The Ward is the latest film directed by one of my favorite directors, John Carpenter. It is a story about four or five girls in their teens/early 20s, living in a special security ward in an insane asylum during the 1960s. A new girl arrives and quickly learns this ward is no normal place. The film has wonderful cinematography, wonderful creepy hospital atmosphere, as well as a really nice 60s feel to it at times (a highlight is a dance scene in the ward set to a sixties vinyl single playing on the phonograph). The acting is also really good, but this movie is far from perfect. A lot of the scares in the film are given away by the musical score, or are just really predictable/cliche at times. The movie's mystery does remain a mystery for most of the movie, but I felt the ending was fairly anticlimactic as well as fairly predictable. This movie goes from an interesting compelling unique story to almost a "cop out" of a psychological thriller. The film turns out to be similar to another film I've reviewed on this blog called Identity (2003). There aren't any big name stars in this one, but all of the girls are fairly recognizable from various movies and TV shows made within the last ten years. This film is available to stream on Netlfix, and I give this one a 3.25/5, you can view the trailer below:
I thought I had heard of every movie on Bravo's list of 100 Scariest Movie Moments and thought I had seen all of Michael Keaton's best movies, turns out I missed this gem on both counts. It's a virtually perfect thriller on all counts and it would be a perfect movie if not for some overacting on Matthew Modine's part early on. Michael Keaton is a perfect creepy sociopath and San Francisco is such a beautiful city, and this film does a good job showing both those things. The film shows parts of San Francisco and the Pacific Heights neighborhood you don't normally see, as well as some different angles of the Golden Gate Bridge. Michael Keaton is this creepy neighbor who rents an apartment then locks himself in refusing to pay rent, leave or communicate with anyone 98% of the time, and he's ruining his landlords' lives and there's nothing they can do to stop him. Melanie Griffith did a very good job as well in this film, and oscar winning great director John Schlesinger (Midnight Cowboy, Marathon Man) adds another classic to his roster. I give it a 4.75/5 (the full movie's on youtube for those interested in it) you can view the trailer below:
Dragonslayer is in the same vein as Ladyhawke (1985) Legend(1985), and The Neverending story (1984). But the best comparison I can give you is think of a much better version of Willow (1985) and if Disney made Conan the Barbarian (1982).But this film came before all of those though, so this really is the first epic 80s fantasy. But since so many epic fantasies came after it in the 80s, and some of those being so good on their own, it has now become largely forgotten and is arguably the most underrated of them all. This one paved the way for the others so expect the best features of all the others here. I should also mention this was made by Disney though you'd never know that unless you watched the movie, or saw the DVD cover found here. It may not feel that original now but it definitely was in its time, the special effects are really good although there are some green-screening that could be done better, but the acting is great this movie launched Peter Macnicol (Ghostbusters II, Numbers [tv series])'s career, and features a knighted shakespearean actor (Sir Ralph Richardson) as the wizard. I give it a 5/5. Check out the trailer below:
The Burrowers is about people in the great plains after the civil war who start getting attacked by an unknown force that turns out to be burrowing monsters. This film is a realistic unromantic look at the west (do not think John Wayne here) and combines it perfectly with the horror genre. The film has a similar feel to Dawn of the Dead (the 2005 remake) or Night of the Living Dead, and it is also a warning of what can happen when mankind messes with the environment and changes it irreparably The film largely uses makeup and traditional special effects for the monsters (a la Del Toro style). I give it a 4/5. The film has a feature article written about it in Rue Morgue(great Horror magazine based in Canada)'s 200 Alternative Horror Films You Need to See book and movie list.
It's Alive (1974) is the horror movie extreme of the white trash "I'm not the daddy!" baby nightmare It's Alive is about a killer baby (deformed baby that is a monster & kills people) and it spawned two sequels and a 2008 remake. The film is number 43 on Bravo's list of 100 Scariest Movie Moments. At first glance the film can seem boring or hoaky and dated, but it did several things well: the beginning scene is so calm that it makes the first and biggest scare of the movie all the more scarier. The movie has some cool 1st-person POV shots from the view of the baby, and the whole movie uses the father denying his relationship to the baby as an allusion to frankenstein, the father is worried that people will eventually equate this "thing" with him just as people get Frankenstein and Frankenstein's monster confused with each other. The movie finally picks up in the last twenty minutes or so with some great scenes of chasing the monster in the sewers, and a twist ending. I give it a 3.5-4/5
Identity (2003) a one of a kind Psychological thriller with a twist you won't see coming. I can't say much about it or else I'd give the movie's secrets away, but I think I speak for all when I say you might be able to guess bits and pieces of this movie but I do not think you will be able put all the pieces together correctly before it is all revealed (you might but chances are not high I don't think) The only other thing I can say is there are a bunch of stars in this, John Cusack, Alfred Molina, Ray Liotta, Gary Busey's son (Jake Busey best known for Starship Troopers) and the guy who played Dr. Cox in Scrubs (he was also in every Oliver Stone movie). I give this one between a 4 and a 4.5/5
I've been watching a slew of originals lately: Willard (1971) for starters. The original is super hard to find due to the fact that it has never been released on DVD. It is a classic coming of age story about a boy who has the power to control rats, but he soon loses control of them, also a classic tale of revenge. There are some famous people in it, like Ernest Borgnine (gets killed by rats) and Elsa Lanchester (Bride of Frankenstein). The movie was huge in its day and has some pretty good production value, including music written by an oscar winning composer, and LOTS of rats. The sequel to Willard, Ben (1972) had a theme song which was Michael Jackson's first solo hit. I give Willard a 3.5/5 Willard (1971) TV trailer
Robocop was originally made as a satire of american popular culture when it came out, as well as a political satire, and it contained some religious symbolism. The director initially rejected the script calling it disgusting, but then his wife convinced him of its deeper implications. The director decided since Hollywood and popular culture was getting more and more violent he would add ultra violence to the film as part of its satire of popular culture (see here) the director's point would be proved when the film's deeper meanings were overlooked and it became a huge success and regarded as just another violent action flick. Robocop is also a tale showing how strong the human spirit and memory is stronger than machine. It spawned 2 sequels an animated series, a TV mini series, video games, comic books, countless toys, and the upcoming remake. I give it a 4.5-5/5, you can view the trailer below:
