Review - All Cheerleaders Die (2013)

All Cheerleaders Die (2013)

This latest release from Lucky McKee, the man who brought us the fantastic The Woman and the very original May, and co-director Chris Sivertson (The Lost) strays from their more serious tone and delivers us a new take on the slasher movie.

The story centers around Maddy, a high school student, as she attempts to infiltrate the slimy world of cheerleading and jocks at her school.

After a very memorable opening the story flows along at a great pace, never feeling bogged down by itself but avoiding feeling rushed, and the audience is kept interested with some nice plot developments and twists.

The actors do a solid job all around, and in particular the female leads are way above par for this type of production. Caitlin Stasey did a great job as Maddy, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing her develop her career, hopefully in horror. Okay some of the SFX look a little basic, but the movie didn’t have a huge budget and it really doesn’t detract from the film.

We are treated to some of the silliness that is expected of a film from this sub-genre, and of course not all of the decisions the characters take are logical, but the way the film is made is reminiscent of some of the best teen horror of the 90’s, which for me can only be a good thing.

The biggest plus for me is that the directors have imbued a definite feminist slant into the movie, which is something I absolutely love, and something that can be found in Lucky McKee’s other work. In a similar vein to Chastity Bites (also recommended), the directors have taken a familiar concept and updated and revived it, to provide audiences with a fresh angle, and I think making horror, particularly slashers, more empowering to women can only ever be a good thing.

The obligatory teen-horror tropes are there, the pretty cheerleaders, the jocks, making the whole setup feel comfortingly familiar to those of us who are partial to a good slasher. But McKee uses his talents to nicely subvert the traditional ‘pretty girl gets slashed to bits’ thread and provide us with an entertaining watching experience in the company of some female lead characters who seem distinct, more than mere stereotypes. You grow to like them, particularly Maddy, Caitlin Stasey’s character, which is more than can be said for many female characters in slasher movies. Maddy and Leena in particular appear to be rounded characters, with something about them which will hopefully provide strength of character for the next installments of this.

The gore was minimal but well done, and the adding of supernatural elements to a traditional slasher film really worked. Think The Craft meets Friday the 13th but updated for the 21st century and that is what All Cheerleaders Die feels like.

It won’t revolutionise the horror world, and it certainly isn’t ‘serious’ horror, but if you’re looking for a movie to have a laugh with, and one that is a little different from the norm, then you could do far worse than All Cheerleaders Die. Recommended.

7/10

Grimmfest 2014

Grimmfest, one of the North’s finest horror spectaculars, is rapidly approaching, so I put together this little list of my most anticipated films. Alongside a whopping 25 feature films, Grimmfest also screens the best in horror short movies too. After the event I’ll be posting reviews of all the movies, along with the shorts, so keep checking back.

Full details including how to purchase tickets can be found on the Grimmfest site here , and for an IMDB list of all the movies, so you can pile those badboys into your Watchlist, click right here. 

And without further ado, here are my top picks for my most anticipated features at Grimmfest '14.

This is the big one – my absolute most anticipated screening of Grimmfest ’14 is of the utter masterpiece that is Argento’s Suspiria, with live score by Goblin. So many of my US horror buddies are crazy jealous of this one and I can see why – excitement does not cover it! This will be my first time seeing Argento large-screen and I am buzzing with anticipation! The movie needs no introduction, and as if seeing this glorious work of art accompanied by Goblin were not enough, they are following it up by also performing live to Argento’s cut of Dawn of the Dead. It’s like all my horror dreams have come true at once, be still my horror-loving heart.

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (1984)

Okay so obviously this first one isn't a first watch, but it will be my first time seeing it on the big screen and I am absolutely stoked for it. For me one of the finest horror movies of the 80’s, this is the one that first introduced us to Freddy and I think seeing it big screen with a room full of horror aficionados .

THE BABADOOK (2014) 

This first feature length film from director Jennifer Kent has been on my radar for a while. Low budget, partly crowd funded and picking up some very handsome reviews from all quarters, I am excited to finally get to see it. I’m a big supporter of women in horror and most of the female-directed efforts I have seen recently have not disappointed – hopefully this supernatural effort will pull in more rave reviews from the Grimmfest crowd. I’ll certainly let you know!

THEHOUSE AT THE END OF TIME / LA CASA DEL FIN DE LOS TIEMPOS (2013)

Spanish-language horror is at the top of the horror game for me right now. Los Ojos de Julia, Sleep Tight and Secuestrados are just three of the movies that I recommend over and over because they are quality examples of the merits of this new breed of horror. The House at the End of Time / La Casa Del Fin De Los Tiempos is the first supernatural horror movie to come out of Venezuela and I am itching to see it. The movie takes place in an old house, and we follow the protagonist Dulce as she returns to her family home to confront a years old mystery. Sounds like a recipe for another spine-tinglingly atmospheric piece of horror to me!

