the infected and the plague doctors never died and that the plague they carry is still very much contagious. The whole house is pretty awesome, the setting is one of the best parts. It really does feel like you are traveling through a real catacombs. I felt that the best part of the house were the tottally rad Plague doctors (I love how they look!!!). 2 doctors teamed up to make me do the scared mans limbo. they reached their hands out to block my path which resulted in me having to duck and weave to avoid hitting them. this house ranks in at the number 3 spot.

After Catacombs we ran ahead to hit Havoc: Dogs of War. the theme here is that the military has been conducting tests at their Shadowcreek facility of a gas that will turn their soldiers into super-soldiers. Unfortunately they find that the gas works a little too well, turning them into adrenaline and rage filled monsters. When a gas leak occurs all hell breaks loose as the experiments break free to terrorize the civilians (us) that are touring the facility. The whole house is sensory overload and has an adrenaline filled pace as the supersoldiers burst out of corners and walls to attack us. Throughout the whole house sirens are going off like crazy, alerting us almost immeadietly that we chose the wrong time to enter Shadowcreek. There are bursts of air that blast us at random intervals, helping to keep us off guard throughout the entire house and helping the scareactors jobs that much easier. There are several really neat surprises that KO'd my butt on several occasions including a surprise chainsaw and machine gun scare. All the scareactors in the house were required to shave their heads for their roles, going to show their immense commitment to the art of the scare. This is the most intense house I have seen in all my 3 years attending Halloween Horror Nights and that makes it the number 1 spot on my top houses list.

After Havoc we ran over to Psychoscarepy: Echoes of Shadybrook. For the most part the Psychoscarepy houses have been the humorous ones but this year Uni. decided to switch things up and give PS a more serious and bleak overtone. Shadowbrook, the infamous mental institution, has been closed for 15 years. We, being the hoodlums that we are cut our wy through the wire fence and make our entrance into the facility. Once inside we make the startling revelation that even though Shadowbrook has been closed for a while now, the ghosts of past residents still remain inside. the facade is the same as the original PS house, except with the addition of a run-down paint job and a wirefence we must make our way through in order to gain admittance (a neat addition). The scareactors do a pretty good job here, and although scary also have some sympathy factor since they are tortured souls. My favorite scene is the 2nd one where 2 crazies are running outside some windows during a lightning storm. It makes for a somewhat memorable house, ranking in at the number 7 spot.

After Psychoscarepy Horndog, Schweet and I realized it was almost time for us to meet up at the van for our departure back to my college so we made our way back to the entrance of the park, stopping by at Esqueleto Muerte. This is a blacklight scarezone that is themed to the mexican Day of the Dead festival. while the blacklighting is cool, it's not when most of the scareactors are busy stopping for pictures. Only one tried to scare Horndog when his back was turned. he didn't even acknowledge her which was hilarious. after this we mwet back up with Sissy (I gave her a huge hug and was glad to see she made it out in one piece) and IM and togther we headed onto the van which drove us back to the apartments.

So is Halloween Horror Nights 20 better than previous years???? Well, I felt that last year was scarier to be honest (maybe it's because it was basically just me and another person last year whereas this year I had a group of people and the added bonus of a girl clinging onto me...which usually helps to lightly diminish the scare factor of any house or scarezone) but scarier doesn't always mean better. 20 was better themed than last year's and I had more fun than I did last year...so in my opinion : yes, HHN 20 was better than previous years I've seen.

So this year I got hug a cute girl to me for the first few houses, got to hang with some REAL friends, and got to hit all the houses and scarezones in one night. Yeah, I'd have to say that HHN 20 was a HUGE success. Till Next year, this is Beetle signing off from the scare central.

HOUSE RANKINGS
1. HAVOC: DOGS OF WAR
2. HADES: GATES OF RUIN
3. CATACOMBS: BLACK DEATH RISING
4. HORROR NIGHTS: THE HALLOW'D PAST
5. LEGENDARY TRUTH: THE WYANDOT ESTATE
6. ZOMBIEGEDDON
7. PSYCHOSCAREPY: ECHOES OF SHADYBROOK
8. THE ORFANAGE: ASHES TO ASHES

SCAREZONE RATINGS
1. HHN: 20 YEARS OF FEAR
2. SAWS N' STEAM
3. FEAR REVEALED
4. ZOMBIE GRAS
5. THE COVEN
6. ESQUELETO MUERTE

OVERALL RATING FOR THIS YEAR: 5/5

FRIGHT FEST REVIEW: FALLEN

"Hey, howdy folks! Ladies, gents, cocksuckers, pederasts. I hope you all enjoy the show. Yes I do!"

