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: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Terry Crews, Danny Glover, Steven Yeun, Jermaine Fowler, Armie Hammer
Director: Boots Riley
Premise:
A struggling telemarketer finds the secret to becoming a great salesman. As he gets promoted he discovers the bosses plans to create a "perfect" work environment.
My Take:
A movie that takes the viewer on an unexpected journey which I wont spoil. It's a clever tale with a great cast.
Starring: Tom Hardy, Tony Todd, Michelle Van Der Water. Rutger Hauer. Lucy Brown
Director: John English
Premise:
Villager have their young people taken to be sacrificed to a beast-like god. One man wants to end this practice and vows to take down beast
My Take:
Let's be clear, the movie has nothing to do with Greek mythology. With that said the movie is basically a bunch of kids being hunted down by a creature.
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Dania Gurira, Martin Freedman, Nupita Nyong'o, Letittia Wright, Forrest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Daniel Kuluuya, Sterling K. Brown, Andy Serkis, Winston Duke
Director: Ryan Coogler
Premise:
The king of the hidden Wakanda must protect his people when an outsider with a link to his people challenges for the throne.
My Take:
Another fun flick in the Marvel universe with plenty of action, special effects, and a good story.
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Middleton, Mark Ruffalo, Idris Elba, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldbloom, Karl Urban, Anthony Hopkins, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ray Stevenson, Anthony Hopkins
Director: Taika Waititi
Premise:
Thor must stop his Asgard from being destroyed by his sister, the Goddess of Death, who has been banished.
My Take:
One of the funniest in the Avengers series. It's really just a fun, entertaining flick.
Premise:
The story of Beauwolf told from the point of view of Grendel
My Take:
The short novel adds a different perspective on the classic tale, basically making Beauwolf appear the be the blood crazed monster in the tale.
Starring: Michalina Olszanska, Marta Mazurek, Jakub Gierszal, Andrzej Konopka, Magdalena Cielecka
Director: Agnieszka Smocynska
Premise:
Workers at a burlesque parlor bring two mermaids to their show. Fame, money, and hearbreak follows as one falls in love and the other wants to prey on the humans.
My Take:
A unique blend of genres that make for a fun movie.
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Tim Blake Nelson, Austin Stowell, Dan Stevens
Director: Nacho Vigalondo
Premise:
A 30 something, down on her luck, party girl gets dumped and moves back to her hometown. A giant creature shows up in the middle of Seoul destroying things. The girl slowly figures out that she is connected to the creature.
My Take:
The movie melds numerous genres together (romance, comedy, sci fi, drama, thriller) into one with slick and twisted turn for the third act. A great cast makes it all seem plausible.
Starring: Alden Ehreneich, Alice Englert, Jerremy Irons, Emmy Rossum, Emma Thompson, Viola Davis, Margo Martindale, Thomas Mann
Director: Richard LaGravenese
Premise:
Two teenagers discover secrets about their family and their small town.
My Take:
The movie has a Southern Gothic meets Fantasy feel to it with a solid cast and story.
Starring: Matt Damon, Tian Jing, Willem Dafoe, Pedro Pascal, Andy Lau
Director: Yimou Zhang
Premise:
Mercenaries get captured by an army guarding the Great Wall of China and learn that it was built to keep an army of creatures from making it to the province capitol.
My Take:
It is a visually stunning movie with some great action sequences, but there really isn't much substance to the movie.
Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Idris Elba, Tom Taylor, Jackie Earle Haley, Fran Kraz, Katheryn Winnick, Denis Haysbert
Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Premise:
A gunslinger battles a powerful wizard who is trying to destroy all universes and dimensions.
My Take:
If one doesn't compare it to the epic source material then you might not be disappointed. Just think of the movie as another turn in the wheel of the saga.
Starring: Salma Hayek, John C. Reilly, Toby Jones, Vincent Cassel, Shirley Henderson, Hayley Carmichael, Bebe Cave, Jonah Lees
Director: Matteo Garrone
Premise:
Three sort of intertwining stories set in a mid evil times.
A King sacrifices his life to a dark spell in order for the Queen to get pregnant. The virgin preparing of the potion also becomes pregnant and the two boys could be twins. The Queen will stop at nothing to have to the two boys not be in contact with one another.
A different King keeps a unique pet and raffles his daughter off in marriage for another person who can guess what it may be. An ogre wins the bet and takes the bride to his cliff dwellings where she must find a way to escape.
A yet another King is swooned by the song of a young girl, who is really an old lady under a magic spell. They are married and she must put up the disguise as long as possible.
My Take:
These are definitely dark fairly tales each with a unique path. The movie looks fantastic with it's sets and costumes. But the stories are cut together in a confusing manner for the viewer.
Starring: Eva Green, Samuel L. Jackson, Asa Butterfield, Terence Stamp, Chris O'Dowd, Judi Dench, Rupert Evertt. Allison Janney, Ella Purnell
Director: Tim Burton
Premise:
Upon his grandfather's untimely death, a young man discovers the tales of growing up in a magically place with special children is actually real and he too is a special one.
My Take:
A fun movie that does run a tad long and has many of Burton's trademarks.
