Sunday, February 20, 2022

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Texas Chainsaw Massacre                                          OK/G
The original 1974 film directed by the late Tobe Hooper is one of my favorite films; I’ve seen it countless times and it is still good to this day.  It’s amazing how a film made almost 50 years ago still manages to be raw and harrowing, almost as if what you’re watching is real.  The other films that followed are decent (take them for what they are), obviously nowhere near as good, the spoofy Next Generation being the only one I don’t really care for (the only other film I wrote a review for is Leatherface, which you can check out here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2018/01/mooby-reviews-1418.html).  This recently-released Netflix film claims to be a direct sequel to the Tobe Hooper original, following other franchise additions by simply dropping the The in the title (clearly The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 was already taken, as was simply Texas Chainsaw, another film that was supposed to be a direct sequel to the original).  It didn’t feel like a remake (the 2003 one actually being decent) and not because it contained the return of the Sally character, obviously not played by the late Marilyn Burns, but certainly felt like a sequel, lacking the gritty realism of its alleged predecessor (it actually takes place now though, so of course it’s going to look modern).  Since the original film is beloved by so many (yours truly included), I, and likely many others, didn’t go into this expecting something equally as worthy.  As a standalone film, it really isn’t that bad.  As far as “sequels” released almost 50 years later and made for Netflix, it really isn’t that bad.  I actually kind of enjoyed a fair amount of it.  There is violence, a whole lot of it (some parts extreme), which it definitely succeeded in outdoing its “predecessor (the original doesn’t have much of the red stuff, but clearly demonstrates you don’t necessarily need gore in order to be effective; it was also released in 1974, after all).”  It does still suffer a bit from “sequel-itis” given it does claim to be a sequel, and it was really short in that it felt like it was over and done instantly, but, as mentioned, as far as sequels released 48 years later on Netflix, it could’ve been much worse…much worse.  2/19/2022

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

Beware of the Klowns  >>>EH

Bryan Loves You  >>>EH

Dimland  >>>EH

#FromJennifer   >>>OK

Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop  >>>EH

Pine Ridge  >>>OK

---Sean O.
2/20/2022

Sunday, February 6, 2022

Ghostbusters: Afterlife/Nightmare Alley

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Ghostbusters:  Afterlife                                                OK
I am a fan of Ghostbusters.  The original 1984 film, that is.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of 80’s and 90’s kids aren’t as well.  I owned a Ghostbusters lunchbox as a kid; at least I believe I did; I had lots of lunchboxes and I believe Ghostbusters was one of them (unless another kid owned one and I’m mixing up the memories…whatever).  I remember watching the animated series, The Real Ghostbusters, when it originally aired (one part that stands out is when Slimer draws a raincloud outside a window at the end of an episode just so he could sleep while it’s raining and I remember thinking that I completely understood).  And that Slimer juice…Ecto-cooler?  That shit was da bomb!  I’m not as big a fan of Ghostbusters II, but I still watched it enough and own the DVD.  As for that 2016 remake?  I didn’t hate it, but I still think it was unnecessary (call me a misogynist, I really don’t care; I’ve known women that didn’t like it either; you can read my review for it here, if you want---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2016/10/mooby-reviews-10252016.html).  As for this sequel that appears to be a direct one of the original film?  It has its moments (i.e. the scene in Walmart) and I wouldn’t go so far as saying it was unnecessary, but I did expect it to be better than it was; it felt more like a remake at times, and not in the homage-y way (those parts made it seem unnecessary).  Needless to say, the film you grew up with or have a deep connection with is always going to be the better version and any remake/sequel/prequel/whatever released (especially if it’s years afterwards) is rarely ever going to be as good.  I completely understand that and I didn’t expect this going in to be better than the original.  It was okay, I guess, and Ghostbusters fans (namely of the original) are understandably going to watch it anyway, but clearly I will always be an 80’s kid.  R.I.P.  Harold Ramis a.k.a. Egon.  2/4/2022

Nightmare Alley                                                          EH
Initially, I knew not this Guillermo del Toro-helmed feature was a remake of a 1947 film of the same name.  Being that I like to see the original first, if possible, I watched that version beforehand (which I only saw available on YouTube).  I, and many others, always frown upon remakes, especially if the original does not need improving.  As you can see, I gave both of these versions the same low rating and I was really hoping Guillermo would improve this material given his oeuvre.  [Mr. del Toro certainly has style, but his films are hit and miss with me; I have been a fan of The Devil’s Backbone, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Crimson Peak, and am always curious as to what he puts out (I am looking forward to his stop-motion version of Pinocchio coming out later this year)].  The 1947 film was pretty pointless and felt like something huge was missing from the entire proceedings.  This version is largely the same film with the obvious differences being it’s in color with modern performers (Bradley Cooper, Toni Collette, Cate Blanchett, and Willem Dafoe, to name a few).  This film has worthy performances and most definitely looks good, but, very much like the original, completely lacks substance.  In terms of plot, Bradley Cooper plays a scam artist of sorts that works at carnivals and whatnot, and, as you can imagine, things eventually don’t work out so well.  It’s hard to tell how I would’ve felt about this version if I didn’t watch the original first, so close in time at that.  I likely still would’ve felt it was a case of style over substance.  Since both movies are predominantly similar, all I can say is, if you prefer older movies in black-and-white, watch the original, and if you prefer modern movies in color, watch this one.  I’m not recommending either though, both being a huge waste of time; the original is almost two hours, this one is almost 2 ½!  2/5/2022