TRUTH OR DARE (2013) 

I love slasher movies, and have never made a secret of the fact that I enjoy a lot of the movies in the so-called ‘torture porn’ sub-genre, so this new movie from Jessica Cameron should be right up my dead-end alley! The film follows a group of teens who have found internet fame and show us what happens when one of their fans turns deadly. Cameron wrote, produced, directed and starred in Truth or Dare, and it looks like it should be a fun movie, a highlight of Grimmfest’s fringe event celebrating women in horror.

Playing alongside Truth or Dare is the short film ‘She’ from Chelsey Burdon and Mark Vessey. A violent, female-fronted revenge short this is one I have been dying to see since I heard about it. My most anticipated short film of the festival. Both directors are well worth a follow on Twitter too, check them out here: 

https://twitter.com/Chelsevie  https://twitter.com/KramYessev

SUBURBAN GOTHIC (2014)

I was a huge fan of Richard Bates Jr’s fabulous EXCISION in fact it was one of my films of the year last year, so I am really looking forward to this new movie from him. A great cast list has also upped my interest in this production, and if it turns out to be only half as original, horrifying and captivating as Excision was, then I’ll be happy after this screening. 

HOUSEBOUND (2014)

Horror comedies always go down well at festivals, there’s something about sitting in a room full of people that somehow makes them even funnier, and this offering from New Zealand looks set to be a real fun watch. The comedic gem at horror fests last year was another from down under, 100 Bloody Acres, and I’m hoping that Housebound carries on that good run of form.

DEAD SNOW 2: RED VS. DEAD (2014)

I, along with most, had a great time with the original Dead Snow, and whilst I tend to be a bit cynical of so many releases bringing out a sequel in recent times, I do think that this is a series which has legs. The first was a thoroughly entertaining and gratifyingly blood-soaked experience, and I’m anticipating more of the same blood-on-snow goodness from Red vs. Dead.

Writing this has revved my excitement up to fever pitch for Grimmfest, and I can’t wait to be in Manchester with the rest of the crazy, twisted horror aficionados next week! I have tickets for every single film, a whopping 25 feature films and numerous shorts. It’s a test of my horror stamina, and you can check out my adventures over on my Twitter.

Let me know what you’re looking forward to if you’re going, and if not what you’d choose to see at Grimmfest ’14! You can check out my reviews of everything here when I get back

HQ x

Review - Stage Fright (2014)

Stage Fright is a horror-musical hybrid, which gives us a new interpretation of the slasher sub-genre. 

Featuring a brief cameo by Minnie Driver and a very decent performance from Meatloaf, this unpretentious take on a camp-based horror is entertaining, funny and gory, and never pretends to be anything it's not.

A lot of slasher films nowadays try to be ironic, slick and relevant; by dealing with a group of "theatre geeks" and by making the central storyline revolve around the theatre, 'Stage Fright' thankfully tends to avoid those pitfalls, and doesn't try to be too edgy or clever.

I enjoy musical theatre; an odd choice to compliment my love of horror? Well, maybe. Even so, the shoutouts to famous musicals in this are fun and certainly raise a smile, and I think any horror fan who appreciates humour alongside their gore won't feel out of place with this. There are also some throwbacks to a couple of classic horror movies which I always enjoy. 

It featured a few inventive set-piece kills (being light on the gore for the first act or so, they ramp it up quite a bit for the finale), which, along with the humour definitely reminded me a bit of Sleepaway Camp, which is a big compliment in my opinion. The songs themselves were amusing and quite catchy, and the atmosphere lent it that glorious atmosphere of the good old times of cheesy 80's horror. The acting ranged from decent to just okay, but that's not why we watch these movies. And the reveal was surprisingly satisfying, concluding in a neat little package which will certainly have me returning for a re-watch. 

Oh, and it also has a killer 80's-throwback poster.

I had fun with it. Of course it's not the next greatest thing in horror, and if you're looking for genuine suspense or a serious horror movie, go try another aisle (Spanish horror might hold a lot for you). But as a fun Friday night flick, it delivers. It made me laugh more than once, I didn't forsee the reveal, and it actually made me jump (okay, only once, but I love when that happens). I say check it out, and let me know what you think. 

My rating: 6.5/10

New Direction

Hi guys,

I know it's been a fallow few months on here of late, I've been working like a fool and trying to do my degree too, so it's left little tie for horror watching, let alone blogging!

