Popularity Killer

Following on from their excellent and deservedly acclaimed previous short Teddy, Slasher Studios have now brought us another excellent short, Popularity Killer.  And excellent it is, especially if you love a good slasher.  Like their previous effort Teddy, there's a throwback feel to it, but also like Teddy,  it's more than a mere throwback and is great in its own right.

Popularity Killer is great in many ways, but there's a core element that many everyday people can relate to - high school.  High schools are like jungles, and we've all seen the people who only care about being popular.  Then there's always the odd person who dreams of killing them all.  Fortunately for me, I was an 'inbetweener' but I witnessed this daily at high school, so for me this makes Popularity Killer all the more hilarious.  It's got great dark comedic elements to compliment that compliment the horror well.  It's an awesome satire of high school, as well as a fun-filled slasher.  And may I add that the villain looks awesome and may even creep out those of you who are the opposite of me (ie, not rooting for the bad guy).

It's an awesome homage to slasher films of the 80's and 90's.  Watching it, I felt a Wes Craven vibe.  There's also a nice homage to Romero.  It wears it's influences while bringing it's own identity due to how intelligent, witty and fun it is.  The best way to describe Popularity Killer is fun.  I've showed it to a couple of my friends and they felt the same way.  I genuinely believe that Kevin Sommerfield is a supremely gifted writer and Steve Goltz is a great and very promising director.  They deserve a chance to do a full feature.  Let's hope this propels them into the limelight they truly deserve.  It's great to see horror made by obvious horror fans.  They know what the audience wants to see and they deliver.  So, watch POPULARITY KILLER, watch their other short, TEDDY: IT'S GONNA BE A BEAR, spread the word and show some support.  These guys really are talented and I look forward to their future projects.  So, without further ado - Popularity Killer.  Enjoy.

HERE'S THE LINK TO WATCH:
http://vimeo.com/35726117

Fathers Day (2011)

You know how when people say, ''don't watch this if you're easily offended.''  Well, in regards to Troma movies this applies more than ever.  Even if you aren't easily offended, Troma movies might still offend you, whether it be the content within them or just the cheap, nasty presentation of their movies that some may call an insult to the art of film making.  Or maybe you're like me - SICK.  For those who love Troma, it's because we know not to take their movies seriously and not only accept them for the trashy fun that they are - we adore them for it.  Fathers Day is another twisted, fun addition to the Troma family.

The premise of the movie is a simple hunt 'em down revenge story.  A killer is on the loose and it's up to a wannabe Snake Plissken, a priest and a street hustler to stop the vicious murderer.  What ensures on this epic adventure is some of the most vomit inducing funny experiences put to celluloid.

So, the 'good' points?  Well, I don't condone real life necrophilia, evisceration and cannibalism - but when you get it all within the first minute a movie then you definitely have my interests.  It doesn't matter how horrible it's going to get, you just need to keep watching to see how far it goes.  And, you know... it's fun.  So within the first few seconds you know it's going to be disgusting, but anyone who's watched Troma movies in the past knows to expect OTT, politically incorrect, taboo behaviour.  If you're a viewer stumbling upon some of their catalogue for the first time without knowing what to expect, and you have an uneasy tolerance for the most degrading of subject matter then I don't envy you.  Well, maybe I do a little...  OK, so violence is aplenty, what else is good?  It's very Grindhouse in style, which for me, is one of the coolest forms of film to look at.  Personally, grindhouse looking movies have a much cooler look than the highest budget Hollywood blockbusters.  Fathers Day is as grindhouse as it comes in regards to modern movies.  It looks freakin' sweet.  Another great thing about Troma movies, and this one in particular, is how witty they are.  They don't set out to be taken seriously, but the comedy is genuinely funny.  It's not that 'so bad it's good' type of comedy here either.  Sure, it's goofy, but it takes a genius to write stupid movies without making them seem, well... plain stupid.  Smart stupidity is what I'm getting at.  The FX are also 100% here.  For a movie like this, you want as little CGI as possible.

The bad points?  Well, all the good points I listed are probably things that others will hate about it.  Not many will watch this through my eyes as a well made, low budget, highly ambitious masterpiece.  However, those of you I know read my posts will probably enjoy it.  If you've seen Troma movies before you know what you're getting yourself into.  Fathers Day won't be regarded in the same esteem as cinematic classics such as Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuke 'Em High, but it is just as much fun.  Give it a watch if you're wonderfully warped.

