Tonight, I've decided to switch things up and review a music video for a change, but not just ANY music video mind you....but the music video for Thriller.
For those of you not already in the know, I consider Thriller to be THE ULTIMATE Halloween song, and therefore the music video for Thriller must be the ultimate Halloween music video as well. It's actually directed by the great John Landis (of American Werewolf in London Fame). In the music video, Michael Jackson is taking his girlfriend to a horror movie, but she wimps out and leaves the theater. On the walk home, the dead begin to rise and Michael joins them. Together, they stalk his girlfriend as she runs for her life.
There's not much plot here, just a series of creepy, Halloween inspired events. It's clear that Michael has a love for Halloween, and for a 13 minute music video a strong, rich atmosphere is actually created and lots of fun is had. The main thing most people remember about this video is the break-dancing zombies led by Michael himself. The dance moves are great and infectious, and the song itself (while chopped into bits) is still superb. It's always a joy to watch Michael do his thing, and he pulls off his dance moves with enthusiasm and glee...he's the main reason this music video is so great and he's clearly into what he's doing here.
While I wasn't born in the 80's, I was still raised on this music video during the Halloween season, and if you're looking for a good Halloween short to watch to get you in the proper mood, Thriller easily fits that bill. Vincent Price even has an audio cameo, and he pulls off his role perfectly. Thriller is a Halloween fan's wet dream...it's just about perfect. After all these years the old saying still rings true, no mere mortal can resist the evil of the Thriller.
5 STARS- BETTER THAN SEX
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
MOVIES I LOVE: BACK TO THE FUTURE PART 2
"You did send me back to the future but I'm back, I'm back FROM the future."
Back To The Future may be the best film in the trilogy, but Back To The Future Part 2 will ALWAYS be my personal favorite. It was the film I watched the most when I was younger, and I can quote the movie pretty much line for line. It's one of the rare films where it's one classic scene and line after another. It's absolutely unforgettable.
This sequel is every bit as great as its predecessor. Back To The Future Part 2 is not so much concerned with themes of parent/child relations or having to know where you came from to know where you're going, making the wise choice to place the emphasis on time travel, that bad-ass flying Delorean, the mechanics of time travel, and pure adrenaline filled fun.
Back to The Future Part 2 picks up immediately where the first film left off, with Marty, Doc Brown, and Jennifer traveling into the future to fix a few things. While there, Marty picks up a Sports Almanac with the intent of making a few easy bucks when he gets back. Naturally, the Doc is furious when he finds this out and makes Marty leave it behind. During an unscheduled trip to Marty's future home, Old Biff steals the Almanac and the Delorean, traveling back to 1955 and leaving the Almanac in the hands of Young Biff, after which Old Biff returns to the future. With 1985 and beyond now altered into a true nightmarish state where Present Biff rules over Hill Valley and crime is rampant, Doc and Marty have to travel back to 1955 one last time to set things right.
One of the most famous parts of Back To The Future Part 2 is the beginning 2015 segment. This is where we are introduced to such nifty futuristic inventions like self-lacing Nike's and Hoverboards, both of which STILL HAVEN'T BEEN CREATED YET!!!! WHY???!!!!!!! It's surprising how much this future segment accurately predicted, from nostalgia for the 80's to even more-or-less Skype! It saddens me to think we are only two years away from 2015 now, and yet we still don't have flying time traveling Deloreans, Nike Air Mags (a fake product bearing the same name was released a few years ago, but they didn't self-lace so what the hell was the point?!), or Mattel Hoverboards (as with the Air Mags, Mattel did release movie accurate replica Hoverboards, but they didn't hover or even glide all that well so....WHAT THE HELL WAS THE POINT?!). Here's a note to all the current scientists out there right now: GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER AND MAKE US SOME OF THESE AWESOME PRODUCTS, LIKE NOW!
The nightmare 1985 segment is pretty neat, and the return to 1955 is cool as characters have to re-visit classic scenes from the first film without running into the past version of themselves or altering past events (because if the past selves saw the future selves it could lead to the end of the Universe as we know it, and if past events are altered past Marty would never get to travel back to 1955 and that in itself would cause a negative chain of reactions as well). Also, I love the final scene (as I'm sure you can tell by my carefully chosen quote at the beginning of this review). It's easily one of my top 5 favorite endings in film because it's so damn perfect and awesome, and it always gets me super pumped every time I watch it (although Part 3 is admittedly nowhere near as great as parts 1 and 2).
Now, as promised, let's take a look at that nifty flying time traveling Delorean. In Part 2, the Delorean can fly and naturally this comes in handy quite a lot. The Delorean is no longer relegated to the back seat, getting its chance to finally shine and become it's very own character. Yes, it has a huge part to play here and the way it's arc finally comes to an end in Part 3 absolutely breaks me into a million tiny pieces. It's undoubtedly the most iconic and coolest car in film, and for very good reason.
