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Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark review

Posted in Classic Horror, Ghost Stories, Haunted House Films, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , , , , , on June 16, 2013 by Alex Roy

DontBeAfraidoftheDark
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)

Tagline:Can you see them, Sally … hiding in the shadows. They’re alive, Sally. They want you to be one of them when the lights go out.

Directed by:
John Newland

Produced by:
Allen S. Epstein

Run Time:
74 minutes

Released:
October 10, 1973

Review:

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is one of the finest haunted house films in the genre. For a made for TV affair, this is a fine example of using atmosphere to create tension on-screen. The cast here is wonderful, and for its short run time, the film is truly an impressive piece of cinema that though might seem a bit dated, is still a terrifying horror experience that will delight genre fans looking for a well crafted haunted house horror tale. This is one of those rare films that actually can terrify a viewer and is among the finest pictures in the genre. With a great performance by Kim Darby, this made for TV film is one of those forgotten classics that deserves to be rediscovered by a wider audience. The tense atmosphere adds to the film enjoyment and it serves up bone chilling terror the way a horror film is supposed to. The supernatural elements here work well to keep you on the edge of your seat, and the great performances from its cast elevate this film significantly. If you love haunted house films, then seek this one out as this is among the classics that defined the genre. The film’s story is very interesting and well layered to create a unique experience. Haunted house films are often hard to pull off, but director John Newland crafts a fine picture that is chilling from start to finish. With a clear understanding of pulling off effective terror, Newland delivers a supernatural tour de force that ranks up there with some of the finest horror films ever made.

Final Rating:
9/10

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The Evictors review

Posted in Haunted House Films, Psycho Horror, Psychological Horror with tags , , , , , , , , on May 23, 2013 by Alex Roy

evictors

The Evictors (1979)

Tagline:  It was a small Louisiana town where people live and love and die and no one ever thought of locking their doors… except in the Monroe house.

Directed by:
Charles B. Pierce

Produced by:
Charles B. Pierce

Run Time:
92 minutes

Released:
April 18, 1979

Review:

Once in a while there comes an obscured gem that is truly an exciting and thrilling horror experience. The Evictors is such a gem, this is a well acted and directed horror yarn that is a must see for genre fans. This is a film that relies on the basics to tell a good story and it works. The cast is great as well and comprises underrated actor Michael Parks and actress Jessica Harper. This is a creepy an intense movie that is sure to satisfy fans who love obscured horror films. The film relies on atmosphere to set the tone of the film and it successfully builds up tension and dread in the viewer. Films like this are a rare commodity and deserve to see the light of day. The direction by director Charles B. Pierce is great, and can craft a terrific horror picture that is genuinely unnerving. The film at times could have been better, but it relies on a good cast to elevate the story and brings on the tension that fans are looking for in a traditional horror film. Films like this are far better than most films in the genre. This is a well acted, directed and told horror picture that goes for basic chills rather elaborate and poorly thought out sequences that simply don’t work. The Evictors is a worthy addition to the genre and one that is a must see for horror fans looking for a well acted and genuinely eerie film. The Evictors is entertaining from start to finish and it is one of the best obscured titles that I have seen in quite some time.  If you come across this one, give it a shot, you will be surprised at how good it is.  

Final Rating:
7/10

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Next of Kin review

Posted in Foreign Horror, Haunted House Films, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , , on February 19, 2013 by Alex Roy

Next_of_Kin

Next of Kin (1982)

Tagline:There’s no place like home, bloody home.

Directed by:
Tony Williams

Produced by:
Robert Le Tet
Timothy White

Run Time:
89 minutes

Released:
November 1982

Review:

Brilliant Australian Supernatural haunted house horror film effectively directed by Tony Williams. This is an eerie and splendidly chilling movie that relies on a good cast of actors including renowned Aussie actor John Jarrat and Jackie Kerin. This is a steadily crafted horror tale that has hints of previous movies such as Kubrick’s The Shinning and some have also referenced Argento’s Suspiria. This is one of those movies that rely on atmosphere to create the tension, and in many ways a film like this is far better than other genre pictures because it takes its time to let the terror unfold and in turn it pays off by delivering a truly chilling and memorable experience.  The cast do a fine job in their roles and the directing is terrific and you clearly can see that Tony Williams has an eye for creating scary scenes that will stick in your head. This is a highly engaging film that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very end. I thought that it was a fine supernatural horror film that used the basic ingredients of the genre very well.  This is an overlooked film from the genre, and horror fans owe it to themselves to check this one out. With a great plot, terrific acting and directing, Next of Kin is one of the best genre films that I have seen, and more than once there have been quite a few genuinely creepy scenes. The film’s use of atmosphere is what makes this one stand out above other genre pictures, and it’s very rare for a film to pull off so much with basic elements of the genre. Next of Kin is a far better film than many other movies in the genre, and the result is an overlooked gem that definitely deserves to be rediscovered.

Final Rating:
8/10

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Mama review

Posted in Ghost Stories, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , on January 31, 2013 by Alex Roy

MAMA-movie-poster

Mama (2013)

Tagline:A mother’s love is forever.

Directed by:
Andres Muschietti

Produced by:
J. Miles Dale
Barbara Muschietti
Guillermo del Toro

Run time:
100 minutes

Released:
January 18, 2013

Review:

Guillermo del Toro is a stunning producer in the horror genre, and has helped many directors create something truly intense for horror fans. Director Andres Muschietti delivers one of the better horror films of the year with Mama. Although it has some predictable clichés, the film manages to be quite entertaining and fun. Jessica Chastain is good here as well, and this is a well crafted ghost tale that despite the fact it is not that original, is far better than a few horror films that have been released(Texas Chainsaw, Hansel and Gretel: Witch hunters). There are some very tense scenes in the film, and it makes for a truly entertaining horror film. The film does have its flaws, like the fact that it has the usual clichés of a typical ghost tale, but that is to be expected. I really don’t understand why the film got the flack it received, as it is one of the most entertaining horror films as of yet this year. Where other pictures have failed in delivering a horror tale with an interesting plot, this one succeeds. Along with the cast who deliver some good performances, this is a film worth seeing and is quite frankly underrated. If you love ghost stories, then this is a film to see. Jessica Chastain as usual delivers a good performance, and as an actress she really is assembling quite a resume of good movies. There is a bit of everything in this one to enjoy, and if you love these types of films, then you owe it to yourself to watch it. The directing is good and the cast definitely are able to make a predictable and overdone formula into a worthwhile film, and with that said, it is a very entertaining movie from start to finish. Just go into this one with an open mind, and you’re sure to enjoy it. Despite the clichés and its predictability, Mama is a fine little film that is sure to delight horror fans looking for a pleasant ghost tale to watch, and considering the bad horror flicks that have plagued the theater this month; well this is the most fun I’ve had at the theater. Director Andres Muschietti can create something entertaining using a proven formula.

Final Rating:
6/10

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The Abandoned review

Posted in Haunted House Films, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , , , on January 23, 2013 by Alex Roy

The Abandoned (2006)

The Abandoned(2006)

Tagline: Death never runs out of time.

Directed by:
Nacho Cerdà

Produced by:
Carlos Fernández
Julio Fernández

Run time:
94 minutes

Released:
September 11, 2006

Review:

The Abandoned is one of those horror films that had the potential of being so much more than what it turned out to be. As a whole, it is a decent film but it could have been much better. The ideas for a great horror film are there, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The Abandoned combines many horror genres into one film and you can clearly see that there was good ideas at work, but the filmmakers clearly couldn’t tie up everything neatly and the film kind of falls apart near the end. However, there are some effective scares at work on-screen, and the cast do a fine job with the so-so material. With a few script rewrites and more thought out idea, the film would have clearly been a memorable addition to the genre. As it stands, this is only worth watching once, and you feel disappointed because this film had some good ingredients to make for a truly chilling movie. Where the film lacks is a compelling, and engaging story. I liked the film despite its flaws, but like I said, it’s not something that I’d personally re-watch again and again. Another problem with the film is that it also relies on previously explored ideas from other films that we’ve seen before and were done better as well. The scares here are good, but there’s just not enough originality with this one to really make it a compelling and enjoyable picture for fans to watch. Go in with an open mind, I thought it was a decent affair, with nothing remarkable about its plot, luckily the film had plenty of atmosphere that was dark, brooding and menacing, which made The Abandoned worth seeing. However, I was left wanting more out of the movie.

