After missing last year's HHN 26 (which I heard not too stellar things about), I made it a point to get my ass to Orlando to attend this year's event. Let me tell you, it felt like I had been away way longer than a year. It felt good to be "home". This year's event had a very loose theme and icon: The Festival of the Deadliest (which was never explained or elaborated upon), and The Soul Collectors (which were also never explained, elaborated upon or even really seen at the event). I've said this before many times, HHN doesn't need a strong over-arching theme or icon to be a great event and this year proved that. Let's start with scarezones.
SCAREZONES
The Purge
The Purge returns once again to HHN, taking it's rightful place in the streets of NYC. The zone was pretty much the same as the one from 2014 (There's still a live auction on top of a school bus, and a roving motorcycle gang and truck that kidnap "victims" for the auction), but with added props and costumes from The Purge: Election Year (light-covered cars, a bonus mini-stage, and a pretty groovy woodchipper used to dispose of spare body parts). I am a super-huge fan of The Purge franchise, and I always enjoy getting to immerse myself in that loony world. Not the best zone of the night, but a super-fun one that was always a joy to explore.
8/10
Invasion
Set in the area in front of the old Disaster building (which is to say the zone is pretty small), Aliens have landed on Earth. The military is fighting a losing battle, and have taken to cowering and running for their lives. The design of the aliens is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking, easily some of the best costumes and creature designs I've seen in all my years at HHN. There's also an impressive alien ship that has crash-landed in the middle of the zone. Not a scary zone at all, but always a joy to wander through the zone and marvel at the Aliens (They could experiment on me any day).
9/10
Trick 'r Treat
Universal originally waned to do this zone way back in 2008 (Which was the first year I ever attended the event), but sadly couldn't aquire the rights. Instead, they did The Skoolhouse, which was somewhat of a riff on the film (at least, on the haunted trick or treaters portion of it). This year, Universal finally nailed the rights to the film and got to do one of their passion projects. Based on the modern Halloween classic, Trick 'r Treat is set in the Central Park area. The whole zone is gorgeously decorated and designed, with a metric shit-ton of glowing jack o' lanterns high in the trees and a ghostly blue glow illuminating the whole zone. Numerous characters from the film wander around the zone (including the sexy werewolfs, Little Red Riding Hood, Old Mr. Kreeg, the murderous principal and his vomiting victim, numerous creepy trick or treaters, and Sam himself). Another zone that wasn't all that scary, but it was always fun to get to mingle with the characters in the zone and marvel at the atmosphere and theming. Trick 'r Treat perfectly utilized the Central Park zone in a way I haven't seen in years, so yeah, I was a pretty big fan.
9/10
Altars of Horror
Set in the Production Central area in between Shrek 4D and Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem, this zone got the short end of the stick. Utilizing minimal poor theming (Literally just a bunch of sign posts indicating which house the characters you are encountering are from), the zone is just a way to get to see spend some more time with the characters from the IP Houses close up (including Ash Vs. Evil Dead, AHS: Volume 2, The Shining, The Horrors of Blumhouse, and Saw: The Games of Jigsaw). I like that it acted as a way for the costume designers and makeup artists to show off some of their work, the zone just wasn't executed all that well.
3/10
Festival of The Deadliest
Set in the Hollywood area, this zone was supposed to act as the heart of HHN 27. There is a raging party going on, and we are invited....to die! The Festival of The Deadliest is an intriguing idea, but it was never fully elaborated upon (same with the creatures in the zone: sexy, gyrating strippers, antler-adorned women, and masked creepy killers armed with scythes and such). It was very fun to walk through the zone, and the theming was pretty nice, it was just hard to get a pulse on exactly who we were encountering and what was going on inside. That said, the scareactors in the zone got me the most I've ever been got in a zone at HHN. Just about every few seconds a scareactor managed to really startle or scare me, and one near the end wound up chasing me in circles for a good minute or two (which left me huffing, exhilarated, and out of breath. I wasn't so much running away as I was dancing around and away from her).
8/10
HOUSES
American Horror Story: Volume Two
Last year, HHN did their first ever house based on the hit horror tv show American Horror Story. It incorporated Season 1 (Murder house), Season 4 (Freak Show), and Season 4 (Hotel). This year, the powers that be decided to bring AHS back to HHN for round 2. This time, they used Season 2 (Asylum), Season 3 (Cult), and Season 5 (Roanoke). Seeing as the house used my two favorite seasons of the show (Asylum and Roanoke), I was pretty stoked to get to walk through this one (It wa also my first house of the night, yay!). Each of the seasons were very well represented, and each got a good amount of scenes. It really felt like you traveling through the entirety of each season. I loved that the facade used was that of Asylum. I also loved how all of Roanoke felt connected (You start out in the woods, and then travel through the secret underground passageway into the house. You even get to make a quick detour into the inbred hillbilly cannibal shack. You can bet I was screaming "Croatoan" at all of the scareactors in the Roanoke portion). We get to encounter numerous villains from each season, and even some of the supporting characters and stars (including Adam Levine, Bloodyface, Dr. Arthur Arden, Pepper, Sister Mary Eunice Mckee, Sister Jude Martin, The Chens, The Butcher, Edward Phillip Mott, Scathach, Mama Polk, and Cricket Marlowe). Very scary, very fun, very impressive.
10/10
The Shining
Universal took on quite a challenge when they decided to try to do justice to one of the scariest and most disturbing films of all time, The Shining, in one of their haunted houses. While the house wasn't much scary, it managed to impress the hell out of me. The facade is the entrance to The Overlook Hedge Maze, and after a twist and turn or two, we find ourselves inside The Overlook Hotel lobby. The attention to detail was great, and the whole house was incredibly well designed. While each room didn't necessarily connect to each other, it always felt like we were in The Overlook Hotel and stuck within famous scenes from the film itself. The Overlook Lobby, The Gold Room/Ball Room, The Bar (with Lloyd), The Grady Twins, Danny on his trike, Delbert Grady, The guy with blood running down his face while raising a toast, the bear man costume (minus fellatio), here's Johnny scene, dead Hollorann lying on the floor, elevators of blood, the shower lady, and the frozen Jack Nicholson (which is the last thing we see) were all great. I found the elevators of blood effect to be the most impressive. You basically watched through a window as literal jets and fountains of blood sprayed and flowed over and in front of the elevators and over the floor as well. The Jacks in the house looked a little weak with the bald caps they wore. Overall, I wasn't sure how well Universal would be able to pull off the house and do justice to the source material but they succeeded beautifully in what is one of the best houses in HHN history. Not scary, but super impressive and effective.
10/10
The Fallen
In The Fallen, we travel through a decaying, crumbling gothic cathedral overrun by demons. The original theme was supposed to be the battle between Heaven and Hell, but for whatever reason we never see any angels in the house...only demons (rumors seem to suggest that angels were left out so as not to offend anyone. Weird choice.). Anyways, the house is beautifully designed, with fantastic costumes and creature designs throughout. I loved the glowing embers of lava/fire throughout as well. I also loved the effects used to make some of the demons fly. The facade was gorgeous too. My favorite creatures were the first demon who looked like Satan (You bet I was screaming Hail Satan at him), the Bungee Demon that would pounce at you only to be pulled back by the bungee cord (what an effect), and the final demon that would fly over your head. A very cool house.
9/10
Dead Waters
Way back in 2014, Universal created a pretty cool scarezone called The Bayou of Blood. The centerpiece of the zone was a mini-show featuring The Voodoo Queen, who ruled over the zone and would perform a sacrifice for us onlookers. Unfortunately, a few too many "softies" complained and the show was nixed. Now, The Voodoo Queen is back to take her bloody vengence via her very own house, and what an impressive house it is. The facade is one of the best of this year's. We enter through a grounded New Orleans-esque riverboat, and from there on out we find ourselves trapped in the Voodoo Queen's bayou, where her minions and undead/zombies hunt and terrorize us. The creature designs were great, and every room was gorgeous. The house was pretty short, but plenty sweet. There are also a good amount of scares inside.
9.5/10
Hive
This was actually the house I was looking forward to most this year, and it did not disappoint. The theme is that we essentially get to travel through our very own personal 1980's B-movie. We are exploring an old, decaying house that feral, Nosferatu-esque vampires have turned into their hive. The vampires are glow-in-the-dark/blacklight (including their eyes). The last few vampires looked freaking awesome and were impressively designed. The house was plenty creepy and had some good scares. Not the best house of the night, but definitely my personal favorite.
9/10
The Horror of Blumhouse
Or as I like to call it: Blumhouse of Horrors. I loved that the facade is the Blumhouse logo, and that the whole house was designed so that it was like we were traveling through the Blum House. Purge, Insidious and Sinister were represented pretty well (Though Purge was clearly supposed to be Ouija but was changed last second). Most of the house was themed to Insidious. I loved the room with the swinging/swaying lightbulbs. The last few rooms felt rushed and quickly designed, and were super claustrophobic (small, tiny, twisting hallways that were just blacklight walls with characters from the films jumping/popping out at you). Not the best house of the night, but I thought it was the scariest (the Darth Maul demon scares the crap out of me. The only house where I wasn't fun screaming, but was get-me-the-hell-out-of-here screaming).
3.5/10
Ash Vs. Evil Dead
Universal brings the hit horror television show, Ash Vs. Evil Dead (which is a continuation of the beloved Evil Dead films) to life. This was the humor house of the night, which also means it was seriously lacking in scares. Luckily, it does justice to the two seasons of the show and is pretty fun. I always love getting to see Ash (Yeah, I yelled Hail To The King at him a few times and one of the Ash's even saluted me when I said it), and the Ash's in the house were pretty great (but more-so resembled Ash from the Evil Dead films and not the aging Ash from the TV show. Fine by me). I love that we enter through his trailer from the first season, and there were a few water effects throughout the house. We also get to visit the classic Evil Dead cabin, Jacksonville, the Brujo's ranch, and the bar at Elk Grove.
3.5/10
Saw: The Games of Jigsaw
Not really much to say about this one. It's essentially the same house as Saw from HHN 19, except we don't enter in through the Wilson Steele warehouse (aka Jigsaw's Lair). In this 2nd outing, we travel through several different traps from the films. It's not scary, the house doesn't flow together very well, and it all feels pretty disjointed. I did manage to see a good deal of the traps go off (which didn't happen with Saw 2009), so that was nice.
2/10
Scarecrow: The Reaping
In Scarecrow, we are exploring an old, depression-era farm house/barn where the scarecrows have come to life to harvest the soil with our blood. This house had the best facade of the night. Before we enter we pass by an actual small corn field (Universal grew actual corn stalks for the house). We enter in through an old barn silo/hay loft. The house had the most impressive and diverse creature designs of the night. My favorite was the large scarecrow, he seemed like he was 6 ft tall and looked like a huge scarecrow puppet. I love how it was like he grew out of one of the doors. I also loved the design of each room (especially the dripping water room). It always felt like you were in the same barn house throughout. Consistent theming and scares from beginning to end. Incredible.
