Warm Bodies (2013)

A zombified Romeo and Juliet tale that gets high marks for originality in the subgenre.

Juan of the Dead (2011)

Now here's a true hit classic!  And the first horror film from Cuba in the last 60 years, or something like that (so now I can add "Cuban" to my labels).  I watched this with a group and it is a confirmed crowd-pleaser that begs regular screenings.  In fact, I'm going to save a detailed review for my second experience.  Do yourself a favor and get your hands on this gem!

Rating: 4/5

Zombie (1979)

Also known as Zombi 2, this is Lucio Fulci's own vision of a sequel to Romero's Dawn of the Dead, which was very successful in Europe (Dario Argento worked with Romero to create his own cut for the European market). Zombie has that classy washed-out, sandblasted look of 70s Italian-produced movies we're used to. But what sets this one apart are the crowd-pleasing FX and chilling macro-zoom angles. Sure, it's a typical zombie plot, but it boasts one of the most disgustingly memorable eye trauma scenes I can think of! And, as I've said, the FX and makeup design are phenomenal.

Homecoming (2005)

A highly entertaining political satire.

[REC] 2 (2009)

When the original [REC] (known to American audiences as Quarantine, the remake) was over I wanted more. In fact, I wanted the movie to continue from exactly where it left off. Well, little did I know the franchise would continue as desired. And there's a third installment on the way! I really like what they did with this one. The action begins immediately and the filmmakers make use of multiple character/plot POVs and fancy PIP (picture in picture) cameras to keep the movie interesting (we know the real deal at this point after all). Plus, we get another great ending that has become the trademark of a great new horror series. Well done, Spaniards!

Dead Snow (2009)

Rating: A+
Død Snø. Listen up, everyone [STOP] There is no excuse for omitting this one [STOP] It is highly entertaining [STOP] À la Trick 'r Treat, you will have a darn good time joining in on this celebration of horror [FULL STOP]

Zombieland (2009)

Rating: C-
Until now the only exposure to Zombieland I'd had was a short theatrical trailer that ran when I checked out District 9 back in August. I remember thinking, Oh, cool, a zombie-comedy with two Superbad stars, Michael Cera and Emma Stone. Well, it took me twenty minutes to realize two things: (1) the lead was not Michael Cera but, rather, a sordid knockoff of Cera, and (2) the movie was headed downhill. After the strong opening twenty minutes, Zombieland turns the viewer into a lethargic zombie for another sixty minutes with boring subplots and a farewell to clever humor. Even the surprise cameo bit doesn't bring the movie or the audience back to life.

The Roost (2005)

This is exactly why horror movie blogs should exist: I catch wind of a movie called The House of the Devil on The Last Blog on the Left (thanks, Bo), I read a post about Ti West on The Horror Effect (thanks, Becky), I skim some brutally honest reviews on Horror Movie a Day (thanks, BC), and I decide to check out West's work for myself. All the blogs out here work together to do more than just share excitement for horror movies; they spread the word, create awareness, generate curiosity. And no blog is really "better" than the other. In this case, all the different perspectives, ranging from one side of the spectrum to the other, effectively piqued my interest, and I added West's films to my Netflix queue, excited to see how they'd work for me.

I decided to throw out the rating system this time and just bandy some Goods and Bads around:

1. Bad: Yes, there are problems with pacing, especially if you're ADHD.
   
2. Good: No lame big-budget Hollywood gloss (Kodak 16mm motion picture film).
3. Bad: A "car wreck" scene that just might be worse than the "car wreck" in Grace.
4. Good: West has a unique style that I'm thinking the down-time contributes to (...rethinking apply "bad" to #1).
5. Good: West enjoys making movies so much that the excitement reaches the viewer.
6. Neither Good Nor Bad (on the heels of #5): Some viewers are seeing the movie as something they could easily do and thus deriding it. I challenge these naysayers to get out there and give it a shot.
7. Good (on the heels of #6): I have a new appreciation for ultra low-budget indie horror that Paranormal Activity didn't incite.
8. Good (on the heels of #7): There are also those who are getting inspired, and realizing that they can accomplish that movie they've always wanted to make! For this same reason I cannot hate Harry Potter or Twilight books: they are, after all, however shallow they may be, inspiring people to read again!
   
9. Good: I have Trigger Man (2007), Cabin Fever 2 (2009), and The House of the Devil (2009) to look forward to.
10. Great: Ti West's quote on his Facebook fan page!

As you can see, the Goods outweigh the Bads. I can't help but enjoy the product of someone who loves what they do, and it will be exciting for all of us to follow West's career. Looking forward to Trigger Man, next!

