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31 Days of Horror: Resurrection |OT| The October Movie Marathon

Domisto

Member
#18 Linnea Quigley’s Horror Workout (1990)

The opening credits start with a lingering leery shower scene. So that sets the tone. There's some movie clips, largely from David DeCoteau movies, some workouts, some goofing about, and lots of cheesy one liners. I love trash 80s movies and it's mindless fun. This was alright because it knows exactly how much of a low rent cash grab it is and wears it proudly. I'm sure you could burn some calories with it one way or another. If you're scared by perms and crimped hair then look away.

Maybe I'll do a Linnea Quigley marathon one day.

 
12: Sweet Home - Netflix - not bad. Getting a bit burnt out on these “trapped in a house and chased by a killer” flicks. The happy couple does a better job than most fighting back. Aside from that, ehhhhh.

I give it 5/10 Axes to the Brain
 
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Domisto

Member
#19 Vampire Wars: Battle for the Universe (2005) aka Bloodsuckers

I couldn't help myself - the title made me watch it. My marathon has already degenerated after the workout vid, so whatever. Most of the planets look like Canada, the vampires look like a biker gang, it even has a sock puppet. It's got failed Sy-Fy pilot all over it. A sometimes gory cheesefest with lots of dumbass gunplay and cliches. Pure trash. LOLs aplenty. Where's the game?

 

kunonabi

Member
October 13th: Jigsaw
[Prime]

Holy hell what a load of crap. Just more salt in the wound regarding their decision to not pass the torch to Amanda. Glad I didnt pay to see this in theatres.

October 14th: Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland

I used to think was a marked step down from the previous one but it's actually pretty great. I thought the kills were lame in execution due to budget but it was actually more on the MPAA butchering it. The overall plot is junk but Angela's deadpan exasperation and the added wrinkles really make her a far more interesting character than one would assume. The movie is also subversive in places that are pretty impressive considering the time it was made.
 
13: The Ritual - Netflix - really enjoyed this one quite a bit. Group of friends harboring a traumatic incident from the past go backpacking in Swedens mountains and stumble into some real shit. The ending third took a bit of a turn when it all came together. Thought it coulda been done better but still enjoyed it. Lost the horror element to me though by then. Coulda used some more lore to fill in a bit of why things were happening. Kinda Blair Witchy crossed with The VVitch.

I give it 7/10 Gutted Animals. If you like this check out The VVitch or Blaire Witch Project
 
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October 14th: Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland

I used to think was a marked step down from the previous one but it's actually pretty great. I thought the kills were lame in execution due to budget but it was actually more on the MPAA butchering it. The overall plot is junk but Angela's deadpan exasperation and the added wrinkles really make her a far more interesting character than one would assume. The movie is also subversive in places that are pretty impressive considering the time it was made.

It was always pretty bothersome they had to chop the shit out of a straight to video release. I have to assume they only got it rated so Blockbuster would stock it.
 

kunonabi

Member
Yeah, the Blockbuster theory makes the most sense.

October 15th: Dracula A.D. 1972
[Blu ray]

This really doesnt deserve all the hate it gets. It may not do a whole lot with the setting but you get Van Helsing battling Dracula to the death on a runaway stage coach to open the film along with two other vampire tussles. Cushing is great to have back and Lee still manages to do more in a couple lines than most other movie Dracula's do in a whole movie. The setting makes for some less interesting sets but the movie does have a few nice visual flourishes and an awesome score. Cleavage game is on point as well.

October 16th: Aenigma
[Prime]

Lucio Fulcio's take on Carrie and boy does he botch it. It's easily the worst shot movie I've seen in a very long time. I cant believe it's actually from 1987.
 
