Sunday, October 30, 2016

The Doctor's Halloween Movie Special

Welcome to my Halloween Movie Special!

Every year in October, I enjoy spending some of my free time watching horror movies. So if you are planning on staying in for Halloween, here are some films you might want to check out.

Let's begin!


THE CONJURING 2

This is the sequel to the film that introduced us to the possessed doll Annabelle, which got its own spinoff. Like the first film, the story revolves around real-life paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren. This time they try to help a family in London who believe they are haunted by malicious spirits.

Hey, I didn't know Marilyn Manson was in this!

The film is masterfully directed by James Wan, who also directed The Conjuring, Saw, and Insidious. Wan has a way of building up tension and scaring his audience even when it is obvious something is going to happen. Basically, if James Wan is attached to direct a horror movie, I would make it a point to watch it. This is a must-see for horror fans.


THE WITCH

This gem is a period piece based in 1630 New England. The story follows a family that is plagued by witchcraft, causing a rift within the family as the members begin to blame each other.

"That'll learn 'em to bust my tomater."

This one is a slow burn, so some people may not have the patience to sit through this to get to the payoff. But if you do, you will be treated to some amazing acting and some standout cinematography. This is a thought-provoking film and well worth a shot. Writer/director Robert Eggers made an impressive debut with this one. Give it a watch.


HUSH

This is a home invasion film with the twist that the protagonist is a deaf mute. This adds an extra challenge to the heroine since she can't hear the masked man stalking her. It also shows how great the film is to be able to be so engaging with so little dialogue throughout.

"Oh, a guest? He looks nice!"
The film is directed by Mike Flanagan who also worked on Oculus, a great psychological horror film I recommended in the past. He also directed Ouija: Origin of Evil, a film I have yet to see but is getting a lot of great buzz. Mike Flanagan is clearly leaving his mark in the horror genre. Give this one a look.


HELLRAISER III: HELL ON EARTH

I am a big fan of the original Hellraiser, and the sequel was a worthy but flawed followup. This film is not quite as good those two films.

Could be worse. You could...... nah this is as bad as it gets. Enjoy eternal suffering!

This sequel sees Pinhead released on Earth to cause havoc. It's up to an investigative reporter to send Pinhead and his minions back to Hell. Unfortunately, some of the new Cenobites are a little lame.

Meet Camerahead!..... Let's just pretend he never existed.
There is a scene where Pinhead lets loose and kills a bunch of people in a bar. It is kind of cool if you like wanton destruction. But it does feel a little small-scale considering the film is called Hell on Earth. The movie should feel bigger, but never gets there.

If you really want more Pinhead, this is harmless enough. Otherwise, it's pretty skippable.


THE ABCs of DEATH

This is a horror comedy anthology that takes us through the alphabet. There are 26 tales all shown in alphabetical order including A is for Apocalypse, B is for Bigfoot, and so on and so forth. Unfortunately the quality of these shorts are very uneven. There are some truly bad shorts such as F is for Fart.

I'm not.

The film is made up of shorts from directors all over the world who were given complete creative control. Maybe too much creative control because the good is far outweighed by the tasteless and disgusting. Some shorts will leave you wondering what the director was thinking.

What am I even watching?!

If you like movies made in bad taste, maybe you will enjoy this. A lot of it is difficult to watch, and downright embarrassing at times. For most of you, I cannot recommend this. There are far better anthology films to watch.


TRICK 'r TREAT

Now this is a horror comedy anthology I can get behind. Unlike most anthologies, this film follows several characters in a little town whose lives are all intertwined. The film also introduces us to my favorite new horror mascot, Sam.

"I just want some candy..... honest!"

Written and directed by Michael Dougherty, the film excels mostly because it is the focused creative vision of one person. The stories are interwoven and play off each other in a smart manner. This is a fun film for sure. Make this a priority if you want to watch a good horror flick.


THE INVITATION

This is another slow build but it is an easier watch for most people compared to The Witch. The story follows a man who is invited to attend a dinner party by his ex-wife and her new husband. Soon, he begins to suspect that everyone in attendance is in grave danger.

"I'm not worried... I just suffer from resting suspicious face."

I won't spoil the ending, but the film gets incredibly intense once it reaches its climax. The payoff is well worth the buildup. Definitely put this on your to-do list.


HOUSEBOUND

This is a New Zealand horror comedy that revolves around a woman under house arrest at her estranged mother's house. Hilarity and spiritual hijinks ensue. One of the funnier elements in the film is Amos the security guard who is also an amateur parapsychologist.

"Let me handle this. I've read some books!"

The best thing about this film is that it somehow manages to balance the comedy and horror elements so well, which is very difficult to do. The film is tense when it needs to be, but somehow manages to make you laugh the next moment, and vice versa. It is masterfully done. This is one to watch if you want some levity with your horror.


GHOSTBUSTERS (2016)

I decided to give this one a chance since I love the original movie so much. How does it stack up? I was pleasantly surprised how entertaining this film is. The dialogue is incredibly funny at times.

I was crying from laughter at this scene.

However, as funny as it is, I couldn't help but feel this didn't have to be a Ghostbusters movie. The best comedy almost always came from scenes that had nothing to do with busting ghosts. The fight scenes near the climax were silly and, unlike the original, the film never feels scary.

Furthermore, the main villain is lame. And while the ghosts are well designed, they look too cartoony. This is partly because all the ghosts have so much bright, colorful halos surrounding their bodies.

Cool ghost design. Maybe just dial back the bright blue a little bit.

Overall, this is a highly entertaining film. It might not be as good as the original, but it is better than the sequel and worth a look if you can get past any preconceived notions. Give it a chance when you're ready.


That's it for my Halloween Movie Special. I hope you all have fun and stay safe. Happy Halloween!

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Teaser Trailer



Marvel Studios has released the first teaser trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2! Need a hug?



Fantastic trailer that has that same fun feel we remember from the first film. And who can't get behind cute little baby Groot? More of this please!

Marvel also released a new poster for the film.



Written and directed by James Gunn, the film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Glenn Close, Chris Sullivan, Sylvester Stallone, and Kurt Russell.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will arrive in US theaters on May 5, 2017.