Fallen is the story of Detective John Hobbes (Denzel Washington). After the death of a brutish felon he helped to convict, a string of copycat murders start to pop up around the town and slowly Hobbes life begins to fall apart when his prints appear at the murder scenes. What would have been your fairly typical who-dun-it is elevated to something a bit greater by the fact that the dead felon was possessed by a demon named Azazel, who is now out for revenge against the man who caught him.

There are great performances all around. Elias Koteas is memorable as the first person we see possessed by the demon, Edgar Reese. John Goodman plays the typically good natured and loveably chubby good cop partner of Hobbes, Jonesy, and Denzel Washington puts on a driven performance as the hero of the story John Hobbes, who sets out to put a stop to Azazel's madness once and for all.

While the billed star of the story is John Hobbes, make no mistake that this is Azezel's film, a fact that is made fairly obvious once the opening credits roll. Azazel makes for a truly memorable villain in the film. He can switch bodies by touching a person or just by sheer force of will. Throughout the film he can be seen singing exercpts from the Rolling Stones hit "Time Is On My Side" (a welcome if not unfortunate consequence is that now that song is eternally stuck in my noggin). The torment he unleashes on Hobbes and family is pretty barbaric, but fun nontheless. It is a joy to see each new incarnation of Azazel taunt and tease Hobbes. Azazel could enter or kill Hobbes anytime he wants, but he likes Hobbes and thus decides to "play" with his new prey before doing the dirty deed. That's what makes the film so much fun, the ensuing chaos erupts like some kind of sadistic game.

In the end, while there are a few coincidences that occur at just the right moment for Hobbes (When Hobbes is trying to figure out the meaning of a cryptic clue on a train, there just so happens to be a nun sitting nearby that provides some help...these help to bring the film down a few notches)), Fallen is still a perfectly enjoyable supernatural thriller that is recomended viewing for anyone who has an interest in religion, mysteries, or the supernatural.

3.5/5 Stars

FRIGHT FEST REVIEW: THE LOST BOYS 2

I've been wanting to see this film for quite some time now and am glad I've finally got it crossed off my to do list.

The Lost Boys 2: The tribe is the straight to DVD sequel to the smash hit The Lost Boys. This time around we follow the story of Chris (Tad hilgenbrink) and Nicole (Autumn Reeser), brother and sister who relocate to Luna Bay after their parents die in a car crash. When Chris meets up with former surfing legend Shane (Angus Sutherland) he is invited to a party that Shane is hosting. He brings his little sister along for the ride, resulting with her becoming a half-vampire. Soon, it is up to Chris and Edgar Frog (Corey Feldman) to infilitate the vamp ranks and rescue Nicole before it is too late.

The first problem I have with this film is the cinematography. It's TERRIBLE!!!! It looks like it's being filmed for some special news report and doesn't look like a movie should. The second problem is that I just can't buy Nicole as a vampire. Yes, she's fuckin sexy (but doesn't bare all...DAMNIT) but she seems too happy with her new fate as eternal vamp. Where's the conflict!!!??? Yes she gets to live forever...but she's got to kill people in order to do so. UGH!!!

Anyways, the film, despite it's numerous flaws, does have some redeeming qualities. Ted Hilginbrink is perfectly enjoyable as Chris (and not much more), and Angus Sutherland adds some cool flavor to the mix as head vampire (that dies a little TOO easily) Shane. But the main reason to watch this flick is Corey Feldman back as super-bad-ass Vampire hunter/killer Edgar Frog. He is essentially the boy that never grew up, since he is almost exactly the same as he was in the first film (just with a pinch more anger). He adds some needed cheese and intensity to the film and steals every single scene he's in (from surfboard bashing opening scene to his final vamp slaughtering one).

