Proud to admit that I am a horror junkie.
However, my definition of what falls under the realm of horror entertainment is fairly wide. Horror is an emotion experienced differently by individuals.
These are short reviews of the movies, television series, novels, comics, albums, and any thing else which crosses my path if I feel like falls into the wide world of horror entertainment.
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The Rating System
All opinions are my own. We are all different. What I may think is great, you may this terrible. Don't let my opinios stop you from exploring the vast world of horror in all media.
~Mind Blowing: Search for this movie immediately. It can only be described as pure greatness and possible an instant classic.
~So Good: Highly recommended because for one reason or another it stands out above the usual fair. Put the movie on your radar as it wont disappoint.
~In the Middle: The movie is a nothing special, average affair. It may entertain in the short term but it will be easily forgettable in the long haul.
~Warning: This movie is a cliched driven slop of familiar territory. Only watch if you're really of fan of this type of material.
~Steaming Pile: The movie is absolute garbage, a complete bore, and not worth the time or effort.
Starring: Gail Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nelson, Danny Huston, David Twelis
Director: Patty Jenkins
Premise:
An American spy during World War II crashes on a mysterious island full of Amazonian women. The Nazi's also find the island and attack. One of the woman decides it is her destiny to fight and conquer evil.
My Take:
A fun movie in the DC entries of superheroes.
Starring: Christina Ochoa, Alan Ritchson, Colin Cunningham, Thomas Dominique, Marama Corlett
Premise:
A police officer accidentally gets involved in a cross country race of death with a female racer who owns a car that runs on blood.
My Take:
An very fun series that never takes itself or any moment too seriously. There is plenty of gore, wit, and strangeness to satisfy. And Colin Cunningham steals the show as the puppet master Julian Slink.
Starring: Emily Blunt, Haley Bennet, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans, Rebecca Ferguson, Edgar Ramirez, Laura Prepon, Alison Janney, Lisa Kudrow
Director: Tate Taylor
Premise:
A divorced woman watches her ex and new wife from a far each day as she passes by on the train. She also watches the young neighbor couple and dreams up a magical life for them. One she sees an odd scene that sends her into disbelief. The young girl comes up missing and the woman wants to figure out want happened.
My Take:
A fine multiple layer mystery where nothing is as really seems to the viewer.
Premise:
After his wife's death a widower's psyche starts to fall apart.
My Take:
The movie tries to take arthouse horror approach and it really doesn't work. There are a few decent individual scenes but not a lot of substance behind it all.
Premise:
A group of friends out for a bachelor party end up at an underground gentlemen's club with a world of mystery surrounding it. One of the men gets swooned by the siren song of one of the dancers who is harboring a secret.
My Take:
The movie wild and crazy ride, even if you've seen the short "Amateur Night" the material is taken from. Justin Welborn steals the show as the over the top PT Barnum of the gentlemen's club holding supernatual mysteries.
Starring: Michael Thomson, Christain Radford, Allira Jacques
Director: Chris Sun
Premise:
A man's daughter goes missing and is found murdered. He tries to cope and tries find answers to who killed his girl when killer might be closer to him than he thinks.
My Take:
A straight forward revenge tale with a grieving father getting revenge on the person who killed his daughter.
Starring: Auden Longworth, Sara Gadon, Aaron Paul, Jamie Dornan, Molly Parker, Oliver Platt
Director: Alexandra Aja
Premise:
A young boy is in a coma after a near fatal flaw. He tells his story as a doctor tries to help him and the mother but soon he discovers not all is at it appears.
My Take:
The movie often plays with the lines of reality as it's told from the imagination of a young boy coping with many things. There is a mystery as to why he's in the coma and what is actually happening with his parents.
Premise:
Two actress friends get away for the weekend in a hope to rekindle their friendship after drifting apart due to professional and personal jealousy. As the situation becomes more uncomfortable; the trip changes both woman.
My Take:
A great mind screw of a movie. The leads are fantastic and the portrayal each character is fascinating. The tension leads to a moment that flips the film around and then builds up to an intense conclusion.
Starring: Dominic Cooper, Joseph Gilgun, Ruth Negga, Graham McTavish, Ian Colletti, Noah Taylor, Julie Anne Emery, Pip Torrens
Premise:
Season 2 has Jesse and the gang travel to New Orleans in search for God, who seems to be missing. Along the way he meets new allies and new foes
My Take:
If I compare the series to the source material, it makes me really frustrated. If I take it as a series, it is still just average. Bizarre and over the top most of the time, but rather mundane.
Starring: Chad Grimes, Layton Matthews, Santiago Craig, Zelieann Rivera
Director: Pearry Reginald Teo
Premise:
A man believes he can revive his wife from the the dead. Another man who feels responsible for the death of his disabled brother feels the need to join him. A third man seeks revenge on his loved ones who caused his death.
My Take:
Separate stories of death are intertwined into a larger tale. It sort of all comes together at the end. There are more than a few disturbing sequences.
Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Miguel Ferrer, Laura Dern, Sheryl Lee, David Lynch, Michael Horse, Robert Forster, Naomi Watts, Jim Belushi, Robert Knepper, Madchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tim Roth, Harry Goaz, Kimmy Robertson, Tom Sizemore, Grace Zabriskie, Sherilyn Fenn, James Marshall, Peggy Lipton, Crysta Beil
Premise:
25 years after a horrible murder shocks a small community, the residents are still searching for answers. The FBI agent at the head of the investigation, who went missing after the case, suddenly shows up in two different places living different lives. An FBI director looks for the missing agent.
My Take:
The hard to explain series return is filled with cameos galore and one strange scene after another. This is David Lynch at his surreal best and story telling worst. It feels like a bunch nonsense and takes about a third of the series to finally start coming together in some manner. Nothing is easily explainable and lots of loose ends are never wrapped up. It's fascinating and frustrating at the same time.
Premise:
The story picks up a decade after the original tale with Sebastain and Marla now married with a child. Life is going rather ho-hum until the pesky alternate personality shows up... or has Tyler been there all along?
My Take:
The first rule about Fight Club 2 is not to talk about Fight Club 2. If you are a fan of the original novel then pick up this graphic novel. You wont be disappointed.
Starring: Emma Roberts, Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Boynton, James Remar, Lauren Holly
Director: Oz Perkins
Premise:
Two girls are left behind at their boarding school over a winter break. They soon discover the evil lurking at the school.
My Take:
A creepy and twisted flick with a slow burn mentality. But when the shit hits the fan, it really hits the fan. Beautiful cinematography as well.
Starring: Ross Noble, Tommy Knight, Gemma Leah Devereux
Director: Conor McMahon
Premise:
A clown is accidentally killed during a kid's birthday party. Years later he comes back from the dead for revenge on the those kids who were at the party.
My Take:
A rather humorous but standard slasher flick.
Premise:
A real estate agent is selling a house with a horrible past. She thinks she found the runaway daughter of the couple selling the house and becomes the target of a supernatural entity which brings her sister into the mix.
My Take:
Seems like a missed opportunity with an overly complex tale for what boils down to demon possession. There are some creepy moments though.
Starring: Morgan Spector, Alyssa Sutherland, Gus Birney, Frances Conroy, Russell Posner, Okezie Morro, Danica Curcic, Darren Pettite
Premise:
Residents of a community fight for survival when a mysterious mist invades the town.
My Take:
The series is takes the elements of the short story and makes it a new tale, The series manages to be fairly interesting if not a tad predictable. It's heavy on the drama and man vs man theme while low on the creatures.