Final Rating:
5/10

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The Amityville Horror review

Posted in Haunted House Films, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , on December 17, 2012 by Alex Roy

amityville_horror

The Amityville Horror (1979)

Tageline:”For God’s sake. Get out!”

Directed by:
Stuart Rosenberg

Produced by:
Samuel Z. Arkoff

Run Time:
117 Minutes

Released:
July 27, 1979

Review:

The Amityville Horror is really the perfect horror film for the horror rookie. I found the film pretty scary, but not too scary. It’s not Exorcist scary. The film is pure old school shocks, and the film relies on atmosphere to create its terrifying pacing. The film is slow, but is necessary in establishing effective scares. Based on the “real” life story of how George and Kathleen Lutz bought a haunted house where a member of the previous family murdered his entire family, The Amityville Horror is yes a haunted house film. However the Lutz ordeal is of course bullshit and was conjured up to make a quick buck on the tragic murder that happened in that house. Anyhow, the new family moves in and strange things start to happen. The husband for one acts stranger, and becomes more violent. There are also other weird happening such an ordeal involving a babysitter where she is locked into the closet and is scared to death and that she can’t get out. The Amityville Horror is a good haunted house film, but it’s far from the best. For my money The Changeling with George C. Scott is a far more superior film. The Amityville Horror is terrifying, but when you read about the real happenings, it definitely makes it less scary. But for what it’s worth, this is a film that people who are new to horror should check out. The film has about the right amount of scares to make this film a not so unpleasant viewing experience to the horror beginner. The Amityville Horror definitely relies on its atmosphere to create the horror and eerie tone of the film. It works in some ways and in others it doesn’t. But it does offer some decent enough entertainment, and decent enough scares. A good enough film for seasoned Horror buffs even if it doesn’t have that many terrifying moments that one would expect from a film like this. If you want the most terrifying haunted house film, watch The Changeling. But if you want a film with enough decent scares to scare, but not in an Exorcist sort of way, then The Amityville Horror would be a good pick. A good film, even if it’s not truly classic, it sure as hell doesn’t feel like it.
Final Rating:
6/10

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Amityville II: The Possession review

Posted in Haunted House Films, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , on December 17, 2012 by Alex Roy

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Amityville II: The Possession (1982)

Tagline:The night of February 5, 1976, George and Kathleen Lutz fled their home in Amityville, New York. They got out alive! Their living nightmare shocked audiences around the world in “The Amityville Horror.” But before them, another family lived in this house and were caught by the original evil. They weren’t so lucky… this is their story!

Directed by:
Damiano Damiani

Produced by:
Dino De Laurentiis
Stephen R. Greenwald
Ira N. Smith

Run Time:
104 minutes

Released:
September 24,1982

Review:

Decent follow-up to the Amityville Horror. For what it is, it’s a fun little film that delivers mild chills and I think that the filmmakers should have only made one sequel. Although not perfect, this one is better than most and it is the final sequel that is actually worth seeing. The cast do a good job with the material at hand, and though not perfect, the film tends to rely on atmosphere to create tension, with enough entertainment value to thrill genre fans. Although not as good as the first, this one still is fun for what it is, and is a worthwhile sequel to the first film. I liked this one and I thought it was entertaining despite its flaws, and it is a film that genre fans should check out if they want to be mildly entertained In terms of a haunted house film, it could have been better, however it is far better than all the other sequels that came out after this one. Enjoyable as a guilty pleasure or if you have nothing else better to do, Amityville II is a pleasant time waster for what it is, just don’t go expecting something great with this one either. The story is decent and it is interesting, and delivers haunted house fun despite its flaws. The film along with the first are good for what they are, just avoid every other sequel as the creative aspect would suffer significantly and each entry would become more ridiculous than the previous one. This is a fine second film that is underrated and is much better than what many critics have claimed it to be.

Final Rating:
5/10

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Amityville 3-D review

Posted in Bad Horror, Haunted House Films, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , on December 17, 2012 by Alex Roy

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Amityville 3-D (1983)

Tagline: WARNING: In this movie you are thevictim.