10/10
SHOWS
Bill and Ted's Farewell Tour
This year, Universal dealt a shocking blow to fans of HHN when they announced that HHN 27 would be the final year for Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure (Presumably because they are planning on demolishing the Fear Factor stadium sometime early next year, though nothing has been confirmed as of yet). This year, Bill and Ted's excellent Halloween Adventure is interrupted by The Grim Reaper (from Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey. Very cool that he was included here.), who regretfully informs the duo that he has been sent to reap their souls unless they can find one redeeming thing about pop culture in 2017. The show opens with one hell of a sexy dance number (set to Pour Some Sugar On Me. Really loved the ladies' outfits). The opening monologue with Melissa McCarthy/Sean Spicer was hilarious, and one of the best I've seen. Melissa/Spicey continues to pop up throughout the adventure, and just about runs away with the show (She's gut-wrenchingly hilarious, and absolutely perfect). It's also nice to have the actor who played Ted from 2008-2015 back again for one final goodbye (He took off for 2016). It was also nice that they brought back some memorable characters from past Bill and Ted shows (like Dr. Evil, who was sleeping behind the set since 2006. He demands to know where Beetlejuice and Jaws are.). This was definitely one of the duo's better shows, though the farewell portion feels a little rush (I'm pretty sure the decision to axe any future shows was done last second with little advanced notice for the crew, writers, and cast. I suppose I could be wrong though).
And now, some random highlights:
I got to high-five David S. Pumpkins
Grim Reaper accidentally kills Bill. When he brings him back to life, Bill yells "Great Movie Ride."
United Airlines flight attendants knock out Avatar "sex with their tails damn you" guy.
After water dancer humps Moana, she says: "Oh, that silly water. Always getting me wet."
Grim Reaper perfectly sums up Bill and Ted: "Yeah, it's kind of dumb. But it was always fun."
After Spicey does a little impromptu dance, the audience cheered and she kept dancing. The Grim Reaper scolded the audience, saying: "Don't encourage her."
Spicey: "We will butt-hurt you, we will butt-hurt you hard!"
Spicey: "We are pro gender equality. We will sexually exploit anyone and everyone."
Grim Reaper to Bill and Ted: "All of this will have been like a dream, but one you were lucky enough to have had."
Grim Reaper reveals near the end that Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure is the only redeeming thing in pop culture.
And so ends, Bill and Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure. It wasn't always of the highest quality, but it was always damn entertaining and provided a nice escape from all the running and screaming at HHN. Their message will always ring true, especially in these turbulent times we currently find ourselves in. "Be excellent to each other, and party on dudes!"
8.5/10
RIDES
It has been several years since I had been to Universal Studios, and I had missed riding Rip Ride Rockit (my favorite coaster at both parks). I managed to rope my bro into riding it at night (when it was completely dark out) and in the first row. Sometimes, when you ride you get a shaky/bumpy car but luckily we got a smooth one this time. The wind in my face, and being able to see all the studios lit up for HHN was a real treat. It helped that it was one of the smoothest rides i've had on it. Really reminded me why I love Rockit so much! It really can be like art in motion (especially at night). I also got to take my bro into Diagon Alley for the first time, where he finally rode Escape From Gringotts. He LOVED it (I've never been over the moon about the ride, but it's always fun).
Conclusion
HHN 27 really was one for the books. Most of the houses were superb, memorable, and impressive and a good deal of the scarezones were strong as well. Scarezone of the year would be a toss up between Invasion and Trick 'r Treat. I'd probably rank Scarecrow as House of The Year (with AHS a very close second. Hive would still be my personal favorite, though it wasn't best of the night). I'd easily place this year right up there with HHN 21. My only regret is I wish I could have attended more than once, but hey, at least I got to go at all. What a treat! Till next year (Hopefully), this is Smalls, your roving reporter, signing off from scare central.
10/10
Friday, November 10, 2017
Thursday, November 9, 2017
FRIGHT FEST: HAPPY DEATH DAY
Happy Death Day is the latest Blumhouse production. In it, we follow popular, clique-y college girl Tree (short for Teresa) on her birthday. Most people would be happy on such a day, not Tree though as it brings with it some sad memories from her past. At the end of the day, a masked killer murders Tree and sets off a wild chain of events where Tree is forced to relive her death day over and over again until she is able to uncover the identity of her killer and stop him/her from murdering her (Yes, it's another twist on the Groundhog Day formula. Just roll with it).
Happy Death Day is the latest in a long line of PG-13 "horror" films. Most times, I find that PG-13 horror films kind of suck. They pander to the dumb teen demographic, rely on annoying jump scares, and just aren't all that scary. Happy Death Day is one of the rare PG-13 horror films that actually works though, mainly because it's more-so interested in being funny than scary. That's right, Happy Death Day is a horror-comedy who-dun-it, with an emphasis on the comedy. The film is creepy, atmospheric, and tense at odd moments, but is really more concerned with having it's own personality. The death's aren't focused on all that much (There's really only one cool death in the film, and it's spoiled in the trailer), and it's a fairly blood-less film. Normally, this would not bode well for a horror film, but Happy Death Day's focus on fun over scares helps save the film.
