Top Horror Films of 2018!

The end is nigh! With the end of 2018 and the first year of Movie Night Massacre, I like to look at all the films that I enjoyed in the world of horror. For anyone who has been following this blog since it began as a new years resolution of sorts, you may remember that my first ever post was my top films of 2017!

9. The Nun

Now, I am very aware that a lot of people did not enjoy this film, and while I am completely aware of the flaws of the film, it didn’t stop me enjoying it as a fun, creepy if somewhat generic entry in ‘The Conjuring’ universe. The film looks gorgeously shot, full of enjoyable creepy moments and a moody, unsettling atmosphere. While the film as a whole was nothing special (hence why it is at the lowest point of this list) I still had a lot of fun with it, and would happily watch it again. You can check out my full review here!

8. The Secret of Marrowbone

I was very excited to check out this film as it starred some of my favourite up and coming actors in Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth and Charlie Heaton. While it didn’t fully live up to my expectations, with Heaton’s performance feeling somewhat lacking and the pacing feeling a little messy, I still really enjoyed this film, again, really nice cinematography, an immense air of mystery and a really strong final act.
A haunting family drama, haunting being meant in this most literal of senses. You can check out my full review here!

7. Ghost Stories

When I first reviewed ‘Ghost Stories’, I was definitely not it’s biggest fan, after countless reviews praising every aspect, I went in expecting more than I got. But after having a while (8 months to be exact) to think about it and process the character of the film, the clever story telling devises and the truly great paranormal sequences as well as some highly enjoyable performances, I have changed my mind, it is a really strong film, however, I still feel somewhat disappointed with the ending as I feel it takes away a great deal from the rest of the film. However, the vast majority of the film is still down right scary and unnerving!

6. Insidious: The Last Key

‘Insidious: The Last Key’ is the latest instalment in the ‘Insidious’ franchise, one of my absolute favourite modern horror franchises and I was very happy with this addition to the story of the further and those entangled within it’s grip. The creature design as usual is original and unsettling, the characters are well fleshed out for the most part thanks to Leigh Whannel’s great writing and film is highly enjoyable, frightening and brimming with character from start to finish. You can check out my full review here!

5. Annihilation

Alex Gartland is the sci-fi mastermind that brought us the mind shattering ‘Ex-Machina’, and while ‘Annihilation’ is not as mind melting, it is much more intense, expansive and action packed. Clear inspiration being drawn from ‘Aliens’ as we follow a team throw an other worldly landscape (this time set on a slowly terraforming Earth) how ever, the threat is not as straight forward as a vicious alien creature despite what my choice of image may suggest. If you love sci-fi horror then I would definitely recommend checking out this gem! You can check out my full review here!

4. The House That Jack Built

My latest review was for ‘The House That Jack Built’, a dark, twisted tail full of violence, abuse and gallows humour. I won’t repeat myself too much, as the review is still fresh.
The artistry on display in ‘The House That Jack Built’ is incredible, as writer and director Lars Von Trier displays a brutal and surreal film that also stylistically manages to feel all too real in particular scenes. This film is not for everyone, but if like myself you enjoy slow burn horror with an artistic flair then I would highly recommend checking this film out!

3. A Quiet Place

These next three films is where I have a great difficulty in putting one above the other, because I absolutely adored them all, but there can be only one! So in third place is John Krasinski’s ‘A Quiet Place’, a film that uses silence to build one of the most intense and suspense filled film’s I have ever seen. The sense of family is extended to audience in way that allows us to feel the loss, fear and dread of out protagonists in such a way, that each action and every event that takes places matters to us. This is a big factor for a strong horror film in my eyes because if we as the audience don’t care what happens to the characters, then what is there to be scared of? ‘A Quiet Place’ is absolutely brilliant and utterly unnerving! You can check out my full review here!

2. Halloween

‘Halloween’ was so, so nearly first as it has everything I could have wanted it to. A brilliant score by John Carpenter himself (that I have had on loop on Spotify ever since it was released), brutal kills, a great story, great scares and unexpected heartfelt touch that made this film hit in a sentimental way that only makes you love it more. Aside from one moment in the film that leaves you questioning what the writer’s were thinking as a result of how out of nowhere it is, this film is outstanding. The perfect sequel to John Carpenter’s original. You can check out my full review here!

1. Hereditary

‘Halloween’ and ‘A Quiet Place’ were the only two horror films this year that met my expectations. ‘Hereditary’ is the only one that exceeded them. The only film I left feeling an emotional tole after witnessing it. I felt unsettled, uncomfortable, scared and shocked. I always love a film that can make me feel this wide range of fear filled emotions. The several layers present in this film culminate to create an immeasurable sense of discomfort and fear. The dramatic tension present in the family, the mental health related undertones of the story and the supernatural elements all come together to make one of my now all time favourite films. One last aspect I truly love about the film is the way in which it feels as though I have barely scratched the surface of the hidden details present in this film and the way in which it feels like there is something new to be found with each watch. ‘Hereditary’ is a horrifying and utterly unnerving film, filled with immediate shocks as well as slow burn tension and subtle background details that are perhaps even scarier than what is clearly presented to us! You can check out my full review here!

Favourite Non-Horror Film of 2018: The Shape of Water

I couldn’t not give at least a slight mention to ‘The Shape of Water’ as it is my overall favourite film of the year. I love every single scene and every moment. I saw it several times in the cinema and bought it immediately when it was released and watched it countless times since. This movie is the sole reason I haven’t watched more movies this year, as I have just opted to put it on instead. You can check out my full review here!