Back To The Future Part 2 is significantly darker than it's predecessor, and there's nothing wrong with that (what, did you really want a carbon copy of the first film? Didn't think so). There's still A LOT at stake here (Marty's future isn't the only thing on the line here....but the future of Doc, Hill Valley, and much much more....the stakes have been upped). New character arcs are also introduced here that aren't fully completed until a whole film later, and neat little character touches have been added.
I've never been able to understand why so many people have shunned Part 2. I've seen it quite literally millions of times and I always find something new to enjoy here, whether it's the original and creative story structure, the darker tone, or the choice to focus more so on fun and adventure this time around. No matter how you cut it, Back To The Future Part 2 is a thrilling and exciting time travel epic that is worth several hundred repeat viewings. It never gets old.
5 STARS- BETTER THAN SEX
Back To The Future may be the best film in the trilogy, but Back To The Future Part 2 will ALWAYS be my personal favorite. It was the film I watched the most when I was younger, and I can quote the movie pretty much line for line. It's one of the rare films where it's one classic scene and line after another. It's absolutely unforgettable.
This sequel is every bit as great as its predecessor. Back To The Future Part 2 is not so much concerned with themes of parent/child relations or having to know where you came from to know where you're going, making the wise choice to place the emphasis on time travel, that bad-ass flying Delorean, the mechanics of time travel, and pure adrenaline filled fun.
Back to The Future Part 2 picks up immediately where the first film left off, with Marty, Doc Brown, and Jennifer traveling into the future to fix a few things. While there, Marty picks up a Sports Almanac with the intent of making a few easy bucks when he gets back. Naturally, the Doc is furious when he finds this out and makes Marty leave it behind. During an unscheduled trip to Marty's future home, Old Biff steals the Almanac and the Delorean, traveling back to 1955 and leaving the Almanac in the hands of Young Biff, after which Old Biff returns to the future. With 1985 and beyond now altered into a true nightmarish state where Present Biff rules over Hill Valley and crime is rampant, Doc and Marty have to travel back to 1955 one last time to set things right.
One of the most famous parts of Back To The Future Part 2 is the beginning 2015 segment. This is where we are introduced to such nifty futuristic inventions like self-lacing Nike's and Hoverboards, both of which STILL HAVEN'T BEEN CREATED YET!!!! WHY???!!!!!!! It's surprising how much this future segment accurately predicted, from nostalgia for the 80's to even more-or-less Skype! It saddens me to think we are only two years away from 2015 now, and yet we still don't have flying time traveling Deloreans, Nike Air Mags (a fake product bearing the same name was released a few years ago, but they didn't self-lace so what the hell was the point?!), or Mattel Hoverboards (as with the Air Mags, Mattel did release movie accurate replica Hoverboards, but they didn't hover or even glide all that well so....WHAT THE HELL WAS THE POINT?!). Here's a note to all the current scientists out there right now: GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER AND MAKE US SOME OF THESE AWESOME PRODUCTS, LIKE NOW!
The nightmare 1985 segment is pretty neat, and the return to 1955 is cool as characters have to re-visit classic scenes from the first film without running into the past version of themselves or altering past events (because if the past selves saw the future selves it could lead to the end of the Universe as we know it, and if past events are altered past Marty would never get to travel back to 1955 and that in itself would cause a negative chain of reactions as well). Also, I love the final scene (as I'm sure you can tell by my carefully chosen quote at the beginning of this review). It's easily one of my top 5 favorite endings in film because it's so damn perfect and awesome, and it always gets me super pumped every time I watch it (although Part 3 is admittedly nowhere near as great as parts 1 and 2).
Now, as promised, let's take a look at that nifty flying time traveling Delorean. In Part 2, the Delorean can fly and naturally this comes in handy quite a lot. The Delorean is no longer relegated to the back seat, getting its chance to finally shine and become it's very own character. Yes, it has a huge part to play here and the way it's arc finally comes to an end in Part 3 absolutely breaks me into a million tiny pieces. It's undoubtedly the most iconic and coolest car in film, and for very good reason.
Back To The Future Part 2 is significantly darker than it's predecessor, and there's nothing wrong with that (what, did you really want a carbon copy of the first film? Didn't think so). There's still A LOT at stake here (Marty's future isn't the only thing on the line here....but the future of Doc, Hill Valley, and much much more....the stakes have been upped). New character arcs are also introduced here that aren't fully completed until a whole film later, and neat little character touches have been added.
I've never been able to understand why so many people have shunned Part 2. I've seen it quite literally millions of times and I always find something new to enjoy here, whether it's the original and creative story structure, the darker tone, or the choice to focus more so on fun and adventure this time around. No matter how you cut it, Back To The Future Part 2 is a thrilling and exciting time travel epic that is worth several hundred repeat viewings. It never gets old.
5 STARS- BETTER THAN SEX
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST: WALT DISNEY'S THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW
Welcome back friends. Today, I take a glimpse back at one of Walt Disney's classic short films.
Ever since I was young, I have been fascinated by the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which is the story of mild mannered dweebish school teacher Ichabod Crane, his love Katrina Van Tassle, the town bully Bram Bones and that ever mysterious figure: The Headless Horseman. Now, many have tried to adapt this classic fable into film form, and in my own personal opinion the only one that really gets it right is Walt Disney's classic version.
It basically sticks to the story and characters. Ichabod is likable here, but it's hard to see why anyone would be so infatuated by him like this version explicitly states. It seems like all the women are fawning over him, which has always confused me. He is portrayed to be good on his feet and very smooth and actually kind of suave, which is also very surprising. He has his eye on Katrina Van Tassle, and finds himself competing with the handsome jokester, Bram Bones for her hand in marriage. Ichabod is also a very superstitious fellow, and it is this stubborn belief and adherence to superstition that may just be his downfall.
I was surprised to learn that this version is actually a musical (groan), and is actually pretty upbeat and goofy for most of it's run time....however, once it hits the 23 minute mark is when we FINALLY enter into the crux of the legend and some real Halloween territory. This is where Ichabod enters the creepy forest and has his fateful encounter with The Headless Horseman.
The Headless Horseman is an iconic character, and he is handled extremely well here. His animation design is gorgeous and scary, and the woods where he resides have a dark, creepy, Halloween-y type atmosphere and design to them. It's this final 9 minutes which is the sole reason to ever give this flick a view. It's decidedly un-Disney, and breathtakingly dark (though, naturally a few brief moments of goofiness is thrown in to help calm younger ones....not too much to throw this part off-balance though).
There has still yet to be a truly great film adaptation of the Sleepy Hollow legend, but the Walt Disney version comes closest we may ever get to receiving a good version of the tale. It's the beautifully realized Horseman here and the final 9 minutes in which he resides that elevates this short little film above your typical Disney cartoon. If you don't have time for goofiness, just skip ahead to minute 23 and enjoy.
3 STARS
Ever since I was young, I have been fascinated by the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which is the story of mild mannered dweebish school teacher Ichabod Crane, his love Katrina Van Tassle, the town bully Bram Bones and that ever mysterious figure: The Headless Horseman. Now, many have tried to adapt this classic fable into film form, and in my own personal opinion the only one that really gets it right is Walt Disney's classic version.
It basically sticks to the story and characters. Ichabod is likable here, but it's hard to see why anyone would be so infatuated by him like this version explicitly states. It seems like all the women are fawning over him, which has always confused me. He is portrayed to be good on his feet and very smooth and actually kind of suave, which is also very surprising. He has his eye on Katrina Van Tassle, and finds himself competing with the handsome jokester, Bram Bones for her hand in marriage. Ichabod is also a very superstitious fellow, and it is this stubborn belief and adherence to superstition that may just be his downfall.
I was surprised to learn that this version is actually a musical (groan), and is actually pretty upbeat and goofy for most of it's run time....however, once it hits the 23 minute mark is when we FINALLY enter into the crux of the legend and some real Halloween territory. This is where Ichabod enters the creepy forest and has his fateful encounter with The Headless Horseman.
The Headless Horseman is an iconic character, and he is handled extremely well here. His animation design is gorgeous and scary, and the woods where he resides have a dark, creepy, Halloween-y type atmosphere and design to them. It's this final 9 minutes which is the sole reason to ever give this flick a view. It's decidedly un-Disney, and breathtakingly dark (though, naturally a few brief moments of goofiness is thrown in to help calm younger ones....not too much to throw this part off-balance though).
There has still yet to be a truly great film adaptation of the Sleepy Hollow legend, but the Walt Disney version comes closest we may ever get to receiving a good version of the tale. It's the beautifully realized Horseman here and the final 9 minutes in which he resides that elevates this short little film above your typical Disney cartoon. If you don't have time for goofiness, just skip ahead to minute 23 and enjoy.
3 STARS
Monday, October 7, 2013
SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST: CURSE OF CHUCKY
The Chuck is back......but do we really need him to be?
I am a pretty big fan of the lovable psychotic killer Good Guy doll we all know as Chucky. He had a good run for 4 films, but then Seed of Chucky came along. Suddenly, it seemed as if the Chucky franchise had run its course. Of course, somebody couldn't let that happen and Curse of Chucky was made, as if in an attempt to prove that there is still life left in this franchise. Naturally, this film does otherwise.
In Curse of Chucky, Chucky winds up with a new family that he actually has a personal history with and old debts he wants to settle. This is actually a personal film for the Chuck, but that doesn't mean it's any better than it's previous outing.