With some decent performances, a decent story, and a killer cover of Cry Little Sister Lost Boys 2: The Tribe is better than most direct to DVD sequels....but, of course, is still nowhere near the greatness that the first film was.

2.5/5 stars

FRIGHT FEST REVIEW: SCREAM 3

"Is this simply another sequel? Well if it is, same rules apply. But-here's the critical thing-if you find yourself dealing with an unexpected back story and a preponderance of exposition, then the sequel rules DO NOT apply. Because you are not dealing with a sequel, you are dealing with the concluding chapter of a trilogy. "

So, is Scream 3 simply another sequel? Well, mainly YES....but also to a lesser degree NO. Scream 3 has essentially been dumbed down for general audiences. Gone are the days where characters constantly cite the rules of horror films, maybe partly due to the fact that, despite how hard Wes may try this is indeed just another dumb hollywood sequel where the characters fall for the same old traps..

The returning characters are treated with little to no reverance. Gale is called upon to scream dumbly at every horror scene, Dewey constantly switches between dumb and bumbling to determined and strong willed (MAKE UP YOUR MIND WES!!!!!!, personally I prefer the Dewey seen in Scream 2). The only character that is essentially the same is Sidney, and for once she is one of the strongest performances here. I wish I could say anything positive about the supporting cast, but unfortunately the film doesn't give them much chance to really shine. The only noteable supporting role/cameo was Jamie Kennedy's return for the last time. He appears in one scene in which he guides our heros on their new quest and points out the rules for trilogies.

The story this time around is that the cast for Stab 3 are slowly and methodically being killed off. Naturally Gale, Dewey, and Sidney show up to investigate and another struggle for survival ensues as information we have been given in past films is questioned. That is one of Scream 3's weakest points, it constantly makes nods to the first Scream. This does anything but help the film as it makes it appear as if Wes is Cravin for simplier times (Please excuse the bad pun).

Just about the only thing that makes this film worth the watch is the Killer this time around. He's smart, determined, has a believable motivation (more believeable than the ones in the first 2), and even sheds some (unnecessary) light on the life of Sidney's Mom.

So, in the end although Scream 3 does have its moments it can't quite reach the same level of greatness that it's predecessors did. After all the fuss, it really is just another dumb sequel (I mean, their makin a Scream 4 now....hope it's better than this one). If you've seen the first 2 Screams you might as well give this one a viewing as well, just don't expect to find much to enjoy here.

2.5/5

FRIGHT FEST REVIEW: SCREAM 2

"There are certain rules that one must abide by in order to create a successful sequel. Number one: the body count is always bigger. Number two: the death scenes are always much more elaborate - more blood, more gore - *carnage candy*. And number three: never, ever, under any circumstances, assume the killer is dead. "

Scream 2 is the superb sequel that far outshines its predecessor. True, this is an increasingly rare thing in Hollywood but Scream 2 really does take the cake. It's smarter, funnier, more serious, the returning characters have been gievn added depth, and the big finale is to DIE for (Pun intended).

Scream 2 takes place exactly one year after Scream. It starts out at a theatre showing a sneek peek at "Stab!", The movie based off the book Gale Weathers wrote after the incidents of the first film. It doesn't take long before it is revealed that there is now a copycat killer on the loose and 2 moviegoers are given terrific death scenes in the theatre, one dies right in front of the movie screen as the bemused and shocked crowd watches. It's now up to Sidney, Randy, Gale, and Dewey to find the killer and do whatever it takes to survive this second killer outing.

All of the original cast is back. Jamie Kennedy puts on another inspired performance as determined survivor of the first film Randy. He still knows all the horror movie rules (and all the rules of sequels as well) and is the one who guides the rest of the gang along on their adventure. David Arquette puts on a decidedly different performance than he did in the first one as the rookie cop Dewey. In this one he seems to be more experienced and determined, he makes it clear that this time he won't let the killer get the upper hand. Throughout the film he walks with a limp, his stab wound he received in the first film apparently paralyzing half of his body (poor Dewey). Liev Schrieber also returns as Cotton Weary, the wrongly accused assailant in the first film. In Scream 2 he is given a chance to show that he is indeed a good guy, despite what everybody else may think.