If you have made it this far, thank you so much for reading my top horror films of 2018! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did enjoyed writing it. I’ll be back in the new year with my most anticipated films of 2019 list! What did you think of the movies I listed? Let me know in the comments or on the comments of what ever social media you seen my post this review on! In The meantime, stay creepy!

The House That Jack Built: Review

‘The House That Jack Built’ is the latest and possibly last film my controversial film maker Lars Von Trier and start Matt Dillon as the film’s name sake, Jack, a psychopathic serial killer with an obsessive cleaning compulsion. As you can imagine, this combination can and does result in a brutal and grim, yet darkly comedic viewing experience!

The story if broken in to a selection of violent incidents which felt like a bit of a strange choice at first but overall it really worked to bring together a string of savage murders that happen a great deal of time apart. Von Trier did a great job tying these stories together along with some great yet nihilistic and scathing dialogue. The depiction of Jack as a character immensely fascinating as he fits the serial killer mannerisms perfectly. Intense, self obsessed and socially stunted while at the same time, having a eerie but intriguing charm to him as you dislike him greatly as the monster of a human being he is, but you can’t help but enjoy him as an interesting and captivating lead character.

Matt Dillon’s performance as Jack was truly brilliant as he was very transparent in his performance, allowing the audience to see him purely as this character, rather than just an actor playing a role. Riley Keough also gives a very memorable performance as Jacqueline, an overly trusting woman who is manipulated by Jack to a sad and painful extent. Uma Therman and Bruno Ganz also give highly enjoyable and memorable performances, but for myself, Dillon and Keough’s performances were both highlights.

Having never seen a Von Trier film before, while hearing plenty about him, I was unsure what to expect from his direction but he honestly really impressed me with his masterful direction of all of the cast as he brought out some very unforgettable and horrifying moments. The direction of the camera work and cinematography was a particular highlight for me as I felt a great deal of the shots and scene compositions were absolutely stunning. The decision to go with a mainly handheld camera style really added to a sense of realism in a way that not many films manage to achieve. My main issues with the film lie in a few decisions made by Von Trier, in particular, when narration is taking place, having static images related to what is being discussed, sit on screen as it really slowed down the pace of the film in my eyes and I feel there could have been a lot more interesting visual story telling done in it’s place. My only other issue is in relation to a factor in the last ten or so minutes of the film, nothing too bad but certain statements felt a little bit on the nose and felt out of place in an other wise very ambiguous film.

The visual effects in this film were handled excellently, as from what I could tell, the vast majority of the gruesome imagery that takes place on screen was fulfilled with hauntingly believable practical effects. There are a handful of partially computer generated scenes near the end that do stick out in a rather odd manner. Whether this is the result of poor CGI effects work or are a result of the strange and specific vision of Von Trier, I am unsure, but they did stand out to me none the less.

The score and soundtrack for this film was rather interesting as it was combination of traditional drawn out horror/thriller/drama film music, none of which was particularly memorable but what did stand out was the inclusion of a piano motif/leitmotif of renowned pianist Glenn Gould performing J.S. Bach’s ‘Partita #2’. The way in which this is incorporated in to the film is brilliant and provided a great deal of character to the film in a way the original score did not.

But is ‘The House That Jack Built’ scary? Well, not in the conventional sense, but there is definitely scenes filled with tension and suspense. Von Trier manages to create a uncomfortable sense of realness through out the film that causes we as the audience to be drawn in to an alarming level, so when the graphic and gruesome moments strike, they shock us to a greater capacity than they would have otherwise. This coupled with the truly evil central character of Jack, guiding us through this journey of misery and discomfort allows us to see a very familiar evil that is very much present in our reality.
The scariest aspect of  ‘The House That Jack Built’ is that Jack could be anyone.

Mild spoiler below, scroll past picture for spoiler free continuation.

 

It also must be said, as a word of warning and without giving too much away, there are scenes that depict (through movie magic of course) the killing and mutilation of children and animals. While it is nothing beyond the same grisly fate of adults in this film, that can be very taboo for a lot of people, so just a friendly word of warning.

As a whole, I, for a lack of better word, really enjoyed ‘The House That Jack Built’. It’s unique, brutal, and funny in a very dark way. As a horror fan, I definitely feel this film was described as way more upsetting, distressing and disgusting than it actually was. For the average horror fan, this will be an artistic, slow burn film with touches of gallows humour. This film is not for everyone, so if you like straight forward serial killer centric, fast paced horror, this might not be the film for you. If you enjoy slow burn horror films with an artistic flair to them, then this might be for you. The best way I could describe this film to someone is if you took ‘American Psycho’s humour and general themes of nihilism and coupled it with the artistry of ‘Mother!’ and combined the two’s brutality and bloodshed, then you might get something like ‘The House That Jack Built’.

I’m going to give ‘The House That Jack Built’ 79%!

Have you seen ‘The House That Jack Built’ yet? If so what did you think about it? Let me know in the comments and lets talk about it! If you have read this whole review before ever looking in to anything about this movie then you can check out the trailer below!

Stay creepy and thanks for reading!

Halloween (2018): Review

Happy Halloween! (sorry I’m so late in posting this!) ‘Halloween’ (2018) is the latest instalment in the Halloween franchise, is directed by David Gordon Green and picks up 40 years after the original and ignores every other entry in the franchise.

The story of ‘Halloween’ is simple but strong, much like John Carpenter’s original. The film follows Laurie Strode (played by the incredible Jamie Lee Curtis) her granddaughter Allyson Nelson (Andi Matichak) and daughter Karen Nelson (Judy Greer) as they at first try to help Laurie come to terms with the trauma and subsequent paranoia that came from Michael Myers killing spree and attack on Laurie in the 1978 original film. Naturally the story shifts when Myers inevitably escapes and makes his way home to Haddonfield at which point, Laurie’s paranoid preparations for such an event are put in to action. There is one section near the end of the 2nd act where a certain character (no spoilers) makes a drastic change in character that feels very much out of no where and could really have done with further explanation. While this was jarring, it didn’t fully detract from the story for myself, but I could understand why this scene may have ruined immersion for some viewers.

