I told you I'd feature this one.
I believe Apt Pupil is one of the forgotten Stephen King movie gems. Probably because more people consider it a drama than a horror film. But personally I think this is a fantastic psychological horror film. Its not gory or scary in the traditional sense but it's extremely disturbing, intense, and really haunts you after you see it. I hold it more on par with the likes of Silence of the Lambs and Se7en.
In a nutshell, Apt Pupil is about a young troubled man named Todd who finds out that his elderly neighbor, Kurt, was a high ranking Nazi soldier in WWII. So Todd does what any young troubled man would do in a situation like this. He blackmails the shit out of him. The whole film becomes a battle of wills and wits between the two.
This scene is a bit different than the usual scenes I feature on 10 Minutes of Terror mainly because I'm not really analyzing the visual cues but just honoring the amazing acting of Ian McKellen...who I have a HUGE old gay man crush on. Seriously, I want to hang out with this guy for a weekend.
Lets take a look at the infamous (well infamous to me) marching scene.
What I love about this scene the most is the transformation of Ian McKellen's character during his march. It really is a beautiful acting moment that I don't think my words can even describe.
What we see before and through out most of the beginning of the film is a broken man who is desperately trying to hide his secret. In fact at some points in the film you're lead to believe he was just a soldier following orders and is now ashamed. Well this moment is the turning point for his character.
If you just watch his facial expressions, McKellen's transformation is so beautifully subtle. His eyes grow more intense and his jaw becomes more set and his marching grows. His body language is exaggerated yet his face is cold, cruel and almost dead except for that spark in his eyes. At this point you damn well know that this frail old man really is a monster and our dear Todd has just unleashed it again. In fact, this moment here is when the tables begin to turn and the battle of wills really gets intense. Todd is no longer in control, Kurt and his demons are.
I really do think Apt Pupil is worth checking out. Its a fascinating story and the acting is top notch all the way around. If you're into more psychological horror, rent this sucker.
Showing posts with label 10 minutes of terror. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 10 minutes of terror. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sunday, December 6, 2009
10 Minutes of Terror: The Exorcist III
Hey Folks!
This one is a short and sweet scene that I feel the need to include in 10 Minutes of Terror. Its actually not even close to being 10 minutes...more like a 58 seconds.
I make it no secret that I absolutely love The Exorcist III. Is it as good as the original? Nope. And yes it DOES have Fabio in an angel costume which is just fucking weird.
But I really feel that the Exorcist III tried its best to keep the feel of the original Exorcist and for the most part, it succeeded.
But I digress. This post is about my favorite scene in the film. The Nurse Station Scene aka., The White Sheet Scene.
Lets take a look.
This moment happens right after the nurse in the red sweater goes to check on a patient and ends up getting a little jump scare from something harmless. Is it a cheap ploy to lure you into something bigger? Oh yeah. But it works. And it works well.
Now when I hunted this scene down on youtube I was surprised to see the entire sequence was less than a minute. The first time I saw it, it fell like eternity. But that just goes to show you how well they were able to build up the tension in this short scene. The stationary long shot is so far away that you can't make out anyone's features. It also has the qualities of a security camera which gives a very voyeuristic feel. The colors in the scene were drab and cold, even the background people were in colors that disappeared. This made the nurse's sweater stand out and you can't help but watch that sweater the entire moment. The entire scene is very mundane. No score, nothing urgent happening, and you can't even see expressions on people's faces to get any clue of what could be happening with them. It creates a blank canvas that lures you into a false sense of security.
Then BAM! Money shot! That weird shrill horn and a fast zoom in to...what the hell IS that anyways?!...Yes I know its an old lady in a sheet but the first time I saw that it went so fast that I jumped and thought maybe it was a creature instead of a person. I'd also like to point out the horrific device the sheeted person is carrying. We do find out that its a device used in Autopsies...charming.
I really do love this scene. The Exorcist III does have its faults yes. And The movie itself is more creepy and atmospheric than truly scary. But its extremely interesting and has some great acting involved. I highly recommend tossing this up on the Netflix if you haven't seen it.
This one is a short and sweet scene that I feel the need to include in 10 Minutes of Terror. Its actually not even close to being 10 minutes...more like a 58 seconds.
I make it no secret that I absolutely love The Exorcist III. Is it as good as the original? Nope. And yes it DOES have Fabio in an angel costume which is just fucking weird.
But I really feel that the Exorcist III tried its best to keep the feel of the original Exorcist and for the most part, it succeeded.
But I digress. This post is about my favorite scene in the film. The Nurse Station Scene aka., The White Sheet Scene.
Lets take a look.
This moment happens right after the nurse in the red sweater goes to check on a patient and ends up getting a little jump scare from something harmless. Is it a cheap ploy to lure you into something bigger? Oh yeah. But it works. And it works well.
Now when I hunted this scene down on youtube I was surprised to see the entire sequence was less than a minute. The first time I saw it, it fell like eternity. But that just goes to show you how well they were able to build up the tension in this short scene. The stationary long shot is so far away that you can't make out anyone's features. It also has the qualities of a security camera which gives a very voyeuristic feel. The colors in the scene were drab and cold, even the background people were in colors that disappeared. This made the nurse's sweater stand out and you can't help but watch that sweater the entire moment. The entire scene is very mundane. No score, nothing urgent happening, and you can't even see expressions on people's faces to get any clue of what could be happening with them. It creates a blank canvas that lures you into a false sense of security.
Then BAM! Money shot! That weird shrill horn and a fast zoom in to...what the hell IS that anyways?!...Yes I know its an old lady in a sheet but the first time I saw that it went so fast that I jumped and thought maybe it was a creature instead of a person. I'd also like to point out the horrific device the sheeted person is carrying. We do find out that its a device used in Autopsies...charming.