Bonus review:

The Woman in the House Across the Street from
            the Girl in the Window                                    OK/G
That lengthy title sounds as spoofy as it gets, much like Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood or 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  This new 8-episode Netflix series isn’t a parody though; it plays like many of its ilk, that being of the Lifetime-ish murder mystery variety.  I wouldn’t even call it a meta film, like Scream and The Cabin in the Woods, although it does play around with many of its subgenre tropes.  Stop me if you’ve heard this---a suburban woman witnesses a murder across the street (!) and of course no one believes her, because, one, no body was found, and, two, this woman takes medication and regularly fills up her wine class to the brim (she’s obviously delusional!).  There are a couple red herrings along the way, which tie in with those common tropes toyed around with.  I did figure out the big reveal at the end, and that’s only because I’ve seen too many movies in my lifetime (!) and it’s often hard not to foresee several outcomes, but it actually kind of works here.  Although this miniseries (I’m not sure if there’s more planned, but there very well could be) may appear to be not much different than many of the films the title seems to call out, it is kind of smart in regards to working with clichés and is somewhat addicting.  It is what it is.  Don’t go in expecting too much, but how can you with a title like that anyhow?  All 8 episodes are under a half-hour and go by really fast, except for maybe the first one (it somehow seemed longer than it was).  I definitely enjoyed it more than another Netflix property containing words from this title, The Woman in the Window, which you can read my review for here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-woman-in-windowthe-strange-house.html.  1/29/2022

Other movies and TV show(s) I’ve seen and their ratings (see above):

Chosen (Season One)  >>>OK
   (Netflix; 6 episodes; In Danish with subtitles)

Evil at the Door  >>>EH/OK

The French Dispatch  >>>B

Hellblazers  >>>OK

My Bodyguard   >>>OK/G

Nightmare Alley (1947)  >>>EH

Unearth  >>>EH

The Unforgivable  >>>OK/G
            (Netflix)

What Breaks the Ice  >>>EH/OK

---Sean O.
2/6/2022

Sunday, January 23, 2022

Last Night in Soho/Scream (2022)

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Last Night in Soho                                                       G
I’ve wanted to see this movie for a long time.  I hate when movies aren’t as good as you think they’ll be, or as you hope they’ll be (which tends to be the case with many modern movies).  I did end up liking this movie, but it is one of those you’ll need to wait until it’s over to truly know what you think.  It involves a girl in the English countryside that travels to London to attend school for fashion.  This girl is obsessed with the Sixties and can somehow travel back to that time period after she rents a room at an old lady’s house.  She is able to live vicariously through a female singer from that time as well as observe her.  It takes a while for the horror elements to kick in, but there is something oddly transfixing about what comes before.  It becomes a murder mystery of sorts wherein our female protagonist in the present tries to get to the bottom of; there are also supernatural elements.  It did get a bit disappointing at first because I wasn’t sure what type of movie it was going to become (assuming it was going to get worse) and the supernatural special effects weren’t that great.  There is a twist that actually did surprise me, one in which I should’ve foresaw, and everything makes sense after that, or at least makes more sense (hence why you should wait until it’s over to make judgments).  I didn’t think it was excellent, but I do still recommend it and wonder if it’ll age better.  1/22/2022