Fiona Douriff, Brad Douriff's real life daughter, stars as wheelchair bound Nica who acts as the more-or-less heroine of this film. She does an admirable job, but doesn't really leave much of an impression. The film does have some fun with the fact that she can't feel her legs, but besides this there ain't nothing that great about her character.
Of course, Brad Douriff returns as Chucky and is easily the best part of this film. He's just as great as we remember him being, and is really the only reason to see this film. He is given tons of really great one-liners and is the only character we really care about. I was surprised to find myself actually rooting for Chuck to win this battle, and the way this film ends actually pleased me a bit (there are a few parts of the ending I didn't care for but as a whole, it could have been A LOT worse).
One thing that really bothered me about this film was all the retarded drama the film makers injected into it. The whole film is filled with stupid family drama we don't care about, characters that aren't given any depth and that we also don't care about, and the history Chuck shares with this family feels crow-bared in and forced. It actually takes 44 minutes of build-up till the big reveal that OH-MY-GOSH Chucky can actually talk and is killing people! You'd think by the 6th outing we wouldn't need build-up, false jump scares, and people dying off-screen by Chucky's hands (to build suspense). By now, we should be able to jump right into the action, but apparently this film thinks otherwise.
There is one scene of lame CGI for Chucky, but the rest of Chucky's scenes are handled by good old fashioned animatronics. The animatronics for Chucky are actually pretty damned good and believable, being at least on par with the animatronics used in the other films. Chucky's effects are handled in an interesting way as the film sometimes cuts to above tracking shots of him where an actor wearing a red wig is subbed in for the doll. While it's not the most impressive effect, it's nice to see this film try to be a little clever and switch things up a bit. another disappointing thing about this film are the kills sampled in it. They are not all that impressive or creative, and the blood and gore effects are just kind of meh. I was hoping for better, but no such luck (also, don't expect any nudity...even though the Chuck films haven't been known for their nudity really).
Curse of Chucky is a film that is trying to revitalize the character of Chucky, mainly by adding the horror aspect of the original three films back into this one....except it's just not scary. This outing tries to blend the old Chuck with the new Chuck, and it's not a completely successful mixture to be honest. Chuck is still ever the comedian, but this film is from the perspective of Nica and Chuck is back to being the villain again (whereas with the previous two films he was more of an anti-hero. The ironic thing is with Bride and Seed, I still didn't want to see him succeed in his efforts, and now when he's back to being a villain I find myself rooting for him for the first time).
It can not be denied any longer, Curse of Chucky is a stupid film. In trying to make a film that proved that the Chucky films still had steam, the film makers instead proved exactly the opposite. The Chucky films are a tired set, and I think they may need to go to sleep for a very long time, or at least until someone has an idea about how to properly use this character. A direct-to-dvd sequel would never have been able to revitalize these dying films. If anything, at least this film proves that Chucky is still a great character, it reminded me how much I really do love the Chuck, so it's not all bad I guess. I know that there is a way to renew the public interest in this character, I know that there is someone out there who has some great, original ideas for how to handle the Chucky character....unfortunately this is not that film and these filmmakers are not those people. It's not hard to see why this film got a direct-to-dvd release. I look forward to the day when Chucky can be back where he belongs, on the big screen in a good film.....we may just have to wait a while until this happens. I guess Curse of Chucky is worth a watch for the character of Chucky alone, but don't expect anything good to be surrounding him in this one. I'd say maybe it's worth a rental from Redbox if you're curious....just don't expect much.
2 STARS
Sidenote: While, once again, this film is far from being a good film, it is a notch or half-notch above Seed of Chucky. Also, be sure to stay after the credits for a scene with Andy. While it does directly contradict what we saw in the actual ending for Curse of Chucky (the 2nd ending does take place 6 months after Curse of Chucky, so I guess anything could have happened in that time), it's still good to see Andy back, and portrayed by the very same actor who was Andy in the first 2 Child Play films. Excuse me while I have a nerd-gasm! Why can't we get another film with Andy and Chucky dueling it out?
I am a pretty big fan of the lovable psychotic killer Good Guy doll we all know as Chucky. He had a good run for 4 films, but then Seed of Chucky came along. Suddenly, it seemed as if the Chucky franchise had run its course. Of course, somebody couldn't let that happen and Curse of Chucky was made, as if in an attempt to prove that there is still life left in this franchise. Naturally, this film does otherwise.
In Curse of Chucky, Chucky winds up with a new family that he actually has a personal history with and old debts he wants to settle. This is actually a personal film for the Chuck, but that doesn't mean it's any better than it's previous outing.
Fiona Douriff, Brad Douriff's real life daughter, stars as wheelchair bound Nica who acts as the more-or-less heroine of this film. She does an admirable job, but doesn't really leave much of an impression. The film does have some fun with the fact that she can't feel her legs, but besides this there ain't nothing that great about her character.