I really do love this scene. The Exorcist III does have its faults yes. And The movie itself is more creepy and atmospheric than truly scary. But its extremely interesting and has some great acting involved. I highly recommend tossing this up on the Netflix if you haven't seen it.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
10 Minutes of Terror - Scream
Aaaand Its BACK.
I recently saw Scream again on cable and I felt it REALLY needed to be included in 10 Minutes of Terror. I stayed away from Scream for a while considering the sequels were eh and its been so copied and over done that I got sick of it. Watching it again after keeping away for so many years made me realize that this film is really damn good. I remembered how much I liked it when I first saw it.
Granted, Scream has now become extremely cliche like just about any horror franchise (Nightmare, Friday the 13th, Saw, etc. etc.) But believe me when I say that when the movie came out, it was fresh and fantastic. Back in the oh so cynical 90's (ah, my generation!) the whole slasher in the woods scenario was tired out after countless sequels. The whole rise of the sexy "intellectual" thriller chiller genre was at its peak and was becoming REALLY over done (if I see Sharon Stone's ass ONE more time...). So when Scream came along my friends and I let out a collective "Hooray!" at the arrival.
Okay yeah, the concept of Scream wasn't what you'd call different but the execution of the film was. Here we had a horror film where the characters were smart and savvy about their situation. To me, this made the movie even more frightening. Even equipped with the knowledge of horror film lore these kids were still getting picked off one by one by one. Would us die hards stand a chance?...well...probably against Skeet Ulrich yes but thats not really the point I'm making. It was a slasher film made for a generation who grew up on slasher films.
And while it is now the most cliche part of all in the film, the opening sequence is still a pitch perfect delivery of a teenager in terror. Wes Craven created a masterwork scene of slasher heaven!
Here's the scene. Not embeddable though. DOH!
Go watch.
I shall wait here and enjoy my cookie.
....mmm...cookie.
Done? Okay. On we go.
When I first experienced this opening scene I was scared out of my gourd. I was scared enough to chew on my own knee. THAT is scared, people! To have a wet spot on one's knee from your own mouth is to know fear.
But lets take a closer look at the scene shall we?
Keep in mind this movie was made during the rise of the cellphone. Having a killer stalk someone using a cellphone was completely unheard of due to the fact that...well...there were no cell phones before then. Using this unexplored technology at the time was not only unique but added an extra note of terror. Something used for convenience could also be used to conveniently dispose of you. Many films after that has used this device since. Also, notice how the loudest sound during this scene is the phone ringing. The ringing goes from mundane to almost an alarm, jolting you every time the killer calls back. We also have a subtle use of color going on here. Our victim is in white or light tones with light blond hair painting us a picture of innocence. Meanwhile she is being stalked by a hooded figure all in black. Its costuming 101 but it works.
But I think what I loved so much was the use of setting for this scene. Putting lil Drew in a house that was mostly windows was a great idea. I'm a pretty paranoid woman. I tend to put shades on all my windows for fear that some lazy eyes psycho is going to be peering in on me while I watch TV. So before anything happened in this scene I was already paranoid. Windows EVERYWHERE and not a shade pulled down over one of them. One can't help but feel watched with all those windows looking out into the darkness. A good sturdy chair can break your barier and you are knife fodder.
Trust me when I say that this movie was something special when it came out. Was it the best horror film ever? Not compared to some. But it is extremely well made, it jump started the genre back into the mainstream, and its just plain fun to watch. Despite the cliches it harbors now, it really is worth checking out again.
I recently saw Scream again on cable and I felt it REALLY needed to be included in 10 Minutes of Terror. I stayed away from Scream for a while considering the sequels were eh and its been so copied and over done that I got sick of it. Watching it again after keeping away for so many years made me realize that this film is really damn good. I remembered how much I liked it when I first saw it.
Granted, Scream has now become extremely cliche like just about any horror franchise (Nightmare, Friday the 13th, Saw, etc. etc.) But believe me when I say that when the movie came out, it was fresh and fantastic. Back in the oh so cynical 90's (ah, my generation!) the whole slasher in the woods scenario was tired out after countless sequels. The whole rise of the sexy "intellectual" thriller chiller genre was at its peak and was becoming REALLY over done (if I see Sharon Stone's ass ONE more time...). So when Scream came along my friends and I let out a collective "Hooray!" at the arrival.
Okay yeah, the concept of Scream wasn't what you'd call different but the execution of the film was. Here we had a horror film where the characters were smart and savvy about their situation. To me, this made the movie even more frightening. Even equipped with the knowledge of horror film lore these kids were still getting picked off one by one by one. Would us die hards stand a chance?...well...probably against Skeet Ulrich yes but thats not really the point I'm making. It was a slasher film made for a generation who grew up on slasher films.
And while it is now the most cliche part of all in the film, the opening sequence is still a pitch perfect delivery of a teenager in terror. Wes Craven created a masterwork scene of slasher heaven!
Here's the scene. Not embeddable though. DOH!
Go watch.
I shall wait here and enjoy my cookie.
....mmm...cookie.
Done? Okay. On we go.
When I first experienced this opening scene I was scared out of my gourd. I was scared enough to chew on my own knee. THAT is scared, people! To have a wet spot on one's knee from your own mouth is to know fear.
But lets take a closer look at the scene shall we?
Keep in mind this movie was made during the rise of the cellphone. Having a killer stalk someone using a cellphone was completely unheard of due to the fact that...well...there were no cell phones before then. Using this unexplored technology at the time was not only unique but added an extra note of terror. Something used for convenience could also be used to conveniently dispose of you. Many films after that has used this device since. Also, notice how the loudest sound during this scene is the phone ringing. The ringing goes from mundane to almost an alarm, jolting you every time the killer calls back. We also have a subtle use of color going on here. Our victim is in white or light tones with light blond hair painting us a picture of innocence. Meanwhile she is being stalked by a hooded figure all in black. Its costuming 101 but it works.