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Domisto

Member
#20 Alucarda (1977)

What a film. A bunch of influences. The Devils, Exorcist, Carrie, Hammer. All turned up to 11. Wailing nuns, things on fire, lots of blood. This is grindhouse Mexico style. The devil let loose in a convent around 1900. It's no masterpiece but I liked it.

aluc.jpg



#21 The Vineyard (1989)

Big trouble little vineyard. James Hong tries to become immortal again by bumping off young actors and making nice wine. Awful acting, awful writing, weak direction, and it drags in the second half. Highlight: Hong says 'Kill the eunuch.'

 
Life - hoping I get a pass on this one, horror sci-fi with more than a nod to the first Alien movie. First alien lifeform discovered turns out to be vicious and cunning. Let's see how some of the brightest minds deal with a destructive space starfish when the shit hits the fan (not well). Nail biting moments and beautiful scenes - check the opening long take
 

Domisto

Member
Life - hoping I get a pass on this one, horror sci-fi with more than a nod to the first Alien movie. First alien lifeform discovered turns out to be vicious and cunning. Let's see how some of the brightest minds deal with a destructive space starfish when the shit hits the fan (not well). Nail biting moments and beautiful scenes - check the opening long take
I've been putting off trying this because it left a lot of people cold but I might have to check it out sooner. Always interested in some horror-sci-fi.
 
I've been putting off trying this because it left a lot of people cold but I might have to check it out sooner. Always interested in some horror-sci-fi.
OK, I just read some reviews to see what you meant and it seems the stupidity of the characters was a weak point for many, though we wouldn't have a movie otherwise :p It's worth a watch. Grab it and let me know what you think.
 
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Kagey K

Banned
Man, I fell out. Turns out watching Horror movies in order on Amazon Primes horror line, leads to watching so many bad horror movies I just might have fallen out of love with the genre.

This might be the year that broke me.

On a positive note I’m all caught up on the horror tv shows and have played more scary games this Oct then ever before.
 
sacrificed some viewing time on The Haunting on Hill House. Only saw the first eps. but wasn't overly impressed as most people seem to be with it.

falling behind slowly :( will maintain viewings though and try to get back up to pace
 
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Domisto

Member
OK, I just read some reviews to see what you meant and it seems the stupidity of the characters was a weak point for many, though we wouldn't have a movie otherwise :p It's worth a watch. Grab it and let me know what you think.
Might not be able to get it into the marathon as I'm spent up on rentals at the mo. But I'll bump it up for sure.


In other horror news Channel 5 (UK) has started showing The Strain which totally passed me by at the time. So I'm trying it now and the first episodes have been pretty good. I like the whole CDC angle.
 

kunonabi

Member
Man, I fell out. Turns out watching Horror movies in order on Amazon Primes horror line, leads to watching so many bad horror movies I just might have fallen out of love with the genre.

This might be the year that broke me.

On a positive note I’m all caught up on the horror tv shows and have played more scary games this Oct then ever before.

This is why I always make sure to include a bunch of classic stuff I know I love. Amazon has so much pure garbage it's almost kind of impressive.
 

Domisto

Member
#23 Starry Eyes (2014) [prime]

This has a slow build and is a little light on story but the characters worked and when things do take off it was quite icky and I was into it. Some in your face metaphors about making it in Hollywood but it was alright.




#24 Pontypool (2008) [prime]

Wasn't expecting much from this but it reeled me in. Like Talk Radio meets 28 Days Later with some added weirdness. They managed to get a lot of tension out of it, took it in a surprising direction, and had a good cast.

 

Domisto

Member
#25 De Lift (1983)

This was ridiculous and so of it's time. There's a killer lift. The hero is a maintenance man and it plays like a cop movie. He even has a boss who throws him off his lift case. Teams up with a reporter. Has wife problems. A colleague in a mental hospital. It's got it all. Hits all the right genre beats, just feels slightly off so it's charmingly funny. From the director that gave us Amsterdamned, another amusing movie about cops after a serial killer.



 
damn, you're smashing em out PengTiki!