But I'm in a place now where I can watch more horror, and hopefully write about more horror, and for a while at least this blog is going to be more focussed on up-and-coming horror movies/directors/actors etc. I'm going to try to review an indie horror movie or project per week, and then if I get chance throw some other more mainstream horror reviews out too.

There's loads of new blood in horror at the moment, and I'm hoping to splatter some around here in a delightfully gory manner

Thanks for sticking with me, and I hope you check out some of the really cool work that's going on in the indie horror scene.

Oh yeah, and I'll be writing some reviews/articles over at moviepilot.com soon too

Stay horrific my beauties ;)

Cheers
HQ x

Happy New Year!

I'd like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and I hope you've all enjoyed the holidays, and perhaps even got a few horror related gifts to enjoy the new year with!

2013 brought me a lot in terms of horror movie goodness and improving my knowledge about the genre I love. I completed my 365 challenge with a good handful of films to spare - in total I watched 400 horror movies, some were unbelievably good, a lot more were average and some were plain terrible. 

This week I'll bring you two lists - one being the best films I have seen all year, from any year and country, as long as they were first watches for me in 2013. Hopefully this will give you a couple of obscure gems that I would recommend anyone check out. 

The second will be the best horror movies released in 2013. It was a pretty prolific year, and some of the films I saw were truly brilliant. I may even add in a bonus few films that were so bad they need mentioning, even if only to save others from having to endure them (Osombie, I'm looking at you o_o) 

As for next year, I will be aiming to complete another 365 horror challenge, along with using this blog to promote or review more indie projects - there is a lot of quality out there in the indie horror market right now and I'm really excited to start talking about some of these right here.

Thanks to all who read this blog, I'm hoping to be much more active here in 2014 and here's to a happy horror loving 2014 for us all!

Indie Horror - 'Untitled Horror Film' - Upcoming UK horror movie

As you guys know, I am passionate about all things horror, but I have a particular affinity for UK horror, and the movie I'm talking about today is Untitled Horror Film, a movie which was shot in the UK in just 5 days! Here I give you the synopsis and some exclusive new stills of the movie.

Written and directed by J.P. Bankes-Mercer (http://www.jpbankesmercer.com), the film tells the story of Heidi Slater, a woman desperate for her big break in journalism, as she tries to expose a celebrated psychic, Tobias Danzig. She takes him and a documentary crew into an all-but-forgotten building - Netherwood House, and from there on in, the horror kicks in! As the documentary crew begin to capture strange phenomena inside the once infamous building, their cameraman J.P. starts to shoot his own type of horror movie....

From the intriguing synopsis and the first stills of Untitled Horror Film, which look laden with atmosphere, it looks like we're in for a good slice of indie horror this year. I'm excited for this movie. I think it sounds like a creepy, interesting and different take on the abandoned location horror film, and has tones of Grave Encounters, Session 9 and even Behind The Mask. It should be fun!

I will keep you updated with news of this project, as I feel like it is a film with the potential to give all horror fans a treat.

Support indie horror! Check back here often for updates on Untitled Horror Film.

Follow this film and its director on Twitter:
twitter.com/shootingiswar
twitter.com/jpbankesmercer

Movie #5 - Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D (2013) - Review

IMDb

First off, let me assure you I won’t post any spoilers in here, so you can read without learning anything you wouldn’t get from the trailer.

This is being marketed as a ‘direct sequel’ to Tobe Hooper’s 1974 film, indeed we are treated to a couple of minutes of recap footage, in 3D of course, then it starts off just minutes after that film ends.

The film opens with a group of vigilantes burning down the Sawyer house, then discovering a baby in the wreckage. A couple of them take the baby for their own. The cut to years later, and we are with said baby, Heather, now all grown up. She embarks on a trip to find her inheritance from a Grandmother she never knew she had.

I’ll say now; I enjoyed this movie. It was pretty well made and had a strong storyline. That is not to say, however, that it was anything like a perfect movie. It certainly wasn’t. I’ll start with what bugged me about this film.

Firstly, it did not need 3D. It was utterly pointless and had no place in the film. It didn’t even look like it was in 3D for most of the film, except for a couple of blood splatters and a few times where an object was thrown at the screen. There were also the obligatory shots of the lead girls, which were eye-rollingly obvious and mildly exploitative, but all I got from the 3D was a headache. There’s no reason whatsoever for seeing this movie in 3D. The casting was also hit and miss; while Alexandra Daddario did particularly well in her lead role, her supporting cast of friends didn’t do as much. Apparently Tremaine Neverson is a singer, and while I’ve never heard of him, here’s a nice cliche to go with his acting - stick to the day job. There were some really nice cameos, and the older cast produced some good quality stuff.

