Part IV - Husband and Knife: A Horror-ble October (with Friends!) - October 22nd - 28th

Scariest Movie: Tie between Hush and The VVitch (both released in 2016!)

Best Overall Movie: The Thing



October 22nd – ParaNorman

Plot Synopsis: A young boy who can talk to the dead must stop the vengeful spirit of a witch from destroying his town.

Kyle:  Laika is the most underrated studio out there.  They have only produced four films (Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings), but all of them are gems.  These days the art of animation is almost solely on the shoulders of CGI, but Laika goes against the grain, using stop-motion animation.  Seeing this type of animation on screen is refreshing (I’ve been using that word a lot, but there are a lot of films in this list that go against the mainstream).   ParaNorman’s biggest flaw is its inability to capture a solid audience.  When most adults see an animated film, they dismiss it as a kid’s movie.  But ParaNorman is no kid’s movie, it is mature and honestly pretty creepy, and I would not feel comfortable showing it to my 4th graders (though from what they tell me, they’ve seen much worse).  Led by a very talented voice cast, including John Goodman, Casey Affleck and Anna Kendrick, ParaNorman is a great zombie movie homage and a fantastic story of redemption.  Its message is clear…just because you are different from others does not mean that you don’t have a purpose, but you are special and worthwhile.  That message really applies to Laika Studios as well, just because it’s different, do not ignore it or call it weird, what they make is something quite special.

                    Scare Rating: 0.5 out of 5 screams

                    Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 toilet ghosts

Ellen: ParaNorman is yet another really interesting interpretation of a zombie movie, although it is not a bloody one. The animation that Laika Studios has produced time and time again is simply stunning, breathtakingly detailed, and completely underrated! Every minute detail of the story in this film is perfectly thought out, right down to the type of alarm clock that Norman has in his bedroom. Although I wouldn’t recommend this film to everyone, I do think that it is a superb animated film and really captures both the plight of a misunderstood child and the terror that his gift can bring. This film is not suitable for super young children, so be cautious when showing it, but older children will probably love it just like I did.

                        Scare Rating: 0.5 out of 5 screams

                        
                        Movie Rating: 4 out of 5 toilet ghosts

Average Scare Rating: 0.5 out of 5 screams

Average Movie Rating: 4.25 out of 5 toilet ghosts

October 23rd – Hush

Plot Synopsis:  A deaf woman must overcome a home invasion where the man is trying to kill her.

Kyle:  I believe Hush is the first film of 2016 on this list.  A Netflix original, Hush is a home invasion film worthy of your time.  The film cuts between what we can hear and moments of silence, helping us embody the deaf protagonist during her struggle against a sadistic killer.  The killer’s motivation is pretty thin, but it can be forgiven if you think about the motivation of most crimes like this.  There’s also a doozy of a fake-out moment in this movie, which could really rub some people the wrong way.  There is minimal dialogue, as the main character is mute, but people do speak because she can read lips.  Parts of this film can drag a bit, which is surprising due to its 81 minute runtime, but it always brings you back in with an intense scene.  It did not have any jump scares, and it really felt like a real-life horror, despite the killer’s strange choice in weapon.  Like Alien, this movie is aided by a creepy, isolated location and a strong female protagonist who can get through some tough shit.  I recommend this one for a rainy afternoon where you only need to kill about an hour and a half.

                    Scare Rating:  3 out of 5 screams

                    Movie Rating:  3.5 out of 5 fire alarms

Ellen: This was one of my favorite films of the month, although it does follow a slightly overused story line of an insane, violent man trying to kill a woman who lives by herself in the woods. However, Hush is special because it has a very unique protagonist who is deaf and cannot speak, which makes her experience even more terrifying. I cannot fathom the fear she must be feeling by not being able to hear the man who is trying to kill her. I truly enjoyed Hush because despite its shortcoming of having a thin plot, it makes up for it in the very strong acting of the two main characters. The protagonist is smart and extremely resourceful, and you can’t help but admire her for the kickass things she does to save her own life without having to hear what is going on around her.

                      Scare Rating: 3 out of 5 screams

                       

Movie Rating:  4 out of 5 fire alarms

Average Scare Rating: 3 out of 5 screams

Average Movie Rating: 3.75 out of 5 fire alarms

October 24th – Dawn of the Dead (1978)

Plot Synopsis:  A small band of people try to outlast the zombie apocalypse in a shopping mall.