Hellraiser: A Rubik's Cube of demonic proportions traps a seedy guy in a world of pleasure and pain. He manages to get early parole and then hell breaks loose, literally. There's not so much a story to follow as there is a strange world Clive Barker has created, where evil lurks in both worlds. The grainyness of 80's film, score, and some tangentially related scenes create a unique experience. It's probably been explained in the books or subsequent movies but I assume the cenobites were normal people that have had a Greek style tragedy befall them.
Pinhead was credited as cenobite leader or something like that in the credits.
Anyone seen the latest Hellraiser? I was thinking of renting it, but with some of these remakes (looking at you Freddy) don't want to waste my time.
 
14: The Gift - Netflix - starring Jason Bateman and Roy, Pam’s ex fisnce in The Office makes a cameo. That’s the best it gets. Downhill from there. It tries to be a thriller yet is anything but. Youve seen this movie before but done way better. I guess the “twist” gift ending is kinda...okay?

I give it 3/10 sleeping pills
 

kunonabi

Member
October 17th: The Dark Half
[Hulu]
Another Romero flick. His non-zombie stuff is always interesting to watch as direction is so always refined and he maintains a sense of humor with the material while still taking it seriously.

October 18th: The Black Cat
[Prime]

Best flaming animatronic dummy EVER. This is a far better effort from Fulci with plenty of suspense and atmosphere. Camerawork is leagues ahead of Arnigma.

October 19th: I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
[Netflix]

Excellent little ghost story from Perkins. I didn't find it boring at all.

October 20th: Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
[Hulu]

Not really a horror movie but it's still a great Halloween flick. Elvira in her prime surrounded by a bunch of great character actors with all her talents on display makes for a damn good time.
 
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October 20th: Elvira: Mistress of the Dark
[Hulu]

Not a really a horror movie but it's still a great Halloween flick. Elvira in her prime surrounded by a bunch of great character actors with all her talents on display makes for a damn good time.

is this free on hulu? is hulu free still with commercials even? i have no clue
 
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kunonabi

Member
There is no free hulu membership that I know of. There is the base plan with commercials, a more expensive no commercial plan, and then some more expensive plans after that.
 

Domisto

Member
Anyone seen the latest Hellraiser? I was thinking of renting it, but with some of these remakes (looking at you Freddy) don't want to waste my time.
They really snuck the latest Hellraiser out without any marketing. Doesn't inspire confidence. The trailer looks low budget and selling it on weird effects. More like a Marilyn Manson video. No idea what the new team are going for, I haven't seen Revelations either.

If you want more from the series, Hellraiser 2 is prolly the most faithful to the original spirit but not as good IMO. Decent enough. After that I favour Inferno and Deader (5, 7).

But it's a series that hasn't lived up to it's potential that much. Could do with a more maverick artsy director to shake things up and avoid going the slasher route.
 
15: Cabin Fever - Netflix - I liked it. early 2000s nostalgia. cheesy and light humor, but not overly comedic. knowing nothing about it, I was happy to see it was
an actual disease and not a run of the mill killers after a group of vacationing teens
. also stars "Sean" from Boy Meets World!

I give it 6/10 Gulps of Water.

16: Dreamcatcher - Netflix - Really liked it, even if it starts to skew more actiony scifi and less horror after the first third or so of the film

I give it 8/10 Stomach Gurgles.


8 days left, 16 movies to hit. 2 a day is feasible as long as i dont get sucked into football or stuck watching some shows with the wife.
 
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17: Slumber Party Massacre - AmznPr - This is great. Classic 80s slasher. Theres so much that feels familiar, tropey, uninspired and yet theres just as much that feels original, fun, and totally rad.

I could use a reboot, prequel and sequel.
I give it 7/10 Pairs of Short Shorts.

18. House on Haunted Hill (original) - AmznPr - got too high and fell asleep halfway through it. will finish tonight.....
 
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kunonabi

Member
October 21th: The Blair Witch Project
[Prime]

Still the gold standard for found footage films as far as I'm concerned. I remember it being such an amazing experience when i saw it opening night with my dad. I never thought it was real or anything but the dread the audience felt during the night sequences was palpable. Shame about the sequels especially Blair Witch.