David Gordon Green does a terrific job as the director and one of the writers of this film (alongside Danny McBride). The visuals are great, the kills are perfect, the story fits the tone of the original and the characters are interesting and likeable. It is clear that this is a film made by fans, for fans, as there are many nods to the original while still being wholly original.

Jamie Lee Curtis gives a strong and domineering performance as a hardened but emotionally scarred Laurie Strode, clearly carrying trauma and fear from that fateful night, 40 years ago. Laurie Strode as a character is not just a strong character but an inspiring representation of what it is to be a survivor. Someone who has been through a brutal and invasive attack, and I personally feel that form of representation has no better place than in a horror film, as all of the real life events that could be mirrored by Strode’s tale of survival (such as terrorist attacks, shooters, rape) are the very real horrors the world has to deal with day in, day out and I can’t express enough how well Jamie Lee Curtis depicted the strength it takes to move on from horrific attacks such as these.
Judy Greer and Andi Matichak also give great performances as the new blood of the Strode family carrying that same strength, all just in different phases of growth and development which is a great way to depict characters sharing a trait as it shows where there is room to grow for some, Matichak’s Allyson is still a teen, who hasn’t went through anything like this so of course she will be the least experienced of the three, it makes perfect sense.

The return of Michael Myers AKA The Shape, performed by both the original man behind the mask, Nick Castle as well as new comer to the series, James Jude Court is the other elephant in the room. Myers is done full justice if you ask me as he is still this large and intimidating yet silent and patient killer who chills you to your very core with a single glance.

The score by the master of horror himself John Carpenter (as well as his son Cody Carpenter and guitarist Daniel Davies) is absolutely outstanding and one of the best film scores in years, full brilliant motifs, intense atmosphere, memorable melodies and spine tingling sounds that will make your skin crawl in the best way!

But is ‘Halloween’ (2018) scary? The film is full of an air of suspense that, when broken, is immensely frightening. You feel every second of Laurie, Allyson and the rest of the character’s fear and paranoia due to the extremely intense situations they are put through. Myers as an antagonist is the near perfect portrayal of pure evil, killing without mercy to all those in his way to Strode. The kills in this film are some of the most graphic yet entertaining kills I have ever seen in a horror film, or any film for that matter, all handled very well from a film making stand point while never feeling like it is too much in the way the the later Saw films did for example.

Overall, ‘Halloween’ (2018) was near enough everything I was hoping it would be. Compelling characters and performances, amazing visuals and set pieces, a truly incredible Carpenter score and of all the things I didn’t expect. This film had a great amount of heart to it which was an unexpected but welcome inclusion.

I’m going to give ‘Halloween’ (2018) 89%!

Have you seen ‘Halloween’ (2018) yet? If so what did you think about it? Let me know in the comments and lets talk about it! If you have read this whole review before ever looking in to anything about this movie then you can check out the trailer below!

Stay creepy and thanks for reading!

31 Days of Halloween Horror! – Top 31 Horror Movies

Over on my Instagram (@themovienightmassacre) for each day of the month of October, I can shared one of my all time favourite horror films, each with a short micro review! Since October has now been and gone, I thought I would compile them here for you all to read in one!

Day 1: Halloween (1978)

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(1) As you may have guessed from my last photo, John Carpenter's Halloween (1978) had to have a place on this list. Halloween is a staple of the horror genre, with long and lingering shots that allow dread to grow and develop, a career launching performance from Jamie Lee Curtis and iconic direction and music from the master of horror himself, John Carpenter! What do you think of Halloween (1978)? Do you love it as much as I do? Let me know in the comments and let's geek out about it! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #halloween #halloween2018 #halloween1978 #johncarpenter #jamieleecurtis #michaelmyers #lauriestrode #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #slasher #serialkiller #theshape #31daysofhalloween

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 6, 2018 at 3:49am PDT

Day 2: The VVitch

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(2) "Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?" The Witch is one of my all time favourite films and in my opinion one of the best examples of great modern horror. I feel this way as a result of the incredibly emotional and believable performances of the cast as well as the way the whole film is dripping with suspense thanks to the masterful direction and pacing of Robert Eggers! Ever since seeing The Witch I have been excited to see what @anyataylorjoy do next as the I feel she gave one of the best acting performances I have ever seen! What do you think of The Witch? Do you love it as much as I do? Let me know and let's geek out about it in the comments! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #thewitch #thevvitch #anyataylorjoy #roberteggers #a24 #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #supernatural #paranormal #blackphillip #drama #witch

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 6, 2018 at 10:07am PDT

Day 3: The Exorcist

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(3) "What a wonderful day for an exorcism". The Exorcist was the first horror film I ever saw and I watch it regularly to this day. Startling performances, a rich and eerie atmosphere and incredible writing are just some of the reasons this film will always be my absolute favourite! Because it was my first, it meant so much to me to meet @eileendietz who played the iconic Pazuzu, kicking off my love of all things scary and monsterous! What do you think of The Exorcist? Do you love it as much as I do? What was your first horror film? Let me know and let's geek out about it in the comments! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #theexorcist #pazuzu #eileendietz #31daysofhalloween #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #supernatural #paranormal #demonic #demon #classichorror #exorcist

