Plot: A young woman develops a taste for human blood after undergoing experimental plastic surgery, and her victims turn into rabid, blood-thirsty zombies who proceed to infect others, which turns into a city-wide epidemic.
Review:
You really can’t go wrong with Cronenberg doing zombies, but on top of that there’s a Succubus played by classic adult film star Marilyn Chambers. It’s a wonderful combination which, even after 30 years, comes across as a very fresh take on the sub-genre.
Plot: A man tries to uncover an unconventional psychologist’s therapy techniques on his institutionalized wife, while a series of brutal attacks committed by a brood of mutant children coincides with the husband’s investigation.
Review:
Since I enjoyed Scanners and Videodrome so much I decided to check out some more, early Cronenberg. The Brood did not disappoint. While it’s more of a straightforward, classic horror film than his later work it’s still has DC’s signature odd, creepy, grotesqueness. It is very good.
Plot: A man staying at a secluded historical mansion, finds his life being haunted by the presence of a spectre.
Review:
I chose to watch this after seeing it on Martin Scorcese’s Top 11 Horror Films of All Time. While it’s a fine film there’s nothing about it that really stands out. The plot is no different than the average episode of The Ghost Whisperer, and the scares are rather tame even compared to films of the same era. If you really like classic ghost stories it might be worth a viewing, otherwise just watch The Shining again.
Plot: Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons.
Review:
This was absolutely brilliant and exceeded all the hype I’ve heard about it. I enjoyed it even more than part 2 as it keeps the comedy dialed down. It’s an all around excellent horror film, probably one of the best I’ve seen. I sincerely hope Raimi makes another one just like this some time.
Sidenote: One could make the argument that the Evil Dead movies are really about a violent schizophrenic who takes people to the woods and dismembers them because he’s under the delusion that they are demons.
Plot: A psychic housewife and her husband become burdened with a kidnapped girl who escaped her assailant.
Review:
This isn’t a horror movie, but a Coen/Park-esque happenstance crime caper that happens to have a few creepy ghosts in it. It’s fairly good for a TV movie but not near the brilliance you’d expect from Kiyoshi Kurosawa. This is a film for KK completists, like myself, but I wouldn’t suggest anyone else go out of their way to see it. You absolutely should go out of your way to see Pulse (Kairo) and Cure (Kyua) though.
Plot: After kidnapping and brutally assaulting two young women, a gang led by a prison escapee unknowingly finds refuge at a vacation home belonging the parents of one of the victims — a mother and father who devise an increasingly gruesome series of revenge tactics.
Review:
This is a gritty, intense, sad, terrifying and very well made film. It can be quite shocking but, aside from a misplaced final scene, always has a lot more going for it than just violence. The victims are easy to sympathize with,, the victims interesting, but when the roles are switched the films takes on a break neck pace that doesn’t allow for a whole lot of reflection, but keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Plot: Two pairs of lovers (Zahn & Jovovich, Olyphant & Sanchez) on a Hawaiian vacation discover that psychopaths are stalking and murdering tourists on the islands.
Review:
This was not much of a horror movie, but it was a very good thriller. There’s a bit mystery, a nice twist, and a satisfying resolution to it all. The film is worth watching just for the incredible shots of Hawaii.
Plot: A scientist sends a man with extraordinary psychic powers to hunt others like him.
Review:
This is a remake of one of my favorite films and while it is not nearly as scary as A Tale of Two Sisters, it’s quite a good film of it’s own. If you go in expecting straight horror you will be disappointed, but if you go in expecting a typical evil step-parent thriller, you will be pleasantly surprised by the disturbing turns this film takes.
Plot: Three teens find themselves in a town over run with zombies. Deciding to fight back, they go on a punch you in the throat, action packed, non stop ride through the city, woods, and schools.
Review:
This is a fun, gory, low budget zombie movie. It’s a bit like an R-Rated episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which is fine by me. Nothing spectacular, but still quite enjoyable.
Plot: After moving into a suburban home, a couple becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence.
Review:
I don’t understand how people found this scary or exciting. The only thing I really liked about this film were the daytime scenes of the couple interacting. All the supposedly supernatural elements were cliche and the “scary” moments generally boring. This was far from the next Blair Witch Project.
Note: I watched the original cut of this, not the one currently in theaters. What I’ve read about the theatrical cut doesn’t suggest anything in it would change my mind.
