Grave Encounters review

Genre: Supernatural, Found Footage, Horror.
Starring: Sean Rogerson, Ashleigh Gryzko, Merwin Mondesir, Mackenzie Gray, Juan Reininger, Arthur Corber, Bob Rathie, Matthew K McBride, Ben Wilkinson, Alex Timmer, Eva Gilford, Michelle Cummins, Shawn Macdonald, Fred Keating, Max Train, Marita Eason, Luis Jamer.
Year Of Release: 2012 (UK) 2011 (US)
Certificate: 15 (UK)
Runtime: 95 Minutes
Director: The Vicious Brothers (Colin Minihan & Stuart Ortiz)

Synopsis: "For their ghost hunting reality show, a production crew locks themselves inside an abandoned mental hospital that's supposedly haunted - and it might prove to be all too true." IMDB

After recently reviewing "Extraterrestrial" which was made by The Vicious Brothers, I had to review the film that made me fall in love with their work. I know a lot of people find the whole Found Footage sub-genre to be boring and played out, however when done correctly it is terrifying, here is what I thought of the "brothers" directorial debut.

Opening up with Jerry Hartfield (Wilkinson) who is the producer of the popular "Grave Encounters" a paranormal investigation television series, he introduces us to the hose Lance Preston (Rogerson) [who to me is clearly a parody of Ghost Adventures host Zak Bagans]. Hartfield goes on to tell us that the show was cancelled after its fifth episode and the footage from the sixth episode went mysteriously missing, the footage was found some time later and brought to Hartfield. The film is headlined by Lance, Sasha Parker an occult specialist, Matt White the camera guy, T.C Gibson and Houston Grey who are all set out to investigate the notoriously haunted and abandoned Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital were nearly 100,000 patients were treated.

Caretaker (Rathie) of the Hospital gives them a tour of the site, that night the crew set up their investigatory equipment and begin their overnight investigation while locked within the hospital. It is now when the truly strange things begin to occur, creepy noises, unexplained events and slamming doors. Lance notices ghostly apparitions and orbs in a picture they have taken, while retrieving their cameras to check for evidence Matt goes missing. This is when it ALL kicks off!

Overall, the film was a resounding success in my opinion, while the film is obviously not an original concept by any stretch of the imagination. The Vicious Brothers really make it their own, if you're a fan of the sub-genre or not you will struggle to find a better paranormal based Horror in the past decade in my opinion. For me it's at least on par with "Paranormal Activity" and that film completely changed the Found Footage/Paranormal genre.

The acting is pretty good considering the film is such a low budget production, acting is usually the first thing directors give up when they have no money in Horror, however the brothers seem to have cast more than capable actors/actresses for their film. The asylum they use leaves the audience feeling uncomfortable and uneasy knowing even to walk the halls in the day would be a horrific experience. The location scout on this hit the ball out the park with this location.

I highly recommend you check this film out especially if you're a fan of the sub-genre, if you are not check it out anyway I have a feeling it may sway you to becoming a believer in the sub-genre once again. While the concept is unoriginal, I GUARANTEE the scares are all original, these guys do more than just scare they make you feel like you're stuck right there with the crew. If you're looking for some scares this Halloween, this film is for you!

 

9/10

Annabelle review

Genre: Supernatural, Horror.
Starring: Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton, Tony Amendola, Alfre Woodward, Kerry O'Malley, Brian Howe, Eric Ladin, Ivar Brogger, Tree O'Toole, Keira Daniels, Morganna May, Amy Tipton, Michelle Romano, Christopher Shaw.
Year Of Release: 2014
Certificate: 15 (UK)
Runtime: 98 Minutes
Director: John R Leonetti

Synopsis: "A couple begin to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists." IMDB

When I heard that "The Conjuring" was getting a sequel based on the unbelievably disturbing "real" story of the Annabelle doll I was so pumped! Not only am I a HUGE lover of the Horror genre, I am also a pretty keen follower of the "real" paranormal (not to say I am a believer, just a very keen enthusiast of the subject). The doll still sits today in the museum started by The Warrens, how messed up is that a museum dedicated to the most sinister paranormal objects in the world, I'd LOVE to visit it one day!

