Husband and Knife: A Horror-ble October (with Friends!) - October 1st - 7th
Ahh,
October...the weather is cool, pumpkin spice is in the air, and bloody horror
movies are abound! My wife, Ellen, and I are undertaking a daunting task.
We plan to watch at least one horror movie a day this month and give you
our concise opinions on them. We might not always agree, but that will
only be when she is wrong.
We
will be posting a blog every week chronicling the films we have watched.
Occasionally, there will be a few friends popping in to give their
opinions as well! They also might not always agree with me, but then
they're wrong too.
Keep
in mind that most horror movies are rated R, so most of them on this list will
feature gore and/or nudity.
Each
daily film will feature a quick synopsis and a trailer (click the movie title). Everyone who
watched the film will give a brief review, Scare Rating, and Movie rating.
The average Scare Rating and Movie rating from all reviewers will be
calculated and posted after the reviews. We begin our journey with films
for October 1st through October 7th!
October 1st - The
Howling
Plot Synopsis: After a close encounter with a serial killer, a news reporter goes to a retreat colony to recover, but not all is as pleasant as it seems.
Plot Synopsis: After a close encounter with a serial killer, a news reporter goes to a retreat colony to recover, but not all is as pleasant as it seems.
Kyle: A very atmospheric flick, The Howling is an excellent start to our October. Featuring excellent prosthetics and a very modern feel for a 35 year-old movie, it starts out with a serial killer plot but takes an interesting turn. This movie is not very scary, but the atmosphere sets a creepy tone throughout, while still managing to be fun and fairly bloody. It was interesting how this movie took a Jaws-like approach, hardly showing a werewolf at all for the first hour, leaving more up to your imagination than showing it. But once they do start showing the transformations, they look fantastic. It is a bit predictable, but I would recommend this one to anyone looking for an eerie toned werewolf flick.
Scare Rating:
1.5 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating:
3.5 out of 5 silver bullets
Ellen: Fans of werewolf lore will be extremely satisfied with this film, as it shows great respect for the evolution of werewolf legends throughout history. Without divulging too much of the plot, The Howling offers what I believe to be a fresh perspective that does not go down the typical path of full moons and men turning into werewolves uncontrollably. The Howling boasts excellent practical effects and prosthetics, which is such a breath of fresh air in an age where computer generation dominates the field. I agree that the film did not feel outdated, although the plot was only slightly predictable. Although the solid werewolf action didn't pick up until the last third of the film, it was definitely worth the wait. I am happy to say that this was my first werewolf movie, and I definitely have a desire to see more!
Scare Rating: 2 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 3.5 out of 5 silver bullets
Average Scare Rating: 1.75 out of 5 screams
Average Movie Rating: 3.5 out of 5 silver bullets
Plot
Synopsis: After a tragic accident, a man summons a demon to exact his
revenge.
Kyle:
Unlike The
Howling and Jaws, Pumpkinhead does not
rely on subtlety. You get a good amount of the titular demon, and he is a
beast, but does not have a pumpkin for a head like you might expect. This
movie is a lot like a modern film, with teenagers in a cabin in the woods, but
those teenagers seem more human and smarter than what you would see today.
Described as a "grim fairy tale," Pumpkinhead uses
its monster, a witch, and a solid story and character motivations to create a
memorable viewing experience.
Scare Rating: 1.5 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 3.5 out of 5 vengeful cursed demons
Ellen:
Although
it has nothing to do with pumpkins, this movie packs a punch both
emotionally and visually. I am a sucker for excellent practical effects, and
much like The Howling, this film offers a villain that could
truly terrify if he was found in real life. I was emotionally invested in the
relationship between Ed and his adorable son, and even more so when tragedy
struck the small family. Points were mainly taken off of my rating (3.5/5) due
to the typical dumb teenagers doing dumb things and hiding in a cabin in the
woods, but I give major points for the demonic villain and our antihero, Ed,
whose personal sacrifices are truly believable.
Scare Rating: 1.5 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 3.5 out of 5 vengeful cursed demons
Ross: Pumpkinhead is a morality fable disguised as a horror movie. Lance Henriksen and the world's most adorable child actor combine to make a realistic father son couple. When tragedy strikes this family, in the form of a drunken jabroni joyriding his motorcycle, you really feel their pain. I'd say the biggest asset to this film is the incredibly human, and realistic responses of the characters to the reality of their situation. No one embarrasses themselves here, and what makes the movie a treat to watch is the successful blend of atmosphere (almost dream like) and the hinted at folk lore behind the titular demon.
Scare Rating: 1 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 vengeful cursed demons
Average
Scare Rating: 1.33 out of 5 screams
Average Movie Rating: 3.83 out of 5 vengeful cursed demons
Plot
Synopsis: During a round of War Games, a small band of soldiers who were
planning to fight special ops soldiers instead have to fight a pack of werewolves.
Kyle: Our first Neil
Marshall movie of the month (hint, hint), Dog Soldiers is less
of a horror movie and more of a single location action movie. It is very
entertaining and much funnier than I expected it to be. It also brings
new life to the werewolf genre, having them fight like all wolves do...in
packs. Seeing super intelligent werewolves provides lots of great
moments, including a werewolf grabbing a soldier's gun and turning it on him.