The typical slasher side-storylines were boring and added nothing whatsoever to the overall movie, aside from a nice nod to Tobe Hooper when the gang pick up a hitchhiker along the way.

Another glaring problem for me is this; if the timings are correct, Heather should be roughly 38 years old. In real life, Alexandra Daddario is 26 and could easily pass for younger. If you’re going to go with this particular storyline, don’t just ignore the age your characters are supposed to be in order to get a more conventionally ‘attractive’ and marketable cast. That’s selling out.

However, the film was not all bad. Yes, the points mentioned above irked me, but overall I enjoyed the film. There were some great moments that were big bonuses for fans of the original; little easter eggs that people who haven’t seen it wouldn’t get, and I won’t spoil it for you by going into detail here, just keep your eyes peeled and you’ll get a few little retro treats. 

The main storyline was good, well presented and interesting, and there were a few good jump scares in there too. 

The gore for the most part was well done, a little too CGI for my tastes maybe, but it’s  a 3D film so I wasn’t expecting anything else. It didn’t shy away from much of the gore or killings, which I appreciated, and throughout a lot of the film there was a nice sinister atmosphere and some good tension build ups. One thing that made the original scary, and made Leatherface an icon, was not just his horrendously creepy look, but also the fact that we hardly saw him in the film. In this version, we saw him a lot. There was just too much screen time for him, which made him less scary each and every time. Add to that the fact that the new incarnation of his mask is nothing like as scary as the first, and we come away with a film that does not hold the creep factor anywhere near as well as its predecessor. It does well though, for a sequel, and even forces the audience to illicit a new feeling for Leatherface; sympathy.

I really loved the ending, I think that was where the film stood out, although I hear there is a remake in the works and that is one of the worst things they could do. It ended strongly, just leave it at that and don’t try to cash in on it. Let it have some integrity, and leave knowing you made a pretty decent film.

All in all, Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a decent film. It is not perfect, and it doesn’t live up to the original in any way, but I really wasn’t expecting it to, so I’m not disappointed by that. The acting is mostly good, and the new take and twist on the storyline impressed me. I’d recommend you go and see this film, but not in 3D. It is not worth any extra money, and even if it’s the same price you won’t gain a single thing from it. My rating is a solid 6/10. You won’t miss anything if you wait for it to come out on Blu-Ray or DVD, but seeing it in theatres was a good experience.

6/10

The Good: The storyline, Daddario's acting & the 'easter-eggs' for fans of the original

The Bad: The 3D, supporting cast acting and too much Leatherface

I'd recommend this for:

Any fans of the original, as it's a nice twist on what happens after the camera stopped rolling in '74. 

Final verdict: 

A decent enough entry into the franchise, although one wasn't really needed. See it but there's no rush

Movie #4 - Sleepaway Camp (1983) - Review

Imdb

It is no secret that I have a huge huge passion for 80’s slashers - blood, gore, a cheesy storyline, I love it all. If you throw in some inventive kills it’s almost guaranteed that I’m going to adore it, and all of those ingredients, blended together with humour, a cracking storyline and a side order of fun 80’s fashion produce this movie. Sleepaway Camp is one of the best horror movies the 80’s produced, and one of my very favourite camp slashers of all time.

From the opening scene, with it’s incredibly dramatic, completely camp shock-thriller score, we are given the backstory of Angela, our protagonist, and we see that as a child she is witness to an horrific accident involving her twin and father. Fast forward a few years and Angela is being shipped off to Camp Arawak for a lovely summer of fun, by her Aunt, who is fantastically creepy, one of the creepiest, shudder-inducing characters I have ever come across in a movie like this. From here on in, standard slasher characters abound; you have the jock, the bitch, the tarty girl and the camp staff - the lecherous cook, laid back counsellors and over the top manager. But what helps make Sleepaway Camp a stand-out camp slasher is the fact that these characters aren’t just vacuous airheads there for the sole purpose of being fodder for our killer, they are deeper, well thought out characters, each of whom adds another dimension to the movie. This richness of cast and character also provides the intrigue needed to build suspense in a film like this - we don’t know who the killer is, and you don’t find out until the unforgettable last scene in the movie. Quick warning here - if you haven’t read any spoilers about this film then PLEASE DON’T! I won’t give any here, and trust me, you want to go into this without having it spoiled for you - that way it stands a chance of becoming one of your favourite 80’s horrors too. Angela and her cousin are also not the standard protagonists you expect in a camp killer movie, and it is these small but significant changes that elevate Sleepaway Camp above most other films in the same category as it.

