Now this is how you make a low budget horror movie in the 2010's. It's obvious that this film does not have over the top production values, there's very few actors and limited sets; but this film does more than good with what it does have.
The cinematography is absolutely stunning with some gorgeous scenery in the beginning and at the end. Most of this movie is shot in the woods at night, and so one would expect it to be a poorly-lit affair with lots of shaky camera shots like so many similar films of late- however this is where The Monster excels. The cinematographer makes great use of light and dark, using it to make visible just what you need to see and to create tension with what you don't.
The monster isn't shown until 3/4 of the way through the movie and looks downright terrifying.
It is quite a slow burn and so some without patience may get bored but if you manage to get to the 40 minute mark you won't regret it.
The backstory is also really good, I don't think I've ever seen a monster flick with this much characterization. It's emotional and adds real depth to the characters and what they go through in the woods.
I was very pleasantly surprised and hopefully if you watch this movie, you will be too.
The plot had me curious enough to at least warrant finishing the movie, but other than that this film had no redeeming qualities. The cinematography was boring, the sets were bland, there was zero atmosphere, the acting was mediocre, and the story line was predictable.
The first thing you'll notice about this film is the beautiful cinematography. The run time, which is just over 1 and a half hours, is full of long, gorgeous shots of the lake and the woods surrounding it. The fact that the entire story takes place at this lake also adds an air of mystique to the proceedings, creating a moody atmosphere.
However, this proves not to be enough to carry the film, as it still seems rather slow throughout. The dialogue is trite and there's hardly any characterization, leaving the motivations of the subjects rather vague.
There is gratuitous nudity but almost no violence, or any action (other than several sex scenes) until the last twenty minutes.
In the end, the fact that this film is merely 'good', when it had the potential to be 'great', is somewhat maddening.
I was really quite pleasantly surprised by this film, having thought that everything by Argento after Opera was lesser by far than his earlier filmography.
Sleepless did have a lot of references or plot devices from other films of his but I think it stands on its own as well. The camera work and visuals were all on par with his earlier films and it held a great atmosphere all the way through as well as being truly suspenseful.
This film really does prove that one can still make an effective giallo in the 21st century.
As many others have noted this is an odd mixture of Hammer style horror and giallo, somewhat similar (though far inferior) to Bava's The Body and the Whip.
I really rather enjoyed the atmosphere and found the scenery, especially the castle, to be gorgeous.
Unfortunately this was not enough to carry the story which seemed like a rough draft. The entire thing was really very strange but I've got to say that I enjoyed it quite a bit and admired the camera work which was, once again, reminiscent of that found in Bava's films, particularly A Bay of Blood- lots of close ups and fluid voyeur shots; though with an obviously far larger production budget.
This film is at times quite beautiful and if you're into giallo you're used to the contrived and often nonsensical plots that they often employ, and so this barely detracts from the entertainment value. This movie has a vibe that I wanted to savor and after the time was up I wanted more. It kept me entertained the entire runtime. I must say that this probably came at quite the right time for me in particular as I've been getting into Hammer horror recently and decided to watch a few slashers/giallo to 'cleanse the palate' as it were- and was very pleasantly surprised by this weird hybrid.
Also that is the least scary cat I have ever seen in a horror movie.
Actually surprisingly good for a Halloween rip-off. Not only did this film borrow from Halloween (very heavily from the entire series to date I might add), but it borrowed from A Nightmare on Elm Street as well. As a rule, this shouldn't be as good of a movie as it was.
Highly campy and unintentionally funny, Sorority House Massacre is a nice chunk of typical 80's slasher fare (more heavily laden on the nudity side than the gore) that you will sometimes find yourself wrapped up in while viewing.
The story is highly contrived and corny, but that doesn't stop it from entertaining.
This movie is extremely close to The Slumber Party Massacre, which I would rate the better of the two as it seems to be able to hold its atmosphere.
All in all you probably know if you'll enjoy Sorority House Massacre before viewing, just don't get your hopes too high.
This is really quite a pleasure if you happen to be a fan of giallo and slashers- though really more the former than the latter.
The Flesh and Blood Show is an excellent film that far preceded the American slasher craze, and even just barely the giallo films of Italy. This film was made in England in 1972, and while it seems quite a rudimentary slasher in this day and age, at that time it was really quite innovative. Along with A Bay of Blood, this may have jumpstarted the slasher craze that began with Halloween and Friday the 13th (not to mention The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), but really had it's roots with early exploitation films like this.