One downside of the film is because of the low budget, the camera is very
grainy, but it has a very 28 Days Later vibe, so it doesn't hurt too much.
The single location gives off a claustrophobic feel, while adding to the
intensity, as you are constantly aware and reminded of the werewolf threat
right outside the door.
Scare Rating: 1 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 4 out of 5 plummeting bovines
Ellen:
I
have seen two werewolf movies in one day, and Dog Soldiers is
definitely the stronger of the two. Quite simply, I loved this film. The
dialogue was fast and witty, and it injected the plot with great humor. The
tactical military procedures mixed with badass werewolf-fighting action kept my
full attention the whole time. Finally, unlike The Howling, the
plot honestly is not too predictable, and I was pleasantly surprised by several
scenes. I would give this film 5/5, but I had to take half a point for the poor
lighting and grainy film quality. However, Dog Soldiers is
still amazing, and I will be watching it again!
Scare Rating: 1 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 plummeting bovines
Ross: Dog Soldiers is just plain fun. There are some parts to the plot that will make you scratch your head when you think too much about them (the role of the lady, Cpt. Ryan's whole end game), but the situations and characters are more than enough to make up for it. This is basically a streamlined version of Aliens, but with werewolves, and with the Burke character split between two parts. But the inventiveness, energy, and enthusiasm with which this was made, lifts this film up higher than it would be otherwise. Of special note, I enjoyed the interaction of the soldiers before the meat of the action starts, as it helps establish them as regular, likable dudes with actual personalities. I recommend this one if you want some messy fun!
Scare Rating: 1 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 4 out of 5 Plummeting Bovines
Average
Scare Rating: 1 out of 5 screams
Average Movie Rating: 4.17 out of 5 plummeting bovines
Plot
Synopsis: A pair of demonologists are hired to investigate a house
with a demonic possession.
Kyle: I have been
putting this one off for a long time, and I now regret not watching it sooner.
The Conjuring came in with a lot of hype, which I did not
feel it would live up to, but I was wrong. It is a modern horror
masterpiece. It has a few jump scares, which I normally hate, but they
are earned. No random obnoxiously loud music, just straight up chilling
imagery. I was also pleased when some scenes which would have been a jump
scare in any other modern horror films were left as more simplistic, eerie
scares. There were a few things I was critical of, including the 70s
setting not being fully executed and shoe-horned in (one scene a man says
"Far out, huh?" to which a girl responds "Yeah, it's
groovy", which felt horribly forced). There was also a song from
Ryan Gosling's band which took me out of the setting a bit. But if you
like haunted house movies, where things go bump in the night, definitely do not
let this one slip under your radar like I did for so long.
Scare Rating: 4
out of 5 screams
Movie Rating:
4.5 out of 5 claps
Ellen: I have loved this movie
since the first time I saw it. I have seen The Conjuring four
times now, and the effect on me is still fresh and still haunting. This story
is masterfully told and truly creates an eerie, terrifying look into the
haunting of a family and the house they live in. For me, horror is most
successful when the plot is just as strong as the visuals and when a story
builds the audience up to make the scares and images more believable. Not only
is the story taking place in the 1970s believable, but the history of the home
and the land it stands on is as well. For some, the many intersecting stories
and plot lines may seem jumbled, but I believe they only prove that history can
affect many generations and add layers to the horrors that can take place in
any time frame.
Scare Rating: 4 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 claps
Average Scare Rating: 4 out of 5 screams
Average Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 claps
Plot
Synopsis: A woman starts to become suspicious of her husband and
friendly new neighbors' motives during her pregnancy.
Kyle:
I had
never seen Rosemary's Baby before today, but I knew it is considered a classic.
Now having seen it, it feels strange to call it a horror movie, when
compared to most others on the list. It is very dark and grim, with major
horror themes, but it is not scary. It is, however, dreadful and
suspenseful. The entire movie is a slow build-up to its final scene, and
it has a hell of a payoff (literally). The cinematography is brilliant
and the tone is perfectly executed, including an incredible conception scene.
That sounds weird, but you'll understand when you watch it. While I
did feel it was overly long, especially with the slow pace, I can see why this
movie is considered a classic. It set the tone for what horror is today.
And I think the moral of the story is to never let friendly old people
near your baby (Sorry, mom, I'll send pictures).
Scare Rating:
0.5 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating:
4.5 out of 5 tanas roots
Ellen: I have been
meaning to watch this movie for many years, and I am sad to say that I waited
so long. However, Rosemary's Baby was well worth the wait.
Although it is quite long and has a much slower pace than most modern horror
movies, the film is definitely a slow burn and has an masterful aha moment
in the final scene. You are left hoping that Rosemary is just paranoid about
her nosy neighbors, but as Kyle mentioned while we were watching the movie,
there are hints dropped every five minutes or so that could prove otherwise. I
especially enjoyed Rosemary's Baby because it did not rely on
jump scares, blood, or monsters to give it horror status. Rather, it relies on
the idea that maybe, just maybe, the people we are closest to are not who they
seem.