But I think what I loved so much was the use of setting for this scene. Putting lil Drew in a house that was mostly windows was a great idea. I'm a pretty paranoid woman. I tend to put shades on all my windows for fear that some lazy eyes psycho is going to be peering in on me while I watch TV. So before anything happened in this scene I was already paranoid. Windows EVERYWHERE and not a shade pulled down over one of them. One can't help but feel watched with all those windows looking out into the darkness. A good sturdy chair can break your barier and you are knife fodder.
Trust me when I say that this movie was something special when it came out. Was it the best horror film ever? Not compared to some. But it is extremely well made, it jump started the genre back into the mainstream, and its just plain fun to watch. Despite the cliches it harbors now, it really is worth checking out again.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
10 minutes of Terror-The Thing
Its back! And its in a new form!
I've been wanting to go back to 10 Minutes of Terror for a while. But to be frank, I ran out of good opening scenes I wanted to talk about. So I figured I'd expand 10 Minutes of Terror to include horror sequences I just damn well love.
This gives me more stuff to find on youtube too.
This also means there will be spoilers. So Beware. BEWARE!!!!
Anyways, I figured I'd start the ball rolling with a scene from one of my all time favorite horror flicks, John Carpenter's The Thing.
If you have not seen The Thing, go rent The Thing....right now. Seriously. Go put it on your Netflix and watch ASAP. I believe The Thing is one of the best monster movies ever made. Its text book perfection in gore and paranoia. In fact, its the paranoia part that gets to me more than the gore part.
A quick synopsis; A group of scientists working in the Antarctic encounter a really REALLY fucked up shape shifting life form. It gets lose in their facilities and pretty much all Hell brakes lose. The thing hides itself amongst the scientists and soon you're not sure who is really who they say they are. Paranoia, accusations, Wilford Brimley, and some of the most creative and gory monster scene's ensue.
One of my all time favorite moments in The Thing is the blood testing scene. Kurt Russel's character, MacReady decides to take matters into his own hands after they lost members of their team to the thing in gruesome ways. He finds a way to test everyone's blood in order to see who is human and who is not.
Let's watch, shall we?
What I love so much about this scene was how wonderfully tense it all begins. The shots on everyone are tight and unrelenting. The pacing is slow. The sound is silent with the exception of some incidental noise and their heavy breathing. Also, no one really blinks in this scene which makes it even more tense for me. I found myself holding my breath through the whole beginning.
Then BAM! All hell breaks lose, the monster is on the ceiling, and before you know it, Window's is getting his face chomped. I also love the moment where the chairs lift up and the other team mates are screaming and desperately trying to get away a monster that could slide down the chairs and onto their tied up bodies. Its like the movie embodied my feelings of sitting next to the crazy homeless guy on the train and put it on the screen.
I would like to point out, The Thing was made way WAY before CGI. And the special effects still stand the test of time. That thing is terrifying! I'm sure some men could argue its scary because it looks like a giant Vagina Dentata on legs, and well I will admit, that is pretty terrifying. But still, its puppetry, make up, and animatronics at its finest. If they do a remake, I can't even imagine how a CGI monster could be as scary as this.
There are many other wonderful scenes in The Thing, namely the one where the severed head sprouts legs and walks off. Its very classic John Carpenter and a gem of a film.
Check it out!
Also, if you have any films to recommend for 10 Minutes of Terror, opening sequences or otherwise, lay em on me!
I've been wanting to go back to 10 Minutes of Terror for a while. But to be frank, I ran out of good opening scenes I wanted to talk about. So I figured I'd expand 10 Minutes of Terror to include horror sequences I just damn well love.
This gives me more stuff to find on youtube too.
This also means there will be spoilers. So Beware. BEWARE!!!!
Anyways, I figured I'd start the ball rolling with a scene from one of my all time favorite horror flicks, John Carpenter's The Thing.
If you have not seen The Thing, go rent The Thing....right now. Seriously. Go put it on your Netflix and watch ASAP. I believe The Thing is one of the best monster movies ever made. Its text book perfection in gore and paranoia. In fact, its the paranoia part that gets to me more than the gore part.
A quick synopsis; A group of scientists working in the Antarctic encounter a really REALLY fucked up shape shifting life form. It gets lose in their facilities and pretty much all Hell brakes lose. The thing hides itself amongst the scientists and soon you're not sure who is really who they say they are. Paranoia, accusations, Wilford Brimley, and some of the most creative and gory monster scene's ensue.
One of my all time favorite moments in The Thing is the blood testing scene. Kurt Russel's character, MacReady decides to take matters into his own hands after they lost members of their team to the thing in gruesome ways. He finds a way to test everyone's blood in order to see who is human and who is not.
Let's watch, shall we?
What I love so much about this scene was how wonderfully tense it all begins. The shots on everyone are tight and unrelenting. The pacing is slow. The sound is silent with the exception of some incidental noise and their heavy breathing. Also, no one really blinks in this scene which makes it even more tense for me. I found myself holding my breath through the whole beginning.
Then BAM! All hell breaks lose, the monster is on the ceiling, and before you know it, Window's is getting his face chomped. I also love the moment where the chairs lift up and the other team mates are screaming and desperately trying to get away a monster that could slide down the chairs and onto their tied up bodies. Its like the movie embodied my feelings of sitting next to the crazy homeless guy on the train and put it on the screen.
I would like to point out, The Thing was made way WAY before CGI. And the special effects still stand the test of time. That thing is terrifying! I'm sure some men could argue its scary because it looks like a giant Vagina Dentata on legs, and well I will admit, that is pretty terrifying. But still, its puppetry, make up, and animatronics at its finest. If they do a remake, I can't even imagine how a CGI monster could be as scary as this.