Dawn of the Mummy

There's not much you can say about Dawn of the Mummy in terms of it being a cinematic masterpiece.  But it is damn good.  I mean, what happens to models when they travel to Egypt, meet up with some crooks raiding an Ancient Egyptian tomb that's been cursed?  They obviously awaken a Mummy and his army of the undead.

Dawn of the Mummy is just a lot of fun, but it has some strengths.  For a start, the cinematography and setting are amazing.  Second, it paces along just nicely with enough sub par acting to keep you entertained and laughing and thirdly, there is some pretty nice gore - especially at the end when the army of the undead are loose on the local town and are feasting upon everyone.

This is definitely one of the 80's forgotten gems, but it's one of many as the 80's was producing great, fun horror on a regular basis.  So grab a few cold ones, order a pizza and sit back and enjoy Dawn of the Mummy.  It's popcorn entertainment at its best.  Nothing more, nothing less.  Just pop it on and enjoy the fun and thrills.

Botched (2007)

Horror comedy is a genre that is often frowned upon.  For a lot of people, they just don't blend well when they set out to do both.  For me, I've always been impressed with what I've watched of this genre, but I tend to only watch movies I know I'm going to enjoy.  Botched is a movie I enjoyed.  I wouldn't even call it a horror comedy, it's more of a dark comedy with lots of splat thrown in and performances so OTT you can't take it as anything other than comedy.  That's not to say it doesn't deliver on the blood and gore though.

Botched starts off as a crime movie, about a job gone wrong.  Ritchie (played by Stephen Dorff) has one last chance to redeem himself to the mob, and what seems like a routine theft and hostage mission turns into anything but, as the criminals and the hostages start getting picked off by a deranged killer, armed with a sword.  Even scarier though is the sadistic, overbearing, religious relative though who's making him kill so she can provide sacrifices to her God, but all the dude wants to do is play with his dead bodies he's collected.

The kills in this one are splatty, but what makes them even better is the musical scores that accompany them. Even better is the ridiculous Russian accents from a cast who aren't even Russian.  But that's the whole point of Botched.  It's supposed to be ridiculous and OTT, and it certainly doesn't let down in that aspect.  It also doesn't become a parody of itself either.  It has just the right amount of everything.

Pick this one up if you come across it.  It really is quite hilarious, with enough blood for the innrer splatter hound.

Crimewave (1985)

Honestly, what can you say about a film like Crimewave?  Well, for a start it's written by the Coen Brothers and Sam Raimi, as well as directed by Raimi.  It stars the legends Bruce Campbell and Brion James in key roles.  As to be expected, it's goofball, slapstick, dark comedy with elements of crime movies of the 40's and 50's, it's very inspired by film noir, big band musicals of the 30's and 40's and comic books.  Like much of Raimi's work, the humor is screwball and reminiscent of the Three Stooges, with some instantly quotable one liners.  In addition to all of the darkly comical, wacky and surreal moments, the heart of the film has a story of 2 people falling in love (in the classic rogue gets the lady kinda way).  So, one thing you can say about Crimewave is that there's no other movie like it.  At least none that I know of, but in many ways you can compare it to Hudsucker Proxy (the other Coen/Raimi collaboration).

The film starts with Vic Ajax being escorted to the electric chair for a murder he didn't commit, and along the way he's bumbling the true story to the guards in the hopes that they will let him go.  What unfolds for the next 90 minutes is the true story.  The story is intriguing, bizarre and hilarious with lots of classics moments that will have you rolling about with laughter.

Crimewave certainly isn't for everyone, but those of you I know for sure read my blog would really enjoy it. Or maybe you have seen it and didn't.  It's one that slipped under the radar in the glittered careers of Raimi and The Coens (they even dismissed it because it wasn't the way they wanted it).  It still is a remarkable movie though, that pays off in its ambition.  It also homages previous Raimi classic, The Evil Dead.  Just keep an eye on the newspapers and you'll know what I'm talking about.  Basically though, it references the portal that sucked Ash away in Evil Dead 2, which Raimi was writing at the time.

Please check out Crimewave.  It really is a lost gem.