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 7, 2018 at 10:26am PDT

Day 4: Get Out

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(4) Get Out is a powerful and striking horror/psychological thriller film with something to say. There's something deeply chilling about a scary story that is not only startling and frightening but also rooted in a very real horror, which is something Get Out does terrifically. Jordan Peele completely blew me away with this film and I can't wait to see what he does in the horror genre next! What do you think of Get Out? Do you love it as much as I can do? What is your favourite horror film with a message? Let me know in the comments below and let's geek out about it! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #getout #jordanpeele #danielkaluuya #blumhouse #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #psychological #psychologicalthriller #comedy #darkcomedy #31daysofhalloween

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 7, 2018 at 3:27pm PDT

Day 5: Insidious

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(5) Insidious kick started one of my favourite horror franchises. I remember watching it at my friend's house when it first came out on DVD and being terrified of it but living every second of it! I had to walk home in the dark and when I got in I immediately leapt under the bed covers to hide until morning! I can't remember ever being as scared as I was that night since, with very few exceptions. What do you think of Insidious? What movie scared the shit out of you when you were younger? What movie scares the shit out of you even now? Let me know and let's geek out about it in the comments! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #insidious #insidious2 #insidiouschapter3 #insidiousthelastkey #jameswan #leighwhannell #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #supernatural #paranormal #haunted #haunting #31daysofhalloween

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 8, 2018 at 1:46pm PDT

Day 6: The Bride of Frankenstein

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(6) "We belong dead!" The Bride of Frankenstein captures everything I love about the Universal Monster films and more. James Whale's ability to create a macabre atmosphere while still creating a monster that is both horrific to the eye and emotionally compelling. Through this cinematic classic and it's predecessor, James Whale created the definitive film adaptation of Mary Shelley's terrifying tale. Boris Karloff as the monster is undeniably one of the most important performances in horror history. I could go in about how much I love this film, but I will save that for a future full review. What do you think of The Bride of Frankenstein? What is your favourite classic horror film? Let me know in the comments and let's geek out about it! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #thebrideoffrankenstein #brideoffrankenstein #frankenstein #frankensteinsmonster #maryshelley #boriskarloff #karloff #jameswhale #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #classichorror #universalmonsters

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 8, 2018 at 4:38pm PDT

Day 7: House of 1000 Corpses

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(7) "It's all true. The bogeyman is real and you found him!" House of 1000 is grim, grimey and gory masterpiece by @robzombieofficial , with iconic performances from the 3 from Hell themselves @sidhaigsays @sherimoonzombieofficial and @choptopmosele ! The film has so much originality and character that has since become synonymous with Rob Zombie. What do you think of House of 1000 Corpses? What's your favourite Rob Zombie film? Let me in the comments and let's geek out about it! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #houseof1000corpses #thedevilsrejects #3fromhell #threefromhell #robzombie #sherimoonzombie #sidhaig #billmoseley #captainspaulding #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #31daysofhalloween #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #serialkiller

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 9, 2018 at 6:24am PDT

Day 8: Ju-On: The Grudge

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(8) Ju-On: The Grudge was my introduction to Japan's unique approach to horror and I was hooked almost immediately! The overwhelming sense of dread and the constant foreboding atmosphere had me on edge the entire time. I have yet to figure out what it is about Ju-On 1 and 2 that has such a profound impact on me. What ever it is, more films need to incorporate it because I never feel more unsafe watching a film than I do when I watch Ju-On! What do you think of Ju-On? What is your favourite Japanese horror film? Let me know, I would love to know of more to check out besides the Ju-On series and Ringu. Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #juon #thegrudge #juonthegrudge #jhorror #japanesehorror #japan #kayako #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #worldcinema #worldhorror #31daysofhalloween

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 9, 2018 at 3:08pm PDT

Day 9: Rosemary’s Baby

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(9) "God is dead, Satan Lives!" Rosemary's Baby is a special cinematic experience, as there is no jumps or scares, but instead a strong and unnerving sense that something is very, very wrong. Mia Farrow gives an incredible performance in this film, just a shame that Roman Palanski is a complete piece of shit person. Besides that moral issue, this film is an iconic piece of horror cinema in my eyes! What do you think of Rosemary's Baby? What's your favourite unconventionally scary movie? Let me know and let's geek out about it! Stay creepy! #rosemarysbaby #miafarrow #classichorror #classiccinema #satan #satanic #31daysofhalloween #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #70shorror #31daysofhorror

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 10, 2018 at 8:38am PDT

Day 10: The Omen (1976)

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(10) "Look at me Damien, it's all for you!" Another timeless classic, The Omen is striking and bold as well as subtle and chilling. Full of intense and frightening imagery that truly push the envelope, even by today's standards and especially by the standard of the time! I would kill to have seen the first reactions of the first screening back in 76! A true piece of horror royalty right there! What do you think of The Omen? What movie do you wish you could have seen the first ever reactions to? Let me know, I'd love to hear what you think! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #theomen #omen #damien #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #classiccinema #classichorror #satan #satanic #supernatural #paranormal #intense

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 10, 2018 at 4:33pm PDT

Day 11: The Devil’s Candy

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(11) The Devil's Candy is a criminally under rated film that focuses on a family and a seemingly unconnected man with a very troubled mind who become intertwined as a result of a dark and sinister force! I enjoyed this film so much and I am shocked at how little praise and how much hate it has received, I think it is an original and brilliant modern horror film with great performances and cinematography. Have you seen The Devil's Candy? What horror films do you love and feel are under rated? Let me know, I'd love to hear what you think! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #thedevilscandy #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #indiefilm #indiehorror #seanbyrne #ethanembry #shiriappleby #satan #satanic #paranormal #serialkiller

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 11, 2018 at 7:32am PDT

Day 12: Poltergeist (1982)