There are many other wonderful scenes in The Thing, namely the one where the severed head sprouts legs and walks off. Its very classic John Carpenter and a gem of a film.
Check it out!
Also, if you have any films to recommend for 10 Minutes of Terror, opening sequences or otherwise, lay em on me!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
10 minutes of Terror-Jeepers Creepers
Wow! Two 10 minutes of terror in two weeks? I'm on a ROLL here!
Yes, I have a love/hate/borderline abusive relationship with the movie Jeepers Creepers. And I have mentioned it here on the blog many times. But this isn't a post talking about what pisses me off so much about the movie. No, this is a post discussing what I loved the most about Jeepers Creepers. And that was the beginning of the movie.
Lets take a look, shall we? This is a pretty long clip divided into to parts. So I guess you can call this installment 20 minutes of terror instead. Hang on, because this is a long clip.
Part 1
Part 2
Now I posted both clips because the first 20 minutes of this movie are brilliant. Not only is there a wonderfully intense chase scene but some of the best brother and sister banter written. I was pleasantly surprised to not only see two characters in a horror film have natural chemistry but also come across as so likable. Making Trish and Dery likable made the terror you feel during the car chase even more intense. You became genuinely scared for the characters instead of waiting for a gory kill or the next cat scare. This goes likewise for the lull in the middle of the scene. It was a great moment of character development that lures you into a false sense of security before you spot the creeper dumping things down the sewage pipe.
The car chases were also wonderfully executed. The way the truck sneaks up on you in the beginning, the horrific horn that sounds almost like an animal, and the rusty nasty appearance of the truck all call back to the movie Duel but without outright copying it. Also, that brief moment when The Creeper looks up from his work to watch the passing car from a distance is a moment hailing back to a very creepy personal story about a weird hitchhiker on the side of the road I drove past once. It genuinely gives me chills.
This of course leads up to the pipe. Though that wasn't intentionally a part of what I considered the opening of the movie, its definitely a wonderful moment and leads all sort of "OH SHIT!"-ery.
So with Jeepers Creepers I'll have to say the first half of the film is brilliant. The very last scene of the movie is extremely chilling. Its the middle parts I have issues with. Regardless, people do think it is a masterpiece and I will admit it has some wonderful moments in it. Give it a whirl if you haven't seen it. Or at least watch up to the point where the black Psychic lady calls.
Yes, I have a love/hate/borderline abusive relationship with the movie Jeepers Creepers. And I have mentioned it here on the blog many times. But this isn't a post talking about what pisses me off so much about the movie. No, this is a post discussing what I loved the most about Jeepers Creepers. And that was the beginning of the movie.
Lets take a look, shall we? This is a pretty long clip divided into to parts. So I guess you can call this installment 20 minutes of terror instead. Hang on, because this is a long clip.
Part 1
Part 2
Now I posted both clips because the first 20 minutes of this movie are brilliant. Not only is there a wonderfully intense chase scene but some of the best brother and sister banter written. I was pleasantly surprised to not only see two characters in a horror film have natural chemistry but also come across as so likable. Making Trish and Dery likable made the terror you feel during the car chase even more intense. You became genuinely scared for the characters instead of waiting for a gory kill or the next cat scare. This goes likewise for the lull in the middle of the scene. It was a great moment of character development that lures you into a false sense of security before you spot the creeper dumping things down the sewage pipe.
The car chases were also wonderfully executed. The way the truck sneaks up on you in the beginning, the horrific horn that sounds almost like an animal, and the rusty nasty appearance of the truck all call back to the movie Duel but without outright copying it. Also, that brief moment when The Creeper looks up from his work to watch the passing car from a distance is a moment hailing back to a very creepy personal story about a weird hitchhiker on the side of the road I drove past once. It genuinely gives me chills.
This of course leads up to the pipe. Though that wasn't intentionally a part of what I considered the opening of the movie, its definitely a wonderful moment and leads all sort of "OH SHIT!"-ery.
So with Jeepers Creepers I'll have to say the first half of the film is brilliant. The very last scene of the movie is extremely chilling. Its the middle parts I have issues with. Regardless, people do think it is a masterpiece and I will admit it has some wonderful moments in it. Give it a whirl if you haven't seen it. Or at least watch up to the point where the black Psychic lady calls.
Monday, February 23, 2009
10 minutes of Terror-Dawn of the Dead 2004
Wow! Its been forever since I've done a 10 minutes of terror. This is mostly due to me having trouble finding clips online to show on the blog. Alas, the 28 Weeks Later clip has been torn from youtube...stupid youtube.
Anyways, I managed to find this clip out of sheer dumb luck. I'm a very big fan of the Dawn of the Dead remake. While I do believe it lacks the depth and social commentary of the original Dawn of the Dead, it more than makes up for it with gore, terror, and probably one of the best first 10 minutes of a zombie film ever.
I'm sure most of you know this scene all too well. Its definitely my favorite part of the film. For those who never saw it, or just want to re-visit it, here's the clip!
Unfortunately its not embedable.
All done? Back?
Okay.
Now that 10 minutes there are my own personal nightmare. Seriously. I DO have nightmares like this. This is why the zombie Apocalypse scares the Hell out of me. Waking up to your loved one now a monster, your neighbors wanting to kill you, and complete chaos? The idea makes my stomach drop.
What I love about this sequence is how extremely normal it all starts. It was only a few hours before when Anna was planning her weekend and enjoying some TV with her husband. Its all shot in this very sleepy, quiet way. The lighting is warm and welcoming. The background music is soft or nonexsistant. The actors speak quietly. Everything about the pre-zombie world is inviting us to relax and feel comforted.