Scream                                                                                    OK
Scream 5.  Just call it Scream 5!  [There’s even one part that calls franchises out wherein they title a new film the same as the original.  This is a sequel, yes, not a remake or reboot or whatever, and I really only noticed references to the first film.  Needless to say, I don’t see why you would want to see this film if you haven’t seen the others though].  This is the first movie I’ve seen theatrically since the pandemic started almost two years ago (!) and can now say I’ve seen every single one of these films in the theater (the only other franchise that comes to mind I can say the same thing about is the Jurassic Park/World movies).  I was a big fan of the first Scream when it came out; I recently re-watched it (and the other predecessors) in preparation for this entry and, while it’s still decent (nostalgia or otherwise), I hate to say that it doesn’t exactly stand the test of time.  I always felt the sequels were just okay (the order I like them in, not counting this one, is 1, 4, 3, 2).  Scream 4 was released in 2011 and Scream 3 was released 11 years before that, so who’s to say there won’t be a Scream 6 11 years from now (or whenever)?  [Scream 3 was supposed to be the last entry at the time, but I don’t think I need to tell you that should never be said].  Now, if you’re a fan of the franchise and/or have seen all the other films, I think you’re going to watch this fifth entry regardless of what I or any other critic has to say about it (even if it’s simply out of curiosity).  Also, what do you really expect from a Scream movie, especially a fifth one released in 2022?  On one hand, I should say they’ve had so many years of films (not just the ones in this franchise) to compare to and should know what to avoid and whatnot, even though the series began as self-aware of the slasher subgenre itself.  On the other hand, I should say it’s hard to be original these days, especially in this subgenre (meta or not), and not expect them to be too original and keep my expectations low-to-middle.  Whatever.  I always judge a movie I take the time to sit through based on it alone, and I’ve enjoyed movies that didn’t feel too original (again, original isn’t really a description anymore).  That being said, did I enjoy this recent entry in the meta slasher franchise that’s the only one not directed by the late Wes Craven?  Well, it definitely wasn’t original (although it did call out several clichés) and the kills weren’t exactly grand (although some weren’t bad), and I wouldn’t exactly call it a welcome comeback, but it was okay.  Just okay.  It’s too soon to tell if it’ll age better, but the preceding entries certainly didn’t.  I didn’t hate it and if there’s anything positive I can say about it for now is that it was better than that other Nineties teen horror resurgence known as the I Know What You Did Last Summer TV series.  R.I.P.  Wes Craven.  1/21/2022

Bonus review:

Secrets of Sulphur Springs (Season Two)                   OK
(haiku review)
Only 8 eps. here.
Fine, but last one was better.
Clearly not over.  1/23/2022

*Available on Disney+.  Check out my haiku review for season one here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2021/10/oldahs-double-feature.html*

Other movies and TV show(s) I’ve seen and their ratings (see above):

The Addams Family 2  >>>EH/OK

Antlers  >>>EH

Archive 81 (Season One)  >>>OK/G
   (Netflix; 8 episodes)

Brazen   >>>EH
   (Netflix)

The Dry  >>>OK

The Last Matinee  >>>EH/OK
   (In Spanish with subtitles)

Last of the Grads  >>>EH/OK

The Tender Bar  >>>OK
   (Amazon Prime)

Yellowjackets (Season One)  >>>OK
   (Showtime; 10 episodes)

---Sean O.
1/23/2022

Friday, January 14, 2022

For the Sake of Vicious

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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For the Sake of Vicious                                               OK/G
This began as one type of movie that I really didn’t have too much hope for, it involving a man kidnapping and holding another man hostage in a woman’s house.  He believes the kidnapped man is responsible for raping his daughter and demands a confession from him.  They are all the least of each other’s problems as it eventually becomes a much more manic film; bloody too.  Oh yes, there is violence.  This is probably the craziest home invasion film I’ve seen in a long while, if not ever (part of the title is correct in that it can be vicious!).  It doesn’t really entail much at all, but I had fun with it once the ball got rolling after the uninspired beginning.  I’m probably going to have to watch it again.  No, I should say I want to watch it again.  It is barely 80-minutes after all.  1/9/2022

Bonus review:

Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched:  A History
            Of Folk Horror                                               OK
(haiku review)
Doc on folk horror.
Thorough and informative.
A bit lengthy though.  1/10/2022

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

Caveat  >>>EH/OK

The Dead Ones  >>>EH/OK

Dune (2021)  >>>B

Nightshade  >>>EH

---Sean O.
1/14/2022

Saturday, January 8, 2022

Titane

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Titane                                                                          OK
When I first heard of this French film (yes, that means subtitles), it said it involved a girl that has sex with cars.  I got curious, not only because it got good reviews, but also because it was directed by the same person behind the coming-of-age cannibal film, Raw, which I was a fan of (you can read my review for that here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2017/06/mooby-reviews-61117.html).  Well, the female protagonist here does have sex with automobiles at least twice (possibly stemming from a titanium plate she received in her head after a car accident when she was younger), but it’s not as explicit as you’d think (might even be humorous if the film had a different tone; this sexual fetish does have consequences too).  That’s only a small fraction of the entire film anyway.  Said female protagonist murders a bunch of people before passing herself off as an aged boy that went missing years ago.  The father of the missing boy is convinced it is his son and welcomes her back into his life.  I’m pretty sure the father (and mother at one time) had to know she wasn’t their grown son, even before specific scenes that would prove she wasn’t, but, then again, I’m not so sure.  This film is truly bizarre, but not in the mindfuck sense.  It’s still bizarre though; definitely unique.  Bizarre doesn’t always mean compelling though (I was bored more than once).  I liked Julia Ducournau’s first film better, but I am curious as to what she’ll give us next.  1/6/2022

Bonus review:

Slasher:  Flesh & Blood                                              OK
(haiku review)
Season 4.  Shudder.
8 eps.  It’s gory as hell.
Fine, but felt drawn out.  1/6/2022