Kyle:  It is clear to see the influence of Dawn of the Dead.  While it may seem that the movie has zombie tropes, you just have to think back and remember that this is the movie that invented all of those tropes, that so many other zombie movies after it emulated or copied.  That being said, I do find Dawn of the Dead to be dated.  I get a lot of flack from lovers of older movies for not enjoying them, and I will freely admit, I am a much bigger fan of newer cinema.  Newer movies are designed for the enjoyment of the modern viewer, which is me, and they learn from movies of the past, like Dawn, and adapt and learn from them.  In this case, it is the delivery of the drama.  Something that would normally hit me a bit harder fell a bit flat thanks to the delivery of a line or lack of an impactful soundtrack.  The movie also dragged, especially in the middle, where it seemed like the characters were doing the same thing for an hour.  That being said, it doesn’t not mean I did not like Dawn of the Dead, but I simply did not enjoy it as much due to it feeling dated.  Without this film, a lot of modern horror movies that I love would not exist, and I respect and appreciate that.  It has some very excellent prosthetics and gore effects, while blending drama with dark comedy.  Dawn of the Dead is a movie to watch if you want to see where zombies movies came from, not if you want a more modern type of zombie movie.

                    Scare Rating:  0 out of 5 screams

                    Movie Rating:  2.5 out of 5 blood pressure tests

Ellen: Because all of the zombie flicks we have watched this month have been really great, I had high expectations for Dawn of the Dead. Buuuuut… I really didn’t like this film at all. It was two long and many of the scenes were repetitive and uninteresting. Maybe I am spoiled from watching movies where the zombies look extremely realistic, but I honestly couldn’t get past how bad the zombies looked in this movie. Apparently, blue face makeup makes you look like a zombie. I was also not a fan of how the female protagonist barely did anything except sulk and complain rather than get her hands dirty and try to kick some zombie butt. The one saving grace I will give Dawn of the Dead is that it jumps right into the zombie universe rather than showing the gradual progression of zombies taking over the world. I can appreciate how Dawn of the Dead must have influenced what modern zombie movies have become, but that is simply not enough to salvage this movie for me.

           

                        Scare Rating: 0 out of 5 screams

           

                        Movie Rating: 1 out of 5 blood pressure tests

Average Scare Rating:  0 out of 5 screams

Average Movie Rating: 1.75 out of 5 blood pressure tests

October 25th – Tucker and Dale vs. Evil

Plot Synopsis:  Two hillbillies are mistaken for serial killers by a group of college kids.

Kyle:  We have had a substantial amount of horror comedies and homages in this list, but Tucker and Dale vs. Evil may have nailed the tone better than any other.  The writing is incredible, allowing viewers to see these horror movie tropes through the eyes of the “killers”, and the mishaps and misunderstandings that follow are hilarious.  This movie is modeled after Deliverance, and is led by the most charming pair of hillbillies you will ever see.  They are so innocent and confused about the situation occurring around them.  While most horror movies thrive on keeping viewers out of the loop until the last minute, Tucker and Dale excels by showing the audience absolutely everything while keeping their main characters out of the loop.  While its cold opening falls very flat and the movie loses a bit of momentum as it goes, Tucker and Dale is another one of those perfect movies for Halloween parties.  The worse thing about it is its title. 

                    Scare Rating:  0 out of 5 screams

                    Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bowling fingers

Ellen: Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is one of the most original comedies I have seen in ages. Not only is the script hilarious and original, but the acting is superb and you cannot help but love Tucker and Dale. These characters are sweet and sensitive, but very misunderstood, which only adds to the hilarity when the college kids think that they are the killers. Why wouldn’t you think a couple of hillbillies in the middle of nowhere are creepy? The message here is to get to know people before you judge them, but the film can also be seen as a witty commentary on how perhaps the “victims” in horror films have no idea what is actually going on around them. I can’t wait for more people to see Tucker and Dale, and I honestly can’t believe I had never seen it before I met Kyle. If you are looking for an extremely unique spin on a horror comedy, then this is by far one of the best you are going to find.