That normalcy is what makes the chaos all the more jarring. When Lewis is bitten, the light is harsher, the focus sharper, the cuts much quicker. Also, that bright red blood against her white shirt, the white walls of the bathroom and the "domestic" beige of the bedroom is not only stunning, but another visual wake up call that things are REALLY bad.
I'd have to say my favorite shot in the whole sequence is Anna throwing herself backwards into the bathtub. There's just a moment of stunned silence as she sits there before the insanity begins again.
I really believe the reason why Dawn of the Dead 2004 gives me such a eerie feeling is because I watched it during the very devastating southern California fires. The entire city was in flames and no one was advised to leave their house. I remember the skies were orange and smokey for weeks. It was like the zombie Apocalypse only lacking zombies. For some reason, sharing that sense of dread with the characters in this film was almost comforting.
Anyways, I managed to find this clip out of sheer dumb luck. I'm a very big fan of the Dawn of the Dead remake. While I do believe it lacks the depth and social commentary of the original Dawn of the Dead, it more than makes up for it with gore, terror, and probably one of the best first 10 minutes of a zombie film ever.
I'm sure most of you know this scene all too well. Its definitely my favorite part of the film. For those who never saw it, or just want to re-visit it, here's the clip!
Unfortunately its not embedable.
All done? Back?
Okay.
Now that 10 minutes there are my own personal nightmare. Seriously. I DO have nightmares like this. This is why the zombie Apocalypse scares the Hell out of me. Waking up to your loved one now a monster, your neighbors wanting to kill you, and complete chaos? The idea makes my stomach drop.
What I love about this sequence is how extremely normal it all starts. It was only a few hours before when Anna was planning her weekend and enjoying some TV with her husband. Its all shot in this very sleepy, quiet way. The lighting is warm and welcoming. The background music is soft or nonexsistant. The actors speak quietly. Everything about the pre-zombie world is inviting us to relax and feel comforted.
That normalcy is what makes the chaos all the more jarring. When Lewis is bitten, the light is harsher, the focus sharper, the cuts much quicker. Also, that bright red blood against her white shirt, the white walls of the bathroom and the "domestic" beige of the bedroom is not only stunning, but another visual wake up call that things are REALLY bad.
I'd have to say my favorite shot in the whole sequence is Anna throwing herself backwards into the bathtub. There's just a moment of stunned silence as she sits there before the insanity begins again.
I really believe the reason why Dawn of the Dead 2004 gives me such a eerie feeling is because I watched it during the very devastating southern California fires. The entire city was in flames and no one was advised to leave their house. I remember the skies were orange and smokey for weeks. It was like the zombie Apocalypse only lacking zombies. For some reason, sharing that sense of dread with the characters in this film was almost comforting.
Also, for a bonus, Johnny, from Freddy In Space has a new fun blog called Win Free Horror Shit in which you can...well...win free horror shit. He posts several contests you can enter so if you want to try your hand in winning stuff, check the blog out!
Monday, January 12, 2009
10 Minutes of Terror: Jaws. And A Bonus material!
Hey All!
Thanks again for sticking with us during this busy time.
We'll make it worth your while!
For example, we'll have to following reviews coming up from me.
Frankenhooker, Happiness of the Katakuris, Terror Firmer, and Habit
And a special live blog/joint review of Blood Feast 2 All U Can Eat by Stac and myself. Oh the hilarity! Oh the many "eating out" jokes to be had!
You know you want to stay tuned for our cude mouths.
Until Then we have 10 minutes of Terror!!!!
Sorta.
Okay so I wanted to focus on Jaws. Yeah yeah I know. We've all seen Jaws numerous times. Its become a cliche and I'm sure we can quote large sections from it.
But come on, admit it. You all pissed your pants as much as I did when you saw that first scene with the girl in the ocean and the screaming and the panting and freaking out and the wa wa wa ADMIT IT!
Despite the fact that Jaws has become completely mundane, at the time, that movie was insanely scary. Spielberg was at his finest in suspense and no frills film making. It still stands as one of my favorite scary movies of all time.
And you think such a classic film opening would be EASY TO FIND ON YOUTUBE!!!
Nope.
I could not find a decent looking version of that scene at all. So instead I bring this this loving re-enactment I found instead.
ENJOY!
I find that a little bit creepier than the original.
Also, as a bonus, I found out one of my all time favorite zombie movies [REC] is coming out with a sequel! Oh happy day! The teaser trailer is out and is only nine seconds. But its an awesome nine seconds.
Check it out!
And to end this post, here's a zombie eating a shark from the movie Zombie. I love the Italians.
Thanks again for sticking with us during this busy time.
We'll make it worth your while!
For example, we'll have to following reviews coming up from me.
Frankenhooker, Happiness of the Katakuris, Terror Firmer, and Habit
And a special live blog/joint review of Blood Feast 2 All U Can Eat by Stac and myself. Oh the hilarity! Oh the many "eating out" jokes to be had!
You know you want to stay tuned for our cude mouths.
Until Then we have 10 minutes of Terror!!!!
Sorta.
Okay so I wanted to focus on Jaws. Yeah yeah I know. We've all seen Jaws numerous times. Its become a cliche and I'm sure we can quote large sections from it.
But come on, admit it. You all pissed your pants as much as I did when you saw that first scene with the girl in the ocean and the screaming and the panting and freaking out and the wa wa wa ADMIT IT!
Despite the fact that Jaws has become completely mundane, at the time, that movie was insanely scary. Spielberg was at his finest in suspense and no frills film making. It still stands as one of my favorite scary movies of all time.
And you think such a classic film opening would be EASY TO FIND ON YOUTUBE!!!
Nope.
I could not find a decent looking version of that scene at all. So instead I bring this this loving re-enactment I found instead.
ENJOY!
I find that a little bit creepier than the original.