Of course, Brad Douriff returns as Chucky and is easily the best part of this film. He's just as great as we remember him being, and is really the only reason to see this film. He is given tons of really great one-liners and is the only character we really care about. I was surprised to find myself actually rooting for Chuck to win this battle, and the way this film ends actually pleased me a bit (there are a few parts of the ending I didn't care for but as a whole, it could have been A LOT worse).
One thing that really bothered me about this film was all the retarded drama the film makers injected into it. The whole film is filled with stupid family drama we don't care about, characters that aren't given any depth and that we also don't care about, and the history Chuck shares with this family feels crow-bared in and forced. It actually takes 44 minutes of build-up till the big reveal that OH-MY-GOSH Chucky can actually talk and is killing people! You'd think by the 6th outing we wouldn't need build-up, false jump scares, and people dying off-screen by Chucky's hands (to build suspense). By now, we should be able to jump right into the action, but apparently this film thinks otherwise.
There is one scene of lame CGI for Chucky, but the rest of Chucky's scenes are handled by good old fashioned animatronics. The animatronics for Chucky are actually pretty damned good and believable, being at least on par with the animatronics used in the other films. Chucky's effects are handled in an interesting way as the film sometimes cuts to above tracking shots of him where an actor wearing a red wig is subbed in for the doll. While it's not the most impressive effect, it's nice to see this film try to be a little clever and switch things up a bit. another disappointing thing about this film are the kills sampled in it. They are not all that impressive or creative, and the blood and gore effects are just kind of meh. I was hoping for better, but no such luck (also, don't expect any nudity...even though the Chuck films haven't been known for their nudity really).
Curse of Chucky is a film that is trying to revitalize the character of Chucky, mainly by adding the horror aspect of the original three films back into this one....except it's just not scary. This outing tries to blend the old Chuck with the new Chuck, and it's not a completely successful mixture to be honest. Chuck is still ever the comedian, but this film is from the perspective of Nica and Chuck is back to being the villain again (whereas with the previous two films he was more of an anti-hero. The ironic thing is with Bride and Seed, I still didn't want to see him succeed in his efforts, and now when he's back to being a villain I find myself rooting for him for the first time).
It can not be denied any longer, Curse of Chucky is a stupid film. In trying to make a film that proved that the Chucky films still had steam, the film makers instead proved exactly the opposite. The Chucky films are a tired set, and I think they may need to go to sleep for a very long time, or at least until someone has an idea about how to properly use this character. A direct-to-dvd sequel would never have been able to revitalize these dying films. If anything, at least this film proves that Chucky is still a great character, it reminded me how much I really do love the Chuck, so it's not all bad I guess. I know that there is a way to renew the public interest in this character, I know that there is someone out there who has some great, original ideas for how to handle the Chucky character....unfortunately this is not that film and these filmmakers are not those people. It's not hard to see why this film got a direct-to-dvd release. I look forward to the day when Chucky can be back where he belongs, on the big screen in a good film.....we may just have to wait a while until this happens. I guess Curse of Chucky is worth a watch for the character of Chucky alone, but don't expect anything good to be surrounding him in this one. I'd say maybe it's worth a rental from Redbox if you're curious....just don't expect much.
2 STARS
Sidenote: While, once again, this film is far from being a good film, it is a notch or half-notch above Seed of Chucky. Also, be sure to stay after the credits for a scene with Andy. While it does directly contradict what we saw in the actual ending for Curse of Chucky (the 2nd ending does take place 6 months after Curse of Chucky, so I guess anything could have happened in that time), it's still good to see Andy back, and portrayed by the very same actor who was Andy in the first 2 Child Play films. Excuse me while I have a nerd-gasm! Why can't we get another film with Andy and Chucky dueling it out?
SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST: THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS
For this edition of my Fright Fest, we re-visit one of the more well known and popular horror directors, Wes Craven. Now, Craven is popular for his Scream films, the first Nightmare on Elm Street, and New Nightmare....however, I really don't consider him to be that great of a director. I've sampled a lot of his films, and for the most part they tend to range from mediocre to just plain terrible with a few exceptions here or there. The People Under The Stairs is one of those happy exceptions. It's a film that should have been terrible, but somehow Craven stumbled into yet another successful, fun and memorable film.
People Under The Stairs follows young Fool (Brandon Quinten Adams), who is coerced into robbing a house when he finds that his mother is ailing and doesn't have enough money to get better or pay the rent. The house he is told to rob houses a mother (Wendie Robie), a father (Everett McGill), their daughter Alice (A.J. Langer), and a dirty secret that lies in the basement. Fool stumbles upon the surprising truth, and realizes that everything isn't always as it seems. The job falls upon him to set things right....but can he?
