Celebrating SIX Years Of Fear: Marie's Six Favorite Directors

March 31, 2014, 5:00 am

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~by Marie Robinson

Behind every great movie there is a great director. Sure, there are actors and a script, which are obviously huge variables in a quality film, but the director is like the conductor who orchestrates these elements into a visual symphony. I could easily choose top 50 of my favorite directors, but in honor of Fascination With Fear’s sixth birthday, I took the challenge and picked my top 6.

1. DAVID LYNCH 

The remaining five directors are in no particular order, but be assured that Mr. Lynch is my number one man. I believe the first film his I saw was Mulholland Drive and I was immediately hooked. His films are surreal, poignant, heartfelt and disturbing and speak to me in some indiscernible language that I somehow understand. While I may not always “get” his films, I adore their intricacies and enjoy unraveling them slowly and lovingly. FAVORITE FILM: Lost Highway 

2. DAVID CRONENBERG

The Baron of Blood. I scolded my friend who had me watch Videodrome when I was in high school, but I’m thanking him now for giving me a first look at the wonderfully weird realm of David Cronenberg. His nightmarish imagery is unparalleled and unique, his worlds are frightening and fascinating; Cronenberg knows the darkest regions of the human heart, and portrays that haunted place unflinchingly. FAVORITE FILM: Naked Lunch 

3. GUILLERMO DEL TORO

I covet and adore this man’s beautiful and expansive imagination. A talented artist, writer, and director and a die-hard Lovecraft fan; his scripts read like dark fairytales and his films flow like poetry. He combines classic clichés with innovative new visions of old tropes. Del Toro is a master storyteller who brings legendary creatures to life for all of us dreamers to revel. FAVORITE FILM: Pan’s Labyrinth.

4. CLIVE BARKER

He has such sights to show you… When I was in middle school I read Barker’s illustrated young adult novel Abarat and loved it. It only excited me more when I later put two and two together that he was also the filmmaker I adored! Since this discovery I have lapped up every form of media that Barker has spat out, be it books, movies, or artwork. He perfectly pairs the elegant and grotesque, and is one of the bravest storytellers the world has known. FAVORITE FILM: Nightbreed 

5. ALFRED HITCHCOCK

If you weren’t raised on the Master of Suspense I am sorry for youuuu! Okay, that sounded mean, but seriously, I feel so fortunate to have grown up watching Hitchcock films. From The Birds to North by Northwest, he has created so many classics that have shaped the mystery genre. One of my most beloved books as a young girl was a book of ghost stories penned by Hitchcock that I found at a yard sale, which I have since lost but will always remember clutching close on many a rainy night. FAVORITE FILM: Rear Window 

6. ROMAN POLANSKI

The man might have questionable character but he has been through hell and back. If surviving the Holocaust isn’t enough, he also had to endure the brutal murder of his pregnant wife at the hands of the Manson family, and it’s no surprise that his films are highly psychological and often disturbing. No matter what you think about the man, you can’t deny his status as a master director who crafts truly mind-bending and immersive films. FAVORITE FILM: Rosemary's Baby

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Celebrating SIX Years Of Fear: Six Films That Made Me Stop In My Tracks

April 5, 2014, 10:26 am

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Watching a horror film should always evoke some kind of intensity. It's horror's calling card.  It's meant to make you stop and think.  Some films do this in leaps and bounds, far more than others.  These six films I've highlighted made me stop like a deer in headlights.  They are profoundly affecting.  As well as brilliantly effective.  See if you agree....

OLDBOY (2003)

An intense, effective movie like Oldboy just sticks in your head like a bad song. The first time I saw it I was stunned by how twisted and deviant it was.  If you've never seen it, you need to.  The ending will blow you away. Choi Min-Sik, (I Saw The Devil), plays Oh Dae-su, a man who - after missing his daughter's birthday due to a drinking binge - wakes up in a hotel room, alone.  He is then kept prisoner in this room for fifteen years.  FIFTEEN YEARS.  His captor is never seen and after said fifteen years, releases him on a roof top without any indication of why he imprisoned him in the first place.  Herein lies the mystery of the film. As Oh Dae-su tries to put together the pieces and discover the truth, he is taunted by his captor. It is obvious that Oh Dae-su is meant to understand eventually.  Along the way he falls in love with a young woman who helps him try to solve the puzzle and seek revenge.  The thought of losing fifteen years of your life because someone had some kind of vendetta against you is pretty damn sobering. The lengths his captor goes to make Oh Dae-su's life miserable is unheard of.  I've never seen anything like this film before or since. One of a kind and bloody brilliant.

THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT (1999)

The first time I saw The Blair Witch Project was in the comfort of my own home.  I never saw it on the big screen as I'm not much for "hype" movies, and couldn't imagine it being everything it was made out to be. And it really isn't.  It's just three people wandering through the woods for 90 minutes. HOWEVER.  There are moments of this film that made my skin crawl.  My husband and I own a cabin in the woods, and all I could think was how similar it looked.  I've never been able to look out into the woods behind the cabin and think of anything but Blair Witch or Evil Dead.  Being lost in the woods is bad enough, but the real kicker here is the film's final moments.  It scared the hell out of me - and my husband too.  Too many people dismiss this movie, saying they "didn't get" the ending. Well those people obviously didn't pay attention earlier when the townsfolk were discussing how child killer Rustin Parr would take two children into the basement and would take make one face the corner and listen while he murdered the other child.  The final moment is Heather coming into the basement and finding Mike standing in the corner.  And then she screams and drops her camera.  Powerfully effective.  I am not easily freaked out, but it took everything I had to go down to the basement after the film was over to put my dog outside.  I thought about that film for weeks afterward.

LAKE MUNGO

Lake Mungo is one of those movies that you sit and think about for long after it's over.  Like The Blair Witch Project  before it,  the found footage style in which the film is presented makes you feel like you are watching a true story.  Especially in this film's case because it is a mockumentary. You could be watching a forensic show about a young girl being missing and it would be no more effective than this tale of fifteen year old Alice going missing at an outing with her family.  Presumed drowned, Alice is mourned by her loved ones and soon the film morphs into supernatural territory when the family begins to experience strange happenings at their home.
Interviews with Alice's family, friends, and a local psychic all help to string together the events of her apparent death, though an explanation is never fully given. You don't need gore, you don't need jump scares, and you don't need a rational explanation to create an effective and unsettling horror film. Just ask anyone associated with Lake Mungo, they'll show you how it's done. The subtlety that surrounds nearly every frame of Lake Mungo is an unnerving freight train barreling down the tracks. It's a quiet film, in fact so quiet that it's deeply disturbing.  I found myself reliving a few key scenes every time I closed my eyes. To me, that's a sign of excellence in horror.  Nearly everyone who has seen this film would agree with that.

SINISTER

I'm not exactly sure what bothered me so much about Sinister. I mean, it's an effective horror film on its own merit, and the acting is above average with Ethan Hawk's presence, but it's nothing earth-shattering, plot-wise. Perhaps it's because I first saw the movie alone at the theater, I don't know.  Maybe it's the thought of living in a house where something terrible happened.  Which is what Hawke's character does, in bringing his family to live in a house where a family was hanged to death in the tree in their backyard.  Ellison (Hawke) doesn't tell his family about the murders, just brings them there to live while he writes a book about the crime.  He finds a box of 8mm films - each with titles like "Pool Party" and "BBQ" - obviously left by the former owners.  In watching them, however, they depict horrific murders instead of family gatherings. What's worse is that Ellison, in studying the films, discovers a ghoul-like demonic face seemingly watching each murder scene.  What he discovers in delving into the mystery is totally unsettling, even more than the creepy murders themselves.  After seeing this movie I couldn't wait to get out of the theater and into the daylight. Which, in turn, didn't make me feel one bit better. Go figure. 

APT PUPIL

Nazi's scare the ever-loving shit out of me.  I've always been morbidly fascinated with the horrific events of the Holocaust and wondered how in the hell the entire world let that kind of atrocity go down. In any event, Hitler and his henchmen were pure and simply evil.  And who knows evil better than Stephen King?  Based on one of his short stories, Apt Pupil takes a teen (Brad Renfro) who develops an unhealthy obsession with the Holocaust and places him in the same town as a man who may or may not be a Nazi war criminal (played to perfection by Ian McKellen).  Todd Bowden (Renfro) discovers his elderly neighbor Arthur Denker (McKellen) is almost certainly Kurt Dussander, a high-ranking SS soldier hiding out in sunny California.  Todd ends up blackmailing Denker, trading his freedom for tales of mayhem from the death camps during WWII. The two develop an uneasy friendship, and the stories of ghastly concentration camp  conditions and horrendous human tortures fill their days and nights.  To make matters even more dreadful, Todd buys Arthur a duplicate of an SS uniform and forces him to wear it, which in turn helps Arthur reach deep into his memory, exposing the true horror of his previous life, which then begins to leech into his present.  Deeply disturbing, Apt Pupil made a lasting impression on me, and remains one of the most chilling films I've seen to date.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN (2012)