Also, as a bonus, I found out one of my all time favorite zombie movies [REC] is coming out with a sequel! Oh happy day! The teaser trailer is out and is only nine seconds. But its an awesome nine seconds.
Check it out!
And to end this post, here's a zombie eating a shark from the movie Zombie. I love the Italians.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
10 minutes of Terror: Ghost Ship
Woo hoo! Come spend another 10 Minutes of Terror with me, won't you?
This weeks 10 minutes come from Dark Castle Productions; Ghost Ship.
Okay...has anyone really seen this movie? Like, the WHOLE movie?
because I have...and its kind of crappy.
Its an interesting concept. A haunted ship that's collecting souls, a plucky young woman trying to get to the bottom of things, and a creepy looking little ghost kid which are all the things I would enjoy in a horror film. Alas, it wasn't executed very well. And honestly, I think Event Horizon did it better with the whole haunted ship/stealing souls thing.
But Event Horizon is another article for another time.
Regardless of me thinking the meat of the film is mildly entertaining at best, it's saved from being completely written off because it has one of the most surprisingly awesome opening scenes I've seen in a B horror film.
Here's the clip. It takes a while to set it up, but once it happens, you'll gasp...or laugh. Or Both! Either way, its surprising.
Okay, did you see THAT?!
BEST GROUP DEATH, EVAR!
I have to hand it to the Dark Castle people, what their movies lack in scares they make up for in creative clown gore. When I watched the special features on the Ghost Ship DVD they discussed this scene at great length. What the film makers wanted to do was to top the "half a lawyer" gag that had such a huge reaction in 13 Ghosts. So instead cutting one poor guy in half, they cut...well...50 people in half. The scene has a nice tempo and build up to something completely unexpected. What I thought was an interesting touch was how the little girl was spared because of her height, which made that moment of the captain's head sliding off its jaw all the more horrifying. Though I do think the best moment is the expression on everyone's faces right after the wire snapped.
Stac and I first saw this film together with our friend Bevin on one of our Blockbuster Video romps. It was a new release and with weren't expecting much from it. I do believe we replayed that opening about four times, each time ending with us squealing in girlish glee and clapping our petite pink nail polished hands together after the captain's head fell off. I later showed this to a friend of mine, and he as well squealed in girlish glee...I mean manly intense glee.
... he reads this blog.
It seems whoever I've shown that scene to, it usually ends with the words "EEE! Oh My God! That was awesome! Rewind that! EEE!" The second EEE being optional.
Unfortunately this is probably the best moment in the movie. There is a gleeful murder montage near the end of the film which reveals a bit of a twist. And while that is interesting to watch it really pales in comparison to the opening scene.
Do I think Ghost Ship is worth looking at? Well, its not horrible. At moments its kind of fun and campy and I think its worth the watch if you're looking for just a fun movie with little scares and lots of flashy camera tricks. But if that's not your thing, you just saw what I consider the best part right here.
This weeks 10 minutes come from Dark Castle Productions; Ghost Ship.
Okay...has anyone really seen this movie? Like, the WHOLE movie?
because I have...and its kind of crappy.
Its an interesting concept. A haunted ship that's collecting souls, a plucky young woman trying to get to the bottom of things, and a creepy looking little ghost kid which are all the things I would enjoy in a horror film. Alas, it wasn't executed very well. And honestly, I think Event Horizon did it better with the whole haunted ship/stealing souls thing.
But Event Horizon is another article for another time.
Regardless of me thinking the meat of the film is mildly entertaining at best, it's saved from being completely written off because it has one of the most surprisingly awesome opening scenes I've seen in a B horror film.
Here's the clip. It takes a while to set it up, but once it happens, you'll gasp...or laugh. Or Both! Either way, its surprising.
Okay, did you see THAT?!
BEST GROUP DEATH, EVAR!
I have to hand it to the Dark Castle people, what their movies lack in scares they make up for in creative clown gore. When I watched the special features on the Ghost Ship DVD they discussed this scene at great length. What the film makers wanted to do was to top the "half a lawyer" gag that had such a huge reaction in 13 Ghosts. So instead cutting one poor guy in half, they cut...well...50 people in half. The scene has a nice tempo and build up to something completely unexpected. What I thought was an interesting touch was how the little girl was spared because of her height, which made that moment of the captain's head sliding off its jaw all the more horrifying. Though I do think the best moment is the expression on everyone's faces right after the wire snapped.
Stac and I first saw this film together with our friend Bevin on one of our Blockbuster Video romps. It was a new release and with weren't expecting much from it. I do believe we replayed that opening about four times, each time ending with us squealing in girlish glee and clapping our petite pink nail polished hands together after the captain's head fell off. I later showed this to a friend of mine, and he as well squealed in girlish glee...I mean manly intense glee.
... he reads this blog.
It seems whoever I've shown that scene to, it usually ends with the words "EEE! Oh My God! That was awesome! Rewind that! EEE!" The second EEE being optional.
Unfortunately this is probably the best moment in the movie. There is a gleeful murder montage near the end of the film which reveals a bit of a twist. And while that is interesting to watch it really pales in comparison to the opening scene.
Do I think Ghost Ship is worth looking at? Well, its not horrible. At moments its kind of fun and campy and I think its worth the watch if you're looking for just a fun movie with little scares and lots of flashy camera tricks. But if that's not your thing, you just saw what I consider the best part right here.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
10 Minutes of Terror-28 Weeks Later
Welcome back to another installment of Cins' "10 Minutes of Terror"!
And just to answer Stac's question; 10 minutes of terror should really have nothing in common with "7 minutes in heaven" ...unless you're into that sort of thing.
Today's ten minutes come from the sequel of a beloved film of mine. 28 Days Later is one of my all time favorite zombie movies. Yeah, yeah, I know there is the great debate of if its really a zombie movie or not. Purists say no no. I say it has all the qualities of a zombie movie, therefor in my brain, its a fucking zombie movie....well not a "fucking" zombie movie because that would be completely different and Stac would probably be writing an article on that instead of me.