Opening up with the same scene in which "The Conjuring" did, two young women and a young man are telling Ed and Lorraine Warren about their experiences with what they believe to be a haunted doll they call Annabelle. Cut back a year and we are now with John (Horton) and Mia (Wallis) who are expecting their first child, John gives his wife a doll that she has been searching for, for a long time.

As Mia closes in on her dude date, something unbelievably horrific happens, a couple/pair of Satanic cultists break into their home attacking Mia and stabbing her in the stomach, both cultists end up dying in the house. The female cultist named Annabelle Higgins dies with the aforementioned doll in her hands he blood lands on doll starting what will be the worst experience of the young couples lives. A short time passes and Mia is now seeing shadows, shadowy figures, hearing noises resulting in her horrible realisation that something evil is after her new born baby.

Overall, the film was a complete and utter let down, if ANY Horror writers/directors see this read this line carefully;
!!!LOUD NOISES ARE NOT HOW JUMP SCARES WORK!!!

Lazy film making at its best, making watchers wince through using loud noises is NOT how Horror works, it NEVER has been, ANYBODY could make a film in that way an call it Horror. The scenes do make you jump, not through fear of the film, just shock in the boom as you do when you wake a sleeping person with a bang.

The main problem is James Wan when creating the film that spawned this prequel "The Conjuring"  created a beautifully made Horror that felt like it took place in the 70s. Unfortunately, John Leonetti fell on his face in this aspect, he just robbed tropes and elements from 60s & 70s Horror. He fell into the trap that lots of modern Horror directors do, just paying homage to the greats does not add to your film, if anything it takes away from your film leaving the fans with a sense of let down. There is an over use of panning reveals (if you are not familiar is panning through a room an passing a door/window to reveal something in the background) it happens so many times that you feel no suspense watching them.

All "Annabelle" truly offers is the chance to wince four or five times through sheer ear pain, none of the scenes will built any tension for the viewer, they try to build up but fall flat on their face. Unlike "The Conjuring" which builds scene to the point in which you feel the tension, this film is a misguided idea of how to rob a genre by using "jump scares" to bring in a younger/inexperienced audience who know no better due to the massive decline in modern Horror. Most fans of the genre will be sitting there twiddling their thumbs waiting for the film to actually end, and may I add I did not they needed to redesign the look of Annabelle I personally find the doll much creepier, I get why they did it though, the fear of porcelain dolls is a mass fear. 

The film itself is really not the only problem, Wallis and Horton are boring throughout, Wallis mumbles most of her lines and you struggle to truly grasp what she is feeling while Horton is the opposite his overly emotion acting feels forced. There is one scene that was done pretty well, which is the only reason the film didn't get a zero or a one star rating, that is the basement/storage unit scene, I can highly recommend you check that scene out on maybe YouTube or something. Other than that, I highly recommend you get your evil doll Horror fix from "Child's Play" (1988), "Dead Silence" (2007, which was director by producer of this film James Wan) or "Dolls" (1987).

2/10

30 Days Of Night review

Genre: Thriller, Vampire, Horror.
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Ben Foster, Mark Rendall, Mark Boone Junior, Megan Franich, Amber Sainsbury, Nathaniel Lees, Joel Tobeck, Elizabeth Hawthorne, Manu Bennett.
Year Of Release: 2007
Certificate: 18 (UK)
Runtime: 109 Minutes
Director: David Slade

Synopsis: "After an Alaskan town is plunged into darkness for a month, it is attacked by a bloodthirsty gang of vampires." IMDB

I remember the first time I seen this film, was during its original run in the cinema in 2007 I was 17 at the time so getting in for an 18 certificate film was ALWAYS fun back then. I miss the old days of sneaking in or tricking cashiers into believing the age. Anyway, on to the review.

As night falls on an Alaskan outpost village where it will stay dark for the next month, a murderous crew of vampires come creeping into the village for a feast where they plan to feast on the mortal souls of the skeleton crew that keeps the village going. Main trouble is Marlow's (Huston) crew are almost feral like monsters like vampires should be. When the vampires arrive so does the loss of power including phones and internet, with the nearest town over 80 miles away the inhabitants know they are in trouble.