*[check out my review for season one and two here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2019/05/slasher-season-one-and-two.html, and season three here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2019/05/slasher-season-three.html]*

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

Satan’s Servant  >>>EH

Superdeep  >>>EH/OK

Woodland  >>>EH

---Sean O.
1/8/2022

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Clerk./The Feast

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Clerk.                                                                          G
Kevin Smith.  Also known as Silent Bob.  To me, Kevin Smith stopped making movies after Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, but returned briefly to give us Clerks II.  Some of his other movies may not have been bad, but they weren’t Kevin Smith movies to me (and I think many other pre-Jersey Girl fans can agree; hopefully his upcoming Clerks III is worth it, because he is long overdue for a comeback).  This documentary chronicles the filmmaker’s (or multi-hyphenate’s) journey from the legendary Clerks all the way to his completely disappointing Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.  A good portion of the material presented won’t be much news to the average Smith fan, but not too much time is spent on any one film or accomplishment to make any of it feel too drawn out.  I generally enjoyed it even when it covered the years I wasn’t as much a fan (luckily crap like Cop Out and Yoga Hosers weren’t discussed very long).  Parts of his life outside of film are included too.  You hear from family and friends throughout, friends being mostly celebrities.  Even if you aren’t too aware of Kevin Smith but do know of him, this doc would be a good introduction (I don’t recall any spoilers given for any of the films).  I do think it’s ultimately for fans of the man though, it being a love letter of sorts.  I can’t deny how significant he’s been in part of my life.  At one time, he’s one of the filmmakers that made me want to be a director.  And he’s a fellow Jersey boy, which I always thought was cool.  12/31/2021

The Feast
A Welsh horror film that I heard of through Rue Morgue magazine, as is often the case with films that aren’t mainstream (yes, there are subtitles; I thought they spoke English in Wales; shows how much I know).  It begins fairly straightforward in an extremely arthouse way, involving a young woman going to a house of four to serve them and some guests dinner.  You can sense something unexpected is eventually going to transpire, especially if you know you’re watching a horror film and that Rue Morgue covered it (I’m always interested in what they cover, as much as I’ve disagreed with them before).  This movie ends up being twisted as all hell; one part I even found disturbing.  Despite how twisted it truly gets, I think I might have actually taken something from it (there’s mention of a local folklore and everything, as surreal as it may get, kind of makes sense with that info).  I really don’t know what to rate it, so I won’t for now.  I read an interview in which the director said you’ll likely have to watch it at least twice to pick up on everything, maybe even more times, so I’ll take his word for it and watch again (just not now; I usually don’t watch the same movie so close together).  I don’t know whether I should tell people to watch either, and to whom I should tell, because I think many horror and non-horror fans will both have the same ‘WTF’ reaction (I am curious to hear other thoughts though).  This film clearly isn’t for everyone.  1/2/2022

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

The Alpines  >>>B/EH

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker  >>>EH/OK
(a.k.a. Night Warning)

The Night House  >>>OK/G
(this rating may change after I watch it again, because I did like it better after reading about it and finding out what really happened)

Tokyo Godfathers  >>>OK/G

Woe  >>>EH

---Sean O.
1/4/2022

Friday, December 31, 2021

Below the Fold/I Know What You Did Last Summer (Season One)

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Below the Fold                                                            G
Murder mystery set in Missouri.  A male and female journalist, with a history, team up to investigate a cold case involving a girl that went missing ten years ago.  This isn’t groundbreaking at all (but what really is these days?), but it was generally intriguing from start to finish; its tone is very bleak.  It is a bit inconclusive, and I was bummed when it ended, but after I thought about it, it kind of did end because we, as well as the journalists, are quite certain who was responsible, but, as with many cold cases in reality, there’s not enough evidence.  I’m still going to recommend it since I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I do think a limited TV series involving the same characters and locations would work, because there’s undoubtedly more to this microcosmic world, and it could definitely rival the first season of True Detective.  12/31/2021