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(12) "There here!" What do you get when you combine Steven Spielberg's writing and Tobe Hooper's direction? A god damn classic in the form of Poltergeist (1982) that's what! Of course I had to go with the most grousume scene too! With all of the Spielberg-isms present through out the film, this moment really catches you off guard and hits hard! What do you think of Poltergeist? What's your favourite gory scene in a film? Let me know, let's get graphic! 🎥🌑🔪 #poltergeist #stevenspielberg #tobehooper #gore #gory #supernatural #paranormal #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #triggerwarning #therehere

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 12, 2018 at 8:52am PDT

Day 13: V/H/S 1 & 2

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(13) This entry of my #31daysofhalloween is technically a bunch of short films, so why not just mash two anthologies together? I love the first two V/H/S films, while they aren't all perfect shorts, watching these 2 back to back is such a great time! I particularly love the narrative that ties the shorts together, some particular highlights involving a night out taking s hellishly wrong turn, and a haunted house that gets way too real! What do you think of the V/H/S movies? What's your favourite anthology film/show? Let me know, I'd love to hear what you think! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #vhs #vhsmovie #vhs2 #anthology #horroranthology #foundfootage #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #paranormal #supernatural #serialkiller

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 13, 2018 at 9:09am PDT

Day 14: The Shining

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(14) "Come play with us Danny. Forever… and ever… and ever." Do I really need to say why Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is one of my favourite horror films of all time! This timeless slice of insanity and terror is the pinnacle of psychological horror as it leaves the viewer shaken and feeling vulnerable with its constant building of tension and dread. Jack Nicholson gives one of the most terrifying performances in movie history. Also, just make things scarier for me… My name is Dani and that scene with the Grady twins never stops giving me the creeps! What do you think of The Shining? What scene messed with you the most? Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #theshining #jacknicholson #jacktorrance #dannytorrance #stanleykubrick #stephenking #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #psychologicalhorror #supernatural #gore #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhorror

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 15, 2018 at 4:35am PDT

Day 15: Alien

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(15) In space, no one can hear you scream! Alien is the perfect science fiction horror film. Intense atmosphere, incredible writing, iconic art and creature design by H.R. Giger and a career defining performances by Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley and John Hurt as Kane. The Xenomorph is the most detailed and intricate creatures ever commited to film and I will never not love ever aspect of it's design. What do you think of Alien? What is your favourite sci-fi horror film? Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #alien #alien #xenomorph #sigourneyweaver #johnhurt #ridleyscott #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #scifihorror #scifi #gory #gore

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 15, 2018 at 10:09am PDT

Day 16: The Babadook

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(16) The Babadook is an intense psychological horror film that is full of trauma, fear and desperation. Supernatural terrors working in tandem with the very real horrors of mental illness and grief results in a very bleak and chilling piece of film. Jennifer Kent and Essie Davis work together so well and have created one of my all time favourite films. What do you think of The Babadook? What is your favourite film? Let me know, I'd love to hear what you think! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #thebabadook #babadook #jenniferkent #essiedavis #psychologicalhorror #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #supernatural #mentalhealth #indiehorror #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhorror

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 16, 2018 at 5:52am PDT

Day 17: Hellraiser

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(17) "The box, you opened it, we came!" If you have been following me for any amount of time you will know how I absolutely love Hellraiser, probably to the point of wanting me to shut up about it! But I had to include it in my #31daysofhorror list as it was one my favourite films ever, hands down. I'll leave it at that as I have already talked about it at length. I'll post a link to my review of it below if you want to read more about what I think of Hellraiser? What's your favourite scary movie? 😱 Let me know and let's geek out about it! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 https://movienightmassacre.wordpress.com/2018/09/10/hellraiser-burnt-church-film-club-screeing-review/ #hellraiser #clivebarker #cenobites #pinhead #chatterer #butterball #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #31daysofhalloween #gore #gory

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 17, 2018 at 9:53am PDT

Day 18: The Devil’s Rejects

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(18) "I am the devil, and I am here to do the devil's work." The Devil's Rejects is such a great film! Less horror focused in parts and more of a crime thriller but the torturous nature of the Firefly clan stands out all the same. Widely considered @robzombieofficial 's best film and for good reason! Just like in House of 1000 Corpses, @choptopmoseley @sidhaigsays and @sherimoonzombieofficial all give such great and charismatic performances through out this bloodbath! What do you think of The Devil's Rejects? What's your favourite Rob Zombie film? Let me know! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #thedevilsrejects #devilsrejects #robzombie #sherimoonzombie #billmoseley #sidhaig #houseof1000corpses #threefromhell #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhorror #gore

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 18, 2018 at 8:56am PDT

Day 19: The Thing (1982)

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(19) I just got home from seeing John Carpenter playing with his band performing scores from his impeccable filmography! So I had to make today's entry in my #31daysofhorror / #31daysofhalloween The Thing! Both brutally and gory as well as subtle and claustrophobic with an air of paranoia thrown in for good measure, The Thing is science fiction horror at its best, with practical effects that still hold up unbelievably well! What do you think of The Thing? What's your favourite John Carpenter film? Let me know! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #thething #johncarpenter #kurtrussell #specialeffects #specialfx #practicaleffects #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #scifi #sciencefiction #scifihorror

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 19, 2018 at 4:03pm PDT

Day 20: The Creature From The Black Lagoon

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(20) The Creature from the Black Lagoon! One of the best looking creatures in cinematic history! A fun story with beautiful views and visuals makes for a classic monster movie/horror/sci-fi that holds up incredibly well despite some charmingly dated moments. The creature along with Frankenstein's monster is one of my all time favourite monsters, so much so I even went to a 3D screening of The Creature from the Black Lagoon earlier this year! What's do you think of The Creature from the Black Lagoon? What is your all time favourite monster? Let me know and let's geek out about it! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #creaturefromtheblacklagoon #universalmonsters #monstermovie #monsters #classichorror #classiccinema #classicscifi #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #sciencefiction #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhorror

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 20, 2018 at 1:26pm PDT

Day 21: It Follows

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(21) It Follows is a unique and beautifully shot modern horror that takes a simple premise and develops it in to an intense and suspense filled work of art. Imagine an unstoppable force that only you can see that will follow you where ever you go, with the soul intention of destroying you. What do you think of It Follows? What's your favourite modern horror film? Let me know, I'd love to hear what you think! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #itfollows #indiefilm #indiehorror #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #psychologicalhorror #cinematography #supernatural #paranormal #modernhorror #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhorror

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 22, 2018 at 2:02am PDT

Day 22: The Visit

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(22) The Visit is a film that is difficult to sum up in a picture as there is not that much of an obvious threat. Instead the film is filled with a thick and rich atmosphere of unease, mistrust and dillusion. The Visit also marks the beginning of the brilliant work between @blumhouse and M. Night Shyamalan as his career went back in the right direction. What do you think of The Visit? What is your favourite M. Night Shyamalan film? Let me know! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #thevisit #mnightshyamalan #split #splitmovie #thesixthsense #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #psychologicalthriller #psychologicalhorror #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhorror

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 22, 2018 at 9:24am PDT

Day 23: Sinister

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(23) Sinister has a premise that is super simple but executed so well. A crime writer finds snuff films in the attic of decides to take it upon himself to solve the case. Without giving too much away, incase you haven't seen it, some very dark and paranormal phenomena is taking place. Sinister has consistently been a great time with each watch, the film clips being particularly chilling! Ethan Hawke delivers a brilliant and broken performance of a man put on the edge. What do you think of Sinister? What's your favourite modern paranormal focused horror film? Let me know! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #sinister #ethanhawke #blumhouse #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #paranormal #supernatural #bagul #demon #demonic #31daysofhorror #31daysofhalloween

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 23, 2018 at 12:33pm PDT

Day 24: The Evil Dead

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(24) The Evil Dead is a complete nope fest in the best way. The make up and special effects work just does something to me and really creeps me out! I love the entire Evil Dead franchise including the remake and the Ash Vs Evil Dead! What better a time to share my love for these movies than on Sam Raimi's birthday? Happy birthday you legend! What do you think of The Evil Dead? Which one is your favourite? Let me know! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #evildead #theevildead #samraimi #brucecampbell #deadite #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #paranormal #supernatural #gore #gory #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhorror

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 24, 2018 at 10:31am PDT

Day 25: Frankenstein (1931)

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(25) "It's alive, it's alive! Oh in the name of God! Now I know what it feels like to be God!" Frankenstein is a universal monsters classic directed by James Whale, one of my favourite directors of all time and stars Boris Karloff, one of my favourite actors of all time, so naturally this had to be on my list! Whale brought Mary Shelley's terrifying tale that shows us how even in a world where corpses can be stitched together and brought to life, man can still be the most vicious monster of them all. Frankenstein's monster is one of my favourite monsters ever and Karloff brought him to life with so much skill and passion, I could watch this film and it's two sequels on an endless loop and never tire of them. What do you think of Frankenstein? What is your favourite Universal Monster movie? Let me know, I love them all and would love to geek out with you all about them! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #frankenstein #frankensteinsmonster #universalmonsters #boriskarloff #karloff #jameswhale #maryshelley #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #31daysofhorror #31daysofhalloween #classiccinema #drama

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 25, 2018 at 10:42am PDT

Day 26: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

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(26) Families that slay together, stay together! The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is Tobe Hooper's masterful slasher magnum opus. Brilliant set design, cinematography, character writing and design. There is a reason it is remembered so fondly all these decades later! Leatherface is one of the best horror villains ever put to film in my opinion and I never get tired of the intense and beautifully shot final scene of the film! What do you think of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre? What is your favourite horror villain? Let me know! 🎥🌑🔪 #thetexaschainsawmassacre #texaschainsawmassacre #leatherface #tobehooper #serialkiller #horror #horrorfilm #filmreviewer #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #cinematography #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhorror #slasher

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 26, 2018 at 10:57am PDT

Day 27: The Ring

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(27) The Ring is a landmark in modern western horror as it's bleak tone and atmosphere creates a lingering sense of dread. Those expectations of dread are certainly met as The Ring has some absolutely terrifying sequences, being one of the only films that ever scared me so much when I was younger, that on first viewing, I actually turned it off out of fear of what would come next. The imagery is iconic and I can't wait to finally check out the Japanese original as soon as I get the chance as I've heard it's even more terrifying! What do you think of The Ring? What was the last movie to scare you shitless? Let me know! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #thering #goreverbinski #samara #naomiwatts #ring #ringu #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #supernatural #paranormal

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 27, 2018 at 9:08am PDT

Day 28: The Conjuring

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(28) James Wan's The Conjuring blew me away the first time I saw it. Intense and atmospheric, suposedly loosely based on real life paranormal events and an amazing cast and crew bringing the whole story to life resulted in one of the best modern horror films to grace the silver screen. I have been a huge fan of the franchise since seeing The Conjuring and aside from Annabelle, I have thoroughly enjoyed every entry in the series. What do you think of The Conjuring? What is your favourite James Wan film? Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #theconjuring #theconjuringuniverse #annabelle #thenun #jameswan #thewarrens #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #31daysofhorror #31daysofhalloween #supernatural #paranormal

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 28, 2018 at 11:57am PDT

Day 29: Dracula (1931)