Happy Death Day stars Jessica Rothe as our heroine Tree and Israel Broussard as film nerd/regular guy Carter. Tree starts out as a pretty unlikable character (she's not the worst girl I've ever seen, but she's still pretty mean and self-centered). She is having an affair with a married professor/doctor, makes out with her roommates crush in front of her (just because she can), wakes up in Carter's bed after a drunken night and basically shrugs him off (not even having the courtesy to remember his name or even care), and is a member of the bitchy sorority on campus. Yeah, you want to see her die many times over and the killer could really be just about anyone on campus (she has a way of making enemies). It's not an easy task to take an unlikeable character and find a way to bring the audience fully on her side by the end, but Happy Death Day does just that. The film slowly peels away her layers, revealing more about her backstory and the reasons why she hates her birthday. A large part of the plot is about Tree learning the error of her ways, and taking steps to become a better person (much like Groundhog Day). I am completely in love with Jessica Rothe and her character of Tree (Not to mention Rothe can also sing as evidenced in her small role in La La Land. Just more reason to love her). I found her to be sympathetic, and super hot and cute (both in personality and looks) by the time the end credits roll.
Israel Broussard is completely winsome and likable as the warm-hearted nice guy who has a love for film (as can be seen by his awesome choice in movie posters that adorn his dorm room). He continually assists Tree in her attempts to unmask the killer throughout the film. The two actually have some chemistry together, and I loved them as a duo. I won't say if they wind up together (though the answer is pretty obvious right from the opening of the film). I also loved the Baby-Mask killer, and the design of the mask he/she wears (It's the mask of the school's mascot, which is being handed out en masse thanks to an upcoming sports game). However, I wasn't crazy about who the killer winds up being and I found his/her motivation to be silly and stupid.
Happy Death Day is not a great film, but seeing as I went in reluctantly, expecting another shit PG-13 horror film and I walked out smiling, I'd say it's a success. It's not scary, but it is silly, goofy, funny, and fun. It also has some clever moments (one example: Tree always wakes up with residual trauma from her previous deaths. This doesn't really lead to anything, except that it's implied that eventually Tree will die for good and she winds up feeling pretty sore and tired by the end of the film. I also loved the choice to set it in college instead of high school.) Our two main leads are likable, the direction is fairly strong (from Christopher Landon who previously directed Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse and Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones. This is his best film), and the script (by Scott Lobdell) is good. Happy Death Day is a film with it's own, fun personality. It's definitely one of the more memorable entries in the PG-13 horror film craze.
3 STARS
Side Note: The film replaces 50 Cent's catchy "In Da Club" with a short, generic, goofy and forgettable Happy Birthday ringtone. A missed opportunity if there ever was one.
Happy Death Day is the latest in a long line of PG-13 "horror" films. Most times, I find that PG-13 horror films kind of suck. They pander to the dumb teen demographic, rely on annoying jump scares, and just aren't all that scary. Happy Death Day is one of the rare PG-13 horror films that actually works though, mainly because it's more-so interested in being funny than scary. That's right, Happy Death Day is a horror-comedy who-dun-it, with an emphasis on the comedy. The film is creepy, atmospheric, and tense at odd moments, but is really more concerned with having it's own personality. The death's aren't focused on all that much (There's really only one cool death in the film, and it's spoiled in the trailer), and it's a fairly blood-less film. Normally, this would not bode well for a horror film, but Happy Death Day's focus on fun over scares helps save the film.
Happy Death Day stars Jessica Rothe as our heroine Tree and Israel Broussard as film nerd/regular guy Carter. Tree starts out as a pretty unlikable character (she's not the worst girl I've ever seen, but she's still pretty mean and self-centered). She is having an affair with a married professor/doctor, makes out with her roommates crush in front of her (just because she can), wakes up in Carter's bed after a drunken night and basically shrugs him off (not even having the courtesy to remember his name or even care), and is a member of the bitchy sorority on campus. Yeah, you want to see her die many times over and the killer could really be just about anyone on campus (she has a way of making enemies). It's not an easy task to take an unlikeable character and find a way to bring the audience fully on her side by the end, but Happy Death Day does just that. The film slowly peels away her layers, revealing more about her backstory and the reasons why she hates her birthday. A large part of the plot is about Tree learning the error of her ways, and taking steps to become a better person (much like Groundhog Day). I am completely in love with Jessica Rothe and her character of Tree (Not to mention Rothe can also sing as evidenced in her small role in La La Land. Just more reason to love her). I found her to be sympathetic, and super hot and cute (both in personality and looks) by the time the end credits roll.
Israel Broussard is completely winsome and likable as the warm-hearted nice guy who has a love for film (as can be seen by his awesome choice in movie posters that adorn his dorm room). He continually assists Tree in her attempts to unmask the killer throughout the film. The two actually have some chemistry together, and I loved them as a duo. I won't say if they wind up together (though the answer is pretty obvious right from the opening of the film). I also loved the Baby-Mask killer, and the design of the mask he/she wears (It's the mask of the school's mascot, which is being handed out en masse thanks to an upcoming sports game). However, I wasn't crazy about who the killer winds up being and I found his/her motivation to be silly and stupid.
Happy Death Day is not a great film, but seeing as I went in reluctantly, expecting another shit PG-13 horror film and I walked out smiling, I'd say it's a success. It's not scary, but it is silly, goofy, funny, and fun. It also has some clever moments (one example: Tree always wakes up with residual trauma from her previous deaths. This doesn't really lead to anything, except that it's implied that eventually Tree will die for good and she winds up feeling pretty sore and tired by the end of the film. I also loved the choice to set it in college instead of high school.) Our two main leads are likable, the direction is fairly strong (from Christopher Landon who previously directed Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse and Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones. This is his best film), and the script (by Scott Lobdell) is good. Happy Death Day is a film with it's own, fun personality. It's definitely one of the more memorable entries in the PG-13 horror film craze.
3 STARS
Side Note: The film replaces 50 Cent's catchy "In Da Club" with a short, generic, goofy and forgettable Happy Birthday ringtone. A missed opportunity if there ever was one.