I Know What You Did Last Summer (Season One)    B/EH
I finally got around to this eight-episode remake series available on Amazon Prime, and let me just say that’s roughly 6 ½ hours of my life I’ll never get back!  For those of you that thought the first movie was lame (and many did upon its release back in 1997), it’s a masterpiece compared to this poop.  The first movie was watchable in that “corny, I’m a teenager in the 90’s way” and I’ve seen it enough times to call myself somewhat of a fan; it definitely is corny though (I first read the book by Lois Duncan just a couple years ago and thought that was even lamer).  I Still Know What You Did Last Summer was worse, but it was slightly watchable in that so-bad-its-watchable way.  As for the third movie, I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer?  Let’s not even go there.  I honestly don’t know which was worse though, that or this series.  A bunch of teenagers do take a ride at night and hit someone on the road (trying their best to cover it up), and then some of them as well as others gradually get offed the next summer, just like the first movie.  There be no killer in a fisherman suit with a hook here though.  This also takes place in Hawaii instead of a coastal North Carolina town like the first film (I personally don’t think tropical locations are the best for horror entertainment; the only example that comes to mind where it worked was Club Dread, that being a meta horror film; I wouldn’t exactly include I Still Know as an example of when it worked either, but it worked better than here).  Being eight episodes that range from 45-to-58-minutes each, you can imagine there’s a lot of filler.  Oh, there’s a whole lot of filler, unnecessary at that, with the occasional kill, some worthy, yes (examples being ones involving a tractor and slushee machine), but not nearly enough to make the rest of this series worth sitting through.  I cared not about any of the characters as much as we got to know a good portion of them.  This doesn’t even work as a teen series; the last time teen entertainment was truly done well was Mean Girls (17 years ago!).  This was definitely a chore to get through.  I was a bit under the weather when I binged it, so I had nothing better to do.  Then again, all I do is watch movies and shows anyway, so being a little sick would never be an excuse to sit through something.  I could’ve spent my time, sick or not, watching something a whole lot better.  If I haven’t made it clear, I highly suggest you don’t waste your time with this series.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you don’t take my advice.  12/30/2021

Bonus review:

Encanto                                                                       OK/G
(haiku review)
Pretty to behold.
Most of the songs are catchy.
Story’s a bit thin.  12/26/2021

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

Don’t Look Up  >>>EH
            (Netflix)

The Land of Blue Lakes  >>>EH/OK
            (In Russian with subtitles)

Love Hard  >>>EH/OK
            (Netflix)

My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To  >>>EH/OK

---Sean O.
12/31/2021

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Ron's Gone Wrong

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Ron’s Gone Wrong                                                     G
Modern animation dealing with modern technology.  This animation isn’t a Disney film though, nor a Netflix one (although it is currently available on Disney+).  The technology involved is a bubble-bot, a cylindrical-shaped device that travels alongside its owner (containing any and all information concerning them).  One middle school kid receives a defective bot (Ron) that basically needs to be taught like a human.  And, like all technology, the other bots that aren’t “defective” can be just as detrimental as advantageous.  This movie wasn’t great, and it did take a bit for me to warm up to it, but it was cute (Ron is cute too) and funny (I did laugh out loud sometimes) enough to recommend for the entire family.  12/17/2021

Bonus review:

Day of the Dead (Season One)                                   OK
George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead isn’t my favorite of the series, but I do like it, somewhat.  His preceding Night and Dawn films are infinitely better.  This 10-episode series available on the SYFY channel is merely only based on Romero’s film and bears no relation to it whatsoever (I mean, yeah, there is a reference to it during the last episode, titled said reference, and one zombie gradually becomes “docile”).  It involves a town in Pennsylvania overrun with the undead and the townsfolk must do whatever possible in order to survive.  Typical zombie fare, no?  Did we really need another zombie series or movie, especially in these post-Walking Dead times?  Absolutely not (I never even finished that show, as far as I made it).  Since it’s hard to be original anymore, in any genre or subgenre, I’m willing to give anything modern a chance if it manages to be entertaining.  This series was just okay, barely; I mean, it has its moments and started off fine, but it really doesn’t stand apart from most of the other undead entertainment out there.  If you do decide to watch, all ten episodes are now available to binge (all roughly around the 40-minute mark without the ads).  I mean, ‘just okay’ is a better analysis than many other zombie flicks/shows that don’t even come close to okay, no?  I still think you can spend your time with better options though, like George A. Romero’s series; yes, even the three succeeding Day of the Dead (hell, just watch the original Night and Dawn!).  As of now, I came across no plans for a season two, but there very well could be (hell, it’s been proven more seasons can occur even when a series does seem to end).  If so, I may continue (my OCD would be the only thing forcing me to), but I really don’t care if they do or not.  12/18/2021