It takes them more than a few hours to realise how dire the situation they have found themselves in has become, meanwhile the crew of vampires are attacking with brutal violence and humans being ripped apart after they are running the streets expecting to actually fight these monsters. Each time resulting in their earlier demise, it is around this point that Sheriff Olseon (Hartnett) and his band of merry men are starting to realise they have no hope or chance of survival so they go to ground to play the waiting game. Which does not result in the outcome that they want, the vampires just keep coming picking people off like it is all for fun.

Overall, the film isn't your typical Horror film it is a far cry from some of this boring ass vampire crap we have had in recent years, I would go as far to say it is the best vampire film in the past decade potentially the past two excluding Blade while a vampire film I still consider it prominently a comic book film. The film is also beautifully gorey and refreshing in its approach to the deadly action and the fact they do not use silly one-lines or use the typical jokes when something gorey happens. They try to humanise the world in which these vampires exist, making the actors fear what they see or are experiencing like a lot of other films.

The film is a thoroughly enjoyable watch, full of gore, action, Horror and brilliantly written scenes. There is some missed opportunities in the film like in all others, their main could be said that they under use the talents of Danny Huston he doesn't nearly get enough usage as he deserves. In conclusion the film is a triumph by relatively new director (at the time) David Slade the best vampire film since Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" over two decades ago.

8/10

"Curse Of Chucky" review

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Crime.
Starring:  Brad Dourif, Fiona Dourif, Danielle Bisutti, A Martinez, Brennan Elliott, Alex Vincent, Jennifer Tilly.
Year Of Release: 2013
Certificate: 18 (UK)
Runtime: 97 Minutes
Director: Don Mancini

Synopsis: "After her mother's mysterious death, Nica begins to suspect that the talking, red-haired doll her visiting niece has been playing with may be the key to recent bloodshed and chaos." IMDB

Yes, there was another instalment in the "Child's Play" franchise after that horrific "Seed Of Chucky", I mean come on? That film was absolutely appalling it was neither a Comedy nor a Horror even Don Mancini said it wasn't Horror he actually believed it to be a Comedy. Boy was he wrong!

Curse Of Chucky takes places pretty much completely over the space of one rainy night in a manor that is filled with family members going through a tough time. Nica's (Fiona Dourif) Mother has just passed not long after the household received a Good Guy's doll in the post. Her sister Barb (Bisutti) and brother-in-law Ian (Brennan Elliott) come to visit with their daughter and live-in nanny Jill. All these people under one roof, resulting in Chucky coming back to reek some havoc as he has done many a time before.

I as originally worried about the film, it felt like another milking of Horror franchise, straight to VOD, Mancini signed on to direct again after his directorial debut when he destroyed this franchise with "Seed Of Chucky" so having reservations in an understatement. Putting those problems aside Mancini brought us a film that went back to the beauty of the early stages of the franchise and focused on the Horror and not the Comedy however there is still a few giggles given to us by Dourif as always.

The film does so many things right, even with its couple of flaws, the film is incredibly paced with writing to match that with some beautifully blood-soaked fun and little quips that will satisfy any true Horror fan out there. The kills are impressive and the film has a very much 80s/90s vibe that saved a franchise after "Bride" and "Seed".

Overall, the film has a great vibe about it, I recommend you do NOT underestimate this film, even though it is a direct-to-DVD/VOD release it doesn't lose its charm we are given with early instalments in the franchise. Full of gore, twists and jumps, the film will leave you wanting more which is being given to us. Mancini has expressed his desire to make some more "scary Chucky films" with the seventh instalment not far away from entering production.

7/10

"Deliver Us From Evil" review

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Supernatural, Crime.
Starring: Eric Bana, Édgar Ramírez, Olivia Munn, Sean Harris, Joel McHale, Chris Coy, Dorian Missick, Rhona Fox, Valentina Rendón, Olivia Horton.
Year Of Release: 2014
Certificate: 15 (UK)
Runtime: 118 Minutes
Director: Scott Derrickson

Synopsis: "New York police officer Ralph Sarchie investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rites of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city." IMDB

Another film that claims to be "inspired by actual accounts", anybody else getting a bit sick of this bullshit marketing scheme? Well Scott Derrickson is, the director of the film came out and admitted the film does not use any of the cases of real Police Officer Ralph Sarchie, they use a completely original plot for the film from Scott Derrickson and Paul Harris Boardman.