Monday, November 6, 2017
FRIGHT FEST: THE BABYSITTER
The Babysitter was the film I was looking forward to most this Halloween season. It's directed by McG (who doesn't have the best track record when it comes to directing films), and the movie went through several delays until it was decided it would be released directly to Netflix. While all this did send alarm bells ringing in my head, the premise and trailer looked fun enough. In The Babysitter, 12 year old Cole (Judah Lewis) is afraid of almost everything. He pines after his smoking hot babysitter, Bee (Samara Weaving). When she promises him to throw a party when his parents leave for the weekend, Cole couldn't be happier. Unfortunately, Bee and her friends ( Max played by Robbie Amell, Sonya played by Hana Mae Lee, Allison played by Bella Thorne, and John played by Andrew Bachelor) are actually part of a satanic cult that wants Cole's blood because of its purity. It's up to the kid who's afraid of everything to conquer his fears and put an end to his crush's madness.
Everyone does a pretty fine job acting wise, with the standouts being Judah Lewis as Cole, Samara Weaving as Bee, and Robbie Amell as Max. Samara Weaving and Judah Lewis actually have surprisingly strong chemistry during the first act and are super cute together. It's not hard to fall for Bee yourself as she is super smoking hot and has a very attractive personality. It got to the point where I kind of wanted them to end up together. Max is a muscular jock who hides a somewhat soft heart under his tough exterior. He takes breaks from his pursuit of Cole to actually give the kid advice, and gives him several chances to stick up for himself (My favorite line of his : "Don't worry kid, I won't let you die with egg on your face."). Cole himself is at first glance, a loser, but he proves to be a pretty cool kid despite his numerous fears (his first scene is him freaking out over having to get a shot. I can totally relate). He proves to be surprisingly capable, although he makes many stupid mistakes along the way.
Unfortunately, despite a fun premise and likable leads, it's clear why The Babysitter went through so many delays: It's not that good of a film. The first act is all obvious set-up for things to come later in the film. It's overly stylistic to the point where it can feel like the film is over-compensating. Some of the stylistic choices work, most do not though, and are just flashy and come across like McG is yelling "Look at me! Look at me!. It feels like most of the style found within, while fun, has no reason to exist. That said, The Babysitter does have some nice bait-and-switches that I did not see coming, so props to that.
In the end, The Babysitter was a disappointment. It stretches believability at points, the characters make stupid decisions throughout (one example: The cult sees Cole trying to cut through a rope they restrained him with and even comment on this, but do nothing to stop him), and the numerous stylistic choices end up hurting the film in the long run. Luckily, the characters are likable and our main leads are pretty great (plus, there's a steamy extended make-out scene between Bella Thorne and Samara Weaving). The Babysitter isn't a great film (or even really a good one when all is said and done), but it is silly, stupid fun. If that sounds like your cup of Pumpkin Spice, maybe you should check it out.
2 Stars
Everyone does a pretty fine job acting wise, with the standouts being Judah Lewis as Cole, Samara Weaving as Bee, and Robbie Amell as Max. Samara Weaving and Judah Lewis actually have surprisingly strong chemistry during the first act and are super cute together. It's not hard to fall for Bee yourself as she is super smoking hot and has a very attractive personality. It got to the point where I kind of wanted them to end up together. Max is a muscular jock who hides a somewhat soft heart under his tough exterior. He takes breaks from his pursuit of Cole to actually give the kid advice, and gives him several chances to stick up for himself (My favorite line of his : "Don't worry kid, I won't let you die with egg on your face."). Cole himself is at first glance, a loser, but he proves to be a pretty cool kid despite his numerous fears (his first scene is him freaking out over having to get a shot. I can totally relate). He proves to be surprisingly capable, although he makes many stupid mistakes along the way.
Unfortunately, despite a fun premise and likable leads, it's clear why The Babysitter went through so many delays: It's not that good of a film. The first act is all obvious set-up for things to come later in the film. It's overly stylistic to the point where it can feel like the film is over-compensating. Some of the stylistic choices work, most do not though, and are just flashy and come across like McG is yelling "Look at me! Look at me!. It feels like most of the style found within, while fun, has no reason to exist. That said, The Babysitter does have some nice bait-and-switches that I did not see coming, so props to that.
In the end, The Babysitter was a disappointment. It stretches believability at points, the characters make stupid decisions throughout (one example: The cult sees Cole trying to cut through a rope they restrained him with and even comment on this, but do nothing to stop him), and the numerous stylistic choices end up hurting the film in the long run. Luckily, the characters are likable and our main leads are pretty great (plus, there's a steamy extended make-out scene between Bella Thorne and Samara Weaving). The Babysitter isn't a great film (or even really a good one when all is said and done), but it is silly, stupid fun. If that sounds like your cup of Pumpkin Spice, maybe you should check it out.
2 Stars
Sunday, November 5, 2017
FRIGHT FEST IS EXTENDED
Sometimes the darkness refuses to go back to sleep. Prepare yourselves for reviews of HHN 27, The Babysitter, Jigsaw and Happy Death Day. All coming to you this week! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
FRIGHT FEST: SMALLS VISITS CANDLE COVE
Channel Zero is a new anthology horror show, where each season is it's own self-contained story. The first season is entitled Candle Cove. In it, Mike (Paul Schneider), a child psychologist, is haunted by recurring nightmares about a lost children's televised puppet/marionette show from the 80's called Candle Cove and a series of child murders that occurred at the time it was on. He lost his twin brother, Eddie, to the killing spree. Mike returns to his hometown in an attempt to gain some closure as well as solve the mystery of Candle Cove and the murders.
