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michael310162
Reviews
Signs (2002)
Yet another let down
As with all his previous films (and The Village after it) Night has the ability to keep an audience initially intrigued ,there's no doubt about that - but the pay-off, the climax, the BIG TWIST (T.M) turns out to be pretty obvious from the first five minutes.
If only there were such a BIG TWIST (T.M) to partially save this film. Have to agree with most of the other anti-Signs comments here...major plot faults, limp acting and just the occasional interesting direction.
I guess, for me at least, he always promises much more than he delivers. I've nothing against him personally...just feel the words "over-rated" and "Emperor's new clothes" come to mind while watching any of his films.
Stacy (2001)
All the right ingredients
Its got zombies...its got chainsaws....its got Japanese Schoolgirls!!! What more could you possibly need?
My only regret is that my copy only has German and Dutch sub-titles, but who needs to know whats being said when you have the fore-mentioned ingredients???
There are enough horror film references here to keep the average fan entertained even if Japanese schoolgirls covered in blood and coming back as the undead is not your 'thing'...everything from Romero to Raimi
Gory fun.
Ju-on (2002)
The Real Deal!
Having read a few negative views of this film I felt moved to defend what is possibly one of the creepiest films to come along since...well, Ringu.
I made the mistake of watching this during the day time...which is the time of day when most of the horror in this film takes place. This is a film which gave me genuine chills and a deep sense of unease as the story unfolds. I suppose you can't ask much more from a good horror film than that...it stays with you long after you've seen it.
True, horror films can split an audience right down the middle - and this film appears to be one which you either 'get' or it goes straight past you.
If it scared the bejesus out of the great Sam Raimi (of Evil dead fame) and inspired him to produce the currently in-production 'remake', then its good enough for me. With that recommendation, it should be good enough for you too!
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
A film to get your teeth into....
Yes, its low budget. Yes, it is in black and white. Yes, it has a cast largely made up of amateurs. So why is it simply the greatest horror film ever made?
The fact that it is all the above things is what makes it work....there are no A-list stars who carry 'baggage' with them; the atmosphere created purely through lack of budget (and professional actors) is one that is totally believable; the documentary feel of black and white film adds to the horror and credibility of the narrative.
One of the essential aspects of horror is the 'who do you trust?' ethic. That is displayed here in spades to the point where there is nowhere to turn to - either for the characters or the audience - no one is heroically going to save the day. This horror in its purest cinematic and personal sense.
(slight spoiler) It also has the most downbeat ending this side of Fincher's 'Seven'...what more could a horror fan - or a fan of film in general - ask for?
Forget the apparent 'negatives' associated with low budget, black and white film...this is the film by which all successive horror films - and independent films - have to be judged by.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!
Appalling!!!!! Simply 'horror' for unenlightened, easily-pleased adolescents.
If this was supposed to be a 'remake' or, evils of evils, a 're-imagining' then why did it not have anything remotely horrific about it. Its Scooby Doo meets Leatherface. The fact it was supposed to be set in the early 1970s was totally lost on me...the characters didn't remotely resemble a '70s' look...the whole feel of the film screamed 21st Century...and when the only entertaining (or indeed jolting) moment of the film occurs in the final 60 seconds, then this is truly multiplex fodder of the lowest order.
In short...when there is no more room for originality in hell, the re-imaginings shall walk the earth...be afraid, be very afraid!