The House of the Devil (2009)

Anyone who has a horror blog has probably mentioned this movie at some point.  There's probably nothing left to say about this one that hasn't been said before.  I have no doubt in my mind that the following review is going to be full of opinions you've read elsewhere if you've read the reviews for this film.  But I don't care.  I need to talk about this film.  This is the one of the movies of my generation I can see being heralded as a cult classic decades from now, if society has descended into a wasteland with no appreciation for the horror of the past.  This film made horror exciting and fresh just by taking a step back and simplifying things.  So let's get on to the review and me blowing smoke up the rear of a movie that probably just wants to cool down.

Set in the 80's, a college student is financially motivated to take a job babysitting the kid of a mysterious caller on the night of an eclipse.  As strange as the man on the phone is, Samantha really needs the money to pay for rent and basic living.  When she arrives at the house in the middle of nowhere, she's informed that she'll be babysitting an elderly lady and she was lied to because the couple needed a babysitter in such short notice.  Reluctantly, she accepts the job after being bribed with more money and it ends up being the biggest mistake of her life - the family are Satanists and they plan on using her in a ritual.

The House of the Devil isn't full of gore.  It isn't action packed.  It isn't full of scares.  So what makes it scary?  Well, it's the complete and utter helplessness of Samantha that makes it scary.  You really feel like you're in the movie with her and she's oblivious to everything that's going on - but we're not.  She's in the middle of nowhere with no transport and something terrible is about to happen to her.  The movie is effective because you just know something awful is about to happen, but it keeps you waiting and then when you don't expect it - BAM!!! - it hits you like lightening.

Ti West made a great decision setting this in the 80's.  There was no internet, no fancy phones and basically a complete lack of any form of communication technology.  All she has is the house phone, which was ultimately what got her into trouble when she ordered pizza from a number left by the Satanic family.  The lack of communication adds to the feeling of isolation and helplessness that Samantha is experiencing.  She's also oblivious as to what's in store for her.

Another great aspect of this movie are the settings.  They really compliment the film well.  The house is old and big, situated in the country, surrounded by woodland and away from the real world.  The night time setting outside also has a life of its own to it and you really feel like it's a special night.  It just doesn't feel like any other regular night and you get that 'there's something in the air feeling.'  The full moon, like other horror movies all throughout history, is a character in its own right.

Jocelin Donahue is the sole character for the majority of the movie and does an excellent job carrying it.  Even her simple mannerisms her character has to perform are intriguing to watch.  She makes the mundane and simple seem so interesting.  It doesn't hurt that she's friggin' perfect to look at as well.  She keeps this movie going on her own for the majority of it though and thoroughly deserves all the praise and more.

I believe this movie is a masterpiece of cinema and not just horror.  But unfortunately, it'll never be held in as high regard by anyone other than genre fans.  Although it may still be liked, it's more of a horror fans wet dream because we'd been waiting on a movie like this for some time.  It's a throwback in many aspects but also really fresh.  It's believable, it's authentic, it's engrossing and it stands out (head and shoulders above) most movies from the past few years (and there has been a lot of great movies in the past few years).

So, future horror classic?  I really hope so.  This really made Ti West a name and as a result I look forward to anything he does in future.

Movies That Are Generally Hated That I Like A Lot

After being inspired by my friends at SlasherStudios (http://www.slasherstudios.com/), I've decided to share my thoughts and opinions on movies that are met with general disdain but I believe to be genuinely good or enjoyable.  So, feel free to criticise my tastes but here's hoping I can convince you to give these movies another chance - or a chance.  Period.

Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever

The hate towards Cabin Fever 2 actually puzzles me.  I honestly do not understand why this is so disliked among horror fans.  Movies like this one are certainly not for everyone, but there is an audience for splatty, funny movies that intend to be exactly that.  This one does exactly that, doesn't try to be anything other than that and is very successful at what it intends to do.  It was made to be direct to DVD, on a small budget, so no one is expecting Citizen Kane (although most movies I regard as great are direct to DVD horror movies and I'm not a fan of Citizen Kane just so you know).  The sequel to the, in my opinion, classic that is Cabin Fever is a lot of fun, ambitious, splat-tastic and genuinely hilarious.  It's essentially just a high school sex comedy with lots of violence thrown in.  It's a 'popcorn' movie.  Maybe if this was made in the 80's it would be more warmly received as it's much like a lot of 80's horror movies.