The Flesh and Blood Show has tons of atmosphere and a fairly engaging story, but rather skimps on the blood.
Most of the murders take place off scene and the ending really begs for more but overall I really enjoyed this.
Being a huge slasher fan I was very pleasantly surprised when I watched this as it is an obvious precursor to the slasher subgenre. I was expecting slow and atmospheric- things that both Hammer and Terence Fisher are known for. Instead, this film is really rather quickly paced, but not at the expense of characterization and backstory.
I really would have liked for it to have continued where Fisher's The Revenge of Frankenstein had left off but the fact that it didn't wasn't really a deal breaker. This film was interesting enough for what it is.
Reasonably entertaining. Probably a bit better than the previous entry in the series, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave.
This is the campiest one so far and I think it really works in the films favour, as the plot can seem a bit contrived.
The acting is okay, the sets are okay, the only really beautiful piece is the outside of the chapel.
I'm not sure why Dracula's blood had to turn to powder, there was no reason. It would have worked fine as actual blood.
This was the first of the Hammer Dracula series not to be directed by Terence Fisher so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Freddie Francis, however, does an adequate job of following in the rather forbidding footsteps of Fisher and with Hammer's stamp.
This movie seems more plot focused than Fisher's, which were much heavier on atmosphere- something I do miss in this film, however the storyline is fairly engaging and almost makes up for it.
I really did enjoy the throwback to Nosferatu with the tinted frames and the acting was mostly very good.
I did not like the part containing the stake as I felt that this newer addition undermined the already set mythos of the legend.
Overall I found Dracula Has Risen from the Grave to be entertaining and fun if not quite as great as the first three films were.
A masterfully crafted classic in every sense of the word, my only complaints are that there is so much time given to the 'legend' backstory when it really adds no enjoyment to the plot of the present day and simply seems like filler; also that protagonist's wife was introduced so randomly in the middle of the film. The mummy looks absolutely amazing.
Interesting and atmospheric little vampire film. The soundtrack was provided by Tangerine Dream and is absolutely fantastic. Some of the dialogue, especially in the beginning, seems a little cringeworthy and trite but overall the script is well done. It really shines in the way that it gives us a humanistic approach to the vampires. The whole thing has a low key, yet powerful and poetic vibe. At times the humor seems to simply detract from this atmosphere instead of providing anything akin to comic relief or real laughs and I think it would have been a stronger film without the comedic elements.
Overall this is quite an offbeat but good film and the soundtrack is amazing.
This was like a lesser-grade rehash of the first remake. Less quality cinematography, a less coherent storyline, less tension, more gore, less atmosphere. The only interesting part is the sheriff and even that is minimal- certainly not enough to carry a whole movie. Leatherface was good enough to keep this from completely tanking but on the whole there just wasn't enough quality material to make this a good movie.
One reviewer said that this film is like watching Twin Peaks fused with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and I absolutely agree. This film is bizarre, and surreal, and strange. Sometimes it even borders on artistic. For me, this is the best in the series, right after the first one. If you're expecting it to follow in the vein of the second or the third then you will be very let down. I understand why most hated it, but for me it's lots of fun.
I was really pleasantly surprised, especially considering this was done by the same man that brought us the travesty that is Pumpkinhead II.
I thought it was just as good if not better than the second film in the Chainsaw Massacre series and it certainly melded horror and comedy together in a much more enjoyable manner.
If you've put off seeing it because of it's bad reputation you're really missing out.
A very silly late 80's slasher. The kills are a bit lame but it makes up for it with the so-bad-it's-good cheesiness that only 80's horror can provide. Those fight scenes are hilarious. It can be a bit overlong, the work out scenes especially had me yawning but if you're into girls maybe they would be of some use to you. The plot is fairly stupid and holds the whole thing back from anything above average.
The whole thing reminds me of Sleepaway Camp II.
Deep Red is probably my favourite Argento films for several reasons
1. The characterization here surpasses that of any of his other films.
2. The fluid camera work (notable in the next few of his films but absolutely beautifully done here).
3. The fantastic score. That theme song is just my personal favourite of all the soundtracks Goblin has done for Argento.
4. That house!!!! I don't know if they
really burned that house down for this film or not but every time I see those flames I get so sad
.
That house really is one of the most beautiful I've seen out of any Argento film and he has feautured several other gorgeous buildings. The windows, the baroque and elegant design, the outside staircase, the yard.. the whole abandoned yet stately atmosphere. That house makes the second half of the film.
Besides all of this, Deep Red really has a more coherent plot than some of his earlier films such as The Cat O' Nine Tails or Four Flies on Grey Velvet, both of which have a much sloppier story-line; and definitely moreso than his later films. Suspiria, Inferno (especially Inferno), Tenebre, Phenomena- all are magnificent, but certainly much less coherent in terms of plot.
Deep Red holds it's own among his oeuvre with wonderfully fleshed out and fun characters, a tight plot-line, gorgeous cinematography, an amazing soundtrack, and breath taking sets, not to mention atmosphere, scares, and great kills.
On the first watch I didn't really get what was so great about this movie but after several rewatches I've gotten more into and I'm starting to understand why this film is so praised by his fan base.
If you do enjoy giallo but don't love this the first time you see it then my advice would be to stick it out and give it time to digest and then watch it again, maybe 3 or 4 times giving it space of several months in between each watch. If at that point you don't become obsessed just toss it in trash or pawn it.
Comments 76 - 100 of 206
Movie comment on The Monster
nick121235
Now this is how you make a low budget horror movie in the 2010's. It's obvious that this film does not have over the top production values, there's very few actors and limited sets; but this film does more than good with what it does have.The cinematography is absolutely stunning with some gorgeous scenery in the beginning and at the end. Most of this movie is shot in the woods at night, and so one would expect it to be a poorly-lit affair with lots of shaky camera shots like so many similar films of late- however this is where The Monster excels. The cinematographer makes great use of light and dark, using it to make visible just what you need to see and to create tension with what you don't.
The monster isn't shown until 3/4 of the way through the movie and looks downright terrifying.
It is quite a slow burn and so some without patience may get bored but if you manage to get to the 40 minute mark you won't regret it.
The backstory is also really good, I don't think I've ever seen a monster flick with this much characterization. It's emotional and adds real depth to the characters and what they go through in the woods.
I was very pleasantly surprised and hopefully if you watch this movie, you will be too.
Movie comment on The Hearse
nick121235
The plot had me curious enough to at least warrant finishing the movie, but other than that this film had no redeeming qualities. The cinematography was boring, the sets were bland, there was zero atmosphere, the acting was mediocre, and the story line was predictable.Movie comment on L'inconnu du lac
nick121235
The first thing you'll notice about this film is the beautiful cinematography. The run time, which is just over 1 and a half hours, is full of long, gorgeous shots of the lake and the woods surrounding it. The fact that the entire story takes place at this lake also adds an air of mystique to the proceedings, creating a moody atmosphere.However, this proves not to be enough to carry the film, as it still seems rather slow throughout. The dialogue is trite and there's hardly any characterization, leaving the motivations of the subjects rather vague.
There is gratuitous nudity but almost no violence, or any action (other than several sex scenes) until the last twenty minutes.
In the end, the fact that this film is merely 'good', when it had the potential to be 'great', is somewhat maddening.
Movie comment on Flesh for Frankenstein
nick121235
Hilarious and campyMovie comment on Non ho sonno
nick121235
I was really quite pleasantly surprised by this film, having thought that everything by Argento after Opera was lesser by far than his earlier filmography.Sleepless did have a lot of references or plot devices from other films of his but I think it stands on its own as well. The camera work and visuals were all on par with his earlier films and it held a great atmosphere all the way through as well as being truly suspenseful.
This film really does prove that one can still make an effective giallo in the 21st century.
Movie comment on Slaughter High
nick121235
A typical 80's slasher but tons of fun. One I might even rewatch. The soundrack reminded me of scooby doo a little too often lmao.Movie comment on La morte negli occhi del gatto
nick121235
As many others have noted this is an odd mixture of Hammer style horror and giallo, somewhat similar (though far inferior) to Bava's The Body and the Whip.I really rather enjoyed the atmosphere and found the scenery, especially the castle, to be gorgeous.
