Archive for October, 2009
Posted by About.com Horror & Suspense on
October 24, 2009
© DreamWorks
It’s Halloween week, which means that almost every TV channel is airing at least one horror movie, and the biggest premieres come on — you guessed it — Halloween, as The Haunting of Molly Hartley airs at 9 PM on Starz and The Uninvited airs at 10 PM on Cinemax. For the best ghost movie premiering this week, however, check out Dorothy Mills at 12:50 AM on Halloween morning on the Lifetime Movie Network; it’s one of the best direct-to-video releases I’ve seen this year.
Posted by About.com Horror & Suspense on
October 23, 2009
© Lionsgate
Nicolas Cage is a really likable actor, but in recent years, he’s turned into such an over-the-top caricature of himself that it’s hard to take anything he does seriously — due in no small part to roles in silly genre flicks like The Wicker Man, Ghost Rider and Knowing. And if the newly released trailer for his upcoming Season of the Witch is any indication, the guilty pleasure train continueth!
Posted by About.com Horror & Suspense on
October 22, 2009
© MPI
Scandinavia might be cold, but its horror slate is hot hot hot! Finland’s Sauna is the latest fright flick from northern Europe to invade the US. It’s a supernatural period piece with unusual depth and artistry. And subtitles. Read about it in my review of Sauna.
Take a Dip: Sauna DVD Review originally appeared on About.com Horror & Suspense on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 02:28:40.
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Posted by About.com Horror & Suspense on
October 21, 2009
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe
in
Antichrist.
© IFC Films
How does one begin to describe Antichrist, probably the most divisive and controversial movie of the year? Imagine combining The Exorcist with Cabin Fever, Hostel, a Calvin Klein commercial, one of those Mondo/Faces of Death films and last but not least, a hard-core porno flick. Then throw in a talking fox. It’s easy to understand how it’s inspired love it-or-hate it reactions, although I’m one of the few people who falls pretty squarely in the middle. Read about it in my review of Antichrist.
Posted by About.com Horror & Suspense on
October 20, 2009
Cary Elwes in
Saw.
© Lionsgate
The Saw movies are unusual as far as horror franchises go in that the storyline continues directly from one movie to another — like seasons in a serial TV show — rather than repeating the same plot over and over (horny teens go to camp and get killed; next year, the same thing happens). As such, the Saw plot can be a little difficult to follow. Make that a LOT difficult. If you don’t mind some spoilers, here’s a recap of the story up ’til now in five short paragraphs. Take notes.
Posted by About.com Horror & Suspense on
October 19, 2009
© IFC
If it’s Halloween (or thereabouts), it’s gotta be Saw. This week, Saw VI‘s release marks the sixth straight October with a film from the Saw franchise, while The Vampire’s Assistant goes for a more family-friendly audience, and the very adult-skewed Antichrist receives a limited run. On DVD, Wrong Turn 3 leads the pack, followed by Blood: The Last Vampire (including a quote from yours truly on the packaging!) and The William Castle Film Collection.
Posted by About.com Horror & Suspense on
October 18, 2009
© Sony
William Castle was part director, part producer and all showman, generating buzz for low-budget pics like 13 Ghosts, The Tingler and House on Haunted Hill with silly theater gimmicks like flying skeletons and buzzing seats — in some ways a precursor to the much-hyped roll-out of Paranormal Activity. The William Castle Film Collection not only gathers some of his best work, but it also features some of his lesser-known films and an insightful documentary that makes this a great way to get to know this Hollywood icon. Read about it in my review of The William Castle Film Collection.
Posted by About.com Horror & Suspense on
October 16, 2009
Photo: Getty Images
Now finishing up his family action-adventure film The Last Airbender, M. Night Shyamalan is returning to horror with his next project — not as a director, but as writer and producer. Shyamalan came up with the idea for Devil, whose plot is being kept under wraps (Can you say twist ending?), while Brian Nelson (30 Days of Night) hammered out the script for the film, to be directed by Drew and John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine). The flick, scheduled to begin production later this month, is the first of three horror movies to be written and produced by Shyamalan under his Night Chronicles banner.
Posted by About.com Horror & Suspense on
October 15, 2009
I came across this article in HispanicBusiness.com that relates the recent firings of studio executives to horror movie carnage, and it made me think about the nature of horror movies in these rough economic times. With all of the uncertainty going around, it seems to me that horror movies are about as sure a bet as it gets when it comes to investing in films. The article goes into the intricacies of the business side of modern filmmaking, and for each example of ills plaguing the industry, horror movies prove to be a perfect remedy.
For instance:
