Halloween Movie Challenge

[gnomethrone]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsehVpdYIqc[/youtube]

[baremountain]

Been on one of these kicks myself. I'm playing it pretty fast & loose with "horror" - I'm also checking out psychological thrillers & dramas w creepy/dark imagery.
That said, if you aren't opposed to subtitles, there's a fantastic Japanese film called Kwaidan that is really superb! It's a series of 4 'ghost stories' and while it's not jump-outta-your-seat scary, it was a really fantastic introduction into Japanese cinema for me.
I watched another Japanese film last night called Jigoku which was pretty alright, but our subtitles stopped lining up correctly during the last 30 minutes. Luckily the visual aspects of the movie really picked up in that back third so it wasn't completely useless. There's some weird acid-like depictions of hell in that one.
The Seventh Seal is always a good choice, and Evil Dead's 2013 remake wasn't half bad either as far as the gore/horror factor is concerned.

[Jwar]

To be honest, Cannibal Holocaust is an awful movie. It's poorly made and only exists for shock value. It doesn't have any actual substance to it. I used to try and watch the grossest of the gross, and I found it boring and just dumb.

I disagree, with the caveat that it has been quite some time since i've seen the film so a fully researched argument is out of the question from memory of watching it, while a lot of it was shock value and some of it is very difficult to watch, I didn't watch it just because I wanted to see the goriest thing I could in the slightest.

It had a few things going for it, first of all, it's reputation of course, then it was one of the early found footage movies and not in an indulgent way like those that followed in my opinion, normally that shit puts me off but I think it strikes a good balance and works well with a reasonable story tying around it.
I'd say for its time and the on location filming it's actually pretty well made, compares fine to many of the 70's/80's Italian films and finally I found it thought provoking, not exactly because of what the film was trying to say, the clash of civilized culture interacting with uncivilized (although I thought the journalistic integrity point had merit) but because what it's trying to shine a light on is basically what happened during filming from what I remember reading.

But, I certainly accept it's a polarizing film, so he may love it or he may hate it.

I owned the 25th Anniversary discs LOL. At the time they were mad expensive. I sold them for I think close to 100 bucks.

To me the film was a major let down. It was anti climatic and boring. Perhaps during the time it was made, it was good and more entertaining, but all I saw was a poorly scripted movie with some disgusting crap in it. I think it's comparable to movies like Salo, I Spit on Your Grave, Begotten (worst movie ever I swear) or Aftermath, which are equally as bad IMO and to me hold no value.

Now did it shape the mind of other better directors who created amazing horror? No doubt. So it's good in that respect.

I'd much prefer Lucio Fulci, Dario Argento, Mario Bava, Lamberto Bava and many others. Just my opinion of course.

I also hate found footage movies, so that part really annoyed me.

[Eivind August]

That said, if you aren't opposed to subtitles, there's a fantastic Japanese film called Kwaidan that is really superb! It's a series of 4 'ghost stories' and while it's not jump-outta-your-seat scary, it was a really fantastic introduction into Japanese cinema for me.

Dude, yes, one of my all-time favourites. Be sure to check out Seppuku by the same director, one of the best films of all time (which was incidentally remade by Miike a couple of years back).

[Jwar]

Harakiri is a fantastic film! The remake was brilliant as well.

[Eivind August]

Yup, indeed. The story just seems perfect for cinema in a way. I love both versions, but Kobayashi's is a fucking masterpiece of film.

[Jwar]

Speaking of non horror, and side tracking this thread. I've been watching Marco Polo and it's fucking great! Highly recommended.

[Scruffie]

To be honest, Cannibal Holocaust is an awful movie. It's poorly made and only exists for shock value. It doesn't have any actual substance to it. I used to try and watch the grossest of the gross, and I found it boring and just dumb.

I disagree, with the caveat that it has been quite some time since i've seen the film so a fully researched argument is out of the question from memory of watching it, while a lot of it was shock value and some of it is very difficult to watch, I didn't watch it just because I wanted to see the goriest thing I could in the slightest.

It had a few things going for it, first of all, it's reputation of course, then it was one of the early found footage movies and not in an indulgent way like those that followed in my opinion, normally that shit puts me off but I think it strikes a good balance and works well with a reasonable story tying around it.
I'd say for its time and the on location filming it's actually pretty well made, compares fine to many of the 70's/80's Italian films and finally I found it thought provoking, not exactly because of what the film was trying to say, the clash of civilized culture interacting with uncivilized (although I thought the journalistic integrity point had merit) but because what it's trying to shine a light on is basically what happened during filming from what I remember reading.

But, I certainly accept it's a polarizing film, so he may love it or he may hate it.

I owned the 25th Anniversary discs LOL. At the time they were mad expensive. I sold them for I think close to 100 bucks.