Amang the newcomers are the young Jerry O'Connel as Boyfriend Derek who, despite being the PERFECT guy, is immeadietly targeted as a strong suspect. He does perfect in this role. He's charming, funny, and extremely likeable as the somewhat aloof and niave Derek. It is obvious that he cares for Sidney and would do anything to protect her. Among his highlights is a song and dance he performs in a lunchroom of Sidney. Another fun newcomer is Duane Martin as the toiken black dude. He is the new camera man for Gale and is smart enough to panic when the bodies start to pile up, aware that the black guy never lasts very long. There's also a great cameo for Sarah Michelle Gellar as Sorority Gal Cici. Even though she isn't much to do it is still fun to see her here.

Whereas the finale of the first film took place at a party, the finale of Scream 2 takes place in the inspired setting of a theatre (Not a movie theatre, a stage). The final twist is pretty shocking, throwing me for a complete loop, and the great thing is it kind of makes sense. When Sidney finally turns the tables on her would-be killer is when the real fun begins, using the props, lighting fixtures, and sound effects in the theatre to thoroughly freak out her attacker.

With deeper characters, more suspense, and a smarter script Scream 2 is far superior to its somewhat lackluster predecessor. I'm glad you proved me wrong on this one Wes, I really am, Scream 2 is one of my all time favorite horror films. Give it a try and you'll be sure to see why (yes, I meant for that to rhyme).

4/5 Stars

FRIGHT FEST REVIEW: SCREAM

"You sick fucks, you've seen one too many movies!!!!"

Guilty as charged.

Scream is one of Wes Cravens finest films to date, because of how much fun it is. It follows the story of Sidney (Neve Campbell) as she finds herself stuck in a town where a seriel killer is on the loose. It's a fairly typical teen slasher story which becomes not so typical with the help of some characters that constantly spit out the "rules" of horror movies (and yet they still fall into the same old routine ....what up with that?).

The film is full of delightful "surprise" performances, among which are Matthew Lillard as Stuart (A delightfully zany, infectious performance), Jamie Kennedy as Randy (a surprisingly well-done performance on his part as the horror movie buff), Rose McGowan as Tatum (Sidneys Best Friend), David Arquette as Dewey (The bumbling rookie cop assigned to protect Sidney), and the always wonderful Henry Winkler as Mr. Himbry (The school principle, after viewing his performance here all I can say is "Wow, the Fonz don't fuck around.").

The only really good lead actor is Neve Campbell as Sidney. She is great as she plays a different kind of heroine. I can't say as much for her leading man though. Sure, Skeet Ulrich tries to do good as boyfriend Billy, but I just couldn't fully buy into him. He was much too mysterious and campy for my tastes, he was practically licking every line of the script up like Hannibel Lecter when he talks about Fava Beans. If he showed a little self control he would have gone farther in my book.

Now, Scream is constantly cited as one of Craven's best films...but not for why you might think. As a pure horror film, the movie fails at just about every angle you could imagine. I never once felt any bit of real suspense during the running time (except during the finale...and even then it was pretty toned down for my tastes). I'm sorry Wes, Scream is JUST NOT SCARY. However, It's a perfect party film and I could see myself easily re-watching it during the Halloween season (Speak of the devil). While it may not be much scary, it's still a perfectly fun family horror film that just about anyone twelve and over could handle.

So if you're craven some Craven feel free to give this fun little flick a try. It may not make you scream, but you're sure to have a good time.

3/4 stars

FRIGHT FEST REVIEW: JAWS

"You yell barracuda, everybody says, "Huh? What?" You yell shark, we've got a panic on our hands on the Fourth of July."

"This was no boat accident!"

"I think that I am familiar with the fact that you are going to ignore this particular problem until it swims up and BITES YOU ON THE ASS!"

"Beaches Closed - No Swimming. By the Order of the Amity PD".

"You're gonna need a bigger boat"


JAWS!!!!! Looking back it's not hard to imagine why it became the first ever summer blockbuster.

As directed by Steven Spielberg, Jaws is the story of a rogue great White that stakes a claim off the shores of Amity Island during the summer tourist season. As people begin to disapear under bloody waves, the town of Amity panics and turns to Sherrif Martin Brody (Roy Scheider), Salty Sea Dawrg Quint (Robert Shaw), and Marine Biologist Matt Hooper (Richard Dreyfuss) in hopes that they can rid the once peaceful town of it's great white sized problem.

For most of the film the shark remains unseen due to an unreliable shark anamatronic (Speilberg dubbed it Bruce, after his Lawyer). This stroke of seemingly bad luck ended up benefiting the film in the long run, rendering the initial shark attacks all the more terrifying as we can only see what is happenning above water, leaving the carnage occurring underneath the waves to the viewers imagination.

Another benefit of Bruce's refusal to work properly was that the film had to rely on a solid soundtrack (done by the amazing John Williams) to let the audience know where the shark was at just about all times. To this day that iconic Dun-Dun score is just as unforgettable and recognizeable as ever.

Jaws also has superb performances all around. Murray Hamilton is great as the money-hungry mayor that willingly serves up the islanders as snack food, Roy Scheider is perfect as the concerned Sherrif of Amity that spends the first half of the film trying (unsuccessfully) to warn the town of the impending danger, Robert Shaw is also perfect as the salty shark hunter Quint, and Richard Dreyfuss does a wonderful performance as the nerdy shark enthusiast that is called on for some extra help.

Although it has been only 35 years since the film was released, it has not aged a bit. The terror created in the film is just as strong today as it was the day the film was released, probably because the fear of not knowing what is swimming with you when you step into the big blue is a universal one.

Aided by a great score, amazing performances, a pretty darned cool shark (when it was working), and some smart character development ( one example: Brody is terrified of water)... it isn't hard to see why JAWS has becoime the beloved classic it is known as today. And after all these years, it still carries the power to make you think twice before running carelessly into those waves.

5/5 Stars: BETTER THAN SEX

FRIGHT FEST REVIEW: HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES

I feel that there is no better way to kick off my Fright fest than with a review of one of the best atmospheric Halloween films you can find, House of 1000 Corpses.
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"Howdy Folks! You like blood? Violence? Freaks of nature? Well then, come on down to Captain Spaulding's Museum of Monsters and Mad-Men."

This is one of those films where you're either going to LOVE IT or HATE IT....there's no in-between. Me???? I LOVE IT!!!!

House of 1000 Corpses is Rob Zombies sick love letter to the joys of Halloween and Tobe Hooper. It also happens to be his directorial debut. It takes place in the era that Rob apparently pines for (since every single one of his films seems to be inspired by it) the 1970s, 1977 to be exact. There's not much story to the film, in it we follow a group of typically dumb college kids on a road trip to the seediest roadside attractions out there. They eventually wind up at Captain Spauldings Museum of Monsters and Mad-Men, owned by crazed clown Captain Spaulding. Intrigued by Spauldings tale of local legend Dr. Satan they set off to find the mysterious legends grave, only to be sidetracked by a flat tire and wind up in the one place they do NOT want to be stuck in.

While the story may not be elaborate the characters and atmosphere sure are. The sadistic killers in this film are the halloween obsessed Firefly clan/family. There's super-sexy Baby (Sheri Moon), who has an obsession with the movie stars of old, Otis (Bill Moseley), a sadist who hates women and pretentious teens, Mother Firefly (Karen Black), the sex-obsessed matriarch of the family who considers herself a M.I.L.F (She's NOT), and there's Tiny (Matthew McGory), a mentally challenged man that seems to have a fondeness for girls. Rounding out this wonderfully deranged cast of characters is Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig), a crazed clown that flies into a fit of rage when he belives someone to be insulting him or clowns in general. All put on truly memorable performances here as sick people who's idea of a fun night out is brutally torturing and killing a bunch of innocently stupid kids.

As if the colorful cast of characters weren't enough to warrant this film a viewing, the atmosphere created here is top notch. the whole film has a VERY Halloween feel to it. It helps that the film takes place on Halloween, the Firefly clan are strong Halloween enthusiasts, and that the cast resemble a bunch of crazed carnies. This is a world I wouldn't mind stepping into for a while.