But I digress.
28 Weeks Later is the sequel to 28 Days Later. By the time 28 Weeks later starts up, the infected have started dying off from starvation. The U.S. has occupied England and quarantined London, making it a safe place for non infected people to live again. I won't get into too much more since this isn't a review of the film. I will say that I feel 28 Weeks Later pales in comparison with Danny Boyle's stark, frighting, yet bizarrely optimistic original film. I found myself constantly comparing 28 Weeks to 28 Days and finding the movie just wasn't as good. Despite that, 28 Weeks Later is a great stand alone film and definitely worth the watch. It has some genuine moments of complete balls to the walls terror in it. so if you do watch it, try not to think too much about the original and you're good to go.
One of the best sequence in the film I believe is the first seven minutes.
Here's the Clip:
Now take a moment to catch your breath.
All set now?
Let's begin.
The opening of the film really calls back to the original filming style of 28 Days Later. The video tape quality, the jerky camera, and the fast cuts are all there. It is a bit cleaner than the original but it keeps the flavor well. What I love is the bleak, quiet beginning of the dinner with the survivors. You get just enough character development to feel involved with them before all hell breaks loose. I also love the use of light. As a viewer, you're convinced this scene is taking place in the evening until the door is is opened and that blinding daylight catches you unawares.
You're not only shocked by the attack from the infected but completely disoriented by the time of day.
The action is fast, bloody and unrelenting. Actually, its a great introduction on how all the action is in this film. It also gives you a good in site into what the film's mood is going to be. The moment Don leaves his wife Alice behind (Quite the dick move on Don's part) you know this film is not going to have that bonding camaraderie that 28 Days had. In 28 Weeks Later it's every man for himself. If you're not fast enough, you are zombie chow. The most chilling visual is the shaky long shot of Alice in the upstairs window banging on the glass then suddenly, she is pulled out of site. You never even hear her screams outside the house.
The opening scene is extremely breathtaking and happily enough, it is not the only good action sequence in the film. 28 Weeks Later has a little bit of down time and exposition after this, then BAM it starts on its downward spiral into fast zombie Hell. It doesn't give you a lot of time for character development but the pace of the film more than makes up for that.
Even if it doesn't have the emotional impact, great characters, or beautiful philosophy that 28 Days Later has, 28 Weeks Later is worth the rental fee for its action alone. Check it out if you have the chance. If for anything. to see this opening scene in better quality.
And just to answer Stac's question; 10 minutes of terror should really have nothing in common with "7 minutes in heaven" ...unless you're into that sort of thing.
Today's ten minutes come from the sequel of a beloved film of mine. 28 Days Later is one of my all time favorite zombie movies. Yeah, yeah, I know there is the great debate of if its really a zombie movie or not. Purists say no no. I say it has all the qualities of a zombie movie, therefor in my brain, its a fucking zombie movie....well not a "fucking" zombie movie because that would be completely different and Stac would probably be writing an article on that instead of me.
But I digress.
28 Weeks Later is the sequel to 28 Days Later. By the time 28 Weeks later starts up, the infected have started dying off from starvation. The U.S. has occupied England and quarantined London, making it a safe place for non infected people to live again. I won't get into too much more since this isn't a review of the film. I will say that I feel 28 Weeks Later pales in comparison with Danny Boyle's stark, frighting, yet bizarrely optimistic original film. I found myself constantly comparing 28 Weeks to 28 Days and finding the movie just wasn't as good. Despite that, 28 Weeks Later is a great stand alone film and definitely worth the watch. It has some genuine moments of complete balls to the walls terror in it. so if you do watch it, try not to think too much about the original and you're good to go.
One of the best sequence in the film I believe is the first seven minutes.
Here's the Clip:
Now take a moment to catch your breath.
All set now?
Let's begin.
The opening of the film really calls back to the original filming style of 28 Days Later. The video tape quality, the jerky camera, and the fast cuts are all there. It is a bit cleaner than the original but it keeps the flavor well. What I love is the bleak, quiet beginning of the dinner with the survivors. You get just enough character development to feel involved with them before all hell breaks loose. I also love the use of light. As a viewer, you're convinced this scene is taking place in the evening until the door is is opened and that blinding daylight catches you unawares.
You're not only shocked by the attack from the infected but completely disoriented by the time of day.
The action is fast, bloody and unrelenting. Actually, its a great introduction on how all the action is in this film. It also gives you a good in site into what the film's mood is going to be. The moment Don leaves his wife Alice behind (Quite the dick move on Don's part) you know this film is not going to have that bonding camaraderie that 28 Days had. In 28 Weeks Later it's every man for himself. If you're not fast enough, you are zombie chow. The most chilling visual is the shaky long shot of Alice in the upstairs window banging on the glass then suddenly, she is pulled out of site. You never even hear her screams outside the house.
The opening scene is extremely breathtaking and happily enough, it is not the only good action sequence in the film. 28 Weeks Later has a little bit of down time and exposition after this, then BAM it starts on its downward spiral into fast zombie Hell. It doesn't give you a lot of time for character development but the pace of the film more than makes up for that.
Even if it doesn't have the emotional impact, great characters, or beautiful philosophy that 28 Days Later has, 28 Weeks Later is worth the rental fee for its action alone. Check it out if you have the chance. If for anything. to see this opening scene in better quality.
Monday, December 1, 2008
10 Minutes of Terror: Suspiria
So I'm daring to be different.
I'm shifting away from my list form for a while and desided to present a nice on going series for a change. Why? Because I CAN!
Well that and since I am constantly adding movies to my horror libarary, my top ten lists tend to change day to day, hour to hour, depending on how ADD I am feeling at the moment.