To me the film was a major let down. It was anti climatic and boring. Perhaps during the time it was made, it was good and more entertaining, but all I saw was a poorly scripted movie with some disgusting crap in it. I think it's comparable to movies like Salo, I Spit on Your Grave, Begotten (worst movie ever I swear) or Aftermath, which are equally as bad IMO and to me hold no value.

Now did it shape the mind of other better directors who created amazing horror? No doubt. So it's good in that respect.

I'd much prefer Lucio Fulci, Dario Argento, Mario Bava, Lamberto Bava and many others. Just my opinion of course.

I also hate found footage movies, so that part really annoyed me.

As I said, found footage puts me the fuck off, still not watched Cloverfield just on that basis even though i've heard it's good. But it wasn't in your face constant shaky cam, more a few interwoven takes on the matter which included a found footage element so I didn't struggle with it in that aspect.

No doubt I prefer Lucio & Dario, it's certainly no master piece, a lot of the dialogue was atrocious and the director definitely didn't have the career of those guys (and sounds like a total ass hat from interviews) although credit due, some of the special effects were pretty decent you have to agree but I suppose as the source material was more grounded in 'real life' it didn't need so much imagination of coming up with make up, melting faces or whatever in that department.

I was pleasantly surprised (and disgusted in equal measure) by it and regardless of debate on its merits, I do think it's worth giving a single watch as an important part in the history of horror. I wouldn't watch it again but i'm glad I gave it a go, although I think it's one of the only films in that video nasty style i've actually seen, I never bothered with the others you listed so perhaps that's why i'm giving it more credit than you.

Back to Italian Horror in general, has anyone seen Hell of the living dead/Virus/Zombie Creeping Flesh? I think that has to be my favourite awful Italian horror I ever saw (yes I was drunk) it was just such a hilarious camp rip off of Dawn of the Dead/Zombi even down to the Goblin score.

[baremountain]

Dude, yes, one of my all-time favourites. Be sure to check out Seppuku by the same director, one of the best films of all time (which was incidentally remade by Miike a couple of years back).

Right on! I'll add that to my queue of movies to check out. I dunno why, but until very recently I found it pretty difficult to sit through movies with subtitles at home - probably because it's much easier to look at my phone for 2 minutes when I'm home and I'd miss pivotal plot development because of that.
Also in order to not make this a totally off-topic post, I forgot to mention Cronos. If you haven't seen that I recommend checking it out. It's a vampire story by Guillermo Del Toro and it's an interesting take on the topic (less sex & blood and more questioning what it means to be human vs monster)

[Jwar]

I used to own over 1500 horror dvds. LOL! At some point you just devolve into crap. hahahaha.

I'm now at like 600 I think? Maybe a bit less??? I haven't counted. Sold all the really gross shit that I found to have only single viewing purposes.

I guess I'd agree that a one time viewing could be in order for the mere fact of embracing cinematic history and exploitation as a genre, which there are some very excellent movies in that genre. My favorites are the obscure biker movies that are over the top violent and ridiculous. hahaha

I have seen and own Hell of the Living Dead (great movie). I really like those cheesed out 70's-80's movies.



I'll name off a few others that fall into horror for the sheer fucked aspect of the movies.

(all Asian)

Suicide Club
Strange Circus
Noriko's Dinner Table
I Saw the Devil
Carved-The Slit Mouthed Woman
Bedevilled (this one really fucked with me)
R-Point (not that fucked up but great movie)
A Tale of Two Sisters

[Eivind August]

Seen most of that list, and fuck yeah, especially the first four.

[cherler]

Harakiri is a fantastic film! The remake was brilliant as well.

You mean this remake? I've heard a bunch about it and I've been meaning to check it out.

[blakestree]

I've been trying to get into the Halloween spirit. So far, I have watched:

Hush - Not really much to it. Done better by Funny Games. However, the one thing that really stood out for me was the amazing restraint from using jump-scares and hide-n-seek. Instead, letting dread build before your eyes.

Pontypool - I just watched this last night. And, it is the reason I'm posting, now. At first, I thought I'd chosen a bad movie. However, today, I'm wondering if it is genius. It is one of those rare films that stays with you, and keeps you pondering, like Anti-Christ or Donnie Darko.


I'm thinking about, maybe, The Invitation, next.

Also, I really wish The Exorcist was available on Netflix, after last weeks episode!

[Jwar]

The Exortist show. Meh.

I wish we would have done an actual challenge. Like watch 31 horror movies in the month of October and write a brief review. I used to do this when I was a member of the Rue Morgue website. It was a lot of fun.

[01010111]

I'm gonna do the challenge and write reviews and everything next year. I just didn't prepare well enough for this year....