Directed by:
Richard Fleischer

Produced by:
Stephen F. Kesten

Run Time:
105 minutes

Released:
November 18, 1983

Review

Third part in this series is a bad film, and it really starts to shows the cracks in terms of effective storytelling on the parts of the screen writers and director. The idea seemed really good, but the film simply fell flat with no real care to write a truly terrifying film that was memorable and fun. The result is a failed attempt at delivering a haunted house film with any real chills. The film tends to rely too much on the 3D effect to entertain, and it just ends up being annoying and painful to watch. Acting wise, the film still suffers from inconsistencies and there are no standout performances here. The direction fails to evoke any sense of fear and most of the time it is pretty lazy. The ideas for something good were here, but the execution was poor. The film could have been much better than this and it is a shame because the original film, though flawed, was pretty good and fun to watch. As a whole, this third film is forgettable in the long run and adds nothing of note to the series. Luckily this isn’t as bad as others that would follow, but it could have been done better. I think that with a few rewrites a, this film could have been a lot better. With a better cast and director as well, Amityville 3D would have worked as a fun, entertaining haunted house picture. The film was simply rushed, and underdeveloped in terms of good storytelling. Without the effects, I think that the film could have worked a bit better and if it relied on atmosphere it would have made it memorable.

Final Rating:
3/10

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Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes review

Posted in Bad Horror, Haunted House Films, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , , , on December 17, 2012 by Alex Roy

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Amityville 4: The Evil Escapes (1989)

Directed by:
Sandor Stern

Produced by:
Steve White
Barry Bernardi
Kenneth Atchity

Run Time:
95 minutes

Released:
May 12, 1989

Review:

Amityville IV: The Evil Escapes is one of those sequels that is over the top, but not as bad as others in the series. Acting wise this film still lacks big time, and is pretty stupid. Story wise, you’re to be disappointed due to a poorly written script that offers nothing truly engaging and memorable for the viewer. This is a made for TV film and it shows in terms of lacking effective thrills, good story and above all, good acting. This film could have been a lot better than what it turned out to be and if given the right amount of attention, I think that the film could have been much better as well. The film leaves a lot to be desired and it is pretty bad, however it is not as awful as the other sequels that would follow in this lack of creativity series, I say that because the filmmakers would struggle to try to create something entertaining, but would fail miserably. This fourth film is very bad, and it has some pretty stupid moments as well. The premise of the lamp was too tongue in cheek to comprehend, and whoever thought that it would make for a great horror film was sadly wrong. This is a bad film that is poorly constructed and offers nothing to appeal to genre fans looking for a great horror yarn. This may be an ok film to watch for a bad movie night along with the other sequels, but as it stands, this one isn’t worth your time. This was really the start of the creative downfall of the series, and more dreadful films would plague this franchise that never should have happened.

Final Rating:
2/10

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The Amityville Curse review

Posted in Bad Horror, Haunted House Films, Supernatural Horror with tags , , , , , , , , on December 17, 2012 by Alex Roy

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The Amityville Curse (1990)

Tagline: A  return to the most dangerous house in the world.

Directed by:
Tom Berry

Produced by:
Franco Battista

Run Time:
91 minutes

Released:
May 7, 1990

Review:

Yet another pointless and poorly constructed entry follows the first four films in this painful franchise. This is a poorly made film that doesn’t expand the story in terms of offering something new for viewers. The acting is bad, the story is awful and the directing is unfocused. The biggest problems with these films are that they recycle so many ideas in order to create something entertaining, and it fails. That’s the case with this entry as it is dull and boring and really doesn’t have anything going for it in terms of an effective horror tale. This film is stupid and is underdeveloped. This is another train wreck of a film that is painful to watch and is among the worst of the series. It just goes to show that the films produced in this series are poorly done and there is no care taken to try to make something entertaining. This is a sequel that was rushed and it shows on-screen. There is nothing here to enjoy, only a mess from start to finish and one that genre fans will surely not enjoy. Don’t go expecting anything worthwhile because you won’t find it here. These sequels are bad, and there is not one ounce of quality material in the script to make this one standout. With a poor cast and a poor script, The Amityville Curse was another poor attempt in stretching out the ideas of this tiresome series into new territory. However it failed because the screenwriters have no talent or understanding of what makes an entertaining horror film.

Final Rating:
1/10

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