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(29) "Listen to them, children of the night. What music they make." Dracula was the first Universal Monster film I ever saw and it kicked off my love for the series and my admiration of Bela Lugosi, who is one of my favourite actors to this day. Dracula is full a macabre and gloomy atmosphere and has such a great amount of character and creepy moments. What do you think of Dracula? What is your favourite Bela Lugosi film? Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #dracula #belalugosi #universalmonsters #vampire #vampires #monstermovie #monster #monsters #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #paranormal #supernatural #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhorror #blog

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 29, 2018 at 11:17am PDT

Day 30: Carrie (1976)

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(30) "They're all gonna laugh at you!" Carrie is an absolute classic Stephen King adaptation, with so much of his style and flavour kept in tact by director Brian De Palma. Sissy Spacek portrays Carrie White with so much passion and care that you can't help but love and care for her character, so when the tides turn and she shows what she is really capable of, the emotional conflict you feel as you begin to fear Carrie is utterly chilling! Iconic is a word I feel is made with this film in mind as it is by far one of the best movies ever made in my eyes and I love everything about it. What do you think of Carrie? Do you love it as much as I do? Let me know! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #carrie #carriewhite #stephenking #sissyspacek #johntravolta #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #supernatural #paranormal #briandepalma #31daysofhalloween #31daysofhorror

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 30, 2018 at 11:55am PDT

Day 31: A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

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(31) Happy Halloween! Couldn't leave this gem out could I? A Nightmare on Elm Street is Wes Cravens big hitter (and he has some great films!) But nothing beats this grim and violent tale of lost innocence and violated sanctuary. The creative kills and set pieces make for a non stop fear train. Thanks to everyone who kept up with me through out my entire #31daysofhorror / #31daysofhalloween I had a lot of fun doing it! What do you think of A Nightmare on Elm Street? What was your favourite film I posted about this month? Let me know! Stay creepy! 🎥🌑🔪 #anightmareonelmstreet #nightmareonelmstreet #wescraven #freddykrueger #horror #horrorfilm #horrormovie #horrorfan #horrornerd #horrorgeek #horroraddict #horrorcollector #thriller #horrorblog #horrorblogger #blog #blogger #scary #creepy #movie #film #moviereview #filmreview #violence

A post shared by Movie Night Massacre (@themovienightmassacre) on Oct 31, 2018 at 4:27pm PDT

And there we have it! 31 horror picks! Did I mention any of your favourites? Did I mention any that you now want to check out? Please let me know and let’s geek out about it! If you have made it this far thank you for reading! Stay Creepy!

Misery – Flashback Film Review

Unsettling, claustrophobic and all too real at times, ‘Misery’ is a horror/thriller classic from 1990 directed by Rob Reiner (Stand By Me) and based on the novel of the same name by the king of horror Stephen King (IT, The Shining, Carrie, Gerald’s Game and many more) and stars James Caan and Kathy Bates, perhaps best known for this masterfully created film.

‘Misery’ tells the story of Paul Sheldon (played by Caan), a world renowned writer, who owes all his success to his book series about a woman called Misery. After completing his latest novel, Sheldon begins to drive back from his reclusive writing spot back to New York but is caused to near fatally crash his car in a blizzard. Fortunately (or so he may have thought) for Sheldon, he is rescued by local nurse Annie Wilkes (Bates) who just so happens to be his number one fan. But when Wilkes discovers the fate of her beloved Misery, her personality begins to shift in to a dark and foreboding territory.

First off, Rob Reiner’s direction in ‘Misery’ is masterful. Reiner’s direction of the shots and editing takes this film from great to timeless. We are presented with beautifully composed shots that make use of intense close ups, chilling wides and crawling dolly shots that seem to go on and on just to amp up the tension to it’s utter limit. This coupled with Reiner’s direction of Robert Leighton’s editing creates so much suspense, this film is practically oozing it! Reiner’s use of tone here is not too dissimilar to that of his major influence, Alfred Hitchcock. Not content alone with portraying a heavy atmosphere of dread, he knows when it is just the right time to lean back out of the tension in to light, sometimes comedic moments so that the juxtaposition with Misery’s dark side hits like a ten tonne hammer.

Stephen King is a treasure of the horror community for good reason, some the stories he brought in to this world are masterworks and ‘Misery’ is no exception. Between King’s original novel and William Goldman’s brilliant screenplay adaption, the result is a film with encapsulating dialogue, gut churningly horrific scenes and an unforgettable story.

I would also be remiss if I did not also mention fantastic and at times, bone chilling score by Marc Shaiman. With a combination of his own work and the use of pre-existing pieces of music (I will never listen to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata the same way again!) we as the audience are brought even deeper in to story of ‘Misery’ as the chilling story comes to life in sound as well as in visuals.

James Caan’s performance is very under valued in this film, but despite being in the shadow of Kathy Bates’ Annie Wilkes, he gives a sensational performance. Caan provides is with a sympathetic character who feels very fleshed out. As you might expect from someone who wakes up in the home of a stranger and obsessive fan, Caan’s Paul Sheldon is uncomfortable but kind from the start and as time passes, we not only see but feel his claustrophobia as it becomes clearer and clearer that Wilkes has no intentions of allowing him to leave. Through this performance, Caan’s character quickly becomes very easy to care for as he feels just like any other normal man who has been put in a very abnormal situation. Another aspect of this performance that doesn’t get nearly enough praise as it deserves is Caan “double acting”. Without giving too much away, in order to maintain Annie Wilkes’ trust, Caan’s Paul Sheldon must act as though he cares for her. This means that Caan is playing a role within a role, a difficult fear for many great actors.