The kills witnessed here are nothing to shake a stick at. While it's not too hard to enjoy all the blood-letting to be found in the film, in the end it's sure to leave most with a bad aftertaste. After all, the audiences role in the big picture is that of Voyeurs and aren't we just as guilty as the sadists in the film if we revel in their acts of violence?


In the end, I love how unapologetic this film is, the atmosphere created here, and the sick characters that are put on display. The films not afraid to be what it wants to be, critics and general audiences be damned. It's refreshing to see such an original take on the Halloween film, and while it is obviously inspired by Tobe Hoopers Texas Chainsaw Massacre, it's still much more fun than the former. So, if you're into blood, violence, and freaks of nature...the House of 1000 Corpses is just about guaranteed to be the film for you.

4.5/5 Stars

Be sure to keep an eye out for Rainn Wilson, who got his start here.

BEETLE'S HALLOWEEN FRIGHT FEST HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN!!!! BE SURE TO KEEP A WEATHER EYE OUT FOR MORE SCARY GOOD REVIEWS.

DEAD POETS SOCIETY

I'm sorry to say that Beetle's Halloween Fright Fest has been momentarily delayed for the time being, so instead of bringing you all the first Halloween themed review I will instead review one of my all time favorite films: Dead Poets Society.

Dead Poets Society takes place in a prestigious Prepatory School during the 1950's. It follows the lives of seven students as; inspired by their new english teacher and his unorthadox methods; they each take measures to make their lives extraordinary. They each start out as fairly happy students, but like all human beings deep down inside they are unsatisfied with the unfulfilling lives they are living without even realizing it. When their Prep school; Welton Academy; hires a new english teacher in the form of John Keating (Robin Williams) their lives change forever as Keating urges the students to Carpe Diem-Seize The Day.

Williams delivers an inspired performance in the unforgettable role of John Keating, the inspired mentor, muse, and teacher of the students. Recognizing how unsatisfied the students are with their lives and how important it is that they each find their own voice before it is too late, he employs a variety of unique teaching methods to get them to begin thinking for themselves for a change (Including an inspired sequence where he encourages the students to stand on their desk which comes back into play later on in the film). His famous mantra: "Cape Diem- Seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary", his first lecture about the ultimate mortality of men, and the closing scene will forever go down in movie history as some of the most memorable moments in film ever.

Not to be overlooked are the students themselves. There's Neil Perry (Robert Sean Leonard), a young man crushed by the strong hold his father has over his life. There's Todd Anderson (Ethan Hawke), The quiet Freshman who's struggling to find his own voice and who fears that if he makes an effort to try and stand out it could end with him being branded a failure. There's Charlie Dalton aka Nuwanda (Gale Hansen), a lively boy that is the first to take Keatings words a little too litterally. There's Knox Overstreet (Josh Charles), a starry eyed hopeful who sets his eyes on a young girl and decides to attempt to steal her away from her jerkish jock boyfriend. There's also Richard Cameron (Dylan Kussman), a weasly kid that is reluctant to follow Keatings new teaching methods. Let's not forget about the rest of the students: Steven Meeks (Allelon Ruggiero), and Gerard Pitts (James Waterston). Together, this group of students are so inspired by Keating that they decide to re-form Keatings old club, The Dead Poets Society. When tragedy ultimately befalls this new club, the head of Welton Academy takes charge to disasterous effect.

Dead Poets Society is about as perfect as it can get, the films stunning cinematography including landscape shots of the Academy and it's surrounding environment is sure to drop a few jaws. It's themes about individuality and non-conformist beliefs left a permanent mark on my psyche when I first viewed it at the young age of sixteen. Ever since then it has remained one of my favorite films of all time, Carpe Diem, Oh Captain My Captain, and that unforgettable closing scene forever entwined in my memory.

With a well rounded cast lead by Robin Williams at his best, a beautiful story, a great setting, and several inspiring themes; Dead Poets Society isn't just strongly recomended viewing, it's absolutley required that this film be seen because it's ultimate message could change your life IF you let it.

5/5 STRONG BETTER THAN SEX

BEETLE'S HALLOWEEN FRIGHTFEST WILL RESUME LATER THIS WEEK WITH A REVIEW OF MY SOUL TO TAKE.