Ralph Sarchie (Eric Bana) is a Bronx police officer who uses his "radar" for trouble to track down cases he thinks he should work on. Turns out that his "radar" is actually a psychic link to the demonic underworld. This most recent blink on his radar hands off a triplet of bad-ass marines who have returned from Iraq maybe with more baggage of the evil variety than they left with. It is up to Sarchie and his partner Butler (Joel McHale) who himself is a pretty big bad-ass who brings it upon himself to help send these evil demons back to Hell.

The film made some great casting calls, I for one have never thought that Eric Bana was a great actor, actually scratch that I never even thought he was that good really he was just another guys whose films I didn't mind. However in this I thought he was a very inspired casting he was a thoroughly enjoyable watch as were McHale, Harris and Ramirez. There was a big slip up though when it came to Olivia Munn she was bland, boring, unemotional, felt like she was only cast for some "eye-candy"and her Brooklyn accent was hilariously bad.

Overall, the film is scattered full of confusing characteristics with its constant references to The Doors and their lyrics, hieroglyphics, animals more specifically owls which all culminate together in the "show down" scene. A very enjoyable watch, full of jump scares, well written scenes, great character development and suspense that will have you on the end of your seat. What happens when "Sinister" meets "Seven"? THIS!!!

7/10

"A Nightmare On Elm Street" review

Genre: Horror, Slasher, Supernatural.
Starring: Robert Englund, Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, Johnny Depp, Ronee Barkley, Amanda Wyss, Jsu Garcia, Joe Unger, Charles Fleischer.
Year Of Release: 1984
Certificate: 18 (UK)
Runtime: 91 Minutes
Director: Wes Craven

Synopsis: "In the dreams of his victims, a spectral child murderer stalks the children of the members of the lynch mob that killed him." IMDB

Freddy was the first true "boogeyman" in my life, I remember watching this film about 15 years ago, he was the monster that made me fall in love with this beautiful genre. Since that day I have been watching Horror films religiously I would not like to even speculate on the number I have seen. Since that first time I have watched it every Halloween since and countless times throughout the year, this year is no exception seen it twice already and will be viewing again on the 31st.

The film opens up with a very ominous scene of what we can presume is a man creating what can only be described as disturbing, the scene really sets the tone for what is to come dark, evil, monstrous and death. Cut to the next scene we see Tina Gray (Wyss) finds herself walking down a dark, creepy hallway hearing eerie laughter then out of nowhere a goat, yes a goat. Tina now finds herself in a boiler room the constant dripping of water, the laughter the sense that she is not alone. Then it begins you hear the claws scratching the metal, a glimpse of a hat, face and a man in the distance, the sound of goats, she's backed into a corner then boom he strikes we get our first glimpse of the scariest slasher I have ever known. I can pretty much play this scene in my brain from memory now.

I don't want to talk to much about the story, it just has to be seen to be appreciated, Wes Cravens directing in the two opening scenes in which I mentioned are so on point you will watch them and know what the film is going to be like. 

People will argue that majority of the success for "A Nightmare On Elm Street" comes for the performance given by Robert Englund as Fred, which is not entirely wrong a lot does come from that but also from Cravens writing and directing. Englund plays a very subtle but still menacing presence as the demonic antagonist. Englund is not the only one to shine in their role though, Langenkamp as Nancy Thompson she adds a vulnerable yet intelligence that really shows when her character develops throughout the film. The main shame comes from the displays from the majority of the supporting cast who do nothing but read their lines they are not stand out in any way.

Cravens baby shall we say will forever live on as the absolute pinnacle of the Slasher genre at a time when people and even studios were giving up on the sub-genre. Craven has even spoken recently on his Instagram about how there was nearly no Elm Street. The film is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and it is still loved across the many generations who have seen it, and me personally I will continue to tell people how perfect a film it truly is so I will help keep it alive for whatever time I am on this planet hoping you guys and girls will also.

Overall, the film is a masterpiece in its genre and for me personally a triumph in what a man can do when he puts his whole heart into a project. There is some problems with the acting but that happens in EVERY Horror film, the effects, the story, the acting of Englund and Langenkamp, the directing, the music, just everything makes up for that. The greatest slasher in history, I'll say it the best monster/villain performance since Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster in "Frankenstein" 1931, there I said it.