Unfortunately this was not enough to carry the story which seemed like a rough draft. The entire thing was really very strange but I've got to say that I enjoyed it quite a bit and admired the camera work which was, once again, reminiscent of that found in Bava's films, particularly A Bay of Blood- lots of close ups and fluid voyeur shots; though with an obviously far larger production budget.
This film is at times quite beautiful and if you're into giallo you're used to the contrived and often nonsensical plots that they often employ, and so this barely detracts from the entertainment value. This movie has a vibe that I wanted to savor and after the time was up I wanted more. It kept me entertained the entire runtime. I must say that this probably came at quite the right time for me in particular as I've been getting into Hammer horror recently and decided to watch a few slashers/giallo to 'cleanse the palate' as it were- and was very pleasantly surprised by this weird hybrid.
Also that is the least scary cat I have ever seen in a horror movie.
Movie comment on The Bride of Frankenstein
nick121235
I prefer the original :/Movie comment on Sorority House Massacre
nick121235
Actually surprisingly good for a Halloween rip-off. Not only did this film borrow from Halloween (very heavily from the entire series to date I might add), but it borrowed from A Nightmare on Elm Street as well. As a rule, this shouldn't be as good of a movie as it was.Highly campy and unintentionally funny, Sorority House Massacre is a nice chunk of typical 80's slasher fare (more heavily laden on the nudity side than the gore) that you will sometimes find yourself wrapped up in while viewing.
The story is highly contrived and corny, but that doesn't stop it from entertaining.
This movie is extremely close to The Slumber Party Massacre, which I would rate the better of the two as it seems to be able to hold its atmosphere.
All in all you probably know if you'll enjoy Sorority House Massacre before viewing, just don't get your hopes too high.
Movie comment on The Flesh and Blood Show
nick121235
This is really quite a pleasure if you happen to be a fan of giallo and slashers- though really more the former than the latter.The Flesh and Blood Show is an excellent film that far preceded the American slasher craze, and even just barely the giallo films of Italy. This film was made in England in 1972, and while it seems quite a rudimentary slasher in this day and age, at that time it was really quite innovative. Along with A Bay of Blood, this may have jumpstarted the slasher craze that began with Halloween and Friday the 13th (not to mention The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), but really had it's roots with early exploitation films like this.
The Flesh and Blood Show has tons of atmosphere and a fairly engaging story, but rather skimps on the blood.
Most of the murders take place off scene and the ending really begs for more but overall I really enjoyed this.
Movie comment on Frankenstein Created Woman
nick121235
Being a huge slasher fan I was very pleasantly surprised when I watched this as it is an obvious precursor to the slasher subgenre. I was expecting slow and atmospheric- things that both Hammer and Terence Fisher are known for. Instead, this film is really rather quickly paced, but not at the expense of characterization and backstory.I really would have liked for it to have continued where Fisher's The Revenge of Frankenstein had left off but the fact that it didn't wasn't really a deal breaker. This film was interesting enough for what it is.
Movie comment on Taste the Blood of Dracula
nick121235
Reasonably entertaining. Probably a bit better than the previous entry in the series, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave.This is the campiest one so far and I think it really works in the films favour, as the plot can seem a bit contrived.
The acting is okay, the sets are okay, the only really beautiful piece is the outside of the chapel.
I'm not sure why Dracula's blood had to turn to powder, there was no reason. It would have worked fine as actual blood.
Movie comment on Dracula Has Risen from the Grave
nick121235
This was the first of the Hammer Dracula series not to be directed by Terence Fisher so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Freddie Francis, however, does an adequate job of following in the rather forbidding footsteps of Fisher and with Hammer's stamp.This movie seems more plot focused than Fisher's, which were much heavier on atmosphere- something I do miss in this film, however the storyline is fairly engaging and almost makes up for it.
I really did enjoy the throwback to Nosferatu with the tinted frames and the acting was mostly very good.
I did not like the part containing the stake as I felt that this newer addition undermined the already set mythos of the legend.
Overall I found Dracula Has Risen from the Grave to be entertaining and fun if not quite as great as the first three films were.