                       

                        Scare Rating: 0 out of 5 screams

                       

                        Movie Rating: 4 out of 5 bowling fingers

Adrian: Fun movie. Interesting viewpoint from the “bad guys”.  I’d watch it again.  

                        Scare Rating: 1 out of 5 screams

                        Movie Rating: 3.5 out of 5 bowling fingers

Matt: I found this take on the genre unique and fun.  It definitely turns some things upside down while sticking to some classic storylines.  I really enjoyed it.  A little gory at times, maybe a few jump scare moments, but all in all definitely more comedy than horror.  I’d recommend it and would certainly watch it again.

                       Scare Rating: 1 out of 5 screams

                       Movie Rating: 3.5 out of 5 bowling fingers

Average Scare Rating: 0.5 out of 5 screams

Average Movie Rating: 3.875 out of 5 bowling fingers

October 26th – The Thing

Plot Synopsis:  An alien life form that can take the shape of any living thing is hiding amongst a research group in Antarctica.

Kyle:  Our first, but not last, John Carpenter movie of the list is The Thing.  Part horror, part mystery, part sci-fi, The Thing is a genre-bending masterpiece.  The creature is one of the most terrifying things imaginable, a being that can look like anyone around you.  This leads to an almost “who done it?” situation, where no one can be trusted.  The creature has limited appearances, but when it shows up, it is always memorable.  The practical effects still hold up today, and really make me wish for more movies to use it, despite the price differential with CGI.  Along with the fantastic mystery set up, the movie can be very suspenseful and scary.  I don’t have much more to say other than this is easily one of the highest recommendations I can give you for the entire month.

                    Scare Rating: 2 out of 5 screams

                    Movie Rating: 5 out of 5 flamethrowers

Ellen: I’ve said it before, and I will say it again that practical affects as they were in ‘80s movies just aren’t a thing anymore (no pun intended). The Thing implements some of the most elaborate and grotesque practical affects I have ever seen, and while they may seem outdated to a more modern crowd, they do not detract from the film at all. In fact, the sheer lack of CGI is what makes The Thing even more likeable because you can truly appreciate the time and effort it takes to execute such unruly props. CGI is much cheaper, but the real thing sometimes is more potent in delivering scares. What I especially love about The Thing is that the creature can take the form of anybody or anything it wishes in order to disguise itself, but it will reveal itself if threatened. Creativity abounds here because no two creature reveals were the same in this film making every kill unique. I would have loved to help create some of the props for this film because they are fascinatingly grotesque and elaborate. This is a great last-man-standing kind of horror movie, and if you are willing to take a break from modern horror movie fodder to appreciate great storytelling and true prop craftsmanship, then please watch this movie!

                        Scare Rating: 3 out of 5 screams

                       

                        Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 flamethrowers

Johnathan: Could not send review.

                       Scare Rating: 3 out of 5 screams

                       Movie Rating: 4 out of 5 flamethrowers

Average Scare Rating: 2.67 out of 5 screams

Average Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 flamethrowers

October 27th – Hocus Pocus

Plot Synopsis:  Three witches come back from the dead to wreak havoc on the modern world.

Kyle:  Hocus Pocus is one of those 90s movies that a lot of people have a nostalgia for…but I am not one of those people.  I think I only saw the movie once when I was a kid, and I was scared of it (lightning shooting out of fingers is terrifying, Luke Skywalker can back me up).  There is no denying that Bette Midler was born for this role, as this is one of the best casting choices you’ll ever see.  But the rest of the movie is….meh.  The voice acting for the cat is laughably bad, as well as most of the acting in general.  The other two witches are obnoxious.  I know that they are supposed to be annoying, but that just leaves the audience with one character to enjoy.  I did like the atmosphere of this movie, I miss lighter hearted horror movies like this.  The effects also hold up surprisingly well.   But oftentimes, the movie will defy its own logic or meander into a boring storyline.  The ending is also supremely cheesy.  I can see the appeal of this one, especially if you grew up with it, but as a modern viewer with no attachment, this is a movie that I’m fine leaving out of my Halloween watch list.