And of course, it goes without saying that Kathy Bates’ performance as Annie Wilkes is outstanding – so much so that she was the first woman to ever win an academy award for a lead role in a horror or thriller film. What is most captivating about Bates’ perfomance is the way in which she masterfully switches from manically joyful to psychotically twisted and aggressive. What allows Bates’ perfomance to hit even harder is the way in which her character can come across as charming and friendly in some parts of story, briefly allowing us to forget her true unhinged nature. What really brings it all home is how over the top the character of Annie Wilkes really is, with her frequent agitated rambling rants, the way in which she yells false obscenities such as “cockadoody” and “oh my goodness”, despite all this and more, Kathy Bates channels it all superbly and doesn’t allow it to feel silly or overbearing – in a performance sense anyway.

But is ‘Misery’ scary? If the idea of an obsessive fan holding you captive against your will doesn’t chill you to the bone then you are braver than I. ‘Misery’ is a grim reminder of the horrific capabilities of our fellow human beings as well as the terror and trauma that comes with uncontrollable possessiveness and obsession. This film is rarely scary in the sense of making you jump out of your skin or making you scream in horror, but what it does better than so many films is leave a lingering, haunting feeling in the back of your mind that will stick with you for days on end.

Not much more needs to be said, as many people have said it before me and many others will say it after, Rob Reiner and Stephen King’s ‘Misery’ is a horror/thriller classic filled with amazing shots, incredible acting and a goose bump inducing score. I love this movie and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of horror as not only a cinematic thrill ride, but as the art form it is. This film is iconic and revered for a reason!

I’m going to give ‘Misery’ 90%!

Have you seen ‘Misery’? If so what did you think about it? Let me know in the comments and lets talk about it! If you have read this whole review before ever looking in to anything about this movie then you can check out the trailer below!
Stay creepy and thanks for reading!

Friday The 13th – Flashback Film Review

Happy Friday the 13th! and what better a day to review this slasher classic!

For those somehow unfamiliar, ‘Friday The 13th’ (1980) focuses on a group of young councillors preparing for a summer of fun, sun and work at camp crystal lake. However, a streak of gruesome murders has recently been taking place in the area. Despite the warnings from locals, the young camp councillors proceed to camp crystal lake. What soon follows are some of the most gruesome murders to be brought to film at the time.

So just a warning, as this film is nearly 40 years old, there will be some spoilers ahead, so this is you spoiler warning!

The cast of this film is what really makes it stand out to me, as many slashers can fall in to the the category of having a cast of forgettable characters that are all there purely to look good and then be brutally killed. What makes Friday The 13th and other slasher greats so appealing to watch is some of the more interesting characters that allows us as the audience to care for them and as a result, fear for them, ramping up the fear factor as a whole! In particular, Adrienne King is great in her now iconic role of Alice Hardy. In an era where so many female protagonists in slashers were there to do nothing more than scream and remain defenceless through out, Alice is our sole survivor and single handedly decapitates our blood thirsty killer!

Speaking of which, for those who have read this far, who either don’t care about spoilers or did not heed the warning, if you didn’t know, the world famous Jason Voorhees is not this film’s killer, but his mother Mrs. Pamela Voorhees, out for revenge after previous camp crystal lake councillors were too busy fooling around to realise that her son Jason was drowning in the lake. Betsy Palmer did  great job bringing this intense and clever killer to life. When we first meet Mrs. Voorhees we are lulled in to a false sense of security, as at first she appears innocent and kind, before her true intentions become clear.

Sean Cunningham (The Last House On The Left) did a solid job directing this film, while it may not appear obvious on first viewing, there are a lot of finer details he would have had a hand in that go overlooked. The cinematography by Barry Abrams coupled with Cunningham’s shot composition resulted, in my opinion, some incredible shots. The sound design and use of certain sound effects to suggest imminent danger is a particular highlight in my eyes, with the unforgettable “ki ki ki ma ma ma” sound still being quoted to this day in other films in the franchise, as well as by horror film fans around the world.

This sound in particular was the creation of the film’s music composer Harry Manfredini, created by sampling Mrs. Voorhees as she channels Jason, whispering “kill her mommy” and adding delay and other effects to give it a more supernatural vibe. Manfreini’s score itself is also something to hold in high regard, with it’s use of chilling dissonance and long drawn out phrases coupled with startling, striking jumps we can see now in hindsight that this score set the standard for modern horror film score composition. While this may have been to the point of overkill these days (although with many notable exceptions) it is always worth baring in mind, to never blame that on the original unique idea from which a new standard derived.

But is ‘Friday The 13th’ scary? With intense scenes of gore and murder, it certainly is to anyone with a fear of brutality and bloody violence. For myself I would say it lies more in the realm of suspense filled scenes that linger, causing you to feel at unease, until an eruption of strings arrives alongside vast amounts of blood squirt from one of our protagonists. If we want to talk about scary, we can’t not mention the final scene where we first meet Jason as he throws himself out of the camp crytal lake, lunging towards Alice with the intention to drag her in to the depths. The first time I watched ‘Friday The 13th’ this completely caught me off guard, a very frightening moment first time round and a brilliant ending.

‘Friday The 13th’ is an unsettling and unforgettable horror classic, with moments of horror, fear and suspense as well as many humanising moments. While not perfect, I have a deep love for this film some of it’s sequels none the less.

I’m going to give ‘Friday The 13th’ (1980) 78%!

Have you seen the original ‘Friday The 13th’? If so what did you think about it? If not, what are you doing still reading this far? Go watch it!
Either way, let me know in the comments and lets talk about it! If you have read this whole review before ever looking in to anything about this movie then you can check out the trailer below!
Thanks for reading!