It’s not long until people start to die, and here we come to one of the greatest things about the entire film; the kills. Unusual, creative kills are just about my favourite thing about films like Sleepaway Camp - give me over-the-top, blood-drenched, hilarious, improbable deaths any day over a shotgun blast or a stabbing, they are a fun, guilty pleasure of many horror fans and Sleepaway Camp provides that fun in absolute bucketloads. The kills are beautifully inventive, not many films either before or after this have come close to capturing the bizarre, ridiculously entertaining deaths that occur here. Featuring some of my favourite kills of all-time, I’m sure you’ll find a new gem to add to your list too.

This movie is an utter delight from start to finish.

Every minute spent at Camp Arawak provides more delight than the last, leading up to that glorious final scene which is by far one of the most memorable of any 80’s flick I’ve ever seen.  

If you love slashers, in particular cheesy, 80’s camp-fests then you’re in for the biggest treat. Granted if you’re looking for a serious genre flick, you will hate this. It hasn’t got a serious bone in its body, but if you want to have a bucket load of fun then you really cannot go wrong.

8/10

The Good: The glorious kills, fab 80's atmosphere and that ending!

The Bad: It is very cheesy, not a bad thing for me but maybe for some!

I'd recommend this for: Any fan of 80's slashers, or anyone wanting a super fun movie

Overall verdict: Must see, everyone that loves horror has to see this one

Movie #3 - La Chiesa/The Church (1989) - Review

Imdb

I went into watching this film because I was on an Argento kick and was trying to devour as much of his work as possible. After watching this, myself and a friend of mine decided we weren't classing this as Argento anymore. It is directed by Michele Soavi, who directed Dellamorte Dellamore, a film I love and so I figured that the combination of two great directors would produce something special. It didn't work for me.

Watching this in the middle of my Argento-a-thon, it just didn't fit. Far from the Giallo style Argento is so amazing at, this is tale of a big Gothic cathedral, built over a mass gravesite, which is developing powers to trap people inside it. It's a fairly bizarre concept and filmed in such a way that I just couldn't get in to it. For starters the pacing was all off; it would cut from action scenes to bizarre, seemingly unrelated scenes for quite some time, then back in for some more of the people trapped in a church. It was jarring and felt confused, and I just didn't take to it at all.

The location of the cathedral and the architecture were brilliant and really lent an added depth to the film, likewise the cinematography and score were both good. The acting was hit and miss and the overall storyline left a lot to be desired, for me. 

It all boils down to personal taste really, and I tend to prefer a more real threat in my movies - a homicidal maniac, a black-gloved killer or a chainsaw-wielding nut are much more up my street than demons are, and so it takes something a little more special than The Church to get me to really love a demon-based horror. 

It's not a terrible movie, but it's really nothing special, and having seen it, I wouldn't bother to watch it again.

The Good: The setting and cinematography were well done

The Bad: It didn't flow right and the storyline didn't captivate me

I'd recommend this for: Anyone who likes demon/spirits in their horror movies and is prepared to wade through some slightly surreal stuff for it

Overall verdict: This one was not for me. In a Giallo or a movie with a more 'traditional' killer, I embrace the surreal - you have to, if Argento is your favourite director. But the concept behind this did nothing for me, and the surrealism and pacing lost me in the end. See it, but I wouldn't rush.

4/10

Movie #2 - Tenebrae (1982) - Review

Imdb

Year of Horror - Movie 2

IMDB

YEAR: 1982

Sub-Genre: Giallo

Director: Dario Argento

Main Cast: Anthony Franciosa (as Peter Neal), Giuliano Gemma (as Detective Germani), John Saxon (as Bullmer),  Christian Borromeo (as Gianni)



Dario Argento is probably my favourite director of all time. His films are like a glorious treat for your eyes, and his storylines are often complicated but always intriguing. In Tenebre, Argento tells the story of Peter Neal, a writer who has come to Rome only to have someone use his novels as motivation for murder. This is one of Argento's most linear and coherent movies, but don't let that fool you - there is plenty going on here, the kills are spectacular and the utter brilliance of the storyline, with perfect pacing thrusting you into the glorious, unexpected, wonderful ending creates a film which is nigh on perfect.

Tenebre, along with Opera, is my favourite Argento film. I cannot recommend this highly enough, everyone who likes horror, hell, anyone who just likes films in general, needs to watch this.

Later in the year I will be doing a collaborative review on Tenebre, which will be very detailed and in-depth. I hope you will read that, but for now, do yourself a favour and watch this film!!!

Why it's wrong to ask: "Should I see the original first?"

Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Carrie, The Evil Dead. All amazing films, and all being remade. I’m looking forward to all of them, and I’m certain they will all be big box-office hits. But one thing that is troubling me about the remakes coming out this year is this; the amount of people who’ve asked me, or just asked in general, if they should see the original first.