Dead Alive (1992)

On March 8, 2009, a few days after I started Horror Dose, Lucas recommended Dead Alive. Nine months later, I finally got around to it, and my only regret is that I didn't act on his recommendation immediately. The dog scene can be extrapolated to sum up the entire movie: Dead Alive does not attempt to attach its audience to a cute cuddly little puppy, and the dog's owners do not mourn their loss. Instead, we get these sparse lines before the dog is forgotten:

"Your mom ate my dog!"
"Not all of it."

And so goes the nonsensical, bloody masterpiece that is Dead Alive.

How's this for the Sumatran monkey-rat's back story: large rats from slave ships raped all the little tree monkeys. Perfect! Now, let's add in some Oedipus complex, some young love, a rubbernecking uncle, and a 30-minute zombie bloodfest. Done! Finally, spend a few minutes piecing together the dialogue, and use every bit of money, energy, and time on gore effects. Wizardly! Over-the-top doesn't even begin to do the movie's gushing geysers justice. (Anyone know how many gallons of the red stuff were used in the making of this masterpiece?)

Thumbs up to Peter Jackson for creating a 90-minute film that somehow manages to steadily escalate in obscene violence and outright nonsense until the end. I'm at a loss trying to think of any manner of bodily destruction that wasn't explored in the film--we get to watch a digestive system attack our protagonist, for cryin' out loud! And, as far as nonsense goes, we get a scene where Lionel decides to take the zombie baby for a stroll in the park. This is why I love horror movies! Who cares that it makes no sense whatsoever, or that no one would ever decide that it would be proper to take the newborn creature to the park. Just put the scene in the movie and go with it.

Toward the end of the film I began to wonder how Jackson could possibly bring all the madness to a close. Well, Jackson answered my inquiry with a massive super-zombie who assimilates Lionel within the womb again. Bravo! In fact, I had forgotten about the mother during the extensive zombie mayhem, so her reappearance topped off an already satisfying experience.

Done right, cheesy horror is far from throw-away. This is one to watch with a group of friends. From the dinner scene ("Whaaa? No pudding?!") to the embalming fluid scene to the endless party massacre, there is always something exasperating to gawk at, laugh at, and remember forever. Make sure you eat a large pepperoni pizza while watching to increase the effect. Enjoy!

Army of Darkness (1993)

Are you a fan of Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court? Are you a fan of The Three Stooges? Are you a fan of zombies and curses? If so, this is the movie for you. Raimi mixes Twain's novel of a protagonist's ingenuity as the result of sixth-century time period displacement with his (Raimi's) expressed penchant for The Three Stooges to produce this horror icon.

It's been a while since I've seen Raimi's third installment in the Evil Dead trilogy, and the movie maintained--if not increased in--its charm. Like Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2, Army of Darkness is comfortable with its niche as a horror comedy. The only other movie I can think of that kept me laughing out loud for the entire duration is The Hangover. Bruce Campbell does a masterful job. It's no wonder his name is in the horror movie canon!

Though we leave the creepy woods and cabin for this adventure, we do not leave the signature Raimi "character abuse" and gags. Just when I thought the second installment's gag with the household items bending over and laughing couldn't be topped, I get an army of skeletons marching toward a castle, playing bone flutes and bone drums...and wearing berets! And how could I ever forget the scene with the miniature Ashes?

I wanted to make a list of noteworthy quotes, but in the midst of frantically scribbling on a notepad during the movie, I realized that one just has to see it. To post all of the dialogue (and monologue) worth posting would be to post the entire script. One must simply indulge in the movie oneself and revel in the comedic goodness. Thank you, Sam Raimi.

Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)

And here I was thinking the calamity couldn't be any more tumultuous than The Evil Dead or Drag Me To Hell! In true Sam Raimi style, characters are tossed, slammed, whipped, thrown, jostled all over the screen and covered in all manner of liquids and juices. This is more similar to the Raimi we recently witnessed in Drag Me To Hell.

Slither (2006)

Some of the effects are cool, and the lines are hilarious; but overall this isn't a very good movie.

To clarify: Yes, my "review" is purposely one sentence long. Thanks.

[REC] (2007)

So, I've been holding off of the U.S. remake, Quarantine, for months now, waiting for Netflix to ship the original Spanish film [REC]. I still haven't seen the U.S. remake, but it's hard for me to believe that it could be better or even on-par with [REC]. Manuela Velasco's performance as the reporter pulled me into the movie from the very start. There is no way Quarantine's Jennifer Carpenter could do this like Manuela Velasco. Carpenter is clunky, gangly, awkward, and, well, just not very likable in my opinion. Velasco, on the other hand, pulled me into the reality of the movie, causing me to laugh and care.