4.5 Stars
I wasn't expecting much out of Channel Zero: Candle Cove. It's a low-budget show that airs on the Syfy channel. That right there doesn't help to inspire confidence, considering Syfy's pretty bad track record. Luckily, the show tickled me in all the right areas. I love that it centers around a creepy children's program, and that all the effects I can remember were done practically. The puppets/dolls and creatures were all fantastically designed and looked downright haunting. The Tooth-Child, Jawbone, The Skin-Taker, and Pirate Percy are memorable characters/creatures that may haunt my nightmares for a while.
The show has quite a fine cast of actors, with the best being Paul Schneider, Fiona Shaw (who plays Marla, Mike's mother who assists him in his investigation). Both characters are haunted by the past, and have some skeletons in their closets. Paul Schneider makes for a likable and empathetic leading man. It was easy for me to put myself into his shoes, and as the show progressed I found myself rooting for him more and more. Fiona Shaw previously played Aunt Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter films. Here, she gets to play quite a different character. She starts out as a woman who is still grieving the loss of her 2nd son, but changes a good deal by the time the show ends. It was a joy to watch her character grow stronger with each episode, and to see her eventually gain control and take charge. The kid actors featured in this season were pretty ok, with the standout being Abigail Pniowsky, who plays Lily (Mike's daughter).
As for the rest of the cast, Marina Stephenson Kerr is very off-putting and creepy as Mrs. Booth, one of Mike and Eddie's old teachers who may know more about Candle Cove and the past murders than she is letting on. Luisa D'Oliveira plays Amy, a deputy who assists with the investigation and is a friend of Mike's. She is very likable, smart, efficient and doesn't really play your typical cop in a horror film. Shaun Benson plays Gary, another old friend of Mike's who is now the Sheriff. He likes Mike, but is distrustful of him due to some skeleton's in Mike's closet. Last but definitely not least is the beautiful Natalie Brown as Jessica, an old crush of Mike's who is now married to Gary. She's yet another very likable character in the show who I quickly grew to care about.
Candle Cove is genuinely creepy, unsettling, disturbing, effective and weird. I'd compare it favorably to The Twilight Zone in tone. Each episode only runs around 45 minutes in length, and there are only a total of 6 episodes making for a tight, focused little thriller. No time is wasted, and there are a good deal of twists, turns, and surprises throughout. Perhaps best of all, it wraps up in a satisfying way (ok, so it took a little while for me to warm to the answer of the mystery of Candle Cove. All that matters is that I was totally down with the explanation after thinking it over for a few). Channel Zero is off to an auspicious start, proving that effective horror can still be made on a low television budget. I was surprised by how much Channel Zero: Candle Cove impressed me. It's a unique, different and memorable little horror show. I know it will stay with me for some time. Sign me up for Season 2!
4.5 Stars
FRIGHT FEST: CULT OF CHUCKY
I'm done playing, so this will be a spoiler review.
In Cult of Chucky, Nica (Fiona Dourif) has been admitted to a medium security mental hospital after the events of Curse of Chucky. The murders in that film have been pinned on her, and she's begun to believe that she may really be crazy after all. When her therapist, Dr. Foley (Michael Therriault), brings in multiple Good Guy Dolls in an attempt to help her, murders begin to occur at the asylum. Has Chucky found a way to possess multiple dolls, or has Nica really lost her mind?
This film had only one requirement for me: It had to be better than Curse of Chucky. It's not. I was actually enjoying the proceedings for a decent amount of the run time, but by the time the last act rolls around I had given up on this franchise altogether. If this were a perfect world, the Chucky franchise would have ended a long time ago. I love the character of Chucky, but the recent Chucky films since Seed have failed to justify their existence.Seeing as this latest installment is directed and written Don Mancini (who has written every Chucky film, and directed Seed and Curse), the lack of quality shouldn't really be that surprising, but even compared to Curse this is still a large step down.
Fiona Dourif, Brad Dourif, and Alex Vincent are easily the best actors here (Jennifer Tilly is barely in the film, and does a pretty bad acting job). They aren't given much to work with, and they don't seem to be having fun here. Alex Vincent (Andy from Child Play's 1 and 2) does return with a decent amount of screen time but he acts more as fan service as he doesn't really do anything of importance here (He's set up like he's going to be the crazed Van Helsing of this film, but nothing is done with him). Fiona Dourif is a gorgeous actress who deserves better roles than this. Brad Dourif returns to voice Chucky once more, but there is a noticeable amount of time where he doesn't sound anything like Chucky. I don't know if it's old age, or if he's just tired of playing the role (the ending would seem to point to the latter option, as it sets up for a possessed Nica to be the killer in the next installment). Chucky can still be entertaining at times here, but it's not enough to save this bad movie.
As this is a spoiler review, I can reveal that Chucky does have the power to possess multiple dolls in this film (and that there isn't really a cult in the film, after all, it takes more than one or two people to make a cult). It's as stupid as it sounds. It's lazily explained (He gains this power by finding a new voodoo spell on the internet) and directly contradicts the already established rules of the character from the previous six films. Going this route feels like an insult to long time fans (as does the ending).
The animatronics/puppets this time around are fairly weak (Though I do commend Mancini and crew for sticking with practical effects) and the acting is poor all around. Cult definitely does have potential and promise (in better hands the multiple Chucky's could actually lead to a good twist, not here though), but it really does feel like they are making Chucky films just because they can now. This latest installment feels very much like a quick, cheap, poorly thought out and poorly executed cash grab. Chucky has been out of his box for around 29 years now, but I say it's high time we stuff him back in and bury the damn thing six feet under. Maybe new blood could breathe life into this suffering franchise, but as long as Mancini has the helm I predict a bleak future for Chucky and his cult of fans.