Of course, a film can be enjoyed without knowing anything about it. But if you’re asking this question, you KNOW there is an original. You KNOW this film had a predecessor. And what you’re essentially asking is if it’s okay to skip a piece of work that was so good, memorable or otherwise genius that it spawned one or more remakes/sequels, because you can’t be bothered to watch something that’s more than a couple of years old. It’s the same as writing a book report but deciding to see the film instead. You get the general gist of what’s going on, but you won’t develop a love for the material, and you certainly won’t capture the feeling that was so lovingly crafted for the piece.

You might not HAVE to see the original Texas Chain Saw to understand what’s going on in the 2013 version. You don’t need to have watched with delight Ash’s 1980’s shenanigans to enjoy the remake. But to not do so is indicative of a lot of the problems facing the movie industry, particularly horror, today. It typifies the audiences who go crazy over Paranormal Activity 72 but ignore completely anything original or indie, until some ‘trendy’ blogger declares it ‘Must-See!’

You should always see the original first. Without the original, the new version would not exist. Without seeing the original, you can’t possibly get a sense of what the director was trying to achieve with the film, what it meant or the point it was trying to make.

I know some people will disagree with this article, and say that all movies can be enjoyed without context, and I guess at a base level that is true. But what we’re talking about here is laziness, dumbing down and a general disinterest in anything that isn’t ‘now’ or current. Newsflash - some pretty epic things happened before you were born! Just because a film is 30 years old, or it’s in black & white, or it’s foreign doesn’t mean it isn’t worth seeing! In a lot of cases, you will find a film that is so much better than 90% of the films that will be released this year.

Don’t just see things because everyone else is doing it, or they are the new ‘big thing’, forgotten by next year. See movies that are genuinely good, that will make you think, that will frighten you for real and not just give you a cheap jump thrill. Do me a favour and watch the original first. They are classics for a reason.

Update

I've just got back from an amazing holiday in Florida, which is the reason for the lack of updates in the past week. I had an unbelievably fantastic time, and now that I'm back I have A LOT of catching up to do with my films!

So far in 2013 I've seen 5 horror movies:

Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Tenebrae (1982)
La Chiesa (1989)
Sleepaway Camp (1982)
Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)

The reviews for the rest of these films will be up this week, along with the other films I'm planning on watching before next week.

By the end of next week everything will be all updated! And remember to check my twitter - www.twitter.com/HQReviews for current updates on what I'm watching

Cheers!

Beth

Movie #1 - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) - Review

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Year of Horror - Movie 1

IMDB

1974

Sub-Genre: Slasher

Director: Tobe Hooper

Main Cast: Gunnar Hansen (as Leatherface), Marilyn Burns (as Sally Hardesty), Allen Danziger (as Jerry)

Review:

I wanted the first film I watched as part of my Year of Horror campaign to be a classic, and it doesn't come much more classic than Tobe Hooper's 1974 masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

The plot is simple; five friends, driving through Texas, happen upon a deranged family, equipped with deep psychosis and chainsaws. What ensues is a desperate fight for survival, one which epitomises horror and provides some truly memorable scares.

The isolation of the setting provides the basis for the chill of terror the audience is going to feel during this movie. We sympathise with Sally; in the middle of nowhere, far away from home and slowly losing her only anchor to the outside world, her friends, she becomes a character we grow to care about and root for.

One of my favourite scenes in the movie is when Leatherface is chasing Sally through the fields outside the house. As sally runs toward you, the fear is palpable; Leatherface is behind her, closing in and all you can do is watch as she becomes closer and closer to her tormentor. The tension reaches fever pitch and then...you know what? You'll have to watch it to find out what happens next! If you've seen this film then you'll know that the ending is just glorious. An amazing, haunting ending that you'll never forget.

With the Texas Chainsaw remake looking like it will be huge, I think this is an opportunity for people who have never seen this movie to turn off the lights, settle down and prepare be terrified. Or at least revel in the utter fear-drenched delight of this film. I'd hate for someone's first experience of Chainsaw to be a remake, good or bad, when, if experienced properly, the 1974 piece of art can become one of your all time favourite horror experiences. If you have seen it before, relive it. Even when you know what's coming, the film is a captivating, enthralling experience.

A truly fantastic film, I'd recommend it to everyone.

Rating

8/10

Trailer

13 Most Anticipated Films of 2013

My 13 most anticipated horror movies of 2013

As the year draws to a close, it is customary to take a look back at the horror we’ve been given over the past 12 months. After you’ve debated your list, and argued with others about theirs, it’s time to start thinking about the new feast of horror that will be hitting your eyes in the coming months.