                    Scare Rating:  0 out of 5 screams

                    Movie Rating:  2 out of 5 virgins

Ellen: Hocus Pocus is one of the only Halloween movies I grew up watching, and boy does it deliver in the nostalgia department! If you are looking for a person to write a review that critiques the writing and the directing of this film, I am definitely not that person. I absolutely love this film and probably always will because it combines everything Disney is good at: perfect casting, fun music, elaborate costumes, beautiful setting, and an intriguing yet silly plot. Bette Midler is casted so perfectly as Winifred, and I still catch myself singing “come, little children” like SJP around this time of year. The thing about Hocus Pocus is that it is just plain fun. It’s not Oscar material, but sometimes I just need to watch something that will make me laugh every time I see it and bring back fond childhood memories of eating warm brownies and wrapping myself in a blanket. What can I say? Hocus Pocus has put a spell on me…

                        Scare Rating: 0 out of 5 screams

           

                        Movie Rating: 5 out of 5 virgins

Average Scare Rating: 0 out of 5 screams

Average Movie Rating: 3.5 out of 5 virgins

October 28th – The VVitch

Plot Synopsis: A Christian family must deal with the disappearance of their baby, while strange things keep happening in the woods by their house.

Kyle:  The VVitch is our second 2016 release of the list, and it is another slow burn.  It continues the fantastic trend of modern horror movies (The Babadook, It Follows) that do not use jump scares, but rather suspense, an eerie atmosphere, and a fantastic score to provide its frights.  The score is really the unsung hero of this film.  It often starts low then builds to a higher pitch and volume, making you constantly feel uneasy.  And this movie does not wait long to fill in its gaps.  It is very clear almost from the beginning what is happening in the woods, yet it is still terrifying watching it tear apart this family.  The true horror here lies in the abandonment of faith, whether you view it as a family abandoning their faith or God abandoning the family.  The end of the movie says that most of the dialogue is lifted directly from primary sources and journals about witches in New England around the time of the Salem Witch Trials, and the research is evident.  It is a fantastic period piece.  My only gripe comes with the dialogue.  It is quietly delivered, but not in modern English, as it should be, however, it can be difficult to understand at times.  Late in the movie, the main character says something like “Does thou not understand my English tongue?” The answer is I do, sometimes.

                    Scare Rating: 3.5 out of 5 screams

                    Movie Rating: 4.5 out of 5 goats

Ellen: The VVitch is referred to as a “New England Folktale,” but in no way does it follow any folktale that I have heard or seen. This movie is terrifying, but it takes time to build momentum while the Puritan family it depicts is slowly falling apart. Witches and the Salem Witch Trials have fascinated me since middle school, and I am always interested in learning about the history of how young women were subjected to torment and suspicion for something that likely never existed. However, The VVitch is not a story about the Salem Witch Trials and women who are wrongfully accused of witchcraft. This movie explores the idea that maybe, just maybe, there were witches out there who wreaked havoc, but were able to disguise themselves while the rest of the world blamed the wrong people. Every time I watch this film I am reminded how a remote setting, muted colors, and simple dialogue can just as easily create a rich and fascinating horror tale as any other bloody, slasher film. Be prepared to be scared and in love with the debut film from a director who will hopefully be making more modern horror very soon.

                        Scare Rating: 3.5 out of 5 screams

           

                        Movie Rating: 5 out of 5 goats

Adrian: Creepy movie without a lot of gore.  Makes you think and keeps you guessing. Are these people crazy or is there something else going?  Was disappointed with the ending.

                        Scare Rating: 2 out of 5 screams

                        Movie Rating: 4 out of 5 goats

Matt: Wow did I like this movie a whole lot!  It’s pretty unsettling throughout, I never felt like I had a really good grip on what was going on.  I laughed when I heard the soundtrack at first, clearly the director had watch 2001: A Space Odyssey a few times, but it lends to the overall atmosphere.  The overall tone and story keeps this entertaining throughout, though it is a bit slow.  I really recommend this movie if you haven’t seen it, though I do feel like it could have ended about 2 minutes or so before it actually did.  You may jump a few times, but you’ll certainly ask yourself just what the hell is going on here?  I’m not sure you ever know, and it’s better that way.

                       Scare Rating: 3 out of 5 screams(won’t make you jump, but it’s not a comfortable feeling)


                      Movie Rating: 4 out of 5 goats

Average Scare Rating: 3 out of 5 screams

Average Movie Rating: 4.375 out of 5 goats