Horror films come in all different shapes and sizes. While this film would initially be thought of as a drama, there's no doubt in my mind that this film is an outright horror film.  Tilda Swinton marvelously plays the dejected mother of a seemingly loveless and obviously disturbed child. Flashbacks tell the story that from the moment the child is born, he isn't happy and does everything he can to make his mother equally as miserable.  He cries endlessly, won't play with toys, deliberately poops in his diaper, and gives his mother essentially no reason to love him.  It's unclear if Swinton's character ever wanted children, yet for all her trying to be a good mother, it ends up being no contest to Kevin's inherent psychopathic tendencies.  As a teen he is nothing less than frightening, pretending all is well when his father is around yet always on the verge of something... And that something is reprehensibly evil.  Because we are privy to the mother character constantly flashing back to a scene where she is driving to a tragedy at a high school, it's not hard to imagine what has happened, but it's the getting there that just takes your nerves and twists them until your stomach flops. From the day he was born, this child has irrevocably changed her life forever, and yet in the last scene there is still a mother's love evident.  Swinton was somehow passed over for an Academy Award for this role, but it's a tour-de-force of skill and perfection.  I don't think any film has affected me quite like this one. Terrifying.

Celebrating SIX Years Of Fear: Six Favorite Scenes In Horror

April 6, 2014, 2:45 pm

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Not much of an introduction is needed here, these are simply six of my most favorite scenes in horror. Scenes that made my heart stop, skin crawl, or my anxiety level reach outer space.

Jurassic Park was a popcorn movie, no doubt. A summer blockbuster of the highest degree. But it was also a damn scary flick in places, none more than this classic scene of heart-thumping fear.





 Insidious was an uneven film at best for me, but there is no denying that this scene in which a creepy ghost dances to Tiny Tim's "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" has a very unsettling feel to it.  Even more so when you watch this particular clip.




I was probably twelve or thirteen when I saw The Shining for the first time, and while seeing someone naked in a movie may have been a relatively new thing, I wasn't prepared when she morphed into a rotting old woman. Gets me every time!

 



The Exorcist is a powerful film filled with disturbing imagery and famous scenes. My favorite is a subtle few moments when Father Karras is having a dream about his now-deceased mother. We get flashes of Pazuzu, sure... but more unsettling to me is Karras's mother, ascending out of the subway, only to turn and retreat back down. All the while pleading....Dimmy!




Dark Skies is a relatively new film with the age-old plot about an alien invasion. I'm not as big of a sci-fi fan as I am straight horror, but to be honest this was one of the most effective flicks I've seen in a while. And I'm not much for jump-scares, but this one totally got me.




The Woman in Black (1989) will forever be in my top three all-time favorites (Jaws, Psycho). It evokes such a sense of dread, I've never seen anything quite like it. This scene sent chills up my spine the first time i saw it, and has chilled me to the bone in every subsequent viewing. This is how to do atmosphere in horror, folks.

Celebrating SIX Years Of Fear: Six Horror Films I've Never Seen (That Practically Everyone Else Has!)

April 8, 2014, 5:00 am

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While I have seen a ton of horror movies, there are still some out there that I haven't put my stamp of approval (or disapproval) on.  The following are six films that I have yet to experience, some of which are pretty damn popular in horror circles.  But I need to know if they are actually worth my time, so anyone who wants to weigh in, feel free....

WISHMASTER
Well, it's possible I have seen part of this.  Either that or I have just seen the main Wishmaster dude in pictures and clips.  It actually looks pretty scary.  HE actually looks pretty scary, kind of like the Creeper from Jeepers Creepers.  But am I correct in saying this guy is a demonic genie? Does he have a bottle? How is he summoned? What does he want after you make your wish, and how many wishes do you get? Does he want you to do unspeakable evil? Does he want to take your soul to hell?  (Doesn't everyone these days?) And my most burning question remains:  how the hell did this movie get three sequels?

STREET TRASH
Why doesn't this sound like a horror film?  It sounds like a movie about a gang from the wrong side of the tracks or something.  Is it a film about vagrants?  Hookers?  Homeless people? I'm confused. I understand it has a huge cult following, but I'm just not feeling it.  The movie poster does nothing for me, and to be honest it looks really stupid. I know I will offend with that comment, but someone is going to have to list this film's merits and perhaps I'll give it a go.  I do respect all your love for it though.  Horror fans are eclectic and proud. So never fear, I won't make fun of you for appreciating it.

THE STUFF
Here's another one I'm not entirely sure I haven't seen. Some of the 80's are a blur to me, and 1985 was one of those years when I did a lot of drinking after football games.  It's possible I may have subjected myself to this one at someone's sleepover, but I really can't be sure.  What is this about?  A rather ambiguous title, don't you think?  Any pics I've seen always has....well, stuff drooling out of their eyes and mouth, so I need to know just what the hell is going on before I take the plunge.  Please advise.

THE HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK
Hmm.... David Hess.  Must contain reprehensible, misogynistic material, right?  Let me guess...he's a career criminal that abuses, rapes, and kills women. Does it have a plot? Is there a reason to watch it, other than for completeness sake?  I know it's a Deodato film, so that gives it some credibility in horror circles, correct? It's one of the video nasties on "THE LIST" so I assume there's a ton of violence. Are there different versions, like a trimmed down, less violent one that I should avoid due to continuity problems? Do I really need to see this? Does it bring anything new to the table at all?  Or is it just a free-for-all kill-a-thon that I'd do well to avoid?

C.H.U.D.
I've heard of this one, many times. I always thought it was a comedy.  Is it?  I'm not crazy about comedy in horror. (Unless it's as good as say, Shaun of the Dead or Young Frankenstein). When I found out it stands for "Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller", I knew it had to be ridiculous.  So I just never saw it. Avoided it like the plague.  Still have no desire to see it, even though it has some decent stars in it.  Am I making a mistake here? What actually happens?  How are these "dwellers" released from underground?  Is it an apocalyptic movie? Where do the CHUDs come from? Again, I'm just not feeling it.

KILLER CLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE
Yeah, clowns just don't do it for me. Pennywise from IT scared me well enough, and of course the Poltergeist clown episode scarred me for life.  But sitting through an entire movie (because I can't call something with killer clowns in it a "film") full of the jolly - yet demented and murderous - idiots just isn't my idea of fun.  Can someone convince me otherwise? Why are these clowns in space?  Why does it take place in space, or doesn't it? Are the clowns intimidating? I'm guessing no, but perhaps I've got this all wrong. I'm afraid it's going to take a lot of convincing for me to waste my time with this one.

Sunday Bloody Sunday: Guinea Pig 2: Flowers Of Flesh & Blood

April 13, 2014, 11:10 am

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 Nasty.

Roots of Horror: The Monkey's Paw

April 19, 2014, 11:50 am

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Illustration by Walt Sturrock

~by Marie Robinson

Englishman W. W. Jacobs’ literary work was mainly comedic, but he is now known nearly exclusively for his supernatural short story, “The Monkey’s Paw”. Originally published in September of 1902, it has been republished in horror anthologies, adapted for film and stage, and provided inspiration for dozens of other forms of media.

In his classic tale, the White family—which includes Mr., Mrs. and grown son, Herbert—are visited by a friend, military man, Sergeant-Major Morris. He tells the Whites of a mysterious talisman that will grant three wishes, but at a terrible expense. Sergeant-Major Morris throws the talisman, a dried monkey’s paw, into the fire, but Mr. White retrieves it before it is burned, and despite Morris’ warnings, decides to keep it and use it anyway.

Brett Simmons' 2013 film

The story is simple enough, but Jacobs’ dark and haunting delivery had rendered it timeless. Admiration for the tale was instant, and the first adaptation of the tale was in the form of a one-act play staged in London, 1903. The first film version of “The Monkey’s Paw” appeared in 1923, and since then there have been nine more films directly adapting the story—the most recent released by Chiller last year. The story has been the inspiration for a handful of television plots on popular shows such as The X-Files, Buffy, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and The Twilight Zone which have all used the motif of a wish-granting cursed talisman.

This motif has been incorporated in a number of other films, television shows, books, video games, and comics, but perhaps my favorite version of “The Monkey’s Paw” is living legend Christopher Lee’s 2004 recording of the tale, which was done as part of the BBC’s radio series Christopher Lee’s Fireside Tales. Read the full text here (http://americanliterature.com/author/w-w-jacobs/short-story/the-monkeys-paw), or listen below… if you dare.

Sunday Bloody Sunday: The Happy Easter Edition!

April 20, 2014, 5:00 am

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 To celebrate Easter, I've found some awesome shots of some fairly disconcerting  - and bloody! - rabbits.

Enjoy!

SILENT HILL REVELATION

EASTER BUNNY BLOODBATH

NIGHT OF THE LEPUS

MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL

FATAL ATTRACTION

WATERSHIP DOWN

BUNNYMAN 2

EASTER BUNNY BLOODBATH

                                           (But my favorite creepy bunny isn't bloody at all....)

DONNIE DARKO

                                                              Have a bloody wonderful holiday!!

Wordless Wednesday

April 23, 2014, 5:00 am

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Generally, Wordless Wednesday is just that.  Wordless.
But just a few brief words to let you know this is a new feature here at Fascination with Fear.

Marie and I both love a good spooky pic, or just something that evokes an emotion of apprehension, creepiness, or outright fear.  So we've chosen to highlight pics we find on our daily perusing of the web for your enjoyment. 
A lot of blogs that feature Wordless Wednesdays are just one solitary photo.  And that's where we differ.
Most weeks will have a theme and several pics.  (But on the rare occasion that we find something powerful enough to stand alone, then so be it.)

And now...our first installment.  Let us know if you like the feature!

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Wordless Wednesday

April 30, 2014, 5:00 am

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Fusions Of Fright: BOOKHOUSE

May 4, 2014, 5:07 pm

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"Bookhouse"

~by Marie Robinson

I’m not a musician, and I am no expert on the subject but I do thoroughly enjoy music; for all of you readers out there who share a love for both music and horror, I present to you our newest feature, Fusions of Fright.

In this serial I’d like to highlight artists and albums that have a connection with horror and horror cinema. And I’m not talking about just soundtracks; I want to feature a wide variety of genres, all with a connecting theme of the ghastly and macabre. So, plug your headphones in, turn the volume up, and tune in to Fusions of Fright!

If you are a frequent reader of FWF you’ll know that I am a huge David Lynch fan, and therefore a fan of his early 90’s TV series, Twin Peaks. I’m certainly not the only one, and since the show’s premature death people have paid homage in a variety of ways. And it is here that I must turn you on to Bookhouse, a three-piece jazz band from Minneapolis, and their album, Ghostwood.
Josh Granowski, Chris Hepola, and Paul Fanfora have used their talent and affection for Twin Peaks to take songs from Angelo Badalamenti’s original score and reworked them into fresh, innovative new tracks.

cover for "Ghostwood"

Their single, “Into the Night”, replaces Julee Cruise’s pining vocals with Jenna Wyse, and the melody is played on bass rather than keyboard. The occasional belch of a horn and velvet hum of a cello give the song a little juice and a pounding heartbeat. Another favorite of mine is their rendition of “Laura Palmer’s Theme”, which before was mostly drawn-out synth climaxing with dramatic piano; Bookhouse’s version is more driving, lively and sinister. Bass and snare carry the melody, played on baritone clarinet, and while the original song brings me to thoughts of Laura’s innocence, this darker version reminds me of her mischievous nature.

Don’t take anything I said as if I am putting down Badalamenti’s score, because it is the original; however, I am truly impressed by Bookhouse (obviously a reference to the Bookhouse Boys) and the hard work they have put in to creating this interesting and exceptional record. They did it for the love of the show, and worked extensively with fans to make sure they knew the ins and outs of Twin Peaks. It is a good record on its own, but also a fascinating new way to keep Twin Peaks alive, which died much too soon. Take a listen to their single, “Into the Night” below, and buy their album Ghostwood on iTunes, Amazon, or vinyl here (http://ghostwoodalbum.com).

Wordless Wednesday

May 7, 2014, 4:00 am

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Dark Arts: Spotlight On Krist Mort

May 12, 2014, 3:26 pm

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~ by Marie Robinson

If you like the imagery in the intro of American Horror Story: Coven, then you’ll like the photography of Krist Mort. That’s just something that the Austrian artist’s work immediately reminds me of, but be assured her images go much deeper and are much more haunting.

K. Mort

The ever-resourceful Mort taught herself how to use a camera and uses local wooded areas to find her inspiration, and often puts herself in front of the lens as a model. A powerful, sensual feminine figure is just one of the themes of Mort’s work—there is a lot of strange stuff that goes on in the woods after all, such as magic, rituals, and the presence of deities and spirits. 

Her artwork has been commissioned by several bands, such as Sisters of the Black Moon, and The Devil and the Universe.

You can view her photographs and spooky short films on her website, here (http://kristmort.com/).

"Promo pic for Evoking Eternity EP"

Wordless Wednesday

May 14, 2014, 4:00 am

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Trifecta Of Terror! The Arctic Blues Derby

May 16, 2014, 4:00 am

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It's been a while since I've brought you a TRIFECTA OF TERROR!, and I figured it's high time to do so!  With The Preakness Stakes tomorrow, we're smack dab in the middle of the Triple Crown series in horse racing, so no time like the present to wager on which of the following flicks would be a winner.

How does this work?  Well, I choose three films with a similar topic or like-minded theme that would compliment each other and put them in the order that represents a winner (the best film of the three), a place (second place finisher) and a show (the third place finisher).  Meaning,  if you are so inclined, you could have an afternoon or evening of like-minded films and work your way from the mediocre to the stellar of the bunch (or vice-versa if you're likely to fall asleep and don't want to save the best for last).