Scare Rating: 0.5
out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 4.5 out
of 5 tanas roots
Average
Scare Rating: 0.5
out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 tanas roots
Plot
Synopsis: Two
priests are sent to perform an exorcism on a young girl who has been possessed
by the devil.
Kyle: Another classic
movie that I had not seen before this week was The Exorcist.
While it is unsettling and the make-up is amazing, I can't say I enjoyed
myself at all watching this one. The scares are iconic and extremely
memorable and still hold up today. And I cannot imagine watching this
movie when it came out 43 years ago, it would have been absolutely terrifying.
The makeup on Linda Blair and Max von Sydow, who was only 44 years old
when the film was released, was incredible. But I felt that the movie was
overlong and drawn out, especially at the beginning. There was a whole
bit with Max von Sydow finding a relic and it appearing later, but no
explanation is given to what the relic actually did. And his character
disappears for the next hour and a half. There was also no motivation for the
devil possessing the young girl. Maybe the devil needs no explanation
other than to cause chaos, but I would have liked to have seen something more
fleshed out from a film that was dedicated entirely to the possession and
exorcism. Finally, I did not find the conclusion to be very satisfying,
it happened quickly and then it ended without leaving much to ponder.
Scare Rating: 3
out of 5 screams
Movie Rating:
2.5 out of 5 rotating heads
Ellen: After seeing The
Exorcist a few times, it is harder and harder to be truly scared of
the movie. However, I can really appreciate just how seeing the movie in
theaters 43 years ago would have terrified audiences and changed how horror
movies were both made and presented forever. The casting for this movie is
superb, and I am always amazed by Linda Blair's performance and her ability to
convey the horrific experience she is going through without actually hearing
her own voice for much of the movie. I think one of the strongest elements of
the film is the fact that it doesn't flat-out tell the audience why a
12-year-old girl is being possessed by the devil. Rather, as stated by Max von
Sydow's character, he doesn't really have a reason for doing it other than to
cast fear and doubt in our hearts and to make us aware of our worst selves. I
am convinced that Reagan was chosen for no other reason than to cause chaos in
the lives of otherwise good people. This film is a perfect combination of
acting, storytelling, and terrifying imagery, and I think it still remains one
of the best horror movies even when compared to more modern films.
Scare Rating: 3
out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 4
out of 5 rotating heads
Average
Scare Rating: 3 out of 5 screams
Average
Movie Rating: 3.25 out of 5 rotating heads
Plot
Synopsis: A
woman must find her missing son, even if it means consulting the ghosts who
live in the orphanage she owns.
Kyle: What a way to end
the week, with one of the better horror movies I've ever seen. The
Orphanage is incredibly creepy and grim, going into darker places most
movies wouldn't dare. It does not rely on jump scares, although there is
one, and boy is it a doozy. A majority of the scares, however, are
executed with atmosphere and tone, thanks in large part to director JA Bayona.
It might seem strange that my highest rated films on this blog are both
haunted house movies, but they both were excellent, though very different.
The Conjuring is very much a modern horror film, with similar
setups to scares you may already recognize. But The Orphanage is
most effective in its unpredictability. At its heart, it is a mystery
film, so that unpredictability not only helps the scares, but the plot as well.
If I had to recommend any movie from this list for you to watch, it would
be this one, although I should note that it's in Spanish, and unless you're like Ellen and speak fluent Spanish, you will need to read subtitles.
Scare Rating:
2.5 out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 5
out of 5 knocks on the wall
Ellen: The first time I
saw The Orphanage, I saw it because Guillermo del Toro was a
producer and I had recently seen Pan's Labyrinth. Although The
Orphanage does not have the same magical and mystical imagery and
creatures as many of the films del Toro has produced, this movie still very
successfully spins a web of mystery and ghostly activity. Director J.A. Bayona
put together an incredible cast, including Geraldine Chaplin, who speaks
beautiful Spanish and plays a very convincing spiritual medium in the film.
Kyle and I usually are not big fans of child actors, but the little boy who
plays Simon is so natural and so adorable, which makes his disappearance that
much more heart wrenching. I will not in any way give away the twists and turns
of this film, as it is extremely important to see it for the first time with no
knowledge of where the story will take you. However, I will say
that once you have seen it, and no matter how many times you see it thereafter,
the conclusion is still very emotional (I cry every time I watch it) and very
satisfying. This is a superb ghost story with a fresh take on the haunted house
genre.
Scare Rating: 3
out of 5 screams
Movie Rating: 5
out of 5 knocks on the wall
Average
Scare Rating: 2.75 out of 5 screams
Average
Movie Rating: 5 out of 5 knocks on the wall
Recap:
Scariest
Movie: The Conjuring
Best
Overall Movie: The Orphanage
If
you made it this far, thank you so much for reading! We hope you enjoyed
it and got some good movie recommendations. Let us know if you end up
watching any and what you think.
Don't
forget to check in every week, as a new blog will be posted. This coming
week has the best lineup in my opinion, so keep your eyes peeled!
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