10/10

"The Conjuring" review

Genre: Horror, Supernatural.
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland, Joey King, Mackenzie Foy, Kyla Deaver.
Year Of Release: 2013
Certificate: 15 (UK)
Runtime: 112 Minutes
Director: James Wan

Synopsis: "Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in their farmhouse." IMDB

So here I go, let's get our first ever October Horrorfest underway, some of you may know I am a HUGE Horror aficionado I have been hooked on the genre since I was in single digit age. Anyway onto the review.

Set in the early 1970s, The Conjuring focuses on the work of renowned paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren who are now lecturing throughout the United States in colleges about the cases they come across.

Just as they plan to hang up their proverbial boots and call it a day, income the Perron family Roger (Ron Livingston) and Carolyn (Lili Taylor) who are completely petrified for their lives and the lives of their 5 children (all daughters if memory serves). There is something incredibly evil living within their new home, which doesn't take long for the Warrens long to discover that the evil is there to stay but what is it?

Who would have guessed that James Wan the mind behind the ultimate gore porn Horror in a very long time would turn out to be one of the best Horror directors working right now? I surely did not, don't get me wrong I am not casting a shadow on the Saw franchise I enjoy the films just they are not Horror they are their own genre. I mean he done pretty good with "Dead Silence" in 2007 but mostly gore porn which in itself he done brilliantly.

The film was a thoroughly enjoyable thrill ride full of scares, jumps and well written, if you are the Horror fan who cares about scares then watch this now! Even the "hide and clap" scene made famous in the trailers doesn't lose its charm in the film first or even second time around. I personally am a huge fan of the Warrens work which has been made into several films over the years.

Overall, a film packed with scares, impressive acting and pretty good special effects which itself is a saving grace for an recently dying genre. One of the must see Horror films in recent years!

7/10

"Skinwalker Ranch" review

Genre: Science Fiction, Horror, Found Footage.
Starring:  Taylor Bateman, Steve Berg, Michael Black, Erin Cahill, Carol Cal, Kyle Davis, Mike Flynn, Jon Gries, Michael Horse.
Year Of Release: 2013
Certificate: 15 (UK)
Runtime: 86 Minutes
Director: Devin McGinn

Synopsis: "A scientific research team investigates and documents the supernatural phenomena surrounding the disappearance of a cattle ranchers 10 year old son. Inspired by true events that shocked the paranormal community around the world." IMDB

Before I even start I can guarantee that majority of readers will not have seen heard of this film, it was a very small release I only came across it by accident I'm not even sure if it got a cinematic release in the UK I can't speculate on the US but at a guess I can't imagine it really if it was it was very limited.

We've seen it countless times before a film based on "true events" however, this film does take place on a widely reported paranormal and UFO hot spot whether you believe in that stuff or not, doesn't change that reports state stuff happened there and this is where the film takes place. Same can be said about "The Amittyville Horror" all be it real events, vastly twisted for cinematic reasons, "Skinwalker Ranch" does the same.

The first starts off with eight year old Cody disappearing in a flash of light outside his home on a ranch in Utah in November 2010. Less than a year later a paranormal investigation team called MDE (Modern Defense Enterprises) turns up at the ranch in order to look into unusual activity involved in the disappearance of the young boy. The boys father Hoyt (Jon Gries) allows the team to take over his property and fit it with their surveillance equipment in order to catch something paranormal. 

The equipment detects everything including lights from space, cattle being mutilated, shadows and even unaccountable vehicles, over the following weeks the events in paranormal activity increases in ways you couldn't have guessed. Leaving the MDE to to decide whether finding out this truth is really worth risking their own lives?

There is a great vibe you get when watching the film, that they are actually taking themselves serious, like they really want you to believe it in order to enjoy the film even more and myself I enjoyed that. That being said, the realism they are going for kind of takes away from the Found Footage aspect they were going for the nicely edited and well filmed scenes make it feel like an everyday followed opposed to thee known Found Footage genre.

Overall the film was thoroughly enjoyable watch for people who are fans of the genre, some nice CGI, a few scares and added story elements that bring the characters closer to you. The film is nothing more than a film to watch on Halloween or when you want a couple of scares, do not go into it expecting something on par with "The Exorcist", I believe it was Roger Ebert who said "If you’re looking for a neat little Halloween movie, you could do worse." and I completely agree with him, it's just a fun Halloween flick not to be taken seriously.

6/10