In previous editions I listed them as win-place-show.  But I think I'm changing that up and listing them from "worst" to "best".  In this virtual race, we spotlight three films that have you shivering and

Your "show"film:  THE THAW(2009) - When a film stars Val Kilmer you have to wonder if you're going to get decent-quality Val (as in Tombstone or Heat) or low-quality Val (practically everything else).  I honestly don't think he does a bad job in this eco-thriller that takes place in the Canadian Arctic (though truth be told he's not in the film the entire running time).  Kilmer plays a research scientist who, after discovering the remains of a wooly mammoth, finds out it has carried a parasitic worm all the way from the days of the dinosaurs.  He tries to quarantine the group of ecologists he has with him, and to prevent another group (including his estranged daughter) from joining them.  Of course he does not stop them from arriving and chaos ensues.  I actually found this a pretty good film, with a good supporting cast (Martha MacIsaac being the stand-out), a fairly original script, and a fun gore and gross out factor.  If you don't like swarming bugs, beware this film.  As per usual, there are some dumb-ass moves (as in most horror) that lend no help to the scientific validity of the content.  And though it's supposed to be environmentally pro-active or at least sending a message about global warming, there's not much hope for mankind if the people solving the problems are anything like the scientists (and the graduate students at the heart of the film) are here. But for a fun flick likely to make you squirm and perhaps even induce a few buggy nightmares, you could do a lot worse.

Coming in second, we have our "place" film, which is actually a television episode of one of my favorite shows of all time, THE X-FILES.   I bring you:  ICE (1993).

Ice is one of those stand-alone episodes from the beginning of the series that laid the groundwork for the show's success.  Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) are on assignment in Alaska to determine why a group of scientists have turned up dead. The sense of dread that envelopes this tense hour of television is one of the main reasons I (and millions of others) developed such an affinity for the landmark series.  After a look at the bodies of the dead scientists, they find a dog - alive - that has black nodules on his skin and deduce it must be bubonic plague.  But things get even more perplexing (and unsettling) when they see something move under the dog's skin.  When the helicopter pilot subsequently becomes ill and dies, they discover a parasitic worm moving under his skin and remove it, believing it to be the contagion.   Naturally, Mulder believes the worm to be extraterrestrial, an idea Scully is not quite ready to entertain.  In any event, the duo is determined to prevent the contagion from spreading to the rest of the world.  Such a great episode, very reminiscent of John Carpenter's THE THING - and with good reason, as the concept for both came from John W. Campbell's  Who Goes There?, a novel that also inspired 1951's THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD.

Although there are dozens of similar-type films about trouble in the Arctic, I had to choose one of my favorite films - and one of the best remakes in cinematic history.  You all know what I'm talking about - our "win" film:  THE THING (1982).

A group of researchers in the Antarctic head to a nearby Norwegian station to find out why their dog was fired upon by one of their helicopters (which in turn, crashed).  They find a burnt-out station and a bizarre corpse that looks more inhuman than human and end up bringing it back to their station to do an autopsy on it. Without warning,  the pursued canine horrifically mutates into an unrecognizable creature and tries to attack the men.  One flamethrower later and the men are dissecting the monstrosity, only to discover it was in the process of imitating the men - or whatever else it is able to ingest. The men learn the Norwegians had found what appeared to be a spaceship in a block of ice estimated to be thousands of years old, and begin to wonder what may have escaped from it.  One by one the men seem to turn on each other, unwilling to believe that they themselves have been "infected". 
THE THING is a study in patience, dread, and true horror.  A stellar cast led by Kurt Russell, combined with superb practical special effects and an impending sense of doom makes THE THING a winner in any category of film. You just can't go wrong.  If this was an actual horse race, the odds would be even and the horse's name would be Secretariat.

Wordless Wednesday

May 21, 2014, 4:00 am

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Mr. Jones (2013) : Another Doomed Trip Into The Woods...

May 22, 2014, 5:21 pm

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~by Marie Robinson

Fledgling genre writer/director Karl Mueller’s Mr. Jones hit DVD shelves earlier this month. I had been intrigued when I first heard about it, and as soon I noticed it was out, I watched it.

Shot in found-footage style, Mr. Jones stars Jon Foster and Sarah Jones as Scott and Penny, a couple headed out to a secluded cabin where Scott plans to film his documentary. The subject of said documentary is a mystery, even to Scott, who apparently loses his train of thought after he ceases to take his medication. His mind is filled with anxieties about coming up with content since he and his girlfriend dropped everything to come out to the wilderness and film.

However, all stress is forgotten when the two discover strange and spooky sculptures in the surrounding woods. Penny, who is a photographer, instantly recognizes the sinister scarecrows to be the work of an elusive artist known as Mr. Jones. After seeing him stalking around in a hooded cloak, they seek out his cabin where they find a basement full of his unusual art.

Mr. Jones becomes the new subject for Scott’s doomed documentary, and he heads off to New York to interview anyone affiliated with Mr. Jones, including curators, art historians, and journalists, while Penny stays behind to photograph the installations. Separately, both find out that Mr. Jones is more than just an eccentric artist, and that his sculptures might be more than they seem; Scott learns more about the mythos of Mr. Jones and the mysterious way his artworks are obtained, and Penny is startled by a face-to-face encounter. It is from there that the situation quickly escalates from a dream to a nightmare.