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

Blue Bayou  >>>OK

Portal Runner  >>>OK

---Sean O.
12/22/2021

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Hail to the Deadites

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Hail to the Deadites                                                    OK/G
The Evil Dead.  I am a fan of the franchise; specifically the first two films.  I don’t dislike Army of Darkness, but it’s not particularly a favorite (too spoofy at times).  As for the TV series, Ash vs. Evil Dead?  I liked the first season, half of the second season, and the third season was fine, but it overstayed its welcome by then (glad it ended when it did).  As for the remake?  I wasn’t crazy about it at first, but admittedly grew to appreciate it more on repeat viewings (I will always prefer the OG though).  I didn’t see The Evil Dead until my late teens, but I instantly fell in love with it (despite some of its flaws, yes), enough to buy the DVD right away (that was around the time I first started buying DVD’s instead of VHS; yes, there were still some of those in stores).  I also wasn’t too big a fan of Evil Dead 2:  Dead by Dawn when I first saw it since some of the slapstick was a bit much for my tastes, but I kept returning to it and grew quite fond of its manic good time.  I love both films, differently, they being different beasts.  Aside from owning all three movies (yes, I do own a VHS copy of Army of Darkness that I likely got cheap or used, but never felt the need to upgrade), I have two Evil Dead shirts (one was a gift), two posters (one for both movies, the Evil Dead 2 one signed by Bruce Campbell), an Ash figurine (that was a gift), a throw blanket, books, and comics, so I guess you can say I’m a fan of The Evil Dead.  Now, why would you care about my particular fandom?  The same reason why anyone would particularly care for this documentary focusing on fans of the franchise (it features fans at conventions as well as some of the performers/crew members on these films).  Why indeed would someone care about other people professing their love for something whether you agreed with them or not?  Well, the same way I enjoy discussing films and other interests with people in person, I do enjoy hearing others discuss those same topics.  I am one of these people (although many fans definitely put me to shame; I may be a movie nerd, horror specifically, but not nearly as much as some people out there!).  [I got to meet the entire cast of the original Evil Dead at my first horror convention almost 20 years ago (nice people, even Bruce Campbell whom I’ve heard negative things about from some)].  I was generally intrigued with this documentary, despite not really entailing much, but did feel that it ended too soon (it was barely even 80-minutes), which is why I didn’t give it a strictly G rating (or perhaps I should have since it went by quickly and didn’t overstay its welcome…I don’t know).  Don’t like The Evil Dead?  Never seen The Evil Dead or any films in the franchise?  Never heard of The Evil Dead?  If you answered yes to any of the three, this doc may not be for you.  12/14/2021

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

Amityville Scarecrow  >>>B/EH

Christmas…Again?!  >>>EH/OK
            (Disney+)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2021)  >>>OK
            (Disney+)

Free Guy  >>>EH/OK

---Sean O.
12/15/2021

Sunday, December 12, 2021

Silent Night

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Silent Night                                                                  G
No, this isn’t the 2012 remake/reimagining of Silent Night, Deadly Night; there are a couple movies with this title actually.  This is a new Christmas horror drama that contains no murderer in a Santa suit, but does contain a killer of a different sort.  A family in the U.K. gets together for Christmas and the inevitable bickering ensues amongst them, as can be expected in these films (and in real life).  What’s different about this holiday though is that an airborne poison is slowly making its way towards them and they will all be dead by morning (one theorizes it came from the Russians and another speculates it’s the Earth taking its revenge on humans).  There is no escape from it and everyone (except for certain people) was provided with a pill to ingest to go peacefully instead of slowly and painfully.  This isn’t quite like any other Christmas movie I recall seeing, it being pre-apocalyptic, feeling like a typical holiday drama, just with a grim air to the entire proceedings.  In other words, this isn’t a jolly holiday feature that’ll put you in good spirits.  My kind of movie!  I do like family holiday films, yes, but this film is a breath of fresh air (lol) amongst the majority of sappy, recycled holiday fare released.  I don’t remember a single moment when I didn’t want to watch it despite being fairly straightforward; the very end was possibly the only curveball thrown, which was kind of expected, but might cause discussions and get you pondering even after the credits roll.  Happy holidays!  12/10/2021

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

Baphomet  >>>EH/OK

Embrace of the Vampire (1995)  >>>EH

Embrace of the Vampire (2013)  >>>EH

Screams of a Winter Night  >>>OK

Silent Night, Zombie Night  >>>EH/OK

Teddy (2020)  >>>EH

To All a Good Night  >>>EH

---Sean O.
12/12/2021

Sunday, December 5, 2021

Chucky (Season One)