1 STAR
In Cult of Chucky, Nica (Fiona Dourif) has been admitted to a medium security mental hospital after the events of Curse of Chucky. The murders in that film have been pinned on her, and she's begun to believe that she may really be crazy after all. When her therapist, Dr. Foley (Michael Therriault), brings in multiple Good Guy Dolls in an attempt to help her, murders begin to occur at the asylum. Has Chucky found a way to possess multiple dolls, or has Nica really lost her mind?
This film had only one requirement for me: It had to be better than Curse of Chucky. It's not. I was actually enjoying the proceedings for a decent amount of the run time, but by the time the last act rolls around I had given up on this franchise altogether. If this were a perfect world, the Chucky franchise would have ended a long time ago. I love the character of Chucky, but the recent Chucky films since Seed have failed to justify their existence.Seeing as this latest installment is directed and written Don Mancini (who has written every Chucky film, and directed Seed and Curse), the lack of quality shouldn't really be that surprising, but even compared to Curse this is still a large step down.
Fiona Dourif, Brad Dourif, and Alex Vincent are easily the best actors here (Jennifer Tilly is barely in the film, and does a pretty bad acting job). They aren't given much to work with, and they don't seem to be having fun here. Alex Vincent (Andy from Child Play's 1 and 2) does return with a decent amount of screen time but he acts more as fan service as he doesn't really do anything of importance here (He's set up like he's going to be the crazed Van Helsing of this film, but nothing is done with him). Fiona Dourif is a gorgeous actress who deserves better roles than this. Brad Dourif returns to voice Chucky once more, but there is a noticeable amount of time where he doesn't sound anything like Chucky. I don't know if it's old age, or if he's just tired of playing the role (the ending would seem to point to the latter option, as it sets up for a possessed Nica to be the killer in the next installment). Chucky can still be entertaining at times here, but it's not enough to save this bad movie.
As this is a spoiler review, I can reveal that Chucky does have the power to possess multiple dolls in this film (and that there isn't really a cult in the film, after all, it takes more than one or two people to make a cult). It's as stupid as it sounds. It's lazily explained (He gains this power by finding a new voodoo spell on the internet) and directly contradicts the already established rules of the character from the previous six films. Going this route feels like an insult to long time fans (as does the ending).
The animatronics/puppets this time around are fairly weak (Though I do commend Mancini and crew for sticking with practical effects) and the acting is poor all around. Cult definitely does have potential and promise (in better hands the multiple Chucky's could actually lead to a good twist, not here though), but it really does feel like they are making Chucky films just because they can now. This latest installment feels very much like a quick, cheap, poorly thought out and poorly executed cash grab. Chucky has been out of his box for around 29 years now, but I say it's high time we stuff him back in and bury the damn thing six feet under. Maybe new blood could breathe life into this suffering franchise, but as long as Mancini has the helm I predict a bleak future for Chucky and his cult of fans.
1 STAR
Friday, September 29, 2017
FRIGHT FEST: GERALD'S GAME
Stephen King is having a moment. The new adaptation of It was a success, with a sequel already green-lit for 2019. There's a tv show (which was just cancelled) based on his Mist novel, and several more adaptations of his novels are coming down the line. It's good to be the King right now. The latest adaptation of his is a Netflix production of Gerald's Game, directed and written by horror up-and-comer Mike Flanagan.
Gerald's Game follows Jessie (Carla Gugino, who I've had a crush on since I first saw Spy Kids when I was just a boy) and Gerald (Bruce Greenwood), a couple who's marriage has started to crumble. In an attempt to save their marriage, they decide to take a weekend vacation to a secluded lake house. While there, Gerald attempts a bondage/rape RP that involves cuffing Jessie's hands to the bed. Things don't pan out quite so well, and Gerald suffers a heart attack mid-game, leaving Jessie cuffed to the bed with no escape in sight. Jessie is going to have to fight off her growing mental instability, contend with dark secrets from her past, ward off a wild stray dog with a taste for flesh, and find some way out of the handcuffs if she is going to live to see another day.
Gerald's Game could not have been an easy novel to adapt to screen. It's set in one single location (the bedroom), and most of it takes place inside Jessie's mind as she hallucinates and has flashbacks. Jeff Howard and Mike Flanagan wrote the screenplay, and the material is handled very carefully. The film is still set almost entirely in the bedroom (except for a few flashbacks), and Jessie's inner dialogue is handled via hallucinations of herself and Gerald that have conversations with her about her dire situation. I haven't read the novel, so I can't speak to how accurate the film is....all I can say is that Flanagan has earned my respect for pulling off a difficult task well.
Carla Gugino is beautiful, likable and sympathetic as Jessie. She is an interesting character who slowly has her layers peeled away throughout the film as she deals with both her current situation and a dark event from her past that has haunted her her whole life. Bruce Greenwood is fantastic as Gerald, a man who has more to him than would first appear. He plays both the real Gerald and Jessie's hallucination of him. He manages to be very likable, and kind of scary and intimidating at times. They both easily carry the film, and put on memorable, fantastic performances. Henry Thomas (aka Elliot from E.T.) has a supporting role as Tom, Jessie's father who we only glimpse in flashbacks. It's a memorable and decidedly different performance from Thomas that will likely stick with me. Carel Struycken (aka Lurch from The Addam's Family movie) is freaky and memorable as The Moonlight Man, a mysterious, shadowy figure that may be death himself.
