Supernatural

Wither (2012) Review

December 31, 2013 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Original Title: Vittra

Synopsis: Ida and Albin are a happy couple. They set off to a cabin in the vast Swedish woodlands to have a fun holiday with their friends. But under the floorboards waits an evil from Sweden’s dark past.

My Quick Review: So, this year’s Evil Dead Remake actually came from Sweden?

Wither is a gruesome movie clearly inspired by Evil Dead, with a Swedish folklore story twist. Unfortunately Wither suffers from the same problems that plagues this year’s Evil Dead Remake: plenty of gore does not necessarily make for an entertaining movie experience.

The buildup to the expected massacre is boring, most of the dialog is ludicrous (probably not helped by the subtitles) and all of the character’s decision are extremely stupid (even more so than usual for a cabin in the woods type movie).

Despite the low budget, most of the gore effects are quite impressive and add to the ick factor the same way the new Evil Dead did. But that’s about the only redeeming factor of Wither, a swedish import that fails to recapture what made the original Evil Dead such a horror classic.

My Rating: 5/10

Director: Sonny Laguna

Origin: Sweden

The Paranormal Diaries: Clophill (2013) Review

December 19, 2013 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Synopsis: In 2010, a documentary team was assembled to investigate the legend of the Clophill witches and to try and uncover the truth behind the paranormal events. What followed during that long weekend at Clophill was a terrifying journey into the unknown.

My Quick Review: Clophill is a UK entry to the Fake documentary genre and, despite some lengthy exposure, it does the job.

While watching Clophill you feel like you’re watching one of those Ghost chasers show, and this is actually not as bad as it sounds. The documentary crew seem genuine enough and the location is an actual infamous haunted ground.

If you’re into paranormal stories based on real places/events, you should be able to enjoy Clophill and get yourself immersed in the story. And this is probably the only way you will be able to feel some jolts towards the end when there is a cresecendo in the ghostly happenings.

It’s a pity that the filmakers (who are behind the Zombie Diaries movies) felt they had to add some family scenes (in the beginning and at the end) to give the movie more meat and bring even more scares towards the end. Those scenes are the weakest and fell very staged.

The documentary part works as a creepy investigation of the paranormal and will satisfy a niche audience. For most horror fans though, the lack of scares or genuine horror will have them turn off their tv way before the movie ends.

My Rating: 5/10

Director: Michael Bartlett, Kevin Gates

Origin: UK

The Brides of Dracula (1960) Review

December 17, 2013 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Synopsis: Vampire hunter Van Helsing returns to Transylvania to destroy handsome bloodsucker Baron Meinster, who has designs on beautiful young schoolteacher Marianne.

My Quick Review: The Brides of Dracula is the second in the series of Dracula films produced by Hammer from the late 50s to the early 70s. It’s also the only one not to have Dracula appear in the movie (the title is really misleading).

Like most of the Hammer productions, Brides of Dracula makes the best use of colors and lightning and the sets are impressive. The acting is superb in this one as well, even if Christopher Lee’s presence is still greatly missed.

The story is quite unoriginal though and,despite a short running time, the pace towards the more exiting end of the movie is frankly too slow.

It’s always hard to watch those classic horror movies back nowadays. We have been spoiled by so many great entries in the genre that, compared to a 60’s audience, it’s difficult not to wish for more to happen.

With that being said, contemporary filmmakers could take a lesson or two in set designs and overall direction. Unfortunately I can only recommend Brides of Dracula to fans of old school hammer productions.

My Rating: 6/10

Director: Terence Fisher

Origin: UK

Click Here to Get The Brides of Dracula on Blu-Ray

In The Mouth of Madness (1994) Review

December 15, 2013 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Synopsis: An insurance investigator begins discovering that the impact a horror writer’s books have on his fans is more than inspirational.

My Quick Review: It feels so good to watch In The Mouth of Madness almost 20 years since I first watched it in theater.

Back then I was a teenager and already a big fan of Horror Movies, and John Carpenter was the Man, the Master of Horror who had yet to make a bad movie (I’m not considering Memoirs of an invisible man to be a Carpenter’s movie). In the Mouth of Madness was fascinating to my younger self and I have to say it hasn’t lost much of its impact with me after a second viewing.

This is indeed Carpenter at his best and while the film is a blatant homage to horror writers such as Stephen King and of course HP Lovecraft (whose work heavily influenced the creatures introduced in this film) it also fits well with 2 of his other monsters/apocalypse movies, The Thing and Prince of Darkness.

Carpenter relies heavily on practical effects and makeup (highly appreciated in an age of everything digital) and succeeds in creeping us by giving us a feeling of uneasiness thanks to some truly nightmarish visuals (The old guy on a bicycle, the husband handcuffed to his wife ankle, the arm creeping outside Sam Neil’s asylum room, the painting…).

if you’re a fan of Carpenter or Lovecraft or just an old-school horror afficionado, you can’t afford to miss In the Mouth of Madness, one of the most underrated gem in John Carpenter’s career.

My Rating: 8/10

Director: John Carpenter

Origin: US

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All Hallow’s Eve (2013) Review

December 7, 2013 by Eric S. Leave a Comment

Synopsis: While watching two children on Halloween night, a babysitter finds an old VHS tape in the kids’ trick or treat bag. The tape features three tales of terror, all linked together by a murderous clown.

My Quick Review: I’m a fan of anthology movies and wasn’t expecting much of All Hollow’s Eve but let me tell you now how wrong I was.

All Hollow’s eve, despite its very low budget, is surprisingly good. Everything from the music (reminiscent of the best 80’s horror scores), to the direction (this movie is extremely well shot and edited for an indie movie) and the practical FX (even if they do look like makeups or masks I’d still rather watch practical effects rather than cheap CGIs) help elevating the material at hands (which is not very original I have to admit).

And who can forget Art the Clown, the creepiest clown to be on screen since Stephen King’s IT.

The 3 different shorts within the movie are quite different in looks and stories but all have a specific creep factor and evolve around women being attacked/abducted/murdered in some gruesome ways.

The first one, was shot by Damien Leone, the director, back in 2006 and reminded me of a nightmare out of the imagination of Clive Barker. Fans of demons and other satanic cults will enjoy that one.

The second short is probably the weakest but there is something so weird about the alien invader that, in spite of obvious budget restriction, it all works out in the end.

The last short features Art the Clown in a more prominent way. Here, he is a serial killer chasing an innocent victim. It’s gory, scary and delightfully creepy. I especially loved the ending.

The main story featuring the babysitter ends as expected and was fitting to the rest of the movie.

Despite some lackluster moments, All Hollow’s Eve provides all the necessary scares for fans of anthology movies and killer clowns. Somehow Damien Leone was able to patch all of these segments together and shows that he is a director to keep an eye on. Definitively my Guilty Pleasure of the year so far.

My Rating: 7/10

Director: Damien Leone

Origin: US

Click Here to Own and Watch All Hallow’s Eve Now!