In the spirit of looking forward, and with my own new year’s resolution in mind (to watch 365 horror movies next year), I bring you the 13 horror movies to look out for in 2013.

These are the movies I am highly anticipating seeing in 2013, and so far, it looks like it’s going to be a good year for horror!

*The release dates and synopsis are from IMDB*


Texas Chainsaw 3D

“Evil has many faces”

Release Date: 4th January 2013
“A young woman travels to Texas to collect an inheritance; little does she know that an encounter with a chainsaw-wielding killer is part of the reward.”

Looking forward to this because:

I love the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It’s in my top 10 horror films of all time, and there’s something I find totally fascinating about the Sawyer family. I have liked all of the different interpretations of their story over the years, some more than others, of course, although Tobe Hooper’s original will always be the best for me. There has been a lot of hype surrounding this sequel and, despite the fact that I’m not the biggest fan of the 3D gimmick, I’m looking forward to meeting up with the family again!




American Mary

“She’s an artist”

Release Date: 11th January 2013
“The story follows medical student, Mary Mason, as she becomes increasingly broke and disenchanted with the surgical world she once admired. The allure of easy money sends Mary into the world of underground surgeries which ends up leaving more marks on her than her so called 'freakish' clientele”

I have heard a lot of good things about this film, and if the Soska sisters’ last effort, Dead Hooker In A Trunk, is anything to go by, this is going to be brilliant. I was gutted I didn’t get to see it at festivals this year and this is probably the film I am most looking forward to seeing.




The ABC’s of Death

“It’s not educational”

Release Date: 31st January 2013
“A 26-chapter anthology that showcases death in all its vicious wonder and brutal beauty.”

This is one of the most interesting horror films to be coming out this year. Anthologies always have the potential to be good, and this one more than most - there are 26 individual chapters, and each has been created by a different director. They were assigned a letter of the alphabet and told to choose a word around which to base a story about death. This alone makes the film sound like one of the most interesting concepts I’ve come across in years. Fangoria called it "a stunning roll call of some of the most exciting names in horror across the world.” and I can’t put it any better than that.



Warm Bodies

“Bros before brains”

Release Date: February 8th 2013
“After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.”

Zombie movies and TV shows are gaining in popularity all the time, meaning that for something to stand out, it has to have a different spin on the genre. I haven’t seen a film based on zombie-romance before, and that might just give Warm Bodies the edge it needs to break away (or walk, arms out-stretched, slowly away)  from the rest of the pack. Also is stars Nicholas Hoult, the once sweet little kid from About A Boy, so the acting should be decent, and it’s apparently loosely based on Romeo & Juliet, which, for a zombie film, should make it a laugh!



Mama

Release Date: 22nd  February 2013
“Annabel and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for 5 years.... but how alone were they?”

‘Presented by Guillermo del Toro’ is the exclamation that faces you when you research this film, and any film that has a tagline like that was always going to make this list. The guy is a genius, and his backing of this film as executive producer is like a golden seal of approval. The trailer is intense, chilling even, and films with creepy kids are always some of the most frightening for me, not to mention being a speciality of del Toro’s. Mama looks fantastic, and I’m willing to bet it will be gracing people’s top lists of 2013.



Maniac

Release Date: 15th March 2013
“The owner of a mannequin shop develops a dangerous obsession with a young artist.”

A lot of people remember the 1980 original of Maniac, and I’m sure a lot of them never pictured Frodo Baggins Elijah Wood as the psychotic Frank. I certainly didn’t. However, Wood is a quality actor and I’m sure he will give his all in this role, indeed the early reviews are showing that he does manage to pull off his performance as the insane serial killer well. I am a fan of the 80’s version of this film, with it’s tense atmosphere and the great gore it contains, and I only hope that a remake doesn’t mean we lose a lot of the gore. Alexandre Aja proved that he can take a great film and give it a thoroughly decent remake with 2006’s The Hills Have Eyes, so let’s hope he does the same again here!



John Dies At The End

“Just so you know...they’re sorry for anything that’s about to happen”

Release Date: March 22nd 2013
“A new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return as no longer human. Can two college dropouts save humankind from this silent, otherworldly invasion?”