The characters of Mommy and Daddy (as they are called in the film), are pretty disturbing and absolutely nuts. Both Wendie Robie and Everett McGill put on superb performances that make you laugh but also succeed in making you a bit uncomfortable. A.J. Langer as Wendy is also pretty great and beautiful. Brandon Quinten Adams holds his own surprisingly well as Fool. By far, my own personal favorite character is Roach, as portrayed by Sean Whalen. He is one of the people under the stairs, but is a complete bad-ass. He kind of resembles a slightly older version of the boy who never grew up and while he isn't in the film for very long he certainly makes a lasting impression.
People Under The Stairs is not a scary movie, it's not even really horror when you stop to think about it. It's more so suspense than anything else, however it is tons of insane fun. The film is pure B movie magic. The lines are hilarious and memorable, the characters are crazy, and I really dig how they twist things up a bit. In this film, it's the people that at first glance appear normal that are actually deranged lunatics, and it's the people that at first glance appear crazy that end up being victims, innocents and the heroes. It's a welcome twist that I absolutely love.
I'm going to keep this review short so that I don't ruin the film for all of you who haven't seen it yet and let's face it...I've already said too much as it is so I'll end this review like so: The People Under The Stairs has lots of little treats for you to munch on. It's a bat-shit insane film that continually ups the insanity until the explosive finale where shit gets real in a good way. This is one of Craven's better films, and while it certainly isn't great it sure is lots of fun and very memorable. I'm gonna say give it a watch.
3.5 STARS
People Under The Stairs follows young Fool (Brandon Quinten Adams), who is coerced into robbing a house when he finds that his mother is ailing and doesn't have enough money to get better or pay the rent. The house he is told to rob houses a mother (Wendie Robie), a father (Everett McGill), their daughter Alice (A.J. Langer), and a dirty secret that lies in the basement. Fool stumbles upon the surprising truth, and realizes that everything isn't always as it seems. The job falls upon him to set things right....but can he?
The characters of Mommy and Daddy (as they are called in the film), are pretty disturbing and absolutely nuts. Both Wendie Robie and Everett McGill put on superb performances that make you laugh but also succeed in making you a bit uncomfortable. A.J. Langer as Wendy is also pretty great and beautiful. Brandon Quinten Adams holds his own surprisingly well as Fool. By far, my own personal favorite character is Roach, as portrayed by Sean Whalen. He is one of the people under the stairs, but is a complete bad-ass. He kind of resembles a slightly older version of the boy who never grew up and while he isn't in the film for very long he certainly makes a lasting impression.
People Under The Stairs is not a scary movie, it's not even really horror when you stop to think about it. It's more so suspense than anything else, however it is tons of insane fun. The film is pure B movie magic. The lines are hilarious and memorable, the characters are crazy, and I really dig how they twist things up a bit. In this film, it's the people that at first glance appear normal that are actually deranged lunatics, and it's the people that at first glance appear crazy that end up being victims, innocents and the heroes. It's a welcome twist that I absolutely love.
I'm going to keep this review short so that I don't ruin the film for all of you who haven't seen it yet and let's face it...I've already said too much as it is so I'll end this review like so: The People Under The Stairs has lots of little treats for you to munch on. It's a bat-shit insane film that continually ups the insanity until the explosive finale where shit gets real in a good way. This is one of Craven's better films, and while it certainly isn't great it sure is lots of fun and very memorable. I'm gonna say give it a watch.
3.5 STARS
Friday, October 4, 2013
SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST: GHOSTBUSTERS
WHO YA GONNA CALL?!
Ghostbusters and I have a rich history. It was one of my favorite films when I was a young child (and I do mean young, like elementary school young), and it's still one of my favorite films today. I literally grew up with this film, and have fond memories of it. So, naturally it felt good to re-visit it for the Halloween season and it only seems fitting that Ghostbusters be the first Fright Fest film review for this year.
In Ghostbusters, amateur paranormal investigators Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Dr. Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) lose their cozy gig at a university and so decide to go into business for themselves, creating a ghost catchers group for hire named Ghostbusters. Together with new partner Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) they set out to rid NYC of all ghostly activity, while trying to stay ahead of nosy EPA agent Walter Peck (William Atherton). Soon enough, the Ghostbusters realize that NYC and the Earth is on a collision course with Gozer, an ancient Sumerian God that has some big nasty plans for humanity, and the Ghostbusters may be the only ones who can stop him. Along for the chaos is Venkman's crush Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) and her next door neighbor Louis Tully (Rick Moranis).
Naturally the standout of the cast is the phenomenal Bill Murray as the always cool under pressure Peter Venkman. It's always fun to watch his reactions to events and interactions with other characters, and he's got most of the best lines in the film ("Back off man, I'm a scientist"). That isn't to say though, that all the other actors don't do a good job. Each actor is perfectly cast, from Sigourney Weaver who is gifted with one of her best roles, to Dan Aykroyd who is perfect as the geeky kid at heart, to Harold Ramis who is goofy fun as the devoted nerd of the group, even to William Atherton who is unforgettable as the human villain here. All do superb jobs as classic characters that are instantly unforgettable.