Not only can Mike Flanagan write, edit, and direct....but he also seems adept at discovering great talent inside young actors. In Oculus we got Annalise Basso and Garrett Ryan, in Ouija: Origin of Evil we got Lulu Wilson, and now in Gerald's Game we get Chiara Aurelia. Chiara Aurelia is a fifteen year old actress. In Gerald's Game she plays the twelve year old version of Jessie and puts on a memorable and affecting performance. She gets the chance to really show off her acting chops, and I was impressed. Hopefully, this is just the beginning for this young actress. I hope to see her in more things.
Michael Fimognari was in charge of cinematography (as he was for Oculus and Ouija: Origin of Evil), and he does a great job. The cinematography is beautiful a good deal of the time, like a scene during a total solar eclipse. As the eclipse is happening, we get to watch as the colors slowly alter and change, it's very impressive and quite pretty. There's another scene where the whole film takes on a vibrant, ghastly, almost neon-like red hue. Fimognari clearly has an eye for this kind of thing, and it seems that Flanagan and him make for a nice pair.
Gerald's Game runs at an hour and forty three minutes. For a film that takes place almost entirely in a bedroom, it feels a bit long. The film does slow down at points (some may say lags), but I found myself consistently engaged, invested, and interested in the proceedings. Mike Flanagan took what many considered to be an un-filmable novel and managed to make a film that is pretty damned good. I'd say Flanagan was the most impressive part of the production. You can feel the hard work and sweat he put into making this film. Gerald's Game isn't scary in the traditional horror sense (It's more psychological/mental horror), in fact it's more of an intimate character study that happens during a traumatic event. It's far from King's best adaptation, but Flanagan's hard work pays off in the end. Gerald's Game is a nice treat for King fans and makes for another nice calling card for Flanagan.
3.5 STARS
Gerald's Game follows Jessie (Carla Gugino, who I've had a crush on since I first saw Spy Kids when I was just a boy) and Gerald (Bruce Greenwood), a couple who's marriage has started to crumble. In an attempt to save their marriage, they decide to take a weekend vacation to a secluded lake house. While there, Gerald attempts a bondage/rape RP that involves cuffing Jessie's hands to the bed. Things don't pan out quite so well, and Gerald suffers a heart attack mid-game, leaving Jessie cuffed to the bed with no escape in sight. Jessie is going to have to fight off her growing mental instability, contend with dark secrets from her past, ward off a wild stray dog with a taste for flesh, and find some way out of the handcuffs if she is going to live to see another day.
Gerald's Game could not have been an easy novel to adapt to screen. It's set in one single location (the bedroom), and most of it takes place inside Jessie's mind as she hallucinates and has flashbacks. Jeff Howard and Mike Flanagan wrote the screenplay, and the material is handled very carefully. The film is still set almost entirely in the bedroom (except for a few flashbacks), and Jessie's inner dialogue is handled via hallucinations of herself and Gerald that have conversations with her about her dire situation. I haven't read the novel, so I can't speak to how accurate the film is....all I can say is that Flanagan has earned my respect for pulling off a difficult task well.
Carla Gugino is beautiful, likable and sympathetic as Jessie. She is an interesting character who slowly has her layers peeled away throughout the film as she deals with both her current situation and a dark event from her past that has haunted her her whole life. Bruce Greenwood is fantastic as Gerald, a man who has more to him than would first appear. He plays both the real Gerald and Jessie's hallucination of him. He manages to be very likable, and kind of scary and intimidating at times. They both easily carry the film, and put on memorable, fantastic performances. Henry Thomas (aka Elliot from E.T.) has a supporting role as Tom, Jessie's father who we only glimpse in flashbacks. It's a memorable and decidedly different performance from Thomas that will likely stick with me. Carel Struycken (aka Lurch from The Addam's Family movie) is freaky and memorable as The Moonlight Man, a mysterious, shadowy figure that may be death himself.
Not only can Mike Flanagan write, edit, and direct....but he also seems adept at discovering great talent inside young actors. In Oculus we got Annalise Basso and Garrett Ryan, in Ouija: Origin of Evil we got Lulu Wilson, and now in Gerald's Game we get Chiara Aurelia. Chiara Aurelia is a fifteen year old actress. In Gerald's Game she plays the twelve year old version of Jessie and puts on a memorable and affecting performance. She gets the chance to really show off her acting chops, and I was impressed. Hopefully, this is just the beginning for this young actress. I hope to see her in more things.
Michael Fimognari was in charge of cinematography (as he was for Oculus and Ouija: Origin of Evil), and he does a great job. The cinematography is beautiful a good deal of the time, like a scene during a total solar eclipse. As the eclipse is happening, we get to watch as the colors slowly alter and change, it's very impressive and quite pretty. There's another scene where the whole film takes on a vibrant, ghastly, almost neon-like red hue. Fimognari clearly has an eye for this kind of thing, and it seems that Flanagan and him make for a nice pair.
Gerald's Game runs at an hour and forty three minutes. For a film that takes place almost entirely in a bedroom, it feels a bit long. The film does slow down at points (some may say lags), but I found myself consistently engaged, invested, and interested in the proceedings. Mike Flanagan took what many considered to be an un-filmable novel and managed to make a film that is pretty damned good. I'd say Flanagan was the most impressive part of the production. You can feel the hard work and sweat he put into making this film. Gerald's Game isn't scary in the traditional horror sense (It's more psychological/mental horror), in fact it's more of an intimate character study that happens during a traumatic event. It's far from King's best adaptation, but Flanagan's hard work pays off in the end. Gerald's Game is a nice treat for King fans and makes for another nice calling card for Flanagan.
3.5 STARS
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