October 22th: Carrie
[Blu ray]

One of my favorite films. It's pure perfection in terms of knowing how to shift tone for maximum effect. Spacek delivers an exceptional performance and her mother is the stuff of nightmares. Far more horrifying than Julianne Moore cutting herself in total edgelord fashion.

October 23th: Creepshow
[Blu ray]

Movie looks gorgeous on blu ray. Funny thing is my memory of the film was a combination of the original and the sequel. The stories that always popped in my head were the bugs, leslie Nielsen, and the cigar store Indian from the sequel. Really loved all the effects work and the performances are a real blast.

October 24th: Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
[AMC]

I love this movie almost as much as the original despite it being a step down. Great characters, fantastic score, pleasance's best performance as Loomis, and a brilliant ending. Such a shame they pissed the ending away and just followed it up with trash.
 

Domisto

Member
I'm gonna have to watch the Creepshows at some point. I didn't really like anthologies when I was young but I think I'm missing out.

#26 Inn of the Damned (1975)

We've got a cheesy western with cowboys after bandits, and a cheesy slasher with no mystery about who the killers are. They thrown in just about enough to keep it an easy watch but it's not exciting or interesting. Aside from a little sleaze in the middle. It's an oddity but too long and a bit crap.

e99m3b.jpg
 
This was ridiculous and so of it's time. There's a killer lift. The hero is a maintenance man and it plays like a cop movie. He even has a boss who throws him off his lift case. Teams up with a reporter. Has wife problems. A colleague in a mental hospital. It's got it all. Hits all the right genre beats, just feels slightly off so it's charmingly funny. From the director that gave us Amsterdamned, another amusing movie about cops after a serial killer.
haha man I gotta watch that.

The Brood (1979) - Deformed killer kids, a psychotic woman, and a doctor running some new age treatment are all linked in this psychological horror. It builds up to a deranged final act that needs to be seen. That Simpsons episode where Maggie hits Homer on the head with a hammer is surely a parody of this. Must see.
 
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kunonabi

Member
October 25th: Nosferatu
[Prime]

I enjoy silent movies but this was just a chore. The first half of the film is constant noise, hilarious dialogue, and somehow Dracula is the least creepy character in the film. Everything looking like it takes place during the day doesnt help. The second half is better but by then the movie had already lost me.
 
19: Chopping Mall - AmznPr - This is bad. really boring and didn't like it at all. could have been SO much better. oh well. points for gratuitous breast shots.

I give it 3/10 Faux-Daleks
 

Domisto

Member
19: Chopping Mall - AmznPr - This is bad. really boring and didn't like it at all. could have been SO much better. oh well. points for gratuitous breast shots.

I give it 3/10 Faux-Daleks
Ha. I've a soft spot for this because it's my kind of tacky crap with an especially silly plot. But it does drag a bit.
 

Domisto

Member
Got together with a few friends this weekend and did an all day Saturday horror marathon. Watched 9 films back to back. Also one more on another night. It didn't turn out to be the best selection but we had fun with it anyway. A lot of this stuff is best with friends and a beer or five.

#27 The Flesh and Blood Show (1972)

There was a lot of flesh, not so much blood. A proto slasher flick with a lot of sitting about chatting but kind of fun. The reveal at the end is great with a really long hammed up speech and flashbacks that were originally in 3D. Interesting one.


#28 Final Exam (1981)

College campus slasher. Standard stuff with some funny goofy performances. Killer is a bit dull, as is the climax. Some amusing frat stuff though.


#29 Wishmaster (1997)

The djinn chews up the scenery, he was a bit much for me, came over as a tacky freddy type villain. Lots of gore and a decent pace but I never got into it. Felt naff.




#30 Victor Crowley (2017)

I really liked the first two Hatchet movies but found the third dull and try-hard. This one is like watching Youtube-the-Movie. All the money goes into the gore effects, which were good. But the series is too tongue in cheek for it's own good now. Some funny bits but not much else.