There are no real deeper themes here, Ghostbusters is nothing more than pure, supernatural, ass-kicking fun. I do love the mythology created for the Gozer role, and the atmosphere created in the film is pretty damned cool. While the film is extremely funny, it is also surprisingly creepy at times as well (I remember this film freaked me out a good deal when I first saw it, and at times it still does today). Ghostbusters manages to balance both humor and scares, with not one element outweighing the other. This gives the film a unique tone that I can't say I've ever seen anywhere else before. Many other films have tried to capitalize on and replicate Ghostbusters (even the failed attempt at a sequel), and none have succeeded.
The ghosts found within the film are also quite memorable (Slimer anyone?), and most of the effects still hold up fairly well (all except for the demon dog that chases Tully thru the streets, only real terrible effect in the film.) The Proton Packs and Ghostbusters outfits are just as cool as I remember them being. By far though, the one thing that most people think of first when they hear Ghostbusters is most likely that most jolly of sailors, The Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man. While it's clear that it's really just a man in a costume, it's surprisingly easy to suspend your disbelief and just go with it. His grand reveal is still every bit as amazing as it used to be, and it never ceases to amuse me as he goes about causing untold amounts of destruction all while wearing that ridiculous grin on his face. The final rooftop battle featuring Gozer and Sta-Puft is still one of the best climaxes in film history, and for good reason.
Ghostbusters has easily earned it's classic status, and it's one it definitely deserves. It's freaky, funny, and also insanely fun. I must have seen this film well over a dozen times, and it still never gets old. Ghostbusters is a real treat that is fun to watch and re-watch anytime, and not just during the Halloween season.
5 STARS
Also: And who doesn't LOVE that theme song?
Ghostbusters and I have a rich history. It was one of my favorite films when I was a young child (and I do mean young, like elementary school young), and it's still one of my favorite films today. I literally grew up with this film, and have fond memories of it. So, naturally it felt good to re-visit it for the Halloween season and it only seems fitting that Ghostbusters be the first Fright Fest film review for this year.
In Ghostbusters, amateur paranormal investigators Dr. Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), Dr. Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd), and Dr. Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) lose their cozy gig at a university and so decide to go into business for themselves, creating a ghost catchers group for hire named Ghostbusters. Together with new partner Winston Zeddmore (Ernie Hudson) they set out to rid NYC of all ghostly activity, while trying to stay ahead of nosy EPA agent Walter Peck (William Atherton). Soon enough, the Ghostbusters realize that NYC and the Earth is on a collision course with Gozer, an ancient Sumerian God that has some big nasty plans for humanity, and the Ghostbusters may be the only ones who can stop him. Along for the chaos is Venkman's crush Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver) and her next door neighbor Louis Tully (Rick Moranis).
Naturally the standout of the cast is the phenomenal Bill Murray as the always cool under pressure Peter Venkman. It's always fun to watch his reactions to events and interactions with other characters, and he's got most of the best lines in the film ("Back off man, I'm a scientist"). That isn't to say though, that all the other actors don't do a good job. Each actor is perfectly cast, from Sigourney Weaver who is gifted with one of her best roles, to Dan Aykroyd who is perfect as the geeky kid at heart, to Harold Ramis who is goofy fun as the devoted nerd of the group, even to William Atherton who is unforgettable as the human villain here. All do superb jobs as classic characters that are instantly unforgettable.
There are no real deeper themes here, Ghostbusters is nothing more than pure, supernatural, ass-kicking fun. I do love the mythology created for the Gozer role, and the atmosphere created in the film is pretty damned cool. While the film is extremely funny, it is also surprisingly creepy at times as well (I remember this film freaked me out a good deal when I first saw it, and at times it still does today). Ghostbusters manages to balance both humor and scares, with not one element outweighing the other. This gives the film a unique tone that I can't say I've ever seen anywhere else before. Many other films have tried to capitalize on and replicate Ghostbusters (even the failed attempt at a sequel), and none have succeeded.
The ghosts found within the film are also quite memorable (Slimer anyone?), and most of the effects still hold up fairly well (all except for the demon dog that chases Tully thru the streets, only real terrible effect in the film.) The Proton Packs and Ghostbusters outfits are just as cool as I remember them being. By far though, the one thing that most people think of first when they hear Ghostbusters is most likely that most jolly of sailors, The Sta-Puft Marshmallow Man. While it's clear that it's really just a man in a costume, it's surprisingly easy to suspend your disbelief and just go with it. His grand reveal is still every bit as amazing as it used to be, and it never ceases to amuse me as he goes about causing untold amounts of destruction all while wearing that ridiculous grin on his face. The final rooftop battle featuring Gozer and Sta-Puft is still one of the best climaxes in film history, and for good reason.