BEETLE CONJOURS UP SOME SCARES THIS HALLOWEEN

WELCOME MY CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT...TO BEETLEJUICE'S HALLOWEEN FRIGHT FEST


I'm sure you've all noticed that vibe that begins to creep up on you at this time of year. It's that feeling you get when you feel that someone is watching you, It's why you hesitate to turn your lights off at night, it's what makes you hug your covers closer to your shivering body. IT IS OFFICIALLY OCTOBER...THE SEASON OF FEAR!!!! When the clock strickes Midnight on All Hallows Eve my friends will be unleasehed unto this Earth to wreak their own special brand of Havoc.

To prepare for this momentous occasion I'm going to attempt to see every Horror themed film that comes out this month, review more halloween films of the past, bring you all the details from my HHN Trip Report (The Icon for this year is FEAR HIMSELF...sounds promising), and possibly post a list of the best Horror films of ALL TIME!!!!

So Stay tuned for more halloween themed updates...trust me...you WON'T want to miss this one.

LET BEETLE'S HALLOWEEN FRIGHT FEST BEGIN!!!!

BEETLE GETS SUCKED INTO THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Who ever thought that a movie about the creation of Facebook and the proceeding lawsuits concerning it would be so surprisingly great? Certainly not me. When word got out that a Facebook movie was being made most scoffed at the idea of it and mourned the death of creativity in the movie biz. Well, now those who do see this underated masterpiece will find themselves eating their own words.

The Social Network (or as I call it The Facebook Network) follows the story of college aged genius Mark Zuckerberg (Played brilliantly by Jesse Eisenberg, who appears to finally have broken out of his role as the other Michael Cera) and his lone friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield, who is also the new Peter Parker in the Spider-man reboot) as they both create the network we now know as Facebook. Justin Timberlake also makes a superb performance as the slimey Sean Parker, the broke creator of Napster that smells money to be made with Facebook and quickly befriends Mark and becomes a collaborater of the hit social site. Of course Mark ends up making quite a few mistakes as he bumbles his way through his new-found popularity, making decisions that angers his classmates and friends resulting in several lawsuits, which the film dutifully follows for the duration of its running time.

The Social Network is surprisingly more focused on the lawsuits than it is on the actual creation of Facebook. The film spends a good portion of its first half going into detail on how Facebook was conceptualized and how the different aspects of Facebook (The name, the relationship status, The Likes and Interests page) were thought up. For the rest of its 2 hr running time (The film moves at a surprisingly swift pace though) it focuses mainly on the 2 lawsuits that resulted from Facebook and features a number of lengthy flashbacks which explain how our characters got into this situation we see them in now.

Just about every performance found in this film is a strong one. Eisenberg is a vision as Mark Zuckerberg. He easily dissapears into the role. For once his character found here is not a pure funny guy. Mark is a well-meaning but flawed individual who can't understand why everyone is angry at him. He has several sarcastic quips throughout the film and it isn't hard to imagine why almost everyone dislikes him. Andrew Garfield is great as Marks best friend, Eduardo Saverin. Mark makes him the CFO of Facebook. Eduardo continually fights for his friend and tries to steer him onto the right path until, finally even he can't take it anymore leading to one of the best scenes in the entire film. Justin Timberlake also puts on the great performance; probably the best one of his career; as Sean Parker. He slithers into Marks life like the snake in the Garden of Eden, planting ideas into Marks head which eventually will make for problems that are addressed later on in the film. Timberlake is perfectly slimey, but also surprisingly likeable as the ultra-cool but also troublesome Parker.

Helping the actors with their roles is the superb script by Aaron Orkin. The lines whip by at a speedy pace and are so painfully witty that it left my head spinning every now and then at their grandeur. Their are some outstanding lines throughout the film, and some fantastic scenes as well, more than any film like this has a right to have. I can almost guarentee you that The Social Network will most likely run away with the Oscar for best Screenplay this year.

While most quickly assumed The Social Network to be a lame duck in the movie options of this fall, I am happy to report that against all odds the film has repeadetly proven itself to be quite the opposite. It's a beautiful work of art that any fan or member of Facebook should run out to see as soon as they can, because in a wierd way this is our story too.

4/5 stars FULL PRICE