So I am naming this series "10 Minutes of Terror".
Catchy, huh?
This will be an on going series of posts about my favorite begining horror film moments.
Some horror films start slowly, have a long build up of character developement and tension that explodes in the last ten minutes of the film. Other films start by grabing your crotch, slaping you upside the face, and screaming "WATCH ME, FUCKER!!".
The later is what these posts are about.
I love a good opening sequence. Sometimes even more than a closing sequence. Because if the rest of the movie sucks, at least I have that first ten minutes to make it worth the ticket price. And I didn't even have to sit through 2 hours of dreck to get to it!
Granted, some of these openings vary in time. Some are only five minutes while others are close to twenty. But "10 Minutes of Terror" sounds so much better that "An Indefinite Amount of Time of Terror Near the Beginning of The Movie" so I am sticking with this title.
So to kick this off, I'm starting with an old school classic, Argento's Suspiria.
While Suspiria isn't one of my top all time favorites, its a gorgeous flick with some amazing gory visuals. The colors are bright and wild and the imagery is almost poetic. Suspiria feels like a modern day brothers Grimm story (which it should since Argento's inspiration for it was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). We have pretty girls, we have witches, we have bizarrely gory murders that you would only find in a fairy tale, and we have hands down the WEIRDEST soundtrack that has been stuck in my head for the last month.
Suspiria is one big pile of 'What the Fuck?". I'm still not quite sure what the hell happened in that movie but sure had a good time watching it happen!
The part that captivated me the most was the opening of the film...well it wasn't the EXACT opening but I don't think anyone who reads this blog wants to watch clips of a girl leaving an airport even if its shot OH so stylishly. This is about 5 minutes into the film when the most spectacular double murder I have ever seen on film occurs. Here's the clip from Ye Olde YouTube!
Now, while I'm not a gore hound, I'm usually alright with my gore. But this scene makes me flinch like a 3 year old. I don't know if its the colors, the acting, or just how surreal it all is but it makes me cover my eyes, EVERY time.
The entire scene starts with those intense colors, mostly blues in the beginning, then as the tensions grow they become brighter and brighter until the screen is splashed in just raw primary with the women so washed out they look like ghostly white figures. The murders themselves are just strange and almost convoluted. The window smothering, the stabbing, the hanging, and the glass all seem to fit together in this horrific ballet of insanity. Even the actors movements seem to be over the top and graceful, like a dying swan....a screaming, bloody, terrified, dying swan. Now I WOULD say this was the best part of the film but trust me, there is another murder that tops this one. I won't say more if you haven't seen the movie.
Suspiria is pretty old school so if you're a younger horror fan who has just started getting into it all this one might have slipped under your radar (I just discovered it a year ago). If you haven't seen it, its definitely worth the netflix rental.
I'm shifting away from my list form for a while and desided to present a nice on going series for a change. Why? Because I CAN!
Well that and since I am constantly adding movies to my horror libarary, my top ten lists tend to change day to day, hour to hour, depending on how ADD I am feeling at the moment.
So I am naming this series "10 Minutes of Terror".
Catchy, huh?
This will be an on going series of posts about my favorite begining horror film moments.
Some horror films start slowly, have a long build up of character developement and tension that explodes in the last ten minutes of the film. Other films start by grabing your crotch, slaping you upside the face, and screaming "WATCH ME, FUCKER!!".
The later is what these posts are about.
I love a good opening sequence. Sometimes even more than a closing sequence. Because if the rest of the movie sucks, at least I have that first ten minutes to make it worth the ticket price. And I didn't even have to sit through 2 hours of dreck to get to it!
Granted, some of these openings vary in time. Some are only five minutes while others are close to twenty. But "10 Minutes of Terror" sounds so much better that "An Indefinite Amount of Time of Terror Near the Beginning of The Movie" so I am sticking with this title.
So to kick this off, I'm starting with an old school classic, Argento's Suspiria.
While Suspiria isn't one of my top all time favorites, its a gorgeous flick with some amazing gory visuals. The colors are bright and wild and the imagery is almost poetic. Suspiria feels like a modern day brothers Grimm story (which it should since Argento's inspiration for it was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs). We have pretty girls, we have witches, we have bizarrely gory murders that you would only find in a fairy tale, and we have hands down the WEIRDEST soundtrack that has been stuck in my head for the last month.
Suspiria is one big pile of 'What the Fuck?". I'm still not quite sure what the hell happened in that movie but sure had a good time watching it happen!
The part that captivated me the most was the opening of the film...well it wasn't the EXACT opening but I don't think anyone who reads this blog wants to watch clips of a girl leaving an airport even if its shot OH so stylishly. This is about 5 minutes into the film when the most spectacular double murder I have ever seen on film occurs. Here's the clip from Ye Olde YouTube!
Now, while I'm not a gore hound, I'm usually alright with my gore. But this scene makes me flinch like a 3 year old. I don't know if its the colors, the acting, or just how surreal it all is but it makes me cover my eyes, EVERY time.
The entire scene starts with those intense colors, mostly blues in the beginning, then as the tensions grow they become brighter and brighter until the screen is splashed in just raw primary with the women so washed out they look like ghostly white figures. The murders themselves are just strange and almost convoluted. The window smothering, the stabbing, the hanging, and the glass all seem to fit together in this horrific ballet of insanity. Even the actors movements seem to be over the top and graceful, like a dying swan....a screaming, bloody, terrified, dying swan. Now I WOULD say this was the best part of the film but trust me, there is another murder that tops this one. I won't say more if you haven't seen the movie.
Suspiria is pretty old school so if you're a younger horror fan who has just started getting into it all this one might have slipped under your radar (I just discovered it a year ago). If you haven't seen it, its definitely worth the netflix rental.
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