Now, as a general rule, I’m not a huge fan of horror comedy. There’s nothing wrong with it, but I prefer my horror straight-up. I’m just that sort of girl. However, I’ve been impressed by the trailers for this movie, and particularly liked the tongue-in-cheek viral ad warning against pirating it. The early reviews for it are looking goof, and the fact that Don Coscarelli, who directed the 1979 classic Phantasm, was at the helm, makes this one to look out for in 2013



Carrie

Release Date: 5th April 2013
“A sheltered high school girl unleashes her newly developed telekinetic powers after she is pushed too far by her peers.”
“You will know her name”

What to say about this one? Another remake in 2013, Carrie was a film that I loved first time around, and I’m not sure why a remake was really needed. What is good is that it will bring the story to a new generation, and possibly prompt that generation to check out the other adaptations of Stephen King books, virtually all of which I’ve love. That is the reason I’m looking forward to Carrie, King’s stories are so enveloping and entertaining that this has to be good. I hope!



A Haunted House

Release Date: 5th April 2013
“Malcolm and Keisha move into their dream home, but soon learn a demon also resides there. When Kisha becomes possessed, Malcolm - determined to keep his sex life on track - turns to a priest, a psychic, and a team of ghost-busters for help.”
I’ve already made my case clear on my general dislike of comedy horror, but this satire looks set to be a new ‘Scary Movie’, and so I’ve included it, because a lot of people like these sorts of films. Most people I’ve spoken to are looking forward to a bit of light relief with this one, so maybe I should stop being a grump and enjoy it!



Evil Dead

“The most terrifying film you will ever experience”

Release Date: 19th April 2013
“Mia, a young woman struggling with sobriety, heads to a remote cabin with her brother and a group of friends, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads to danger and horror.”
This is the one everyone is waiting for. It really needs no introduction. In 1981 a cult film was born and in April 2013, 32 years after the original, comes the remake. It seems that 2013 will be the year of the remakes, four big ones are in this list alone, and let’s all hope that this one in particular is done well. You don’t need me to tell you that the original is an amazing piece of work, and it looks as though the remake has been made with a love for that film, which has to be a good thing. I’m looking forward to this one so much!


Lords of Salem

“We’ve been waiting … we’ve always been waiting”

Release Date: April 26th 2013
“Residents of Salem, Massachusetts are visited by a 300-year-old coven of witches.”

I am a big Rob Zombie fan, The Devil’s Rejects is, in my opinion, a near perfect film, and I’m one of the people who enjoyed his version of Halloween, along with loving House of 1,000 Corpses. So it’s far to say, I was always going to look forward to this film. A lot of people I’ve spoken to are highly anticipating this one too, and from what I’ve seen I can see this one becoming one of my top 10 for 2013. Let’s review that in 12 months!


World War Z

“Remember Philly!”

Release Date: June 21st 2013
A U.N. employee is racing against time and fate, as he travels the world trying to stop the outbreak of a deadly Zombie pandemic.

This is an apocalyptic end-of-world zombie horror, based on a novel of the same name. I enjoy apocalypse type movies, and this one has been highly anticipated for quite a while. I have high hopes for it, as it has a stellar cast and a good storyline and I think this is one that will be enjoyed by a lot of people.


The Conjuring

Release Date: 19th July 2013
“A family encounters spirits living among them in their New England farmhouse.”

James Wan directed two of my favourite films of the last 10 years, Saw and Insidious and so this ghost tale, inspired by the real life story of a family who claimed they “lived among the dead”, promises to be a creepy hit. Set in the 70’s, two paranormal investigators, Patrick Wilson (Insidious) and Vera Farmiga (Orphan), are called in when strange and unexplained things start happening. The story sounds suitably spooky, and after seeing what Wan did with his last supernatural hit, I cannot wait to feast on this.  


Insidious: Chapter 2

Release Date: 30th August 2013
A continuation of the 2010 horror hit about the fate of the Lambert family and their haunted house.
I was a bit dubious when I heard they were making a sequel to Insidious; I loved this film so much and I don’t want to see the spark it had fizzle out by people trying to cash in on it. I’m going to leave my cynicism at the door, however, because with a lot of the cast from the first film signing on to be in this, and James Wan taking the helm again, I have a feeling it could retain that special something and give my Insidious blu-ray a break!



There are also a few films I am NOT relishing seeing:


Paranormal Activity 5 - Just let it go now. It wasn’t clever the first time round and it’s getting worse each time. I'm going to cry blood if I have to watch any more.

The Human Centipede 3 - I have no idea why this needs 2 sequels. One film by itself was more than enough.

Cabin Fever: Patient Zero - I did not enjoy Cabin Fever and I disliked the second even more. A third can’t possibly bring anything new.


So overall, 2013 seems to be big on remakes. A couple of original-sounding possible gems and some stars in the making, and I think we’re in for a good year! And don’t foreget, these are only my picks. There are plenty more out there! Let me know what you’re most looking forward to in the comments

Happy new year everyone, hope you have a safe, happy and horror-filled 2013