Admittedly, the film is fairly generic and follows the zombie genre closely. It isn't until the end, when a twist is thrown in, that the movie claims its place in the horror genre, but don't let that stop you; it still packs punches with heightened action throughout. Too bad it is only the last fifteen minutes or so that really sent chills down my spine, but I think this is the effect they were going for. It made me think of Audition, which is 75 minutes of tame drama, then 15 minutes of shock--though, [REC] does not go for heavy gore in its ending, and like I said, it isn't a tame drama throughout. For some, the movie may become monotonous (especially if you watch a lot of zombie/survival movies), but trust me, the ending is worth it!

Dead and Breakfast (2004)

There are three types of campy horror movies, and they produce three different reactions: a mere roll of the eyes, a "hmn" executed through the nose, and actual, genuine laughter. Dead and Breakfast falls in the third category!

The Evil Dead (1981)

After seeing Drag Me To Hell last night, it seemed proper to go back and watch Sam Raimi's The Evil Dead tonight! If you haven't heard, this flick is a classic and highly celebrated among Raimi Fans. It was a treat to witness Raimi's signature "character abuse" in both Drag Me To Hell and The Evil Dead. Both feature characters' bodies being tossed about by spirits and a hearty serving of various fluids, substances, juices, as well as the famous yellow Oldsmobile.

If viewed for the first time nowadays, The Evil Dead will most likely seem an intentionally campy, comedic movie, but it's still a blast, and for its time it pulled off great stunts with sounds, effects, costumes, and camera angles. Sure, it has its flaws: Bruce Campbell gets trapped under a third of a flimsy bookshelf TWICE--apparently his arm was hooked around one of the (broken) shelves, thus making it virtually impossible to escape the few planks of wood. And I can't count the number of times it seems like Bruce Campbell, and others, behave as if having a friend-turned-demonic-zombie in the doorway or under a cellar door is no more than a perfunctory, everyday occurrence.

The best part about this movie is the ending--you know, the part where we watch as the zombies are taken asunder? It seemed like the film crew took whatever goop was leftover and emptied it all in the final zombie deconstruction scene. Keeping with the Raimi-esque "character abuse," Bruce Campbell's face is repeatedly painted with the different goop!

The Evil Dead is a cult horror classic from '81 that is still entertaining and "so Raimi" even today. Rent it, buy it, download it (shame on you!), or catch it on Netflix instant viewing like I did.

Enjoy!

Perkins' 14 (2009)

I was actually a trifle speechless when the end credits rolled on this one. I mean, based on the previous After Dark Horrorfest entries, I expected the same hot, wet garbage juice as, say, Nightmare Man. And on another note, what's up with the advertsing of this year's already-passed festival? Back in February I went to get the dates and found the fest had already come and gone! Anyway, why was I speechless after watching Perkins' 14? Because it was simply a decent horror film; it was actually pretty good.

Okay, here it is: I am partial to Maine locale whether in books or in movies. Perhaps this is the sole reason I thoroughly enjoyed The Uninvited (US remake of A Tale of Two Sisters). Maine, for me, conjures up all of the great characters, plots, and atmospheres delivered by Stephen King in the 35 novels and 42 short stories I've read to date. Plus, Maine is just a darn great place to be! Though this movie didn't fixate on the typical lakeside cottages and rocky coastline, or lobster roll loving locals. Conversely, it delivered its punch mostly between a graveyard and a jail.

I'll be honest up front and admit that while the film is not necessarily horrifying, it effectively executes a dark, dismal atmosphere with its main plot (a troubled psychopath has abducted children and turned them into über zombies) and its subplots (a cop struggling with the abduction of his son; the cop's unfaithful wife due to an unfulfillment of needs; the cop's daughter hanging out with stoners in a graveyard and considering losing her virginity to the lamest male character I've seen in a long time). Everything about the movie shares a common theme: fear and regret.

And there was a good amount of gore! I was a little put off by the first few bloody scenes, as they seemed toned down, but as the film rolled on I realized that they were saving the good stuff for later--I've always hated movies that shove the goriest parts in your face at the beginning. It's not exactly on par with 28 Days Later or 28 Weeks Later, but the movie has its own small-town charm, and a deeper story than a science lab disaster. My only complaint with Perkins' 14 is the lame (Goth?) guitarist/boyfriend.

It seems to me that this year's entries could just be a turn in the right direction; that direction being the horror genre. This flick even has a great ending, even if it gets a bit predictable in the midst of the massacre. I'm looking forward to my next ADH movie, Voices, which should arrive from Netflix today.

Review Soundtrack:
Greeley Estates - "Desperate Times Call For Desperate Housewives"
The Dillinger Escape Plan - "Sunshine The Werewolf"

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