Or, not so quickly. For me, Mr. Jones’ biggest flaw was an awkward and inconsistent pacing. Pacing is very crucial to me, as I will easily lose interest and walk away from a film—which may be childish. Also, a film has to have a flow that feels natural; if not it may feel forced or undeveloped. Mr. Jones has some very drawn out moments that I found myself struggling to get through.

While I enjoyed the mysterious character of Mr. Jones and the mythology created around him and his artwork much of the plot seemed half-imagined. The idea was there and it is easy enough to grasp but I felt there was not enough detail worked in to support such a rich concept.

The actors did a great job carrying the script, particularly stars Foster and Jones, who were very confident in their roles.

My favorite part of the film was without a doubt the real Mr. Jones—that is to say the artist who actually created all of those creepy creations: Pumpkinrot. I have been a fan of his for a few years now and I was extremely excited to find out that this art was the main focus of Mr. Jones.

 Pumpkinrot is a Halloween enthusiast who devotes his time and talent to creating wonderfully spooky displays, including witches, zombies, and—of course—scarecrows. I’ve included a few pictures for your viewing pleasure, but I encourage you to see more at his website, here (http://www.pumpkinrot.com/).

Wordless Wednesday

May 27, 2014, 9:30 pm

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The Devil's Business (2011): Occult Fright Done Right

May 31, 2014, 10:58 am

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 ~by Marie Robinson

Writer/director Sean Hogan’s latest work, The Devil’s Business, introduces us to a hit man and his rookie accomplice. Mr. Pinner (Billy Clarke) and Cully (Jack Gordon), respectively, are sent by their boss, Bruno (Harry Miller), to carry out what is supposed to be a quick and easy job. They are to wait inside their target’s home until he gets home from the opera, and then quickly and quietly execute him. While Mr. Pinner is seasoned in his art, and insists on a cold and serious manner, Cully is on his first gig. He is impatient and childish, complaining of boredom as mere minutes tick by.

Mr. Pinner obliges the boy with a ghost story—a personal tale of an old job that came back to haunt him—until they are startled by a sound outside. Thinking that their target, Kist (Jonathan Hansler), has arrived home early. In their search they stumbled upon disturbing evidence of occult activity. Their horrifying discovery proves to be too much for young Cully who pleads for Mr. Pinner to give him a break. Pinner sympathizes, and agrees to do the rest of the job alone, but before the two of them can put it all behind them they have many more demons to face.
Fangoria appropriately describes The Devil’s Business as an “intimate chiller”; with only two characters and one setting you get the opportunity to get to know Pinner and Cully. Clarke and Gordon generate an incredible chemistry on screen and because of this the script flows naturally from their mouths.

As Pinner becomes a mentor and confidant to Cully, they develop a sort of father and son relationship, which adds another layer of intimacy to the film. Hansler and Miller are the only other two speaking actors in the film (Mark Sealy appears in the final scene) and they carry their small parts impressively well; I particularly fell in love with Jonathan Hansler and his deliciously sinister performance. He was also in the Fangoria produced Axed (2011), which I have yet to see.

While The Devil’s Business’ foundation is laid with simple and classic story lines—such as Faust, which is directly referenced in the film—it is dressed up with unique details that make for a gripping watch.
While the film was originally released in 2011, it has just found an American distributor, Mondo Macabro, who is putting The Devil’s Business on shelves in October. It is parts crime drama, ghost story, and occult thriller so if enjoy any of those genres, or appreciate a well-made, thought-provoking film, then by all means keep an eye out for this one.

P.S. There are a TON of great alternative posters for the film. It was really hard for me to pick one to put up, so I highly suggest Googling it to check them out! I’m a sucker for good poster art!

Oculus (2014) : What You See Isn't Always What You Get

June 2, 2014, 6:51 pm

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A few years ago when I saw Absentia I made a promise to myself to make sure I checked out whatever director Mike Flanagan did next. So when Oculus was making the rounds, I missed it at the theater but was able to check it out about a week ago on the advice of a good friend.  And I was not disappointed.

Here's the thing.  I've always been freaked out by mirrors (evidenced right here), so it's a given I'd see Oculus - the story of the Russell siblings who have experienced a horrific past trauma that they are still dealing with in the present day, in particular Kaylie (Karen Gillan).