#31 The Boogeyman (1980)

This had potential as a so bad it's good film but it was a bit too slow. Some poorly explained stuff about a mirror possessing and attacking people. It's got all the expected beats but not much to stand out from the crowd except for the dodgy acting. Might give it another chance in future. The music was real nice.




#32 The Mutilator (1984)

Another under explained story, maybe I wasn't paying attention enough. Lives up to it's name with some nasty kills and gore. It's all very bare bones slasher stuff with 6 youngsters on a remote island for some fun turned horror. Not bad.


#33 Don't Go in the Woods (1981)

What the hell is this? It's like someone else found the film cans of an unfinished movie and cut it together without a script. It's so disjointed at the start with random characters and kills. There's some caveman with a spear attacking anyone just because. Weird comedy whistle music and a guy in a wheelchair on a mountain for some reason. It's a funny mess but a serious half-arsed mess.




#34 Happy Death Day (2017)

Does exactly what I expected from a Groundhog Day meets slasher story. No surprises, and a bit more cartoonish in places than I'd wanted. Also kinda PG-13 which made it more meh.


#35 Cry_Wolf (2005)

We watched the uncut version which inserts some cheap bloody scenes, but they were completely unnecessary. It was originally a tame teeny slasher style thriller. But I liked it a lot. The characters had a fun feel, lots of high school snarking and backstabbing. You could argue the plot is quite predictable but it did enough to keep me guessing and just enjoy going along with the ride. Thought it was well directed and acted. You even get Bon Jovi. Surprisingly the best one that night.




#36 Dial: Help (1988)

Stick this in a double bill with De Lift, this time we have killer telephones. Not as well made as The Lift though. It's a weak effort from Ruggero Deodato, mostly due to a rubbish script, but has it's moments with a few OTT attacks.
 
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ickythingz

Banned
Man, I fell out. Turns out watching Horror movies in order on Amazon Primes horror line, leads to watching so many bad horror movies I just might have fallen out of love with the genre.

This might be the year that broke me.

On a positive note I’m all caught up on the horror tv shows and have played more scary games this Oct then ever before.
I have found myself in the same position. I just feel broken, like the genre just sucks. I'm sure it is fatigue, but damn, this year has been hard.
 
The Woman - not sure if you'd call this straight up horror, not at least until the latter part. Father captures wild lady, ties her up in the shed, and tries to tame her. Some dark humor, obvious twists but a few awesome surprises; Who are the real monsters?!
 

Domisto

Member
#37 Planet Terror (2007)

This must be the oldest dvd i've got and not watched yet. Seems like forever. A good way to end the month. It's like Raiders of Atlantis meets Day of the Dead meets They Call Her One Eye made in Mexico by an Italian director with 9 aliases. Goes a little too far in places but when it delivers so much that's okay. There's some genuinely excellent cinematography and a mint soundtrack. Rose McGowan should have done more exploitation cause it really suits her. And Jeff Fahey was cool. Great finish. Why can't all movies be more like this.

 
final day folks!

Damn, really fell off the train. Thanks to Domisto Domisto for overachieving! RDR2 got the best of my final days. My wife wanted to keep watching The Haunting on Hill House, and since individual shows dont count my available viewing hours dwindled to nada.

Probably going to watch a classic or two tonight. :)

The Woman - not sure if you'd call this straight up horror, not at least until the latter part. Father captures wild lady, ties her up in the shed, and tries to tame her. Some dark humor, obvious twists but a few awesome surprises; Who are the real monsters?!
saw that a few years ago. not my favorite. expected more/better
 
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Domisto

Member
Thanks to Domisto Domisto for overachieving!
No problem. :messenger_grinning_sweat: It can get a bit of a chore looking for those gems in the rough but I have a pretty high tolerance for most horror. So this month has been a lot of fun for me. Managed to get a decent mix of films. Really good getting through a bunch of stuff that's been on my shelf/watch lists for ages.