Movie comment on The Mummy
nick121235
A masterfully crafted classic in every sense of the word, my only complaints are that there is so much time given to the 'legend' backstory when it really adds no enjoyment to the plot of the present day and simply seems like filler; also that protagonist's wife was introduced so randomly in the middle of the film. The mummy looks absolutely amazing.Movie comment on Near Dark
nick121235
Interesting and atmospheric little vampire film. The soundtrack was provided by Tangerine Dream and is absolutely fantastic. Some of the dialogue, especially in the beginning, seems a little cringeworthy and trite but overall the script is well done. It really shines in the way that it gives us a humanistic approach to the vampires. The whole thing has a low key, yet powerful and poetic vibe. At times the humor seems to simply detract from this atmosphere instead of providing anything akin to comic relief or real laughs and I think it would have been a stronger film without the comedic elements.Overall this is quite an offbeat but good film and the soundtrack is amazing.
Movie comment on The Legend of Hell House
nick121235
Beautiful to look at but the weak script leave the revelations and plot twists unfulfilling.Movie comment on Lifeforce
nick121235
One of Tobe Hooper's best.Movie comment on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
nick121235
This was like a lesser-grade rehash of the first remake. Less quality cinematography, a less coherent storyline, less tension, more gore, less atmosphere. The only interesting part is the sheriff and even that is minimal- certainly not enough to carry a whole movie. Leatherface was good enough to keep this from completely tanking but on the whole there just wasn't enough quality material to make this a good movie.Movie comment on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
nick121235
Not as bad as I expected. At least it wasn't as bad as the remakes of FT13 and ANOES.Movie comment on The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre
nick121235
One reviewer said that this film is like watching Twin Peaks fused with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and I absolutely agree. This film is bizarre, and surreal, and strange. Sometimes it even borders on artistic. For me, this is the best in the series, right after the first one. If you're expecting it to follow in the vein of the second or the third then you will be very let down. I understand why most hated it, but for me it's lots of fun.Movie comment on Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III
nick121235
I was really pleasantly surprised, especially considering this was done by the same man that brought us the travesty that is Pumpkinhead II.I thought it was just as good if not better than the second film in the Chainsaw Massacre series and it certainly melded horror and comedy together in a much more enjoyable manner.
If you've put off seeing it because of it's bad reputation you're really missing out.
Movie comment on Killer Workout
nick121235
A very silly late 80's slasher. The kills are a bit lame but it makes up for it with the so-bad-it's-good cheesiness that only 80's horror can provide. Those fight scenes are hilarious. It can be a bit overlong, the work out scenes especially had me yawning but if you're into girls maybe they would be of some use to you. The plot is fairly stupid and holds the whole thing back from anything above average.The whole thing reminds me of Sleepaway Camp II.
Movie comment on Dracula Untold
nick121235
A lot better than I expected but I'm also really partial to vampire filmsMovie comment on The Expendables
nick121235
not that bad for a 'macho man' movie but that cgi is awful.Movie comment on Profondo rosso
nick121235
Deep Red is probably my favourite Argento films for several reasons1. The characterization here surpasses that of any of his other films.
2. The fluid camera work (notable in the next few of his films but absolutely beautifully done here).
3. The fantastic score. That theme song is just my personal favourite of all the soundtracks Goblin has done for Argento.
4. That house!!!! I don't know if they
That house really is one of the most beautiful I've seen out of any Argento film and he has feautured several other gorgeous buildings. The windows, the baroque and elegant design, the outside staircase, the yard.. the whole abandoned yet stately atmosphere. That house makes the second half of the film.
Besides all of this, Deep Red really has a more coherent plot than some of his earlier films such as The Cat O' Nine Tails or Four Flies on Grey Velvet, both of which have a much sloppier story-line; and definitely moreso than his later films. Suspiria, Inferno (especially Inferno), Tenebre, Phenomena- all are magnificent, but certainly much less coherent in terms of plot.
Deep Red holds it's own among his oeuvre with wonderfully fleshed out and fun characters, a tight plot-line, gorgeous cinematography, an amazing soundtrack, and breath taking sets, not to mention atmosphere, scares, and great kills.
On the first watch I didn't really get what was so great about this movie but after several rewatches I've gotten more into and I'm starting to understand why this film is so praised by his fan base.
If you do enjoy giallo but don't love this the first time you see it then my advice would be to stick it out and give it time to digest and then watch it again, maybe 3 or 4 times giving it space of several months in between each watch. If at that point you don't become obsessed just toss it in trash or pawn it.
Showing items 76 – 100 of 206