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Chucky (Season One)
Anyone that knows me well knows I love Chucky.  I’ve been a fan since watching two of the movies in elementary school back in the Nineties.  Child’s Play 2 is probably my favorite film in the series (it was also the first one I saw).  Seed of Chucky is my least favorite, but it’s still not the worst movie I’ve seen (I still watch it when I have Chucky marathons).  Anyone that knows me well also knows I’m not a fan of remakes, even though I always end up watching them anyway (damn OCD).  I actually ended up liking the Child’s Play remake, enough to buy the DVD and see it at least three times already (you can read my review for it here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2019/06/childs-playtoy-story-4.html)!  Upon hearing of a TV show, this one, you can say I was undeniably excited.  I’ve been reading that it is strictly for the fans and that fans will definitely enjoy it.  Well, I’m a fan (if you haven’t figured that out) and I liked it, but didn’t love it.  Perhaps my expectations were too high (yes, even for a series featuring a killer doll with eight movies, if you include the remake, under his belt) and maybe if I binged the series (which you can now do on SYFY, USA, or, now, Peacock) instead of tuning in weekly (I seriously don’t know how we always did that back in the day), I may have loved it instead of liked it.  Who knows, maybe I’ll like it better if I watch again, and I likely will when I have a Chucky marathon.  You do need to have seen the other films before watching this series, because it is a sequel to those films and only those aware of the franchise will understand a lot of what’s included here.  Needless to say though, I don’t think anyone that isn’t a fan of the Chucky movies will have any interest in this series consisting of 8 episodes roughly around the 40-minute mark each (the last one being a bit longer).  Now, why didn’t I love it like I’m allegedly supposed to?  Hmm…I don’t know.  I guess it had too much of a TV production feel, if that makes sense (I knew I was tuning into a TV show after all).  The kills were equally unworthy as they were worthy (yes, there are kills, obviously).  I guess, like always in sequels/remakes/what have you, too much backstory on the characters might not really be necessary (one example being a scene wherein Tiffany reveals something to Charles Lee Ray in regards to the first film that kind of doesn’t really tie in with a scene from Bride of Chucky).  It does work okay as a coming-of-age story, a gay coming-of-age story at that (Don Mancini, the creator of Chucky, is gay, for those unaware), while also containing Chucky.  Maybe I do need to watch it again (now that I can do it straight through)…I should’ve loved it since there was violence and Chucky was in it enough.  There is already a season two in the works and I will definitely check it out since I love Chucky and he will always be my friend to the end.  Also, since I liked Child’s Play 2 better than its predecessor, perhaps I’ll like season two better than this one?  12/2/2021

Bonus reviews:

Behind the Monsters (Season One)                             OK
Did we really need another documentary series on horror movies?  Probably not in the exoteric sense, but, esoterically, horror fans like myself will never tire of talking about the genre, as well as hearing others talk about it.  Whereas Eli Roth’s History of Horror series takes a subgenre per episode and discusses specific films within that subgenre, this Shudder series consisting of six episodes takes a specific horror villain and discusses them and the franchises they’re in (you can read my review of season one of that Eli Roth series here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2018/12/mooby-reviews-12218.html, season two here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2020/11/growing-up-with-i-spit-on-your.html, and season three here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2021/11/chapelwaitenight-at-eagle-inn.html).  The cinematic boogeymen with their own episodes here are Michael Myers, Candyman, Chucky, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Pinhead, in that order (but you can watch them in any order you want now that they’re all available).  Chucky, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers are some of my favorite villains, so I personally liked those episodes the best, even though the Michael Myers one did drag a bit (most of them are 40-plus minutes, the Chucky one roughly 30).  I do like Candyman, but really only the first film, so that segment was just okay (the only other one under 40-minutes).  Freddy and Pinhead were never my favorites, the characters or the franchises, although I am a fan of the original Nightmare on Elm Street and some of the sequels are okay (notably part 3, Dream Warriors); the first Hellraiser was fine, but not really one of my favorites, and I haven’t even seen all the movies in the franchise since I have no interest; so, as can be deduced, the Pinhead episode was my least favorite one.  This may not be the best documentary series (esoterically, most likely) and I didn’t really learn much of anything new, but, like I said, if you enjoy hearing others talk about a genre you have an interest in (as much as you enjoy talking about it yourself) and you have nothing else to watch, you could do worse.  Needless to say, you can just pick which episodes you want to watch as well.  12/2/2021

Jurassic World:  Camp Cretaceous (Season 4)           EH
I feared this would happen.  I liked season one of this animated Netflix spinoff series, didn’t like season two, liked season three, and didn’t like this one.  Sense a pattern?  So far I seem to like every other season (you can read my review for season one here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2020/09/jurassic-world-camp-cretaceous.html, season two here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2021/01/synchronic.html, and season three here---https://vampireclown82.blogspot.com/2021/05/jurassic-world-camp-cretaceous-season.html).  This time there are 11 episodes that are 24-minutes each, so that’s about 4 ½ hours total (bingeable, if you choose).  The series obviously isn’t over yet, so this season felt like complete filler between last season and the probable next one.  It was unexciting for the most part (completely unlike last season) and I felt like I kind of forced myself to continue halfway through (never a good sign).  The first episode was decent and gave me a bit of hope, but the only other moment that stood out was towards the end of the series when our human protagonists come into contact with a specific dino from the very first live-action film (that being Jurassic Park not World).  There was more robot action than dino action it seemed, and, even so, I still wasn’t that impressed.  If and when season five happens, I hope my above assessment is true in that I’ll like it; otherwise, that’ll be 3 out of 5 misfires for this series…12/4/2021

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

The Advent Calendar  >>>EH
   (Shudder; In French with subtitles)

Single All the Way  >>>EH/OK
            (Netflix)

---Sean O.
12/5/2021

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Elves (Season One)