Her brother Tim (Brenton Thwaites) in a fit of panic as a youngster, killed their father after witnessing him murder their mother.  He's been incarcerated (well, holed up in a psychiatric hospital) for over ten years and has finally come to terms with his crime and has even embraced the dysfunction of it all.  Not so for Kaylie, who is determined to clear her father's name - and in turn, Tim's - by placing the blame for the tragedy on a mirror.  Not just any mirror, but one that has been supposedly to blame for the deaths of dozens of people who have owned or come into contact with said evil mirror over the last few centuries.

While this sounds utterly preposterous in theory, I must say the film works on nearly every level. Much of it is told in flashbacks, as we see Tim and Kaylie's father Alan (Rory Cochrane) install the dreaded mirror (which is a ridiculously over-sized, gothic beast) in his study where he promptly holes up in for hours at a time.  The kids' mother, Marie (Katee Sackhoff) seems to teeter on the edge of sanity - or are we just meant to think that? - and begins quizzing the kids about their father's whereabouts and just what he might be doing in the study.  Because we are privy to the past, we get to know the younger versions of Tim and Kaylie (Garrett Ryan and Annalise Basso) as they struggle with the ever-increasing peculiar behavior of both parents. 

 In present, Kaylie has convinced Tim to meet her at their old house to confront the antique mirror (which she has tracked down and procured from an auction house where she conveniently works) and destroy it.  She is certain it is the cause of all their family woes, and thus by "accusing" the mirror of dastardly deeds should be able to force it to start the inevitable chain of events that spurs supernatural events that in turn will then be its own ruin.  She devises an elaborate scheme, setting up surveillance equipment to catch the mirror in preternatural action, and in fact has even installed a "kill switch", which is an anchor designed to break the mirror at a specific time.  Kaylie is obsessed with destroying the mirror once and for all, and will stop at nothing to accomplish this goal, even though brother Tim is wondering if she is perhaps the crazy sibling, instead of himself.

What makes Oculus terrifying is the slow pace at which it moves, but never enough to bore you.  The pacing is very good, with the necessary flashbacks not wasting any of your time.  In fact, the children playing the younger Russells are quite excellent in their portrayals, digging in deep for effective emotions running the gamut from confusion to true terror. You can't help but to root for them, and even as adults they conjure such desperation that you become completely immersed in their horror. 

One of the best things about the film is the sincere lack of jump scares. It's more of a "did I just see what I think I saw?" kind of movie, where anxiety and tension overtake the need to see blood and gore.  There is a bit of the red stuff, in particular when Kaylie's hallucination while eating an apple will have you cringing.  But don't get the impression that the film has no scares, it's quite the opposite.  Not much is scarier than looking into a mirror and seeing something (or someone) that shouldn't be there, and this film has that in droves. The "now you see it, now you don't" bit doesn't work in every movie, but for Oculus, it's the meat on the bone. As mother Marie starts to sink further and further into the abyss, she hallucinates that she is physically rotting, and indeed as her mental state declines, she becomes more and more feral, and with her husband thoroughly under the influence of the (shall we say) demonic mirror, events take a nasty turn and the full scope of truth about what happened the night their parents died becomes clear.

But it's how we get to that point that is so deliciously frightening.  As adult Kaylie and Tim try to force supernatural events to occur by setting the mirror up to provoke an occurrence, they realize that the mirror is actually in charge, and has them seeing things that aren't there, doing things they don't recall, hearing voices, ending up in places they can't account for, hallucinating, and in the end has such a powerful hold on them that the two siblings begin to argue as they try to piece together what actually happened that horrible night and how to deal with those circumstances.

As stated, all of the acting here is very commendable, with a special shout out to both Annalise Basso (young Kaylie) and Katee Sackhoff (Marie).  Everyone gave honest, believable performances, which may be hard to believe in a film about a haunted mirror.  But the concept is truly effective here.  Who wasn't freaked out by the image of Samara in the mirror in The Ring, or that utterly horrifying scene from Poltergeist when that guy ripped his own face off?  Mirrors are creepy, dammit.

Also lending a big heap of dread is the eerie score from The Newton Brothers.  A subtle yet pulse pounding piece of music that conjures up nightmares without even seeing the film, I don't think I've liked a score as much since 2012'sominous Sinister. In fact, I listened to the score while writing this review.  Inspiring!

It seemed, at the finish of the perhaps surprising ending, that the filmmakers were going for a possible franchise, leaving the finale rather open-ended.  Whether or not we see another family struggle with the likes of this haunted antique again remains to be seen, but at least it's a relatively fresh idea for the most part.

So I leave you with the sincere recommendation to seek out this film.  I imagine it has its naysayers who found it too slow or not bloody enough - but for someone who relishes a deliberate, drawn-out pace like myself, it was a breath of fresh air, and an intelligent, well-acted and complexly written piece. Do check it out.

Wordless Wednesday

June 4, 2014, 4:00 am

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