Everyone has heard the back story regarding the production of this movie (if not you should check it out but I'll sum it up roughly - basically the director left and this was put together by the producers), but I honestly didn't spot the weaknesses.  It's a well put together movie.  What chance does it stand though when the original director (Ti West) refuses to acknowledge it as one of his movies though?  Me though, and Slasher Studios and a few others enjoyed it though.  We're in the minority and I honestly don't understand why.


Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers

First off, let me state that this isn't my favorite horror series of all time.  I do enjoy it, but I just prefer so much more slasher movies than the Halloween ones.  Next, let me contradict the previous statement and tell you that I'm the worlds biggest John Carpenter fan.  I'm just not a huge fan of the original Halloween.  I nejoy it but I don't love it like I love most other JC movies.  The sequels to Halloween are all much more suited to my tastes.  The sixth installment, often regarded as an abomination to the series, is my favorite of them all.

I've only ever watched the Producers Cut. but I really enjoy it.  How do you keep a series fresh and interesting that boasts a gazillion sequels?  This movie included aspects of the Satanic Cult sub genre and for me, it not only worked but it's the strongest element, for me.  I dig this movie.  I dig the kills, I dig the atmosphere and I dig the story.  I also love that Donald Pleasance was involved.  Easily my favorite along with H20.


From Dusk Till Dawn 2 (and 3)

Aside from Evil Dead and Re-Animator, the FDTD series is my favorite horror series of all time.  I love all 3 of them and if they ever make a 4th I'll be the first to see it.  The second installment is my least favorite, but it still kicks ass.  Once again though, I'm in the minority with this opinion.  I know the sequels are enjoyed by a lot of horror fans, but in my experience, the sequels are not appreciated on the whole, particularly this one.

I love it.  It's a heist movie with vampires.  There's blood, violence, lots of killing and a great cast involved.  Robert Patrick is a terrific lead, Danny Trejo is back on board and there's a cameo from the legend that is Bruce Campbell, as well as the super hot Tiffany Amber-Thiessan.  It's directed by Scott Spiegel, who's always been underrated, and it blends elements of horror, comedy and crime like it's predecessor.  It's on a much smaller scale but it still does the job and provides us with the goods

I may as well include the 3rd sequel here, which I believe to be not far off the first one in terms of fun.  It's set in the Old West and combines western and horror, which I think it's a horror sub genre that should be combined more.  The first part is a western, focusing on a gang of outlaws on the run and an author on his way to join the military (played by the best actor of all time, Michael Parks).  After the bandits, the author and the newlyweds cross paths and find the Old West version of the bar from the first movie, all hell unfolds and we're in for a fun, splatty ride.

Jennifer's Body

This one is an opinion splitter for sure.  I know there's a lot of people who enjoy it, and a bunch of people who utterly loathe it.  Me, I think it's a quirky, funny and original teen horror comedy.  Megan Fox is not an actress I would say I'm a fan of, but this role was made for her, but it was Amanda Seyfried that really impressed me both visually and performance wise.

Diablo Cody (Juno) wrote this one so you can expect similar traits to Juno such as quirky humor, strong female leads, sexuality and really clever wittiness.  It's in no way the perfect horror movie by any means, but it is pretty damn good.

Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2

Only in the past couple of years have IO started to appreciate just how great the Blair Witch Project actually is.  It really is an original, remarkable horror film.  The sequel was never going to capture what the original did (probably because we all knew it was fiction by this point lol).  The first was believable and did a great job of not feeling like a work of fiction.  I used to be obsessed with the legend of the Blair Witch as a kid and I wanted it to be a real legend.  I even had all of the books by Cade Merrill.  The marketing scheme of the Blair Witch was not only great to promote the movie and make it a huge success, but they also did a great job of creating a legend.

The sequel is a good movie in its own right.  I like it because it shows you things (ghost girls etc), where as in the first almost all of it was in the mind.  This movie also had an intriguing mystery to it and the first time I saw it I had no idea what happened.  Add some strangely attractive women and some pissed off rednecks and you have yourself a good movie.  I like the Blair Witch sequel.  Again, I'm in the minority.


I could go on with all of these movies, but you'd probably get bored by the end.  What movies do you love that get tonnes of hate?