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Elves (Season One)                                                     G
Just in time for the holiday season!  The titular beings aren’t jolly toymakers in this Danish Netflix series though; they are mythological creatures with sharp teeth that will kill you!  It does take place around Christmas, therefore it is a Christmas series (yes, Die Hard is a Christmas movie for those of you still debating it since it takes place around the holiday, so shut up about it; so is Batman Returns and many others I could probably list), consisting of 6 episodes ranging from 20-26 minutes each, totaling a little over 2 hours (therefore, you can binge it in one sitting).  Since it takes place in Denmark, yes, there are subtitles for those not fluent in Danish.  A family of four travel to an island to spend the holiday, said island containing those titular creatures fenced off from this small island community (of course you’ll gradually learn the reasoning behind everything).  I was reminded of Gremlins (takes place around Christmas, there’s a cute little elf not quite like the bigger elves), The Village (thematically; these creatures are very real), and Wayward Pines.  The creature designs are definitely worthy and the episodes go by really fast (points for brevity without feeling too inadequate).  I enjoyed this series enough to recommend it.  I’m sure you’ve watched movies just as long (or longer) that were worse.  11/29/2021

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

Karen  >>>EH

Malignant  >>>EH

13 Minutes  >>>OK

‘Twas the Fight Before Christmas  >>>B
            (Apple+)

---Sean O.
11/30/2021

Sunday, November 28, 2021

Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin

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In case you haven’t seen the intro from my entry dated 1/26/19 (it’s in my archives whenever you want to read it), I’m no longer going to review every single movie I see.  I’m going to review one, with the occasional bonus, and just give ratings for the rest from now on (unless I decide to pick it up again in the future).  You can always ask me why I gave the ratings for the films without reviews though (via comments or the e-mail addresses under the ‘About Me’ section).
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Paranormal Activity:  Next of Kin                               OK/G
Part 7 of this franchise, but really only an in-name sequel, available on Paramount+.  I can say I’m a fan of this franchise as simple as it may be.  Part 4 was the only one I wasn’t too crazy about; I gave it an EH/OK rating according to my archives.  Apparently this is the first film in the series I’m writing a review for; the others I just rated since I didn’t start this blog yet (the first three I was still doing star ratings and I gave the first one 3 ½ out of 4 stars, 3 out of 4 to the second one, and 3 ½ out of 4 to the third; part 5-The Marked Ones-I gave a G/VG rating, and part 6-The Ghost Dimension-I gave a G rating).  As is apparent, I liked the first and third one the best.  As of this writing, this entry only received 28% out of 40 critics on Rotten Tomatoes.  It is not that bad, not at all, considering there isn’t much to expect from a Paranormal Activity movie, and the fact there’s countless paranormal entertainment out there.  It has the same eerie setup as the other ones with that pervading sense of dread knowing anything can happen at any time, usually closer to the end, with the build-up generally always being better (nighttime scenes in homes, especially empty hallways or staircases, are always going to be effective).  This time the events occur at an Amish community in which a girl returns to in order to learn about her real family, and, as anyone that’s seen movies can deduce, and given the franchise it’s in, something is clearly not right about this community.  Granted, there are clichés (i.e. cheap jump scares and, seriously, a car still doesn’t start until it’s convenient?!), but how can there not be in a film made in 2021, and, again, with all the other paranormal shit out there?  The film does end on a dark note, like all the others in a way, and I think, for the most part, it’s a fairly worthy addition to the franchise (as far as seventh entries go and being unrelated to the others).  It was better than part 4, that’s for sure, and better than the director’s (William Eubank) previous film, Underwater.  11/26/2021 

Bonus review:

Autumn Road                                                              OK
Horror drama I had a love-hate relationship with.  Its very indie quality is what gives it its charm.  This looks like a real small town with very real people.  Let’s see, it includes a haunted attraction, twin brothers that run the attraction after their father passed, a girl returning to this small town, and it takes place around the Halloween season (during more than one time period).  Plus there’s a pretty nifty owl mask (not quite like the one in Stage Fright though) worn by one of the twin brothers, who is obviously psycho.  Sounds like the ingredients for a decent film, no?  The ingredients are really all it entails, because this film doesn’t really involve much when you truly think about it.  Oh, that girl returning home had a sister that went missing years ago on Halloween, but we as an audience see what happened to her in the beginning.  The haunted attraction scenes we did get glimpses of seemed pretty spiffy, but I wish more time was spent on it.  Like I said, there is somewhat of an appeal to this indie horror drama, while, at the same time, it’s really not that great of a film.  Time may tell if it ages better, but for an indie horror drama done well, check out Lightning Bug, an example that comes to mind first.  11/24/2021

Other movies I've seen and their ratings (see above):

The Amusement Park  >>>EH

Bloodthirsty  >>>EH

The Boy Behind the Door  >>>OK
            (Shudder)

The Columnist  >>>EH
   (In Dutch with subtitles)

Horror Noire (2021)  >>>EH
   (Shudder)

A House on the Bayou  >>>OK
            (Epix)

Prisoners of the Ghostland  >>>B

The Strings (2020)  >>>EH

Tailgate  >>>EH/OK
   (In Dutch with subtitles)

---Sean O.
11/28/2021