Pretty sure I'll be up for this again next year. I've got a looong list of films I want to see.
 
Is anyone familiar with the movie: The Greasy Strangler?
Yes! Definitely one of the strangest movies I've ever seen, but so great. Will become a cult classic. It's like Tim and Eric and Wes Anderson(?) got together to make a film... if that's your thing :messenger_grinning_sweat:

Halloween (2018) - I remember one of the writers talking about giving Jason a more human element, and they've achieved that here without obliterating the mystery of what makes him him. Having a sequel set 40 years later is kinda cool - couldn't do it any later without changing canon. Dismissing every other movie in the timeline (while still including references) might not sit well with fans. but I didn't mind; the writers and director know what makes a Halloween film. Liked the reimagined theme too. Also, wish I never saw the damn trailer, gives away too many awesome parts!
 
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kunonabi

Member
October 26th: Sleepy Hollow
[Blu ray]

Possibly my favorite Burton film. It's gorgeous, has one of Elfman's best scores, a fantastic cast, and Atwood's amazing costume design. The plot is somewhat dated but the movie is just perfect Halloween entertainment.

October 27th: Tenebrae
[Blu ray]

Argento puts out another great showcase of murder as art. The sequence at the lesbian house and the blood splash kill at the end are just gorgeous. The movie is fairly straightforward for Argento but certainly touches on some dark stuff nonetheless.

October 28th: Phenomena
[Blu ray]

A far messier effort from Argento but it has this marvelous one of kind atmosphere to it. The kills are fairly tame but damn does the movie get nuts at the end. A favorite of mine despite its issues. I just wish there was more of Connelly and Pleasence together.

October 29th: The Witch
[Blu ray]

A more recent favorite that nails atmosphere, pacing, and has excellent acting that elevates the whole thing. It's one of those movies where the horror comes from so many different angles.
 
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kunonabi

Member
October 30th: Night of the Living Dead
[Blu ray]

Romero certainly makes a splash with this one even if his craft still hadn't completely found its footing. Ben pretty much carries the film with his likeability but the B&W gore is also quite striking as is Romero's use of angles. I still much prefer Dawn but this one is still an absolute classic.

Halloween: Suspiria
[Blu ray]

My sister introduced me to this film as a kid and it's been my measuring stick for horror films ever since. The amazing use of color, the sets, the sound design, it's so much to take in and the film immerses you in it from the beginning. It doesnt focus so much on the kills but Argento is still flexing his creative muscle to create a nightmarish fantasy of moving art. The script and plot is just kind of there but it doesnt get in the way which is all it really needed to do. Inferno dialed this all up to 11 but Suspiria's simplicity and sense of momentum and pacing were keys to its success and more horror films could stand to learn from that example. From what I hear the remake certainly could have.
 
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So I'm doing something different for this years 30 Days of Halloween, more Horror and Humor then straight horror. I did a costume and makeup test run this weekend and a modest attempt to emulate the late night hosts of my youth and of course the Crypt Keeper.
So everyday I'm gonna release these. I think it should fall in line with the "The OPTIONAL Challenges to Keep the Flesh Fresh" less a review and more a what to watch tonight kinda thing


You slowed down in the end, what happened?!

OK, so this was November 1, but because I incidentally watched a classic horror movie, have to include it: Troll 2
This was the first time, and so it was special. Came in a few minutes late, but I think the story is: family takes a holiday in a town inhabited by trolls/goblins. Now, in terms of so bad and incoherent it's good, this is up there with The Room; the reactions don't match the scenes, all the trolls are decked out in cheap masks from the $2 store, and the only one who knows how to act is the kid (this dude has chops) . This movie made no sense - A kid willingly eats a sandwich with this weird green shit without asking with said green shit is! What the hell! It's billed as a comedy horror, but it's hard to tell which is which - and for those reasons this was a lot of fun to watch - without, this would have been utterly boring.
Not sure if the father was from Law and Order or something...
 
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