Ghostbusters has easily earned it's classic status, and it's one it definitely deserves. It's freaky, funny, and also insanely fun. I must have seen this film well over a dozen times, and it still never gets old. Ghostbusters is a real treat that is fun to watch and re-watch anytime, and not just during the Halloween season.
5 STARS
Also: And who doesn't LOVE that theme song?
SMALLS' FRIGHT FEST: THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 3
I would suggest you watch Season 3 FIRST (if you haven't already), before reading this article.
I've never been a huge fan of AMC's The Walking Dead, a tv show about zombies, survivors, and what it takes to hold onto your humanity as the world falls apart. The first two seasons were interesting, and the show became known for it's surprise kills of popular characters. I'll admit I did enjoy the first 2 seasons, but it's in the show's third season where The Walking Dead finally gets significantly better.
I've never been a huge fan of AMC's The Walking Dead, a tv show about zombies, survivors, and what it takes to hold onto your humanity as the world falls apart. The first two seasons were interesting, and the show became known for it's surprise kills of popular characters. I'll admit I did enjoy the first 2 seasons, but it's in the show's third season where The Walking Dead finally gets significantly better.
Like the seasons before it, Season 3 still focuses mainly on character drama with zombies occasionally interrupting the proceedings. The characterizations are still strong (Steven Yuen as Glenn, Norman Reedus as Daryl, and Andrew Lincoln as Rick are still my favs), and characters that used to be annoying really step it up, like Carl (Chandler Riggs), who becomes quite the bad-ass this season. However, the main reason this season rocked my couch so hard is because the main storyline this time around is that of a small, protected town named Woodbury and the mysterious man known as The Governor (David Morrissey) who runs the place.
The Governor is, in my opinion, the show's strongest character to date. He starts out likeable enough, but as the season treks onwards more of his true character is revealed until we are left with vastly different feelings towards him. The Governor starts out as a nice guy, is slowly revealed to be bad but with understandable intentions, then he goes nuts and becomes a complete monster. David Morrissey does a top notch performance as the unhinged Governor, giving him more than enough layers so he's not your typical bad guy. His arc is pretty thrilling, and it would seem that we may get more of his story in the 4th season.
The Governor's arc, also becomes Woodbury's. The town of Woodbury on the outside seems like a utopia in the middle of a zombie wasteland. It's well protected by a bunch of military wanna-be's (who are also run by The Governor. With military types involved this time around you would expect a lot of gun play and action scenes, and luckily we get more then our fair share of this, thank God!), it seems peaceful and happy, and people generally tend to live longer in the town. However, there is a mystery surrounding the town and it's citizens and the town continually morphs and degrades throughout the season until it is a pretty scary place. In a way, Woodbury is an extension of The Governor and his psyche: On the outside it seems well-meaning and peaceful, but underneath it's dark, violent, and mysterious.
The 2nd arc of the story is that of Rick and his group, who have taken over a prison which at first glance seems to be a safe reprieve, but holds more than it's fair share of dangers and challenges inside. This arc is fairly interesting, but The Woodbury/Governor arc is so much stronger and engaging that every time the show switched back to the prison I was left anxiously waiting for Woodbury or The Governor to come back. In a way, the strength of the Woodbury/Governor arc can be counted as a weakness because it outshines most everything else this season.
The show also introduced a few new, notable characters including Michonne (Dania Gurira), Milton (Dallas Roberts), and Tyreese (Chad L. Coleman) and his small group. Michonne is a katana weilding woman who seems to be fairly intense and is a tough person to read, Milton is the scientific adviser and friend to the Governor (Milton gets a small but fun and satisfying arc here, really loved his character), and Tyreese is the well-meaning and friendly leader of a tiny group that stumbles into the prison for a brief encounter with Rick and friends before journeying onward to Woodbury. It's clear that the show is nowhere near done with Michonne and Tyeese and his small group, and I'm looking forward to see what arcs they will be dealt in later seasons. We are also introduced once again to Merle (Michael Rooker), brother to Darryl. He has also holed up in Woodbury, and has become the unofficial leader of the wanna-be military that protects the town. Merle is an asshole, just like we remember him being, but is given a really good arc that has a great ending (could Merle be given a shot at redemption, you'll have to watch and see). There's also the re-introduction of Morgan from Season 1, and the way the show deals with his character is beautiful and so so so perfect.
While, there are still a few minor problems with this season (still a lot of drama, but you won't notice it as much since a good deal has to do with Woodbury and The Governor. Not a whole lot of zombie action, though what's there is satisfying enough I suppose. Not a lot of good surprise deaths here, so that's kind of disappointing), Season 3 of The Walking Dead is still the best season of this show so far, and with Season 4 seeming to tease the continuation of The Governor/Woodbury arc, let's hope that it's only going to get better from here on out.
4.5 STARS
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